20
Chapter 20
I figured I should be arriving soon, so I looked up and saw a small wall in front of me.
'Ark, what time is it?'
'It's almost 8 o'clock.'
It really took exactly two hours.
A short while later, I reached the city gate.
"How much?"
"Just 3 silver. I was heading this way anyway."
Since it was early morning, the transport carriages weren't running, so I hitched a ride on a merchant's wagon.
After paying, I looked toward the gate; it was so early that no one was around except for two guards.
"Could I see your identification, please?"
When I showed them the silver plaque denoting my status as a Baronet, both looked startled.
I'm only a Baronet, so people usually don't react this way elsewhere.
I guess this really is the middle of nowhere.
"May I ask what brings you here?"
"I'm here to pick up a trainee."
"Ah, you must be the instructor Young Lady May mentioned yesterday. I didn't expect you to arrive so early."
It seemed May had mentioned me.
"Hans, you aren't familiar with the way to the manor, are you? Would it be alright if I escorted you myself?"
"I'd appreciate that."
"It's my pleasure. Please, follow me."
As I followed the guard, I took a quick look around and found the territory to be quite decent.
There were no lavish mansions like those in the Capital, but the streets were clean and the roads were well-maintained.
There were a fair number of houses, and the people didn't look unhappy.
Many lords do nothing but squeeze their people dry without managing anything, so this was actually quite impressive.
"The manor is right over there."
I looked where the guard was pointing and saw a two-story house with red bricks and a contrasting blue roof.
It was certainly the best of the houses I'd seen on the way, but for the residence of a Lord and May's home, it was far too modest.
Some Barons build entire castles to live in.
I'd expected they wouldn't be well-off after hearing the merchants' stories yesterday, but this was still surprising.
"Good work. Use this to have a drink with your colleague tonight."
I pulled a 10-silver coin from my pocket.
"No, thank you. You're a guest of the Young Lady; I'd be in big trouble if I accepted this. I'll be on my way now."
He declined repeatedly and left.
I've never seen a guard refuse a tip like that; the soldiers are well-trained, I thought as I knocked on the main gate.
The door opened a moment later, but... huh?
"Who is it?"
I expected a servant to answer, but instead, a small girl who looked about twelve appeared.
Looking closer, she resembled May; she must be her younger sister.
I began to introduce myself.
"Are you the instructor? You are, right? I heard about you from my sister!"
It seemed May had told her sister about me as well.
That saved me the trouble of introductions.
"That's right. Is May inside?"
"Yes! Please, come in!"
She's a very cheerful child.
Once inside, it felt surprisingly spacious compared to how it looked from the outside.
There was even a well-tended garden on one side.
Though it was absurdly modest for a lord's manor.
The interior was much the same.
Nothing luxurious, just clean.
"Arin, time for breakfas... In... Instructor?"
Just as May's sister was about to open the front door, it swung open and May appeared, wearing a pink apron.
She looked like she had been preparing a meal; did they not have a housekeeper?
When she lacked travel funds yesterday, I thought she was just a stingy person, but now I see it's because she's actually poor.
"Did you have a good rest?"
"Oh, yes. I didn't expect you to arrive so early, but I'll get ready and be out in a moment."
"Is Unnie leaving already? Dad isn't home yet."
The sister looked disappointed... huh?
A small girl, appearing to be about six or seven, emerged from behind May.
I heard there were three daughters; this must be the youngest.
She peeked at me from behind May, and she looked so much like her that if I said she was her daughter... ah, that would be rude.
"It seems breakfast is being prepared, so let's eat first. I haven't eaten yet myself as I was rushing."
"Oh, yes! Please, come in."
The inside of the house wasn't much different from the outside.
There were no luxury items like the fine porcelain or paintings common in noble manors, only the essential furniture.
If I showed this to a stranger, they'd likely believe it was a commoner's home rather than a lord's manor.
The breakfast menu consisted of rye bread, vegetable soup, fried eggs, and a salad.
It might be light because it's morning, but usually, there's at least some bacon; this was incredibly modest.
"Instructor, please sit here."
May even pulled out a chair for me.
"But that's Daddy's spot..."
"Sia!"
As May glared at her, the youngest lowered her head.
As expected, the eldest sister is the boss.
The household hierarchy seems clearly established.
I took a spoonful of the soup without high expectations, but it tasted better than I thought.
"How is it?"
"My sister is a great cook!"
"It's quite decent."
We shared quite a bit of conversation during the meal.
The second daughter, who bombarded me with questions about the academy because she wanted to enroll, was Arin.
The youngest, who was a bit shy, was Sia.
In the middle of it all, I casually asked if her father had already left for work, and was told he had gone to the Callos Duchy.
Judging by how nonchalantly they said it, it seemed they had no idea he was seriously injured in yesterday's duel.
Then again, if I hadn't happened to overhear it yesterday, I wouldn't have known either.
"Instructor, will you be leaving right after the meal?"
Arin asked, and May looked reluctant to see me go.
"It's so sad that she's leaving without even seeing Dad."
Sia felt the same way.
"Both of you, stop it. Just being allowed to visit home during the term is already a huge favor."
Despite her words, May seemed reluctant for me to leave.
"Do you know when your father will be back?"
"He was supposed to arrive yesterday, but since he didn't, he'll likely be back around lunchtime."
"Then let's plan to leave at noon."
"No, you don't have to do that just for me..."
She was just pretending not to care.
"It's fine. I'm not that busy today. Did you take the tonic I gave you yesterday?"
"Oh, yes. I took it after dinner last night, as usual. I did my physical training too."
"Good. Well done."
After finishing the meal, I headed out under the pretext of touring the territory.
May offered to show me around, but I told her to stay put in case her father returned, so I went alone.
In truth, I hadn't intended to leave immediately from the start.
And of course, I had no actual interest in touring the land.
I found a spot with a clear view of the city gate I had passed through earlier.
After dinner yesterday, I had returned to my room and requested information from Old Man Daph.
Since I had decided to intervene, I needed to know the detailed inner workings of the situation.
He grumbled that I was using the crystal ball—which he gave me for casual drinks—for tedious chores, but despite his complaints, he looked into it and got back to me quickly.
About a month ago, a gold vein was discovered in an iron mine near the Kalabinz Mountains in the Levi Territory.
While the mine itself was within Baron Marius's land, it was very close to the Giltain Viscountcy, and some of the veins extended in that direction.
Baron Marius honestly informed the Giltain Viscountcy and suggested they either develop it separately or share the profits through joint development, but that proved to be his undoing.
Upon hearing the news, Viscount Giltain sent knights and soldiers to seize the mine.
He absurdly claimed the mine should be confiscated, alleging that Marius had encroached on his land and stolen gold, even though the reinforcement work hadn't even been completed, let alone the mining.
Feeling unable to confront Viscount Giltain's tyranny head-on, Baron Marius requested mediation from Duke Carlos, the Great Lord of the South.
However, since Duke Carlos also serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Legion, these trivial matters are usually handled by the Duke's administrators.
In fact, if the administrator had simply sided with the Giltain Viscountcy, the problem would have been easily solved.
Because Marius could have simply reported the facts to the Duke to overturn the decision.
But Viscount Giltain had played his cards well.
Apparently, the administrator in charge had delayed the answer with an ambiguous attitude and had spoken negatively to Baron Marius.
At the same time, Viscount Giltain suggested they settle it like nobles through a duel, arguing that he couldn't wait forever.
Seeing that even the Duke's mediation was unlikely to work, Baron Marius had no choice but to accept the duel.
Since Viscount Giltain demanded not only the gold from the vein but also the iron mine itself as compensation for the gold already taken, Marius couldn't avoid it, even knowing his own lack of skill.
Viscount Giltain de Mero—a name I'm hearing for the first time—is a remarkably cunning man.
Because once terms for a duel between nobles are set, no one, not even the Duke, can interfere unless they are a party to the conflict.
Of course, this method has its loopholes.
After waiting for about thirty minutes, I finally saw a group of riders and carriages approaching from the distance, kicking up clouds of dust.
Old Man Daph had mentioned that Viscount Giltain would visit the Levi Territory today with Baron Marius to sign the mine handover documents.
It would have been problematic if they were too late, so I'm glad they arrived early.
Looking toward the gate, the guards all looked startled.
It was only natural, as the man leading the group was none other than the ruler of the neighboring territory, Viscount Giltain.
The fat man at the front with a sly, rat-like face seemed to be Viscount Giltain.
To get the guards to step aside, Baron Marius briefly showed his face from the carriage behind.
He was in a sorry state.
His arm was splinted and wrapped in bandages, and crutches were visible by his side, as he seemed to have difficulty walking.
Then again, I was told his bones were broken.
Even if treated by a wizard, one must keep them stabilized like that until they are fully healed.
The group passed through the gate and headed toward the Lord's Manor, and I followed close behind.
They were on horses and in carriages, but since they slowed down inside the city, I managed to arrive at almost the same time.
"Hurry it up. Do you want your other leg to end up like that one?"
As I suspected, the man who looked like Viscount Giltain was indeed the Viscount.
The fat, rat-like man mocked Baron Marius as he stepped out of the carriage.
The knights beside him snickered, joining in on the ridicule.
There were soldiers of the territory nearby, but they hesitated to step in, likely due to the knights Giltain had brought.
But I was different.
Without hesitation, I walked straight toward them.
Viscount Giltain's knights grew wary, their hands moving toward their swords.
Viscount Giltain asked who I was.
I ignored him and approached Baron Marius.
"Are you Baron Marius Levi?"
"...I am. And who might you be?"
"I am Baronet Bio Rain, an instructor from Belliard Academy in the Capital, where I teach May."
I pulled out my academy instructor identification card and showed it to him.
"I see. But why is an academy instructor here...?"
"I happened to be in the area on business and heard some unfortunate news, so I came to see if I could be of help."
"Unfortunate news?"
"I heard there was a greedy pig trying to seize a gold mine discovered in the territory using some absurd excuse."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
"What did you just say?"
"How dare you speak to Viscount Giltain like that...!"
Realizing the 'greedy pig' referred to their master, the knights drew their swords.
They looked ready to pounce at any moment, but I wasn't afraid in the slightest.
"Hold on. Baronet Bio, was it? I am Viscount Giltain de Mero. Do you wish to die for insulting me?"
"I didn't know pigs could speak these days."
"You brat, you're actually asking for it! What are you all waiting for?"
The knights charged with their swords drawn, and I faced them, holding back most of my strength.
I deliberately dodged their attacks by a hair's breadth, making it look as though I were struggling.
"You're all talk!"
"Coming from you. I guess you're nothing without your lackeys because you're just a pig."
His face flushed deep red, Viscount Giltain signaled his men to stop.
Then, he threw his glove at me.
"With such pathetic skill, I shall kill you myself."
He took the bait.
"I accept."
As I spoke, I launched the Rafflesia Needles I had prepared at the surrounding knights.
Perhaps because they were so close, or perhaps their skills were simply worse than they looked, none of them could react before collapsing.
Once his subordinates were all down, the composure vanished from the Viscount's face.
"...Wha... what kind of dark arts are these...?"
"Dark arts? Please. Man, it was exhausting pretending to struggle."
"This is void! This duel is void!"
Viscount Giltain screamed in terror, but I simply ignored him.
"Stop oinking and shut up. I've already accepted your duel."