The Man Picked up by the Gods – Volume 3 Chapter 249: An Act at the Evening Party (1/2)

A week after Elialia met King Erias with her parents, a huge evening party sponsored by the king was held in the biggest hall of the royal palace.

The hall was divided into six steps. Deepest in was the king and the royal family, then the duke, the marquess, the count, the viscount, and finally, the baron. The positions they would take had already been decided beforehand.

They had to make it for the official start of the evening party, but despite that, it was customary for people to arrive earlier the lower their rank, and for people to arrive later the higher their rank.

Presently, most of the participants have already appeared, and they were merely waiting for the official start of the evening party. In fact, the participants have already started pleasantly chatting among themselves, but this party wasn’t all about them.

The true leading actors of this party were the ‘children’ of the nobles that attended the academy this year.

As people expected to carry the country on their shoulders one day, they have been gathered here to be appraised and blessed. As for if they themselves were aware of that, it didn’t matter.

Around the children were not only parents worried over their children. Some kept an eye on their children to make sure that they would not do anything improper, while others searched the halls for a prospective marriage for their children, giving rise to a particular tension in the air.

Were Ryouma, someone from Earth’s Japan, here, he would have surely described this evening party as a tense parent’s day.

It was in an assembly such as that that another group came. A group consisting of a child that enrolled this year and her parents.

Bells rang to announce the arrival of a new guest, and all attention gathered on the new group.

A moment passed, and then a staff member standing by the entrance called out.

“The present head of the Jamil ducal family, Reinhart Jamil-sama! His wife, Elize Jamil-sama! And their daughter, Elialia Jamil-sama!” [Staff]

With the structure of the hall, there was no escaping the eyes of the large crowd that had entered before them.

But in the face of all those eyes, they neither cowered nor flustered, only displaying a graceful bearing.

Moreover, accessories with large pearls could be seen accompanying their garment of choice for the night.

That along with their bearing caused a commotion among the nobles and their children.

“As expected of the Jamil family, they’re in a different league compared to us.” [Noble 1]

“Lady Elialia should have also just enrolled this year, and yet look at how impressive she is already.” [Noble 2]

“So that’s the Jamil duke? He’s really cool… Not like dad at all.” [Noble Child 1]

“Elize-sama’s crimson dress, and Elialia’s dress with its vivid blue undertone are both amazing. And those accessories…” [Noble Lady 1]

“A broach on the chest for Reinhart-sama, and earrings for the two ladies. To think they could actually use so many big pearls… As expected of the duke’s family.” [Noble Lady 2]

“You can easily see the quality of the fabric and threads used, while the design exposes little, and isn’t too gaudy either. Because of that their accessories stand out all the more, and the whole combination looks really good. As expected, they’re different from the lower ranked nobles that only compete with how gaudy they can be.” [Noble Lady 3]

“Father. I want an accessory like that too,” [Noble Daughter 1]

“T-That? Even a single pearl is really expensive…” [Noble Father 1]

“Any woman would be interested in a pearl that pretty. What do you think, Dear?” [Noble Lady 4]

“Call a jeweler when we get back then. I’m sure we’ll able to get one as long as there’s enough money.” [Noble Father 1]

“Don’t you realize the value of that pearls?” [Noble Lady 4]

“Isn’t it just a jewel? We should be able to get one if we just order from a store.” [Noble Father 1]

As the crowd split and a path opened, voices resounded in the back and vanished.

Tonight’s party was a buffet. They were free to move, but there was no one here who would call out to these three.

It was part of the evening party’s etiquette, and there was a tacit understanding there too, but it was mostly because it was considered rude for a lower-ranked person to call out toward one’s superior. If a person wished to call out to his superior, he would have to ask someone connected to that superior to mediate for him, or simply wait for the superior to call out to him on his own accord. Calling them to halt was out of the question.

Hence, no one obstructed them, and Reinhart’s group easily reached the place that had been prepared for them, then just like everyone else, they used the time until the official start of the party to greet the families they were connected to. From other dukes such as themselves to the marquesses, and when Reinhart reached one of the counts…

“Sorry to intrude on your conversation, but is that Count Bernardo I see?” [Reinhart]

“If it isn’t His Grace. It’s an honor to have your attention.” [Bernardo]

“There’s no need to be so formal. I just thought I should thank you.” [Reinhart]

“Thank me?” [Bernardo]

He had been suddenly called out by a duke, and then the duke even mentioned that he ought to thank him. Count Bernardo racked his head to figure out what the duke might’ve been talking about, but he couldn’t find anything. Reinhart continued.

“I thought of thanking your friend too, but… Count Sandrick didn’t come tonight, did he?” [Reinhart]

“I haven’t seen the count indeed. Apparently, he’s been really busy lately.” [Bernardo]

“Ahh, yes, he should be very busy right now indeed. Then what about Viscount Fargutton, Viscount Danietan, and Viscount Anatoma? Do you think they’re down there?” [Reinhart]

“Who knows?” [Bernardo]

“I see… There’s a lot of people I need to show my gratitude to. By the way, are you certain(・・・), you have no leads?” [Reinhart]

As one might expect, the count has already realized that Reinhart’s ‘gratitude’ was not literally gratitude. He tried to feign ignorance, but Reinhart continued to pressure him with a smile.

“That’s odd. The construction of my new city has been going so well, and you even went out of your way to send so much help. Some few hundred people came. I’m surprised you couldn’t notice that many people leaving your territory.” [Reinhart]

Reinhart did not speak loudly, but he was a duke. A person that high up in the hierarchy had gone out of his way to approach a count.

Naturally, there would be people curious about the contents of their conversation, and there were also those scheming to form a relationship with the duke. Regardless, there were many people secretly watching the duke’s every action.

As a result…

“What are they talking about? A few hundred people?” [Noble 1]

“That many people leaving would be enough to make a village disappear. That’s a bit much even for farmers looking to work away from home, no?” [Noble 2]

“If the count was working with the duke, then it wouldn’t be too strange, but… The person himself says he doesn’t know anything about it. Did his people run away?” [Noble 3]

“The problem here really is less the reason for the migration, but the fact that the count knew nothing of the matter. How could he not notice so many people leaving? Just how does he manage his territory?” [Noble 4]

“If they did escape, why? I hadn’t heard any particular problems with that count’s management, but perhaps, things aren’t going well?’ [Noble 5]

The people eavesdropping on Duke Reinhart and Count Bernardo’s conversation started speculating among themselves in hushed voices while peeking at the count. From the fragments of the conversation that they could pick up, apparently, the situation had turned down an unfavorable road for Count Bernardo.

Moreover, a portion of the quick-eared nobles had already gotten wind of the information beforehand.

“He knows everything. He’s just acting dumb.” [Quick-Eared Noble Lady]

“Why? There’s no point to that, is there?” [Noble Lady 1]

“No. I’m sure he must believe that it would be more disadvantageous to him to admit that he knows.” [Quick-Eared Noble Lady]

“Oh, do you know something?” [Noble Lady 1]

“Yes, it’s information I’ve gotten just a few days ago, but… You know how there’s been rumors circulating that the duke’s territory isn’t in a good state?” [Quick-Eared Noble Lady]

“Yes… Reinhart-sama is still young, so I thought it was only natural that he would struggle some.” [Noble Lady 1]

“Word has it that that rumor was started by another family. Word also has it that several families conspired to gather the troublesome ones in their territories and threw them at the duke. They say people from the Dark Guild have even been employed.” [Quick-Eared Noble Lady]

“My! But now that you mention it, the rumors did feel like they were intentionally started by someone.” [Noble Lady 1]

“They used the Dark Guild? How terrifying… But if so, then that’s why the count is…” [Noble Lady 2]

Like that, speculation gave birth to new speculation, spreading like ripples among the nobles, and the people casually began to distance themselves from Count Bernardo.

No one wished to ally themselves with someone a duke has issues with.

No one wished to be mistaken for an ally of a duke’s enemy and incur the displeasure of a ducal family.

Nothing would be more troublesome than to become friendly with Count Bernardo and be caught up in the anger and vengeance of a duke.

When he realized that people were gradually giving up on him and that he was starting to become isolated, Count Bernardo kept his composure on the surface, but deep inside, he was deeply agitated and was racking his mind to look for a solution.

It was at such a time that—

“Well, tonight is a time for festivities, after all, so let’s have this conversation some other time.” [Reinhart]

—that Reinhart ended the conversation.

For a moment, surprise and happiness filled the count. There was scornful laughter for the duke there too.

“If you’ll excuse me.” [Reinhart]

“Thank you for reaching out to me.” [Bernardo]

Now that he could be leisurely again, not just on the surface, but inside as well, the count bowed deeply, and then saw Reinhart off as he left. The way he left was so peaceful and graceful no one would suspect that he had just concluded a conversation with disquieting intentions hidden within.


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18 responses to “The Man Picked up by the Gods – Volume 3 Chapter 249: An Act at the Evening Party (1/2)”

  1. Belkar Avatar
    Belkar

    Thank you!

  2. darkLoki2 Avatar

    Thanks for the chapter, the count Bruno is finished right now

    1. Chris Sizemore Avatar
      Chris Sizemore

      If this wasn’t a novel, Bruno isn’t in a bad position. As long as Reinheart can’t prove Bruno was involved in any crimes, the most he can do is dissuade others from being friendly to Bruno. In other words, Reinheart can make sure his own faction is against Bruno.

      But there should be other factions that oppose Reinheart, especially considering that Reinheart is a royalist. All Bruno would need to do is keep his head down at social gatherings, and reach out to other factions for their support. This could actually lead to Bruno being highly regarded in other factions because he found a way to annoy Reinheart without any consequences.

      Or Bruno could contact Reinheart and offer to sell the others out to save himself. The situation here isn’t desperate so I think it would be an over reaction, but stranger things have happened in reality so…

      But this is a novel, so Bruno will go down with the rest when the plot unfolds. Probably.

  3. jealyn Avatar
    jealyn

    Hahaha the battle has just began…

  4. Joe Avatar
    Joe

    Yay something new to read. Thanks for the chapter.

  5. Philip Avatar
    Philip

    [such as that that another group] -> {such as that another group} ~ maybe?

    Thanks for the update! Awesome translation! May God bless you!

    1. SchmidtNation Avatar
      SchmidtNation

      “It was in an assembly such as that that another group came” is a grammatically correct sentence. It may read a bit weird, but sounds fine when spoken aloud, there would just be a slight pause in between that and that.

      ‘It was in such an assembly that another group came’ could be used to prevent confusion without changing the meaning.

      1. Philip Avatar
        Philip

        I see. When I first read, I though the second “that” was related to “another group” thus “that another group” came there, which felt a bit weird to me.

  6. Jotaro Joestar Avatar
    Jotaro Joestar

    Bro maybe you would be interested in adding a new series? I just want to continue reading Isekai Izakaya Nobu, but xant&minions had dropped it, maybe you could pick it up?

    1. S4ty4 Avatar
      S4ty4

      Maybe you could post/float the idea on Novel Updates forum? The “Novel Pickup Request” thread to be particular

  7. SFcipher Avatar

    Thanks for the treat.

  8. Nyamachi Avatar

    Thank you for the chapter!

  9. S4ty4 Avatar
    S4ty4

    Thanks for the chapter

  10. pokeperson1000 Avatar
    pokeperson1000

    Thank you for the translation! Looking forward to part 2.

  11. HicoryDicoryDoc Avatar
    HicoryDicoryDoc

    Thanks for the chapter! It’s always really appreciated <3

  12. Comunista sedentário (@dekimasen__) Avatar

    You just made my day. Hahaha… thank you!

  13. Zax Avatar
    Zax

    Feels like he’s baiting him into doing something stupid. Thanks for the chapter

  14. Dancer Avatar
    Dancer

    That that that is that that that is causing problems is nothing new. English words are regularly repurposed in this way.

    For fun try parsing “Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo”. This a grammatically correct sentence.

    The different meanings used
    Buffalo City
    Buffalo City possessions
    Buffalo bison
    Buffalo “to intimidate”

    English is complex🦬 and loves overloaded words.

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