Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Battle of Nerves Between Two People
Academy?
Though a bit surprised, Rudian nodded his head to regain his composure.
"As your squire, it's natural for me to follow you, young master."
While slaves were prohibited at the Maha Empire Academy, having one or two employees was certainly within permissible limits.
Besides, it wasn't as if Calline's family situation was so difficult that he would need to use the dormitory.
But Derrick kept saying things that defied expectations.
"You're not going as the young master's squire."
"...Pardon?"
What fresh nonsense is this?
'If not as a squire, then what job is he taking me for?'
I can't even frown in front of Calline and Derrick.
As Rudian slightly tilted his head with an expressionless face, Derrick sighed and continued.
"You will officially become a transfer student at the Academy and enter along with the young master."
Derrick looked at Rudian's face as if he had a headache.
In his mind, he was replaying the conversation he'd had just hours ago with Count Rickart and Count Kaitel.
***
"This is indeed the genuine Holy Sword Daylight. I can feel the unique sensation of the holy sword that I felt when I was young."
"Oh, indeed!"
The Count's vassals around them began to cheer and celebrate.
From their perspective, they couldn't imagine that the Daylight obtained by Lion Hearts, who had faced the brink of annihilation, could possibly be fake.
But it's also human nature to become anxious without certainty.
The vassals only truly relaxed after receiving confirmation from Count Kaitel von Delphione, the Empire's Sword Master with a lofty reputation.
"...Though we provided the information, I never thought they would actually succeed. I must reevaluate Lion Hearts."
"Hahaha! This lad obtained it while risking his life. It's simply the result of his brilliant command."
Count Iskar was known as the Guardian of the East, an intelligent and strong nobleman, but he had one fatal flaw—his judgment became clouded when it came to matters concerning his son.
And Kaitel, feeling this information was accurate throughout his body, inwardly snickered.
"Simir Dran was a knight who reached the upper Expert level fifty years ago. If he became a Death Knight, he would be close to Master level by now...."
Kaitel's gaze shifted toward Derrick, who was standing at attention beside the Count.
"Sir Derrick Winhousen. I see your reputation as the Iron Lion of the East is no exaggeration. What do you say, would you be interested in having a sparring match with me sometime?"
"It would be an honor, Your Grace!"
Derrick immediately brightened and bowed his head toward Kaitel.
A sparring match with a Sword Master was in itself an incredible opportunity.
Even though the purpose of this expedition was to focus all credit on Calline, missing such an opportunity would remain an eternal regret for Derrick himself.
Count Iskar, who also knew this fact, showed no sign of discomfort toward Derrick specifically.
"Here's the official certificate confirming receipt of the holy sword. Please review and sign it."
The document Kaitel handed over listed the reward money that the Delphione Ducal family had placed on Daylight 50 years ago, along with various expressions of gratitude to the Iskar County.
The combined value of everything listed would be enough to buy out an entire average family.
With the wealth accumulated by Caslay already obtained inside the dungeon, plus the rewards sent from the ducal family, House Iskar had gained enormous wealth that could potentially allow them to seek a promotion in rank.
But that wasn't what was important to Count Rickart right now.
"But... There's nothing written about my son here."
"Hmm...."
Kaitel stroked his beard and said.
"I left that out because it would benefit neither of us to put it in writing. If you wish, I can rewrite it, though."
Leaving a note about covering up the other's shortcomings might have unpredictable consequences later.
This was Kaitel's consideration for the Count, but....
"The young lord has already gained sufficient fame, so I'm not sure the family's defense is necessary, but a promise is a promise...."
"Ah, no. I trust the honor of the ducal family and the Viscount."
Even if it was just a verbal promise, the person dispatched to fulfill that promise was the Empire's Sword Master.
Count Iskar finally came to his senses and gave an awkward smile toward Kaitel, who was showing slight displeasure.
Kaitel gave the Count a curious smile in return.
"Well then, let's conclude the main business here."
With the authentication of the holy sword and related matters concluded, the steward next to Rickart bowed respectfully.
"A banquet will be prepared shortly, so please wait a moment."
"Ah, before that...."
Kaitel interrupted the steward's courteous words and began to bring up another matter he had prepared.
"I'd like to make a 'small' request to the Count."
"...A small request?"
Count Iskar's expression hardened upon hearing those words.
No matter how small the request, considering the position of the person making it, it couldn't be ignored.
The fact that he broached the subject in this setting, with all the vassals present, rather than in a private meeting—wasn't that a sign he was quite determined?
As all the vassals' eyes turned toward them, Kaitel slowly opened his mouth.
"Among the young lord's Squires... I've heard there is a child named Rudian."
"Rudian? That child certainly...."
As the boy was his son's squire, the Count naturally knew of Rudian's existence.
No, he didn't just know of him—he placed considerable trust in him.
Calline's troublemaking was nothing new, and more than five tutors had already scolded him and quit.
In such circumstances, the Count couldn't help but be aware of Rudian, who had endured for over two years and continued to clean up after Calline.
But why that boy?
As Count Iskar gave a puzzled look, Kaitel smiled gently and said:
"Could you give that child to me?"
Count Iskar momentarily imagined countless scenarios in his head about what Kaitel's intentions might be.
'What is he trying to gain by doing this?'
Naturally, as a Count, he didn't even consider that the actual main point was the request for Rudian.
"May I... Ask why you want that child?"
"To be frank, I covet his talent. I've learned he's a commoner who hasn't even received a knight's oath."
"......"
"You must know that the duchy directly manages a foundation that sponsors promising talents for the future. I'd like to place that child there."
Count Iskar was confused.
Kaitel was truly serious with his words.
That foundation sponsored impoverished children with guaranteed future potential who couldn't afford the Academy's tuition.
Being established by none other than the Sword Master and the ducal family, one couldn't even enter without considerable talent.
It didn't just provide financial support, but also opportunities to learn from the duchy's renowned knights, making even children from prestigious martial families subtly aspire for sponsorship.
'Did that child Rudian have talent that would catch the Viscount's eye?'
He had already heard about the feat of destroying the dungeon's core while avoiding the Death Knight's gaze.
But the Count had also received reports that Rudian had subtly joined Lion Hearts' previous training and participated together, and that Rudian had absolutely no talent for 'magic'.
'Those fellows' eyes can't be wrong....'
Yet he couldn't refuse this proposal.
Even if Rudian had the talent to become knight-level, it wasn't good to displease the Sword Master in an official setting just because of one commoner.
"Hmm, my son might be a bit disappointed, but if the Viscount wishes... Hm?"
Count Iskar was about to speak while looking at Calline beside him, but instead noticed Derrick and the Delphione Duchess next to him, causing him to flinch slightly.
For some reason, Derrick's expression was quite serious, while conversely, the Delphione Duchess was displaying a bright smile that hadn't been visible before the negotiation.
At that moment, the Count sensed it.
'There's something here.'
Free from concerns about his son, Count Rickart had regained his insight as a shrewd nobleman.
That insight was now telling him that simply handing over Rudian would be a defeat.
Therefore, Count Rickart changed the words he was about to blurt out hastily.
"Hmm, if the Viscount wishes, it would be proper to give him to you... But still, that child Rudian is someone I've marked as a talent to assist my son who will become the lord in the future... Huh, what should I do about this?"
Unbeknownst to himself, Rudian was achieving an incredible rise in status.
'...See?'
Kaitel and Luciella's expressions froze while smiling.
Kaitel had been confident until just moments ago that the Count was unaware of Rudian's true worth.
But because the situation was resolving too smoothly, Luciella unconsciously showed a smile, revealing a vulnerability, and the shrewd Count didn't miss his chance to seize it.
Only then did the surrounding vassals notice the subtle current flowing between the two parties.
At this point, Count Rickart presented a compromise:
"What if we do it this way?"
"What way?"
Kaitel had lost the fish he thought he had caught, but he wasn't going to give up so easily.
"Let's first send that child Rudian to the Academy, and have both families care for him until graduation. After that, when the child graduates and becomes a proper knight, wouldn't it be fine to determine his affiliation then?"
"To determine his affiliation later...."
For Count Iskar, who didn't know Rudian's true value, this was proposed with a mindset of securing him first and seeing what happens.
After all, he couldn't completely refuse the Viscount's proposal, so he thought to maintain ownership while seeing how far Rudian would grow.
If he truly was a genius worthy of the Viscount's interest, he could reclaim him; if not, he could simply give him away.
"That sounds good. Not bad at all."
For Kaitel too, there was no particular reason to reject this proposal.
After all, who would refuse the suggestion of the Delphione Ducal family, at the pinnacle of power even among central nobles, despite House Iskar being known as the Lion of the Frontier?
Count Rickart added one more recommendation:
"This works out well. I was planning to enroll my son in the Academy on this occasion."
"Ah, Father?"
Calline's expression hardened at his father's brilliant blindside.
The count, now that things had come to this, was determined to resolve all issues, including Calline's Academy enrollment.
Well, there were rumors that after the meeting ended, all sorts of shouting occurred in the Count's office....
In the end, Calline and Rudian's departure for the Academy was confirmed.
***
'All well and good, but... What about my opinion?'
After hearing the rough situation from Derrick, Rudian looked back and forth between the two with an expression of disbelief.