Chapter 94: Genius Lost in Light (3)
uMKY2abAlpheas adored her for that. Even though her intelligence was that of a ten-year-old, her way of thinking wasn’t. She always thought ahead, considering how he would feel if he didn’t win the award, and that brought tears to his eyes.bQY
D7D“Honey, I”4Rkw
K66A4kQWith trembling hands, Alpheas took out the golden medal.2Xo0X2Z
8VRcW“I did it! I won it! The Gold Circle Award!”2SB
UtrZzR0Erina, always calm and composed, couldn’t help but have her radiant eyes shimmer with emotion. The day Alpheas always talked about had finally come.IGouT8Z
cJwQdNe“Congratulations. I knew you would win.”lLEcm
hMz“Erina, it’s all thanks to you. Everything is because of you. Come here, let me put it on you.”Qz4
UtsX3n7Alpheas believed that the true recipient of the Gold Circle was Erina. Of course, the straightforward Klumph didn’t understand this. He thought Alpheas was admirable for deciphering the profound meaning behind Erina’s childlike words. But Alpheas knew. The small ideas that came from Erina’s mind would become the key codes responsible for the future of humanity.MeH
wgTP6J“This award belongs to you. Your thoughts amazed the world.”FWiHQ
OyM28As Alpheas approached her with puckered lips, Erina stepped back like a shy bride.LP3wf1A
VqZM“Let’s eat first. Come quickly.”KpziYDk
e4O3Jd“Ah, sorry. Klumph has arranged a party, so I need to go. I’ll eat later.”2m22
s1S“Ah, is that so?”se7
8tRlErina couldn’t hide her disappointment this time. Noticing this, Alpheas playfully picked her up in his arms.aVUn
s6D“That’s why we need to save time for dinner.”1Rsg1
SmUC“Kyaa!”jiUZNFc
zAPBxAlpheas carried Erina upstairs, bounding up the steps.uIq
nq6jXvc“Wait a minute! The bread will burn.”nLc2
8Mu2“Let it burn! Otherwise, I will!”Y7vJl
sRmvKwAfter Alpheas’s award, dozens of invitations flew in daily. They were all from notable nobles and institutions. Mingling with everyone meant mingling with no one. By declining all but the necessary connections and increasing his value, his reputation spread quickly. As part of this strategy, Alpheas was leaving for a dinner hosted by the Alchemy Foundation today, a crucial event as they handled 40 percent of the magic material logistics.It6UB
NBIvrdvUnaware of this, Saroph and his friends had been camping outside Alpheas’s house since before sunset, anxiously waiting for the evening.Yt35n
UY8hjSaroph sighed.dsB7SD
NV7“Ah, this hurts my pride.”as70
uw3yS5y“Is pride the issue? His value rose too high. Alpheas is not just a skilled magician. We should have seen it coming.”vT1V1
bGccSaroph was filled with regret. He should have mingled with the crowd and resolved any lingering resentment when Alpheas won the Gold Circle Award. Just a month after the award, Alpheas’s fame was intimidatingly high, all thanks to his excellent political acumen. Now that Alpheas was selective about his company, the chances for Saroph to wedge in were slimming.vBuro
jItgxp‘Why does nothing ever go right?’8tuyY
DbK5lIt was a question without an answer. At least having friends around made the embarrassment bearable.8mw4jV
jfQA“We should go in. I’ll do the talking.”yTwac
ETroZSaroph led the way, knocking on Alpheas’s door.NN3WT
drNsKo“Is Alpheas there? It’s Saroph.”OKINz
GdYL34bUnexpectedly, Erina opened the door.BGkcRn
NlCE1s“Who is it?”b813N
dPgu“Ah, the lady of the house. You might not remember, but I’m Saroph, Alpheas’s classmate. Is Alpheas home?”AzBO
na51Em“No, my husband is out. At the Alchemy Foundation.”w5d
v18L0rpSaroph knew about the dinner. It wouldn’t last long since it wasn’t a drinking affair. He thought it worked out well and politely said,dQxQze
4BsAZdA“Then, if it’s not too much trouble, may we wait inside? We don’t want to attract public attention…”KZ5
4hIdStanding outside would certainly lead to gossip.2qW6GY
Euwms3“Yes, come in.”XDZdjC
RXkSaroph and his friends sat in the living room, rubbing their hands nervously. Seeing their plight, Erina called them to the dining table, offering snacks and drinks.180oT4
7gotQ“Have something to eat. My husband will eat there.”1lmX
KxUBoO“Thank you. You’re very kind.”uzJvy
G2rNqESaroph felt awkward, regretting not bringing a gift. He had bought one, but his pride made it unbearable to carry it.Gu80n1
rOAz4KIn his mind, it wasn’t a matter of skill. Despite Alpheas and Erina’s families cutting ties, their first-class status must have influenced the evaluation.dJPp
MwbeL7With those thoughts, the alcohol hit him quickly. Initially tensed, they relaxed once they perceived Erina’s intellectual level.OLR2Zdu
nSEAcn“I tell you! I was once called a genius. Me, it was me!”uqaoWU
jTouSVW“It’s so unfair! Some work hard and get nowhere, while others use connections to rise! Magic is dead!”rPv
VwwHearing his friend, Saroph’s eyebrow twitched. The target was none other than Alpheas. But he let it pass. After all, Erina wouldn’t understand their conversation. Suddenly, the drink tasted sweeter. Maybe, for the first time, he had beaten Alpheas by being able to loudly criticize him in front of his wife.WKg4su
QveMRSaroph scooped up more courage and addressed Erina.TZHs
EB0QenZ“Right, don’t you agree, sister-in-law? Magic, you see, isn’t just about skill. You agree with me, don’t you?”KUND
8CM“Yes, I don’t really know.”yw1KyU
DxvqFk“Haha! Of course, you wouldn’t know. But it’s true, all of it.”KJ7UACq
r9bfYSaroph savored a sense of victory. He had criticized Alpheas and even mocked his wife. His friends, sensing Saroph’s intention, joined in, banging on the table.24oj
qSn4“Sister-in-law, since the mood is set, why don’t you sing us a song?”N3IZV6
XDWJ“Yes! Let’s celebrate Alpheas’s success with a song.”RQk5vkF
V4TmErina’s smile stiffened. People think if someone’s intelligence is lacking, they don’t understand anything. But reading emotions has always been the burden of the underdog. Erina was aware that Saroph and his friends weren’t being kind; they were tolerating her only because she was Alpheas’s wife.YAzLU
LQCB“In my hometown, when the wheat ripens…”Xuc
79LL0As Erina started singing, Saroph and his friends clapped and whistled. Even as they made fun of her, she bravely continued with a trembling voice.xIhe
crwQSvBut before she could finish three lines, a cold voice cut through from the living room.nDO1
gjjJT“What are you doing right now?”xzr
u8aEveryone turned their heads. Alpheas stood there, his face red, fists clenched. Saroph sobered up instantly. Coming to his senses, he realized what he was doing.nBa
lBQPkW“Sorry, it seems we drank too much.”HOVohP
5UP22sI“You bastard!”h4uU7t
LGqAlpheas rushed over and swung his fist. Saroph, hit squarely in the face, tumbled to the floor. His friends stood up, yelling.N9n
7JHX“Alpheas! What a violent act! No matter how angry you are…”IZK
vKE“No, it’s okay. Let it be.”oJQ8jc1
s8OKtSaroph raised his hand to stop his friends. He felt ashamed. Was he just a loser who found comfort in mocking the wife of a rival?Yeih
9r4x2q“Get out, before I kill you. Leave my house right now!”8DOuGY3
XZsmOiq“Sorry about today. We won’t bother you again.”UQ8a8n
W5gqAdSaroph and his friends were kicked out of Alpheas’s house. The living room, now devoid of the unwanted guests, was eerily silent. Alpheas was unable to contain his rising anger, knowing why they made Erina sing.GIFtKy
hNW6fY“What happened? Why were those jerks here?”TiB4UT
k8Lp2NdErina, terrified, couldn’t speak. It was the first time she had seen her husband so angry.p1n
h98“Tell me! Why did you let those bastards in?”unyov
cntmGo“Sorry. I thought you’d be happy, they being your friends…”NtCX
MTND“What are you talking about? Why would those jerks be my friends? Can’t you even tell who my real friends are? And you just sang for them? You’re really a fool!”khB
K7kESMAlpheas turned away abruptly, his face contorted with regret. He had blurted out words he vowed never to use, words that should never be spoken.FZ8yh3
ZcqPaE‘I’m such a despicable person. I’m not even fit to be a husband.’4lS
WedhPHe wished he could turn back time, but it was too late. Even if he could, he wasn’t sure if he wouldn’t have said the same thing again. His anger was uncontrollable.liWarX
0NY“Forget what I just said. It was my mistake.”d5uc
CaYmvGQ“I’m sorry, honey. I won’t do it again.”ExZ
fQo6yEzErina’s apology made him feel even worse. She had no reason to apologize. But then, where should he direct this frustration?ASO
2t0“I’ll go out for some air. I’ll be fine after some time. Sorry. You go to bed first.”1kzB6
cTLAlpheas left the house. That was the only way he could rationally deal with the situation.LjX
C2PTAt Klumph’s inn, Alpheas drank all night. He couldn’t get drunk. As the alcohol’s effect grew, Saroph faded from his memory, and only the hurt he might have caused Erina lingered.hKGiSIj
GT537“Damn it. I’m a scumbag. I don’t deserve to be a husband. She trusted and followed me, and I spoke to her like that.”pqr7k
HjhKlumph looked pitifully at him. He understood Alpheas’s anger as a man, but still felt it was a mistake.1r9
eNP“Marital fights are like cutting water with a knife. You have a bright future ahead, and the worst is over. Maybe today’s incident will bring you closer?”shCtiy
XAAgJXAlpheas remained silent, prompting Klumph to bring up a long-considered suggestion.P0LRd
kdSy“Why not have a child?”CxM
35noJYuAlpheas’s eyes sparkled momentarily, but then he shook his head sadly.35TwlHy
9f0jKlumph, guessing the reason, widened his eyes in surprise.6QUTW
hWA“You mean to say? You never…?”hXAE4sr
D7V6m“What nonsense? We’re a married couple. No matter how young Erina is, she knows what she needs to.”VDbT
6hPgrLxKlumph smirked.KfD
kVABeAJ“Who’s talking about her? Maybe you’re the problem, being so feeble. Hahaha.”UGCDQK
jvRNot in the mood to laugh, Alpheas sullenly gulped down his drink.k8fVtD
K0DJOTKlumph sighed.2ymB
Px8Avy“What’s the problem then? Just have a child and live happily.”CYj
zlpbh7w“Erina… I’m not sure if she can have a child.”4h9kW
GIG1i“Why? Is she ill?”iKmQs
Gzkis“No. It’s just that… childbirth is terribly painful, and I don’t know if Erina can endure it. And there’s the issue of raising a child.”4WNV
lASVqdKlumph sighed as he grasped the situation. The problem was whether a woman with the intelligence of a ten-year-old could endure childbirth. Intelligence is a great control over humanity. Knowing and unknowingly enduring pain are worlds apart.Wxa1
sc56“Alpheas, I hate to say this, but you knew this when you decided to marry her.”UNU
qmAXK2“Yes, I know. I don’t regret it. Really, I don’t. I can’t live without Erina. Without her, no honor means anything.”Nkwf
YiSsKlumph downed a couple of drinks in quick succession. He felt suffocated, thinking about what Alpheas must be going through.Q1Mud
OjV4ESi“So, what are you going to do? It’s not like you to just moan about problems. You’re too smart for that.”OXMa6mC
IoaqmjTAlpheas twirled his drink, deep in thought. Suddenly, his eyes sparkled with intelligence, a sharp contrast to his intoxicated state.kSxh
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