Chapter 88

“Wow… Young Master has completely adapted, hasn’t he?”

Mark approached me immediately after finishing his patrol and handed me a waterskin, marveling.

I took the waterskin with a nonchalant response.

“Adapted? I’m still slow as molasses. What’s there to adapt to?”

“Sir, if you say that… wouldn’t it make those guys feel too pitiful?”

Mark glanced towards the training hall as he said this.

“Huff, huff!”

“Agh, so tough…!”

“Run faster! Dilly-dallying means two extra laps!”

I saw a certified knight scolding the trainees who were still running in the training hall, urging them to hurry up.

From their uniform, it was clear they were trainees.

Their lower ranks had been thoroughly overhauled; almost all of them had become proper soldiers except for me. So these guys were the new recruits, my successors.

“Young Master might not know, but these guys are actually pretty good compared to other aspirants. They’ve been honing their bodies even before joining our ranks. But if you, the superior officer, say such things, how frustrating would it be for them?”

If the superior officer is too outstanding, the subordinates inevitably look less impressive.

Mark said he would have felt like he was in hell if his superior officer was me.

“I have my reasons.”

Or I’d be dead.

Since I couldn’t express it verbally, I conveyed my thoughts to Mark internally.

“Hmm… Come to think of it, despite the stats, I did train fairly consistently, didn’t I?”

Seeing my body escape last place during morning runs when I hadn’t trained at all, I realized maybe my body wasn’t so bad after all.

No, it must have improved.

Level 17

▶ Automatically uses SP for unknown Stat!◀

▶ Strength 4.50

▶ Agility 5.81

▶ Endurance 5.99

▶ Vitality 4.35

▶ Immunity 1.28

▶ Unknown Stat 0.85

My stats have significantly increased.

Each lap made my breathing slower, and my action power decreased. I’m not sure about HP, but I no longer felt like I was gasping for air like before.

It seems I really have improved.

Still, the unknown stat remains a mystery, but one thing is clear: it’s far from physical abilities.

“…Young Master, something like this came again today.”

Mark presented a box with a troubled expression.

Now seeing the box, I was on the verge of exasperation.

“What could be the reason they keep sending this every day?”

Even though I told Flora there was no use, she kept sending this. She must be doing it because I’m supposed to train in the training hall.

“Ughm. I’ll return this box. However, this letter, I can’t just pass it along.”

Mark, noticing my displeasure, cleared his throat and said.

I’ve been here for quite some time now. It’s been ten days already.

After being nagged by Arina following the last incident, living solely in the training hall meant I expected this situation.

“As expected.”

One was Claire’s advice to stop coming back.

Another was Isabella saying it was fine if I don’t come back, and she’d try to persuade Arina.

And another was.

“Mother seems to be trying to persuade me, but I won’t grant you the authority to participate in the Eastern Nobles’ Meeting until you break your stubbornness.” -Arina Bargrand.

Arina’s letter, still stripping me of the right to participate in the Eastern Nobles’ Meeting.

“Ugh. I’ll skip the sparring today. I have other things to do. Also, I won’t be able to come for a few days.”

“Understood.”

But moving immediately was a bit difficult.

Since Mark was right beside me, asking him would be best.

“Mark, honestly, what do you think would happen if I met bandits or beasts?”

Why else would I have tried to level up before going to Rusmaier?

Because I would meet them, that’s why.

But I can’t judge my current state.

It’s not just about checking stats; I need to move my body and fight.

So I had no idea if I could win against bandits, thieves, or beasts.

Surprisingly, Mark answered quickly.

“If they’re just a bunch of mediocre fellows, they wouldn’t stand a chance against Young Master.”

“What?”

“Young Master doesn’t seem to understand yourself, but… the official knights in our order have recently gained renewed enthusiasm, all thanks to you.”

“Me? Why?”

“Because you never stop, constantly striving, so we’re catching up to the master we should serve.”

Mark pointed behind him with his thumb and laughed heartily.

“Heh heh. Even on a holiday, they’re still like this. From their behavior, it seems passion for Young Master has skyrocketed.”

…It’s just because of my goal.

No, that’s not the problem.

“The praise is too much. Can’t you be a bit more objective?”

“Coldly assessing, Young Master’s skills are indeed like this.”

“What?”

“Not just bandits and thieves. Having sparred with Young Master, I can confidently say that knights from the East would struggle too. Especially since they favor large, heavy swords, making it even harder.”

Mark explained what he felt during our spars and what was particularly challenging and difficult.

Of course, I couldn’t understand as a rookie.

-Gulp, Gulp.

I opened the waterskin and drank cool water, reminding myself of the game’s setting.

“Indeed. Since I started noticing things I hadn’t seen before, Mark’s words don’t seem wrong.”

Though it happened rarely, I pushed both Radiel and Mark to their limits during spars. I felt a clear improvement from before.

The unique point was that as I continued training and sparring, I began to see the paths of the sword more clearly, which may have changed my field of vision slightly.

▶ Passive: Swordsmanship Lv. 2 to Lv. 3!◀

▶ Passive: Combat Arts Lv. 2 to Lv. 3!◀

▶ Passive: Perception Lv. 1 to Lv. 2!◀

Of course, it’s better to consider this as receiving system buffs.

“Right. Regardless, I need to find out by direct confrontation.”

Enough time has passed.

Camila hinted that other matters were also handled during the SP acquisition period, and now it’s time to act directly.

***

“Guh!”

“Kian!”

Kian fell after being kicked by a knight.

How could one not feel upset seeing a friend of decades fall? The friends clenched their teeth and glared at the knight who kicked Kian.

“This road is off-limits for Rusmaier people.”

“If you’re going, take another path. That’s an order from the Count.”

The two boys supporting Kian shouted.

“We said it’s urgent! We need to go through this way!”

“Can’t you spare a path for us when a life is at stake?!”

They needed to cross this road to save a girl on the brink of death.

There was no doctor in isolated Rusmaier, so they had to go to another village.

However, the knights refused to let them pass.

“That’s ridiculous. We are knights guarding this territory. You are Rusmaier people. What if something happens if we let you pass?”

“Yeah, yeah. If something happens due to you, it will be our fault for letting you pass.”

“We said someone’s life is at stake! How can you…”

“How can we trust you? You filthy stinking people coming into our territory to loot is not strange at all.”

“We heard that thefts have increased in your village. Isn’t that suspicious?”

Busy as we are, with lives at stake, busy as we are.

The knights from the neighboring territories refuse to give way.

“How can we loot? We have nothing!”

“Those kids. They know everything. They just don’t want to give way.”

“Count Modrich uses our territory without any problems…”

The Rusmaier boys muttered in frustration.

In fact, they were the problem.

Count Modrich caused the accident, and that’s why Diana is like this.

“But we’re not talking baseless stuff. And we heard about a riot in another territory.”

“Oh. Of course, it’s not their fault, but… it was quite impactful. It makes us uneasy. Do you understand now?”

“Would that make you understand?”

“Even so, you still wouldn’t understand.”

They were speaking arrogantly.

“…Let’s go back.”

“Meliq!”

“Kian, there’s no other way. For now…”

“But if we go back now, Diana will be in danger!”

“But there truly is no other way, Kian.”

Meliq clenched his fist next to Kian, showing his frustration.

Tony, carrying Diana, also closed his eyes in the same frustration.

“Darn it… If only we had support from another house!”

“!”

At that, Kian’s mind flashed.

“There is.”

“What?”

“Support from a house. It’s possible.”

“What are you talking about?”

The two boys asked, puzzled.

“The party hall! There, we’ve already found someone willing to be our backer!”

Yes, they met someone.

Someone with power rivaling the royal family, a noble standing at the pinnacle of society.

Not just anyone, but the son of the House of Bargrand, Carsein Bargrand.

“But he’s not here right now.”

“Frankly, we did receive support funds, but it’s still ambiguous to call Rusmaier territory part of the Bargrand realm based on that alone…”

“Even if we lose, it’s still worth a try. Excuse me!”

“Huh?”

Kian stood up again.

Meliq and Tony hurried to stop him, but he had already reached the knights.

“Rusmaier will soon be part of the Bargrand realm. Can you still speak so carelessly?”

“What?”

“The House of Bargrand wants to buy our territory! And the heir himself came to say so!”

-Gulp.

The knights suddenly shut their mouths.

This was no small matter. It wasn’t just any territory; it was the House of Bargrand buying land ahead of time.

But then they mocked Kian.

“Hahaha!! You call that a statement? Why would the House of Bargrand buy your territory? Do you think buying land is like buying goods?”

“What a blatant lie. Hahaha. Such a transparent lie won’t work.”

“What are you saying?”

A knight approached, smiling slyly and tapping Kian’s head with his finger.

“Brat, land isn’t bought and sold like that. Buying land means taking on the obligation to pay taxes, and it also means governing the residents there.”

“Land represents the wealth and power of a house. If you collect taxes and use them to benefit your house, you manage it.”

“Buying barren wasteland for a high price—what happens if there’s no development potential? Money just goes to waste. You need something—crops, mines, or anything.”

Then all the knights chuckled.

“What does your land have?”

“It’s not fertile. There are no mines. It’s not a tourist spot. Compared to other territories, it has no special features. What does it have?”

That was why they hadn’t backed down despite Kian’s words.

Because the land of Rusmaier held no value.

“But you’re saying the House of Bargrand would buy your worthless land and govern it?”

-Hahaha!

The knights burst out laughing again.

“Wake up, kid. Your land is just garbage. Blocked by barren wasteland, with a big river running through, and even the relatively flat areas are hard to use as roads.”

“…”

Hearing the knights’ laughter, Kian bit his lip hard.

Indeed, Rusmaier land had nothing.

But he didn’t want to admit it.

“Prince Carsein came himself. He said Rusmaier will become part of the Bargrand realm!”

“Hahaha!! Then it’s even more absurd!”

“What are you…”

“The fake young master with peasant blood in his veins? Even passing dogs would laugh!”

“Boasting about Bargrand and all that. Not even one of the three princesses, just Prince Carsein? Ah, it hurts. To say something like that so easily.”

“Wait, thinking about it, it might not be a lie after all.”

“What?”

The knights nodded slightly.

“After all, a lie might be better for your position.”

“What are you saying…?”

“I told you earlier about the riot in the territory.”

“…So what?”

“It was Prince Carsein who incited the riot.”

At that, Kian’s expression hardened.

“The cause of the riot… was Prince Carsein?”

“Shatren Territory. Once thriving under the Bargrand house. Two specialty products grew there, selling throughout the empire.”

“Shatren strawberries and Shatren grapes. Those two fruits were incredibly delicious, used everywhere, growing fast. Though, only the residents of the territory could cultivate them. There were some downsides, but overall…”

“But then the young master took over Shatren Territory in the Eastern Nobles’ Meeting. After that, neither of those crops could grow. Does it make sense now?”

“…”

“Their source of livelihood was cut off by one young master’s actions. How could they not revolt?”

“You fools thought you received help from someone like him. Idiots.”

Kian stared blankly into space, his spirit drained.

A fairy tale flew and hit his cheek.

Ding!

“Still, you made me laugh so hard. Take this. Hahaha.”

Even when several more fairy tales flew, presumably as money for the girl, Kian remained rooted to the spot like a stone.

“I thought I’d finally get out of this awful situation…”

He realized it was all just a delusion.

Uncontrollable anger welled up.

As expected, all nobles are just human trash who deserve to be wiped out.

Kian thought as he unconsciously reached for the sharp stake hidden behind his waist.

But at that moment.

Ding!

“Guh?!”

Along with the metallic sound that hit his head earlier, something flew towards the knight’s head.

“Who the hell is this?! Who dares to attack me, a knight of Count Modrich’s territory?!”

The man threatened the three Rusmaier boys.

But the object hit the side.

Kyan, recognizing the exact angle, turned his head and saw a man.

“Gah?!”

The man quickly closed the distance, kicking the knight away.

The fallen knight knocked over his comrades like dominoes.

Approaching the fallen knights, the man.

-Swish.

“Keep it well. It’ll be your travel money to the afterlife.”

He unsheathed his sword and pointed it at their necks.

The moment he saw the blue-haired man,

Kyan’s eyes, clouded with rage, returned to clarity.