By Zephyria 
“He’s really a tenacious one. We’ve poured enough contempt on him to make him give up, but he’s endured it all. I guess his lowly birth is showing in a place like this.”
“Hmph, it seems certain that his sponsor is someone who has nothing to show off.”
Yes, yes. You can only talk like that now, so talk as much as you want.
“Y-Young Master Hamilton. What are you doing? Why are you unbuttoning your robe…”
“Don’t stop me, Nicole. You heard them just now, right?”
“Yes, I heard them, but…”
“They’re even looking down on me. Can I just let this go?”
It wasn’t like there was any other reason to hide my identity. If I was afraid of losing favor, I could just visit the Magic Tower more often. Having already made up my mind, I focused on unbuttoning my robe, no matter how much Nicole tried to stop me. Fortunately, the clothes inside the robe were luxurious enough to befit a central nobleman.
“With this, we will conclude the graduation ceremony.”
Thud-
I jumped up from my seat. So loudly that the chair I had been sitting on fell backward with a crash. Naturally, everyone’s eyes turned to me. I shook off the robe from my body, having already unbuttoned it completely.
“…!”
“Wh-What. Such a commotion in the sacred graduation ceremony…!”
Ha, it was so refreshing to have the view that had been obscured by the hood all revealed. I looked around at the people who were surprised by my appearance, seemingly quite flustered, with satisfaction, and then turned my gaze to Lennox. Then, I smiled brightly.
“It’s nice to meet you, Lennox. This is the first time we’re meeting face to face, isn’t it?”
“You are…”
The red eyes in the sharp gaze seemed more intelligent than bewitching. Lennox’s eyes, which were not worn out by the hardships of life or broken by excessive pain, were just like clear pomegranate seeds. There was no deceptive, smiling face that had been smiling artificially to hide his true feelings.
Why? I had repeated countless playthroughs and met this man in front of me countless times, but…
“Let me formally introduce myself. I am Noah of Hamilton, who claims to be the guardian of the most abundant land.”
I felt like I was meeting this man for the first time.
“Your sponsor.”
A sound of gasping in shock came from right next to me. It was probably the sixth cousin of the son-in-law of Eagleton and the so-and-so of Lady Catherine making the noise. It would be a lie to say that I didn’t want to see that sight with my own eyes, but I didn’t turn my gaze away until the end.
“I wonder why it feels so meaningful to meet you like this.”
“…….”
“I’m not the only one who feels that way, am I?”
Instead, I smiled softly, looking into the red eyes that were looking up at me without the slightest tremor.
Favorability: 13%
13 percent in one go. Not a bad start.
Critical Hit!
‘Lennox’s’ Secret Preferences: An Angel I Want to Throw into the Mud (Unlocked), xxxxxxxx, xxxxxx, xxxx.
…What? What do you want to do to what in where?
“Ha, haha…, ha…….”
Am I smiling properly right now…? There isn’t a single capture target who has all their screws tightened! I thought everything would be fine since I rescued him before he broke down, but somehow this guy is also… not normal.
He scanned my face, which was awkwardly smiling, with a strange look. It was a sticky gaze that I hadn’t realized until now.
“L-Lennox…?”
When I called him slightly, as he didn’t answer, Lennox’s eyes narrowed slightly. The fox-like smile that hung on those eyes was… very, very familiar.
“…Of course not. I am also honored to meet you like this. In many ways.”
Not a bad start… right…?
Part 4.
To my esteemed sponsor, Young Master Hamilton.
Hello, Young Master Hamilton. The weather has become much hotter.
Judging from the conversation we had around this time last year, you seem to be particularly vulnerable to the heat, so I hope you are not experiencing any inconvenience in your recent life.
Although you have repeatedly insisted that you have no intention of receiving anything more than a few lines of letters, I am fully aware of your intentions, but I have enclosed a small token of my sincerity to repay the favor you have shown me, even if only a little. Please do not refuse.
Sincerely hoping for the day when I can see you again, Lennox.
The letters, which I couldn’t recognize even if I wanted to because they were so excessively individual and crooked when I first received them, were now just neat. The flowing handwriting and elegant tone were so unbelievable that they belonged to someone who had been wandering the streets just half a year ago.
At this rate, anyone would think it was sent by a friend from another noble family. This remarkable change made me feel somehow proud.
When I examined the envelope, which was still bulging even after spitting out the letter, a blue Mana Stone was shining faintly. Just holding it in my hand cooled the stuffy air around me.
“…Really, I don’t need things like this.”
Despite the modesty of saying I didn’t need it, the corners of my mouth kept twitching upwards. It seemed like the performance of the stocks I had been steadily investing in for half a year wasn’t too bad.
“If you refuse this time as well, that child will be very disappointed.”
“Ah, Seymour.”
“I heard that he spent at least three days making that decision, so isn’t his sincerity quite admirable?”
“That’s right, Young Master Hamilton! A Mana Stone of that size! You can’t even buy that with money! As my father said, why don’t you just gulp it down…! No, no, how about receiving it with joy?”
Seymour and Nicole, who were standing side by side in front of me, had the same sparkling eyes, as if they were both rich, and kept urging me. It seemed that it was because I had sent back all the small gifts that had been sent through Seymour until now.
“If you both say so, shall I accept it this time?”
“Wow! You made a good decision!”
“Lennox will be happy too. But even if he had talent, it’s only been a year since he officially started learning magic, and he already has a Mana Stone of this size… His level of achievement is extraordinary. Did you recognize it from the beginning?”
Seymour asked with a mixture of admiration and doubt, and I just smiled.
Hehe. You’re surprised by this much, Seymour… Originally, around this time, Lennox would have taken the head of the guild master you serve and taken his place?
I don’t think you’d believe me, but I was curious about what Seymour’s reaction would be when he heard such spoilers, and my mouth was itching.
“So, what rare items have you brought this time, Mr. Seymour?”
“Hahaha. I was just waiting for you to say that.”
The very benevolent expression on Mr. Seymour’s face just now quickly turned sly. It was the face of a merchant who looked like he would strip the customer in front of him of even their socks.
“I’ve brought only the most precious elixirs that are so rare they sell out instantly in the Eastern Continent, so take a look!”
He confidently spread out the items in his bag.
100-Year Aged Buoyant Bead
Are you worried about a meager chest? Then there’s only one answer!
Charm +5
The Dead Rise! Quick Recovery Pill
Turns you, who easily bows your head, into the king of the night.
Stamina +10
“No, are these… really selling well?”
“Of course, of course! I’m showing them to you first, young master, even though others are begging and pleading for me to sell them!”
Haa… This game, it’s definitely unusual…
“Then, for now… um, I’ll buy both…”
Just in case. Right? Just in case.
I glanced at the air for some reason and diligently bought all the items in front of me.
I should be flustered at least once at this timing, but the air was still quiet. Just like it had been ever since the first day I went to the Crown Prince’s palace last year.
No, are these… really selling well?
The white face reflected in the crystal ball was simply beautiful. The reddish eyes of the unparalleled genius, who was evaluated as having outstanding magical talent and was appointed as the next Master of the Magic Tower not even a few months after entering the Magic Tower, sparkled with joy.
“You are still beautiful.”
I knew from the beginning what the true identity of the tall young master, who seemed to be trying hard to hide his identity, was. However, what he truly wanted to know was not the identity of the patron hiding behind the guise of Seymour’s distant relative, but the intention of the noble who had stepped forward to sponsor him.
Whether he knew it or not, his tall young master was quite famous among the members of the information guild who frequented the merchant guild. First of all, no matter how much he tried to hide it, the appearance of the person in question, which inevitably revealed itself from time to time, was bound to be talked about by many people. Above all, the fact that ‘that’ Crown Prince, whom everyone shook their heads at, saying that he was raising several sly snakes inside, cherished him as his prospective fiancé made Noah Hamilton naturally attract attention.