Chapter 79

|ω・) Glance

This story takes place a little after the results of Godolphin's test.

Why does the timeline of this novel jump around?

It's mostly because I forgot to tie up important foreshadowing, or I thought it would be tiring for both the writer and the reader to go back and forth, but then I realized later that it would become difficult in the long run. That's the general reason!

|彡Snap!

In the Dragoon region, the noble families within the territory gather in the capital of Dragoon, Dragrade, once every six months for a regular assembly.

The main purposes are to exchange information, adjust important local positions, and make petitions regarding public works such as new road construction.

Unlike the early spring social gatherings in the capital, which focus on information exchange about children's entrance exams, employment, and central government personnel, many viscounts and barons attend because the agenda often directly affects their own interests.

The spring assembly, which is usually held about a month after the start of the school year, was delayed by over a month due to the Duke of Dragoon's absence in the capital for war strategy meetings.

The capital of Dragoon, Dragrade, is located in the northwest of the Dragoon region, relatively close to the capital.

The nostalgic streets, made of stone and brick, are characterized by the reddish-brown tiled roofs typical of the southern region, and they still retain a hint of the prosperity from the days when rare minerals were excavated.

The Viscount of Lovaine, Berwood Lovaine, and his wife, Cecilia Lovaine, entered Dragrade on the morning of the assembly.

Usually, they would check into a familiar inn no later than the afternoon of the previous day, and in the evening, they would stroll through the narrow alleys and stone staircases that form a maze-like street, where neon lanterns with distinctive red lights shine, enjoying a dinner that, while not particularly luxurious, is a secret pleasure for them. However—

"Phew.

It seems the suspicion of Allen's cheating has been cleared, but I feel heavy about this assembly.

If he had just passed the E class, I could attend with my head held high and my nose in the air…"

"You should attend with your head held high and your nose in the air.

The A class of the Royal Academy is a narrow gate, with only one or two students from the Dragoon region, which has over a thousand noble families, being accepted each year.

Allen has passed that.

How can a parent not be proud of their child's efforts?"

Despite his wife's words, Berwood had no sense of reality.

Berwood recognized that Allen had exceptional talent in physical enhancement and that he could be sharp-minded if he put his mind to it, but as a mere rural viscount, he had no idea how high that level was.

The 700-year-old wish of the family—

Even Rosa, who was known as a prodigy in the Dragoon region, had failed to pass the test. How could he imagine that his youngest and beloved child, Allen, would easily break through that thick and high wall and achieve A class qualification?

"…I don't know what happened, but Zold is also attracting attention.

Thanks to that, Grim is staying at home."

"Visitors to Zold have also settled down. With Grim, who has recently become more reliable, taking care of things at home, there should be no problem.

Zold has gained a lot of presence in the final few months with Allen.

Since he won't be needed at home for a while, we should let him do as he pleases.

You should respond as the Lovaine family, whose motto is 'modesty and prudence.'

If anything is said, you should stick to the fact that you believe in Allen and leave everything to him."

"…That's true.

It's a waste of time to expect detailed reports from him, but I can't understand anything except that he passed.

…But when I told him at the dinner before he left for the capital, 'If you pass, but get expelled halfway, it will be a great shame, so don't go around boasting,' I can't help but have a bad feeling.

I can only pray that he hasn't caused any problems and hasn't been expelled yet…"

The Lovaines adjusted their stay to be as short as possible to avoid trouble and entered Dragrade.

◆

The Duke of Dragoon's guest house.

The venue for the assembly, where sometimes more than a thousand participants gather, is also extraordinarily large.

The viscount, who had his carriage driven directly to the luxurious guest house with its beautiful red brick and stone carvings, repeated 'modesty and prudence' in his mind, determined to get through the day without incident, and got out of the carriage.

Then, a large man in armor that gave off an overwhelming sense of weight, with a sword scar on his right eye, was waiting for him and shouted at him loudly.

"Are you Berwood Lovaine?!

How dare you, a mere rural viscount, smear the face of the prestigious Avenir family!

Are you prepared for the consequences?!"

Nix von Avenir, the head of the prestigious spear family, Avenir, and one of the three generals in the Dragoon private army, was fuming with his distinctive yellow-green hair standing on end.

"Huh?

I don't understand what you mean by smearing the prestigious Avenir family.

What are you talking about?"

Trying to defuse the situation, Berwood asked, his voice cracking.

"You insolent fox…

Can you still look so relaxed even after seeing my spear…

I will expose your true nature right here and now!"

With that, the Duke of Avenir readied his blunt, cross-shaped spear and thrust it at Berwood, who remained motionless.

"…Why didn't you dodge?"

The Duke of Avenir stopped the spear just before it touched Berwood's forehead and asked, puzzled.

Berwood couldn't help but laugh at this completely off-the-mark question.

"Hahaha!

Why should I dodge? I'm a rural viscount who became an official and has gardening as a hobby.

I have no talent for martial arts, so there's no way I could dodge even if I wanted to!

Oh, Your Excellency, you have a good sense of humor!"

"…How can a noble declare that he has no talent for martial arts?

…You are a strange man.

I thought you would wet your pants and collapse on the spot, but…

When I heard that a nobody from a rural family like the Lovaine viscount had made a grand declaration of 'eternal battlefield' and was making a name for himself in the capital, I intended to expose his true nature before Dragoon was disgraced…

But you have more backbone than I thought."

"If Your Excellency had really intended to kill me, I would be wetting my pants by now.

The Lovaine family has a surprising number of troublemakers, even to me…

I could tell from the lack of killing intent that this was just Your Excellency's jest.

Just the other day, my wife chased me around the town for an hour while I wet my pants after she caught me ogling a cute new girl at the local bakery.

Hahaha."

"Hehehe.

What's so funny, Berwood?"

Thump.

The murderer, with a smile like a young girl, got out of the carriage and shouldered a thick, blue dragon sword.

Even though it was sheathed, the mass of the sword, if swung, would easily crush a normal person.

"Kyaa!"

The onlookers, who had been watching from a distance, let out screams at the extraordinary killing intent.

"Ugh, yes.

It's your fault, my lord.

I have never been distracted by any woman other than my wife.

A man must be prepared to dedicate everything to the one woman he chooses."

He glanced at the woman behind him—

presumably his wife, the Duchess of Avenir—and declared.

"Indeed, Your Excellency.

Berwood, you should learn from him!"

"Wh-what!

That's not fair, Your Excellency!

I heard that in your youth, you were quite the spear user in the pleasure quarters—"

"Silence!

Since I got married, I have been faithful to my wife!

No matter what anyone says, it's your fault!

I have been ordered by the Duke to guide you.

Hurry up and complete the registration!"

And so, the regular assembly of Berwood Lovaine, whose motto is 'modesty and prudence,' began.