Chapter 77

The Marquess Family's Magic Genius - Chapter 78 (77/324)

78

The sword Seron handed me.

A deep smile spread across my lips as I took it.

'Good.'

Oath of Fealty.

Normally, this is done after officially becoming a knight, but that didn't really matter.

After all, with Seron's talent, it wouldn't be long before he was officially knighted.

The important thing was that the gift had such a significant effect that Seron offered his fealty voluntarily.

To be honest, I didn't give it with this in mind, so it was somewhat a lucky catch.

But as long as the result is good, that's all that matters, right?

Seron.

The favorability above his head had risen dramatically compared to before.

When we first met in the arena, his favorability was 0, but it had risen to 80 in less than a month.

I could roughly guess the reason.

Illegal arena.

I took him out of a place with no dreams or hopes and generously taught him the family's sword techniques and mental training.

On top of that, I gave him a high-grade artifact as a gift without asking for much in return. How long could a twelve-year-old's heart hold out?

He must have completely turned to me.

Fealty is best when given voluntarily, not forced.

"Here."

I handed him back the sword he had given me.

Seron respectfully took the sword and sheathed it.

"Thank you for accepting my oath, my lord."

"Lord? Just call me young master."

At my words, the boy hesitated like a dog with a full bladder, then quietly spoke.

"…No, now… aren't you my lord?"

Well, you are my lord, but…

'Even so, it feels a bit strange for a boy my age to call me lord and follow me around.'

It would be incredibly awkward.

Maybe after three years, but for now, "young master" feels much more comfortable.

"It just feels awkward to call you lord. It's for my comfort, so just call me that for now. You can call me lord after the coming-of-age ceremony."

"Ah… I understand, young master."

Just as we entered the annex, Ersiel started running towards me.

"Young master?"

"Yes?"

"There are people here to see you, young master."

"Me? Who?"

"The gladiators you took out of the arena last time. They came here themselves."

Really?

When I saved Seron, I gave them gold and told them to come if they wanted to.

It seems the gladiators I saved really came here.

"How many came?"

"About fifteen."

Fifteen.

If we combine the top-tier, high-tier, and mid-tier gladiators, there are about fifty in total, so roughly 30% of them came.

The rest either died, haven't reached here yet, or…

'Went their own way, I guess.'

They have gold and freedom.

So they must have found their own way to live.

I didn't promise them riches and glory if they came here.

Moreover, they had been under the noble Remington, so some might have been afraid of nobles.

I should meet the gladiators.

"Where are they now?"

"Leonhardt took them to the training ground."

"Got it. Oh, by the way, what did they look like?"

"They looked like they had been through a lot."

I see.

Frenus.

It's a day's journey by magic carriage from Frenus to the Trasden territory, but it would take a lot of time to walk.

'With only 1 gold, they probably couldn't buy horses.'

They must have slept under the stars.

They probably look like beggars.

"It's almost lunchtime, Ersiel."

"Yes, young master."

"Go to the kitchen and ask them to prepare some food. Plenty of it."

"Should I prepare food for them as well?"

"Yeah, please do."

"Yes."

With that, the maid ran off to the kitchen, and I started moving towards the training ground with Seron.

A large training ground behind the annex.

Already, the gladiators who came here were gathered there with Leonhardt.

'Wow.'

Checking with my mind's eye, most of them were good talents.

First, two top-tier gladiators came, and out of the remaining thirteen, ten were high-tier gladiators.

I freed twelve high-tier gladiators, including Seron, from the prison, so all but one came.

"Young master, you're here."

Leonhardt, who saw me, slightly bowed his head.

The gladiators who looked at me did the same.

I walked up to them and looked around, then said,

"You really came?"

"…"

At my words, some of them started to tremble, looking uneasy.

Why did they come to see me directly?

Most likely, they had no family and didn't know what to do with their freedom. So they came to the Marquess family's door after all the hardship.

I smiled at the fifteen gladiators.

"Don't worry. I promised to accept you if you came, and I didn't say that irresponsibly. I don't lie much, so don't worry."

First, I needed to give them confidence.

Relieved, the gladiators quietly nodded.

"By coming here, you're essentially saying you want to work under me, right?"

"Yes!"

"Good. I've already seen your determination by coming here, so I plan to hire all of you. Seron?"

"Yes, young master."

"Step forward."

The boy, who had been tilting his head, walked to the front of the gladiators. I slowly spoke.

"Seron here was one of the gladiators trapped in the arena with you. Does anyone not know him? He was called 'Mad Seron,' I think."

Silence filled the training ground at my words.

Mad Seron.

Maybe because he was treated like a superstar by the audience?

The gladiators nodded, showing they knew him.

Even the top-tier gladiators nodded.

"I plan to form a unit. The composition is simple. I'll form it with the people who came out of the arena. Of course, we need a leader."

"…"

"I'll choose a squad leader and a deputy. The criteria is simple: skill. I'll only look at that. To assess your skills, we'll need to have a match. Oh, by the way."

I looked around the gladiators and started to explain the unit.

"We'll decide the unit's name later. Since you came here with some vision, I'll briefly explain the treatment you'll receive."

Swallow.

At my words, the gladiators all swallowed.

Of course, they want good treatment.

Given their talent, I plan to treat them accordingly.

"Your monthly salary will be three gold coins, and of course, food, lodging, and equipment will be provided. If you tell me what equipment you want, I'll have it made for you. Also, I plan to teach the Marquess family's sword techniques and aura mental training to the members of the unit."

Three gold coins a month.

This is a considerable amount.

Plus food, lodging, and equipment.

These are good conditions, but the last part is even better.

The promise to teach the sword techniques and aura mental training of a renowned sword family.

At this, the gladiators, who had been nodding quietly, started to widen their eyes.

Even knights struggle to learn these things, so it's natural.

"…Is… this true?"

"The Marquess family's sword techniques…"

"Are you really going to teach us the aura mental training?"

"Yes, but not immediately. While you've come through hardship, it doesn't mean your loyalty to me is high. Do you know how our family's sword techniques and aura mental training are taught?"

"…"

From their reactions, it seemed they didn't know.

"It's simple. Every year, many aspiring knights come here. About three thousand. We select two hundred and teach them the sword techniques and aura mental training. It's not easy."

The gladiators whistled at my words.

Aspiring knights.

Those who dream of becoming knights, so they must have received systematic training. Only two hundred out of those rigorously trained people get to learn the techniques! The difference between vaguely knowing it's difficult and actually knowing it is significant.

"So, to be honest, I can't teach you immediately. I need my father's permission."

It's important to emphasize the difficulty. This way, when I do teach them, their loyalty will rise sharply.

'Fortunately… they all deserve to be taught.'

The characteristics floating above the gladiators.

None of them had poor characteristics.

I could say I had good luck with talent.

Maybe those with poor characteristics went elsewhere?

"I think Seron's skills are the best here… Is there anyone who wants to challenge him? By the way, the higher the position, the more and faster benefits you'll receive."

I plan to make Seron the commander of this unit, but without any verification, it might cause problems.

It's better to give him a chance to show his skills publicly.

At that moment,

"Can I step forward?"

A gruff voice, and one of the gladiators stepped forward.

'He looks capable.'

Hans.

A muscular, burly man, one of the top-tier gladiators.

His talent is quite good.

Martial arts and a strong body.

With these two, he should have a significant advantage in close combat.

He also has the characteristics of bravery and bulldozer, so his fighting style is predictable.

He'll probably charge in.

"Of course. We'll start after a twenty-minute break, so get ready."

After the twenty-minute break,

Seron and Hans faced each other in the center of the training ground.

The weapons given to them were wooden swords.

Maybe because wooden swords are a type of sword?

Seron's eyes were already intensely focused.

"…I wanted to fight you, Seron."

Seron nodded at Hans, who was breathing heavily.

"Both of you, get ready. Start."

As I announced the start of the match, the two charged at each other.

And.

Smack!

"Ouch!"

In just one move, Hans fell to the ground, clutching his head.

It was an overwhelming difference in skill.

Seron, holding the wooden sword, looked around at the gladiators.

"Next?"

At his quiet question,

Silence filled the training ground.

No one answered.