This Novel is not my Novel

"So, it's been proven that I'm from the Information Guild, right? In that case, may I ask my question now?"

"Shouldn't we determine the price before that?"

"Wow~! You're so thorough! I absolutely love it!"

His tone was somewhat exaggerated, but there was no sign that he was speaking empty words.

I found Pret's reaction difficult to understand.

He could gain more of an advantage from a careless partner, so I didn't know why he was so happy.

I knew his personality wasn't ordinary... He's far more peculiar than he was described in the original novel.

I clicked my tongue inwardly and deactivated the 【Character Analysis】 skill that had activated on its own.

The successor to the Information Guild head, having finished his admiration, spoke his next words at that moment.

"Senior Karvaldr, what do you believe is the value of the information you hold?"

"That would depend on your purpose for obtaining that information."

"Asking what the information will be used for is taboo for an informant, you know?"

"Is that not a rule that applies when an informant sells information to a civilian? But since this situation is the opposite, it is only right to apply the rule differently as well."

"Ooh~! Could you provide a specific example?"

I could clearly read the interest on the other party's face.

Though it was rather burdensome.

Since this point had to be made absolutely clear, I began my explanation without holding back.

"If you are investigating me under someone's request, then the details I'm about to give you will fall squarely into that someone's hands. And you, in turn, will collect payment from them."

"That would likely be the case, yes?"

"Since information is not a physical object, it would also be possible to sell the same content to multiple people."

"Which means?"

"Should it not be seen that I am not selling you information, but rather granting you the sales rights to it?"

"Aha...?!"

Based on Pret's comments in the document I saw earlier and his inclinations...

He was likely investigating me to satisfy his personal curiosity, not because he'd received a request.

However, since this was merely my conjecture, it was better to be absolutely sure.

"Let's say someone profited by selling information they bought from your guild to many people. Would that, I ask, align with business ethics?"

"Absolutely not!"

"My point exactly. If a purchase is for the purpose of sale and not for personal possession, a higher price must be paid, of course. And it is only proper that I be paid a certain percentage of the income earned each time a sale is made."

"To sum it up, you're asking me to pay you a royalty, aren't you?"

It seems the concept of a royalty exists in this world, too.

Then again, in a world where Dubai Chewy Cookies exist, what couldn't?

"But if I were to say I'm acquiring the information for the purpose of sale... you'd plan on jacking up the price while refusing to share the full details, is that it?"

"You speak the obvious. Who on earth would spill their deepest personal secrets, knowing full well they'll be sold everywhere? Is that not why I gave you prior notification? That I would only sell information I am comfortable sharing."

"Then what if the purpose isn't for sale, but to satisfy personal curiosity? Would the price be lower and the explanation more detailed?"

Seeing him react that way, it seemed he was indeed investigating me to resolve his personal curiosity, just as I expected.

Even as I thought that, I deliberately showed a suspicious reaction.

"You're not planning to beat the price down now, only to take a request later and sell it, are you?"

"We could reach an agreement on that when the time comes..., uhm......"

Before I could even reply that I had no intention of agreeing, Pret trailed off and fell into thought.

And before long, he came to the following conclusion.

"I won't sell it later, either."

According to the original novel's setting, Pret was an extremely loyal person, so I figured he would naturally never sell my personal information carelessly.

Still, I hadn't expected him to affirm it on the spot like this.

Pret had said he liked me, but we hadn't known each other long enough for a firm sense of allegiance to form between us.

I thought it would take a little more time... Is this the power of an Influence/Inspiration Event?

What's more, as he uttered that last remark, he even dropped a hint about his true identity.

Whether it was intentional or a mistake was something I would have to confirm from now on.

But regardless of the answer, I had to assume that Pret had certainly opened his heart to me.

"Do you mean to say you will reject the request, even if someone commissions your guild?"

"Isn't that what not selling it means?"

"You truly mean that?"

"Yeees, that is what I mean."

"Meaning, you have the authority to reject a request made to the guild?"

"Aha...? I guess it does end up meaning that, doesn't it?"

He looked clearly surprised, but there was absolutely no hint of him being flustered.

His face maintained a smile, showing admiration and interest, so it seemed dropping the hint was intentional.

Judging by the atmosphere, it seems he did it on purpose to test me...

As I stood there with a reluctant expression, wondering whether I should respond or not...

Pret noticed and pressed me.

"Senior, why the silence? Didn't you figure something out about me?"

"...Is it not better for you as well if I pretend not to know?"

"Nope. Not knowing isn't the issue, it's 'pretending' not to know, which means you do know. I prefer to make things clear rather than glossing them over."

"I don't think that's something for the person who dropped the hint on purpose to say..."

"You think I did it intentionally? Then why did you say pretending not to know would be good for me? Weren't you just the one who wanted to pretend? It's a bit too late for that, though!"

"......"

"It seems Senior Karvaldr has a strong sense of curiosity, just like me!"

For some reason, I ended up being treated as the same kind of person.

I hadn't delved into his identity because my curiosity was piqued.

I already knew who he was; I had only probed lightly to grasp his intentions.

Should I just have ignored it, whether it was a mistake or not...?

Regret washed over me, but as Pret said, it was already too late.

Now that it has come to this, I have to at least find out why Pret is doing this.

Not out of curiosity, like a certain someone, but to fulfill my duty as the narrator.

"Even if your 【Disguise】 skill is an ability that can change your appearance... it would be difficult to maintain that skill all day long, and considering you also have to undergo combat training... this must be your true form, correct?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Even assuming you reached a high position because your ability is exceptionally outstanding, it would be impossible for a mere guild member to hold such authority. And even more so, given how young you are."

"Right, totally impossible."

"In that case, you are... either the person designated as the successor to the Hrafnin Information Guild, or the child of the current head. Or both."

This was neither deduction nor anything of the sort.

It was merely a story I'd roughly cobbled together based on what I knew from reading the original work.

And yet—.

"Aha!! You got it spot on! The very last thing you said is the correct answer! I'm the current head's successor and his biological son~!"

Judging by that reaction, the examiner of this test seemed quite satisfied with my answer sheet.

My mood, on the other hand, soured.

Still, I had to ask what I needed to ask.

"Why on earth did you reveal such a fact to me?"

"Why do you think?"

"Am I not asking precisely because I do not know?"

"Aha~! So you don't know this one, huh?"

"If you have no intention of telling me, then don't bother."

I refuse any further tests.

After all, if he intended to tell me, he would start rambling on his own without me even asking.

If not, he would keep his mouth firmly shut even if I begged and pleaded with him.

That was why I adopted an attitude that showed I wouldn't be disappointed even if I didn't hear the reason.

And just as I expected, he opened his mouth on his own and revealed his intention.

"As the successor, I also hold personnel authority. In that sense, I'm telling you... Senior Karvaldr, have you any thoughts on joining our guild?"

To think he'd suddenly make a job offer at this timing.

It was a truly unexpected remark, to say the least.

Thus, my flustered state was a perfectly natural reaction.

"Wait, what, so suddenly...? Why on earth??"

"Senior Karvaldr, you first showed a serious attitude toward information that tugged at my heartstrings, and now you're trying to backpedal?"

"Don't speak nonsense. That was merely to secure the deal in my favor; you should know I hadn't the slightest intention of tugging on your heartstrings."

"Aha! That's true. But I liked it anyway, you know?"

"For such a trivial reason, you reveal that you're the successor to the head of the Information Guild and his biological son, and then make a recruitment offer?"

This situation was truly absurd.

Thus, even though I snorted contemptuously and jeered, he did not withdraw his proposal.

"You need to get your facts straight, right? I didn't reveal it, you figured it out, Senior. Based on a small hint you could have easily overlooked."

It wasn't that I figured it out; I knew because I'd read the original novel.

Regrettably, however, that was information I could not reveal.

But I couldn't just remain silent without offering any counterargument.

The atmosphere was such that I felt I might be sloppily recruited as an informant, so I had to say something.

"You have not forgotten that I am a direct descendant of the Austri Ducal Family, I trust?"

"That's exactly why I proposed it. The higher your social status, the easier it will be to obtain confidential information that ordinary people can't even approach, right? And you won't arouse suspicion of being affiliated with the Information Guild."

"...Even if my status is high. You should also be aware that I have no such authority to access anything that could be called confidential information."

"But you can approach the people who do have such authority, can't you?"

"Just because I can approach them does not mean I can extract the information I desire, does it?"

"That's not a problem! Because Senior Karvaldr would be more than capable of doing it!"

For some reason, Pret answered immediately, without even a hint of hesitation.

My personality—to say nothing of the original Karvaldr's—was far from sociable.

I had absolutely no idea who could have instilled such ridiculous confidence in this boy.

"...Why do you think that?"

"I mean, Senior, you've gone beyond just becoming close with someone you relentlessly tormented. Your ability to captivate others' hearts is so outstanding that you even extracted a vow from him to save you no matter what, right?"

The mystery was solved in an instant.

But the content wasn't something I could accept.

"That is because Reisir is a peculiar individual. He holds absolutely no grudges, to the point he can completely let go of past resentment after a few mere words of apology, and he's under the ridiculous misunderstanding that I tormented him because I wanted to befriend him... Besides, Reisir does not act that way only toward me."

"Senior Reisir acts like that with other people too...?"

"If you believe that not to be the case, it is likely because you do not know enough about him yet. Reisir is the kind of person who spouts cheesy lines left and right once he thinks he's gotten somewhat close to someone. No, he's the type of person who says such things easily even if they aren't close. Did you not also see that scene last Monday, where Reisir was acting like he was hitting on Senior Lissy in the name of comforting her?"

To correct his misconception, I brought up the incident from Chapter 179.

At that, the following muttering escaped Pret's lips.

"Now that you mention it, that does seem to be the case...? Should I perhaps investigate Senior Reisir more thoroughly?"

He seemed to be convinced.

I hadn't planned for this kind of situation, but I thought I'd done well to push Reisir into comforting Lissy.

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