Chapter 51

Part 1 Recommendation Letter (1)

Due to the repeated time loops, it felt as though an incredibly long time had passed, but in reality, it was only a day.

Moreover, while chaos had erupted underground, the manor had not changed from the morning, and the people were no different.

The servants kept their distance even as they greeted me, and the soldiers wore troubled expressions when they saw me.

Though they didn't ignore me as they did before my journey, I still felt like an outsider here.

The people looked the same as they did in the morning, but I had changed.

Despite my young body, I now possessed a new weapon and new abilities.

I had acquired two unprecedented inherited abilities.

Back in my room, I took out the dagger.

The shield and sword she had taken, along with this dagger, were likely a set.

Now, even with the dagger in hand, I saw no hallucinations of the phoenix or even a single chick.

However.

Buzz.

A mana that only I could see extended from the tip of the dagger.

Like flipping a switch in my mind, when I decided to change the mana, the calm mana would ignite, and a sword made of mana would form.

Of course, this was only possible when I held the dagger, and I didn't know why this happened, but it was definitely a useful ability.

And.

Had my thoughts changed a bit?

The recommendation letter Lady Katrine mentioned.

Before, I would have avoided it, thinking it might get me involved in some trouble.

But now, my thoughts had changed.

Instead of outright ignoring it, I was now considering whether to accept it or not.

If my abilities were indeed important, as she said, they would certainly send an invitation.

The question was whether it was better to reject the invitation and stay here, or to accept it and head to the capital.

Going to the capital could complicate my position as a half-noble.

I might get entangled in political struggles and end up in prison for life, or even worse.

“Ugh, thinking about it, it really is dangerous...”

I had a rough idea, but I needed to understand the kingdom's situation better.

“Well, accepting the invitation is not up to me...”

The duke would make the decision, but I couldn't just stand by.

* * *

“Hmm, I don't think that kind of education is necessary for the young master...”

A few days later, when I asked the secretary to explain the kingdom's politics in detail, this was what I heard.

Even though he was my teacher, it wasn't easy to get a proper explanation from him.

“I also have the duke's blood in me. This is essential for the future of the duke and the manor!”

“...If you say so.”

I managed to get him to talk by playing the role of the duke's son, concerned about the manor's future.

“Previously, I mentioned that the kingdom was divided into two factions supporting the princes. Now...”

As I had noticed before, he was unusually well-informed about the kingdom's affairs.

“The noble faction exists, but due to the king's poor health, the conflict between the two factions supporting the princes has intensified. Disputes between manors have also worsened.”

I had experienced these disputes in my previous life, which led to me having to relive a few years and visit the Marquis's territory.

Of course, the battle that took place in our manor never happened, and the events in the Marquis's territory were covered up by the death of the heir.

However, it was clear that the factional conflicts were severe, as he described.

“Simon, the prince, married a noble lady from the Marquis's territory to stop the conflict between the two factions, but it seems difficult to resolve the situation.”

“Currently, the first prince is the crown prince, and even if the king names the first prince as his successor, the second prince's faction will find it hard to accept.”

It seemed that some manors had already seen bloodshed during the time I was away.

‘Could the people who manipulated the Marquis's territory also be involved elsewhere?’

This thought crossed my mind, but without more information, I could only keep it to myself.

While I was lost in thought, the secretary continued.

“The balance will tip depending on which side the noble faction supports, but the situation is complicated because the leader of the noble faction is the king's brother, Julian, the Duke of the Principality. It would be better if he didn't involve himself in the kingdom's politics, but the situation is quite absurd.”

The secretary clicked his tongue.

He was quite rebellious.

To click his tongue while talking about the royal family was something he would never do in front of the duke or other nobles, given my young age.

According to the secretary, our kingdom was on the brink of civil war, and such conflicts over succession were not uncommon.

“Wasting national power and causing countless deaths—why do they do this so often? It would be better if one of them were assassinated...”

Dangerous. Really dangerous.

The secretary, who was teaching me, was a much more dangerous person than I thought.

Though he spoke as if it were a joke, the words he uttered could easily cost him his head.

He was now looking at me with a meaningful smile.

That smile was clearly a test.

I thought he was treating me like a child, but he wasn't.

While I was observing him, he was also observing me.

Had I underestimated this world and its people again?

“Ha ha, it's a joke. You wouldn't make such a joke elsewhere, would you?”

As he said, it was a topic that shouldn't be brought up anywhere, especially for someone like me.

He changed the subject, and I nodded in agreement.

However, his next words sent a chill down my spine.

“Well, some say that a third faction is forming, with people gathering around the princess who was expected to marry into another kingdom... But, honestly, that's a ridiculous story.”

If the situation becomes like this, accepting the invitation won't be a simple matter! No wonder the knight I saw yesterday was worried!

I sighed. Things never ended well or simply.

“...That's about all I know. As a secretary, it's hard to know more. There are various rumors, but they're just gossip.”

He continued to share various stories and concluded with these words.

No, it seemed he knew far more than a simple secretary should.

I looked at the secretary, who was staring at me after finishing his speech.

Thinking about it, I knew very little about my teacher, the secretary.

I only knew his name was Ivan and that he was one of the younger secretaries in charge of the manor's practical affairs.

However, this teacher knew a lot about me.

He wore a mask during his lessons, but due to the need for proper education, the mask often slipped.

Of course, my secret was never revealed, but the stories he brought up today were another secret that only he and I knew.

A very dangerous person. Whether he would be helpful to me or a stumbling block in my repeated life, I couldn't tell.

If it were a few months ago, I would have quickly changed teachers and kept my distance, but now I wanted to observe him more.

A few months later, on a day when the year had changed.

At 11 years old, I was sparring with Miguel in the training ground surrounded by trees.

Thanks to my return to the main group, Miguel, who hadn't faced me in a while, was looking at his sword in disbelief.

His sword had been cleanly cut in half.

“Your sword seems quite old.”

Upon hearing my words, he narrowed his eyes and looked at me.

“A sword that can be cut by such a small dagger. Moreover, it didn't even seem to clash with the dagger.”

Indeed, as he said.

To test my new ability, I infused the dagger with new mana, and his sword was cut before it even touched mine.

His sword lacked proper mana infusion, and it wasn't a fair match, but my dagger's mana had cut through his sword.

However, I couldn't easily agree with his words.

“It did clash. But this new sword I got is definitely better.”

“Anyway...”

He shook his head and didn't press the matter further. His expression suggested he didn't want to get involved in any trouble.

“Did you get this sword with Juan yesterday? I don't know where you got it, but it's an excellent dagger. Still, it's a bit short for your current build. When you grow taller, you'll probably only be able to use it as a dagger.”

He was right, but I wasn't particularly disappointed.

I pointed to the longsword leaning against a tree in the training ground.

“Anyway, I have a sword I'll use when I grow up.”

Miguel nodded at my words.

“True, you have that sword. It's not easy to use, but a sword as sturdy as that is a lifelong companion.”

He looked back and forth between the longsword leaning against the tree and the dagger I held, with a curious expression.

“Whether to call it amazing or mysterious, you keep coming back with new weapons and unknown techniques, and your skills have improved by more than one level...”

He sheathed his broken sword and fell into thought.

Then, he said something unexpected.

“I think my training should end here. I have nothing more to teach you.”

“What? Saying that suddenly...”

“No, didn't you notice? Even before you went to the Marquis's territory, there wasn't much difference between us. I've been thinking about it since then. And today, in our sparring, I realized that you are definitely stronger than me. I have nothing more to teach a stronger student.”

I couldn't say anything in response, as I felt the same way.

Physically, there was a big difference, but I felt confident that I could defeat him in a real fight.

“Then, who should I learn from... Should I ask the captain of the knights?”

But the captain wouldn't teach me, and I couldn't ask the duke directly.

“Why not go to the capital with the second prince in a few years?”

“Eh, Manuel... Has his study abroad been decided?”

“Yes. I heard that the duke decided after seeing that Simon returned safely.”

“But... I doubt Manuel or the duchess would allow me to go with him.”

“Well... If the duke knows about your skills, it might be possible.”

Hmm, would the duke really make such a decision? He values honor above all, and sending a half-noble like me to the capital seemed unlikely.

Miguel also realized it was a difficult suggestion and looked troubled.

However, there was a possible solution.