"Young Master Vaan." Roland greeted him when he saw Vaan walking into the room.
Seeing that, Vaan's mouth twitched.
'Why is everyone related to that bitch always acts like a bitch?'
He didn't like how Roland greeted him without standing up. Although Vaan wasn't someone stuck up about manners and things like that, being disrespected like this was unfortunately not one of his hobbies.
"Roland."
Vaan greeted back as he sat on the chair in front of Roland.
Honestly, Vaan was getting used to this guest room now. That was how many times he had used it.
'Haah… why am I so popular…'
Vaan sighed.
"It has been a while since we last met, Young Master." Roland started.
Vaan nodded, yes, the previous Vaan had met the Simp General before. Honestly, if the previous Vaan wasn't such a fool, it was easy to tell that the Simp General didn't like him, although he acted like he respected him on the front, from his actions, it was clear that he actually looked down upon him.
"Right, I remember Sera introducing you. She said you were quite useful."
Vaan nodded as he looked forward to Roland's reaction with a curious smile on his face.
"What…?"
And just as he thought, he got a reaction.
Roland was a handsome 22-year-old man, his silver hair gave him a unique charm, combined with his black, clear eyes, his features were definitely one of the sharpest Vaan had seen ever since he came to this world.
Of course, he was still far away from him, Vaan knew that he was much more handsome, however, he also knew that if he compared everyone with him, the best rating anyone would get would be 'average looking'.
That was just how handsome Vaan regarded himself as.
Narcissist? Maybe.
But Vaan has worse qualities than simple narcissism, so he didn't mind.
"Hmm?" Vaan tilted his head in confusion.
"What are you trying to imply, Young Master Vaan?"
"Huh? Why would I 'imply' anything? I am just saying what Sera told me after you lef-
Ah, I shouldn't have said it, huh…"
Vaan 'realized'.
"Young Master Vaan, please do not say things carelessly, I know Lady Seraphina for quite a long time now, she is not the type of person you are implying her to be."
"I never said anything about Sera though."
"Lady Seraphina and I are close friends, you saying that I am useful to her can be taken as you trying to cause a rift between our frie-"
"Look here, hot shot.
Two things,
First, I don't have any reason to cause a 'rift' in your friendship, if I wanted to do that, I wouldn't need to 'imply' these dumb things. I can simply ask Sera and she would throw you away. Just like how we throw a tool that is no longer useful.
Second, who told you that I give a fuck about what you think? 'It can be taken as you trying to cause a rift in our friendship', you think I care what you take it as? You can take it in your ass for all I care.
How did you think you became important enough to even talk like that? Aren't you from the Frostmoon family? You guys actually think you are important? That's a surprise."
"At least I am not someone who was born into the prestigious Vesta Family and still turned out to be a waste. If you think Lady Seraphina would choose you over me, then you are deeply mistaken, Young Master.
Other than your family name, you have nothing going on for you."
"A useless waste of the Vesta Family who has nothing going on for me yet Sera still contacts me even when she has the great magic prodigy of the Frostmoon family around her. Heh, you really think being good at magic is all that huh…
What a fool!"
Vaan laughed out loud.
"…"
Roland turned silent.
"What? Why are you silent now? Did you seriously never think about this? Lady Seraphina this, Lady Seraphina that, heh, aren't you just a dog who craves Sera's attention while she still only has me, her childhood friend in her eyes? Honestly, if I were in your position, I would have been so embarrassed that I would have run away."
"She only keeps you around because you come from the Vesta Family." Suddenly, Roland spoke up. "You can give her the things she wants and your family is rich, that is the only reason why she keeps you around. The fact that you can't see this even after so many years had passed tells how foolish you are."
"So you are saying that even I am just a tool in her eyes?"
"That is correct, you are not any speci-"
"Then who do you think is a more important tool between the two of us?"
A big smile appeared on Vaan's face.
Roland's expression changed.
"You, who is a so-called Magic Prodigy who 'might' become a great mage in the future, or will it be me, who is the direct heir of the Vesta Family and can give Sera whatever she wants for the rest of her life?"
"Isn't it obvious that she will choose a future 7th Circle Mage?" Roland replied.
"Heh, the fact that you say you will become a 7th Circle Mage when you fully know you will never make it, is kinda amusing.
But who are you trying to fool?
Doesn't Seraphina know the truth as well?
Or are you just trying to fool yourself to live in a delusion?"
"W-What truth are you talking about?" Roland stuttered as she thought about something.
Soon, however, he shook his head.
Vaan shouldn't know this.
This was most like a fluke, Vaan was just calling him out to feel better. It was all a bluff and Roland had no reason to act out right now.
"Heh, I wouldn't want to hear this from someone who sexually harassed Lady Seraphina, if you were so confident that she was going to choose you, then why would you do something like that?
Or was it because you were scared that someone like me would take Lady Seraphina away from you and acted in urgency?"
"Ahh, so is that why you are here? The rumors? If you don't know, those rumors are obviously fake. A pathetic attempt to drag my reputation down. If I had actually done something like that, there would have been evidence to back those claims, or Sera herself would have come forward to accuse me."
"Who in the right mind would directly accuse you, the 'mighty' Young Master of the Vesta Family? Obviously there was no 'evidence' found." Roland snorted.
"Did you just imply that I would use my family influence to get rid of the evidence?" Suddenly, Vaan narrowed his eyes.
When Roland realized what he just said, his expression changed.
"Roland, if the Vesta Family was like that, then you wouldn't be here, daring to talk to me like this. The fact that someone of your standing was bold enough to directly come to the Vesta House and request a meeting with me was only possible because the Vesta Family is fair. Even your father wouldn't have the guts to come here if the Vesta Family was like what you mentioned.
We have our differences, I agree, but you better be careful of the shit that comes out of your mouth.
Vesta Family is fair, but by no means, are we kind.
Don't give me a reason to destroy you before you yourself get the chance to do it."
Vaan looked into Roland's eyes and threatened with a cold look on his face.
"…"
This time, Roland had no answer.
He might have the guts to antagonize Vaan, however, the Vesta Family was different, he couldn't offend the Vestas, especially when he holds a deep secret of his own.
Roland clenched his fists in frustration.
He couldn't believe that this pushover dared to humiliate him like this.
'You bastard… so what if you are from the Vesta Family, aren't you still just a trash!? How dare to talk like this in front of someone like me!?'
Roland then glared at Vaan and,
"I heard there were some reckless youngsters who came here before me since they didn't like the rumors that were spread and challenged the Young Master to a Magic Duel."
"There were some fools like that, fools who think that even if I did do something, they would be able to exact revenge on their goddess, 'my' close childhood friend.
Of course, I sent them away because I do not have the time and energy to entertain fools like them.
I only came here because I thought you were different from them, you know since they called you Magic Prodigy and whatnot, but I guess I should have treated you in the same way.
What a waste of time."
Roland's face twitched when he heard those words, he however, kept a straight face and,
"Why didn't you just accept their Magic Duel to shut them up?"
"There are thousands of people who want to challenge me, you want me to fight all of them? I don't know about you, but I have better things to do in life."
"Oh? But if you crush them a few times, I don't think they would ever come at you like the way they are doing right now.
Just like me, no 3rd Circle mage or weaker dares to challenge me to a Magic Duel.
I wonder why Young Master hasn't done it yet, it is such an efficient solution- wait…
Young Master isn't scared, is he?"
