Chapter 3
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: No Effort Means No Handsomeness (2)
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Roin examined the beauty products he had purchased in advance from the market before bed.
Various creams to apply to his face.
Tomorrow morning, after washing up, Ill just apply these to my face.
He decided to organize in his mind exactly when and which products to use.
At that moment, Roin sensed a presence.
Someone was approaching his bedroom.
Judging by the stride and the sound of heels...
Emilia.
A moment later, Emilia knocked and opened the door as she spoke.
Young Master. I brought some juice for you to drink before bed... Kyaaak!
Startled, Emilia dropped what she was holding.
Roin looked at her with a puzzled gaze.
Whats wrong?
Y-Y-Y-Young Master! W-Whats that?!
Roin glanced at his face.
Oh, this? Its a face pack.
Emilia stared at Roin, who stated it so confidently, her expression one of utter disbelief.
No, Young Master. Why a face pack all of a sudden? You never did anything like that before.
No need to, either.
But Roins determination was unwavering.
You have to start taking care of your looks from childhood if you want to live the handsome life later on.
Roin showed a precocious side.
Emilia let out a deep sigh.
Haa... Young Master, youre already plenty cute and handsome without any of that. Dont you see? You take after Madam exactly.
My brothers started taking after Father.
Emilia was suddenly at a loss for words.
Still, she managed to squeeze out a response.
W-Well... I still think youll take after Madam. You already do.
Of course, Roin knew that.
But no one knew how long this appearance would last.
Roin had no desire to grow into his fathers looks like his brothers.
That was why he planned to pour all his effort and passion into appearance management from an early age.
Anyway, Im doing this and going to bed, so dont worry about it. I dont need the juice. I already bought what Im going to drink.
You mean that fruit juice you said is good for your skin?
Yeah, that one. Give me that from now on.
Haa...
Emilia couldnt get used to the youngest Young Masters obsession with his looks.
Lucas Leyden had recently developed a worry.
The cause was his youngest son, Roin.
He was neglecting his swordsmanship practice.
His youngest sons attitude, focused solely on beauty care, couldnt help but irk him.
He had scolded him multiple times, but Roin showed no sign of changing.
Lucas summoned Gillion separately.
He needed his opinion.
How can we make Roin snap out of it? Do you have any good ideas?
Gillion was grappling with the same concern as Lucas.
Roin, who should be exerting himself for the future prosperity and development of the Leyden family, was obsessed with beauty like this.
It was impossible not to worry.
At that moment.
Gillion came up with a clever solution.
Baron. How about this?
Tell me.
Gillions clever solution.
It was...
Send him to the Loud Swordsmanship Academy. Hell have to train rigorously there. Wouldnt that help?
Lucas nodded vigorously at his opinion.
When Roin turned nine.
His obsession with his appearance remained unchanged.
No, it had grown much worse.
Young Master! Young Maaaster!
Emilia dashed frantically through the mansion, searching everywhere for Roin.
Just then, a young woman working as a temporary housemaid in the mansion called out to Emilia.
Emilia, the Young Master is in the room on the second floor.
Really? Thanks!
Emilia hurried over and flung open the door without knocking.
Young Master!
But Roins response was lukewarm.
Quiet down, Emilia. Cant you see Im getting a facial massage right now?
He had somehow hired a masseuse again, and Roin lay there casually.
This only fueled Emilias anger further.
You dont even have money, so why hire a masseuse! And you have swordsmanship lessons! Did you forget?
No, I know.
Even so, Roin had no intention of attending the lesson.
There was a reason.
Holding a sword makes calluses. Cant do that.
Calluses from gripping weapons like swords were unacceptable.
Roin stated this so boldly that Emilia lost even the will to get angry.
She couldnt even consult the Baron and his wife.
How could she bother people busy running around for the familys rise?
Leaving the room, Emilia fell into deep thought on how to resolve this.
That was when.
Emilia!
A deep, manly voice called her from afar.
Confusion spread across Emilias face.
G-Gillion!
A man with a stylish mustache strode over.
He looked furious.
Where is Young Master Roin! Its time, and he still hasnt shown up!
W-Well...
What should she say?
She had no idea how to explain the absurd scene unfolding in the room.
Gillion pressed the speechless Emilia.
Where is Young Master Roin! Is he in this room, by any chance?
......
Silence can sometimes mean consent.
Like now.
Ahem!
Gillion cleared his throat loudly, announcing his presence to the room.
Young Master Roin! Its Gillion. May I come in!
He raised his voice.
Permission to enter came from inside.
He flung the door open forcefully.
At the same time, Gillion was left speechless.
W-What in the world is this...!
He couldnt continue due to the absurdity.
On the other hand, Roin remained perfectly calm.
Oh, its Gillion.
Gillion handled butler duties as well as serving as the Leyden familys swordsmanship instructor.
He had once been a renowned Senior Knight, rising to vice-captain in Swordran, one of the top knight orders on the Redinus Continent.
Now, at the request of his benefactor Lucas, who had saved his life, he was teaching Roin swordsmanship.
But...
W-What do you think youre doing right now!
The masseuse jumped at Gillions booming shout.
As their hands stopped, Roin told them to ignore Gillion and continue.
The masseuses suddenly found themselves caught between Roin and Gillion, glancing nervously.
Gillion was dumbfounded.
To this Roin, Gillion decided to issue a special order on Lucass behalf.
Youre taking the entrance exam for Loud Swordsmanship Academy soon, so youll train with me.
Already? Isnt there an age limit for eligibility?
No. Time is short, so you need to train hard from now on. Since youre challenging it, you should pass on the first try, right?
They decided to assign academy entrance prep as homework to curb Roins excessive focus on beauty.
Yet Roin remained nonchalant.
Dont worry about the exam. Ill pass for sure.
......Pardon?
Roins attitude seemed like nothing but baseless bravado to Gillion.
He had only just started learning swordsmanship.
Where did this confidence come from?
Not only skill, but Roin lacked the most crucial factor.
Age.
The average age for passing the Apprentice Knight exam was 11 to 13.
But Roin was merely nine.
Compared to his peers, he lacked experience, strength, and reflexes.
He needed to practice at least twice as hard to compensate.
Yet here he was getting a facial massage when he should be filling those gaps with effort...
It was only natural to be angry.
Now youre brazenly lying too! If Baron Lucas saw you like this, hed surely give you an earful!
Argh, fine. Fine. My ears are ringing.
Reluctantly, Roin sat up.
Gillion thought Roin was finally coming to his senses.
But it was the opposite.
Then lets test it.
Test, you say?
Yeah. Whether I have enough talent to become an Apprentice Knight. You can check yourself, right? If I prove to your standards that this is more than enough to pass, then no more complaining about my facial massages.
Gillion accepted Roins words as if it was perfect.
Fine! But if you fail the test, training time doubles until the Apprentice Knight exam!
Doubles no good.
Roin rejected it outright.
Gillion curled his lip and asked.
Pretending to be weak now, after all this?
No way.
On the contrary.
What good is double? Make it five times. No, Ill train all day.
Roin upped the ante even more.
Gillion was flabbergasted.
He couldnt comprehend what gave him the confidence for such bravado.
Since it had come to this, Gillion decided to give Roin a proper lesson.
Come to the training grounds.
Holding a wooden sword, Gillion explained the test he had just devised on the spot to Roin.
If you land even a single valid hit on me, you win.
Whats the criterion for a valid hit?
Contact.
Any touch on Gillions body, however slight, meant Roins victory.
But Roin was dissatisfied.
Too easy. Cant we make it harder?
Young Master Roin. Youve never landed a proper attack on me, and youre still bragging?
It wasnt that he couldnt; he hadnt.
He had gone easy so far, fearing defeat to a nine-year-old would crush his pride.
But now the situation was entirely different.
Fine. Back to the original terms.
The practice weapons are on the rack over there. Ive gathered the swords you usually practice with, so grab one.
Nah, Im good.
Roin began stretching. Gillions eyes narrowed.
No way... You plan to fight barehanded?
Yeah, exactly.
In his previous life, Roin fought with a sword, but fearing calluses, he chose bare hands now.
Plus, with this handicap, he could hold back appropriately against Gillion.
Gillions eyebrow twitched.
Even so, to enter the swordsmanship academy, you need a sword. Noble combat is honorable and refined. Bare-knuckle fighting is for thugs.
Blah blah.
In the end, Roin conceded one point.
Roin chose a small dagger.
To protect his hands as much as possible, he wore two pairs of gloves.
Gillion sighed deeply and shook his head at the sight.
But moments later.
The flow of aura around Roin surged dramatically.
I never taught Young Master Roin aura.
Did he figure it out on his own?
Gillion was slightly flustered by this new side of Roin.
But he quickly regained composure.
If hes drawing aura at that age...
A chill ran down his spine.
The Baron will be thrilled. I need to report this. But nows the time to focus.
Battles demand.
Losing composure leads straight to defeat.
Gillion yielded the first move to Roin.
Come at me, Young Master Roin.
Then I wont hold back.
Roin kicked off the ground and charged straight ahead.
The straightforward direction made it easy to predict.
But.
Roins speed far exceeded Gillions expectations.
Fast!
Even a veteran knight like Gillion struggled to track it with his eyes.
He had to trust his senses.
Left side!
Roin aiming for the flank. Gillion spotted it instantly.
Whoosh!
It wasnt a direct attack on Roin.
Just the threat alone could nullify Roins assault.
So he swung the wooden sword deliberately.
But Roin knew that too.
A childs body wasnt all disadvantages.
It had advantages too.
Namely, being smaller than an adult.
He easily slipped past Gillions wide swing.
Gillions left side was completely exposed.
He could have inflicted a fatal wound if he wanted.
But Roin held back deliberately.
The win condition was contact. No need to take Gillions life.
Hes the only butler in this house, after all.
Tap.
Roin lightly struck Gillions side with the hilt end of the dagger.
An unbelievable result.
Gillions eyes wavered, as if struck hard.
No way!
This wasnt the Roin he knew.
Roin looked up at Gillion and asked.
See? I win.
......
Gillion was speechless.