BXBX NOVEL Chapter 5 – Talent (1)
When you can’t trust someone, there’s nothing scarier than a favor without strings attached.
Of course, it wouldn’t matter if I were handsome and looked kind-hearted.
But as Aslan, I’m someone whom nobody can trust.
Trying to do good deeds in Aslan’s body only results in the opposite effect.
So, shouldn’t I ensure there’s a clear price for my favors?
Even if they can’t trust Aslan, there needs to be at least some trust in a relationship based on mutual interests.
I don’t need to make them fully trust me.
I don’t expect that.
I just need to avoid being hated enough to be killed.
“Young master! Charlotte and Julia are all dressed. Can we let them in now?”
“Sure. Good job.”
“Indeed… young master, you’ve changed a lot.”
“…!”
I flinched at the maid’s small, murmured comment.
Was it that obvious?
I thought I could rely on the passive skill to smooth things over.
But I forgot that the skill only changes the atmosphere, not actual behavior.
“Changed?”
“You know, there’s that saying. Love changes people. Some people worry that it’s too early, but I’m happy to see some vitality in the mansion. I’m rooting for you, young master!”
“…?”
The maid withdrew, leaving behind some enigmatic words.
Come to think of it, on the first day I possessed Aslan, none of the staff had smiles on their faces.
Nowadays, they often have smiles, especially when dealing with Charlotte and Julia.
‘Are the children a source of vitality?’
No wonder. With the gloomy mansion filled with ominous people, there wasn’t much to be happy about.
With children around, the staff now had reasons to smile.
Soon, the door opened wide.
With cautious steps, Charlotte and Julia entered the library.
“Come in. What’s the matter?”
“Th-That…”
“We’ve come to work!”
“Work?”
Charlotte entered confidently, while Julia followed shyly, looking down.
But their attire was strange.
Weren’t those the clothes the maids usually wore?
They seemed custom-tailored, but why were they wearing those?
“You said we should work! You told us to earn money by working!”
“Right. We want to repay you, too…”
“What kind of work do you plan to do in those clothes?”
“Anything! Cleaning, cooking, whatever!”
“Do you think you can earn ten billion Lark by doing menial tasks like that? The work I have in mind will earn much more. Now leave. Change into comfortable clothes and come back.”
“…”
Charlotte looked down in disappointment.
Julia, on the verge of tears, glared at me before leaving the library silently.
‘Maybe I was too harsh.’
My irritation had led me to scold them more sternly than intended.
They were destined for the spotlight, not for menial tasks.
I should have scolded the maids who dressed them like that, but instead, I took it out on the wrong people.
[Sylvia’s Affection has decreased by 5.]
“What are you planning now?”
“Oh, what are you upset about this time?”
I replied calmly to Sylvia, who had appeared behind me without a sound.
I was getting used to it by now.
Her appearing silently from the shadows.
Her trembling with contempt as she looked at me.
I was curious about what misunderstanding she had now.
“How could you make them do such things? Do you even have a heart?”
“What kind of things do you think I’m making them do?”
“Ten billion Lark. There’s only one way they can earn such a large sum. How could you… with a heart, make them do that?”
“What do you mean?”
“You want me to say it out loud!? How shameless!”
“Go ahead, say it.”
“You intend to make them entertain you at night!”
“…”
“…”
“Hey. Are you joking?”
“…Was I wrong?”
I was shocked.
Sylvia, realizing her mistake, stepped back, startled.
This accusation was something I couldn’t let pass.
Sylvia, understanding the situation, immediately bowed deeply.
“I apologize. Young master, you may sell your conscience, but you wouldn’t sell your dignity. You engage in all sorts of wicked acts, but you wouldn’t stoop to viewing them in a dirty manner. I have greatly wronged you.”
“Your words still seem to have thorns. But as long as you understand.”
“Do you forgive me?”
“Your pay is cut by another 50%.”
“…”
[Sylvia’s Affection has increased by 6.]
As expected, this girl…
She must be a masochist who likes having her pay cut.
At this point, it wasn’t suspicion but certainty.
“We’ve changed!”
“Hmph.”
“I told you to wear comfortable clothes.”
“The maids recommended these outfits.”
“Who cares what you wear. Hmph.”
I expected them to come back in comfortable everyday clothes.
But Charlotte and Julia returned in elegant dresses, suitable for noble girls at a party.
Looking at them now, they appeared so elegant that no one would believe they were orphans.
Indeed, they were different by nature.
“So, what is this big money-making task?”
“There is none. Logically, there’s no job a child can do to earn that kind of money. If there were, anyone could become rich.”
“Huh? You tricked us! I knew it! How foolish of me to believe you even for a moment…”
“So, you two will study.”
“Huh…?”
“Fill your empty heads with knowledge and become intellectuals. Only then can you become high-income earners.”
These two would become the protagonist’s companions in the future.
Which meant they had tremendous talent despite being commoners.
Whether it was magic or something else, if their talents were discovered, they’d more than pay back their worth.
They would probably earn ten billion Lark in less than ten years.
That’s not all.
No matter how much Aslan researched with his cursed body, he wouldn’t achieve anything.
To overcome the pressure from his sister Irene and the evil god Kali, I needed to educate these kids and use them in the research.
I couldn’t use them for torture or something idiotic.
Charlotte and Julia would be used to create much greater value.
“Here are literature collections. Essential for building culture and vocabulary. This is a history book. It will fill your lacking general knowledge. Lastly, here’s a basic magic book. Finish reading these by the end of the month.”
“Haaaa? How can we read all these books…!”
“This is basic.”
“Young master, you haven’t read any of these books, have you… Ah!?”
“Be quiet.”
Sylvia had started to say something unnecessary, so I poked her in the side.
The books given to Charlotte and Julia were all new.
Of course, Aslan had never finished reading any of them.
He was far from being diligent, probably giving up after a few pages.
The basic magic book had some scribbles, but they were all erased as they ended with things like, ‘Why can’t I do this?’, ‘Why can’t I master this simple basic that even commoners can follow?’, and finally, ‘Damn magic! This is for cowards! I’m meant for far superior dark magic!’
‘Julia seems interested… But Charlotte isn’t focusing at all.’
I pretended to read another book while observing them.
Julia was sitting quietly, turning pages, while Charlotte kept fidgeting and glancing around.
A typical sign of someone not interested in studying.
‘A talented child. Even if she doesn’t like it, I have to make her study.’
No big deal.
How many people in this world actually enjoy studying?
Most succeed by forcing themselves to do what they dislike.
Even if she doesn’t like it, I have to make her do it.
That’s how she can become educated.
Get a good job and earn a lot of money.
That’s the most successful life.
…Wait. Is this right?
‘Shit. It doesn’t have to be studying.’
I had been thinking wrongly.
Why did I assume talent = magic talent?
Although rare, some people have talent in arts or sports.
Forcing a uniform education method might not be right.
‘What nonsense was I thinking?’
I almost made a huge mistake.
Sure, teaching Charlotte magic might make her a decent mage.
But that’s it.
She wouldn’t bloom into the extraordinary talent she could be as the protagonist’s companion.
So what I need to do is.
Uncover their ‘true talent.’
I approached Charlotte, trying to wear a kind expression, and grabbed her wrist.
“You’re not focusing at all. Come out. I need to teach you something else.”
“Uh, ugh?”
“…?”
“Ugh. I’m sorry… I’ll focus. I won’t mess around. I’ll study hard. Ugh…”
At that moment.
Charlotte started crying big, fat tears.
Ah. This isn’t what I intended.