A New Encounter (1)

"But Shirone... If you're really planning something on the island, there's a problem."

"Huh? What's the problem?"

"Actually, I planned this vacation as a couple's trip."

"Yes. My partner was supposed to come here. I should have told you beforehand. I didn't expect you to say you'd be investigating the ruins."

Shirone looked up at the dark ceiling. A couple's trip. That meant he also had to bring a partner.

"Understood. I'll bring someone."

Rian looked at Shirone in surprise. The Shirone he knew was a shy guy who blushed at the sight of women's underwear. He thought finding a partner would be the biggest obstacle and kept quiet, but Shirone easily agreed, breaking his expectations.

"You... Are you popular among women?"

"Hmm? Not really. But I have someone to ask. Actually, I've been thinking about it. If you hadn't suggested it, I would have asked first."

Rian's eyes lit up. Regardless of the intention behind Shirone's words, doesn't that mean there's a girl he's interested in?

"Haha! Our house witch will be jealous, don't you think?"

"Sister Reina? Why your sister?"

"Haha, forget it. Anyway, I'm dying to know. Who is this girl? Is she pretty?"

"Hng. She's pretty, she is... But I don't know if she'll come. Maybe she'll reject me outright."

"No way, you have to bring her no matter what. Go ask for her consent tomorrow. I'll go home and get ready in the meantime."

Shirone delayed his response. If Rian brings a partner, then he must bring one too.

But he wasn't sure. If he had to guess based on his usual personality, it was unlikely she'd scold him and reject him.

These and other concerns weighed on Shirone's heart. But at the same time, he was also excited.

It was his first trip, and it was with friends. Besides, he had heard that Galliant Island was a famous tourist spot with a southern charm.

Shirone couldn't sleep until late at night.

***

Shirone parted ways with Rian in the noble residential area. As they were leaving tomorrow, he had to find a partner today.

Since he was not familiar with the area, he had to ask around to find her house. The place he finally arrived at was a mansion far too beautiful to have been built solely for residential convenience.

This is Amy Karmis's house.

He had been friends with her at the academy, but the idea of visiting her at home made him nervous. Even the guards at the main gate looked at him suspiciously, which made him even more anxious.

"Um... Hello?"

"What brings you here?"

As Shirone approached, the guard's grip on his sword tightened. He reacted unknowingly. Through countless trials,

"Is Amy here?"

The guard's expression hardened. He had heard rumors that Amy was the subject of envy among men her age. However, few people came to her hometown to visit her.

"Excuse me, but who are you?"

"Ah, my name is Shirone. Her friend from the magic academy."

The guard looked at his superior as if he couldn't make the decision himself. Then the superior's face darkened.

Although it was certainly a rare case, it was not an unknown incident to him, who had been serving in the Karmis family for 20 years.

"Ugh, annoying. It's starting again right after the holidays."

Anyway, unless there was an order prohibiting strangers from entering the main house, he had to report it.

When the superior gestured with his chin to report it, the guard headed toward the mansion.

Shirone waited anxiously at the main gate. Meanwhile, the superior glanced sideways at Shirone.

He looked decent, and his character seemed fine, but he probably wouldn't be able to enter the mansion anyway.

So far, many men have been turned away. There have even been times when someone who was a distant relative of the royal family went home without seeing Amy.

Such a thing was unimaginable unless it was with the Karmis Family, whose name was known throughout the continent.

After about 10 minutes of waiting, a guard hurriedly rode out on horseback. Just by looking at his subordinate's anxious face, the superior could predict the outcome.

The unfortunate ones were always the guards in such situations. Because if a noble who couldn't bear rejection decided to strike them, they would have no choice but to take it.

The supervisor invented a baseless story to ease his subordinate's burden.

"How did it go? I heard there was something urgent to attend to today."

"You, come in."

"Hmm, I see. They are quite busy... huh? What did you say?"

The supervisor questioned again, doubting his ears. The reporting guard also seemed puzzled, as this was the first case of its kind.

"Well... Miss Amy told me to bring him."

"Ah, she must be at home then. That's a relief."

Shirone breathed a sigh of relief. He assumed there would be no way for him, a commoner, to enter the mansion if Amy wasn't there.

Soon after, a pink carriage arrived at the main gate. The guards paled when a kind old man, leaning on his cane, stepped out of the carriage.

It was Adel, the butler of the Karmis Family.

Upon seeing the man who came to meet him, Shirone asked the guard:

"Can I go in now?"

"Ah, yes! Welcome to the Karmis Family!"

The superior hastily saluted in a military fashion, yet he still couldn't understand the current situation.

He could accept the entry permission, but Adel? Regardless of who Shirone was, even if he was the son of a great house, there was no reason for the chief butler of the Karmis Family to come and greet him.

The only time Adel moved was during a major event in the family or when the head of the house had a guest.

'Who the hell is he? As he said, he is Miss's friend, he cannot be a guest of the head. Is there any event today? No, I haven't heard anything about that.'

Adel walked toward Shirone with his cane. Despite being the head butler in charge of the grand mansion, he had a subtle impression.

"Welcome to the Karmis Mansion. I am the head butler, Adel."

"Hello. My name is Shirone."

"I see. Forgive my question, but there is something I need to confirm before taking you to the mansion."

"Oh, what is it?"

"I need to confirm your identity. To see if you are really Shirone."

Shirone looked at Adel as if he couldn't understand.

"The young lady told me this: 'If it's Shirone, bring him.' I interpret this as: 'Only if it's Shirone can you be allowed entry.' Therefore, you must show me proof that you really are Shirone."

Shirone frowned. The words 'if it's Shirone, bring him' were nothing more than Amy's complaining tone, and at most, meant to verify if someone was impersonating him.

How much could one extrapolate from that to demand proof of identity?

"How do I prove that it's me? I am Shirone."

"I cannot be sure of that. I am the butler of the Karmis family. We have the responsibility and authority to clarify the identity of individuals entering and leaving the estate."

"Just take me to Amy...!"

Shirone stopped his words. Suddenly, Adel's friendly face felt intimidating, and an unidentified pressure descended upon his chest and back. It felt as if his organs were about to burst.

"The Karmis Family is the leading noble family that refuses to be compared to any other. And I, Adel, as the head butler, only follow the orders of the family head. Since I am personally escorting the young lady's guest, I should see courtesy befitting that."

Shirone realized why Adel was acting twistedly. Ultimately, he had to do the work of a mere butler, and that discomforted him. Despite this, Shirone couldn't show any sign of displeasure because the pressure suffocating him was growing stronger.

'Ah... this is finally starting. 'Pressure'.'

The guards empathized with Shirone. Adel, known for being meticulous, was prone to "pressuring" his subordinates even for minor mistakes.

Pressure, a technique that unnaturally amplifies emotions and disrupts the nervous system of the target.

While it doesn't cause physical pain, the gradually intensifying stress affects the body, and if fully applied, could even damage major organs. A dangerous technique.

'Ho, is he resisting this?'

Shirone was just tense and showed no significant changes. Seeing Shirone calmly absorbing the stress, Adel, frustrated, gradually increased the pressure's intensity.

Originally, he didn't intend to go this far, but he thought giving a surprise to a rude brat, who relied solely on his lineage, would be a good lesson.

Shirone realized his heart was racing. The primary cause was anger. Adel's hostility was fueling Shirone's anger.

'Keep calm. It's just an emotion. If I control it, nothing will happen.'

Like a person sinking in the sea with a heavy weight tied to them, the pressure intensified, and breathing became difficult as time passed.

However, Shirone didn't struggle and calmly ordered his feelings.

As the duration of the pressure exceeded the survival threshold, Adel trembled his lips as if he couldn't believe it.

Cold sweat ran down his forehead.

'What's wrong with this kid?'

To escape Pressure, one must amplify their emotions to the same intensity.

If it were a member of the Karmis family with their red eyes, they might be able to restore their emotions, but it was strange that Shirone, who had no memory of himself, was perfectly fine for so long.

'It's impossible to explain this just with resistance. What remains, then, is having complete control of one's own emotions.'

It was another way to destroy Pressure. But it was easier said than done.

As the saying goes, "Even flower songs become boring when repeated three times," any adult knight loses composure and becomes agitated when exposed to stress for too long. However, there was no such reaction from Shirone.

Adel had made some assumptions based on his experience. The boy could be a fool, a lunatic, or a monk.

No, even among monks, he would have to have reached the level of Vajrapani.

'A monk at the level of Diamond Indestructible? Does that make sense? He's not even twenty years old.'

Adel didn't admit it, but Adel gave the right answer.

In the realm of infinity, Shirone had gone mad countless times, an amount no human being could handle.

He grasped the Absolute Center, of which he had become aware through the process.

As long as he clung to that, he might have been able to ignore artificially generated emotions.

Adel released his Pressure. He didn't know how Shirone had resisted until now, but from now on, it was not necessary to know.

It was clear that the boy in front of him was a friend of the lady.

When Adel's face returned to a benign expression, Shirone was finally able to exhale.

It's a truly terrifying technique. If he hadn't entered the state of Indestructible Vajra (Formerly. Diamond Indestructible), his heart might have exploded.

Adel put his hand on his chest and bowed.

"Forgive me for the insolence of this foolish old man."

The guards were puzzled. They thought it was strange because Shirone's expression hadn't changed, but suddenly, the butler was humbly apologizing.

"When we return to the mansion, reprimand me for my actions. I will gladly accept any punishment. I hope you have set aside your anger."

"So the Karmis family hadn't doubted me?"

"Yes. The extensive interpretation of the instructions and putting young Shirone in danger were all my own actions. The head of the family did not set any conditions to bring Shirone back."

"Why? Did I do something unpleasant?"

Adel smiled and shook his head.

"It's quite the opposite. I have looked after Lady Amy since she was born, but this is the first time she has brought a man to the house. I was curious about what kind of person he really was, so I committed a discourtesy without even knowing the subject."

Shirone felt drained. Doesn't that mean everything he has done so far has been an act to test him?

But there was nothing he could blame him for. If you wish to visit a noble's mansion, especially the main house, you must make an appointment in advance.

Having worked for the Ogent family, Shirone knew how burdensome Adel's duty