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The suffocating silence stretched on for what seemed like forever.

What if my opponent lost all reason and wanted to slit my throat right now?

‘First, I’d kick the table so he can’t grab the sword. If it’s a bare-knuckle fight, there’s no way I’d lose. Then I’d jab my elbow into his philtrum and…….’

That’s when I was thinking about my response in case something went wrong.

“……pfft.”

“……?”

“Hahahahahahaha!”

Suddenly, Count Arsen burst into a roaring laugh.

“Hahaha…… I really like your ambition.”

“Eh?”

“I never thought I’d hear such crazy talk from a greenhorn the age of my children.”

“Pardon?”

“At the same time, if you pick apart the conversation, you’re not even as crazy as you’ve been reported to be…… huhuhu, what a funny guy.”

What kind of bullshit is this?

“I tested you for a bit. If you were just a big mouth, I would have cut off one of your arms with this sword without a second thought. Even though my wife is certainly at fault, your sins are by no means lesser.”

Why does this guy talk so much?

I’m telling you, I really am confident.

Mister, if you don’t use mana, you wouldn’t be able to beat me.

Never.

“I’m sorry.”

“……!”

The sight before me was, quite literally, shocking.

The noble was apologizing to me.

He even bowed his head.

This was the kind of thing that would turn an entire country upside down.

It was unheard of in my previous life for a high-ranking nobleman, such as a count, to bow down to a commoner.

In a society that prized dignity, a single rumor of such a thing would bring the entire family into disrepute and ridicule.

Would the ego of the noblemen, who only thought of themselves, allow such a thing?

They’d sooner kill the commoner than let that happen.

“My wife’s greed almost sold you into slavery, right? I apologize again. It was all my fault.”

“Is this right……?”

The words slipped out of my mouth.

“It’s all because I didn’t manage my wife properly. It’s the result of my virtuelessness. She lost her morals after she became the countess.”

“…….”

I opened my mouth in a daze, then swallowed dryly.

“You mean she wasn’t originally the countess?”

“She used to be a mistress. She replaced the original countess, who died.”

“She passed away?”

“That’s right.”

A thought flashed through his mind.

Only one child was born from his first wife.

And two from his mistress.

The pieces of the scene from earlier fell into place.

Conflict between half-brothers from different mothers.

Isn’t it common in aristocratic society to look down on second and third wives?

As soon as I thought about them, a question immediately came out of my mouth.

“Aren’t you going to scold me?”

“Scold?”

“Didn’t you say something about disdain earlier? It’s true. Your children were bullying some kid, so I gave them a few good whacks.”

Count Arsene’s face hardened at my words.

“We were the ones who were in the wrong, so why would I scold you for a couple of punches between kids? That’d be too shameless of us.”

So you’re telling me, he’s being serious?

And he’s not saying this because he’s afraid I’ll go to the king and rat him out?

“I don’t know if you know this, but I’m the deputy chief of the Ministry of Public Security in this country.”

“Deputy chief…… of the Ministry of Public Security?”

A look of surprise crossed my face.

The Ministry of Public Security, responsible for the security of the country.

And that means he’s the number two there.

“Yes. In that sense, the Ben-Hur group you dealt with was always a headache. If it weren’t for Marquis Foltaine, I would have taken matters into my own hands…”

As he trailed off, Count Arsene’s face clouded over.

“I had no idea that my wife was using that bunch of scum.”

“……It wasn’t that you knew and purposely pretended not to?”

How could someone who was the deputy chief of Public Security not know about something that happened in hid house, of all places?

“They say you often miss what’s right under your own nose. Or, more accurately, I didn’t pay any attention to her because of how much I trusted her.”

“…….”

At that, I closed my mouth.

Because it seemed like he wasn’t acting.

‘What the hell is going on here?’

I thought to myself.

“Well, apart from that, I honestly want to hire you.”

“Pardon? All of a sudden?”

“Talent is talent, but honestly, not everyone has the guts like yours at your age. Becoming a knight of your own country would be nice, but don’t you think a kingdom would be better than a duchy? I’d like to take you under my wing.”

“…….”

My mouth dropped open at the unexpected suggestion.

“Don’t you have any dreams of becoming a knight? How old are you this year?”

“……I’m fourteen this year.”

“Fourteen. That’s just right. In three years you’ll be able to take the knight’s test.”

“Knight’s…… test?”

“Well, you’re a foreigner, so you might not know.”

Count Arsene nodded with an understanding look.

A brief explanation followed

“In the Hart Kingdom, a knight’s test is held every year.

The test is open to anyone of any nationality, as long as they are not over thirty years old.

It was a nobleman’s idea to give everyone a chance without discrimination.

The most common age to apply is seventeen.

This is because seventeen is the age of graduation from the Academy.

Of course, ‘anyone’ can take the test, but ordinary people do not even come near the test site.

The examination fee was a whopping ten gold pieces.

Who would want to throw away 10 years worth of living expenses for a family of four?

If a commoner wanted to rise through the ranks, they’d be better off trying to get into the Academy before the Knight’s Test.

This was clearly shown statistically.

There isn’t a single successful commoner who passed outside of the Academy.

That’s not to say that the Academy entrance exam is easy.

No commoner has ever been admitted to the Academy without a letter of recommendation from a nobleman.

The examination was divided into two parts. The first was chivalry, or the mindset of a knight, and the second was strategy and tactics.

Then there’s power, which was a comprehensive assessment of one’s swordsmanship and mana.

“I can write you a letter of recommendation for admission to the Knight Academy myself if you wish. However, I do not believe that doing this will erase the wrong I have done to you. But if it eases your mind a little, that’s all I need.”

A letter of recommendation from a count would be enough to get me into the Academy.

But that wasn’t what I wanted.

“Of course, if your family is a much more distinguished knightly family than I thought, you can decline…….”

“Yes, I think I will decline.”

“……!”

For a moment, Count Arsene’s eyes sparkled.

However, it wasn’t for the same reason that my ‘family is more prestigious’.

It was a no-brainer in the first place.

Why?

Why wait until seventeen?

If you want knighthood, just go and get it.

Aside from that, he was doing so well, but now he’s testing the waters.

“I still want to learn character before academics and swordsmanship. I don’t want to be like a certain someone’s child, a bully who bullies the weaker ones because they’re not strong enough.”

I deliberately scratched my opponent’s insides.

I needed to know if he was being hypocritical or if he was being sincere.

For my own future plans.

“You punk, you’re more narrow-minded than you look. Is it because you’re still a child?”

However, my opponent seemed to think of me as a child.

Hey. Even if I look like this, I’m older than you. You know?

“My kids, the ones you beat up earlier, are taking their knighthood exams this year. My first and second sons. I’m sure they meant no offense, either. It was probably just training for the test.”

Sir, it sure didn’t seem like it.

“……Sure. Are your first and second the same age?”

“Yes. The third one is in his fifth year as a knight cadet. When he graduates next year, he’ll be taking the test, just like them.”

That was enough introductions.

Now it was time to get down to business.

“Does the Count have any questions for me?”

“Hm?”

“As you may have heard, I have a way to elevate this county to a marquis.”

“……Wasn’t that just a ruse to meet me?”

What kind of person does he see me as?

“I was serious.”

“Well, then, let’s hear it, shall we?”

Even bowing down wouldn’t be enough, and what?

‘Let’s hear it?’

I can tell by the look on his face what he’s thinking.

A piece of grain.

No, not even a speck of interest.

“……Forget this, too. You said that the kids have to go to the capital soon, right? For that knight’s test or something.”

“Right. The test is only two weeks away.”

“Then, I’ll accompany them there.”

“You……?”

I nodded without hesitation.

“If I’m going to elevate the Arsene family to the rank of marquis, I think I will have to stop by the palace in person.”

Given the change in plans, it would be better for me, the person involved, to go to the palace in person.

Unless, as I had previously thought, the plan was to round up Arsene and Foltaine and destroy them all.

“I wasn’t going to do this, but…… you seem like a nicer guy than I expected, so this is a bonus.”

This was also sincere.

You’re not saving my life.

It’s none other than me that is saving you.

“Hahaha, okay. Am I supposed to thank you for this?”

Of course you should.

However, contrary to my inner thoughts, my assessment of Count Arsen was quite different.

Realistically, a greenhorn like me.

And a commoner from a foreign country would have had to run for the hills a hundred times over if he’d been this arrogant— welcome to the aristocratic society.

“So, are you giving me your permission?”

“Did you even need my permission to do this in the first place? Do as you please.”

“And you’re also giving me compensation.”

“Compensation……?”

Immediately afterward, Count Arsene muttered blankly.

“You’re not just apologizing with words, are you? Since I’m making you a marquis in addition to the damages, I’d at least like a token of your gratitude.”

“Goodness…… Alright, alright. Let’s hear it.”

In response, I immediately blurted out the demand I’d already thought of.

“There are girls in the forest. They were kidnapped as slaves, just like me.”

“…….”

Count Arsen frowned.

“I will take responsibility and return them home. With a good sum of money as compensation, at that.”

“Thank you. And.”

“There’s more?”

“That letter of recommendation for the Knight Academy you were talking about earlier…… Is there any chance you could write it for someone other than me?”

Seeing Count Arsene tilting his head in confusion, I spoke up again.

“Don’t worry about their talent. They’re pretty useful, even in my eyes.”

“Hmm…….”

While the count was still mulling it over, I put forward yet another demand.

“And I’ll take this sword, too. Since you ‘gave’ it to me to end my life, I hope you don’t mind?”

“…….”

Perhaps rendered completely speechless at this brazen demand, Count Arsene even had his mouth open.

Chapter 8 of Ancelot’s Code.

Whether it’s money or treasure, take it while you can.

“It’s a good sword.”

“…….”

“You said that silence is affirmation, so I take it that you approve.”

“…….”

Picking up the sword on the table by its hilt, I smiled.

The masterpiece that I wouldn’t be able to buy even if I blew my entire fortune.

This sword now belonged to me.