Chapter 67
(※Since Carlos’s marquisate being named Orléans didn’t quite work, it has been changed to Ventish.)
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The House of Marquis Ventish.
The one with the second-largest territory in the western Empire, after Eneresis.
“How do you not know Ventish?!”
For the record, the first is the County of Eneresis,
and it was right next door, too.
“It’s just that investing my brain in research is far more lucrative than wasting it remembering stuff like that—hack, hack! Kidding! I’m kidding! I’d forgotten!!”
But you forgot that?
You’re the young master of a noble house who’s supposed to be good at politics!
“Whew, don’t make jokes like that again.”
If this had happened at a formal event, it would have been immediate grounds for a duel.
But Akion had actually received a challenge to a duel, so in a way, it was true.
“Flare. It was probably half in earnest.”
“Is that so? Young Master, put your head down again.”
“Gaaah!! Don’t put me in a headlock with dragon strength!!!”
Thus, Flare struck someone for the first time in her life,
and Akion, exhausted by the dragon headlock, sprawled across the table.
“Sob, sob, an imperial person is threatening me….”
“That Carlos fellow half-insulted you and the Imperial Family, so I let it slide, you little brat. Anyway… Flare, do you intend to charge him with insulting the Imperial Family?”
Of course, Carlos’s statement was a far more serious offense than Akion’s rudeness.
He had called the Emperor a weakling who could be manipulated by a mere count’s young master in front of the Seventh Princess.
If an imperial knight had been beside her, they would have charged him severely or….
“At that level, no one would say a word even if we chopped off his head.”
“I don’t particularly want to see blood.”
There would have been no major problem even if she killed him.
“In the first place, that’s probably Marquis Ventish’s goal—to make such rumors spread.”
However, Flare had gone through countless political machinations in cabinet meetings,
and she knew well that there was no point in beating up that Carlos fellow.
“Later, he’ll make a suitable gesture, saying it wasn’t an insult to the Imperial Family or His Majesty the Emperor. And for political balance, my father will have to pretend not to know about the insult I received.”
This was a time focused on centralization.
If either of the two powers ruling the rich western Empire—Eneresis and the Western Union—were to obstruct the Emperor?
The imperial authority wouldn’t waver, but the time spent sorting it out wouldn’t be free.
“Isn’t he a disposable pawn from the start?”
“To sacrifice even his own child for the family… He’s no different from a dark mage.”
That was why Carlos was a sacrifice to Marquis Ventish.
Since he was useless to the family while alive, he was to die after having been of use, even if it killed him.
It was a slightly exaggerated way of putting it, but it was normal in the noble world.
Delford had been a similar kind of person two years ago, after all.
“Then I suppose my father could be called a dark mage, too.”
“I’ve heard about your situation, Young Master. In the past… Count Delford neglected you, didn’t he?”
Akion had reason to make such a joke, since he himself had been one of those victims from the outset.
“My eldest brother had his servants bully me, my eldest sister called me aside every day and treated me like an emotional trash can, and my younger sister made me run errands and bullied me whenever I failed, but… At least they weren’t trying to kill me.”
“Flare! Apologize to Akion at once!”
“Yes! I’m sorry, Young Master! I spoke carelessly without knowing about your sad past…!”
Of course, sometimes dying was more comfortable.
But when he confessed this to Flare, she was horrified and immediately bowed her head.
Then, suddenly, Flare noticed the irony of the current situation.
“More importantly, Young Master. If you were bullied like that… aren’t you going to take revenge?”
There was a novel in the Empire titled, “One day, an incompetent son who comes into power destroys his family.”
Flare knew it, too, because it had a cult following among young nobles.
Since children died so often, nobles had many children, and only one among them would inherit the family.
Those pushed out of the competition naturally dreamed of revenge. Some had actually carried it out.
“Whuh?”
“Don’t talk with food in your mouth. Anyway… revenge.”
“Vengeance? Mm, mm.”
Only after swallowing the food he had been chewing, following Flare’s admonition, did Akion speak again.
“Does it make money?”
“………….”
That was accompanied by an extremely simple reason.
For a very brief moment, Flare wondered if she should run to the Emperor and ask whether she could cancel the engagement she was rushing into.
“I’m joking. Well, they came back with a reasonable offering and said they’d repent. I can’t keep at odds with them forever.”
Of course, after hearing Akion’s next words, she abandoned the thought.
“I’m still being careful, and they’ve shown signs of remorse themselves, so I have no intention of nitpicking further.”
To set aside the revenge he wanted and forgive them with broad magnanimity… mercy that even a clergyman would find difficult to bestow.
Judging by the various reports from his informants and the past he had just revealed… his hatred must be no small thing.
“I’ve heard people say you’re a pushover. Still, it turned out to be more gain than loss.”
Of course, Akion meant that acquiring three fresh lab slaves was the gain.
For the record, two were his siblings other than his eldest sister, and the remaining one was Madam Lucretia.
How much help were they in his research?
And the dopamine from chewing them out whenever they botched an experiment was unbelievable!
“Young Master….”
“Hehe. How kind of you, Akion.”
Even so, Flare and the Tower Master were mistaking it for Akion’s kindness.
Without understanding Akion’s true feelings, they continued building the mistaken perception that “Akion = a kind man.”
Based on that information, Flare slightly revised her assessment of Akion, her future fiancé.
“At this rate… even after we’re married….”
“What did you just say?”
Of course, another dragon in a hurry to get married went into overdrive at Flare’s mutter. Anyway.
* * *
It was chilly as winter approached.
Even so, the enormous colosseum in the Imperial capital….
“Waaaaaaaah!!!”
was packed to the rafters.
“Who did you bet on!”
“Akion, of course?!!”
After all, the young noblemen of powerful houses were going to fight.
And not just any fight—it was between the neighboring, archrival houses of Eneresis and Ventish!
A bloody brawl in a medieval world, and one with a rock-solid backstory to boot—a duel!
If you were a medieval person, this was enough to make your mouth water, let alone drool.
The anticipation was so great that even the Emperor reportedly laughed heartily and rented out the entire colosseum for a whole day.
“What? Are you in your right mind? Even if he’s a genius, there’s no way that ignorant young master who can’t cast a single spell could win?!”
“Even if he brings out an artifact with some blessing on it, considering Carlos Ventish’s skill, it should be impossible, shouldn’t it?”
The news spread far and wide,
and not only people near the capital, but even nobles from the remote borders rushed down in express carriages.
“Heh heh, folks. That’s how these things work….”
The rules of the duel were for Akion to endure five attacks from Carlos Ventish.
The standard for enduring them was, unbelievably, “to remain standing even after being hit.”
Not dying—just falling over meant Akion’s defeat?
So most people bet on Carlos Ventish.
“You only get called a genius when you bet on the underdog and the underdog wins!”
“Ah. It can’t be helped.”
“I understand. If you strike it rich, drinks are on you!”
Of course, a few underdog bettors bet on Akion. Anyway.
“……”
Amid such heated excitement, Carlos Ventish silently stood at one side of the colosseum.
“You crazy fool!! What am I supposed to do now that you’ve let things get this big!!”
“F-Father. I only followed your orders…!”
“Shut up! If you lose, know that you’ll be expelled from the family that very day!!”
The current Marquis Ventish was a man greedy for power despite being incapable of political maneuvering.
Thus, as the matter grew far larger than expected, he pinned all the responsibility on Carlos.
“Father.”
His father, Marquis Ventish, was a marquis who had inherited the title after his siblings suddenly died.
Inferior to even his children in swordsmanship, he was now consuming his children in pursuit of power.
Carlos was one of the victims, but he still had not laid down his sword.
“I’ll prove myself.”
He was the third son of House Ventish, a great knightly family.
A man who had held and loved the sword since childhood.
Though unlike his siblings he had only just reached the entry level of Sword Expert, he should at least be able to knock Akion down.
[And now!!! Today’s protagonist, who accepted the challenge!!!]
“Waaaaaaaah!!!”
As he steeled himself, the announcer’s amplification magic carried news of someone’s entrance.
[Akiiiion Eneresiiiiiis!!!]
- Thud, thud.
From the opposite side of the broad colosseum arena emerged a handsome young man with silver hair and blue streaks.
“Oh my. He’s much more handsome than the rumors said.”
“Must be the Eneresis bloodline, right? The current Count Eneresis had several women wrapped around his finger back in the academy, too.”
Despite his delicate build, he had beauty inherited through his bloodline.
On top of that, he had slight dark circles and pale skin from frequent overtime.
“Something about him makes me want to protect him.”
“Mmm. So that’s your type. I respect it.”
He was the sort of handsome young man who looked capable of satisfying the twisted maternal instincts of certain women.
Yet the clothes he had come wearing were not armor suited for battle….
“An academy uniform?”
“Ah, memories. Feels like yesterday that I wore one of those….”
Not armor or a magic cloak, but an ordinary-looking academy uniform!
[Aaaah! Good heavens, Akion Eneresis has come to the site of a sacred duel wearing an academy uniform! Is he trying to get himself killed!!]
“An academy uniform? Has he truly gone mad?”
“Come on, he must have put on chain mail underneath to take the blows of the sword!!”
“But with a build like that, he must lack muscle too… Can he withstand a sword’s impact with only light armor?”
“Or could that be Akion Eneresis? Maybe he turned that chain mail we mentioned into a magic tool and did something with it?”
At the sight of this outfit, the spectators started murmuring.
Was Akion planning to die.
No, there had to be chain mail turned into a magic tool underneath, and so on….
As these opinions flew among the audience,
“All right!! Before the duel begins, we’d like to hear a few words about your resolve! Young Master Carlos of House Ventish!! As the challenger, what resolve have you brought with you?!!”
The announcer, having come down into the arena, thrust a microphone toward Carlos.
Challengers sometimes gave speeches, but doing so this suddenly left Carlos rather flustered.
“I’ll do my best not to bring shame upon my family.”
“Aaaah! Somewhat trite, but a textbook answer! Thank you!”
Still, he answered without incident, and soon the announcer brought the wand imbued with amplification magic to Akion.
“And now!! The genius alchemist of House Eneresis who cannot use magic, the uniquely gifted genius, Young Master Akion Eneresis!!”
“Tsk.”
“As the one accepting the challenge… if you have any resolve or words to share, please!!”
Akion’s face crumpled a little at the announcer’s somehow needling words,
“Ahem. Greetings, ladies and gentlemen. I am Akion Eneresis, master of Akion Workshop and developer of the incandescent light bulb.”
Still, he had to say what he had prepared.
Akion maintained a suitably serious expression, continuing to speak with the composure he kept when presenting at defenses and conferences.
“Before we begin, I’d like to add a little something to the victory conditions for this duel.”
“What?”
“Change them? All of a sudden?”
“Did he get scared?”
Carlos and the spectators were thrown by the sudden change in conditions.
They wondered if Akion had done it because he was afraid….
“Twenty.”
A far more… arrogant statement came from his lips.
“If I’m still standing after twenty attacks, I’ll claim victory.”
“……Huh?”
It was the arrogant certainty that even after Carlos attacked him twenty times, he would not fall.
The watching spectators cheered─.
“Is he actually insane?”
“Damn, did I bet on the underdog for nothing? Was it for nothing?”
Rather than cheer, they cursed first at Akion’s crazed statement.
A weakling who couldn’t even use magic thought he could withstand a knight wielding aura, even if the man was only an entry-level Sword Expert? Not five attacks, but twenty?
“They say Eneresis is full of magic-crazed lunatics. That one’s crazy in the head.”
“Welp, it’s over. He’s going to lose miserably.”
That alone was a major incident, but saying twenty could also be taken as Akion looking down on knights.
As the knights in the audience began voicing their displeasure,
“Because the clothes I’m wearing now are… the new academy uniform made at His Majesty the Emperor’s command.”
“Hmm?”
“New…? Why is there a new academy uniform?”
The new academy uniform, previously only the subject of rumors, was introduced.
Of course, nobles sending their children to the academy that year all knew about it.
“The all-purpose academy uniform that’s supposed to deflect magic and sword strikes? It’s already finished?!”
“Even entry-level Sword Aura is still aura…! If it can block that twenty times, he should last long enough for reinforcements to arrive!”
It was the Emperor’s top-priority clothing development project to protect students at the academy, which was attacked so frequently.
And the finished product was the outfit Akion was wearing right now?
- Creak.
But to use a sacred duel… as a promotional opportunity for himself.
“Akion Eneresis.”
From Carlos’s perspective, it was an enormous insult.
- Clack. Vroooom!!
“You’re being far too arrogant. Have you forgotten that swordsmanship is the art of cutting flesh?”
“W-Wait. Young Master Carlos? The duel hasn’t started yet─.”
Start or not, Carlos was already slightly seeing red.
He had come out for the sake of the family that rejected him, while Akion was using him as a test subject to promote his product, wasn’t he?
“Announcer, let’s begin right away.”
“Y-Yes, yes! W-We’ll begin the duel!!”
Reading the mood and backing off, the announcer hurriedly fled,
leaving only a knight half a handspan taller than Akion approaching him.
“Young Master Carlos. Before we begin─.”
And,
- Whoosh!
“Gasp.”
As a member of the family, as a knight, and as the family head’s son,
Carlos, stung in every respect, swung his sword without another word.
- Vroooom!!
“W-Wait! Isn’t that about intermediate-level aura?!”
“Good heavens, he broke through just because he got angry?!”
“More importantly, that’s headed for his head! Is he actually trying to kill him!!!”
It came with a tremendous Sword Aura of roughly intermediate level, unlike the information they had.
“Oh, my god.”
Thus, the Sword Aura blade filling Akion’s field of vision,
- Ting!
“Huh.”
“Huh?”
The instant it touched his head, it bounced away pointlessly.
“……”
- Fwoooosh~!
There was no impact sound; the Sword Aura simply slid off with a swish.
“……Hup!”
Carlos didn’t panic and brought his sword down again,
having regained his composure, this time aiming for Akion’s forearm rather than his head.
- Ting!
“Guh?!”
It bounced off again, just as pointlessly.
“Y-youuuugh!!”
And Carlos began to unleash in earnest the Ventish swordsmanship, which specialized in rapid sword strikes.
- Ting! Tingtingtingtingting!!!!
“Aaaaaaaaah!! Why won’t you die!!”
“It’s a mana academy uniform, kid!!!”
Even as every blow bounced off, he stubbornly held his ground.