Chapter 10
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: The Statue Made of Gold (1)
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“From today on, shouldn't we stop calling him Blanc so casually? Maybe we ought to call him Baron Blanc now?”
“No, Count! Please, just call me Blanc like always.”
“Hahaha. How could I possibly do that?”
On the way out of the royal palace.
Inside the carriage heading back to the Tolome estate, Bartolomeo Tolome was teasing Blanc.
He had every reason to be in high spirits. It was the day his grandson—practically his own son—had been granted a barony.
On top of that, even if it was just in name, he'd secured the inheritance rights to Norinton territory as well.
He was basking in joy now with that big grin, but once he returned to his study, Bartolomeo's mind would start racing.
He'd have to figure out how to milk the Cardmus barony for all it was worth.
Watching Bartolomeo chuckle heartily, Blanc recalled the events at the palace.
It had been a perfectly scripted play.
The pitiful boy who had lost his parents and his house in an instant to Gartaria's raid began wailing in grief, and the compassionate king, witnessing this, felt his eyes well up with tears.
Bartolomeo seized the moment, launching into a passionate speech condemning Gartaria and urging Blanc to carry on the Cardmus name and reclaim Norinton.
The moment he finished, as if on cue, the surrounding nobles chimed in with perfect timing.
In that heated atmosphere, King Frederic of the Felix Kingdom rose dramatically from his throne, allowing the thirteen-year-old boy to ascend to the rank of baron...
Or so the story went.
'No talk of lending troops or anything like that. Looks like they've already worked out the backroom deals.'
The Norinton incident was tantamount to a major provocation between nations, yet in his previous life, there had been no real military clashes over it.
Gartaria must have already paid a hefty price more than commensurate with the deed.
From the Felix royal family's perspective, they gained from Gartaria's compensation and bolstered their legitimacy by granting Blanc the barony, so handing over Norinton cost them nothing.
'But trust crumbles in an instant.'
The Cardmus fall hadn't come through a legitimate territorial war with proper cause.
Even in a feudal system as lax as this one between king and vassals, when a sworn retainer who had pledged loyalty was wiped out by foreign invasion, the king should have mobilized troops in his name long ago.
Not quietly pocketing compensation behind closed doors like this.
In the end, King Frederic would lose the lords' trust over this, greatly weakening his royal authority—but that was none of Blanc's concern.
'Four days from now, I'll be fourteen. In a year, fifteen and officially an adult.'
Now that he'd secured the barony for sure, Blanc planned to impose on the Tolome family for a few years, learning the Assansio family's cultivation method and building his strength.
He could already manifest aura, but it was something of a hack. He still lacked the skill to truly wield it like a proper knight.
'Just need to secure my safety within the Tolome family.'
Blanc figured that if he could stay one step removed from the family's power struggles and focus on quiet training, he could reach his target level within two years.
'Independent from the Tolome family in three years. To achieve my original goal.'
He had regressed solely to stop the void, so the top priority was contacting the other two regressors as soon as possible and discussing future plans.
Yet a sliver of unease was creeping into Blanc's heart.
'Why haven't they come looking for me?'
At thirteen and as a noble house member, Blanc's freedom of movement was limited.
That's why the two had promised to come find him.
Even if the primary rendezvous point of Norinton burning was unavoidable, they should know through rumors that he was with the Tolome family. Yet a whole month had passed without a word.
“So, now that you've got your barony, what are your plans going forward?”
“For now, I plan to thoroughly master the family's cultivation method.”
“Good. At your age, manifesting aura is a rare talent. Don't grow complacent—keep pushing endlessly. If you need anything, just say the word.”
The higher Blanc's value rose, the more options Bartolomeo would have.
“And...”
“And?”
Blanc hesitated, as if embarrassed to say it, unable to meet his eyes.
“Speak up.”
“Would it be alright if I went sightseeing around Baltimer with the two who escorted me here?”
Bartolomeo let out a hearty laugh, inwardly relieved to see Blanc finally acting his age.
“Hahaha! Of course! It's your first time in the kingdom's capital, so you must want to look around. I've kept you cooped up too long! I'll assign someone to guide you. Feel free to go out whenever you like from now on!”
“Thank you, Count!”
Bartolomeo assumed Blanc just wanted to tour the capital, but that wasn't his real aim.
'I'll have to go to the secondary rendezvous point myself.'
He planned to seek out the other regressors personally.
Blanc's birthday banquet was held in grand style.
He was only thirteen—no, just turning fourteen—but as a baron officially recognized by the king, he deserved the appropriate face.
Now, he wasn't a competitor eyeing the Tolome wealth; he was the head of a blood-related baronial house who could aid them. That was why his uncles and cousins, who had been wary of him, went to great lengths to win his favor.
Of course, not everyone did.
Bartolomeo Tolome's eldest son, Schmaier Tolome.
Unlike his second brother Viteli, who showed no particular promise, the eldest was renowned even outside the Tolome count family.
Schmaier Tolome, the knight Felix Kingdom boasted of, called the next lion of the Tolomes, was famous for his exceptional swordsmanship.
Blanc from his previous life knew well of his valor.
And his tragic end from a sudden heart attack.
Of course, the brilliant knight Schmaier had no reason to bother with a thirteen-year-old Cardmus boy like Blanc.
The one openly antagonizing Blanc even now was his son, Yonas Tolome.
Yonas, son of Schmaier.
By lineage, the Tolome heir apparent was talented in swordsmanship like his father.
His misfortune was that his gifts fell short of his father, whose name was known beyond Felix Kingdom borders.
Having lived his life compared to his father, Yonas harbored deep frustration and rage, twisting something inside him.
He was usually a refined young man, but when something irked him or he couldn't hold his temper, he'd throw tantrums.
The family knew his temper well, so even the slovenly Viteli avoided provoking him.
But lately, someone had been getting under his skin: the boy Blanc Cardmus.
It wasn't just Blanc joining the Tolomes that bothered him. What really stung was that at thirteen, Blanc could wield aura.
Yonas had staked everything on succeeding his father, hailed as the strongest in Tolome history, but no matter his efforts, he couldn't even touch his heels.
In that stifling situation, hearing that his blood kin Blanc wielded aura at thirteen flipped Yonas's inferiority complex into overdrive.
'Stop staring already. Makes me sick.'
Even now, as his grandfather personally secured the barony for Blanc, Yonas's eyes burned with jealous fury.
Blanc just wanted to quietly ignore Yonas's envy.
He treated Yonas with calm humility, but that only fueled Yonas's anger at being brushed off.
And unintentionally, Blanc's composed demeanor came off as mature, earning him ever-higher praise.
While Yonas's reputation sank daily by contrast.
'It's all that bastard's fault! That rat!'
Blanc had long read Yonas's shallow grudge and knew life in the Tolome family wouldn't be smooth sailing.
'Nothing comes easy.'
“Young master, do you have any particular place in mind?”
It hadn't been long since the banquet for Blanc ended. Finally, he had time to sightsee Baltimer.
The one asking beside him was the butler Bartolomeo had assigned on Blanc's first day at the Tolome mansion—or rather, a butler apprentice.
Attached to help Blanc adjust quickly, they were already acquainted.
“Billy, I'd like to start there. The statue of Founding King Wilhelm the First.”
“The central plaza, right? An excellent choice. Everyone new to Baltimer wants to pay respects to His Majesty's visage.”
The great conqueror and founding king of Felix Kingdom, Wilhelm the First.
To honor his achievements, a massive plaza was built in central Baltimer, topped with a colossal statue.
Crafted from bronze, it was so enormous it dominated views from anywhere in the city, becoming Baltimer's landmark.
“Central plaza! They sell the most delicious scones there! I've been dying to try them!”
“...”
Rakshar, cloaked head to toe to hide his werewolf nature, looked uneasy at heading somewhere crowded but showed no sign of leaving Blanc's side.
Knowing his loyal gamekeeper had utterly failed to adapt to Tolome life, Blanc quietly beckoned him over.
“Baron?”
“Hang in there a bit longer. Soon, there'll be a training ground just for me. I specifically asked for it to be built on the estate's outskirts.”
The Tolome family, denied their own territory as royal retainers, instead owned vast lands within the capital Baltimer.
Their garden was practically a forest in size.
“Once it's done, I'll appoint you its caretaker. You'll live and eat there too.”
“R-Really?”
Blanc had already explained Rakshar's background to the family, but they still eyed the werewolf form warily.
The servants he encountered outright avoided him.
And Rakshar, who disliked people anyway, had become an outcast half by choice, half by force.
At least Emilia thoughtfully brought his meals separately.
“So just bear with it a little.”
“Th-Thank you, young mas—er, Baron.”
“Just call me young master. What kind of baron has no land?”
“N-No, still...”
Chatting with Emilia and Rakshar, Blanc's group followed Billy's lead to the central plaza.
He remembered the statue from his past life.
Bronze, green with patina, yet exuding majestic grandeur...
“Huh?”
“I knew you'd be amazed. Allow me to introduce Baltimer's pride: the statue of Founding King Wilhelm the First!”
The behemoth visible from everywhere in Baltimer...
“You're already stunned? Feast your eyes on that gleaming statue. I swear, it's made entirely of gold!”
Unlike his previous life, it was a massive golden statue.