Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: The Knight Commander's Son
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The rest period was over.
Filming resumed.
Early in the morning, the participants gathered in the center of the campsite.
The host stepped forward.
"Starting today, a new mission begins."
What now?
"But before that, there's someone I'd like to introduce to you all."
The host gestured to the side.
Someone stepped out.
Blond hair.
Blue eyes.
Broad shoulders.
Muscular forearms.
A soldier's posture.
"The eldest son of Imperial Knight Commander Leohart von Eisen, Young Master Kael von Eisen!"
The blond man strode forward.
He clenched his fist tightly.
"Everyone! It's great to meet you!"
His voice boomed.
Loud enough to echo across the entire plaza.
"I consider it an honor to join this program! I'll give it my all!"
His eyes sparkled.
His enthusiasm overflowed.
He shone brighter than the morning sun.
Whispers rippled through the participants.
"The Knight Commander's son, huh."
"Why's he joining out of nowhere?"
"Is mid-show entry even allowed?"
I was curious too.
Why all of a sudden?
A nearby staffer muttered under their breath.
"Sigh... The male participants just aren't popular enough..."
"Emergency addition..."
"For the ratings..."
Ah.
I got it.
The guys aren't drawing crowds.
Well, can't say I'm surprised.
Leon clings to the princess like a walking encyclopedia.
The baron's second son is a total non-entity.
And I can't even picture the viscount's fourth son's face.
No wonder they're flopping.
"Now, let's announce today's mission."
The host raised his hand.
"Today, we'll head to the nearby village of Edelweiss."
Edelweiss.
I'd heard of it.
A peaceful, quiet place.
"The mission is simple."
The host smiled.
"Gain the 'popularity' of the villagers."
Popularity?
"Participants are free to roam the village. Interact with the residents, make friends. At the end of the mission, the villagers will vote to rank you. The top vote-getter receives a special reward."
The crowd buzzed.
A popularity contest, huh.
"And!"
The host added.
"This mission will be done in pairs. The teams have already been decided."
Pairs?
The staff handed out papers.
I checked my team.
Team 1: Kasian de Valentine / Kael von Eisen
"Pleased to meet you, Young Master Kasian!"
A booming voice came from beside me.
I turned my head.
The blond guy.
The Knight Commander's son.
Kael was grinning ear to ear.
"What an honor to be teamed up! Let's do our best together!"
He extended his hand.
A handshake offer.
"...Sure."
I took it.
His grip was crushing.
My hand felt like it might shatter.
"Great! Let's go!"
Kael took the lead.
Striding forward powerfully.
I followed behind.
A sigh escaped me.
Paired with an over-the-top enthusiast.
This is gonna be exhausting.
We arrived at the village.
Edelweiss.
A small village.
Houses built of stone.
Flower beds in bloom.
A fountain in the plaza.
Peaceful.
Quiet.
"What a fine village!"
Kael said, looking around.
"So, Young Master Kasian! How do you think we can win over the villagers?"
He looked at me.
Eyes sparkling.
Full of expectation.
"Beats me."
I shrugged it off.
"I have an idea!"
Kael clenched his fist.
"To gain popularity! We need to help the villagers first!"
"Sounds about right."
"A hero would slay the monsters plaguing the village, wouldn't he?!"
"Would he now."
"I hear there's a goblin nest nearby! If we clear it out, the villagers will be thrilled!"
But.
Hold on.
This is Edelweiss village.
The Empire regularly sends knights to sweep monsters here.
There shouldn't be any around.
And if there were, the knights would've handled it already.
I glanced at Kael.
His eyes were sparkling like stars.
Fist clenched tight.
Bursting with zeal.
His whole body radiated a passion for justice.
"We'll slay the monsters! And bring peace to the village!"
Should I tell him?
No monsters here.
You'll just be wasting your time.
"This is the true path of a knight!"
His eyes sparkled even brighter.
So pure.
Too pure.
I couldn't bring myself to say it.
Didn't want to douse that fire.
"...I'm good."
"Pardon? Why?"
"Goblins are... kinda..."
"Are you scared?"
Kael looked shocked.
No.
Not scared. They just don't exist.
I almost said it but stopped.
I looked into Kael's eyes.
Sparkling.
Full of hope.
Couldn't do it.
Really couldn't.
"No worries! I'll take the front! If the Northern young master supports from behind..."
"No."
I waved him off.
"I'll try something else."
"Something else?"
"Yeah."
I looked around.
There was a bulletin board on one side of the plaza.
I walked over.
A poster was pinned up.
Tonight! Edelweiss Village Dance!
Location: Village Plaza
Time: 7 PM
Everyone Welcome!
Dance.
"How about that one."
"A dance?"
Kael came over.
He read the poster.
"You mean gain popularity at the dance?"
"Eh, sure."
"But! A dance is too passive! We need to actively help out for real popularity!"
"Probably."
"Monster extermination is the way..."
"I'll hit the dance."
"...Pardon?"
"You go hunt monsters. I'll stick around here."
Kael's expression grew complicated.
He looked like he wanted to say something.
But in the end, he nodded.
"...Understood. Then I'll head out!"
He clenched his fist.
"I'll slay the monsters and return! Wait for me!"
He strode off.
Out of the village.
I waved lazily.
"Good luck."
Enthusiasm's great and all.
But traveling together? Draining.
I strolled slowly through the village.
Plenty of time until the dance.
What to do.
Just wander?
The sunlight was warm.
The breeze was cool.
Peaceful.
This is the life.
No goblin hunts.
No training.
Just walk around.
Pure bliss.
About an hour of walking.
I roamed every corner of the village.
Bakery.
Flower shop.
Blacksmith.
Everyone was friendly.
"Oh my, what a handsome young man."
The bakery lady smiled.
"Here, on the house."
I got a loaf of bread.
Delicious.
"Whoa, a noble!"
Kids swarmed me at the flower shop.
"So cool!"
"Silver hair!"
"Blue eyes!"
They stared in awe.
I waved.
The kids burst into giggles.
This counts as popularity, right?
Not bad.
Just hit the dance like this.
"...Young Master Kasian."
A voice from behind.
Drained of energy.
Not the booming tone from before.
I turned.
It was Kael.
Shoulders slumped.
Head hung low.
All that fire? Gone.
"How'd it go?"
I asked.
Even though I knew.
Kael opened his mouth.
"..."
Words failed him.
"..."
Silence.
Long silence.
"...None."
He finally muttered.
"No... monsters."
I knew it.
No way there'd be monsters here.
But I couldn't say that.
"I see."
"Yeah..."
Kael's shoulders drooped further.
The light faded from his eyes.
Those sparkling eyes from before.
Now like a dead fish's.
Pathetic.
Truly pitiful.
Good thing I kept quiet.
Telling him upfront would've crushed him harder.
"Wanna walk around together for now?"
"...Yeah."
Kael trailed behind listlessly.
Shuffling steps.
Not his earlier strides.
We walked the village.
Kael stayed gloomy the whole time.
Not a word.
Head down.
Poor guy.
Really poor guy.
Then.
"Waaah!"
A cry rang out.
I turned.
Alley entrance.
A little girl sprawled on the ground.
Girl.
Five or six maybe.
Golden curls.
Knee scraped.
A bit of blood.
"Waaah! Waaah!"
Sobbing hard.
Tears streaming.
I started toward her.
"Hold on!"
A voice from the side.
Kael.
Voice alive again.
I turned.
Light returning to Kael's eyes.
Twinkle.
Sparkle sparkle.
"This is it!"
Kael clenched his fist.
"The moment a knight steps up!"
He strode over.
Old vigor back.
"A knight of justice must act!"
He stood before the crying girl.
Kneeled.
"Miss, are you alright?!"
Boisterous voice.
The girl looked up.
"Fear not! I'll help you!"
Kael beamed.
"I'm Kael von Eisen, son of the Imperial Knight Commander! I'll protect you!"
He offered his hand.
Boldly.
Confident.
"Uh... waaah!!"
The girl wailed louder.
"WAAAAH!!"
Even flailing.
"Wh-what's wrong?!"
Kael panicked.
"What did I do wrong?!"
"WAAAAH!!"
She cried harder instead of answering.
Face red.
Snot dripping.
Kael's face reddened too.
From fluster.
"I-I just wanted to help..."
"WAAAAH!!"
No fixing this.
Onlookers gathered.
Murmurs.
"What's with that noble?"
"He's making the kid cry?"
"What happened?"
Stares stung.
Kael's face hardened.
I sighed.
Keep this up, and he'll tank his image instead of gaining fans.
No choice.
I approached.
Stood beside Kael.
"Hold on."
"Y-Young Master Kasian?"
I knelt.
Eye level with the girl.
Said nothing.
Just looked.
Quietly.
"Waa... uh..."
Her sobs slowed a bit.
I kept looking.
Eye contact.
Waited.
"Uh... uh..."
Cries faded.
To sniffles.
Then.
Stopped.
The girl stared blankly at me.
Eyes wide.
Mouth agape.
Tear-filled eyes fixed on me.
Silence.
She kept staring.
No more tears.
Not even thinking of crying.
Just dazed.
An old saying came to mind.
'Want to know if you're really handsome? Watch a pure child's reaction.'
Kids don't lie.
Cute is cute.
Scary is scary—they cry.
They follow instinct.
The truest mirror.
This girl.
Stopped crying cold.
Staring blankly.
What is this.
Her mouth opened.
"...Handsome."
What?
"Oppa, you're handsome."
The area went quiet.
Murmurs stopped.
Kael froze.
Everyone looked at me.
Wind blew.
Silver hair fluttered.
Sunlight poured down.
The girl still gazed up at me.
Eyes sparkling.
Cheeks faintly flushed.