Chapter 7

Three days after the fathers returned from the capital, I set out for the capital in a way that seemed to coincide with their departure.

Father had apparently intended to send me to the capital with Zoldo, but I politely declined.

Although Father initially showed reluctance, thanks to Zoldo's unexpected support, he rather easily agreed, saying, "Well, it's a learning experience, I suppose."

"This old soldier can't expect much effect from nagging at you now. Instead, you should focus on enriching your mind and body during the journey. ...I believe in you, young master."

Preparing lectures tailored to my plan must have been quite a task.

He had a good face, the kind that only someone who has accomplished something can have.

I am grateful to Zoldo, who, despite his old age, accompanied me thoroughly for these two and a half months.

The journey to the capital takes two weeks. A custom-made carriage takes 12 days to reach the capital city of the Dragoon Marquisate, Dragoraid, and then a magic train ride takes another one and a half days.

The map of this world is rather imprecise, and studying it on a desk didn't give me a good sense of distance, but the distance to Dragoraid is probably about the same as the distance between Tokyo and Fukuoka, right?

Incidentally, this world has magic cars powered by magic stones, but they are expensive and have very poor fuel efficiency, so they are not something a poor noble can easily use.

At the beginning of the journey, we had to cross mountains multiple times, and monsters occasionally appeared, so it took three days to travel a distance of about 100 km. However, after that, the road was well-maintained, and we made good progress.

By the way, Father strictly forbade me from participating in any battles, saying it would be a big problem if I got injured.

The security in this world is pretty good, and Father generously hired a C-class explorer to escort me to Dragoraid, so the risk was even lower.

The escort was a gruff, middle-aged man in his late 40s, and his mood was rather low, but he taught me some wrestling practice during the journey, so it was fine. It was fine, really.

His name is Dio, a spear user. I had only practiced with the instructors at the local dojo or with my family, including my mother, and all of them used swords, so practicing with a spear was good training.

Because of the danger, I could only practice without using sticks and wooden swords, but I was beaten up at first. Just knowing that swordsmanship against a spear is a completely different thing was a good lesson.

By the time we reached the Dragoon Marquisate, I had somewhat gotten used to the spear's range and the practice had become somewhat like a real training session. I didn't manage to land a single hit, though.

I was confident in my theoretical knowledge, but I was worried about the practical skills. The man said to me, who had become thoroughly dejected:

"At first, I thought it would be a hassle to accompany a rich kid's play, but you have quite a bit of determination and talent. Experience will come with time, so you'll be fine."

This taciturn man never praised me, the son of a viscount, during the journey, and at first, he was clearly focused on his role as an escort, but at the farewell, he encouraged me with these words.

It's a bit unreliable to get a seal of approval from a C-class explorer who is just idling in the rural Lovain Viscountate, but if I fall, I fall. I decided to part ways with the man.

◆

I boarded the magic train for a one-and-a-half-day journey from the capital city of the Dragoon Marquisate, Dragoraid.

Dragoraid is a very alluring city that glows with neon lights at night.

In this life, I decided to live doing whatever I want, following the wind as it blows, so I was tempted to drop out of this harsh academic society here, but I stopped when Zoldo's face came to mind.

I'll become an outlaw after passing the exam in the capital.

The magic train departed at 10 PM.

At first, I was looking out the window from my berth, but it quickly became pitch black, and I fell asleep while practicing magic compression.

I must have been tired from the unfamiliar journey. The next morning, I slept in until 6 AM, which was unusual, but I made up for it by studying while eating emergency rations for breakfast and lunch.

The scenery outside was not much different from the countryside we had seen during the carriage ride. At first, I was excited, but I eventually got bored.

Unlike in Japan, there were few stations, and it was a direct route, so it didn't stop along the way.

Since I had completed my daily quota, I got out of my berth out of boredom.

There were so many people of my age who seemed to be taking the exam on this magic train that I thought I might find a friend, so I wandered around while buying dinner.

However, they were all accompanied by parents with bloodshot eyes, and when I approached them, they looked at me suspiciously, so I gave up, thinking it was silly.

After dinner, I went out to the deck car to feel the wind and reminisce about my training with Dio. It was a car like a ship's deck, with no roof or seats, just surrounded by railings.

In about five years, I won't be behind Dio anymore.

But is that good enough?

Just to surpass a C-class adventurer who is idling in a rural viscountate, it will take five years.

I'm not interested in advancement, but to live doing what I want in an interesting way, I need the strength to do so.

While laughing at myself for feeling the kind of impatience that a 12-year-old might feel, I used a body-strengthening spell and practiced my swings carefully.

Starting from zero magic output, I accelerated suddenly, swung through, and returned. When I repositioned, there was no trace of magic left. That's the ideal.

I split vertically, returned, swept horizontally, returned, and slashed upward, returned.

In actual combat, it's almost impossible to swing so neatly, but I believe that mastering the ideal form is the foundation for applying it.

I swung my sword with all my might, cutting through the phantom of Dio.

I can't take the exam with a losing habit.

◆

When I realized it, the morning sun was shining.

This is bad... I need to get at least three hours of sleep to avoid affecting the next day.

The train was scheduled to arrive in the capital at 10 AM, so if I go to sleep now, I can still get some sleep.

I threw my wooden sword and started stretching.

"Thanks for the show."

A woman spoke from behind, but I ignored her.

I had noticed her sitting on a ladder leading to the upper part of the car since the middle of the night, watching me.

She had been watching my swings for about six hours, so she must be a bit of an oddball.

Stay away from dangerous situations. The air was thick with the smell of trouble.

Sensing the danger, I decided to cut my stretching short and return to my berth, but the woman followed me.

As expected, she was the type who doesn't read the room.

"Your concentration was amazing! I'm aiming to be a magic tool engineer, so I haven't done much martial arts training, but I can tell the difference in your swings!"

Hmm, aiming to be a magic tool engineer, huh?

And she can tell the difference in swings.

For a moment, my sister's face flashed in my mind, and my internal alert level immediately went from yellow (caution) to red (danger).

With that, I increased my walking speed.

Don't introduce yourself! We're just acquaintances, if that!

The flag I had set in my mind was immediately taken down, and the woman started introducing herself without being asked.

"Ah, I'm late with the introduction! I'm Failoon von Dragoon. You're taking the entrance exam at the Royal Academy, right? You're the third son of the Lovain Viscountate. Call me Fei!"

Hehehe.

Of all the people who might be on this train, it had to be the most dangerous, the Dragoon family, and even a von...

And she knows I'm from the Lovain Viscountate...

It's true that the family crest of the house I was swinging the wooden sword with was carved on it.

But do they remember it just because we're a vassal viscountate?

Well, I know all the crests of the vassal viscountates of the Dragoon family, so...

I can't keep ignoring her here.

But it would be difficult to pass with a safe conversation... my instincts told me that.

But I have 48 years of experience, including my previous life!

Come on, me!

If I don't take the offensive here, I'll be toyed with like my sister.

"Ah, I didn't realize it was the esteemed daughter of the Dragoon family, the famous genius Failoon! I apologize for not greeting you earlier!

I, Allen, am the third son of the Lovain Viscountate."

I bowed so low it was almost as if I was licking her shoes.

I've never heard of a Failoon, but she's from a marquis family taking the exam this year.

It wouldn't be surprising if I had heard of her somewhere.

"Due to the pressure of the exam, I couldn't sleep and was driven by anxiety to work up a sweat, which led to an all-night practice session!

Meeting you here must be fate! Please, let's get to know each other!"

Hehehe.

How do you like this small-fry act? Despite ignoring her just a moment ago, the sudden change upon hearing "Dragoon"...

This is not a fake noble family like mine, but a genuine, top-tier noble family, the Dragoon family.

And she clearly looks like a feline creature type...

She must be tired of people fawning over her!

However, her reaction was different from what I had imagined.

"Haha, you're funny! At first, I was just watching your practice out of curiosity because I saw the younger brother of the famous Rozelia Lovain, a rare talent among recent graduates of the prestigious Dragoon family's noble school."

She said this with eyes that shone like a lion's.

"I've become interested in you too. I hope we can be good friends from now on."

My internal alert started flashing rapidly...

It was a signal to evacuate immediately within three minutes.