Chapter 157: You think the data in my hidden folders was for nothing?
.....
"Karen! You have to do your best! My life, and the lives of your mother and brother, are all in your hands!"
"Vera, you've always been the kindest since you were a child! Give it everything you've got!"
"Little sister, Brother is counting on you. You have to win!"
One after another, the aristocrats issued desperate instructions to the young women of their respective families. Seito and the others waited in silence, unhurried.
A moment later, seeing that the nobles had finished their frantic deliberations, Ranqi raised his voice: "Alright! Noble ladies, please vacate the hall. When I call your name, come forward immediately."
With those words, the guild executives escorted the ladies out.
About five minutes passed. Ranqi adjusted his attire and announced loudly: "Next up, please welcome our first contestant—Miss Karen Foster! Let's give her a big round of applause!"
Clap clap clap!
The executives broke into applause, and Seito's group followed suit. A noble lady dressed in a magnificent gown stepped forward slowly. She reached the center of the hall and performed an elegant, low curtsey toward the four "judges."
Iori Kitahara spoke up first. "Miss... Karen, was it? What talent will you be performing today? We four mentors will score you based on your overall expression. We hope you give it your best."
"Distinguished mentors, the talent I will be performing is dance," Karen said, forcing herself to remain calm.
"Please begin your performance," Iori prompted.
Karen began her routine. It was a classical dance reserved for the high nobility—fluid, graceful, and pleasing to the eye. The performance ended quickly, and Karen stood in place, her heart racing.
Ranqi stepped forward with a professional smile. "Now, let's hear the critiques from our four mentors."
Hidenori Tabata turned his head toward Seito. "Emperor Sei, what's your take?"
"Very impressive~" Seito offered a gentle smile, his eyes showing genuine appreciation as he looked at Karen. "Elegant without lacking substance. The movements were fluid, like a forest sprite dancing within a cage. Truly a daughter of nobility. I give a score of 9."
The other three nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, such an elegant dance deserves a high score. I give an 8," Hidenori stated seriously.
"I give a 9."
"I'll go with a 9 as well," Iori and Old Twenty-Eight chimed in.
Seeing the high marks, Karen and her family were visibly moved. This was a strong start.
"Excellent. Miss Karen, you may step down. Next contestant, please!"
The next noble lady walked to the center. Her face wasn't bad, but she wasn't exceptionally beautiful either. Curiously, she was wearing nothing but a bathrobe. This bizarre choice of attire caused Seito and the others to exchange confused glances.
"Miss, what talent have you prepared for us?" Seito inquired.
Without a single word, the noble lady grabbed the collar of her robe and pulled it wide open!
Seito's group: "..."
The Executives: "..."
The Nobles: "..."
Everyone present was floored. However, before anyone could even process what they were seeing, the four "mentors" slammed their scoring paddles onto the table.
10! 10! 8! 10!
Aside from Seito's 8, the other three "Men of Culture" gave her a perfect score.
Old Twenty-Eight looked at Seito curiously.
"Emperor Sei, why only an 8?"
"Let's ignore her face for a moment and focus on the physique," Seito said, looking directly at the noble lady. "This lady is roughly 185cm tall. Being a noble, her skin is impeccably maintained. However, it is precisely because of this height that she is missing one vital element."
"What element?" Everyone leaned in, hanging on Seito's words.
"Wildness!" Seito answered.
A moment of silence followed before realization dawned on everyone. They looked back at the tall noble lady and nodded slowly in epiphany. Then, they turned toward Seito with gazes full of absolute worship.
As expected of a Master among Men of Culture!
Seito offered a humble, low-key smile, his eyes appearing deep and full of hidden wisdom.
You think the "research material" in my hidden folders was for nothing?
"I have been enlightened, Emperor Sei..."
even the noble lady murmured in realization.
The show continued. One by one, the noble ladies came up to perform—singing, "fan-service" routines, classical dancing, and belly dancing. It was an all-encompassing variety show. The four mentors gave their comprehensive scores until the final performance concluded.
Ranqi stood in the center of the hall to announce the results. The tension among the aristocrats reached a fever pitch.
"I will now announce the results of the competition."
"In third place: Miss Karen!"
Karen and her family were ecstatic, though they kept their cheers hushed, sensing the gravity of the situation.
"In second place: Miss Shakina!"
Shakina was the "bathrobe" lady from the second round. She clenched her fists in excitement.
"And finally, in first place: Miss Vera!"
"Wait a moment!"
Before Ranqi could finish his sentence, Vera stepped forward, drawing every eye in the room. She stood beside Ranqi and looked directly at Seito.
"Lord Emperor Sei... I do not wish to save my family."
The hall fell into a stunned silence. Then, the members of Vera's family exploded in a cacophony of insults.
"You wench! How dare you disregard your own father?!"
"Treason! What is the meaning of this, little sister?!"
"You ungrateful—!"
"SILENCE!" Seito's roar cut through the noise like a blade.
The guild executives surged forward, delivering sharp slaps to the faces of the shouting nobles.
"Miss Vera, please continue," Seito said, his gaze fixed on her.
Vera poured out her story. Seito and the others listened, stroking their chins. They had never treated her as a human being, only as a prize to be raised and sold off to a Duke for political gain. Vera, having never known a shred of familial love, had no desire to save them.
Seito didn't offer a lecture on morality. He simply thought about it for a moment before replying.
"Very well. I accept your request."
...
Thank you for reading.