Chapter 60

The title sounds serious, but...

"Miss, can I have some wine too...?"

"No... That's not good. This is a drink for adults."

I wanted to have a drink, but it seems I can't. I was told off like a child.

"......Well, I'll just have some fruit water and eat some food."

We have just finished greeting Father Nord.

There are too many people with long names. I've forgotten most of them. I don't think it's possible to greet and remember so many people all at once.

Thanks to Father Nord's support, we managed to finish what we had to do.

Then, the noble daughters and children of knights quickly surrounded Father Nord.

"Lord Nord, are you staying in the capital? If it's not too much trouble, would you like to come to a tea party at my mansion?"

"Why don't you come to my mansion! I'd like to have some swordsmanship guidance!"

"Please tell us the story of the Dragon Slayer! I've only heard it in plays and stories."

Oh, oh, he's popular. Just as popular as the rumors say.

There are many noble daughters, but there are also many men.

The noble daughters are aggressively approaching, but the boys are bravely asking questions and listening to Father Nord's polite answers.

The faces of the noble daughters at that moment... Women are really scary. Indeed, it might seem odd to talk about swords while having a grand conversation, but...

Is this a world where you can't survive if you don't assert yourself?

By the way, Mother Elna seems to be having a lively conversation with some other ladies.

She's smiling, but occasionally sending Father Nord a fierce look.

It's probably a warning not to get too full of himself with all the attention from the noble daughters.

Father Nord notices it, but he can't push her away because of his kind nature.

I get some fruit water from a waiter and walk to the opposite side, pretending to be someone else.

Father Nord told me I could do as I pleased, so it's fine. He also said, "If possible, try to make friends with other noble children."

Looking around the venue, I see groups of children about my age talking.

Some act superior because of their high titles, while others smile and praise them.

Everyone seems to have high pride and is hard to get along with.

But for me, the things lined up on this long table are better.

These delicacies gathered in the capital are colorful and beautifully decorated. Their aroma is irresistible.

These noble people seem easier to get along with.

I'll try to get along with the delicacies of the capital as planned.

I take a plate in a good mood and take some meat from a large platter.

Using the silver tongs, I take some meat, vegetables, and seafood... Is this a kind of shrimp? It has a very long tail. Well, since it's at a noble party, it can't be some strange food. I'll enjoy it without hesitation.

---

This is bad... I underestimated the noble cuisine.

The chef's skills are even better than I imagined. This must be the power of a duke's family chef...

Alfreet is being attacked by delicious food.

What is this sauce on the meat made of?

Hmm, I can't tell. The sauce cuts through the rich oil of the thick meat, making it easy to eat.

They must be using ingredients from the capital. I've never tasted such a sauce before.

Before I knew it, most of the food on the table around me was gone.

Just to be clear, it's not that I ate it all.

The boy in front of me is eating like a fool, devouring everything at an incredible speed.

A passing maid sees the empty plates and hurriedly clears them away, rushing back to the kitchen.

They probably have to keep the food on the table at all times. The waiters must be having a hard time.

Oh, there's only one piece of meat left in front of me.

This is my favorite. I'll take it.

But then, my silver tongs collide with the boy's tongs in front of me.

"......"

Our eyes meet.

The boy has brown hair parted in the middle and a slightly unpleasant look. He's wearing a brown suit, which is the only reason I can tell he's a noble. Without the suit, he'd just look like a bad-tempered child.

"Who are you?"

It's like he's asking, "What school are you from?"

"When you ask someone's name, you should give your own first."

He tries to subtly take the meat with his tongs, but I block him.

"Damn... I'm Eric Silford."

Silford? Ah, I've heard of that name.

"Slowlett family, though?"

"Hey, what's your name?"

"Well, you asked who I was from."

"You're making fun of me!"

"Okay, okay, Alfreet Slowlett."

"So you're from a baron's family?"

"Yeah, so?"

I answer, and the boy, Eric, taps my tongs as if to push them away.

"Then step aside. I've been eyeing this."

He tries to take the meat,

"No, you're from a baron's family too."

I block his tongs with mine.

This guy is acting like he's from a higher rank, even though he's from a baron's family. What a sly one.

"A baron from a rural area in the east, equal to my territory?"

"No, your territory is in the south, in the countryside."

That's right, Eric's Silford territory is the southernmost rural area of the Misfit Kingdom, as far from the capital as the Slowlett territory.

I confirmed this with Father Nord's map.

What I envy is the abundance of fruits and the fact that his territory is by the sea.

He can eat as much sashimi as he wants. I'm jealous.

"You're insulting my territory!"

"You started the fight!"

Eric and I frown and glare at each other from close range, like thugs.

"......"

Then, we both suddenly smile.

It's as if we're saying it's embarrassing to quarrel over such a trivial matter.

"This is a place for noble socializing. Arguing over such trivial matters..."

"Exactly. If we fight here, it will tarnish our family names..."

Tap.

"......"

The space between us freezes.

"Give it to me!"

We both shout in unison, and our hands move.

The battle for the last piece of meat begins.

I quickly deflect his tongs and try to pull the meat towards me.

If I can pull it close, it's mine. It will be harder for him to reach it.

"Damn, you little brat!"

Eric realizes my intention and tangles his tongs with mine, hindering my movement.

I twist my wrist to break free.

The meat is still in the center of the plate.

To me, it looks like Princess Marine.

Imagine this plate as a castle where the princess has been taken by a dragon.

The lone piece of meat is the princess waiting to be rescued.

The intense battle in front of her. The princess anxiously watching the knight who has come to rescue her.

Meat (Princess). This knight, Alfreet, will defeat the evil enemy and rescue her!

But the evil enemy won't allow it.

As soon as I break free, Eric launches a fierce attack with his tongs.

Silver swords clash and sparks fly.

I dodge and block Eric's fierce attacks.

"Shh!"

With a short cry, I thrust my right hand like an arrow from a bow.

It aims precisely for the belly of my tongs, twice. He's trying to knock my weapon away.

I avoid it by twisting my grip.

Eric's face contorts for a moment.

No, the first two strikes were a feint! The real target is the meat!

As expected, the third strike is slightly off my weapon and heading for the meat.

I catch it with my tongs.

I thought I had caught Eric's thrust, but he quickly pulls back and swings his tongs like a sword from the upper left diagonal.

I counter with a slashing motion, gripping my tongs like a sword.

The silver tongs make a loud noise in protest at the rough handling.

Eric quickly counters and launches a series of attacks.

To get the meat, I have to defeat him first.

Eric's eyes widen, probably not expecting me to block all his attacks.

I switch from defense to offense, thrusting with varying speeds and feints.

Eric calmly blocks my attacks with practiced movements. The impact is strong each time our tongs clash.

Eric is now taking me seriously, his expression intense.

If only he had stayed on guard!

Eric dodges my series of attacks and thrusts with a powerful strike, using the torque of his body to cut through the air.

I block it with a precise strike to the side of his tongs.

"Wha!?"

Eric's body opens up, leaving him vulnerable.

I thrust my finger at his nose and say one word.

"Light"

A strong flash of light momentarily illuminates the room.

"Ah! My eyes! I can't see!"

I could have just taken the meat, but I didn't know what he might do, so I gave him a hit.

Ignoring Eric's flailing on the ground, I calmly take the meat from the plate.

The unpleasant noise is now the best spice to enhance the flavor of the meat.

I'll let Eric's piercing screams be my seasoning.

"Here's to the meat!"

"Al, that's not right, is it?"

I turn around to see a hero who has defeated dragons looking very angry.

The venue is deathly silent.

"......I'm very sorry for the disturbance..."

---

× × ×

"Did you see that?"

"Yes, Father. He has quite a skill with the sword. The way he handled the grip... He might be well-versed in knives and hidden weapons. He didn't back down at all, considering the other party is from a family of swordsmen."

"......Lime"

"Yes?"

"That's true, but don't forget the final blow. That magic, Light, was cast without a proper incantation..."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. He only said the word 'Light.'"

"To have such sword skills and be able to cast a spell without an incantation..."

I considered having a match with Elinora.