Chapter 234: New Era (4)

Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 234: New Era (4)

Baronet was a title directly above an ordinary knight.

"What in the..."

"Baronet!"

The prime minister's declaration left the nobles stunned, and rightfully so.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"This is unprecedented! To give a barbarian an inheritable title!"

A baronet could pass down their title. Not perpetually, of course—just to their son and grandchild. But in some ways, a baronet could be considered better than an honorary baron, whose title only existed temporarily.

It's not like I deliberately chose a nobility path. I didn't expect to earn a title.

To be honest, I was dumbfounded. In the game, you could clear quests for marquesses or above to accumulate the accomplishment points needed to become a noble. This route had as many cons as it did pros. You were a nobleman, but in truth, you were closer to the vassal of a noble, and so there were restrictions to what you could do. So what had happened to those restrictions?

Well, since commoners and nobles can't refuse the king's orders anyway, aren't restrictions virtually nonexistent? Hmm, that seems to be the case, but...

That was when the prime minister shouted, "Everyone, quiet!"

"But..."

"This is His Majesty's command."

The commotion that seemed unlikely to settle any time soon was instantly calmed by that one sentence. That was how much weight the king's name carried in this country.

"You will be informed of the date that your title will be awarded as soon as it's decided."

Anyway, that ended my bestowal of rewards. The prime minister didn't even ask if I would accept the title. He probably never considered otherwise. Well, I had no intention of rejecting it. This wasn't just a game. In other words, becoming a noble came with all kinds of conveniences and new potential plays.

"Portyan Miriant from Clan Nartel, step forward!"

After my turn, the process of handing out rewards according to merit continued for a while. At this time, my teammates stepped forward one by one as well and received decent rewards. Missha, Ainar, and Mr. Bear got ten million stones each as reward money and had the option to select either a rank-five essence or equivalent equipment. At her request, Raven received the right to learn palace magic instead of an ordinary reward.

In Erwen's case, she received a rank-four essence or an item equivalent to that—the greatest reward among my comrades. She was recognized as the second greatest contributor in the battle against Corpse Collector, and was also receiving compensation as a bereaved family member. Even though she hadn't been able to attend this event, today was just the announcement and the actual reward would be given later, so that wasn't a problem.

"Mr. Yandel, is Erwen still at her holy land?"

"Sounds like the funeral is over, but she must still have a lot on her mind."

"I see..." Raven, who asked for news about Erwen, trailed off. I asked if she had something to say to her, but I didn't get an answer.

After a long while, the long reward ceremony came to an end and the banquet began. "What an amazing day. Everyone, please enjoy this event with the heroes of the new era with a happy heart!"

Because there were so many people in attendance, the banquet was being held in two different spaces, the grand inner hall where the reward ceremony had taken place and the outdoor garden where all sorts of delicacies were laid out. It wasn't compulsory, but most adventurers enjoyed the banquet outdoors. That was what the vibe was like. The interior was quiet with classical music playing. Because more than half of the nobles chose to enjoy the banquet there, it was awkward for the adventurers to stay.

"Mr. Yandel, what are you going to do?"

"Of course I'm going outside." We also chose the outdoors.

"If we stay here, we could expand our network."

Since my baronet title was confirmed anyway, networking didn't necessarily have to be done today. I didn't want to do that today, either.

"Yandel! Yandel is here!"

"Huh? What's a nobleman doing out here?"

"Hahaha! Yandel isn't like that!"

That I had been bestowed a title had perhaps evoked a sense of distance, because the adventurers greeted me warmly when I came out to join them. Whew, good thing I did. No matter how I looked at it, my relationships with these guys felt more valuable than the ones I could have with those noble bastards.

"Everyone is looking at you. Why don't you say a few words? We heard more than enough inside, but I think it'll sound different when you say it," Kyle said from beside me.

So, a short toast, huh? I wondered what would be best.

Just go at it like a barbarian.

I didn't have to think for long. Was there a need to? We'd already heard enough pretentious praise.

"Good work, everyone!" This should be enough for today. "Now, let's drink up and enjoy!"

My toast ended super quick. The barbarians, who preferred to keep things brief by nature, shouted in response, "Behelaaah!"

The same went for the adventurers.

"To think the day would come when I'd get to drink inside the royal palace!"

"Yandel is going to be a baronet, what are you worried about?! Let's enjoy ourselves!"

"Woohoo!"

The adventurers let go of their discomfort about being at the palace and began to enjoy the banquet to their hearts' content. This applied to us as well.

"Wow, Bjorn! Try some of this! I don't know what kind of meat it is, but the bones are crispy and delicious!"

"Uh, you're not supposed to eat the bone..."

"Huh? Why?"

"...Never mind. As long as it's tasty to you."

The greasy food here was a different kind of delicious from Missha's home-cooked meals. Drinks went down easily, and there were numerous comrades around to drink and chat with about past struggles.

This feels like an after-party or something.

A pleasant time befitting a banquet followed. The atmosphere darkened whenever talk of a deceased comrade came up, but after a brief moment of silence, everyone regained their spirits. Time marched on just like that and soon it was nearing sunset.

"You look like you're having fun." Melter, who had been enjoying the banquet with the nobles indoors, came out.

"Did you have fun inside?"

"Of course not. I had to stop myself from running out of there."

"Looks like you're going through it too." I could understand Melter's decision to enjoy the banquet with the nobles inside. He led a clan, after all. I was sure he didn't want to miss the opportunity to network with nobility, because one day he may need their help. "Since you're here, take a bottle."

"A bottle...?"

"Why bother using a glass?"

"Haha, if I had known things were like this, I would have come out sooner. But where are your teammates?"

"Mr. Yandel, what are you going to do?"

"Of course I'm going outside." We also chose the outdoors.

"If we stay here, we could expand our network."

Since my baronet title was confirmed anyway, networking didn't necessarily have to be done today. I didn't want to do that today, either.

"Yandel! Yandel is here!"

"Huh? What's a nobleman doing out here?"

"Hahaha! Yandel isn't like that!"

That I had been bestowed a title had perhaps evoked a sense of distance, because the adventurers greeted me warmly when I came out to join them. Whew, good thing I did. No matter how I looked at it, my relationships with these guys felt more valuable than the ones I could have with those noble bastards.

"Everyone is looking at you. Why don't you say a few words? We heard more than enough inside, but I think it'll sound different when you say it," Kyle said from beside me.

So, a short toast, huh? I wondered what would be best.

Just go at it like a barbarian.

I didn't have to think for long. Was there a need to? We'd already heard enough pretentious praise.

"Good work, everyone!" This should be enough for today. "Now, let's drink up and enjoy!"

My toast ended super quick. The barbarians, who preferred to keep things brief by nature, shouted in response, "Behelaaah!"

The same went for the adventurers.

"To think the day would come when I'd get to drink inside the royal palace!"

"Yandel is going to be a baronet, what are you worried about?! Let's enjoy ourselves!"

"Woohoo!"

The adventurers let go of their discomfort about being at the palace and began to enjoy the banquet to their hearts' content. This applied to us as well.

"Wow, Bjorn! Try some of this! I don't know what kind of meat it is, but the bones are crispy and delicious!"

"Uh, you're not supposed to eat the bone..."

"Huh? Why?"

"...Never mind. As long as it's tasty to you."

The greasy food here was a different kind of delicious from Missha's home-cooked meals. Drinks went down easily, and there were numerous comrades around to drink and chat with about past struggles.

This feels like an after-party or something.

A pleasant time befitting a banquet followed. The atmosphere darkened whenever talk of a deceased comrade came up, but after a brief moment of silence, everyone regained their spirits. Time marched on just like that and soon it was nearing sunset.

"You look like you're having fun." Melter, who had been enjoying the banquet with the nobles indoors, came out.

"Did you have fun inside?"

"Of course not. I had to stop myself from running out of there."

"Looks like you're going through it too." I could understand Melter's decision to enjoy the banquet with the nobles inside. He led a clan, after all. I was sure he didn't want to miss the opportunity to network with nobility, because one day he may need their help. "Since you're here, take a bottle."

"A bottle...?"

"Why bother using a glass?"

"Haha, if I had known things were like this, I would have come out sooner. But where are your teammates?"

"Except for Abman, everyone got tired of us and wandered off."

"Really? I thought that barbarian girl would be different."

"Oh, she can't drink that much." To be more exact, she could drink, but after getting drunk on the atmosphere and downing continuous bottles, she had passed out.

"Yandel, there's an empty bottle here. You're not drunk yet, are you?"

"Of course not."

Now that Melter was here, I continued drinking with the warriors around me. This was one of the pros of having Bjorn Yandel's body. He handled alcohol incredibly well.

As I continued chugging down drinks and testing the limits of this body for the first time, Missha returned. "Ugh, the smell of alcohol..."

"Oh, Missha. Did you have a good time?"

"Yeah. There's something like a perrrformance over there. It's fun. It would have been great if you came too..."

"There will be more of that later. But where's Raven?"

"She's drunk and talking about complicated stuff with the wizarrrds."

Discussing complicated topics while drunk? Wizards definitely weren't to be trifled with. "I'm going to walk around for a while." I excused myself from Melter, got up from the drinking party, and walked the garden with Missha. While not as much as the drinking party of warriors I was just a part of, everyone here was having a good time. Nobles were mingling here and there too.

"Oh? I can't even imagine an army of thousands of corpses."

"Me neither. That must have been so scary. You're amazing."

Just like the time I was the star of the count's banquet, the nobles were the first to approach the adventurers around them with interest. Well, not all of them had big heads like the titled nobles. Young, borderline aristocrats were in truth no different from middle-class commoners.

Huh? But why didn't anyone come over to us?

That was strange, but I soon understood. How could anyone approach dozens of rugged, rowdy warriors?

"Bjorn, should we sit and rest for a bit?"

"That would be good..." I wasn't that drunk but because of the effects of the last battle, it was hard to walk for too long.

"...Why are you sitting on the floorrr? Sit beside me."

"I think that thing will break."

Missha sat on a bench and I sat on the grass, and we just quietly passed the time. Was it because I drank so much? For some reason, the loud banquet sounded like background music in the distance, and thoughts of all kinds passed through my head.

"Yandel! You're Sir Bjorn Yandel who just received the title of baronet, right?"

As I was enjoying the comfortable silence, some nobles recognized me and approached me. But Sir Yandel? Were they already treating me like a noble? I didn't want this time to be interrupted so I turned them away with appropriate excuses, but I couldn't use that method on everyone.

"Haha, so you've been here." This was a non-collateral, titled aristocrat, someone with whom having an awkward relationship could lead to trouble in the future... Dwalkie's half-brother.

"...Baron Martoin."

"In truth, I tried to come see you a few times earlier, but I didn't approach you because you seemed to be having a good time." Excuses. It was obvious he just couldn't bring himself to go through the warriors to get near me.

"Except for Abman, everyone got tired of us and wandered off."

"Really? I thought that barbarian girl would be different."

"Oh, she can't drink that much." To be more exact, she could drink, but after getting drunk on the atmosphere and downing continuous bottles, she had passed out.

"Yandel, there's an empty bottle here. You're not drunk yet, are you?"

"Of course not."

Now that Melter was here, I continued drinking with the warriors around me. This was one of the pros of having Bjorn Yandel's body. He handled alcohol incredibly well.

As I continued chugging down drinks and testing the limits of this body for the first time, Missha returned. "Ugh, the smell of alcohol..."

"Oh, Missha. Did you have a good time?"

"Yeah. There's something like a perrrformance over there. It's fun. It would have been great if you came too..."

"There will be more of that later. But where's Raven?"

"She's drunk and talking about complicated stuff with the wizarrrds."

Discussing complicated topics while drunk? Wizards definitely weren't to be trifled with. "I'm going to walk around for a while." I excused myself from Melter, got up from the drinking party, and walked the garden with Missha. While not as much as the drinking party of warriors I was just a part of, everyone ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠here was having a good time. Nobles were mingling here and there too.

"Oh? I can't even imagine an army of thousands of corpses."

"Me neither. That must have been so scary. You're amazing."

Just like the time I was the star of the count's banquet, the nobles were the first to approach the adventurers around them with interest. Well, not all of them had big heads like the titled nobles. Young, borderline aristocrats were in truth no different from middle-class commoners.

Huh? But why didn't anyone come over to us?

That was strange, but I soon understood. How could anyone approach dozens of rugged, rowdy warriors?

"Bjorn, should we sit and rest for a bit?"

"That would be good..." I wasn't that drunk but because of the effects of the last battle, it was hard to walk for too long.

"...Why are you sitting on the floorrr? Sit beside me."

"I think that thing will break."

Missha sat on a bench and I sat on the grass, and we just quietly passed the time. Was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it because I drank so much? For some reason, the loud banquet sounded like background music in the distance, and thoughts of all kinds passed through my head.

"Yandel! You're Sir Bjorn Yandel who just received the title of baronet, right?"

As I was enjoying the comfortable silence, some nobles recognized me and approached me. But Sir Yandel? Were they already treating me like a noble? I didn't want this time to be interrupted so I turned them away with appropriate excuses, but I couldn't use that method on everyone.

"Haha, so you've been here." This was a non-collateral, titled aristocrat, someone with whom having an awkward relationship could lead to trouble in the future... Dwalkie's half-brother.

"...Baron Martoin."

"In truth, I tried to come see you a few times earlier, but I didn't approach you because you seemed to be having a good time." Excuses. It was obvious he just couldn't bring himself to go through the warriors to get near me.

"Thank you for your consideration."

"Haha, it's nothing. You are the star of this banquet, after all."

After a formal greeting, I had a brief conversation with Baron Martoin. It was a more fruitful conversation than I thought. Apparently, when commoner-born nobles were made there was bound to be tension, but I was going to be a different case.

"How so?"

"Because your title was bestowed by the king himself. An adventurer whom the king has a close eye on? Who would dare to touch you? Everyone will be anxious to befriend you."

The king, huh? I always felt this, but every time the king came up in conversation, I felt uneasy, including when the chieftain came to talk to me.

Anyway, if this is true...

Deciding to joke around a bit, I greeted the butler who was seated next to the baron. "Anyway, long time no see, butler."

The butler's face turned white at my greeting. Well, it made sense that he'd be scared since the barbarian who used to crush heads and chew bones now had great fame and power. "P-Please e-excuse my behavior back then..."

When I grinned at him, the butler trembled and apologized. It didn't feel particularly satisfying.

Now I just feel like I'm bullying a weak kid.

Even a sandbag needed to provide some moderate impact to make it fun. I stopped teasing the butler and continued talking to Baron Martoin. Naturally, Dwalkie's name came up.

"Anyway, where is my brother?"

The baron brought up his brother, whom he hadn't given a second look back then like he wanted to use him to get closer to me. Missha and I both froze at the same time.

What the fuck? Is he joking right now?

"Where... is he...?"

As I echoed him while barely schooling my expression, the butler's face paled even more. One thing was clear: this guy knew the situation. "My Lord, as I said before, Riol Warb Dwalkie is..."

The baron already knew too. He'd just forgotten.

"Oh, right. My memory is not what it used to be at my age. Haha." The baron gave a hearty, embarrassed laugh. My insides, which were fine even after countless bottles of alcohol, were seething. Was that why?

Squeeze.

When I came back to my senses, Missha was squeezing my arm tightly, a worried look on her face. I patted the back of her hand to say, Don't worry, and removed it. I wasn't someone who had nothing to lose anymore. There were too many things I was responsible for.

"Yes, I understand. Don't worry. As you get older, you may develop issues with your head."

"...Huh? Oh, I guess you could phrase it like that. Hahaha."

I reached out and offered to shake the baron's hand. "I have somewhere to go, so I have to leave. It was nice seeing you."

"Really? That's too bad. See you later," Baron Martoin said in disappointment, reciprocating my handshake. Then he asked one last question. "Oh, but where are you going?"

I brushed off the hand I had used to shake the baron's as if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to remove the dust on it and answered, "Oh, I just suddenly want to wash my hands."

Dirty things should be washed away, after all.

Baron Martoin was thickheaded. "...Is that so? Anyway, I'll call on you sometime soon, so don't refuse. Now that you are a noble, there is a lot you have to learn."

The baron casually sent me off. Maybe the problem was with me. You wouldn't normally imagine that a barbarian would make a sarcastic remark like that.

It might be one of the few disadvantages of being a barbarian.

"You were verrry patient." Missha petted my hair like she was proud of me.

I slowly got up and headed inside too. Washing my hands was something I could ask any passing wizard for, but I also wanted to use the bathroom.

"Are you surrre I don't need to go with you?"

"...Do you think I'm a child?"

I parted ways with Missha and headed to the bathroom with the help of a guide. Coming back out, I was about to return to the banquet when someone who recognized me came up to me.

"Oh, there you are." It was Count Ferdehilt, the organizer of the banquet I attended last time. He had said something strange to me as he awarded me the winning prize of the tournament, No. 7777: Garphas' Necklace.

"I will call on you privately when you are more ready."

Up to today, he had never called me once.

"You speak as if you were looking for me."

"That's because I was. Why don't we go over there and have a drink? It won't take long."

"If you say so." Since he was a man with an amount of power that could not be compared to the likes of Baron Martoin, I obediently followed him inside.

"Here." When I sat down at the table, the count poured me a drink and I downed it at once.

"My team is waiting for me. Can I hear your business with me?"

"Haha, of course." Thankfully, the count seemed to understand and got straight to the point without irritation. "Arabella, my youngest daughter. You've met her once, correct?"

Something's off here...

"What do you think? Isn't she pretty?" Sure enough, the count wrapped his arm around his daughter's shoulder and pushed her in front of me.

"I-I'm Arabella..." The count's daughter, who appeared to be in her early teens, trembled as her eyes met mine.

Ha, I never thought this would happen to me.

"How about it?" My brain shut off at this shocking turn of events and for a moment, I couldn't say anything. But to him, I must have looked like I was thinking it over. "Oh, if you already have a woman, don't worry. You can just take her as a concubine."

"...Concubine?"

"Oh, didn't you know?" The count laughed at my muttering and said, "It is a noble's duty to produce as many descendants as possible to aid this country. If you become a noble, you'll be able to take in three concubines."

Duty, my ass. I felt like going to the bathroom again.

"Thank you for your consideration."

"Haha, it's nothing. You are the star of this banquet, after all."

After a formal greeting, I had a brief conversation with Baron Martoin. It was a more fruitful conversation than I thought. Apparently, when commoner-born nobles were made there was bound to be tension, but I was going to be a different case.

"How so?"

"Because your title was bestowed by the king himself. An adventurer whom the king has a close eye on? Who would dare to touch you? Everyone will be anxious to befriend you."

The king, huh? I always felt this, but every time the king came up in conversation, I felt uneasy, including when the chieftain came to talk to me.

Anyway, if this is true...

Deciding to joke around a bit, I greeted the butler who was seated next to the baron. "Anyway, long time no see, butler."

The butler's face turned white at my greeting. Well, it made sense that he'd be scared since the barbarian who used to crush heads and chew bones now had great fame and power. "P-Please e-excuse my behavior back then..."

When I grinned at him, the butler trembled and apologized. It didn't feel particularly satisfying.

Now I just feel like I'm bullying a weak kid.

Even a sandbag needed to provide some moderate impact to make it fun. I stopped teasing the butler and continued talking to Baron Martoin. Naturally, Dwalkie's name came up.

"Anyway, where is my brother?"

The baron brought up his brother, whom he hadn't given a second look back then like he wanted to use him to get closer to me. Missha and I both froze at the same time.

What the fuck? Is he joking right now?

"Where... is he...?"

As I echoed him while barely schooling my expression, the butler's face paled even more. One thing was clear: this guy knew the situation. "My Lord, as I said before, Riol Warb Dwalkie is..."

The baron already knew too. He'd just forgotten.

"Oh, right. My memory is not what it used to be at my age. Haha." The baron gave a hearty, embarrassed laugh. My insides, which were fine even after countless bottles of alcohol, were seething. Was that why?

Squeeze.

When I came back to my senses, Missha was squeezing my arm tightly, a worried look on her face. I patted the back of her hand to say, Don't worry, and removed it. I wasn't someone who had nothing to lose anymore. There were too many things I was responsible for.

"Yes, I understand. Don't worry. As you get older, you may develop issues with your head."

"...Huh? Oh, I guess you could phrase it like that. Hahaha."

I reached out and offered to shake the baron's hand. "I have somewhere to go, so I have to leave. It was nice seeing you."

"Really? That's too bad. See you later," Baron Martoin said in disappointment, reciprocating my handshake. Then he asked one last question. "Oh, but where are you going?"

I brushed off the hand I had used to shake the baron's as if to remove the dust on it and answered, "Oh, I just suddenly want to wash my hands."

Dirty things should be washed away, after all.

Baron Martoin was thickheaded. "...Is that so? Anyway, I'll call on you sometime soon, so don't refuse. Now that you are a noble, there is a lot you have to learn."

The baron casually sent me off. Maybe the problem was with me. You wouldn't normally imagine that a barbarian would make a sarcastic remark like that.

It might be one of the few disadvantages of being a barbarian.

"You were verrry patient." Missha petted my hair like she was proud of me.

I slowly got up and headed inside too. Washing my hands was something I could ask any passing wizard for, but I also wanted to use the bathroom.

"Are you surrre I don't need to go with you?"

"...Do you think I'm a child?"

I parted ways with Missha and headed to the bathroom with the help of a guide. Coming back out, I was about to return to the banquet when someone who recognized me came up to me.

"Oh, there you are." It was Count Ferdehilt, the organizer of the banquet I attended last time. He had said something strange to me as he awarded me the winning prize of the tournament, No. 7777: Garphas' Necklace.

"I will call on you privately when you are more ready."

Up to today, he had never called me once.

"You speak as if you were looking for me."

"That's because I was. Why don't we go over there and have a drink? It won't take long."

"If you say so." Since he was a man with an amount of power that could not be compared to the likes of Baron Martoin, I obediently followed him inside.

"Here." When I sat down at the table, the count poured me a drink and I downed it at once.

"My team is waiting for me. Can I hear your business with me?"

"Haha, of course." Thankfully, the count seemed to understand and got straight to the point without irritation. "Arabella, my youngest daughter. You've met her once, correct?"

Something's off here...

"What do you think? Isn't she pretty?" Sure enough, the count wrapped his arm around his daughter's shoulder and pushed her in front of me.

"I-I'm Arabella..." The count's daughter, who appeared to be in her early teens, trembled as her eyes met mine.

Ha, I never thought this would happen to me.

"How about it?" My brain shut off at this shocking turn of events and for a moment, I couldn't say anything. But to him, I must have looked like I was thinking it over. "Oh, if you already have a woman, don't worry. You can just take her as a concubine."

"...Concubine?"

"Oh, didn't you know?" The count laughed at my muttering and said, "It is a noble's duty to produce as many descendants as possible to aid this country. If you become a noble, you'll be able to take in three concubines."

Duty, my ass. I felt like going to the bathroom again.