Chapter 87
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Sword-Mouthed Fox
Sword-Mouthed Fox
Name: Eri.
Age: six years old.
The spirit in charge of being the group's cutie pie wasn't impressed at all by the humans' level.
[Back then when we first met, Dad seemed way stronger than this.]
"First met? Oh ho, when was that?"
Tsukiyo’s eyes sparkled.
[That was probably... when Dad was thirteen? Something like that.]
Really? Zikfrain looked at Enoch, who nodded.
"That's my memory too. By then, you were right on the verge of Master."
[Right? But calling this 'new generation' or whatever—honestly. The kids these days are just pathetic.]
"You're the biggest kid these days, Eri."
[It's just a figure of speech.]
While Zikfrain glanced around for no reason, the group arrived at their lodging following the guide.
The lodging was a fairly large villa given in its entirety, but they couldn't tell if everyone got accommodations like this or if it was because the Demisto Marquess family had some pull.
"Is there a schedule or something?"
"More or less? It's a banquet that drags on for a few days, so nothing too rigidly planned."
At Zikfrain's words, Enoch sprawled out on the desk.
"How many days? A day or two and I'd get bored."
"We can leave early if we want. No big deal."
"Oh, nice."
From what they'd heard in the carriage, the banquet was starting today. They'd timed their arrival just right on purpose, which suited Enoch perfectly.
'A gathering of what you'd call the kingdom's promising late-bloomers, huh?'
Basically a meetup for up-and-comers.
So, check out their levels, borrow anything promising-looking, widen his horizons a bit. Wandering around with that in mind seemed like the way to go.
"Then wake me when it's time."
Enoch flopped face-down on the desk.
"Go to bed, why here?"
"Too much hassle."
"Fine, whatever."
*
When Enoch opened his eyes, the sky was starting to take on a faint red hue.
"Yawn... Started?"
"Yeah. Your clothes... those'll do, I guess."
Clothes? Checking Zikfrain's outfit, he was dressed up more formally than usual.
"Why go all out like that?"
"It's a place that calls for some decorum."
Tsukiyo opted out, not keen on kids' playtime. So now just Enoch getting ready, and they could head out.
"Hyup."
Enoch gave a shortened form of his cleansing technique to freshen up, then stood with a casual sway.
The upper and lower set, shoes, and gloves that Leone had gifted him—hard to call it armor or clothes. He glanced at his getup and nodded.
"Leone knows her stuff."
With half the kingdom's wealth draped over him, no one would pick a fight over his attire. Almost no one would recognize it, but anyone could tell at a glance it wasn't ordinary.
"Shall we?"
He followed behind Zikfrain. On the way to the banquet hall, Zikfrain started to explain the etiquette, but
"Hmm... Actually, you probably don't need it."
"Why?"
"Once you're around Grandmaster level, wherever you go becomes the etiquette itself... something like that. Unless the emperor's there."
"Oh ho."
Handy custom.
The banquet hall they reached with light steps was dazzling, as expected. The entire massive building served as the venue, its splendor obvious even from outside.
"Zikfrain le Demisto. This is my guest."
"Ah, yes. We need to log the roster—could I get your name, sir?"
At the guard's words, Zikfrain nodded to Enoch.
"Enoch Estor."
"Enoch... Estor... Ah, got it. Thank you."
After the simple procedure, they entered the banquet hall, which was dazzling indeed. So opulent it almost hurt the eyes.
As Enoch frowned at the chaotic spectacle that made his head spin just looking at it, Zikfrain walked ahead and spoke.
"Hmm... For now, I'll introduce you to the ones I know."
"Friends?"
"Sort of. Most of 'em are decent."
Zikfrain scanned around briefly, then waved at one group.
"Hey!"
"Hm? Oh, it's Zikfrain."
The ones who welcomed Zikfrain warmly soon turned their eyes to Enoch.
"Heard you were bringing a guest, but this guy's a total stranger."
"Would be."
Zikfrain first introduced his friends to Enoch, listing names from left to right. Honestly, Enoch wasn't that interested.
"This is... Enoch?"
"Enoch."
After a casual handshake, their expressions turned odd. Ignoring it, Enoch snatched a drink from a passing server like everyone else.
"Oh."
Wine?
Not bad. He patted his chest to call Eri.
[Dad?]
"Try some of this."
While Eri lapped at the wine with her paw, the banquet hall suddenly buzzed louder.
The reason was a young man who had just entered.
[Some famous guy, huh.]
"Looks like it."
Judging by his aura, he'd just hit Master level. Nothing impressive, but standout in this hall.
"Carten de Pearson..."
"You know him?"
Zikfrain shook his head.
"Not personally, but anyone in the know knows of him. Apparently just reached Master recently."
"Yeah?"
Master this, Master that—the food here was surprisingly good. Popping small cakes and muffins without thinking, he'd already downed a hefty amount.
'Makes me think of Kapri.'
The B-rank merc he'd met near Leone's forest. He'd shelved the Giant Clan stuff to open a restaurant—wonder how he was doing.
He'd helped him out a few times, including the gift to Leone, so he wanted to drop by sometime...
"Master at twenty-four is impressive, sure. Not as good as me, though."
His friends burst out laughing at Zikfrain's cocky chin-tilt.
"Haha! Yeah, go knock him down a peg."
"You're eighteen now, right? Six years, you could catch up."
"Hey hey, voice too loud. People are staring."
As one friend said, people were looking their way, but not sneering.
Zikfrain was famous too, after all.
Expert upper-grade at not even twenty. And the head of House Demisto was none other than Niveyron le Demisto.
Could Zikfrain surpass Carten?
The hall heated up with that topic, but
[Master at twenty-four? Hmm... Doesn't seem like that guy's got real talent. For his sake, maybe someone should tell him straight.]
The spirit with sky-high standards dropped a line, and the hall went quiet.
But only for a moment. Since it was some clueless young spirit, the mood shifted to laughing it off.
"Haha! Looks like the little one's mixing up Master with something else."
"Well, it's a spirit. Bound to happen."
Of course, Eri was dead serious.
[Humans, you need a wake-up call. Living such short lives under a century, and you lack even the drive to improve? Celebrating reaching Master—not even Grandmaster—at twenty-four is foolish. I'd recommend looking for talent elsewhere while you still can.]
"...That's harsh talk from a young one."
A few who'd been rubbed the wrong way scowled, seeking the spirit's owner.
"Controlling your contracted spirit is the master's duty. Don't make a scene—recall it or something."
Enoch blinked, midway through stacking desserts on his plate.
'Why's she acting up?'
Eri was smart. She might skip filters sometimes, but she knew exactly what her words would cause.
So why provoke like that out of nowhere?
'Whatever, she'll handle it.'
She's smarter than me anyway.
Enoch waved it off dismissively. Eri smirked, while the others' faces crumpled.
"Hey, what're you planning?"
Zikfrain sat beside Enoch, stuffing his arms with snacks.
"You prepped for the show—why ask?"
"Cuz... it's fun to watch."
Zikfrain chuckled and gave a small apologetic wave to his friends.
And birds of a feather: like Zikfrain, most couldn't resist something entertaining, so no issue.
One guy even stepped forward to egg it on.
"Wait, doesn't this gathering have one rule?"
It wasn't called that now, but this group once had a name.
"How about settling it with a duel, true to the Young Dragon Assembly?"
"You're bringing up ancient history now?
The man shook his head at the objection.
"The spirit's got a point. The world's survival of the fittest. Can't deny the kingdom's gotten too soft in peacetime lately."
"Hmm..."
Perfect. Eri, who'd been waiting for this, bit the bait.
[Great, a duel.]
The baby fox bared her teeth in a grin and flipped in the air.
Crackle—!
Lightning flashed, and Eri's form shifted. A massive fox with six tails. A fox with a sword in its mouth, no less.
"Thought she'd vanished—turns out you're carrying her in thunder form."
"You can store a sword as lightning?"
Enoch nodded at Zikfrain's question.
"If it works, it works."
Haven't tried it myself, honestly.
"Eri, fighting!"
Enoch waved the muffin in his hand.