Chapter 10 - Paradise (1)
Deureureuk!
A door with a unique pattern opened, and Ron stepped into the meeting room.
Jjirit, jjirit!
Gazes flew like arrows from all directions and pierced him.
The sharp eyes of the vassals representing the count's family scanned every inch of Ron as if deboning him.
Who in the world is this guy?
The astonishment was palpable, as a guy whose face and name were unknown, let alone having ever distinguished himself, had suddenly appeared.
According to Adelia's explanation, he had performed the greatest service during the attack, but Ron was a trainee knight with no surname.
At this point, they began to suspect that the level of the attackers might have been ordinary.
But they had confirmed that the captured attacker was from the Sword Shadow, who had learned Aura.
Swaaaa!
As long as the witness and evidence were certain, there was no room to doubt Ron's merit.
Moreover, the moment they denied it, it would mean Adelia and Radon had lied.
Hwareureu!
Even amidst the harsh gazes, there was an intensely burning momentum.
The lord of the Torres territory, Count Leonard, glared at Ron, spewing flames like an active volcano.
It was a look that could incinerate with just a glance.
It was as if a father with a daughter, not the lord of the territory, was looking down on a highway robber.
Jjirit, jjirit!
For a moment, an illusion of the meeting room being engulfed in flames and burning up unfolded.
To dismiss it as a mere illusion, Count Leonard was a skilled individual who had reached the intermediate level of Aura Expert.
Being at a stage where he could shape his energy into his sword meant he could also imbue his momentum with Aura.
An ordinary person, just by coming into contact with that momentum, could have their spirit injured and suffer from inner demons for the rest of their life.
Under the focused gazes of the assembly, silence was enforced.
The sharp-edged Count Leonard asked.
"Was it you?"
"Yes, it was."
As Ron answered calmly, it was the leaders who flinched.
He was a lord who would stop at nothing for the love of his daughter.
Putting aside that ferocious momentum, one would normally be flustered if suddenly asked, "Was it you?"
'Hah, he's no ordinary guy!'
'Should we say he has guts?'
'Or is he an idiot who can't grasp the situation!'
'Is there really something to him?'
The vassals held their breath and watched the confrontation between Ron and Count Leonard.
What is this, it's tense but fun.
All decisions rested with the lord.
It was not a matter for them to interfere in.
Also, it was their intention to watch how Ron would respond.
"I don't know how you seduced my daughter, but things will not go your way."
"It's a misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding? Do you think you can get away with calling it a misunderstanding after coveting my daughter as a mere trainee knight, not even an official one!"
"Not only have I never dared to covet the noble young lady, but my preference is for a more voluminous, glamorous woman."
Heok!
A gasp mixed with a scream escaped the lips of the vassals who were concentrating on their conversation.
It was because it was a completely unimaginable answer.
Either ask for trust, or admit guilt.
They thought it would be one of the two.
But this could be interpreted as, "Your daughter is too scrawny to catch my eye."
'What in the world should we call that?'
'Should we say he knows his place?'
'To say such a thing openly in public, does he have no shame as a knight!'
Nevertheless, they couldn't deny that Ron's answer was a perfect refutation of the Count's suspicion.
It couldn't be more perfect.
Although Adelia was beautiful, she was far from voluminous.
By revealing a clear difference in preference, he could escape the suspicion of having seduced Adelia.
As if to prove it, Ron sent a gaze towards Adelia that held not a shred of personal interest.
Pajik!
The father and daughter frowned at the same time.
'What are you saying to my daughter who is the apple of my eye!'
'I told you not to, I'm really going crazy!'
Separate from being angry, questioning Ron would just make them look clingy.
You don't like my daughter?
I'm not small!
It was a strange situation to get angry or not to get angry in.
So they were at a loss for words.
On the one hand, it was amazing.
The lord of the territory was throwing a tantrum.
But who would have thought that a mere trainee knight would not tremble and clearly state his preference?
Although taste differs from person to person, there weren't many men who could openly state their preference for glamour in a public setting.
'What in the world is that guy thinking?'
'Is he not afraid of the aftermath?'
'No, come to think of it, there's no reason to punish him.'
Everyone had expected the lord's tantrum, even if they pretended not to.
It's only natural for him to lose his mind when his precious daughter suddenly says she's getting an exclusive knight.
However, Ron had saved Adelia and cleared away a source of trouble for the family.
To punish him officially, Ron's merits could not be ignored.
If he were punished for becoming Adelia's exclusive knight, it would set a bad precedent for the family.
'You cunning bastard, you seduced my daughter with that sly tongue of yours!'
Count Leonard was not unaware of that fact.
This insolent fellow should be on his hands and knees apologizing right now.
But in this place, he had to be rewarded.
That was his natural duty and responsibility as the lord of the territory.
However, feeling spiteful was also something he couldn't help as a father. So he had tried to find fault somehow.
"Are you trying to become a noble after instigating Adelia to become her exclusive knight!"
"No, sir."
"No? Then may I take that as you will give up being her exclusive knight?"
"The position of exclusive knight was the young lady's command. Therefore, if Your Excellency commands it, I will follow."
...This bastard!
I am a loyal knight who follows my master's command.
Ron showed the model of a knight who would follow an order at any time.
Ppaduk!
Count Leonard had to grind his teeth.
The moment he gives the order to give up the position of exclusive knight, it becomes an act of ignoring Adelia's request.
Also, it was an act of insulting a knight who had performed a great service.
It was a decision where neither option was easy to choose.
"Please give the order."
The loyal Ron showed his willingness to follow.
It was as if he were kindly pushing someone who found it difficult to jump off a cliff.
'It's comfortable and good for me.'
Even if Raising the Count's Family fails, he just wouldn't earn coins.
In his past lives, too, the cases where people invested in coins hoping for a windfall and did well were extremely rare.
They say paradise comes when you abandon greed.
It was enough to be satisfied with his current peaceful life.
Compared to his past lives, the present was already paradise.
'Hah, he really has no lingering attachment!'
Having watched people for many years, Count Leonard could now roughly tell just by their expression.
Ron was not hung up on being an exclusive knight.
He was a guy who would give it up immediately if ordered.
It seemed as if he was hoping for it.
'It's the honor of being Ria's first exclusive knight!'
The frustration of wanting to get Ron away from his daughter but being unable to, and the reality that the person in question had no intention of doing it, sparked his irritation.
Kwadeuk!
Count Leonard could not bring himself to refuse Adelia's first request.
The moment he disapproves, he becomes a heartless father.
And this guy was hoping for that.
Just you wait.
Although displeased, Count Leonard looked back at Adelia and reluctantly gave his permission.
"...I permit the exclusive knight."
"This is the young lady's first exclusive knight. You may take your time to deliberate."
Ron showed a Korean-style humility.
They say you should refuse three times.
"I said I permit it."
"If you decide hastily, you may greatly regret it later."
"It is something I have permitted. Do you dare to disobey my command!"
"I will follow the command."
Empty coughs filled the meeting room.
Heo!
The vassals clicked their tongues at the squabble between Count Leonard and Ron.
The setup didn't make sense in the first place.
The Count and a trainee knight, is this a relationship where they can even argue?
But strangely, it was happening.
Considering Count Leonard's fiery temper, it would not have been strange at all if he had swung his sword right here and now.
But despite Ron's seemingly reckless behavior, Count Leonard had ended up giving his permission.
In summary.
A father's possessiveness that he couldn't give up and the paternal love of wanting to look good to his daughter had confronted each other, and in the end, they had reached a grand decision.
And that mental change in Count Leonard was being revealed nakedly.
"If you dare to harbor any wicked thoughts, you had better be prepared!"
"That goes without saying. If I even give off such an atmosphere, you may cut off my head."
If you can.
Count Leonard declared Ron as Adelia's exclusive knight.
It was Count Leonard who regretted the words he had spat out, but the ship had long since sailed.
As it was declared in a place where the leaders of the family were gathered, it could no longer be reversed.
***
'It's finally over.'
Having finished his busy schedule, Ron finally turned his steps toward home.
The obstacles holding him back had also disappeared.
Fortunately, Adelia was taken away by the Countess, who was shocked by her daughter's attack, and the old man had to finish his report as the person in charge of the journey.
With no one to get in his way, he could leave the mansion with a light heart.
The Leonard County estate was located in the center of Pelode, the most developed city in the Torres territory, but Ron's house was on the outskirts.
Naturally, buying a house in the city center costs a considerable amount.
It was a one-hour walk from his house to the count's estate.
It would be within 20 minutes on horseback, but a horse was too much for a trainee knight.
Although the price of horses varies greatly depending on the type, the basic price, in modern terms, was at least that of a Genesis with top-of-the-line options.
Ron had scraped together all the money he had saved and bought a 300 square meters plot of land.
If it had been in the city center, that money would have been nowhere near enough, but since it was abandoned flat land, he bought it cheaply.
However, he hadn't built his house on the outskirts of Pelode just because of the price.
Besides the cost aspect, he needed a lot of space to build the house he wanted.
It was inconvenient to build a new house within the city, and there were many watching eyes.
Before building the house, he put up a sturdy and high fence to clearly mark the 1,000-pyeong boundary.
It seemed trivial, but it was an essential process.
This was because disputes could arise if the land boundary was ambiguous.
Land ownership disputes were a chronic problem of this era, and the dispute between the Leonard County and the Rehalt Viscounty was in the same context.
"Should I say it's gotten easier?"
Originally, it was a one-hour journey, but now it didn't even take 5 minutes.
He had been controlling his speed, conscious of his surroundings, but there was no need for that anymore.
It didn't matter who saw him.
To be honest, it wasn't a speed that could be seen.
The house came into view.
It was a two-story structure of a common type.
Of course, in reality, a lot of effort had to be put into building the house.
Although the exterior was that of an ordinary home, the reality was that it was completed with highly sophisticated architectural engineering.
He hadn't studied architecture, but imagination is free.
In the process of turning imagination into reality, there were several mistakes.
Unavoidable circumstances also played a large part.
"The thieves are rampant."
This era is a lawless zone, different from the modern era where CCTVs are developed.
There is almost no distinction between my house and someone else's.
Even if someone enters your house and steals something, it's hard to find the culprit if no one witnessed it.
After much deliberation, Ron put a device on the door.
He installed several gears inside and made it so that the door would not open unless a set amount of Aura was controlled with delicacy.
Also, in preparation for when someone tried to break down the door, he used iron instead of wood.
The door was made by cutting iron ingots, so the actual weight of the door was 1 ton.
"Should I open the formation?"
He had also installed a formation, but he hadn't activated it.
It was the house of a mere trainee knight.
If he installed a formation to prepare for intruders, it could actually arouse suspicion.
So he only installed a highly advanced physical device.
He arrived home, but he didn't go in.
"You're late, Second Young Master."
"Heok, heok! You bastard! What the hell are you?"
The incarnation of brainlessness, who acts without thinking.
The Second Young Master, Taelon.
His hot-bloodedness was known to surpass the level shown by Count Leonard in his youth.
Considering this was a family trait, the eldest young master, the third young master, and the young lady clearly took after their mother.
As expected, the second young master did not wait for tomorrow.
As if he had no time for that, he had tracked Ron down.
Haa, haa!
Taelon had never thought his father would grant Ria's request.
He thought his father would naturally refuse as he usually did.
He had been thoroughly played by the tongue of a mere trainee knight with no surname.
"You may have deceived my father and Ria, but it won't work on me."
"Of course, I know that well. The Second Young Master is not someone who will listen to words."
"Naturally, I am a person who can be reasoned with... How dare you try to play with me!"
"Then, shall we talk?"
"Shut up, when a knight has the excellent means of sword and fist! Why do you only move your tongue!"
Taelon, who had boldly charged, momentarily hesitated, 'Is this right?', then stopped thinking.
A person should live according to their convictions.
As they say, before the whip, there is no chivalry.
"Shall we do it right away, or shall we catch our breath first?"
"I'm not tired at all. Let's do it right away."
"That's good for me."