Sousetsuka

Chapter 24 Strongest Sage, Ponders the Term 'Perfect Score'

 

The next day after the exams full of happenings.
I went back to the school to check the result.
Looks like it's ordered by scores.

Since I didn't prepare anything at all for the written test, my name would probably be on the end of the list even if I passed.
With that in mind, I check the name from below.

Looks like the lowest passing mark this time is 27.
Since it's a bit lower than my father, Castor's score, I should pass if that Gayle old man could pull some strings.
But I couldn't find my name no matter how many times I look at the list.
I see. I failed....
Looks like I got deceived by that Gayle old man. I thought he looked like he could be trusted so I put my hope in him....
But I'm a loner after all. It seems I don't have the ability to judge someone's character.

"Ah, Mathi-kun! Did you see the notice!?"

I heard a familiar voice while I was wallowing in despair.
No, there's no way I can mistake this voice. It's Ruli's.

"....Notice? No. It seems I've failed the exam, so I'm going back to my home--"

"You didn't fail! Mathi-kun, you're the top scorer!"

Saying that, Ruli pointed at another paper stuck slightly above the announcement paper.
Titled, 『List of Scholarship Students』.
The very first one is my name.

"Oh.... I passed! I passed!"

Don't tell me, this notice.... The notice for scholarship student is separated from the normal ones!?
How incomprehensible! I almost misunderstood I failed here and went back home!

"And we're in the same class! Class A!"

Ruli gleefully held my hands after she said that.
Even though I seemingly made her mad in our first meeting, it seems we've reconciled somehow.
Apparently she hasn't noticed that she's holding my hands, but I'll be keeping my silent for this happy occasion.

Leaving that aside, I see that the classes are written next to the name of the scholarship students.
However, they're written rather unintelligibly.

There are four classes written next to your name, 『Adventure Class』, 『Magic Class』, 『Swordsmanship Class』, 『General Study Class』 and each has an alphabet next to it.

By the way, Ruli's are, 『Adventurer Class A』, 『Magic Class A』, 『Swordsmanship Class A』, 『General Study Class A』, while mine are 『Adventurer Class A』, 『Magic Class S』, 『Swordsmanship Class S』, 『General Study Class: Blank』.
The adventure class seems to be from the total score divided in two, but the other classes are apparently separated in accordance of each scores.... Except for me.
Or rather, what the heck is blank.

"By the same class, are you talking about the adventure class?"

"Yes! The second royal academy's adventure class is--"

"*whiste*. Oh they're holding hands~. I'm heating up here~. Ah, I'm also in class A, be kind to me too okay~!"

"Hands...? Ah, I'm sorry! I wasn't thinking...."

Alma broke in when Ruli and I was talking, and pointed out our hands.
And then, Ruli noticed her hands holding mine and separated them. Dang it, Alma.
....By the way, what did she mean by 『Heating Up』, I wonder. Did we start talking about flame magic while I wasn't paying attention?

"So, what were you two talking about? Maybe, I really was in the way?"

Yeah. You are in the way. I know a magic driven by rage from my past life, I feel like I could activate it right here and now.

"Y-you're not! I'm glad that Alma passes and we're in the same class!"

Right. No one would want to grasp the hand of a loner like me, Alma who noticed must look like a savior to her....
....Not good. The trauma from my past loner life is about to be revived.

"By the way, don't you think Mathi-kun's class scores are weird somehow?"

"Really?"

"I've never seen Class S or blank space, and all your scores exceed the limit!"

I haven't seen the scores themselves since I was preoccupied with failure misunderstanding.
As pointed out by Alma, I look at the column where my scores are.

Total Score 257 of 50
Swordsmanship 120 of 10
Magic 75 of 10
General Study 62 of 30

These scores are weird indeed.
I mean, every one of them exceeds the full score.
By the way, the second place is Ruli with 47 score. I would have been able to pass even without the sword if it was like this.

"...What the heck is that. A misprint?"

"This is too much for a misprint.... Most of them even way exceed the limit!"

"The swordsmanship score is probably well justified."

I was perplexed, Alma was shouting, Ruli muttered.

"Is that Gayle old man really that strong?"

He's certainly stronger than my father, Castor, but I'm not sure if defeating him is enough to make the score went from 10 to 120.
Even if we consider the fact that my father got 30 for beating up the examiner, beating him should only get me 50 at most.

"Gayle.... Don't tell me, Gayle the knight commander?"

"I'm telling you exactly that! Knight commander-san who came to inspect the exam took the examiner's place who went somewhere to buy a sword! And then Mathi-kun beat up knight commander-san!"

Eh, that old man was the knight commander!?
No. There's no way. Knight commander should have been stronger than that.
If the knight commander is only that strong, one dragon would be enough to destroy this country.

"I thought Ruli wasn't the type to joke around, I really wanted to retort many things there..... Well, since your name is written here, they probably won't revoke you passing anyway, all should become clear on the entrance day!"

Ah, this girl stopped thinking about it.
Un. I'll do just that too. That's it.



























Previous Chapter

Chapter 23 Strongest Sage, Giving up Hitting the Target with Magic

 

"Next, Ruli Abendroht!"

"Yes!"

The practical test for magic seems to be about hitting a target.
We have to hit five targets 30 meter away in any order.

From the explanation given before the test, you're given 10 chances to shoot at them all, and the less you use the chances to hit them and the higher the damage you give to the targets, the higher your score will be.
It's an orthodox method to test the basic of long-range attacks. Something similar to this existed in my past life.

However, the targets are quite big. Enough that it's harder to miss them instead.
As long as the output suffices, you'd quickly learn how to hit non-moving targets like these. I wonder if the presents age puts more importance to the mean rather than the end.
By the way, my turn is after Ruli yet again.

"Hit the targets with Fire Arrows."

"Yes!　 ...Fire mana that dwells in my body, become a straight arrow and pierce the enemy before me!"

Following the instructor's order, Ruli chanted and then a fire arrow hit one of the targets.
I think her power and efficiency are a bit better than Biffgel's. Well, I suppose it'd be difficult to put a lead over someone else when both use chant magic that automatically controls your mana.

Ruli repeated the chant afterward, hit the five targets and then she declared that she was done.
The rules states that you can shoot the targets up to 10 times, but it seems she's going to stop here.
None of the target was destroyed, but it seemed Ruli was satisfied with the result as she went out of the exam ground with a satisfied look on her face.

"Next, Mathias Hildesheimr!"

One of the two examiners called my name.

"Yes!"

"Hit the targets with Fire Arrows."

I've been thinking about it since Ruli's test, why should it has to be fire arrow I wonder.
I'm quite sure they didn't state anything about the type of magic you have to use during the explanation of the exam.

"Is using other magic than Fire Arrow not allowed?"

"That is not the case, however, it's the easiest magic to control, therefore--"

The examiner saw my crest halfway through and then his face changed to that of a pitying look.

"....Please don't lose hope. You might still be able to pass if your other tests went well."

For some reason, he's already assuming my failure.
I'm planning to clear this test though.

"I just have to destroy the targets right?"

"That's right.... Can you reach it?"

"I can't."

The Fourth Crest does have a short range for magic.
Let alone 30 meter, it can barely reach even 1/3 of that.

The other crest would have no problem hitting a target 30 meter away, you can say that this test has the worst compatibility with the Fourth Crest.
However, that doesn't mean that I can't pass this test.
There's no need to hit the targets with the magic just because they're targets.

"Then--"

"I can destroy the target even if I can't reach it.... By the way sensei, you'd better get away a bit. I will control the direction but it won't be perfect."

I began to construct a magic while saying that.
A powerful and complex magic incomparable to magic like 【Mana Strike】 and other lesser magic I had used up until now in the current world.

"Eh?"

"I think you'd be safe if you step another five meter back."

It's not a magic that can be used in an actual combat since it takes too much time to construct.
Being able to talk like this during the preparation means it'd been over if this were a battle.
In addition, one shoot of this magic will exhaust most of the mana the current me has.
However, it's more than enough to pass this exam.

I completed the magic construction right when the examiner went outside the range while looking dubious.

"Then, I'm going.... Hmph!"

A gigantic magic circle appeared in front of me when I activated the magic I had constructed.
The magic circle began to rotate right after, and explosive flames started to gush out of it.
An explosive blast that possesses enormous amount of heat devastates the surroundings, dyeing my view red.

It's obviously overkill just to destroy those poor targets.
However, this is fine. The main part of this magic won't reach the targets after all. The maximum range of this magic is 10 meters.
I'm going to destroy the targets using the shockwave of the magic.

Now then. And the result is---

"....Huh? Did I overdo it...?"

I didn't know what the targets were made of so I constructed the magic with the assumption that they were of mithril alloy just in case, but I might have raised the power a bit too much.
The ground where the targets were placed have completely disappeared, you can't even tell where the targets were originally located.

The schoolyard where the exam is held is even worse off.
One part of the ground has evaporated into a vitrified crater.
It's still at the level where it can be quickly repaired with magic, but this looks a bit bad.

"....Huh? How strange. What's happening here....?"

I turned at the examiner to ask for the result, but he rubbed his eyes, hit his own head and did some doubtful gestures while muttering weirdly.
I made sure that the shockwave was mainly directed at the targets and barely reached the examiner though.... Did I make a mistake somewhere?

"Err, are you alright?"

I approach the instructor while preparing to use healing magic.
And I investigate his condition by looking at the mana reaction in his body.... I don't see anything odd.

"It doesn't seem that I'm alright. I'm seeing a hallucination. I'm seeing a hallucination where a Disqualified Crest blew away all the targets and created a crater in the schoolyard. And he wasn't chanting. Or is it my eyes. My eyesight must have gone bad."

"Sensei, it's not a hallucination."

"Reis-sensei, I heard a huge sound just now, what just--what the hell's this!"

The other examiners who came after hearing the sound didn't put the situation under control, it raised more confusion instead.
It took another hour for the uproar to settle down and for the result of my exam to be decided.

By the way, I didn't get punished or anything.
『Do Not Destroy the Schoolyard』 was fortunately not written in the exam rule.

I felt bad to leave the schoolyard as is so I quickly mended it with my remaining mana.
I had a feeling that the examiners who saw that had an astounded look on their faces, but I'm not going to mind it.
I had run out of mana, I would be helpless if I said something unnecessary and had to redo the exam.

































Previous Chapter

Chapter 22 Strongest Sage, Defeats an Unfamiliar Person

 

"You're Castor's son huh. His exam was terrible.... You're not gonna tell me that you're trying to pass the exam with only the practical test are you?"

This Gayle old man seems to know my father, Castor.

"That's exactly it. And so, what would you do?"

"Haahaahaa. Figured as much. Then I'll let you pass the exam regardless of the other results if you can put up a good fight against me. If you can do that much, the school higher-ups shouldn't have any complain.... If you can put up a good fight that is."

Gayle showed a smile like he was really enjoying it while saying that.
That said, it's not the same sarcastic smile that Biffgel occasionally showed.
If I have to say, it's closer to the smile this race of people called battle junkies show when they're up against someone they can have fun fighting against.

Well, the real combat addict would have attacked first before attempting to talk, so it's a little rude of me to call this old man a combat addict.
Still, a good fight huh. Apparently, he's severely underestimating me.
Ah. I forgot another term.

"Sorry. I forgot one thing, I can't just pass the exam regularly. I've got to pass as a scholarship student."

"...Is it money problem? I can see that you're reasonably capable just looking at your body. There're ways to pay for your tuition while you're attending the school y'know?"

"If I want to attend the school at my age, I have to enter as a scholarship student, that's the condition."

When he heard that, Gayle nodded like he understood.
Well, in reality, money was the biggest reason for it though.

"Aa. That sure is something Castor would say. Normally, this school accepts 15 year old children after all. Ordinary 12 year old can't apply, but there's no problem if they're extraordinary. Well, even if you don't get the scholarship, I'll talk to Castor about it depending on this fight.... Now then, are you ready?"

I still don't know the identity of this Gayle old man, but it appears he holds quite the authority with him.
He's been saying 'good fight' all this time, I wonder what'd happen if I beat him up.
....I should try it.

"I've always been ready."

"That seems to be the case. Then, allow me to--start!"

Gayle plunged at me while saying that.
Looks like he's holding back quite a bit since the other party is a 12 year old. I can see that he's considerate enough to not injure me.
If I make use of that, it's easy to decisively and quickly end the match.

However, that'd be meaningless. This isn't an actual fight, but an examination.
I'll win this head-on and make him recognize me. I'm pretty sure the current me has the power to realize that.

"Aren't you underestimating me too much?"

With these words, I used Physical Reinforcement and activated 【Mana Strike】 while blocking Gayle's training sword.
By the way, you're allowed to use magic that strengthen your body and sword in the swordsmanship test.
This rule must be in consideration of magic swords.

"Mwu!?"

Gayle had his sword repelled and his body lost its balance.
However, he immediately regained it and took some distance away.

"Castor was quite dangerous himself, but you're even more of a monster huh.... Alright. I won't hold back either. I'm not gonna tell you to get out of this unscathed, but at least try not to die, you got it?"

"Gayle-sama!"

The instructor who was in charge of recording shouted in bafflement, but Gayle didn't mind it at all.
The fact that the record keeper doesn't try to stop Gayle at all even though the situation clearly deviates from an exam probably shows that this Gayle person holds quite the authority.

Gayle fiercely plunged at me while I was thinking that.
There is no more shred of holding back in his movement. He's most likely stronger than my father.

I block his his sword head-on.
I can barely surpass Gayle's strength by using both Physical Reinforcement and Mana Strike together.

No. Even though he's doing it unconsciously, he's circulating a portion of his mana on his body, strengthening it, so his power is slightly higher than mine.
However, I can easily overturn this small difference with skills.

I slightly retreat while blocking and ward his sword sideway.
Gayle was trying to push ahead.... I activate 【Mana Layer Lubrication】 while matching his movement.
Just as the name suggests, 【Mana Layer Lubrication】 is magic that creates a layer of lubrication made of mana on the surface that makes a sword slips easier, but only for an instant.

However, the effect is huge in a sword-locking contest where even a small difference of strength could tip the balance.
Gayle's center of gravity got slightly weakened because his sword was suddenly slipping.
I didn't overlook that chance and stepped in at once, thrusting the tip of my sword on Gayle's neck.

"....I give."

Gayle declared his defeat.
I put my sword away when I saw that.

"Ga-Gayle-sama, lost? ....He held back didn't he....?"

"Gayle-sama looked like he was serious halfway through the match.... My eyes could barely catch up with it, I wasn't even sure what happened...."

It seems the record keepers haven't grasped the situation yet--well, Gayle will probably do something about it. Or rather, why's there a lot of magicians working as record keepers in the swordsmanship exam?
My practical swordsmanship test ended with that question in my mind.
The next one is the practical magic test.

...By the way, I still don't know Gayle's position even now. I wonder if he's the vice-principal?
Well, I'll probably find out once I get enrolled.






























Previous Chapter

Chapter 21 Strongest Sage, Get Left Behind by the Examiner

 

"You have 60 minutes for this exam! Begin!"

There would be written and practical tests and the written one was the first.
Probably due to the amount, the test isn't divided by subjects, everything has to be done in 60 minutes.

To be frank, I didn't prepare anything for this test. Or rather, I didn't know what kind of subjects would be in the test.
Thus, I'm completely improvising on-site.

From what I've seen, the test is about national language, magic circle math, and simple geography. And also combat arts.
The first two were all rudimentary so I didn't have any problem.
One of the question for the magic circle math was obviously on a whole different level than the rest, but well, it's still within the elementary level.

The map was also shaped like the one I was familiar with in my past life, so I didn't have any problem regarding the topology.
Well leaving aside the fact that the map was quite inaccurate, and that the drawn part was quite narrow with rest blackened out.

The problem was with the combat arts. Of course, it was my main field of expertise in my past life, but I'm not familiar with the arts used in this era.
'Write about Loita style swordsmanship', you ask. Hell if I know that.

....Let's just write some random things.
Conveniently enough, I had a sword nerd acquaintance with the same name in my past life. I just wrote the combat art she talked about and her way of fighting as is.
I abridged it though since it wouldn't have fitted the answer column if I wrote the whole thing.

The written test ended like such and the practical test is finally starting.
First, it's of swordsmanship. Just as I've anticipated, it's a practical battle against an instructor.

"Next, Ruli Abendroht!"

"Yes!"

My turn is right after Ruli.
Ruli went into the exam room with the magic sword I augmented yesterday.
The instructor who's in charge of the test is carrying a common sword. The blade part has been ground out, probably as a safety measure.

"Swordsmanship examination, begin!"

With the signal, Ruli stepped forward and thrust her sword at the instructor.
It's an extremely basic move for a lightweight magic sword user. Of course, the instructor had predicted that too as he leisurely blocked Ruli's sword.

With a clank sound, Ruli's sword was flicked away, creating an opening on her. The instructor aimed at that moment and tried to thrust his sword at Ruli--but he did not succeed.
The instructor did try to thrust his sword. However, the instructor wasn't holding a sword, but the remain of a sword that had been broken on the middle.

Well, I guess this is the obvious result when a common sword clashes against Ruli's magic sword.

"Mu?"

"Eh?"

However, the two people in questions didn't expect this themselves.
The atmosphere in the exam room stiffened along with the dumbfounded voices.

The instructor pulled himself together first. He doesn't seem to be a swordsmanship instructor just for show, he swings his shortened sword at Ruli while still in confusion.
However, this time Ruli reacts properly and blocks the instructor's sword.
With a clink sword, the instructor's sword got even shorter.

"Ei"

Ruli thrusts at the instructor once again.
The instructor blocked it.... however, his sword broke again, completely losing its blade. The grip is the only thing left of the instructor's sword.
The instructor looked at his own sword with an amazed expression and held his hands up afterward.

"I give up. I heard that the sword passed down in Abendroht house was powerful, but this was too much...."

"This is not that sword though...."

"It's not?"

"The sword passed down in my family was broken recently. This one is a new sword."

"Now that you mention it, it does look newly made.... rather, isn't that a sword from Bass's store. Is it a new product?"

"It's not exactly a new product, but there's another sword with the same augments at that store... Huh? Where's the instructor."

"I'm gonna buy the sword right away! Yakato, do the rest!"

The instructor abandoned the exam and ran to the school's gate immediately after he said that.
The other examiners tried to bring him back in a hurry, but none could catch up to him.

The instructor ran off somewhere just like that.
Only Ruli, the examiners who's in charge of recording the result and me are left.

"....What should we do now?"

If the instructor in charge of the recording were a warrior, he might be able to act as a stand-in but his movements and build suggest that he's a magician.
Whom should I beat up now?

"Err, I'm a magician so I can't step in as the examiner...."

"In that case, I will take up the role."

The one who came forward was a man at the prime of his life who had been watching the exam at the corner of the room since awhile ago.
His build isn't too bad. He should be a good match against my father Castor.

"Ga-Gayle-sa--"

"You've got no problem with me right?"

The instructor was going to say something when this Gayle-san made an eye signal, then he looked like he understood something and went silent.
Who the heck is Gayle.

































Previous Chapter

15-Intermission 5. At Muno Earldom (2)

 

"Has it come into view?"
"Yes, Satou-sama."

I received a report as the airship was about to arrive at Muno Castle and went to the airship from the Solitary Island Palace.

This airship isn't the property of the Tourism Ministry, but my personal one, it has been disguised to look shabby outwardly.
I've also reduced the maximum speed, it can only move as fast as a scooter.

The brownies who are in control of the airship said, "It has a taste that can't be found in the light ship and the newest model, nice", to me about the ship.

"Been a while since we were here hasn't it."
"Nn."

Mia nodded at Arisa who went out of the Solitary Island Palace after me.

"I wonder if the earl would be pleased with the souvenir?"
"It's awright~?"
"That's right nanodesu! There's no one--not many people who don't like meat nodesu!"

Tama and Pochi assured the worried Lulu that it'd be alright.
Pochi probably changed her words midway since Mia was in her view.

"Let's dismantle it immediately once we arrive there."
"Yes, Liza-san."

Lulu replied Liza's suggestion with a nice smile.
Liza had a serious expression on her face, but since her tail is swinging rhythmically, there's no doubt that she's looking forward to the meat dish that follows after the dismantling.

"So this is Karina-sama's home town."
"I've been wondering, is that an orchard?"

Zena-san is looking at the surroundings, Sera spoke while gazing at an orchard in the distant.

"Yes, we've opened a Lulu orchard with the cooperation of Viscount Emlin."
"Viscount Emlin's--"

Sera put a serious look on her face when she heard my reply.
My Attentive Ears skill picked up her mumbling, "To think they'd use that tactic to send their daughter in...." for some reason.

Viscount Emlin's seccond daughter, Lady Lina came to the earldom to work as Earl Muno's eldest daughter, Soruna's lady-in-waiting. She's currently working as a representative of viceroy in Brighton city, the city I'm in charge with.

She got to somehow become the representative due to the course of events, I don't think her father had that schemed.
Sera is probably just worrying too much.

"By Lulu fruit, do you mean that high class fruit?"
"Yes, that's right."
"I never knew that there was another Lulu orchard than the ones in Oyugock Dukedom."
"That's because it won't bore fruits yet for another two years."

The princess tilted her head with her hand on her cheek.
Since she loves Lulu cakes, she's probably aware of the producing area and such.

"Master, we have a report from the brownie so I inform."
"They want us to go to the passenger cabin since the ship will be descending soon desuwa."

Nana whose report was stolen by Lady Karina wore an aura of disappointment while still being expressionless.

We'd be fine here with my [Magic Hand] but we still went back inside.

"Satou-san, the brownie at the observation deck reported that they saw a row of carriages."

I thanked Zena-san who reported with a cheerful look and opened the map.
Apparently, the row of carriages belongs to Orion-kun the eldest son of the earl, and Lady Karina's little brother.

Since it's about time for him to graduate his school at the Duchy Capital, he probably comes back to start the study to become the next head of the family, not as a temporary vacation.
In addition to his, there are more than 10 carriages reflected on the radar, and every one of them has a young noble of Oyugock Dukedom inside.

--I guess even Orion-kun has friends whom he can bring home with.

Such a rude thought flashed in my mind, but I lightly shook my head to dispel my prejudice away.


◇


"Earl~?"
"He's waving at us nodesu!"

Tama and Pochi who found Earl Muno waving from the castle window looked up at me while pointing at him.
I assented and praised them, "Good work finding him", but the two of them misunderstood that, they rushed to the deck and jumped to the castle's window.

Their sounds of landing differed, 'Shutat' with Tama, and 'Bitaan' with Pochi but they arrived at the window where the Earl Muno was without any injury.

"M-me too!"
"You cannot Karina-sama."

I grabbed the nape of Lady Karina who was going to rush to deck, stopping her.

Good grief, she really doesn't think like a blooming noble daughter she is.

"Ooh, I'm glad to see Pochi-kun and Tama-kun looking as lively as always."
"Nihehe~? Wer back~?"
"We're back nanodesu."

I heard the conversation between Earl Muno, Tama and Pochi.

"Welcome back, what is the hydra that's hanging on the airship?"

Earl Muno asked Pochi and Tama when he saw the meat souvenir.

"Souvenir~?"
"That's right nanodesu. It's the tastiest of hydra, the three-headed hydra nanodesu."

Just as Pochi's said, among the kind of hydra that are all delicious, the three-headed one is the tastiest.
The two headed one has this strange bloodiness to it, the four headed one's meat is too hard, there's only a few way to cook it.
Liza herself thinks that it doesn't have the chewiness of a five-headed hydra, but I don't think that viewpoint is shared by many people.

"Satou-sama, we will be dropping the hydra over there."
"Yeah, I'll leave it to you."

I left it to Brownie without meddling.

After dropping the hydra at the backyard, the airship landed in the courtyard of Muno castle.

"Welcome back, Satou-kun, Karina."
"We have returned Earl Muno."
"Father, onee-sama, I'm back--!"
"My my, oh Karina."

I bowed like a noble to Earl Muno who met us in the courtyard himself.
Lady Karina ran up to her family and hugged her older sister and father.

After the princess and the other girls went down and greeted them lightly, we're changing place to Earl Muno's private room.
Liza and Lulu went to the backyard to dismantle the hydra.

Along the way--.

"So that's Pendragon--Damn treacherous fiend and his usurpation plot."

--There was a young man muttering that misguided accusation.

He's not a citizen of Muno, but of Dalgan city that's located at the northern end of Oyugock Dukedom.
I'm not sure why a citizen from another fief is inside the Muno castle, but since the guards inside are only looking at him with troubled looks without asking his identity, it doesn't look like he's a suspicious person who lost his way here.

Since he said it in a volume that wouldn't get heard without the Attentive Ears skill and he was a commoner without an official position, I ignored him.
I memo'ed his name at least since it'd be troublesome if he spread some strange rumor about me.


◇


"Ceremony for ennoblement of honorary chevalier?"
"Umu, Hauto-kun has passed his etiquette test. I think it's about time to appoint him as a honorary chevalier and get him to marry Soruna."

The first topic we had when we got to the private room was about the former fake hero Hauto turning a honorary noble.

Of course, many things, like how Lady Soruna was surprised with her eyes wide open when she met the princess for the first time and how the castle employees were peeking at the princess and Sera while hiding also happened, but let's omit that.

"Earl, we should get Zotor to be a honorary chevalier too while we're at it."
"Would they allow it?"

Earl Muno replied anxiously at Ms Nina's suggestion.

"His atonement period is about to end soon, it should be fine."

Is the [Atonement] she mentioned is in regard to how he left the army due to his dissatisfaction toward the lesser demon posing as consul and acted as a chivalrous thief?
I don't think it's a big enough sin that he ought to make up for, but I still don't really understand the value system in this world even now, so I accept it as is.

"When will the wedding ceremony be held?"

The only wedding ceremony I had attended in this world was of Tisrad, the eldest son of Duke Oyugock and Sera's elder brother.

"Ceremony?"

Lady Soruna tilted her head quizzically.

--Huh?

Maybe it's something that only family attend?

"Only the pedigreed noble at the Royal Capital hold a reception for their children other than the heir. Other nobles aren't going to come unless it's for the heir even if you invite them."

Ms. Nina said that like she couldn't believe me.

Come to think of it, traveling in this world was dangerous wasn't it.
The one inviting and the one coming would need to mobilize the army to clean up the highway, it'd cost them quite a bit.

Moreover, this world adopts polygamy so people have a lot of children, no wonder they won't hold a ceremony for every one of them.

"But isn't it too sad if we don't do anything?"
"That's true. It might be a good idea to hold something like a festival that also serves as an announcement to the populace."

At Arisa's appeal, Ms. Nina spoke while stroking her chin.

"And we've got more than enough hydra meat here, how about using it for Soruna-sama's wedding ceremony?"
"Are you sure? That much meat would net you quite a sum y'know?"
"Yes, it's always been a souvenir for the earl."

Besides, turning hydra meat into jerky makes it too hard, it's not well suited for long-time preservation.
In the first place, we hunted the hydra to hold a meat festival and also strengthen Muno Earldom's army anyway.

"Then, since Orion-kun will also come home within half a month, let's hold a wedding for both."
"Wedding~?"
"Soruna is a bride-san nanodesu!"

Lured by the excited Earl Muno, Tama and Pochi who were single-mindedly nibbling baked sweets beside him took up happy poses too.
Looks like they heard us talking even though they seemingly didn't.

"Ufufu, oh father, you're too hasty."
"Really. Let's say the bridal dress, that won't be ready in just half a month."
"We also need to decorate things."

Lady Soruna chided Earl Muno while looking like she wasn't at all dissatisfied with it, Ms. Nina and Yuyurina the civil official with braided hair told him the reasons.
The jewels that will be used as adornment seem to come from the tribute that the kobolds from the abandoned mine town gave.


◇


"Doing an ennoblement ceremony during Orion-sama's absence! What's your objective, Pendragon!"

The young man I saw earlier snarled at me while I was heading to the ennoblement ceremony room together with Sir Zotor and Hauto-kun.

"Oy, watch your mouth."

Sir Zotor rebuked him with a scowl.
Not sure if the timing is good or bad, it's just right as Earl Muno and Ms. Nina have gone to the ceremony room.

"What'd you say you Pendragon's dog! Are you going up against this Gira-sama whom Orion-sama has entrusted to be the territory's inspector!"

I see, a fox that borrows the authority of a tiger huh--no, a rat that borrows the authority of a cat I guess?

"What is this about?"
"Our apologies, Sir Pendragon."

It seems Sir Zotor and Hauto-kun can't rebuke the young man strongly, in honor of Orion-kun the next family head.

"Hmph, if you know your place--"
"What if I do?"

I release a concentrated [Coercion] that would even bind a lesser demon up at the unpleasant young man.
It was only for an instant, but the effect was tremendous, he forgot to breathe and passed out.

"Did I overdo it?"
"No, he, a commoner, did verbally abuse a noble. Normally, he'd have been enslaved into a crime slave or executed."

Ms. Nina who came out of the corridor denied the question I asked at Sir Zotor.

"Geez, I wish Orion-dono sent someone better than this guy to inspect things."
"It seems he's a childhood friend of Orion-dono, he probably appealed to him using that?"

Hauto-dono who had been silent for a while replied Ms. Nina's grumble.
I see, he can't use his friend as a spy in the Duchy Capital after all, I can understand the situation.

Though I agree with Ms. Nina, he should have first thought it through when choosing personnels.

While we were talking, she ordered the guards who was watching us at a distance to imprison the unconscious young man in the jail.
I have no interest in his fate, so I'm going to leave the punishment to Earl Muno and Ms. Nina.

Regardless of that trivial matter, Sir Zotor and Hauto-kun ennoblement proceeded smoothly, and Muno Earldom got new nobles.
It seems Sir Zotor will be elevated into Honorary Baron and Hauto-kun into Honorary Baronet at the next Kingdom Conference, though they haven't told the two yet.
It seems their ennoblement is urgently needed since Muno Earldom is lacking viceroy and governors.


◇


"Father, I'm back!"
"Welcome back, Orion."
"Have you grown again?"
"Soruna-neesama, it hasn't been that long since we last met."
"You're getting cheeky for Orion."
"Karina-neesama, please stop with your hugging habit. My retainers are watching."

After the ennoblement ceremony, we greeted Orion-kun's party that had just arrived.
Muno family sure has a lot of skinship.

Orion-kun's eyes that were softened from meeting his family turned grave when he saw me.

--Huh?

He seemed normal despite his bursting sister complex when he went with us to Brighton City and during the liberation of the abandoned mine town, I wonder what happened?

"Orion-sama!"

The young man Gira who should have been detained earlier rushed here together with some men with unpleasant looks who seemed to be his friends.
Orion-kun looked nostalgic somewhat, but it seemed he couldn't remember their names as he didn't speak of it at all.

Gira and his cohorts didn't seem to notice that as they stood in front of him with their hands pointing at me to condemn me.

"Really now, they look like underlings who'd be crushed doing domestic administrations."
"Indeed."

I agreed to Arisa's muttering.

It'd be annoying if this guy left a bad taste on our reunion at Muno Earldom.
I look for the highly stealth mind magic [Stun Hand] in the Magic Column.

"Multiplied~?"
"Lots and lots of noble person nanodesu."

Tama and Pochi who saw the young nobles getting down from their carriages reported.
It seems these two have completely forgotten about it, but you girls are also nobles with peerage now you know?

"There's a lot of pretty ones."
"You're right. You can make an otome or a girl game with this line up."

There's a lot of women among Orion-kun's friends.
I'm thinking that they might be candidates to be Orion-kun's mistress.

"Hahhahha! The heaven is on our side!"

The young man Gira triumphantly said that.

A young nobleman stepped forward beside him.
It's a refreshing handsome young man who'd be high in the class caste somehow.

The young man Gira grinned at the entry of his comrade.

However--.

"Hey, you're in the way."

The young noble man lightly pushed the young man Gira away, came before me and lightly bowed.

"Nice to meet you, Viscount Pendragon-sama. I'm the grandson of Marquis Lloyd, Izo Llyod. I have come to visit the earldom as a candidate for Orion-sama's retainer. I would love to hear about Muno Earldom from Viscount."

He's acting all friendly for some reason.

"Hold on, Izo! Stop stealing the march. Viscount Pendragon-sama, I'm Marimo from Baronet Fukke house that's related to Earl Houen--"
"Too long! My name is Myumir, daughter of Baron Jitbelt. By all means, would viscount please teach me as a senior retainer, if possible at night in a private room--"
"I'm Batts of Baronet Henz--"

Starting with the young man, the young nobles introduced themselves to me one after another.
Some carnivorous women also mixed among them, but I pretended to not notice them as I ignored them.

"T-this is...."
"They thought that they would be able to get acquainted with Sir Pendragon if they became my retainers."

Orion-kun replied the young Gira's question.
I can see that they're really childhood friends looking at them.

"Orion-sama."

One of the maids whispered to Orion's ear.
She looked familiar, turned out she was Pina, the head maid who served Lady Karina back then.

According to Attentive Ears skill, it seems the content is about the quarrel that led to the young man Gira's imprisonment earlier.

"I do cherish the memories of us playing together when we were little."
"Orion-sama?"

The young man Gira looked puzzled at Orion-kun who suddenly spoke like he was "bidding farewell."

One of his friends that helped him escape the jail realized the situation and ran away into the crowd.
It's good that he's perceptive, but it wouldn't do me any good to leave someone who might hold an unjustified resentment alone, so I pulled his legs with [Magic Hands], letting him fall before the guards.

"I will ensure that you keep your life at the very least."
"Orion-sama.... B-but! Ori--"

The young man Gira's mouth was blocked and he got taken back to the dungeon.

"Viscount Pendragon-sama, I'm sorry for the trouble my childhood friend caused you. I will be sure to make up for it."

Whoa, he would have snarled at me together with his friend if it was the same Orion from before, but for him to apologize for his friend's impoliteness like this, looks like he's grown up in this short period of time.

"And you guys! I understand that you admire Sir Pendragon and all, but have some modesty and restraint. Don't forget that outwardly, you're candidates to become my retainers."

In a sense, what he said was servile, but there wasn't a shred of envy in Orion-kun's eyes even if it seemed like he found them unbelievable.
Even though it's of a different type than Earl Muno, it appears he's establishing his own style as a territory lord.

Wonder what changed him?

"Pluump~?"
"Pregnant woman-san nanodesu!"

The answer was at the end of the eagle eyed Tama and Pochi's line of sight.
The stomach of Muse, Orion-kun's fiancee is swelling.

According to AR, it seems she has a boy and a girl twin.

The thing that has changed him must be his readiness to be a husband and a father, I'm sure.

That reminds me, the president who offered a marriage meeting to Mr. Metabo said this, "It's an environment that will promote a man to be responsible."
I still don't really understand, but that might be it.

"I think she's already in her fourth month?"

Arisa followed up with 'I know, I've got a lot of parent friends'.
Is it just my imagination or did she seemed like she ridiculed herself.

"O-O-O-Orion?"
"Ara ara, my my."
"Nice job, young master."
"O-Ori-Ori..."

Earl Muno was surprised, Lady Soruna's face was overjoyed, Ms. Nina muttered in admiration.
Lady Karina is like a broken record.

Shotgun marriages are nothing news for me, but perhaps premarital sexual relationship is unusual in this world.

"I've prepared myself to get passed over by Karina, but I never thought that Muse-dono would too."
"No worries, we're gonna catch up to them real quick."

Hauto-kun leisurely smiled at Lady Soruna.

"Now then, let us celebrate the birth of the next successive Earl of Muno this night. Lulu and I will show our skills."
"Hee, looking forward to that."

I brought along the young nobles who offered their helps and started the preparation for the barbecue festival.
Of course, I did not only prepare meat, but also salad and jelly made from sour citrus for the mother.

I was all smile before I knew it, probably because the unexpected auspicious occasion and the growth of the family of my friend were happening right before my eyes.

While watching over Mia who was singing a tune for the meat festival and Tama and Pochi who were dancing to that tune, I continued to cook in front of the wire mesh with an unusually pleasant feeling in my heart.

Celebration really is nice!












※ The next update is undecided.
Lately, the company I work at has been at its busiest yet....





















Previous Chapter

Chapter 20 Strongest Sage, Creates a Magic Sword

 

"T-that only took like five seconds didn't it? Just what kind of trick did you use? Did you maybe prepare a magic sword beforehand and secretly swap them?"

After checking the magic sword augment out, Alma asked me.
What do you want me to say....

"I just augmented it like the usual though?"

"You can't call that 'the usual'. I can assert that."

"No no. It's usually like this you know. ...Don't you think so Storekeeper-san?"

The magic swords sold in this store have skipped a process in their creation after all, I'm sure it only took them two seconds to complete one depending on its creation.
You might call it slow, but calling it fast is just--

"I'm in agreement with the young lady here. It's just impossible. ...But the sword really has been augmented. I've made that sword myself so it's impossible for me to mistake it, nor for it to get swapped. And the conclusion we can gather from those facts is...."

"The conclusion is?"

At Alma's question, the storekeeper replies with a serious expression.

"Lad, won't you be a magic augmenter?"

"I won't!"

I replied instantly. I went all the trouble of even reincarnating myself to get a crest suited for combat, like I would take a job to do these poor augments.
Ask that to someone with the First Crest please.

"Then please do it for today! Augment my swords! Of course I'll pay ya handsomely! How does 300 gold coin for one sword sound!"

However, the storekeeper keeps on hounding me.
I'm only here to buy a sword, why did this happen.

"Hold on, it's true that it was very fast, but isn't 300 gold coins a bit too much? An augmentation that's the same price as the magic sword itself, that's not gonna be profitable at all isn't it?"

It seems Alma found it hard to believe too.

"That's normally the case, but.... The augmentation of that sword looks different than the usual somehow. Young lady, would you like to test the sword?"

"Let me do it!"


With that flow, we went to the back of the store to test the new sword.
The object of the test is a scrap wood. She's holding the sword on the side, ready to swing it vertically down. It'd be harder to fail here.
I'm worried about the test object instead, it's just too fragile....

"Here I go!"

Ruli greatly swung the sword while saying that.
No wait. If you put that much force against mere lumber--.

"Huh?"

SWISH, the lumber cut in two along with that sound, and the sword plunged down into the ground with most of its force intact.
Then it hit the ground and stopped after sinking a bit.

"W-what's with that sharpness...."

"Hold on there, that's just weird...."

The two were surprised at the result of the test.
And the girl who wielded the sword herself is dumbfounded.

"....Eh....? I felt no resistance at all, so I ended up swinging the sword to the ground.... Ah, the sword's!"

Ruli pulled the sword off the ground while shouting and checked the sword's condition.

"The sword would be chipped if I used it like that.... There's none!"

"On the contrary, the stone looks like it's been cut a bit...."

Alma picked up a stone on the ground and muttered.

"500 gold coins, no 1000! Please augment my sword, just one is enough!"

"Just what kind of augments did you put on this!?"

"Don't you think it cutting stones is just weird!?"

And before I knew it, the three inched on me without giving me a chance to cope.
I'm only here to get a sword, why'd it come this, really.

"For now, calm down! Don't talk all at once! First, I augmented it with 【Iron Slash】 and 【Toughening】 magic. It's not unusual for a sword to cut stones with these two augments."

"It is unusual! Isn't multiple augments the national treasure-grade! How would I ever pay back such an augmentation...."

And Ruli was extremely shaken.
This, national treasure-grade? That's really weird. If a magic sword created in five seconds by a Fourth Crest is national treasure-grade, then this world would have been full of national treasures.

"Please calm down. There's no way this thing is a national treasure. It's just two augments you know? A proper magic augmenter would laugh this one out...."

"Mathi-kun, are you being serious?"

Alma interrupted my explanation with a serious look on her face. Of course I'm serious.

"Of course I am. Augments from this crest don't worth much. A magic augmenter with the proper First Crest... I mean, Glory Crest, should be able to pull off 10 to 20 magic augments right?"

Judging from the ambiance of Ruli's mana, she's most likely a First Crest. As long as she trains properly, she can probably do this much in just a few years.
10 augments should be possible in 30 years, 20 should be attainable in just 200 years.

"No, that's impossible."

"This kid's off the deep end. Someone gotta do something about him fast...."

"10 and 20, that's a tale from the world of myth...."

Why. Why do they react like this.
Is this also an adverse effect of chant magic? Is it due to that thing that this world now treats a mere dual augment as national treasures?

Now that I see it's gone this far, I feel like this is a malicious act by someone.
Right now, I won't be surprised even if you tell me that the demon or such has infiltrated the country and made it so magic declined.

"OK I got it. It's useless to preach common sense to the lad. We should talk about something more productive now."

The storekeeper put the second chaotic situation into order. As expected of a storekeeper. As an adult, he's reliable--

"That being the case, I'm beggin' ya for an augment. Your reward will be the whole property I own...."

Or not. He just went back to the beginning. Only that the amount of money being offered rose astronomically.
Un.
Just do whatever you want.

◇

In the end, the magic augment cost 1000 gold coins and I only did it to one sword.
All this money of which I've no aim to spend at is piling up inside the Storing magic. Well, gold coins aren't too heavy so it's not like it troubles me even if they pointlessly multiply.

At first I wasn't really going to ask for that much money from the storekeeper either, but I decided to after recalling the price of magic swords in his store.
An eye for an eye, a rip-off for a rip-off.

I'm gonna look for a motivated First Crest user, and teach them the art of augmentation. In this present world, it appears that I have to raise a craftsman myself if I want to obtain a strong weapon.
While getting rolled up in such an affair (?) along the way, I got to the day of the exam.





































Previous Chapter

Chapter 19 Strongest Sage, Realizes His Lack of Experience in Life

 

Lured by Alma's line of sight that went outside the store, I also looked outside.
There's a girl around Alma's age with blond hair--
C....Cute!

"Alma, did you have any luck with this store? I couldn't get any myself. Maybe getting a magic sword augmented by tomorrow is--oh my? The gentleman over there is...."

"This is Mathi-kun. He's gonna do the magic augmenting for me!"

It was a perfect strike.
No wait. The other party is 14 year old y'know? Think of my age. My age right now is.... Huh? It's 12. There's nothing weird about it.
Let's forget about that. First, I need to calm down and introduce myself. Be natural, natural....

"I-it is an honor to have met you, my name is Mathias Hildesheimr..."

"Why'd you act so polite all of a sudden...."

Alma retorted me. She's exactly right.
What am I getting shaken for anyway. Even if the current me is 12 year old, the fact that I have a thousand and several hundred years worth of memory doesn't change.

I'm going to use my experience in love affair from my past life here--Huh?
When I think about it again, my experience in the past life mostly didn't have anything related to love.
No. Let's think about it again, carefully.

I was alive in my past life for a thousand and hundreds years.
Time without a girlfriend, a thousand and hundreds years (equals, my lifetime in my past life + my lifetime in this life.)

I see. It's only natural for me to be like this then. Even Biffgel's experience in combat is still slightly better compared to my experience in love.
For now, I've got to introduce myself. When I think again, I should just do it like I did with Alma earlier.

"I'm Mathias. Mathias Hildesheimr. I might have a family name, but I"m the third son of a small noble household. In short, a commoner. I've got no field to plow so I went out of the village. Call me Mathi."

Alright. T'was a perfect self-introduction word-to-word identical to the one earlier. This is nothing if I just calm down.
But.... There's no response.

I look at the girl, her face is red with a blank expression.
....I wonder why. Did I anger since I recycled my introduction.
No. Her expression is too unusual for it to be that. Perhaps, a magic criminal lurking in the city used a hidden mind magic on--.

"Are you alright Ruli?"

While I was converging a detection magic, Alma got close to Ruli and poked her cheek.
How enviable--I mean, that's dangerous! Even though they're rare, there are types of magic that can infect with contacts!

"....Ha! I-I'm fine. M-my name is Ruli Abendroht. I-I don't have a fiance or a boyfriend! I would love it if you call me Ruli...."

I see. She's got no boyfriend huh.
It's a nice information for me, but I wonder if that's something you'd tell in your first meeting.
....Perhaps there's such a custom in some parts of the world. I can't think of any other reason for it.

"Nice to meet you, Ruli."

"N-nice to meet you!"

"Yup, now that we know each other, let's get back to the topic!"

Once we were done, Alma cut in with eyes that looked like she saw something heartwarming for some reason.
....I didn't think about it the first time, but looking closer, Alma is also quite--.
No. Let's not think anything unnecessary, yes let's.

"Mathi-kun would augment the sword for us now, Ruli, do you have that sword with you?"

"Mathi-kun would? Mathi-kun is around the same age as us right? Don't you think that's too much...."

"My common sense also agrees with you.... But my intuition told me to leave it to him."

"I suppose it can't be helped if Alma's intuition says so."

It comes through her with that. Is Alma's intuition really that accurate I wonder.

"This is the broken sword. This sword has been passed down in our family for generations, they said it couldn't be repaired...."

Ruli took out a long sword that had been split in two from its base.
The sword's magic augment is most likely a lesser version of 【Toughening】.
It's considerably better than the magic swords in this store.... But, it still doesn't look like a powerful sword.

"I'm really sorry Ruli. If only I noticed it sooner...."

"The two of us were saved thanks to Alma's intuition. It's unfortunate about the sword, but thanks to Alma and Mathi-kun, it'd make it in time for the exam anyway.... Would it make it in time?"

Ruli asked me that.

"Of course. Once the base sword is complete, I could do it immediately...."

I don't know the market price for the reward.
I actually don't need any reward since it will be done in five seconds though.... But I shouldn't do that.

Augments from a Fourth Crest was equal trash in my past life, or rather, it was treated like a harmful act that would only waste magic stones and equipment.... But if we consider the price of the swords here and their states, it's hard to say that the augment is worthless.
But I feel it'd only lead to problem if I the price I asked turned out to be too expensive later on.... Right, I should do that.

"As for the reward, let's just say that I'm lending you one."

"Y-yes!"

Looks like she agreed to it.
I would probably learn the value of the augmentation later anyway, I can then decide what the compensation would be.
If it's cheap then that's fine, if it's expensive, that means I've lent a favor to a noble family. For someone without any connection like me, it would probably come in handy.

"Ou, I've got the sword ready here."

I turned around and saw the storekeeper carrying a lightweight longsword.
He's much quicker than he promised, but there doesn't seem to be any problem with its quality. He might have said 30 minutes to leave quite some room for any error.

"Then let me start the augmentation. Could I have the magic stone?"

"Eh, you're doing it here right now?"

Alma handed me the magic stone while saying that.
I'm doing it right now, the augmentation won't take any time anyway. It'd only be several seconds.

"Yeah. It'll be over in an instant if it's only this much. The augment magic should be similar to that sword's right?"

After putting the magic stone in the sword, first I synchronize the metal's mana with the magic stone's mana. This is a process called Mana Conditioning.
Next I augment it with magic. The types of magic are... 【Toughening】 and 【Iron Slash】. These two are the most general purpose ones the current me could stabilize.

By the way, the magic swords in this store are most likely augmented without doing the Mana Conditioning first. That's probably the biggest cause of the terrible quality.
A magic augmenter who doesn't know this process is like a blacksmith who doesn't know how to do tempering. They should give up the business at once.

"Well, this should do. Go on and try it."

I said that and gave the augmented sword to Ruli.

"So fast!?"

"Oy oy. There's no way you coulda done it that fast...."

"That's right. Even the fastest augmentation should take 10 minutes at least. If you just swing it like this--"

While muttering, Ruli took the sword and swung it lightly.

"You can easily tell whether it's been augmented...."

This time she swings it a bit more powerfully.
And then her eyes opened wide.

"No way!? It's really been augmented!"

That's what I've been telling you....


























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