Chapter 68
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: The Victory Dinner
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Dinner was held in the largest dining hall in the mansion.
It was a place even Abel had rarely used before, and the reason wasn't discrimination—it stemmed from Scarlett's personal philosophy.
-Time waste. Space waste.
Word had it that Scarlett handled most of her meals in her office.
As a result, the grand dining hall saw almost no use except when entertaining guests.
Guided by a maid, Abel arrived at the dining hall and peered through the open doors at the interior.
‘Still as spacious as ever.’
The dining hall was lavishly decorated to impress visitors.
For now, though, it was empty. Abel was the first to be seated.
“Please take this seat.”
“Yes.”
Abel sat where directed.
The table was already laden with dishes that looked mouthwateringly delicious just to behold.
‘These are going to be good.’
The academy served high-quality meals, but they paled in comparison to the fare at a formal banquet like this.
It was the difference between a regular diner and a fine restaurant.
As he admired the steadily filling table, other guests began arriving one by one.
“Abel, that match was splendid.”
“Oh, thank you!”
Next to arrive after Abel were the knights.
Since the event was originally an exchange between ‘knights,’ members from both sides joined the dinner.
It was a relief for Abel. Quite a few of the knights were familiar faces.
Had it been just Scarlett and the visiting nobles, he would have felt suffocated.
The knights were followed by Scarlett herself.
“Everyone’s early.”
She scanned the room, gestured for those standing to sit, then took her place at the head of the table.
After exchanging a few words with the other knights, she finally turned to Abel.
“Let’s have a brief talk after dinner.”
“Yes, understood.”
Abel bowed his head in response.
He knew exactly what she wanted to discuss without her saying it.
‘I wonder what the reward will be.’
Since he’d secured victory as she desired, she’d surely offer something worthwhile.
Anticipation welled up naturally.
As he sat there with a pleased smile,
Swoooosh—.
The dining hall doors swung wide open, admitting the guests of honor.
The retainers of the Blaine family.
Alten Blaine, the expedition’s overall leader. Ruel, the heir to the Blaine family.
And the younger collateral relatives, boys and girls.
‘Noble kids at gatherings like this always seem prickly.’
Contrary to that tired cliché, the youths accompanying Ruel had a down-to-earth air.
The boys looked rugged and martial, while the girls had sun-kissed skin and a healthy vibe.
‘Not that it matters to me.’
Abel offered appropriate courtesies and resumed his seat.
“Well, everyone’s gathered.”
Confirming all were seated, Scarlett stood and spoke.
“First, allow me to thank you for making the long journey here.”
She opened lightly, then expounded for five minutes in a more ornate tone than usual before smiling and saying,
“Please, enjoy yourselves to the fullest.”
At that, everyone quietly lifted their utensils.
Here, it was poor etiquette to start chatting the moment eating began.
One ate first for a bit, then eased into conversation over drinks.
Abel recalled the crash course in mansion dining etiquette he’d learned during his stay and ate slowly.
Once everyone had filled their stomachs somewhat,
“I hear you’re a cadet at Del Modor Academy, Abel. Is that right?”
Alten addressed him.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Del Modor Academy lives up to its reputation, but I never imagined a first-year cadet would be at such a level. It was quite the eye-opener.”
“You flatter me.”
Seemingly without ulterior motives, Alten smiled warmly at Abel’s reply.
Abel thought to himself at the sight.
‘They’re all far from ordinary.’
Even in the game, the Blaine family was briefly described as venerating martial prowess and treating skilled fighters generously.
But he hadn’t expected it to be to this degree.
A typical noble would feel at least some displeasure at their heir’s defeat.
“May I ask a question as well?”
As Alten paused, a boy seated beside him jumped in eagerly.
Abel started to reply, but Alten first whispered something in the boy’s ear.
The boy startled, then spoke again.
“Ah, sorry. I’m Condol Blaine. I’m still lacking in many ways, so I joined this trip to learn.”
“No need to apologize. And feel free to ask.”
“Then, when piloting a Gigant, what do you consider most important?”
“Piloting a Gigant?”
“Yes.”
It was an unexpected question.
Gigant piloting, out of nowhere.
Glancing toward the head table, Abel saw Scarlett watching with a faint smile.
He turned back to Condol and answered.
“The most important thing is unity. I constantly think about how to make the Gigant feel like an extension of my own body.”
Saying this in a room full of superior riders was daunting.
But once he started, the words flowed smoothly.
It was a topic he pondered daily, after all.
“……So, you need a firm grasp of your Gigant’s limits to maintain peak focus in real combat.”
“I see! I’ve often felt my concentration shatter when a move I can do with my body just doesn’t work in the Gigant. I never thought to specifically study and practice that aspect.”
Condol nodded enthusiastically, clearly impressed.
Abel gave an awkward smile and nodded back.
It didn’t end there.
As Condol fell silent, the girl beside him spoke up.
Introducing herself as Lena, she unleashed a barrage of questions just like Condol.
Abel ended up fielding them for over thirty minutes.
“Come now, give Abel a break.”
Fortunately, Alten’s intervention halted the endless barrage.
With a genial smile, he calmed the two, then turned to Scarlett.
“What did you think of this exchange match, Count?”
“This exchange match?”
Scarlett, who’d been wetting her throat with wine, answered candidly.
“Both showed skills far beyond their years—I was quietly astonished. They fought not just well, but with the cunning of seasoned warriors. Their futures are bright.”
“Haha, I agree. In ten years—no, five—they’ll be famous far and wide, I’m certain.”
As the two dove into serious conversation, Abel finally caught his breath.
Condol and Lena looked itching to speak, but Alten’s earlier rebuke kept their mouths shut.
Abel sipped his apple drink and turned at a felt gaze.
His eyes met Ruel’s, who was staring intently.
“Are you heading back tomorrow, Sir Abel?”
She asked softly, mindful not to interrupt Scarlett and Alten.
Abel nodded slightly.
“Yes. Lectures resume the day after.”
“I see. The academy must be full of talented cadets.”
“Plenty. But few at your level, Lady Ruel.”
Her eyes widened.
“You flatter me.”
“No empty words. Your skill would stand out immediately.”
It wasn’t mere flattery.
Ruel was genuinely exceptional.
Had it been bare-handed combat instead of Gigants, Abel couldn’t have guaranteed victory.
In weapon and body techniques, she was top-tier.
‘And her Gigant handling isn’t lacking either.’
The more he thought, the more impressive she seemed.
The kind of talent you’d want to recruit, especially with his future stage expanding beyond the academy to the empire and further.
Lost in thought, Abel finally voiced the question he’d debated asking.
“Could you tell me about your family, Lady Ruel?”
“My family?”
“Yes. After experiencing your martial prowess firsthand, I couldn’t help but grow curious.”
It was laced with flattery.
He wondered if it would work, but Ruel happily obliged.
“Of course. Our house is known for spear arts, and if you go far back into history……”
She began reciting from the family’s founding.
Abel hadn’t expected such detail and was inwardly flustered, but he listened patiently.
Nothing particularly remarkable in the history, though.
A brilliant founder, capable successive heads, and so on.
What caught Abel’s interest came much later.
“……So lately, we’ve been actively training Gigant riders.”
It was that the Blaines had only recently started properly cultivating Gigant riders.
Originally, only the family head, knight captain, and vice-captain piloted them.
Then some incident sparked rider training, and proper exchanges with the Klein family began around then.
“……Is it alright to tell me this?”
“Of course. Nothing secretive about it.”
“Good to know. So you’re focusing on rider cultivation now?”
“Yes. We lag behind houses that invested early, but I believe we’ll catch up soon. Results have been solid so far.”
Ruel’s eyes sparkled with sincerity.
Meanwhile, Abel pieced together a hypothesis from her words.
‘The reason the Blaine family fell…….’
The Blaines had collapsed abruptly.
So sudden for a prestigious martial house.
But what if multiple parties were involved?
Pure speculation for now, but clues abounded.
The Blaines were neutral in politics.
Prestigious warriors, but lagging in Gigant riders, so not overwhelmingly powerful.
Yet recently, they’d poured effort into Gigants and posted good results.
In short:
A neutral house suddenly building strength.
Some would court them; others would nip the threat in the bud.
“Sir Abel?”
Snapped from his thoughts by Ruel’s voice, Abel refocused.
“Are you alright?”
“Ah, yes. Sorry.”
He relaxed his stiffened expression and lightly swirled his glass.
He couldn’t draw conclusions from this alone. Nor did he plan to intervene yet.
But it warranted further investigation.
It didn’t seem like the Blaine saga would end with their mere destruction.
Especially considering the shadows lurking in the Allied Kingdoms.
‘I need more information first.’
Abel resolved to tap his saved connections.