Chapter 164
Chapter 164
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: An Unwanted Guest
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The next day, at Heidi's mansion.
Beonald began swinging his sword again early in the morning, sweating profusely.
Too ashamed to admit he had been defeated by a single intruder the day before, he had claimed he had merely fled. As soon as he woke up, he headed straight to the training ground.
"Hoo… hoo… hup!"
"Oh? Did Lord Beonald arrive first today? That's unusual."
"Ah, Heidi, is it? I've been neglecting my sword practice lately and felt I was becoming lazy. Hoo~ Care for a spar?"
"Yes, I'd be delighted!"
Heidi responded to Beonald's suggestion with a bright expression, immediately fetching a practice spear.
And soon, the two exchanged formal bows with unedged practice weapons and began their match.
It was a pure spar—they raised their auras but held absolutely no intent to kill. They clashed weapons, testing each other's skill, strength, and speed. Beonald quickly gauged Heidi's level.
"Hmm!"
'Now… the gap has grown so wide that her deliberate holding back is becoming obvious!'
Kwang!
Beonald tried mixing in feints and employing some technique, but Heidi's eyes seemed to see through his intentions. She broke through, swung her spear, seized the initiative, and pressed Beonald down.
There was a difference in talent, but the gap between her, who had fought fierce battles hunting all sorts of monsters, and Beonald, who had advanced through effort alone, had now grown to a level that was difficult to close.
But this was a fact he already knew. Moreover, if Heidi was stronger, it was actually good—it meant he now had a training partner he could go all out against. Beonald didn't mind.
'…Hmm, this isn't bad in its own way. Having someone superior to me who can serve as a training partner without worry is the optimal environment. Going forward, continuing to have training sessions with her could…'
"Lord Beonald! Lord Beonald! A terrible situation! It's an emergency!"
His pleasant thoughts were cut short as a butler working at the mansion came running, delivering urgent news.
Regrettably, Beonald stopped the spar and headed toward him to hear the urgent matter.
He tried to think of what could be so urgent as to make someone run breathlessly from this early in the morning, but nothing came to mind.
"…Just when it was getting good. What is it? What urgent matter could have occurred now?"
"W-well… a guest has…"
"Didn't we say guests would be received after breakfast? It's not time yet, is it?"
"N-not just any guest… I-it's… His Imperial Majesty has come to visit."
"…What?"
His words struck Beonald like a blow to the head.
The Emperor was here? What nonsense was this?
Surely, around this time, the man should be busy dealing with the food shortage that had struck the capital. Why would he come all the way here?
Moreover, that Emperor's disposition was one of extreme rationalism and logic.
So, him coming here made no sense whatsoever, and Beonald couldn't help but flare up in anger.
"…Are you sane? What time do you think it is, for him to come here? Is it an imposter?"
"I-I couldn't believe it either, but… the Imperial seal matches, and there's even a letter… and Sir Legion, the Captain of the Imperial Knight Order, is accompanying him…"
'Damn it! What the hell is going on?'
He thought that even someone like Jerado Calleum wouldn't leave his post during a national crisis, but this time, he felt a proper blow to the back of his head.
Frankly, even for Beonald, he could only anticipate events within the bounds of common sense. Predicting such a variable was nearly impossible.
"Heidi! Take Vesia and Sein and evacuate to the western forest ruins immediately. Pretend you're going hunting, and don't forget to hide Vesia's appearance in a sack or somewhere. Just getting inside is enough. Wait there until I come personally. Trust no one."
"Huh? Ah, yes! Understood!"
"Good. Hoo~ You, go wake up Selina, who's probably sleeping after staying up all night again, and inform the Valderian mansion of this fact. I'll handle the reception."
"Yes! Lord Beonald."
However, no matter how unexpected the situation, dealing with it was another story.
Even if flustered, Beonald's life as a noble was not so simple that he couldn't devise countermeasures.
He took the necessary actions, washed up quickly, dressed neatly, and headed to the guest room prepared within the mansion.
And as soon as he entered, he knelt and paid his respects to the seated Emperor.
"I apologize for being late to receive Your Majesty."
"Raise your head. Rather, I am the one in the sorry position. I came here incognito without prior notice."
"The Empire belongs to Your Majesty. How could surveying your own domain be wrong? On the contrary, I am grateful that you have graced this humble place with your presence. It will be an honor for this small mansion."
"Hahahaha! Those are kind words."
Beonald poured out flattery without a single hitch. Even though the visit was rude, his tongue, which packaged it as an honor, was no different from the cunning of a snake.
However, the Emperor was no pushover either. While smiling outwardly and accepting the flattery, inwardly he looked at Beonald with an even colder, more wary gaze.
Of course, the same was true for Beonald.
"Anyway, the reason I came so suddenly… Interesting rumors have spread even to the Imperial capital."
"What rumors might those be?"
"Your territorial management skills. The contents were utterly unbelievable. That in less than a year, you turned a rural village into a city, that finances have become abundant, that you foresaw the food shortage by noticing the actions of the Garkan Republic's Duke… Things like that. So I came to verify personally."
'In other words… I was too competent and drew his wariness. Well, such things aren't something just anyone can do. Ah~ Being too good is also a problem~ Well, nothing can be done about it.'
Beonald felt the situation had become complicated because his own excellence had raised the Emperor's guard, but his mood was good.
How could he deliberately perform poorly? Moreover, every minute and second of the process up to this point had been too precious, so he had to give his all.
But the joy was brief. Beonald regained his composure and addressed the Emperor.
"This adds another honor. That you praise my lacking skills so… I truly don't know what to do with myself."
"Hmph, you're overly modest. Anyway, it's a pity I only learned of your true capabilities now. Had I known you were such an outstanding treasure… I should have just married you off to Zelcy back then."
'Hmm, deliberately mentioning Zelcy? Then… has he gotten a sense about Vesia?'
"Well, let's leave the formalities here and get to the main point. You, have no thoughts of coming to the capital? Using that ability for the entire Empire would be better than exercising it in this small city."
Faced with this headhunting proposal, Beonald pondered briefly to understand the intent behind the question.
On the surface, it was an offer: having seen this level of skill, he would acknowledge it and help him play in bigger waters, so come. But Beonald thought there must be some ulterior motive. Furthermore, now that he had even found his own ruins, he had no intention of leaving this Valderian territory, so he decided to politely decline.
"I am grateful for your words, but due to various issues, I'm afraid I cannot accept that command. First, I must uphold my loyalty to Count Valderian, who recognized my worth. Also, even if it's a small city, I find it good that I can cultivate it with my own hands. Moreover, there's the issue that I, still young, lack the dignity to suddenly assume a high position. So, perhaps after more time has passed, but for now, I believe I am not suited for such a position."
"Hmm……."
It was an all too reasonable and logical objection. No matter how capable he was, how many would readily follow the words of a youngster not even twenty years old if he rose to a high position?
Unless he had strong family power or personal influence, with only the Emperor's backing at best, it would be difficult to exercise his abilities.
Furthermore, the other reasons were sufficiently reasonable, so the Emperor pretended to be convinced. But even so, he couldn't just back down.
"Is that so? There isn't any other reason, is there?"
"Nothing else comes to mind at the moment, Your Majesty."
The Emperor applied pressure implicitly, but Beonald was not someone such tactics would work on.
Though his appearance was young, in terms of actual experience, Beonald had accumulated more than the Emperor before him.
With not a hint of agitation, it was rather the Emperor who grew impatient. But he, too, had no intention of yielding quietly, so he decided to execute his next strategy.
"Then there's nothing to be done. I can't force you if you refuse. Haha, what a waste, a real shame."
"I also think it's truly regrettable, Your Majesty."
"Then I have no choice but to stay and learn directly."
'…What insane nonsense is this?'
The ruler of the Empire, the Emperor, abandoning his perfectly fine Imperial Palace and direct territories in the capital to stay in someone else's territory? What kind of nonsense was this?
It was among the top most nonsensical statements, so even the mighty Beonald couldn't help but be taken aback.
And seeing him flustered by this irrational, illogical move, the Emperor finally felt he had found an opening and was pleased.
'Even I think it's nonsense… but I have to throw down a card of this magnitude to shake him. There's no choice.'
Of course, the Emperor was also aware that what he said was nonsense.
But against this person named Beonald, rational cards were too obvious. Realizing that, he knew that to shake him, he had to use irrationality in a calculated way, understanding that an irrational opinion could be rational, and thus threw it out without hesitation.
Extremes meet. He demonstrated that an extremely rational person could also use irrationality rationally.
"Your Majesty's noble intention to endlessly train for the sake of the Empire truly astonishes me. However, this place is utterly unsuitable for hosting Your Majesty, so I believe time will be needed for preparations. Therefore, if you first return to the Imperial capital, I shall prepare accommodations and people knowledgeable of etiquette. How about visiting again at that time?"
"I appreciate the thought, but that won't be necessary. Those who will serve me are already composed of Imperial Knights. As for other necessities, I'll send a messenger to the capital today to bring them. You only need to provide a few rooms in this mansion."
'Is he really planning to stay? This old man? What era is this, and he wants to stay here? Go home!'
He couldn't be unaware that a drastic food shortage was about to hit the entire continent. Seeing him act like this, Beonald was flabbergasted.
Of course, he had sent food through High Priest Halrun to mitigate the initial shock, but there was no way this guy knew that, making it all the more frustrating.
'Damn it, then I have no grounds to refuse. I have so much to do, and now I have to give personal lessons to this damn old man! Still, he won't stay long, right?'
'I'm not really in a position to stay, but if it shakes him, this is the only way.'
In the end, Beonald had no choice but to host the Emperor.
Thinking he wouldn't stay long anyway, he resolved to endure well until the Emperor departed for the capital. He personally attended to the Emperor and guided him to the best guest room in the mansion.
Of course, no matter how good it was, it couldn't compare to the Imperial Palace or a high noble's mansion. If he expressed dissatisfaction, Beonald planned to send him to the Valderian estate…
"Haha, it's fine. Since I'm the one imposing, I'll stay here."
The Emperor, having sensed Beonald's reluctance, decided to stay in this mansion's room, and thus began an uncomfortable cohabitation.