C94
Alpheas liked her that way. Even with the intelligence of a ten-year-old, her mind was not that of a ten-year-old. Tears welled up in his eyes at her thoughtfulness, considering her husband might be upset if he failed to win the award.
"Honey, I…"
Alpheas took out the gold medal with his trembling hands.
"I did it! I won! It's the Gold Circle Award!"
Erina, always calm and composed, couldn't help but have her sparkling eyes waver this time. The day that Alpheas had been talking about tirelessly had really come.
"Congratulations. I knew you would win."
“Erina, it's all thanks to you. It's all because of you. Come here. Let me put it on you."
Alpheas thought that the true owner of the Gold Circle was Erina. Of course, the honest Klump didn't understand. He thought Alpheas, who decoded the true meaning, was greater than Erina's childlike words. But Alpheas knew. The small idea that came from Erina's head would become the core code responsible for humanity's future.
"You're the one who won the award. It's your idea that amazed the world."
As Alpheas approached with his lips puckered, Eriana shyly backed away.
"We need to eat. Come quickly."
"Oh, sorry. Klump is throwing a party, so I should go. I'll eat later."
"Oh, alright."
Erina couldn't hide her sadness this time either. Then, Alpheas grinned mischievously and lifted her up.
"Then we have to save time for eating as well."
“Kyaa!”
Alpheas strode up the stairs to the second floor while holding Erina in his arms.
"Wait a minute! The bread will burn!"
"Let it burn! Otherwise, I'll burn!"
After Alpheas won the award, dozens of invitations came in every day. They were all sent by prestigious nobles or institutions that were said to be the best. Being sociable with everyone meant not fitting in with anyone. By rejecting unnecessary connections and raising his value, his reputation spread quickly. As part of this strategy, Alpheus left home today to attend a dinner party invited by the Alchemy Foundation. It was an indispensable event since the organization was responsible for 40 percent of the magic materials.
But Saroph and his friends, unaware of this fact, were camped out in front of Alpheas' house before the sun went down. They were getting more and more anxious as they waited for evening to come.
Saroph sighed.
"Haaa, this is humiliating."
"Is it just about pride? His value has risen too much. It's Alpheas we're talking about. He wasn't just good at magic; he was more than that. We should have anticipated this."
Saroph was also full of regret. He should have somehow mingled with the crowd and relieved his resentment when Alpheas won the Gold Circle Award. It had only been a month since he received the award, but Alpheas' reputation had risen to the point that it’s terrifying. All of this was due to his outstanding political skills. Now, as Alpheus began to choose his company, there was even less room for Saroph to barge in.
'Oh shit. I didn't want to lower my head, but I ended up on my knees. Why do these things always happen?’
There was no answer to the problem, no matter how much he thought about it. At least having friends with him made the embarrassment a little less if that was any consolation.
"Let's go in. I'll do the talkin
Saroph took the lead and knocked on the door of Alpheas' house.
"Is Alpheas there? I'm Saroph."
The person who opened the door was unexpectedly Erina.
"Who are you?"
“Ah, his wife. I don't know if you remember, but I'm Saroph, a classmate of Alpheas. Is your husband in home?”
"No, my husband is out. He's at the Alchemy Foundation."
They knew that there was a dinner party at the Alchemy Foundation. However, it wouldn't take long since it wasn't a drinking party. Saroph politely asked, thinking it was better this way.
"May I come in and wait if it's not rude? There are people around, and..."
It was embarrassing enoguht to have come all the way to the house, but it was clear that he would get caught up in gossip if he snooped in front of the door.
"Yes, come in."
Saroph sat in the living room with his friends and rubbed his hands nervously. Erina, feeling sorry for them, called them to the table and served them food and drinks.
"Eat something. My husband will eat there and come back."
"Thank you. You're very kind.”
Saroph regretted not bringing a gift, feeling quite embarrassed. He bought one just in case, but when he tried to take it, he couldn't bear the shame.
It's not because of the lack of skills. Even if Alpheas and Erina's families severed ties, Saroph thought that being from a first-class family would have some influence on the evaluation.
Drinking and thinking like that, the alcohol quickly hit him. At first, he held on nervously, but the moment he felt Erina's intellectual level, his mind relaxed without him even realizing it.
"You see! I used to be called a genius! Me, yes, me!"
"Who doesn't know? Life is so unfair! Hardworking people die, and someone else climbs up using connections! Magic is already dead!"
One of Saroph's eyebrows went up at his friend's words. The target of his friend's sniping was none other than Alpheas. But he left it alone. Erina wouldn't know what they were talking about anyway. Suddenly, the alcohol tasted sweet. Maybe for the first time, he had defeated Alpheas? He could criticize him loudly in front of his wife.
'Hmph, that guy has humiliated me so much. This is just a small revenge, a small revenge.'
Saroph went one step further and spoke to Erina.
"Isn't that right, ms. Wife? Magic, you know, can't be achieved with skills alone. You agree, don't you?"
"I don't know."
"Hahaha! Of course, you wouldn't. But it's true. Everything I say is true."
Saroph tasted the thrill of victory. In addition to criticizing Alpheas, he was even sarcastic towards his wife. His friends, who caught his intentions, joined in by banging on the table
"Ms. Wife, since the atmosphere is like this, why don't you sing a song?"
"Yes! Pick a song to celebrate Alpheas's success."
Erina's smile stiffened. People think that if someone's intelligence is low, they don't understand anything. But reading the emotions of others has always been the part of the weak. Erina also knew that Saroph and his friends were not friendly. Nevertheless, she were just trying to accept it because they were her husband's friends.
"Once in my hometown, when the wheat ripens..."
As Erina started singing, Saroph and the others clapped and blew whistles. Even in the midst of that, she continued to sing with a trembling tone.
But before she could even sing three verses, a cold voice came from the living room.
"What are you doing right now?"
Everyone turned their heads. Alpheas stood there, face flushed and fists clenched. Saroph suddenly sobered up. As his senses returned, he realized what he had been doing.
"I, I'm sorry. We must have had too much to drink."
“You son of a beast!”
Alpheas stormed over and swung his fist. Saroph, who was hit squarely in the face, tumbled to the floor. At this, his friends jumped up and shouted.
"Alpheas! What an awful thing to do! No matter how angry you are...!"
"No, it's fine. Let's stop."
Saroph raised his hand to stop his friends. He was ashamed of himself. Was this all he amounted to? A loser who found comfort in mocking a rival's wife? (At least you’re aware of it. You’re still a scumbag tho.)
"Get out of here before I kill you. Leave my house right now!"
"We apologize for today's incident. We won't come back again."
Saroph and his friends were chased out of Alpheas' house. The living room was left in silence after the unwelcome guests departed. Alpheas couldn't contain his rising anger. He knew why they had asked Erina to sing.
"What happened? Why were those bastards here?"
Erina, terrified, couldn't say a word. This was the first time she had seen her husband so angry.
"Tell me! Why did you let those bastards in?"
"I'm sorry. I thought they were your friends, and you would like it..."
"What are you talking about? Why would those bastards be my friends? Can't you tell the difference between real friends and them? And you were singing for them? You really are a fool!"
Alpheas turned wildly. His face contorted with regret as he lowered his head. The words he swore never to use and had vowed never to utter had escaped his lips.
'You trash bastard. You inhumane.'
He wished he could turn back time, but it was too late. No, even if he could turn back time, he might have said the same thing. He was so angry he could go mad, unable to control his rage.
"Forget what I just said. I made a mistake."
"Honey, I was wrong. I won't do it again."
Erina's words made her heart ache even more. It wasn't her place to apologize. But if so, where should he vent his frustration?
"I'm going out for some fresh air. I'll be fine after some time passes. I'm sorry. You should go to bed first tonight."
Alpheas left the house. That was the only way to rationally resolve the current situation.
He went to the inn where Klump was staying and drank all night. He didn't get drunk. As the intoxication grew, Saroph disappeared from his memory, and only the hurt Erina might have felt came to his mind.
"Damn it. I'm trash. I don't deserve to be a husband. She followed and trusted only me. I can't believe I spoke to her like that."
Klump made a pitiful expression. Being a man himself, he could understand Alpheas' anger. But it didn't change the fact that he made a mistake.
"They say a couple's fight is like cutting water with a knife. Now the future is bright, and the bad times have passed, right? Wouldn't this be an opportunity to get closer?"
As Alpheas remained silent, Klump brought up what he had been thinking about before.
"Why not try to have a child now?"
Alpheas' eyes sparkled for a moment. However, he soon bowed his head with a gloomy expression.
Klump, who guessed something, raised his surprised eyes.
"What? You, really? Haven't even once..."
"What nonsense? We're a married couple. No matter how young Erina is, she knows everything she needs to know."
"Tsk, who said what? I'm saying you might be an eunuch, not your wife. I'm talking about being dishonest (?). Kekeke.”
Alpheas, not in the mood to laugh, stared at his drink and bitterly downed it..
Klump sighed and said.
"Really, what's the problem then? Just have a baby and live happily ever after."
“Erina is… I don't know if she will be able to bear children.”
"Why? Is her body not well?"
"No. Actually, it's not that. Childbirth is a terrible pain, and I don't know if Erina can endure it. There are also childcare issues."
Klump, who pondered over Alpheas' words, sighed. In the end, it was a question of whether a woman with the intelligence of a ten-year-old could withstand childbirth. Intelligence is a great force that controls humans. There's a world of difference between suffering knowingly and suffering in ignorance.
"Alpheas, it's not easy to say this, but you knew it too. From the time you thought about getting married..."
"Yes, I know. I don't regret it. No, I really don't regret it. I can't live without Erina. If it's not her, no glory would have any meaning."
Klump poured two glasses down his throat in quick succession. He himself is frustrated, but how much more frustrated would the person involved be?
"So what do you plan to do? Complaining like this isn't like you. Why is a smart guy like you doing this?"
Alpheas swirled his glass and became lost in thought. At some point, his eyes, resisting the intoxication, sparkled brilliantly.
NOOOO. I don't want to know what happen next, somehow. ARGHHHH
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Tags:
Infinite Mage (Novel)
