Chapter 92

After a few body slams, Big Grizzly used its six front legs to punch and claw at the barrier. I would like to leave it be, and the barrier won’t be broken, but unfortunately, I can’t just leave it there forever, so I think I should start moving soon.

First, I’ll try to stun it. Since the rule is not to leave any wounds on the body, I have to use an attack that won’t cause any damage. However, when Big Grizzly received the stun, it flinched for a moment and stopped moving, but its fierce, bloodshot eyes were still fixed on me.

“I want to finish this quickly. I hope you’ll come over here soon.”

A normal mage would use a staff and a spellbook, and a sorcerer would hold a staff to assist in the activation and enhancement of spells and magic, but I don’t have a staff or anything, and as the main character of the ennoblement ceremony, I’m in formal noble attire, which is not suitable for combat with monsters. In this state, if I were a normal sorcerer, I would probably cry and run away.

However, I’m not the type to use a staff in battle, and I don’t plan to receive any attacks, so my equipment is just for show.

“Grrrrrrr”

Big Grizzly charges at me. The charge, accompanied by the sound of the ground shaking, would normally instill fear, but I’m not the type to be scared by such things.

I dodge Big Grizzly’s charge to the left and aim a Stone Needle at its face, but Big Grizzly shatters it with a headbutt. I almost shouted, “Are you serious?!” but I held back and maintained a calm demeanor. I knew from the first charge that it was good at headbutts, but I was surprised that it reacted to the Stone Needle and countered with a headbutt. A normal Big Grizzly would have been killed by that one hit.

“Quite the abilities for a mutant, huh.”

“Grrrrrrr”

The rule is to take it down without leaving any wounds on the body. Also, since many nobles are watching, I can’t show too many attributes. In other words, my attack options are limited. This is such a hassle. His Majesty is smirking, and it’s a bit annoying.

“Dark Bind”

I cast a Dark Bind infused with a large amount of magic power, and Big Grizzly reacts by jumping back. However, I anticipated this reaction. The Dark Bind, reacting to Big Grizzly’s reaction, entangles its legs. Big Grizzly tries to tear it off with brute force, but the Dark Bind, infused with a large amount of my magic power, won’t be easily torn off. It starts to envelop Big Grizzly’s entire body in pitch-black darkness.

“Gaaaaaaahhhhhh”

Big Grizzly struggles desperately, but I won’t let it go. Next, I aim an Iron Needle at its head. It’s hard! The Iron Needle damaged Big Grizzly but didn’t pierce its head, shattering instead. Big Grizzly has hardened its body with a combination of unattributed body reinforcement and earth attribute hardening, making it harder than iron. This is such a hassle.

Then!

Iron Drill Needle!

The iron drill grinds away at Big Grizzly’s face. If the drill tip breaks, I immediately repair it. I repair the drill and gouge the same spot over and over again.

“Gaaaaaaahhhhhh”

Big Grizzly’s scream, which tears through the air, echoes throughout the training ground. I’m immune to status effects, so I’m fine, but many of the nobles watching fainted from the powerful roar. Even Tanuki’s face is quite tense. However, the scream suddenly stops. My Iron Drill Needle has pierced Big Grizzly’s head. Its brain matter is splattered around, its eyes have popped out, and a large amount of blood is gushing out like a fountain. The smell of rusted iron fills the air, and those who are not used to it might faint, but the ones who endured the scream are holding on.

“Your command has been completed.”

I bow to His Majesty and smirk.

“Y-Yes, well done. You are truly a prodigy!”

Huh?

What’s this?

His Majesty is smirking back at me.

“I hereby elevate you to the rank of Count for the feat of presenting the unblemished hide of this Big Grizzly!”

What?

Did His Majesty do all this just for this?

What a ridiculous king.

The Chancellor, my father, and the surrounding nobles who were still conscious are stunned. To elevate someone to the rank of Count just for presenting the unblemished hide of a mutant Big Grizzly is a bit much, isn’t it? However, it seems that His Majesty’s goal was the elevation, and he just needed a reason to justify it. If that’s the case, I didn’t need to go through this charade!

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Phew.

The tea Lune made smells good and tastes delicious. Such a relaxed time is very important.

I want to live like this forever.

“What are you slacking off for?!”

I can’t hear anything.

I feel like I’m in heaven.

But this peaceful time is ‘Punch!’

“Ouch!”

“Don’t ignore me!”

“What are you doing, Clara?”

“Thanks to you becoming a Count and receiving a fief, there’s a line of people in front of the manor who want to serve. You need to deal with it quickly!”

Ugh, I was just immersed in my own world... or rather, escaping from reality...

But Clara, with her fierce expression, forcibly brought me back to reality, so I guess I’ll have to work...

“Alright... Feder and Clara, please join me.”

I call out to Feder, who was smiling wryly at my exchange with Clara.

“Lord Clara, it’s not commendable to hit your lord on the head.”

“Then, Commander Feder, please make Christoph work.”

“Ugh... I’ll leave that to Lord Clara...”

After the battle with Big Grizzly, there were voices among the nobles that my elevation to Count was too early, but His Majesty silenced them by emphasizing my contributions, including the supply of military materials. The fief I received, worth over 100 million S, was an uninhabited island on the frontier, and as the second son of a border baron, I was already destined to be a viscount. The royal family’s decision to give me a fief, which was on the frontier of the frontier, was essentially doing nothing, but to maintain appearances, they combined the Big Grizzly incident with my contributions and elevated me to Count. Additionally, my personal combat and financial capabilities were also factors, and the nobles couldn’t outright oppose it.

I was supposed to eventually become a Count and welcome Lady Dorothy, but the rapid progress has left me floundering. I vow to get back at His Majesty someday!

The fief I received, the Selbes region, was renamed the Brutois region. The Brutois region, located near the Brutois border, has only small villages and settlements, so I need to develop it and increase the population, but that’s not something that can be done easily!

Ah, when will I be able to live a relaxed life?

Feder and Gail were elevated to the rank of Knight, and Carla was also elevated to Knight. This is partly to add prestige to my subordinates, but it’s also a policy by His Majesty to show favor and bring me into the royal fold. Feder and Gail have a track record in the Brutois border baron’s family, and Carla, being from a viscount’s family, didn’t resist being given a title. However, there was no need to give titles to Peron or Clara, and Pritz, who will eventually inherit a family, was not given a title.

Please look forward to the ongoing serial "Cheat Skills are Still Unfair!?"

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