Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Even a Treacherous Subject Has His Use
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Even without all that, I have too much to do… I don’t want to waste time on useless fights over a household I can’t have anyway.
Beonald had far too many things on his plate.
In swordsmanship, he needed to master the three major secret techniques of the Neumel style, then progress through the Imperial Knight Sword Style and the Imperial Family's Heirloom Sword Style. He also had to reorganize his alchemical knowledge, conduct experiments and research, train and drill Alterio, go hunting… Just that was already overwhelming, and on top of it all, he now had to handle affairs related to this Callermain territory and its mansion.
‘It wouldn't be a bad ending to just say, "I have no intention of becoming the heir," and secretly negotiate with Lady Meyra for a happy, peaceful resolution. But then, in the end, I wouldn't be able to stop that good-for-nothing Ralt from becoming the successor.’
Right now, because of him, Ralt was stimulated and training and studying hard. But if Beonald declared surrender and Lady Meyra became reassured, Ralt's tension would naturally ease.
Then, ultimately, he'd remain a good-for-nothing who ran wild, and if such a Ralt became the heir, the future of this territory would be bleak.
‘Hoo~ But since this is my parents' territory… I have no choice but to make that guy straighten up.’
Therefore, for the sake of the competitive education effect, Beonald decided to continue receiving Lady Meyra's hostility.
And, taking advantage of this, he consulted Sir Maldrov beforehand to avoid being assigned to the "territorial army" once he came of age.
"Ah, you don't need to worry too much about that, Young Master. I've already discussed it all with the acting family head. I know Young Master Ralt has started to change, but it's still too early, no matter what. You'll probably work alongside Young Master Ralt, following the acting family head."
"Hmm, but if that comes to light, Lady Meyra… no, Mother, will be very angry, won't she? She's already watching for an opening. Of course, thanks to Sir Erasol, the threat has diminished considerably, which is fortunate."
For the past few weeks, Lady Meyra had been persistently targeting Beonald. She especially tried to make her move when he went out at night to feed and walk Alterio, but with Sir Maldrov's son, Erasol, sticking close—unlike others—the risk became too high, so she had given up.
"You realized she was watching for an opening?"
"Yes. I didn't live in the mountains for nothing. Besides, I have Alterio."
Beonald explained that his mountain experience and the presence of Alterio, the griffin, allowed him to notice clumsily following individuals. Sir Maldrov nodded in understanding.
"Moreover, since they don't know I'm a 'Natural Knight,' they probably didn't hire a professional thief guild outlaw or anything, just some cheap mercenary riffraff. If Erasol hadn't been there, I would have shed blood long ago."
"Yes. Thankfully, you're not yet of age, and you're also a prominent figure in the mansion, so it would have been even harder to touch you."
"Me? Ah~ Well, I am a newcomer, so everyone's attention is on me. Haha."
"Anyway, you must be careful until the coming-of-age ceremony, but be careful afterward as well, Young Master Beonald."
"Yes. Ah, speaking of which, Sir Maldrov, I have one request…"
As the conversation matured, Beonald made one request to Sir Maldrov.
He wanted a hideout on the outskirts of the castle—specifically, he asked for a small mansion.
Initially puzzled by the sudden request, Sir Maldrov nodded after hearing the reasons: issues with Alterio's hunting, food reserves for the winter, secret training, and a place to flee in case of an unexpected attack or assassination attempt by Lady Meyra.
"Hmm, I see. Well, that griffin must eat a lot too. Alright. Then I'll find you an empty house on my private estate. I'll also order that no one enter, so you can use it without worry."
"I can't thank you enough."
If he had tried to acquire it himself, problems would have arisen starting with money and the difficulty of finding a suitable property, but having a proper guardian made it this easy.
Beonald couldn't help but think that this was why you needed allies.
And not long after, the mansion Beonald desired was finally arranged.
"Hmm, it's quite small, but I like it."
"But what will you use such a mansion for, Young Master Beonald?"
The mansion was strictly within Sir Maldrov's private estate, so Erasol, who had come along to guide him, asked about its purpose.
Beonald answered as he had told Sir Maldrov earlier, opening the iron door and entering the mansion's interior.
Perhaps due to long neglect, weeds and wild grass grew rampant here and there, and the interior was full of dust.
Fortunately, there was a well, and though the house was two stories, the inside was wider than expected, with quite a few usable rooms.
There was even a basement. Confirming it had everything he wanted, he smiled, satisfied.
"Uh, Young Master, should I have the servants clean it?"
"No, I'll do it myself. It's not that big of a house. Instead, could you buy these things for me?"
"With pleasure! Then I'll go right away, Young Master!"
Erasol smiled brightly, took the note Beonald handed him, and left the mansion.
Then Beonald began cleaning the mansion in earnest. By the time Erasol returned with all the purchased items about three hours later, most of the mansion had long been cleaned.
‘A body tempered by mana breathing techniques is truly cheating… Using such a great ability only for combat. Sigh~’
"Young Master! I've cleanly purchased everything you ordered!"
Seeing Erasol arrive pulling a small cart, Beonald examined the items on the cart and inwardly praised him for faithfully carrying out his instructions.
‘Ah, you're back? But that look in your eyes is more than just burdensome… It doesn't suit your appearance at all.’
His father was Sir Maldrov, a military commander with immense power within the territory.
With blond hair, tanned skin, and sharp eyes, Erasol, based on prejudice alone, seemed like someone who would casually pick up women or act tyrannically, but after spending a few weeks together, Beonald found him inexperienced with women and a pure youth who had only diligently trained as a knight.
‘Moreover… perhaps because he's from a traditional knight family, ever since he learned I'm a Natural Knight, his attitude has been filled with such admiration and respect… It's too burdensome, really.’
"As expected, you're amazing. Cleaning is nothing in your hands, Young Master!"
"It's not something to be that impressed about. Anyway, thanks for helping."
"Not at all! It's only natural as your attendant and guard! If there's anything more I can help with, please don't hesitate to tell me, Young Master!"
‘…He's so loyal and sincere it's awkward.’
It wasn't that it was all good; there was a slightly uncomfortable feeling.
Because Beonald believed humans should have desires, that it's natural.
Thus, a human who seemed to have none at all was someone Beonald felt wary of.
"But what will you use these for, Young Master? Why did you buy so many glass bottles…"
"For processing Alterio's food and making simple emergency medicine and such. The temple in the territory I was in was too small, and the priest's healing magic was weak. So I used to process herbs to make medicine."
"Ah~! I see. Well, it's a waste to call a priest and pay healing fees for minor injuries."
‘Those who live off the grace of the gods remain the same, I see.’
Fundamentally aligned with the Magic Tower side and having majored in alchemy, a discipline that dissects the world and reality, Beonald was basically on poor terms with the temple.
Especially medicine and pharmacology, developed through alchemy, were like thorns in the side of the temple, which maintained religious authority and influence through divine power and arcane healing methods, making them political rival factions.
Moreover, since they couldn't be eliminated outright, the limit was paying hefty offerings to certain factions to keep them quiet.
"Anyway, regarding this territory's temple… I ask that you keep it a secret."
"Yes! I swear on my father's name. Then, what should I do now?"
"I'll handle organizing these things, so please take care of the weeds outside."
"Yes, Young Master!"
Sending Erasol outside, Beonald set up his laboratory again with the items he had bought.
Unlike before, when he could only conduct basic research or make simple reagents, now that a certain level of secrecy was guaranteed, he smiled, thinking he could pursue more advanced studies.
‘Unlike the countryside where I had to be self-sufficient in everything, since this is a territory of a certain size, if you have money, you can procure most materials, which is good. Of course, magic stones are ridiculously expensive, so I'll have to procure them myself, but that's fine.’
The presence of glass craftsmen, blacksmiths, herbalists, meat and vegetable vendors, and even an adventurer's guild to locate monsters with needed materials for direct hunting were advantages.
Truly feeling in his bones that infrastructure is essential for doing anything, Beonald left the mansion, pondering what to make first in his completed alchemy laboratory.
‘Now I can finally do something properly.’
Though his current swordsmanship training and mana breathing techniques were new and important, fundamentally, Beonald was a high noble and an alchemist, so he felt more familiar and comfortable when working on this side.
At the same time, at the Callermain Earldom.
Though it might have seemed like she hadn't done anything during this time, Lady Meyra had been striving tirelessly to somehow remove Beonald from this mansion or the succession competition.
"Damn it! Dammiiiiit!"
She had even hired spies, trying to find gaps or weaknesses in his activities, but he lived his mansion life so perfectly, like a machine, that there was no opening to exploit.
Even if she tried to hire mercenaries or knights to use force, Sir Maldrov had assigned his son as a guard, and considering his influence, there was simply no way to intervene.
"Kyaaaaaaaah!"
Thus, her stress mounting, Lady Meyra was currently throwing and breaking objects in her room, venting her anger.
She wanted to nitpick something forcefully to tarnish his reputation somehow, but doing so would only highlight her own son Ralt's inferiority, which would be like spitting in her own face.
"Damn it! I wanted to assign him to the army after the coming-of-age ceremony and drive him out of the territory! But that fool is blocking that too! Aaaaaaah!"
‘It's good that Ralt's behavior has changed, but that only happened because Beonald is here. To nurture Ralt's potential, I want to keep both by my side after the ceremony and entrust them with various tasks. Anyway, there's no need to worry about Ralt; my wife and her retainers will help, won't they?’
"That damn human!"
‘So only someone of Beonald's caliber would make for a fair competition. Hehehe, though it's absurd that Ralt and my wife need to cooperate to deal with just one child for it to be a fair fight…’
"In that case! I have no choice but to persuade Father and use his hand…"
Ultimately thinking she had no choice but to use Count Callermain, who had stepped back from the front lines due to illness, Lady Meyra immediately went to him and began persuading him that Beonald couldn't be left as he was.
"Hmm, so that child is that much of a threat, you say?"
"Yes, if left like this, I think he'll truly make that base-born mongrel the heir! Father!"
"Hehehe, that won't do. It absolutely won't. As long as I have breath in my body, such a thing must not happen… Alright. I'll take action. We can't allow our dear Ralt's future to be hindered."
"Th-Thank you! Father!"
At the Count's words, Lady Meyra felt as if she had gained a thousand troops.
And reconfirming that no matter what, the Count's heart was ultimately with Ralt, she felt relieved and anticipated what her father would do.