Chapter 22 - The Nail Which Sticks Out, Will Be Hammered Down (End)

One week ago.

Basil had just left the academy. He was currently going to an alchemy store to sell the downgraded version of Crystal Clear. He had made them separately to earn money.

The effect of Crystal Clear was superb, it was far superior than most of Mid-Grade Catalysts. If he were to sell it with the original potential, the world's conception would be turned upside down. He didn't want to attract that much attention yet.

Although it was downgraded, the quality was still the best among Low-Grade Catalyst. Therefore, he would reap much money by only selling it. However, Crystal Clear would be the beginning. He would sell many things to the Alchemist Association.

It was also the reason why he didn't want to hide his identity. What would people think if he were to become rich over night without knowing what he did? It would attract unwanted problems.

He could also choose to live modestly. However, why would he earn money if he didn't use it? Thus, he was extremely puzzled with people who intentionally hid their identity for the sake of 'secrecy'. People bound to figure it out someday. Better to not hide something as trivial as one's identity.

If you afraid to get hunted, be the predator! That was how he had lived his life. He had figured out modesty attracted more unwanted problems from his past life.

"Hello, Sir. What can I help you for today's visit?"

He had arrived at the most trustworthy alchemy store in Woster Region. This alchemy store belonged to the Alchemist Association, Philosopher. Upon entering it, he was quickly greeted by an attractive female assistant with revealing clothes.

"I want to sell a Catalyst."

"Oh! Please wait here for a moment, sir. I will call the chief first."

Basil merely nodded his head in response. He didn't bother to talk much. The female assistant kept sending him seductive gazes since the beginning he had entered the store.

He didn't mind it, however he knew that it was a technique developed by Philosopher to make their costumers buy their products more than necessary.

Of course, it wasn't entirely wrong. However, the reason why the female assistant sent seductive gazes was due to his undeniable attractiveness. He was aware of his attractiveness, however he was in a state of denial currently.

Not long after, a man in his late twenties showed himself. He was the store owner of the Woster Region Philosopher Alchemy Store's Chief. He approached Basil and greeted him in a polite manner.

"Good Day, Sir. I heard you wanted to sell a Catalyst?"

"Yes. I will sell them at 10 gold for each batch."

"Excuse me? May I know the grade of the Catalyst."

"It is a Low-Grade Catalyst."

"May I know how many are they in each batch?"

"15 pills in each batch."

"How many batches do you have?"

"There are ten of them."

The chief made a pondering look. He was extremely surprised when he saw that the seller he met was a young man. However, he strangely couldn't belittle him when he saw how Basil carried himself.

Although 10 gold was an abnormal price for a batch of Low-Grade Catalyst, he couldn't just dismiss it. His businessman sense was tingling. He wanted to see the product first.

"May I have a look at the product first?"

"Of course."

Basil took out a pill of Crystal Clear and gave it to the chief. He professionally took it in his hand and scratched its surface. He then mixed it with an unknown liquid and just observed the powder dissolving itself in the liquid.

"This is..."

He was taken aback. He had planned to break down the ingredients that made the pill, however he couldn't do so. Basil had put an unknown ingredient to counter the effect of the solution he had poured.

He looked at Basil and sighed in relief. His guess wasn't wrong. The seller in front of him was the real deal. Only someone good at Alchemy could do the thing Basil had done.

He quickly gulped the remaining Crystal Clear that had its part scratched. Once it entered his mouth, it quickly melt down upon making a contact with his tongue. In the next moment, he felt his mind clearer and his ability to gather Mana improved!

He looked at Basil with his eyes wide opened.

"Th-this is... Is this really a Low-Grade Catalyst?" He stuttered in amazement. However, Basil had no change in his face. He merely uttered one word, "Deal?" And the answer was immediate, "Deal!"

That Day, Crystal Clear Alpha was officially sold in the market. Thus, Basil came out of the store with a hundred gold coins in his pouch. He quickly took a turn to a herb store to buy another ingredients.

'Guide, what is the best potion to increase one's Beast Companion's potential?'

[Answering the Host's ignorance...]

[The best potion to increase one's Beast Companion's potential is Growth Potion: Hormones Rush. The only way magical beasts could develop themselves is through their natural hormonal growth. By simply having a boost in their hormones...]

The knowledge about the potion he needed to increase the potential of Deacon, who was hiding in his Infiltration Robe's hood, was quickly engraved into his mind. By the time he managed to gather all of the ingredients, the sky was already dark.

He arrived at Cobham's Manor right after the family had their dinner. No one paid any attention to his absence except of one person, Shirley. She was the only one who knew when Basil came home, along with Irene.

Aside from Shirley and Irene who stayed updated about her Young Master's endeavor, no one knew of his class advancement. It was only in the morning, by the time he had gone once again to concoct the potion for Deacon, did they know of his class advancement.

...

Then.

After an arduous week experiment, Basil had finally come back home. However, what he found on his bed was none other than his adoptive sister. He didn't know what happened, however he had the mind not to wake her up.

He might be blunt, however he wasn't rude. No need to act unfavorably toward a child who didn't know what she had been doing.

Basil had been a brat, he had been in her position once. To see the world covered in ink and bleach, was one of the phase he had been through. He had hated her through his core back then, in his younger days.

However, he was colored surprised when she had been the one who introduced him to Knight Principal, thus leading him to prominence. He had thought that she had been an arrogant brat, who regarded everyone lowly.

He couldn't see that it had been his supposed to be parents' influence that made her that way. It was when she had been matured that she had changed herself. Sadly, Basil didn't treat her kindly due to his years of grudge.

Fortunately or unfortunately, she kept being stubborn on mending their broken relationship. That was untill a particular incident happened.

"Poor girl didn't know what fate had awaited her."

Basil caressed Shirley's blond silky hair as if she were a child. He couldn't help it. He was already an 'experienced' man. Young girls like her was no more than a daughter if he had had one.

Just when he was about to retract his hand, Shirley grasped his hand tightly. He wasn't surprised, he had foreseen it. He was Basil after all!

Faintly sighing to himself, he sat down on the side of the bed and leaned himself to the bed's headrest. Their position was so close that Shirley could hug his thighs, and she did just that! His grasped hand was long forgotten.

Shaking his head, Basil wanted to close his eyes too. He was tired from the three weeks of consecutive journey. Even Deacon who was a magical beast had long gone fallen asleep on the ground, let alone him, a mere human.

He was about to close his eyes, when someone interrupted it.

"I told you she has a thing for you! Tch.. what happens to girls these days? Doesn't she know that you are already belonged to someone?!"

"Vagus..."

An exhale filled with barely concealed bitterness came out of his mouth. Vagus was unaware of it, as she kept chattering. Basil couldn't take it any longer, even his strengthened mind already had enough of her.

"Vagus, my love..."

"Hm! Y-Yes! What is it, Darling?"

He didn't have a choice. This was the only way to shut her up. He could already imagine her heart shaped eyes in his mind. He sighed once again.

"Will you accompany me in my sleep? I am tired."

"Of course, Darling. I would love to."

"Thank you."

He was sincerely thanking her. He could finally have a peace of mind. At times like this, Vagus' presence was weirdly comforting. He didn't try to think of it anymore, he had always got a chill whenever he tried to pry on it.

Quickly enough, Basil fell asleep while his body passively absorbing Mana and producing Qi.

...

Morning came and Shirley had the best sleep in her life the night before. She was strangely comforted by something. For example, the warm bolster that she was hugging currently.

'Bolster...?'

It was at this moment that she realized Basil didn't have any bolsters. He used only pillows!

She opened her eyes nervously, and she was met with someone's sleeping face. Her heart skipped a beat. It was someone who became her reason of crying in the night before. Unknowingly, tears came out of her eyes.

She wanted to apologise immediately. She had been contemplating all of her actions in the past week. The result she got was enough to wake her from her mistake. Although she had never insulted him, her action was no different than an insult.

She hugged his thigh tightly. It was quite comical, considering she really treated it as a bolster. She was looking intensely at him.

Basil had been awaken before her, however he had intentionally Forged his body on the bed. He didn't want to train his techniques where many people could see. Although it was his place to stay, he didn't really belong to here.

Being the target of Shirley's intense gaze, he finally opened his eyes and turned his head toward her. She was bawling her eyes out. Disheveled hair, red eyes, and equally disheveled clothes to complement it. From another perspective, it could cause a misunderstanding.

Shirley was about to say something, however he quickly silenced her by putting his pointer finger on her mouth. He knew what was about to come out of her mouth.

'Screw this cliche situation! This Lord doesn't want to be treated as a lolicon! At least, make it to 16 first, young lady!'

His conscience didn't let him to be hugged rather intimately by a 14 year old girl. She had to be at least 2 years older to do that!

He was realistic. He had adjusted to his youthful body. Therefore, he didn't mind to take a liking on someone at least the same age as him. Although it was admittedly hard for the current him, it was mainly because his focus on his self-development.

"Ah... I..."

Shirley kept opening and closing her mouth. She couldn't utter any words. Seeing Basil's gesture, she understood that he had somehow forgiven her. Her eyes became hotter than before.

She was extremely moved by his benevolence. She hugged his thigh even tighter and vowed to be a better person in the future. At that moment, she felt a hand on her head. Her sobbing instantly stopped. She enjoyed the feeling of her head being patted.

Basil didn't do that to calm her. He wanted to tell her to get away from him. He wanted to shower himself!

"Let's get out of bed and ready ourselves to academy."

"You are... coming?"

"Of course."

Shirley nodded her head and got out of the bed. Basil followed suit as he stood beside her. Shirley looked up at him, and only then she noticed how lacking her height compared to him. She barely reached his chest! She stood there silently without moving.

Without any regards to her thoughts, Basil exited his room with Deacon in tow. They were going to clean themselves.

Click.

The door had just been closed when Basil met someone unexpected.

"Basil, we need to talk."

There, stood Catherine Cobham, the housewife of Cobham family. She had an incomprehensible glint in her eyes.

Basil merely looked at her eyes and said casually, "Keep me out of your game, Catherine." Then, he proceeded to walk away.

Silence!

Catherine was shocked through her core! She didn't think that Basil would respond her impudently.

"Y-you, how can you treat your mother like that?!"

Basil stopped in his track and glanced at her from the corner of his eyes.

"Mother, huh?"

A cold snort unintentionally came out of him. Catherine shut her mouth instinctively. She was neither a Knight nor a Mage, therefore a pressure emitted from one of the two was enough to shut her for eternity.

"Just keep me out of your 'business'. You will naturally keep your secret as long as you don't involve me."

Her face turned pale. His words were reverberated through her mind. Secret? What secret? It was only known to the two of them currently. She quickly shut her mouth and didn't prob him any further. She stood there silently with anxiousness filled her heart.

Click.

The door opened and someone came out. It was Shirley.

"Mother? What are you doing here in front of brother's room?"

Catherine was startled, however she quickly regained her composure. Her fear stricken expression was nowhere to be found. She quickly asked Shirley back casually.

"What are you doing in his room?"

"Eh.. that is... I.. I fell asleep in his room last night."

She stuttered in embarrassment. By the end of her words, she ran away from Catherine as she couldn't bear the embarrassment anymore. Catherine who saw this merely shook her head in amusement.

"Naive."

She muttered nostalgically.

...

Four people were having a breakfast in the dining room. The mood was unusually tense that only the chief-maid dared to remain in the dining room.

"Congratulations for your class advancement... Basil."

Nicholas Cobham opened his mouth carefully. He had been observing Basil's mood since earlier. What he got was pure bafflement. The kid was so composed that it looked like he was seeing his elder!

Gulp.

He became nervous all of a sudden. He was afraid that Basil would have a grudge against him. He was a Mage too, however he was merely an ordinary Third-Circled Mage.

Compared to Basil who, according to the rumour, had a clearly higher potential than him, he was bound to be a cannon fodder in front Basil. Basil surpassing him was inevitable fate.

"Hm."

Basil didn't care less of his congratulatory. He merely nodded his head faintly and kept eating graciously.

"Thanks for the meal."

He quickly finished his food and stood up from his seat. In response, Shirley also ate in haste.

"W-wait! Let's go together!"

"Sure."

Luckily, Basil had the mind to wait for her in front of the doorway to the dining room. She quickly finished her food and also stood up from her seat.

"Let's go!" She exclaimed enthusiastically.

Basil merely nodded his head and took the lead. When he passed the doorway, Deacon quickly climbed on to his shoulder and sat there cutely.

Click.

The door closed. There were only two people in the dining room. Even Irene had also left to who knows where.

"Huuh... I see. It seems I have no choice."

Nicholas sighed heavily. His gaze was strongly planted on the door where Basil had left. His gaze was so heated it could burn the door.

"Husband..?"

"Ah, Catherine..."

"What happened?"

"It is nothing, Honey. It is nothing."

He quickly regained his composure. He was fine externally, however he was burning inside.

'The nail which sticks out, will be hammered down. You have a chance to lay low, however you have chosen to stand. What about to happen from now on is solely your fault, Basil!'

His eyes shone coldly at that thought. Then, as if knowing his thoughts, Basil smirked on his way to the academy.

'Come, and let me show you how a nail splits a hammer!'