ALL NOVEL Chapter 384
“Contractor! When did you arrive? And who are these people…?”
“Not long ago.”
“Grandson, this child is…”
“She’s kinda like us!”
“True!”
As expected, Quartz immediately saw through Rue’s identity like a real person.
Rue, usually devoid of expression, looked at Quartz and the others with a mix of wariness.
“Rue. Relax. She’s my grandmother.”
Fortunately, this cosmic horror-style magic book seemed to understand the concept of “grandmother” and began to relax, alternating gazes between me and my grandmother.
She was trying to find some resemblance.
“I think she looks similar, but she doesn’t!”
“Grandson, you’ve got some strange attachments.”
“I’m not strange!”
Rue puffed her cheeks and shouted. But you are kinda strange, aren’t you?
“Contractor! Why are you staring like that?”
“I don’t think a magic book that steals bodies should be talking.”
“That’s mean! I’m a good magic book!”
“Sure, sure.”
“Don’t brush me off like that!”
What do you want me to do about it? I patted Rue’s head, who turned away with a sulky face, trying to defend her a bit.
“Even if I look like this, I’m not a bad kid. Just a bit foolish…”
“It sure looks that way.”
“I’m not foolish! I’m a smart magic book!”
“Alright, just be quiet. Don’t make a scene in front of the guests.”
“Got it…”
She listens well. No matter what, she really does listen to me. I chuckled and removed my hand from her head.
A moment later, Rue, having regained her composure, asked me with pure eyes.
“Contractor! But isn’t grandma super old? Her face is full of wrinkles…”
“Grandson, this child has no manners.”
“Rue. That’s rude to my grandmother.”
Her brows slightly furrowed.
“Rude?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry!”
Rue bent her waist at a 90-degree angle. Such a neat apology. My grandmother didn’t seem too upset, smiling at Rue’s antics and leaving a short comment.
“Never talk about age to older people, you know.”
“Yes!”
…Getting lectured by a girl that looks to be in her mid-teens. What a bizarre sight.
“Hahaha! This mansion sure has as many peculiar characters as our mansion!”
…I can’t tell if that’s a compliment or an insult. Knowing nice Mr. Vulcanus, it’s probably a compliment.
“Grandmother, do you like the garden?”
“It’s quite nice. Quartz has nothing resembling a garden… It’s been years since I’ve seen a living flower.”
My grandmother sat in front of the blooming flowers, looking down at them with a nostalgic expression.
Looks like she really likes the flowers. I turned my gaze from my grandmother, who was enjoying the flower tour, to Peymin and Vulcanus.
When Peymin caught my eye, she smiled and said.
“I also like the garden! I don’t have a hobby of appreciating nature, but being able to roam freely like this feels like decades!”
“Is that so?”
After being cooped up in that mansion for years, it wouldn’t be strange if she’s as joyful as a soldier returning home.
“Hey there, is that your workshop?”
I looked in the direction Vulcanus pointed.
Of course, it was the direction of my workshop.
Vulcanus, pointing at the workshop that looked like a thumbnail at the opposite end of Yeomyeong-gwan, looked at me with curiosity, so I immediately cleared up his confusion.
“Yes. It’s my workshop, which also doubles as my lover’s research facility.”
“Can I take a look at your workshop? I’ve never seen anyone else’s workshop!”
“Of course.”
“I’ll just look at the flowers here, so you go on!”
“I’ll also go see the workshop! I might find out the secret of the heir! I’m all hyped! Hahaha!”
That’s a little scary. I led Peymin, who was cheerfully laughing, and Vulcanus, with a face full of expectation, towards the workshop.
——————
Three days since the Quartz family’s guests arrived at the mansion.
The members of the Quartz family had somewhat adapted to life in Yeomyeong-gwan.
And my lovers were trying to build a good relationship with my grandmother whenever they could.
I guess since she’s my grandmother, meaning she’ll soon be their grandmother-in-law, they’re making an effort to impress her.
I had never seen Renny act so politely.
Well, from my standpoint, it’s not a bad thing that my only grandmother is becoming friends with my future wives, so I quietly observed the situation.
With all my connections being pulled in, I found it hard to focus on anything else…
And I was also busy interacting with Vulcanus.
There weren’t many men here—only me and Lewis, and since Lewis became a third-year and was incredibly busy, it was difficult to even catch a glimpse of him, so as the only man, I had to entertain him.
Most of the time, we exchanged various opinions just by looking at my works.
Sometimes, I would borrow my workshop to create various odd items. Most had become junk due to their bizarre uses.
Why on earth did I make square wheels?
And Peymin seemed to be roaming the Yeomyeong-gwan with Rue, fulfilling her curiosity, while Hazel…
…Two days ago, the maid trio fainted in succession amidst screams during breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so I had to personally deliver her meals.
“Here’s lunch.”
“Put it down over there.”
Why is she so down all the time?
Is it because she hasn’t been in the sun? I wondered as I slid the food through the crack of the door.
Is she really going to stay like this until a war breaks out? She could at least enjoy the sights.
…Well, if she wants to stay, I can’t help that.
I walked alone down the corridor, heading towards Cidri’s room, where she was living in and out of view in the Yeomyeong-gwan. Coincidentally, her room was close to where Hazel was staying.
With the peculiar nature of the mansion, the only quiet places to be found were near Cidri’s room. There was a reason why it’s said that she’s a demon, making clean-up easy even if she dies.
“Cidri. It’s me.”
“Just wait a moment~”
As soon as I finished speaking, I heard footsteps rushing to the door, and with a bang, Cidri peeked through the doorway and locked eyes with me.
“Cidri. Send a message to Eligos right now.”
“Is it about that matter~?”
“Yeah.”
She understood immediately.
Come to think of it, she couldn’t have missed what was going on outside since she was in contact with the other demon.
In the first place, my contact with Eligos was also through her.
“Got it~ Should we set the appointment for tomorrow afternoon~?”
“Make it so.”
Then, should I visit Sabrina by the afternoon?
After the meeting with the demon, I’d check in with the royal family too.
I had to utilize every means possible to gather as many troops as I could.
This isn’t just a personal matter; it’s tied to the fate of this world.
So, this week, I’d have to be busier than ever. And I also had to devise some activities to satisfy that observer who loves to have fun.
I had a few ideas lined up, but I needed more information to make them work.
Thus, I planned to squeeze all the information out of both Eligos and Kalon, so they would spill everything they had.
That was the only way to find a breakthrough against that cosmic horror-style outsider.
“Anything else you need~?”
“Nothing. There are guests near your room, so keep quiet if possible.”
“Guests~? So that’s why it’s noisy around here? I feel an ominous energy too~”
“If you try to make contact with the guests or provoke them, I’ll send you to heaven.”
“What~?!”
She gasped at my words and nodded vigorously.
Demon and heaven. It would be quite interesting to properly imprison her where Sabrina resides until she repents slowly.
Or maybe…
Tossing her to Hazel wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
“Just stay in your room as usual. Got it?”
“Got it! So stop threatening me! It’s scary~!”
I’d only shown my face a bit.
“As long as you understand.”
I turned my back. I had no further business with Cidri.
From behind me, I heard her voice.
“Tell Millia to return my novel, will you~!”
…When did she get friendly with Millia?
“Got it, so go in.”
I heard the sound of the door closing behind me, and the corridor returned to silence.
“…I could rest for a moment.”
I had been busy hosting the Quartz family since morning, so it would be fine to take a break until lunchtime. I quietly headed to my room.