Chapter 3 - Raising the Count's Family (1)
[Raising the Count's Family (Working Title)]
-Tutorial End
-Progress: -80%
As Ron evaded Adelia's desired answer and shifted the responsibility to Sir Ternoir, the status window from his hunter days appeared before his eyes.
He didn't show it.
He had already experienced twice over that this was a world where nothing was strange, so he wasn't surprised by this.
Furthermore, game systems and status windows were essential liberal arts for modern people, and they always seemed to activate in other worlds.
If used well, it could be a sweet deal, but.
'Only I can see it.'
Adelia and the old man weren't looking at the window.
If they had, their eyes would have shaken, or they would have asked what it was.
In any case, it was a sudden development.
To proceed forcibly without any explanation whatsoever, it was true that he felt a sense of rejection.
However, if it was going to be like this, he also had to consider the penalty for not complying.
The very appearance of the status window was an exercise of coercive force.
For example, things like awakenings, towers, gates, demon kings, and outer gods.
Among them, the intervention of a god is very troublesome.
Don't expect gods to be fair.
The gods of the Greek mythological era might be child's play.
What should I do?
It was both welcome and worrisome.
The best case was a sweet deal, but he also had to consider the worst.
At the very least, he wanted to avoid the collapse of his current peaceful life.
'Stats!'
He didn't say it out loud like a beginner.
He shouted it in his mind.
If it summarized his stats, it would be helpful for his training.
Also, it would be the icing on the cake if it showed the opponent's stats and even their psychological state, but.
'There's nothing.'
A sweet deal is good enough, but they're not letting me have it for free, are they?
Then, as given.
Even though it was a status window, there wasn't much to it, but he calmly examined the contents.
The purpose could be inferred from the title 'Raising the Count's Family'.
However, even the title was a working title.
It could be interpreted as being able to change it whenever he pleased.
Also, it was very unfriendly.
It didn't explain what to do, and only the progress rate was shown.
Moreover, the progress rate was not 0%, but -80%.
'What if the progress rate represents the current state of the count's family?'
Ron could deduce a few things.
The golden age of the count's family was 300 years ago, and it had been declining year by year to reach its current state.
That minus 80% could possibly represent the current situation based on the golden age.
Otherwise, there was no way the state of the count's family could have become negative in such a short period.
If so, to make the progress rate progress, it meant that it had to at least reach the level of the count's family's golden age.
Ron was relieved.
'Even if it's the golden age of the count's family, it probably wasn't that great.'
Although the Leonard County was a prestigious noble family that started as a founding contributor to the empire, it was far from comparable to grand dukes, dukes, or marquises.
Seeing as there were evaluations at the time that they were lucky, the pride that remained in the present could have been exaggerated.
As is the case with most, he had never seen a case where someone described their own birth as insignificant.
What's more, the higher the nobility, the more they tended to idolize their roots.
'It has to get better than it is now, at least.'
It also meant that the current state of the count's family was not good.
It was evident just by looking at a viscount challenging a count.
Even with the support of a marquis with real power in the capital, there is an insurmountable gap between a count and a viscount.
First of all, the authority of a count itself was incomparably greater than that of a viscount.
For example, they had the authority of manumission and the right to appoint nobles.
Although the nobles appointed in this way were nobles for one generation, their influence was on a different level.
And before worrying about the future.
The fact that the tutorial was over bothered him.
It had been quiet until now.
There was no way the status window would have a seizure for no reason.
The answer to that was.
"Do you really not know?"
Adelia's questioning continued.
This was Ron's first time meeting Adelia directly.
If the old man hadn't selected Ron as an escort for today's attack, he wouldn't have gotten involved.
It meant that he had considered the repercussions her death would bring.
He guessed that the progress rate was related to her.
Let's ask a little more.
"It is the scheme of Viscount Rehalt, who received aid from Marquis Calix."
"Hmm."
When Ron, who had been consistently feigning ignorance, suddenly spoke the truth, Adelia fell silent for a moment.
If he had said something else, there might have been room for misunderstanding, but she was thinking the same thing.
"Sir Ron, you seem to be well-versed in the political situation."
"There's not much of a political situation to speak of. The mine was discovered, and it's true that its location is ambiguous. Normally, it's not something a mere viscount would step up for, but if the marquis is a marriage connection, he might get some nerve."
Knights were generally ignorant of the political situation.
This was to exclude personal judgment.
A knight was nothing more than a loyal tool that followed the orders of its master.
In reality, unlike the image of being the embodiment of honor, knights were mostly swayed by the disposition of their master.
The knight's dilemma arises from here.
Will you follow justice, or will you follow your master?
If you follow justice, it becomes betrayal, and if you follow your master, you become a sycophant.
Just as a daughter-in-law's fate depends on her mother-in-law, a knight's fate depends entirely on his master.
"If Viscount Rehalt is behind this, why would he try to kidnap me?"
"This is just my personal speculation, but he is probably aiming for a knight battle."
Even if the empire was stagnant and rotting, it was a peaceful time both internally and externally. In such a situation, most would avoid a war that stakes the life and death of their territory.
This is because if you start a war, you become the starting point for breaking the peace and become a concentrated target of the emperor and the nobles.
In the end, the only remaining method was a knight battle.
Although it was usually held between those of similar weight classes, there was no instance of a high-ranking noble refusing the proposal of a low-ranking noble.
If they were to refuse, the high-ranking noble would be reduced to a laughingstock.
It would be a situation where a high-ranking noble feared a low-ranking noble.
"Viscount Rehalt will surely say he has no connection to the kidnapping."
"It doesn't matter, as long as the people who need to know, know. Even if he doesn't say it himself. As you can see, even the young lady knows."
Even if he denies the kidnapping, the circumstances fuel suspicion.
The Leonard County can't help but think that Viscount Rehalt is involved.
"Even though we have fallen from our past glory, our family has not declined to the point where the Rehalt Viscounty can look down on us."
"That's why he needed the young lady."
"Dad... mistake! You didn't hear that. Anyway, the Count won't risk the family's fate to save me."
"I see."
When Ron acknowledged it, Adelia frowned.
Her father's excessive love for his daughter was an open secret.
I know, but I'll pretend I don't.
It was Ron's euphemistic expression.
Adelia found Ron's bystander attitude somehow detestable.
'My father is a fair person, but when I'm involved, he might not be able to make a wise decision for the family.'
Even so, if she were to cling to this, it would be like spitting on her own family.
"I've heard Sir Ron's opinion well."
"As I've said repeatedly, my opinion is not important."
"Still, don't you think you need to hear various opinions to make the right decision?"
"If opinions are divided, the conclusion can go off on a tangent. Please, as a person of noble blood, I hope you make a wise decision."
It was a tense battle of wits between Ron and Adelia.
Adelia intended to draw Ron in by saying she would respect his opinion, and Ron tried to keep his distance and not get involved.
In the chaotic battle of spear and shield.
'Oh no!'
Only Radon was in a difficult position.
To take sides, the Adelia and Ron he had seen until now were not the same.
Besides, it was ambiguous to take sides.
He couldn't judge who was right and who was wrong.
'I was a blind man!'
Radon was just lamenting his old age.
But he couldn't show it, so even if he was frustrated, he had no choice but to remain silently.
"Oh, and I haven't thanked you yet. It's late, but thank you for saving me. If something had gone wrong, Dad… mistake! You didn't hear that. My father would have been very sad."
"It was my duty as a knight. I didn't hear it, so you don't have to worry about it."
"I can't be stingy to my savior. I'm not that kind of person."
As if it was the thing he had been waiting for.
"Then, I'll take 200 gold."
Ha.
Although it varies depending on the rank of the knight, the monthly salary of a knight basically does not exceed 20 gold.
So Ron's words meant that he wanted a year's worth at once.
It was a lot if you think about it, but it was also a fair price.
If the value of the count's daughter were converted into money, even tens of thousands of gold would be laughable.
However, it was rare for a knight to ask for money.
They would either refuse with all their might or settle for a sword or equipment as a reward.
In reality, they mostly took what their master gave them. The difficulty that arises from the master-servant relationship was exactly this kind of case.
It was difficult for a knight to directly ask for money, and the master also had to give a sincere reward.
If you were to make them feel slighted, you might get a knife in the back later.
Betrayal, as it is, is only complete when you are struck by someone close to you.
If you get it from a stranger, you just stepped in shit.
'This guy, really!'
This time, Radon couldn't stand it.
When the young lady said thank you, he should have just said 'Yes, thank you.'
How dare he ask for money?
He needed to be reminded of the teachings he had received.
"150 gold."
Flinch!
Radon, who was about to correct Ron's habit, hesitated and stopped awkwardly.
He only needed to take one more step, but it was a situation where he couldn't put his foot on the ground.
As the young lady stepped forward, he lost his direction.
Hmm.
Ron felt that Adelia was not to be trifled with.
He had thought that if he set the price in this way, she would retort with 'Is my value only that much?' and raise the amount.
'I thought I'd get 400 gold.'
Considering her high status and honor, he could have instantly raised the price.
But Adelia chose practical gain over honor.
In that respect, her temperament is different from that of a typical noble lady.
It feels like traveling in Southeast Asia, if you buy at the beginning, you're a sucker.
Ron didn't back down easily either.
It didn't seem like Adelia wanted to end it like this either, so he decided to play along.
He also needed to confirm if she was the one who ended the tutorial.
"190 gold, no less."
"Too expensive, 160 gold!"
"180!"
"167!"
"170!"
"Deal."
Ron showed a hint of disappointment.
Adelia was smiling as the victor.
Radon, dumbfounded, sighed.
The joys and sorrows of the three people were divided.
Despite the satisfactory result, Adelia showed a hint of disappointment.
It was a glimpse of how wrong the commoner's mindset that just because you have a lot of money, you won't feel regretful was.
Having a lot of money meant that you managed it meticulously.
Rather, the poorer you are, the more lax your money management is.
"This will make my allowance insufficient."
"That allowance is my annual salary."
"If you're so resentful, then raise your status."
"Resentful! I know my place well and am satisfied with it."
The push and pull between Ron and Adelia continued.
Also, they did not stop exploring each other.
That appearance is too shabby to be called a battle between a dragon and a tiger.
"Hoh, so you were a dormant dragon waiting for the day to fly, hiding your skills."
"There is a fallacy in the word 'hid'. I gained enlightenment along the way, so you should see it as a stroke of luck."
"Luck, you say? To be an expert intermediate at that age is amazing."
"I'm not an expert yet."
Just because you've learned Aura doesn't mean you can be defined as an expert.
You have to be at a level where you can project it externally.
Depending on the form, intensity, and color of the projected Aura, experts are divided into high, middle, and low.
And above that, they are divided into top-class and master.
However, even if you are an Aura master who has reached the peak of Aura operation, a Sword Master is a state you cannot reach if you have not completed the Sword's Will.
Nevertheless, to call an Aura master and a Sword master the same concept was a compliment that was close to the saying that all things converge to one.
"Sir Ron, you could go beyond expert and even become a master."
"They say praise can even make a troll dance, but I am just a mere human who gets hurt and frustrated by trials."
"30 more gold."
"...Sir Ternoir said that a knight should be as upright as a pine tree."
"I think you flinched."
"It's just your imagination."
This bastard, when did I ever say that!
And what kind of tree is a pine tree anyway?