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Chapter 22
🕑 Added 2025-06-30 15:54:44 +0000 UTCOf all the places I expected to be dragged off to by Luviagelita, like an R-rated dungeon or the very depths of Hell itself, Carnac was most certainly not one of them. Those were my earnest thoughts as I curiously stared up at the large C etched inside a golden sunburst above me.
It was supposed to be this incredibly lavish mall or some such stacked with high-end stores that offered everything from clothes to jewellery to cosmetics or whatever else was supposed to be expensive.
Pursing my lips, I fished out my leather wallet and cautiously pried it open, not expecting much... A fly flew out...
"How the hell is that even possible?"
Now, I wasn't dead-broke, far from it. I had a good bit from the last job, but I left all of that for my mother and sister. Wait no, that wasn't right. I'd most definitely kept a few bills for myself. They should still have been there. It wasn't like I was a big spender or something either.
A relieved sigh escaped my lips when my hands eventually felt something in my back pockets. Five bills of fifty each, not much, but this was still 2004.
"It should be worth something... right?"
Comparing myself to Luviagelita would be the height of stupidity, hers was the kind of wealth that redefined the words 'old money' and it was all hers and hers alone to do with as she pleased. In that aspect, I even felt a bit inadequate.
Before I could mull over that thought, a black sedan pulled over right next to me. I didn't need to wait for the door to open to know who it was so I just resolved myself and opened one myself.
"My, it seems you do have some manners after all. Quite a pleasing development, indeed."
"Well..." I offered her my hand with a grin. "Some people do have fragile egos so you have to be a bit nicer to them."
I'd been trailing the dormitory manager, Krishna, in my free time, learning his most sacred ways to shit on others using politer words. I hoped to be on the same level as him one day. I would be.
"Very funny," She deadpanned, stepping out.
Her golden hair shimmered softly in the faint sunlight and dropped in those vain ringlets to cover her exposed back. The rich fabric of her navy (how surprising) dress clung desperately to her body but failed at hiding the less-than-moderate curves of her body. It was slit just below her thighs, exposing pale skin under fishnet stockings.
Honestly, it was wack that this was supposed to be a year my younger.
In contrast, I was just wearing a baggy tee over a pair of blue jeans.
"Enthralled?" She smirked.
Unfortunately, she still underestimated the true depths of my shamelessness.
"Yeah." I put on my most serious face and borrowed Yuji's words. "I'm not lying or tryna deny it."
She immediately folded and turned her head aside, stepping past me as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. "W-Well... it is to be expected. I-It is me, after all."
We entered the mall after she took a good moment to collect herself and I was immediately humbled by the reality of the situation.
What the fuck kind of mall even was this?
Sculptures on marble daises, fine murals all along the walls lined by well-kept shrubbery. There were even precious gemstones etched into Egyptian style decorations like sphinxes and whatnot that would most certainly be stolen if not were the tall, stocky security standing on every corner, with CCTV cameras and all that jazz.
There was not one, not two, but THREE golden chandeliers hanging over just the entrance. The people were... well, they were dressed so well I felt like a true brokie for a moment before I remembered I didn't really care.
Luviagelita seemed pleased with herself seeing my reaction, "How do you like it?"
"Way too over the top. What kind of money went into building this? ... Damn, is that actual gold?"
"Hm hm." She just nodded to herself and took my arm. "Well, let's explore, shall we?"
-
In a way, it was rather cliche, and in a way, wholly unexpected that my 'companion' was so unbelievably rich yet enjoyed inexpensive things so much. We'd found an arcade, in typical fashion, I'd won a bear she was eying. She'd all but wrenched the damn thing from my hands once I made the offer and was now cradling it like it was the most expensive thing ever.
What was even stranger was that she agreed to eat at a fast food place instead of some rich restaurant where you'd need to sell one kidney to get into and then the other to eat the most inexpensive item on the menu.
It was the single most hottest thing ever that she was eating a burger with coke and genuinely enjoying it... while occasionally checking on her bear to make sure she didn't spill anything on it. Damn. It made me consider certain 'things' that were just never possible.
Luviagelita was of ancient lineage, from a great house, and magi considered partnerships as transactions over anything else, to produce better heirs or to secure assets. I had nothing to really offer except my eyes, and while they were exceptional, I knew well enough that she wasn't the type to bank on something like that.
She'd looked after me since day one, lied to her allies for my safety, and even went along with my whims with not a word of real complaint... Aw dammit. For a moment, I earnestly considered shooting through the ranks of magi nobility just to be on equal standing.
When she slightly tilted her head with a tiny splotch of ketchup on her cheek, then smiled. I decided to do just that.
"I'll be your equal one day, or better."
"Where did that come from?" She said curiously. "Or rather, why does that need to be the case to begin with?"
"Why did you lie to Inorai?"
"...I told you already."'
"Then that's my reason too." I grinned. "Also cause I'm him."
She lowered her head and averted her gaze, her ears reddening.
"...I still don't quite understand what that means."
-
It was evening when we finally left Carnac, all in all, it wasn't nearly as exciting as fighting a daemon but I'd cherish the memory all the same, for very different reasons. I was about to say something to break the silence when she interrupted me.
"Did you like the place?"
"Bit too flashy for my taste but yeah."
"That will have to do then." She nodded to herself before reaching inside her sleeve and retrieving a sealed envelope. What was with magi and pulling things out of their sleeves? How had she even managed to keep it in there all this time?
Curiously, I took it from her.
"What's this?"
"Carnac was owned by Lord Gurdoa Davenant." She said, clutching her bear, "After we turned him in, I planned on acquiring it for myself. It certainly does deserve an owner such as I, does it not?"
I couldn't help but snort, "Careful there, any higher and your head might hit the ceiling."
"But, it was only fair that I share, seeing as you did help in the acquisition and with getting rid of the previous owner."
"He did that himself." I chuckled again, "Ash Ketchum with hair loss and unpaid bills looking-..."
"He used it to fund his research and the place is worth upwards of five hundred million pounds."
I turned her way with wide eyes.
"I could acquire it for much less. Thanks to Gurdoa's 'indulgences' and you, of course, for exposing him."
"That's good. Still don't get how it concerns me."
"You simpleton." She sighed with a hand on her forehead. "What I'm saying is, I managed to convince the Department of Policy that you deserved a reward for exposing Gurdoa. The rest, I bought out at a greatly decreased price."
Luviagelita pointed a finger at the envelope in my hands. "That there is a deed for sixteen percent of Carnac. The rest is owned by me. Congratulations."
Wut?
Suddenly, she snorted.
"S-So you just paid at stores you owned. Pft-..."
Luviagelita started laughing, hands holding her sides. I was still too stumped with the sudden information to even react.
Unprompted, she'd made me rich... just out of fairness... and a bit of favouritism.
...
...
...
Damn.
"Hahahahahaha...!"
"Is that the call of a banshee I hear?"
"S-Shut up. It was funny!" She keeled over, "You were hesitating over prices! Ahaha-...!"
I deadpanned, reaching for her teddy, "Give me the bear back."
"I disrespectfully refuse."
She floated back, giggling and laughing.
"Damn you for playing with a young man's heart like that!" I cursed her.
"P-People will hear you!"
"Was I just a toy to yo-"
She threw one of her bags at me.
-
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