Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: A Treacherous Subject Has Their Uses - Part 39
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"Of course, I know it's an unpleasant thing to hear, Viscount. But please listen. In the end, these are chaotic times. It's an era where long-standing traditions, pride, and honor crumble before powerful swords and horse hooves, where everyone is shouting about being kings or emperors. The Vollea Kingdom, mere backwater barbarians who only fought northern savages, have the audacity to call themselves kings. The Dyna Kingdom, inferiority complex-ridden fools who just conducted forbidden experiments at the Magic Tower, are now calling themselves kings and whatnot... Puhahaha! Isn't it utterly ridiculous?"
"...Is, is that so?"
"And among them, the most preposterous is the 'Han Empire'. Just 500 years ago, they were southern minority tribes playing at the clan level... an Empire, really~ It's absurd, but that's the reality unfolding, Viscount."
p>"So? What's your point?"
"Therefore, sometimes, even if it's distasteful, it's good to improve even a rough relationship. Yes, with Baron Zelkerd. And also, to foster Young Lord Ralt's mental growth, to imprint upon him that he is the master of the Callermain Earldom by his own right, not his mother's influence. By doing so... we aim to prevent the chaos that will come in the future. Whew~"
Having finished his long speech, Beonald took a deep breath and drank his tea.
Meanwhile, Viscount Delmain sank into thought for a moment.
In short, the point was a grand briefing: helping Beonald's plan to assist Ralt's growth would strengthen his own power, and additionally, it would be good to turn relations with Baron Zelkerd friendly.
"I've rambled a bit. Anyway, it's not a bad proposal, so please think it over. Well then, I... must go make the same proposal to Baron Zelkerd~"
"Yes, Young Master. Understood."
And after he left at an appropriate time, Viscount Delmain, who gathered information to think more deeply, couldn't help but admire how great a scheme Beonald had devised as he grasped the situation more and more.
"The problem of the Teal Slumga... is a task given by Count Callermain. Whether it was completely resolved is unknown, but judging by the immense treasure he brought, he certainly achieved some success there. But instead of keeping that immense treasure for himself......"
He had readily handed it over to himself and Baron Zelkerd, nobles positioned as factions under Count Callermain, presenting a vision that considered both tradition and reality as a noble, thereby establishing his standing in an instant.
Moreover, that vision wasn't some far-fetched content but something that strengthened his own standing and power, making it impossible to refuse. It was too good a proposal and situation, but conversely, feeling easily dominated by a mere 15-year-old made Viscount Delmain feel both displeasure and a chill, but he soon acknowledged it.
"The Acting Count... wasn't wrong about the person. And thinking about it, all those unsavory incidents that happened in the Dustycloak territory must have been that person's doing. Hahaha!"
The place Beonald was born was distinctly the rural Dustycloak territory. Viscount Delmain, who once lost two precious knights by meddling in a conflict there, could finally realize the reason.
If he possessed a mind capable of devising such strategies now, the age difference wouldn't have mattered much even if he were younger... Finally having found the culprit, he laughed at the fact that he was already in an unassailable position and decided to take comfort in having joined hands with him.
And after leaving Viscount Delmain's territory, Beonald went through the same process, successfully presenting the remaining treasure to Baron Zelkerd and improving relations with him.
This one was more flexible in thinking and, perhaps because he was a martial man with much battlefield experience, was pragmatic.
He accepted Beonald's proposal without getting offended or wary at all.
"Hmm, as expected, there was another reason the Acting Family Head adopted you as his heir, Young Master."
"You flatter me, Baron. Anyway, I'll be going now......"
"Young Master, I have one request. Could you hear me out?"
"Huh? A request?"
Thinking the conversation was easily over, Beonald looked at him curiously.
Then, Baron Zelkerd approached Beonald, showing his sword still in its scabbard, and slowly opened his mouth.
A bad premonition struck Beonald, but having just nicely concluded the talk, he couldn't be rude now.
'What does he intend to do?'
"It would be a pity if you just left. How about a sparring match? Verbal conversation is good, but I'd like to see the martial prowess that conquered the ominous Teal Slumga at least once."
'These knights, I swear...'
Faced with this unexpected proposal, Beonald urgently started running calculations in his head.
Baron Zelkerd was a 'Mid-Rank Knight' and boasted considerable martial prowess within the Callermain territory's sphere of influence.
He possessed top-tier strength even among Mid-Rank Knights and was emerging as a candidate for High-Rank Knight.
Although he was currently carefully containing his mana to avoid detection, Beonald, afraid that sparring with him would reveal his status as a knight, refused.
"Ah... well, I have other matters and no time right now. It's too sudden of a proposal... I'd like to postpone it for another opportunity, Baron. And regarding that Teal Slumga, it was an achievement gained by sowing discord among the three divided factions, not through my martial prowess."
"Hmm... Even so, according to rumors, Young Master, you are a brave figure who single-handedly caught a baby griffin and hunted various fierce beasts including bears. Especially since you conquered the Teal Slumga, more dangerous than most hazard zones... I'd love to learn that courage and bravery."
'These martial men, I swear!'
"Well, I can't just take your precious time with empty words. Very well. If you grant me one sparring match, I will make all the treasure you brought Young Master Beonald's property. I will keep it safe, and you can retrieve it anytime."
Crash!
At Baron Zelkerd's words, the abacus Beonald had been fervently calculating with shattered instantly.
Beonald had learned swordsmanship, but it was merely a means to overturn the disadvantages of his birth family's situation and his own bloodline.
Unable to understand the pure martial mindset and desire for improvement, Beonald was momentarily stunned by his ridiculous proposal.
"...Wha, what did you say?"
"If needed, I can call a priest for official notarization. There will be a small fee, but wouldn't that be suitable for such a matter?"
"Ah, no, do you truly think a sparring match is worth that much?"
"Anyway, will you do it? Or not?"
Beonald bit his lip and began to agonize.
In truth, he had handed over those treasures to Baron Zelkerd and Viscount Delmain for political purposes because it was difficult for him to keep and use them himself, but deep down, he wished he could own it all.
His main expertise, alchemy, was literally a money-devouring discipline, so if he could have money, he absolutely wanted it.
'After subtracting the funds used for the war, hastily liquidating what I could, and removing the half I gave to Darktis, the gold coins that became my share were about 1,400. I split that with Viscount Delmain and Baron Zelkerd, so about 700 each... 700 gold coins for one sparring match. Uuuuuuugh!'
"What do you think?"
"If that's the case, then let's do it."
700 gold coins for one sparring match. This was a deal where the profit-loss calculation simply didn't work, so he had no choice but to accept.
In the end, Beonald followed Baron Zelkerd to his private training room, received light armor and a sword, and prepared for the spar.
Perhaps because it was a martial house, the training room for guarding secrets was made of stone walls, and security seemed thorough as only Beonald and Baron Zelkerd entered.
Drawing his sword, Beonald looked at the sharply honed blade with an awkward expression, then glanced at Baron Zelkerd.
"Umm... is this a real sword spar?"
"Don't worry. I will hold back. Also, I've called a priest to wait outside in case of emergency, so there's no need to worry about injury."
"Hooou~"
"Hahaha, you don't need to feel so burdened."
"No. That's precisely why......"
It was Beonald who was troubled, having received a sword so sharp it reflected his own face.
If it were a life-or-death fight, he could go all out, but Beonald had never sparred with anyone for training or engaged in a non-lethal match before.
So this kind of spar itself was practically his first, leaving him no choice but to feel awkward.
'And my opponent is a Mid-Rank Knight...'
"Shall we begin then?"
'Hooou~ I was blinded by money. Damn it!'
Even in his previous life, in situations where calculations themselves fell apart like this, it was hard to keep his wits about him. Beonald barely regained his composure and desperately racked his brain.
If they fought without proper terms and Baron Zelkerd got injured or killed, the situation would become a complete mess.
Finally letting out a big sigh, Beonald spoke cautiously.
"That... Baron, swear one thing to me. That what happens here will never be told to anyone. On your honor as both a knight and a noble."
"Hmm? If that is what you wish, Young Master, I gladly... swear."
"Hoo~ Good. Then......"
Beonald drew his sword, drew up his mana, and pointed his sword at Baron Zelkerd.
Still needing to be careful, he drew up as little mana as possible, so a faint purple aura enveloped his body. Seeing this, Baron Zelkerd's pupils momentarily widened, but then he smiled and burst into laughter.
"Heheheh! As expected...! My intuition wasn't wrong! I thought you weren't ordinary, and indeed you weren't. Young Master Beonald is a natural-born knight."
"It was a card I wanted to keep hidden until the end, but... haa~ I must be crazy. I learned swordsmanship alone and always engaged in real combat, so I'm not good at sparring while holding back. So be careful."
"Don't worry, Young Master Beonald. This Zelkerd is a proper Mid-Rank Knight, a body that has fought on battlefields for over ten years. Come at me with all you have. I'll yield the first move."
'I've shown my hand and given a warning beforehand... this should be enough to not kill him... right? He's enveloped in an aura too.'
Having yielded the first move, Baron Zelkerd ignited a blue aura and prepared to meet Beonald's sword.
Seeing this, Beonald thought his defenses were up and decided to test that strength once.
With that thought, Beonald immediately rolled his foot to start, dashing forward leaving only a purple afterimage, thrusting his sword straight in. To Baron Zelkerd's eyes, his figure vanished, only to see the sword flying towards his neck the next moment.
"Thi, this! Hmph!"
'Hmm, should I go slower? If only I had been a knight in my past life, I'd know what's what~'
"Hoo... Wha, what is this?"
Looking at Baron Zelkerd, who barely dodged the sword with his own, Beonald pondered the gap between his own level and the current era's 'knights,' which he still couldn't grasp, trying to apply his past life's knowledge, but since he wasn't a knight himself, the outline just wouldn't come clear.
"As expected, you are amazing! That was my full-powered, heartfelt attack... hahaha."
Well, judging by Baron Zelkerd's expression, he seemed more shocked than expected, so Beonald scratched his head and spoke as if that had been his full power.
"I, is that so? As I thought! Hahaha, I was really surprised. Such a powerful attack from the start... Hahaha, Young Master, you are skilled at striking unexpectedly."
'...I need to hold back more. And while I'm at it, let's clearly grasp the level of a Mid-Rank Knight. It seems clearly different from the 500-year-ago standard. Our Neumel family... frankly, in martial arts, our level was lower than traditional martial houses.'
Though he ended up showing one of his cards because he was blinded by money, should this be called a blessing in disguise?
Being able to obtain information about the overall martial power level based on Baron Zelkerd, a Mid-Rank Knight of this era, was a welcome thing.
With that happy thought, Beonald swung his sword with even more restraint than before.