Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: The Loyal Hound's Descendant
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After the entrance ceremony ended, each faculty headed toward their respective places of learning, and Beonald, thinking he was finally free, moved accordingly.
Walking with the other students dressed in black uniforms toward the Commoner Faculty, he reunited with Sein and Heidi, who had been waiting outside.
Since it wasn't just nobles who brought attendants or guards—students from wealthy merchant families did the same—there was no particular sense of incongruity.
"Let's see. What's left now is... choosing a major. By the way, Heidi, I trust Alterio is securely locked away?"
"Yes. The iron-barred door is firmly locked."
Since Alterio couldn't be brought into this academy—being a non-human—he was currently being kept in a small house purchased in the capital under Selina's name.
The reason for using Selina's name was that, as a mage affiliated with the Magic Tower, she could establish the pretext of protecting research materials and knowledge.
"There's a world of difference between simple theft and the theft of research materials."
"If you're going to use her like this, wouldn't it be better to pay a bit more attention to Lady Selina?"
"I'm repaying what I've received. I'm not such a heartless person... Ah, looks like the bait has been taken."
As they conversed calmly and were nearly at the faculty building, a group in white uniforms suddenly appeared in front of Beonald.
Should one say the expected has arrived? Or that Beonald had called them? The crowd half-surrounded Beonald, and a man from among them stepped forward.
'This is quite fast. If this were a fishing spot, it'd be the kind that bites the moment you cast the line.'
He was a student with a large, robust build comparable to Beonald's, wearing glasses and looking rather fastidious.
The white uniform, characteristic of the Noble Faculty, had an extra epaulet on the shoulder, indicating he was a higher-year student.
Next, on his chest, one could see an emblem of a crossed sword and shield, and beside it, another emblem of three swords standing side by side. At a glance, one could tell he was from the 'Knight' major and a prestigious martial family.
"Is it you? The brat who dares to act out of line without knowing his place."
Beonald stopped Heidi, who was about to step forward, with a hand gesture. He then stepped forward, met the man's gaze, knelt on one knee first, performed a formal greeting, and gave his reply.
"I may not know my place, but I do know etiquette. However, seeing as you, Senior, have not revealed your name, I presume you are aware that what you're doing now is not honorable."
"...What? You don't know who I... No, of course a mongrel dog playing in the countryside wouldn't know. Don't be shocked. I am Cedron Valderian, a member of the Valderian family, a renowned sword clan that existed even before the Kalem Empire was founded."
'Valderian... Then?'
At the young man's boastful self-introduction, Beonald's eyes widened momentarily.
A familiar family name. If it was from before the Kalem Empire, it likely existed during the era of the Unified Empire, before the Age of Fragmentation. Those two words served as clues, and Beonald quickly sifted through the data organized in his memory, finally recalling it.
'Cerberus's Sword. Where those who wield swords stand shall become the Gates of Hell. The hellhounds wielding sword and shield at the gates. The family of the Sword Wolf, Kerwel von Valderian?'
"Well, even if I tell you, a country bumpkin like you wouldn't understand. Look here."
'Of course, because they were the hounds I raised!'
Five hundred years ago, during his time as Duke Beonald von Neumel, maintaining dominion over the entire continent with just his family alone was difficult, and naturally, factions were necessary.
And the Valderian family was one of the factions under the Neumel family—in other words, they were his subordinates.
Originally, they were a family ridiculed as 'dogs'—brave but with foul tempers—but thanks to their association with Beonald, they managed to rise to the ranks of prestigious families.
'Anyway, it's somewhat heartwarming to see a familiar family appear. But originally, that family's crest was three swords with a Cerberus head... Why did they change it? Ah~ Is it because of me again?'
"This Aura! The secret technique passed down in our family!"
A burning, crimson aura. Seeing the deep red aura blooming from Cedron's hand, Beonald could confirm once again that he was indeed from the Valderian family he knew. However, he felt awkward about how to proceed here.
His original plan was to cause a commotion in this academy to gauge the noble factions, but now that a family he knew—and a former subordinate's family at that—had appeared, his feelings became complicated.
'Originally, I planned to gather information by taking a confrontational stance, but of all families, it had to be the Valderians.'
Feeling reluctant to oppose a family he had raised—a family that had been very loyal and brave—Beonald decided to modify his original plan and simply apologize and move on.
'For now, I'll just play dumb and bow my head to the ground...'
"What is this commotion here? Sir Cedron?"
"Her Highness Princess Zelcy, what brings you here?"
Just as he was about to simply resolve things by bowing his head, an unexpected additional character appeared. Another group of students in white uniforms appeared, positioning themselves behind Beonald, and someone from among them stepped forward.
A girl with silver hair tinged with deep blue, red eyes, and a beautiful, dignified appearance strode forward and rebuked Sir Cedron.
Judging by Sir Cedron's reaction and the emblem of the Kalem Imperial Family on her uniform, she was indeed a princess.
"What brings me? I came because I suspected you might do something like this."
"You go too far, Your Highness. I am merely teaching the academy's rules, as well as the order and discipline of the world."
Though he addressed her as 'Your Highness,' his words contained an unyielding audacity.
A family of the Valderian's stature was a prestigious martial family with immense influence on the empire's military power, so even the imperial family couldn't act recklessly against them. Knowing this well, he was standing his ground firmly.
'...While this situation itself is what I was aiming for, this is a bit awkward.'
This situation itself was indeed welcome to Beonald.
Without the need to bother asking anyone or searching anywhere, if the other party picked a fight like this, he could immediately discern the confrontational dynamics and situations of various factions or families, and it was also good for identifying key figures.
But the problem was that a family connected to him still remained.
'Well, the Valderian family are hounds. If tamed, they are definitely a usable card, and as a traditional martial family, their resistance would have been fierce, so they likely reached a compromise through negotiation. Ugh... Anyway, looking at it that way, my feelings are getting complicated again.'
Thinking of him as a descendant of the Valderian family, his loyal hounds, the face that had seemed arrogant and fussy just moments ago now looked like a cute nephew throwing a tantrum to Beonald.
Moreover, trampling on an insolent commoner to restore discipline and authority was also a duty as a 'noble,' so from the perspective of a grand-uncle, it was almost something to be praised and proud of.
"Order and discipline? This person merely rode his griffin carefully to attend the entrance ceremony. He even thoroughly restrained the griffin for safety's sake. In what part did he disrupt order and discipline?"
"Th-that's..."
'But is the lack of intelligence hereditary? Or is it that their pride as nobles isn't fully established?'
Sir Cedron was at a loss, pushed back by the princess's logical argument.
It was true that he had come on a griffin to draw attention, but he had still considered people's safety and school rules, so there was nothing to refute.
Anyway, seeing his cute nephew in distress, Beonald stepped forward to end the situation.
"Your Highness, I apologize for interrupting rudely, but this is indeed my fault. In this world, there are rules that must be followed even if they are not written in the legal code. Coming from the countryside, I was unfamiliar with them and didn't know. Sir Cedron was merely trying to teach me that."
"Huh? B-but..."
"Th-that's right! Exactly."
As Beonald provided an escape route, Cedron swiftly jumped on it and shamelessly affirmed it. Princess Zelcy, who had come to help only to be counterattacked, looked at Beonald with a dumbfounded expression.
A face that seemed to say, 'What kind of person are you?' Conversely, Cedron's gaze toward Beonald, who had saved him from a dire crisis where he was about to be dealt a blow by the princess, had changed.
"Anyway, I received criticism due to my own improper conduct. I am almost grateful to Sir Cedron. So, there's no need to worry, Your Highness."
"...I-I see. Then it's fine."
Ultimately, flustered by Beonald's 'betrayal,' she shot him a sharp glance and withdrew.
There was no benefit in worsening relations with the princess here, but Beonald couldn't bear to see his cute nephew-like figure in trouble. Perhaps because he was part of the noble faction in his past life, he leaned that way.
"Anyway, I am truly sorry, Sir Cedron. Because I didn't conduct myself properly, we almost had a major incident. I will ensure to behave appropriately for my status from now on."
"...S-see that you do. As long as you understand. Understand..."
And Sir Cedron, who had unexpectedly been rescued by the very person he was trying to reprimand, looked bewildered for a moment before making a statement that seemed to acknowledge the situation.
If he continued to be angry here, it would only tarnish his own reputation.
Anyway, the commotion ended like that, and Beonald's group headed safely toward the Commoner Faculty building.
"You both stayed very quiet."
"I thought things were about to get out of hand."
"But I'm curious about something, Lord Beonald. Why did you side with Sir Cedron instead of the princess?"
"Indeed. I'm very curious about that too. An ordinary person would have sided with or hidden behind that beautiful princess who came to rescue them from oppression."
As Sein and Heidi each made a comment, suddenly someone's words slipped in smoothly.
It wasn't that he hadn't sensed their presence, but he thought they were just passing by. Thinking it was impressive that they inserted themselves into the conversation, Beonald looked in that direction.
There stood a man with deep brown skin, slightly shorter than Beonald, looking at him with sparkling, curious eyes.
Seeing he wore a black uniform like Beonald, he was clearly from the Commoner Faculty. But upon seeing his deep brown skin tone, Beonald retrieved a familiar term from his memory.
"Shanam... Is it?"
"Oh! You know 'Shanam'? That's a rather old word my grandfather uses. Yes, it's said to be the homeland of our souls, but now we're just imperial citizens. Hahaha, though there is subtle discrimination, of course."
Beonald had inadvertently mentioned a racial term used 500 years ago and thought 'oops,' but the other party accepted it casually with a laugh.
Thanks to that, it became easier to answer. Beonald gave an appropriate excuse and asked the man's identity.
"Ah, I just happened to see it in a book. So, who are you?"
"I'm sorry for the late introduction. I'm Daren. The son of an ordinary merchant."
"I am Beonald Callermain. My lineage is noble, but being a half-blood, I didn't apply to the Noble Faculty. But why did you attach yourself without an introduction?"
"Ah, as I thought! Your bearing and grace were exceptional, so you weren't a commoner. You may speak casually. Aren't you a noble person with noble blood? Anyway, about what happened earlier. I was really curious, so I'm asking again. An ordinary person would have followed Her Highness the Princess... Why did you help Sir Cedron?"
Unable to say it was because he was a cute nephew-like figure, Beonald decided to make an appropriate excuse.
Logically, there was no reason to help Sir Cedron, and trying to explain it would only trip him up.
"It was the fastest way to put out the fire. If I had sided with that lady, the commotion would have grown larger. Anyway, that settles it, right? Then let's each go our own way now."
"Ah, wait a moment, Lord Beonald. We're both freshmen, so don't be like that. How about we socialize a bit? Hmm? I have merchant connections, so it certainly won't be bad for you."
'It's precisely because you're a merchant that I dislike it.'
In his past life, Beonald had suffered considerable harm from merchants.
Being a noble, he often failed to easily detect merchants' sales tactics, cleverness, and schemes, trusting them and entrusting matters based on that trust alone. Or they would arbitrarily replicate recipes for products he had created with his own brilliant ideas. Or they would cut off the supply of alchemical materials promised for Magic Tower commissions.
'I suffered so much that I ended up studying commerce and economics myself. And I repaid the debts of usurious merchants and even received their know-how.'
So, to Beonald, merchants were beings imprinted as bugs swarming to gnaw away at money. He thoroughly ignored the man named Daren, but he showed no intention of giving up and continued to follow Beonald's group.