章 40: Twisted Society
"Happy Birthday, Grey-?!"
Every Grey's close companion, to say the least, Winter, Khan, Rahk, and Moly, who waited for his arrival at the Truth Agency, abruptly paused. Their gazes were instinctively fixated on the woman of beauty standing close to him.
Princess Quintella, now Yeri Anon, lowered her head, "I am Yeri, Grey's long-lost stepsister."
Hearing this, the four of them looked at Grey suspiciously. Seeing this, Princess Quintella chuckled, "Well, at least in the eyes of those who aren't Grey's considered companions."
"What does she mean, Grey?" The eldest in this tavern, Rahk, asked.
"Sigh, it's complicated. For now, let's take a bite."
Even though the three adventurers saved by Grey were made aware of Princess Quintella's existence, he chose to hide it for now.
"Right! Let's dig in!"
At the table, several delicacies were delicately laid. It's a feast for the eyes even before the actual breakfast.
Sitting across from others while Princess Quintella and Rahk sat beside him, Grey muttered in his mind, 'Krishnaya,
'Activate the Magical Satellite. Search for the coordinates listed in the Subfolder: The Boon of Existence.'
Throughout the time that the lost Princess of Lumenasia was in slumber, the [Origami Orbital] or a thorough blueprint for an atmospheric satellite came into life.
[Yes, Master.]
***
"Sigh, this month's going to be damn noisy." Amidst the sounds of satisfied munching and gulping, Rahk's voice echoed.
"Right. It's time for that." Winter said.
"Why? You want to volunteer, Winter?" Khan chuckled.
"Shut up." She said without reluctance.
Hearing this conversation, Grey casually asked, "What's with this month?"
"Light Hereditary Month." Rahk sighed before explaining it to Grey.
After all this time, they were now used to him being 'ignorant' about this society's customs. Even though Grey could learn this seemingly trivial knowledge in one go thanks to [Knowledge Assimilation], he refused to do so as he lived with the principle that instantly knowing everything takes the thrill of truly knowing it through experience and gossip.
"Basically, that's the event."
"Basically?" Grey frowned, his ears couldn't believe the custom of the Holy Empire of Lumenasia.
Based on what the eldest Rahk had said, the Light Hereditary Month was the time of registration of hopeful women and men in their teenage and early adult years… to bear the children of the numerous direct blood of the Hero Bloodline.
"You mean to say that men and women… either commoners or nobles would register themselves to become volunteers in bearing the children of Heroes? That's fucked up." Grey scoffed.
"Yes, that's about it," Moly interjected. "Of course, not everyone will be picked. Mostly, people with good backgrounds and healthy lifestyles will be chosen like those with great physical strength."
"Do people really register for that crap?" Grey couldn't believe his ears.
"Oh, you'd be surprised, Mister Grey." This time, it was Khan's voice. "This event's transpiration is every two years, so many await it. As far as I remember, the last time, there were around over ten thousand candidates."
'Two years? That's why I haven't heard of it until now…' Grey inwardly mumbled.
"Ten thousand? The family tree of the Hero Bloodline must be immense in line…" He said while the others listened. Meanwhile, Princess Quintella remained silent, her thoughts only known to herself.
'Krishnaya, check the Luminous Princess' memories. Tell me the extent of the Hero Bloodline's Patriarch's family tree.'
This past year, when Solana von Lumen was assigned a mission to investigate the irregular behavior of every undead-type monster, Grey encountered her in the Dark Lands.
This allowed the Alien Archive to automatically collect information about everything she had seen, hear, and experience.
Of course, this encounter was unfairly one-sided because the Vibration Level adjusted so that only Grey and everyone under him would see her existence.
'I wonder what that brat is up to now… Even then, how could someone that at such a young age be a monstrous existence…?' He still felt chills when Solana was merely standing or walking in the invisible [Alien Village].
Ding!
[Master, here's the information according to the Luminous Princess' memories.]
[Hero Bloodline Patriarch, Arthur von Lumen's Family Tree]
[Number of Patriarch's Wives: 32]
[Number of Direct Bloodline: 128 Families]
[Number of Vassal Bloodline: 1,024 Families]
[The number may be inaccurate in case Solana von Lumen was not entirely aware of the extent of the Hero Bloodline's influence.]
Grey was left utterly speechless.
***
"I did not know how twisted a nation's culture is." Spoke Grey to Princess Quintella.
Right now, they were on the way to the Central District of Candela where the [Theocracy Academy] was located. This school was officially recognized as the [Mystic Academy] where talents from all over the World of Magica gathered.
"It's not exactly different from where you came from, Oppa. But I could say that this empire's laws and norms are several times radically immoral compared to Earth's." She said with a half-smile.
"Also, what's with the strict names? I mean, first, it's the difference between Candela and Lumen… and now, it's Theocracy and Mystic. Are the people of this nation felt so superior compared to the other races that they openly declared for such things to be changed?" Grey was still in disbelief.
"It's only the Hero Bloodline's doing. Although not all of them were bugs that needed extermination, their influence was enough to rival the current Emperor. After all, the Cathedral of Light is on their side. It's different on Earth where the religion and the state are separate." Princess Quintella responded, her supple hands at her back.
Hearing this, Grey sensed the evident change in Princess Quintella during her slumber. However, if there's one thing he couldn't understand, it's the reason why she insisted on listing their relations as [stepsiblings].
After some time, they arrived at the Mystic Academy.
"Oppa, you will become my butler."
Being informed beforehand of this school's strange customs, Grey nodded.
"Yes. Let's go."
'I would also need to access the Mystic Library… Knowledge and Wisdom will rain!'
***
In the cold evening, when every civil-related matter had been settled, quickly at that, just when Grey was about to close the Truth Agency which didn't have a single customer whose purpose was the main store's mission – information acquisition – a cloaked girl serenely entered.
"Oh, we're closing for the day. If you're hungry, there are tons of taverns still open nearby." Grey said, wiping the receptionist's desk.
"I need your service." The girl's soft voice echoed.
"Hey, Miss. We're close-"
"I am not looking for something to eat, but rather information. Isn't that the true nature of this business? Not a mere cafeteria."
Such words caused Grey to look at this figure suspiciously. Since the business opened, no one asked him for this kind of service because of the Shadow Guild, which was known for its information gathering throughout Magica.
"Miss, there's the famous Shadow-"
"They could not find what I want." The girl interjected.
Grey scoffed.
"Could not find… Or they refused to find whatever it is?"
The girl glanced at him. She then lowered the hood of her cloak, revealing her facial features reflected by the starry night's moonlight.
Her hair was messy bun in green. Her eyes were also green under gold-rimmed eyeglasses. Her skin was fair and seemed flawless even though it was under the thick cloak.
It was the first time that Grey had seen her.
But then, even though that was indeed the case, the Extraterrestrial System echoed in his soul.
[Master, that girl is…]
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