Chapter 28
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Victory Banquet (2)
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Bright and lively music echoed through the splendid banquet hall, yet ironically, dark, envious gazes darted back and forth within.
All of them aimed at me, filled with jealousy.
“Greetings, Count Banheart! It’s an honor to finally speak with you.”
“I heard you performed great feats in the war this time. Might I hear the tale?”
“My daughter has admired you from afar for so long. At last, I can broach the subject.”
But more annoying than those stares were the people rushing over, pretending to be friendly.
They were twice as bothersome as those openly hostile.
Without my ability to read settings, I would have struggled greatly to distinguish the truly friendly ones among them.
‘Honor my ass. And what’s this about your daughter admiring me from long ago?’
I had never participated in social events while managing the territory. So hearing that some daughter had admired me for years was just laughable.
‘It’s like night and day. Just recently, these people were mocking House Banheart, and now this.’
It was probably not just my war merits, but the fact that I had earned the Duke’s trust that weighed heavily.
The Emperor viewed me favorably too, so lesser nobles likely saw me as a stepping stone to approach those two.
[On top of that, a young count is quite tempting. Your face is decent enough, at least.]
‘I’m pretty good-looking, yeah.’
[Do you even know the word humility?]
‘And “young count” among nobles means an upstart wielding power beyond his station.’
[Sigh. If you were actually a naive kid, you might at least be cute.]
At least Gransesia’s constant nagging and sniping helped vent this uncomfortable feeling.
Without her, keeping a smiling face through conversations with these nobles would have been impossible.
“And…… might I ask who this lady is?”
“Ah, this is Mone. My maid.”
“A maid…… you say?”
At my words, I could feel some nobles subtly frowning.
Naturally, Mone shrank back in tension.
“How could a maid wear such a dress…… And Count Banheart, this is a victory banquet. Bringing a maid is…….”
“Haha, indeed. Duke Gail himself wished to see Mone, so I had no choice.”
“Pardon?”
The mention of Duke Gail made the frowning nobles’ faces smooth out in an instant.
Their expressions changed so quickly that I nearly burst out laughing on the spot.
“The Duke regards Mone almost like a daughter. This dress was sent directly by him.”
“Oh, oh! I see. Mone, was it? You’re truly beautiful!”
“Y-Yes? Ah, yes…….”
Mone seemed bewildered by the nobles’ dramatic turnaround.
It was a moment that truly showed the value of Duke Gail’s name.
“Even if the Duke suggested it, shouldn’t you have tactfully declined? Then again, you’ve never been one for tact.”
Just as things were wrapping up amicably, someone decided to stir the pot.
‘Nior Bellun.’
The appearance of a familiar face inwardly pleased me.
‘Of course you’d be pissed from your position.’
I hadn’t expected him to show up at this banquet.
[Know him?]
‘A guest who visited often since our territories are close.’
House Bellun had frequent exchanges in the past, but contact ceased after their fall from grace.
Similar to House Deolic in that sense, but comparing Bellun to Deolic was laughable.
Just thinking of Byan Deolic made them pitiful by contrast.
“Your words are awfully curt, Nior Bellun. Forgotten I’m a count?”
As I sniped back, Nior ground his teeth.
“Got a problem? You’re causing a scene.”
My friction with Nior drew a crowd, including even Duke Gail among them.
Spotting the Duke, Nior seemed emboldened and raised his voice in protest.
“I apologize for the disturbance. But wrongs must be righted! The Imperial Martial Tournament is a festival tied to the nation’s prestige. For Count Banheart to represent us—unthinkable!”
“……Ho. So you’re saying Count Banheart lacks the qualifications?”
Nior flinched at the Duke’s icy tone but shouted, backed by his allies.
“Exactly! A mere sword user like Count Banheart as representative would surely tarnish the kingdom’s honor!”
“Sir Banheart has proven his skill through merits in the war.”
“I’m certain he pulled some trick!”
The Duke looked utterly baffled at the absurd claim, at a loss for words.
I had anticipated some belittling my achievements, but not like this.
As the Duke grimaced, about to respond—
“It’s fine, Your Grace.”
I stepped forward with a grin.
“Words won’t convince them anyway.”
These were people spouting nonsense without logic.
No point explaining rationally to the likes of them.
‘Well, I get where they’re coming from.’
A scion of the worthless House Banheart returns a war hero?
It wouldn’t make sense to common logic.
‘If words fail, just show them with actions.’
I glanced at the tense-faced Nior, then addressed the banquet hall.
“To all who doubt my skill, I offer a chance!”
If the Duke intervened, types like Nior would shut up.
But that wouldn’t quell the rumors questioning my feats.
I couldn’t let House Banheart’s restored image crumble like that.
This was an opportunity instead.
To hammer the doubt out of them and spread my name further.
“From two in the afternoon tomorrow until just before the evening banquet, I’ll accept all challengers.”
Nior looked puzzled, not grasping my words.
“Challengers……?”
“You object to me as the Imperial Martial Tournament representative? Then there’s a simple solution.”
Gransesia had a habit of saying this.
“Let’s have a proper go at it.”
Beat down every aggressor without mercy.
Thoroughly enough they’d never crawl back.
“I’ll beat you all.”
This time, I’d execute it perfectly.
* * *
After the banquet ended, my declaration spread throughout the capital.
No one had expected me to respond this way.
[Isn’t this a bit reckless?]
‘Reckless?’
[Even if your skills are top-notch, facing them one after another won’t be easy.]
She had a point.
Even one by one, nonstop fights would drain my stamina.
‘True. Even Silver Star Sword has limits on how many I can drop.’
The so-called invincible first-strike Silver Star Sword could fell foes in one clash without much stamina drain.
But in public duels, the next opponent wouldn’t fail to prepare against a revealed technique.
It wouldn’t work repeatedly.
‘But that’s enough.’
[What?]
I smirked at the puzzled Gransesia.
‘This fight is stacked in my favor no matter what.’
[How so?]
She didn’t get it, but I didn’t explain.
She’d figure it out naturally soon enough.
“Look. The rumors must be true.”
Onlookers who’d gathered whispered upon seeing me.
I was in the royal training grounds, prepared for the royal guard’s drills but easily borrowed with Duke Gail’s help.
I stood there, loosening up, awaiting opponents.
[Your maid looks really worried over there.]
‘Mone’s never seen me fight.’
After yesterday’s incident, she’d tried to dissuade me from needless fights.
In her memory, only the me from the count’s house and my battered war self remained, so it was natural.
‘Time to show Mone my true strength.’
That way, she’d worry less in the future.
[Don’t get wrecked. It starts soon, right?]
As Gransesia said, it was about thirty minutes to the appointed two o’clock.
The grounds were packed with seated nobles.
‘No worries.’
[Too confident? I know you surpass your realm, but…….]
As Gransesia opened her mouth to advise, murmurs rose from the noble spectators.
“Why are they all battered?”
“Did they fight on the way here or something?”
Eyes turned to a ragged group stumbling in.
They looked exhausted, covered in wounds, in poor shape.
[……Those the challengers for today?]
‘Looks like it.’
About eight of them.
Nior Bellun from yesterday was among them.
[Only eight? Isn’t this Founding Festival less popular than thought?]
‘Opposite. Their state proves it’s too popular.’
Gransesia couldn’t hide her confusion.
I decided to explain kindly.
‘Remember when I said this fight’s rigged for me?’
[Yeah.]
‘Three reasons I’m favored.’
I explained calmly as they decided the order.
‘First, top-tier fighters I couldn’t handle are already on the tournament team. No fighting me today.’
The representative wasn’t one person. Top kingdom talents were selected already.
Meaning my challengers were rejects—mediocre lots.
‘Second, their interests align yet clash.’
[How?]
‘Even if I yield the spot, only one gets it. First to beat me wins it. Look—they’re already tense over order.’
Indeed, the eight were glaring murderously just over lineup.
‘Finally, many want to fight me, but time’s short.’
[Five hours from two to evening banquet? Short?]
‘Unsure how long fights last, so they all want first dibs, right?’
Limited slots for challengers meant they’d compete among themselves.
With evening banquet announcements and next day deadlines, no rest.
Thus, I faced weary foes battered from yesterday’s infighting.
Gransesia finally got it, sounding incredulous.
[You sly bastard…….]
‘Haven’t heard that in a while.’
It even felt nostalgic.