Chapter 21
Chapter 21
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Chapter 6: Scout Talent Boldly
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Both of them are scheduled to return to school in three days. I deeply regret causing Your Highness such inconvenience.”
In other words, come back in three days.
But I wouldn’t be here in three days. Killing off Baron Fennell as quickly as possible had triggered this butterfly effect. Of all days, it had to be market day.
“Then bring Kyle at least. I’ll visit the others when I have time later.”
At least Kyle was still around out of the three. I needed him to advance the tech tree right away.
“Understood. Then… Didi!”
Didi? What’s that?
“Did you call for me?”
A boy with brown skin cautiously opened the door and entered the principal’s office. The baron suddenly lifted his chin and glared coldly at the boy.
“Yes. Tell Cadet Kyle Gusf of the senior class to come to the principal’s office right now. As quickly as possible.”
“Understood. Then…”
The boy bowed his head and left. Recalling the boy’s striking skin color, I asked,
“That boy just now, his name is Didi?”
“Yes. He’s a stray from Zagura. Since last year, he’s been hanging around the academy, so I took him in and put him to work.”
Zagura was the name of the largest slum on the outskirts of the imperial capital. Come to think of it, there was an event to run there too. Once I finished this tech tree, maybe I should head that way?
* * *
“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness. I’m Kyle Gusf, senior class at the Imperial Academy.”
The blond boy who entered the principal’s office gave a crisp salute. I nodded at the welcome face I hadn’t seen in a while.
“Yeah, Kyle. No need for introductions. Come sit over here.”
Kyle Gusf.
He was practically one of my founding members. Our first connection dated back to my very first regression.
Back then, Kyle had been a knight who earned great merit in the Anti-Imperial War.
His prowess as a knight wasn’t quite at the pinnacle, but he had exceptional talent for leading battles—a true field commander type.
Surprisingly, talents like his were rare in the empire. There were plenty of strong bruisers, but skilled commanders were few and far between.
That’s why, starting from the second loop, I’d forged a connection with him as quickly as possible and groomed him into the commander of the frontline defense force that held back the otherworld waves during the invasion.
In the third loop, I’d skipped him after choosing the main army and souring relations, but from the fourth loop onward, I’d tapped into his other talent, ‘business acumen,’ and made great use of it.
Coming from a merchant family, he excelled at money matters and logistics. It was an indispensable skill for large-scale wars, irreplaceable.
And from the fifth loop, I’d given him special knight training in the early downtime… and he’d even hit mid-tier success there!
“I’ve heard a lot about you lately, Your Highness. First, congratulations on your great victory in the Elstone Earldom.”
Kyle, sitting across from me, began the conversation with manners beyond his years.
“And I’ve heard you’re forming a special unit called the Commander Task Force to effectively defend against future invasions. I’m deeply honored that you recommended and selected me for it.”
But here comes the ‘but,’ right?
“But I cannot join your unit, Your Highness.”
“Kyle! What nonsense is that? How dare you refuse His Highness’s offer!”
The baron standing beside us flipped out. I held back the baron, who looked ready to grab Kyle by the collar, and smiled.
“It’s fine. There must be a reason. Baron, would you mind giving us the room so we can talk?”
“Pardon? But Your Highness…”
“Hm? Is there a problem?”
“No, no problem. Then…”
The baron shuffled out of the principal’s office with an awkward expression. Now alone with Kyle, I got straight to the point for the sake of my schedule.
“Yeah. I’ve heard roughly what happened.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your family’s business back in Yoton Bay. Weren’t they huge in fishing and trade? But a few years ago, ‘Sea Serpents’ took over the bay entrance, right?”
Yoton Bay was in the empire’s southwest, famous as a port city for ages thanks to the massive bay that blocked waves and storms.
But five years ago, hundreds of Sea Serpents started swarming the outlet, attacking fishing and merchant ships indiscriminately as they tried to leave.
Now, the entire local economy was paralyzed. It was something the regent Jes should’ve handled quickly, but with no easy fix and bigger issues like the ogre rebellions nearby, he probably couldn’t.
“…You’re right, Your Highness.”
Kyle bowed his head with a heavy expression.
“Our family’s trading company is on the brink of bankruptcy. My father sent me to the academy to make me a knight somehow, but now even supporting me is a burden. He’s already borrowed heavily from locals, and my siblings’ letters say the creditors are starting to seize our ships. So I…”
“I’ll pay off all your debts.”
Kyle’s narrow eyes widened in an instant. With my arms crossed, I wagged a finger.
“You were either going to drop out of the academy right away or tough it out till graduation and head home instead of joining the knights, right?”
“That’s true.”
“And that’s why you said you couldn’t come. Don’t worry. I’ll clear all your family’s debts.”
“Why…”
Kyle couldn’t hide his confusion.
“It’s incredibly grateful, but why go so far for me? We have no prior connection, Your Highness.”
“Connection? Your skills are the connection.”
“Even so, my skills aren’t that outstanding. My average grades are middling in the senior class, and in combat, I can just barely train with low-grade magic armor.”
“But your field command scores were top-notch, right? Perfect scores in tactical exams for three years straight.”
“That’s…”
“Plus, born to a merchant family with a keen business sense, you’ve sailed ships yourself and even traded on another continent at your age?”
“The ship I sailed was just a small fishing boat, and the other continent was just tagging along with my father when I was ten without knowing better. And my business sense isn’t anything special…”
“You took investments from classmates to buy silver ingots early, sold them when the price rose, and earned your own living expenses, didn’t you?”
“No, how do you know that?”
How?
Because you told me yourself. We’ve shared meals, fought wars, and hit the saunas together, man. No joke.
Of course, in reality, I just smiled silently. Kyle pondered with a baffled look before asking,
“It seems you’ve looked into my background, to my shame. But more importantly, why do you need those skills? Isn’t the Commander Task Force for fighting commanders?”
“Of course, there’ll be fighting. That’s why I’m bringing in special instructors for training.”
Since it came up, I appraised Kyle’s abilities. My control was still a bit iffy, but targeting specific people was perfect now.
Race: Human
Current Strength: D
Potential Strength: B-
Hm.
As I suspected… no combat talent whatsoever.
For reference, under the premise of recruiting top knights as mentors, Kyle’s strength grows to the third knight rank, ‘Knight Expert.’
So if B- potential equals Knight Expert, how much higher for the top rank, ‘Knight Master’?
Alphabet grades end at A+, so is A+ Knight Master? Our housemaid Meredes is A+.
“Anyway, I’ll pay off your family’s debts and clear out those Sea Serpents blockading Yoton Bay.”
“The Sea Serpents?”
“Yeah. After all this, you still won’t join? Anything else you need? Want me to get your siblings into the Imperial Academy later?”
In that brief moment, Kyle’s face flushed through a rainbow of emotions. At this point, the outcome was set.
Even back when my reputation was in the gutter, he’d joined under the same terms.
Now, with me hailed as a hero, no way he’d refuse. After serious deliberation, he bowed deeply.
“I’ll gladly join your Commander Task Force, Your Highness.”
“Good call. I’ll be waiting in the carriage, so pack your bags and come.”
“Right now?”
“Yeah. We’re heading to Yoton tonight.”
“Yoton all of a sudden…? Don’t tell me?”
Don’t tell me what? Didn’t you hear my offer?
“Yeah. We’ll rush to your hometown, pay off the debts, and hunt those sea monsters together.”
“I’ll pack and be right back!”
Grasping the situation, he jumped up with a salute. I waved him off and pointed to the training grounds visible through the window.
“Don’t come here. Head to the main gate. Find the carriage guarded by the priests.”
“Understood. Then…”
Kyle dashed out of the principal’s office, face lit up.
That wraps up today’s tasks? I’d planned to take all three, but funerals happen.
“Should I ask the baron to send the other two straight to the mansion? Nah, changing scout spots might mess with conditions. Better play it safe…”
Muttering to myself as I left the office, I nearly bumped into the baron, who was hovering awkwardly by the door.
“Ah, are you leaving now, Your Highness?”
“Yeah. I’m taking Kyle right away, so keep that in mind.”
“Understood. I’ll contact the guards for an escort…”
“No need. It’s not far to the carriage.”
I waved dismissively and turned, only to find the errand boy from earlier bowing deeply right there.
Didi, was it?
Suddenly, my left eye heated up, and the appraisal eye fired off on its own. Ugh, not again. No need to appraise someone irrelevant…
Race: Human
Current Strength: E+
Potential Strength: B
Current Familiarity with Magic Beasts: B+
Potential Familiarity with Magic Beasts: A+
Huh?
Familiarity with Magic Beasts? What’s that?
Nine regressions, and this is a first. I know a few magic beast types, but getting friendly with those vicious things? Possible?
“Your Highness? Did this brat offend you somehow?”
Noticing, the baron rushed over, grabbed Didi’s head, and shoved it down.
“If so, allow me to apologize on his behalf. He’s just an uneducated wretch…”
“I’ll take him too.”
“Pardon?”
The baron blinked in stunned confusion.
“You’re… taking him to the mansion to punish him personally? Lock him in the basement or something…?”
“Haha, Baron. You’ve got quite the imagination.”
Considering my reputation just two weeks ago, it wasn’t weird for him to think that. I poked the back of the baron’s hand gripping Didi’s head in warning.
“Let go first.”
“Ah, yes, sir.”
“I need him for some work. He’s the Commander Task Force’s manservant starting now.”
“But even so, so suddenly…”
“Need a buyout fee? Was he a slave?”
I glared at the baron. The Payud Empire officially banned slavery, so the principal frantically shook his head.
“N-no, not at all. But we paid an advance for his work here…”
“Advance? To whom? Slave trader? How much?”
“Uh, fifty silver coins… No, no. He was just wandering around the academy, so I paid his parents an employment fee and brought him on. So…”
“Here’s your money.”
I pulled five gold coins from my pouch and handed them over.
“No! How could I accept money from Your Highness? Please take it back!”
The baron panicked, clutching the coins. I shoved another pouch with twenty gold coins into his hand and smiled.
“And this is for your hard work running the academy well.”
“Your Highness…”
“It’s an official imperial order, sure, but I’m poaching your well-trained cadets midway, right? Take it, no big deal.”
“H-honored, Your Highness. I’m at a loss for your grace.”
The baron bowed, pocketing the pouch smoothly. Pros at bribes are something else—that sleight of hand.
Anyway, best to keep on good terms with him. More cadets to poach ahead.
Smiling and waving, I addressed Didi, still standing quietly.
“Didi, right? Come with me. Let’s go.”
“So, I’m to be your servant now, Your Highness?”
No panic or fear despite the suddenness—impressive. Slum kid learning the ways of the world quick?
“Something like that. How old are you?”
His build matched mine, meaning he was way younger. Didi hurried to my side and answered softly.
“Not sure exactly, but twelve.”
“Not sure? Why?”
“Born in Zagura—no one there told me my age. So it’s uncertain.”
So, born in the slum Zagura to the poor, orphaned young and abandoned by parents.
I sighed quietly.
“You’re a Lunenbreath family member from now on. If asked, say you’re a manservant hired at the Lunenbreath estate.”
“Understood. At the academy, I spent most time cleaning stables and tending horses, occasionally relaying the principal’s orders to instructors or cadets. What will I do now?”
Bold words, but anxiety flickered in his eyes. I met his gaze and shrugged one shoulder.
“No idea.”
“Pardon?”
“Don’t know how to raise you or what work to give you. It’s such a rare ability… But your strength’s decent, so you’ll manage basics there? Anyway, do your best.”
Didi nodded blankly, uncomprehending. With lighter steps, I descended the academy stairs.
Anyway, jackpot!
Mood lifted by this unexpected talent grab. Magic beast familiarity’s exact effect unknown, but A+ potential meant top-tier in that field, right?
This could pay off big later—maybe unexpected heroics in the otherworld war?