Chapter 2
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: My Dream is to be a Rascal
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1.
Yuris Hail, a tutor for the ducal family of Leston, was a man who took immense pride in his position.
After all, the great hero Halo Leston had saved the Orias Empire from the clutches of demons, and the ducal family he led was as honored and esteemed as the imperial family itself.
For Yuris, renowned as the finest history professor at the Orias Empire Academy, teaching the young masters of the Leston family was a tremendous honor.
Recently, however, a great crack had begun to form in his pride.
And that crack
No, so is that the end of it?
Pardon?
Youre telling me they never managed to kill that emperor bastard who sold his soul to a demon?
had undoubtedly started with the pouting, ten-year-old brat standing before him.
Forcing a smile, Yuris adjusted his glasses.
The deposed emperor that is, no one knows the fate of the Evil Emperor. The only one who witnessed his final moments was your grandfather, Grand Duke Leston. Perhaps you could ask him yourself, Young Master?
Grandfather is busy. Oh, and Tutor.
Yes, Young Master.
Did you bring what I asked for?
Patience, patience, patience.
Suppressing the rage boiling up from within, Yuris stared intently at the boy.
Karron Leston.
Ten years old this year. The Grand Dukes youngest grandson.
He had the Leston familys blue eyes, well-kept blond hair, and strikingly clear, white skin.
His appearance was so adorable that just looking at him sparked the irreverent thought of wanting to pinch his cheeks.
And yet, for the youngest grandson of an honored ducal family who should have been showered with blessings, he possessed not a shred of dignity.
This boy was destined to be called the ducal familys rascal when he grew a little older.
That much was obvious from how he treated Yuris, a man respected by countless students at the Academy.
He desperately wanted to lecture the boy on aristocratic decorum, but
Of course, Young Master.
he was well aware that this child was impervious to such lessons.
Besides, a good relationship with this boy was very important to him as well.
Because the parents of this future rascal were none other than Count Peil Leston, Grand Duke Halos third son and the man who oversaw the ducal familys various enterprises.
As you requested, Ive brought materials on the Evil Emperors knight, Kain Rator. My assistants had quite a time gathering them.
Thanks, Tutor.
Think nothing of it. I am simply delighted that the Young Masters interests align with our societys field of research.
Ill be sure to put in a good word with my father.
Lord Peil has always been a generous supporter of our Modern History Society. Haha.
Yuris handed the books to Karron and nodded in satisfaction.
It had already been two weeks since hed been put in charge of the ducal familys youngest sons history education.
Originally, he had intended to focus on the great achievements of the Leston family, but this peculiar young masters interest was consistently fixed on one thing.
The knight who followed the Evil Emperor, the last of the Imperial Guard.
Kain Rator.
He was a figure who, by all rights, should have been recorded in history as one of the worst, alongside the Evil Emperor, but he was also someone who was being re-evaluated with the passing of time.
-Though he could not stop his lord from walking a wicked path, he was a loyal knight who shared his lord's fate to the very end.
That was the current scholarly assessment of Kain Rator.
The Modern History Society, of which Yuris was a member, also frequently conducted research on Kain Rator.
The Leston ducal family has been sponsoring our society for a very long time. If not for their support it would have been difficult to proceed with our research on Kain Rator.
Hmph.
Is something the matter?
Ah, its just something.
The ten-year-old boy scowled as he looked over the materials Yuris had given him.
It was absurd for a ten-year-old to show interest in academic materials in the first place, but Yuris wasnt particularly surprised.
That was just the kind of boy Karron Leston was.
A being some would call a genius.
And wasnt the opportunity to be the teacher of such a genius an honor only a select few could enjoy?
The thought put him at ease.
Yuris smiled warmly and continued.
Grand Duke Halo probably wished to restore his friends honor.
Honor?
The fact that the two were friends is quite a famous story. The battle between the knight trying to protect his twisted lord and the hero trying to bring light to the world! The play depicting their great duel before the throne has been beloved for ages.
The moment he heard that, Karron closed the document he was reading.
He looked at his history tutor and said.
How about this perspective?
Hm?
My grandfather found his dead friend so infuriating that hes deliberately glorifying him. Maybe Kain wanted to die quietly? And Grandfather wanted to keep his friend alive. So my grandfather found his friend so infuriating that its a form of posthumous humiliation Yes, thats what it is. When you think about it, that Kain fellow deserved the death penalty anyway.
He thought he had misheard.
Yuris felt his mind go blank at the shocking statement that came from the ten-year-olds mouth.
If he were to agree with that statement, if he got entangled in such blasphemy the knights of the Leston duchy might come and take his head.
And so, Yuris replied with a trembling voice.
I have never considered such a perspective.
How about conducting research from that angle?
Young Master, have I done something to offend you?
Its a joke, a joke. Lighten up, Tutor!
A demon.
This ten-year-old was surely possessed by the soul of a demon
Yuris shivered as he looked at Karron.
Karron smiled brightly and said to him.
But it really does sound plausible, doesnt it?
There would be no reason for Grand Duke Halo to do such a thing would there?
They were friends.
Pardon?
Because they were friends. Friends play harsh pranks on each other, isnt that how it is? Right. Tutor. I heard your son is around my age! We should be friends. Can we play together sometime?
O-Of course. That would be wonderful.
Wow!
Meeting Karrons innocent smile, Yuris made a vow to himself.
He would never, ever introduce his son to this young demon.
Never.
Oblivious to Yuriss thoughts, Karron simply smiled and nodded.
Then lets conclude todays lesson here, Young Master.
Good work, Tutor! Ill have the materials sent to the Academy tomorrow!
Yes Yes.
Yuris fled the room as if escaping. Karron remained seated, looking down at the documents Yuris had left behind.
He then clenched his small fists and let out a sigh.
Ten years had already passed since he was reincarnated as his friends grandson.
Forty-five years since the death of Kain Rator.
In his absence, the world
A loyal knight who protected the emperor to the end? A paragon of chivalry? Bullshit Did they really think I protected that bastard emperor because I wanted to?
had begun to commemorate him in a strange way. And Karron was certain this was his friends revenge.
Not that it felt entirely bad, though.
2.
How was your lesson today?
It was great again today. Tutor Yuris is always so kind and nice.
Thats a relief. Oh, and son.
Yes, Father.
Wont you eat some vegetables too? If you keep eating only meat so mindlessly, youll get sick.
At the words of his father, Peil, Karron put down the fork in his hand.
A middle-aged man.
His father in this life.
In his past life, hed never even known the presence of a parent, but this life was different.
Karron always felt boundless love from Peil.
He always looked out for him and granted his requests as long as they werent unreasonable. But when he crossed a line, he would be scolded sternly.
Calling him Father was always a joy.
In his past life, where he had lived as a slave for twenty-nine years, he had nowhere to turn. In this life, he had more support than he deserved.
Karron smiled brightly and said to Peil.
But I need to eat a lot of meat to build muscle.
Well thats true.
And meat tastes better. But since you said so, Father, Ill eat some salad too.
Thank you, son.
Oh, and would you like to work out with me after we eat? Im supposed to do leg exercises with the knights.
Ahem, your father is busy today.
Karron scooped a small portion of salad from the serving dish onto his own plate. Then, with a slight frown, he put the salad in his mouth.
Peil watched him with a fond smile.
In moments like these, he was just a normal child. Hating to eat vegetables and obeying his fathers words.
By the way, Father.
Yes?
When will Grandfather be back?
He said he would be back for your tenth birthday. As you know, a tenth birthday in the Leston ducal family is very important. He sent a letter saying hes returning to the main estate. Your birthday is next month, so hmm, he should be here in about two weeks.
All direct descendants of the Leston ducal family undergo an important ceremony when they turn ten.
A ritual signifying the end of childhood, when they must be protected, and the beginning of their education as a member of the family.
The Eye-Opening Ceremony.
This ceremony was also proof that the Leston ducal family was still a martial house that valued military prowess.
The Eye-Opening Ceremony marked the beginning of serious physical training and the stage where one started to build a body capable of controlling mana.
It was when they would awaken as a vessel capable of holding the Azure Mana that represented the Leston family.
However, not all direct descendants achieved successful results through the ceremony.
There was no doubt that immense talent flowed in the Leston bloodline, but not everyone was born with it.
Just look at me.
Wasnt that the case for Peil himself?
Unlike his first and second older brothers, he had never awakened to the martial arts.
In a martial family, lacking talent in martial arts meant a great many things.
Not only was one excluded from the line of succession, but one could not even find a place within the family.
Wasnt that the biggest reason he lived separately from the main estate?
That was why Peil always felt a sense of worry whenever he looked at Karron.
If his son were to follow the same fate as him, a man with no talent the self-loathing he had suppressed for so long might rear its head again.
Watching Peils troubled expression for this very reason, Karron
There he goes, getting sentimental again.
secretly pushed his salad aside and sighed.
Father.
At his sons call, Peil shook off his thoughts and smiled again.
Yes.
I respect you.
He meant it.
Karron respected Peil.
Surviving in a martial family without any talent was practically impossible.
But Peil had accomplished that difficult feat.
How?
Solely through his own abilities.
Estate management, merchant guild operations, building connections with politicians, and more.
Peil was born with a talent completely different from that of his brothers.
That soft-hearted Halo had probably provided his third son with a lot of support out of pity, but not everyone who received support could rise to such a position.
Peil alone was responsible for thirty percent of the Leston ducal familys vast finances, so no one in the family could afford to look down on him.
This man has thousands of cunning snakes inside him, yet in front of his son honestly.
Perhaps that was why he had grown to like Peil, his current father.
And above all, Peil was
The only one of Halos sons I ever met.
Karron remembered Peil from his past life, when Halo had brought him by the hand.
The little boy who had smiled so brightly at him.
He clearly remembered the words he had said to Peil back then.
-Youre nothing like your father.
Recalling the old memories, Karron let out a small smile.
Youre nothing like Grandfather.
At his sons words, Peil laughed out loud. He stroked his sons head and nodded.
A long time ago, there was someone who told me the exact same thing. Thinking back on it now, he was right. I am not like my father.
Thats why I like it.
Hm?
Because youre not like Grandfather. Thats why I like it.
He was being sincere. He had always thought it was a relief that his father wasn't like his old friend.
Karron put another piece of meat in his mouth and smiled brightly.
Oh, and dont worry about the Eye-Opening Ceremony. Ive got it all figured out, you see.
A damned fate had made him be reborn as his friends grandson, but Karron had already decided to gladly accept that fate.
After all, it was a perfect chance to thoroughly disrupt his old friend's peaceful later years.
Just thinking about it is fun.
It would be better if we could have fun together. What are you thinking, son?
Its a secret.
Peil just stared at his son.
Why did he suddenly get the chills?
A Mad Dog Lives in the Duke's House