139 – Seoul (1)

The reason I know this is because I know the original story, but in fact, anyone who has had a few conversations with him will know that Reinhardt cares for his sister very much.

It is a story under the assumption that the conversation will continue for a while, but anyway, the end of the conversation with this guy is almost likely to end with the story of the younger brother.

Come to think of it, most of the people around me were people who cared for my sister. Same with Orcus and Eltman. I did too. Usually, when we think of children from prestigious families, we think of having a bad relationship with each other.

It’s not that I haven’t seen siblings fighting each other, but it’s good that none of these things happen to my friends.

“I’m going to go out early today.”

Reinhardt said this to me right away. Today’s Dalian meant to take a break.

If Reinhardt, who is a leader maniac, cuts even my training time, that’s all I’ve said. I also nodded at Reinhardt’s words because I was planning to go see Alphonse today.

“Yes. No, let’s just go together. I have to go too. The Kromel mansion is in the same block.”

As far as I know, Reinhardt’s younger sister is the same age as Alphonse, but I was curious about what she looked like, so I decided to follow her. Maybe he could become Alphonse’s new friend.

He agreed to my words, saying that he would know if Reinhardt had the same thoughts.

“Are you going to see Alphonse? I’m going too!”

Hayley, who had come closer before I knew it, said as if she had heard the conversation between me and Reinhardt.

Noel said he would focus on training more, and it seems like the number of people to go is already decided. After making that promise, I was about to focus on training again when Reinhardt approached me. He put his hand on my shoulder and said softly.

“Lizerote is cute.”

What is this all of a sudden? When I looked at him, Reinhardt was looking at me with eyes full of sorrow.

What are you talking about at the moment? I wanted to, but I soon realized that he wasn’t talking while looking at me.

His eyes were not on me, but on Alphonse, who was not here.

‘No, where is this guy drinking kimchi soup?’

I mean, he was such a jerk, but what he meant was that Alphonse said that he couldn’t help it even if he fell in love with his younger brother. I was dumbfounded for a moment and was about to say something, but I managed to hold back when I saw Hailey nearby.

“Oh yeah….”

Reinhardt didn’t care whether I looked at him with a shy face or not, and started bragging about his brother to me. I wanted to hit it too, but I knew it would make me laugh, so I let him continue to fight.

Let’s see somewhere later.

***

Now that the Holy Spirit Festival is approaching, Luden’s entrance is bustling with people coming from all over the empire.

This was an important event for an empire that made the main god their master, so not only did important people come from all over the world, but many people gathered to enjoy Luden, where the festival was held.

In particular, the influence of the academy was great on the people who came from all over the empire, and since Estelia is a place where talented people from all over the empire gather, the reason why they came to see the performance of these people at the Holy Ghost Festival was a big reason.

Some would like to see the growth of their children sent to the academy, and in the case of nobles, there would be many people who came to find talent to recruit into their family. In any case, being in the academy and participating in the Holy Spirit Festival meant that the future was expected to some extent.

Human resources can only be a very valuable resource as much as people can perform miracles with their own hands.

No matter how much magical engineering develops and the level of golems rises and homunculus can be created, it cannot replace humans.

As the empire’s territory was vast, there were countless organizations and families related to it, so outstanding talents to compose them were indispensable for their continued existence. If there is no influx of new talent, it means that the institution can no longer exist.

And regarding this, no matter how famous a famous family is, it cannot be free.

After all, the value of the name of a famous house is created by the people who make it up.

“It’s a dragon crest… Did you come from the South? It’s faster than I thought.”

“I heard that Krause’s sogaju will appear at this Holy God Festival, maybe that’s why. I heard that all the heads of the four great families will gather at this Holy God Festival.”

Among the families currently entering Luden, the one that drew people’s attention was the dragon’s crest, a wagon with the symbol of Krause. It was the only family that had arrived in Luden that was one of the four pillars of the empire, so all eyes were drawn to it.

Krause, who is famous as a martial artist, had nothing in that sense like the others, but this year the meaning was a little different. The family head and his immediate family, who usually did not move from the south, attended, so they had a different reason for coming here.

Alphonse, who was watching them from inside the carriage while people’s attention was focused on him, asked Ken with a face that was reminded of the gaze that was directed at him.

“Ken, as expected, there are a lot of people in Luden. It’s like watching the waves when people sway. I’ve never actually seen a wave.”

“It’s because the Holy Ghost Festival is near. Probably, on the day of the festival, there will be more crowds than this. But this year, it seems a little more than usual. I heard that the new students of the current Academy are called Golden Horsemen, so I guess that’s why.”

“Then did everyone here come to see you and your sisters?”

“hahahaha. That’s how it is.”

At Ken’s answer, Alphonse’s eyes lit up and he looked around again. Even if it’s not the case, it’s the first time I’ve come out of the South, and I’m in a state of high tension.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t that only Damian and Elena were the golden riders, so there was a slight difference, but it wasn’t that wrong. Among the Golden Horsemen, the presence of the two was unrivaled.

As the story of Academia came out, Alphonse looked at Louis. It was because Louis, who was attached as an escort, was the only one who had experienced the academia among those sitting in the carriage right now. Sensing Alphonse’s gaze, Louis made eye contact with Alphonse and asked kindly.

“Confucius. Do you have any questions about the academy?”

“Sir Louis graduated from Academia, right? With high grades. People call this rider the Golden Horseman. If so, what was the standard of the cadets of the previous rider?”

“Basically, Academia is a place where talented people from each region gather. In the case of the Faculty of Engineers, most of the cadets are at a level where they can infuse their bodies before entering the school and can handle auras even a little bit. In other words, the minimum requirement to apply as an apprentice knight of the Black Dragon Knights is enough.”

“ah…”

Alphonse gave a slightly disappointed look at Louis’ words. Because the standard was lower than I thought. The manifestation of the aura that Louis just mentioned was something Alphonse himself could do right now.

Seeing Alphonse’s reaction, Louis couldn’t hold back his laughter.

This is a high standard for a boy who is not yet 10 years old. Krause’s qualification as an apprentice knight is also a position that can be obtained only with talent, but it seems that it was not enough to meet Alphonse’s expectations.

Is it because the talent you have is so special?

It seems that the people around him are so high-ranking that his eyes are naturally raised. Lewis added a word for the disappointed Alphonse.

“This is the minimum standard. Of course, more cadets enter the school every year. Representatively, there are children from famous families. As Confucius is well aware, the benefits enjoyed by children from famous families and the talent inherited from ancestors cannot be ignored. It’s possible.”

Alphonse nodded at Louis’ words. It wasn’t that he didn’t know that he was enjoying such benefits.

“When I was there, the son of the commander of the Imperial Knights was like that. Perhaps the reason the current rider is called the Golden Horseman is because a large number of children from such a famous family entered the school at once. I guess. In fact, the Golden Horseman isn’t exactly wrong.”

“Because I have a brother and a sister.”

“Yes.”

Seeing Alphonse proudly talking about Damian and Elena, Louis said positively.

“His Highness the Prince and His Highness’ abilities are extraordinary, and Damian said that the swordsman’s grandson is truly a sword genius.”

“You’re still going to win, right?”

“…Gongja-sama? I understand that you trust Damian-sama, but I hope you don’t underestimate the children of other families too much. The world is wide, so there are probably people like you who have been quiet.”

“Ah…yes. I see.”

Alphonse hesitates for a moment at Ken’s point. However, it was not that Louis could not understand Alphonse’s behavior. It was because Louis himself agreed with Alphonse’s words.

The way Damian and Elena showed Alphonse must have been very special.

How could they think that those who defeat the army of monsters alone or win against knights close to masters lose to kids their own age?

Neither Louis nor Ken knew that Alphonse had said such things to praise Damian and Elena, so they did not reprimand them further. If you look closely, Ken’s point was just advice on etiquette to be careful with your words in front of other people, not denying Alphonse’s words.

However, there are people who express themselves directly wherever they go.

Sitting on the driver’s seat and listening to the story of Alphonse and the two, another escort, Robin, affirmed Alphonse’s words.

“Well, aren’t you wrong? No matter how good the other guys are, would they do better than Lord Soga and Lady? To be honest, I’m more looking forward to the semi-finals than the final of this Seongshin Festival. Anyway, the lady and Lord Soga will meet in the finals. If you do, you’ll try to abstain from each other…”

“Sir Robin.”

Robin shut his mouth in the middle of Lewis’s bloody eyes.

“Ah yes. I think so.”

Robin stepped back with a slightly shrunken look, but his mouth was still smiling, because he confirmed that Alphonse’s face brightened again after hearing my words.

Louis must have known this too, so he put his hand on my head without saying a word and looked at him with unstoppable eyes.

When the atmosphere calmed down to some extent, Alphonse’s visit to Luden resumed. Alphonse was sitting by the window, writing down the places he wanted to go in his mind, and Ken, perhaps because of his age, kept blinking his eyelids, unable to contain his drowsiness, when the sunlight hit his cheeks even after watching Alphonse.

As time passed, the inside of the wagon became quieter. Alphonse’s mind went all out and eventually Ken couldn’t stand his drowsiness and fell asleep.

Was it because he was not interested in the scenery outside? Bored by the quiet atmosphere, Robin spoke to Louis, who was sitting behind him.

“How does it look to you? Has anything changed here?”

“I don’t know for sure after a year. The number of people has definitely increased. At that time, it wasn’t as crowded as this.”

“Ah, Sir Louis participated in the Holy Ghost Festival. I remember he went up to the semi-finals…”

“Sir, did you see it?”

In response to the question in a trembling voice, Robin answered with a raised eyebrow.

“No. I just heard about it. Sir Lewis, as well as Lord Soga, aren’t they famous in the south? I have a good memory.”

“I-I see….Are you saying that when it happened? Whoever hears it will know that he is a very prolific man in the world…With not much difference in age.”

“Yes? Mister?”

“it’s nothing!”

Feeling ashamed of Robin’s words, Lewis lowered his head. Fortunately, Robin didn’t see her like that because he was looking ahead. Louise’s face grew hot, but Robin continued innocently.

“Anyway, you’ve been to the ecliptic for the first time in a while, do you have any acquaintances or friends you want to meet? If you have any, I’ll tell you later, Soga-lord, so if you can stop by anywhere, come and visit. I’ll have to get to the mansion first.”

“Uh…I have to have someone to meet. A friend… A friend? Well, a friend would be right.”

“How come the answer is ambiguous?”

“Um, that’s my classmate at Academia, but we didn’t really talk to each other when we were in school. After graduation, he sent me a lot of letters. It said in the letter that he wanted to come to Luden and talk to me, but I guess that’s why I’m going there. I’ve been putting it off, but this time there’s the Holy Ghost, and Damian seems to have gotten a little help, so I’m going to stop by to say hello.”

“Something seems to bother me just hearing the explanation… Is he doing business or something like that?”

“No. I’m not that kind of person. I was a classmate of the Knights Faculty. His swordsmanship skills were also very good. Now he is a Royal Knight.”

“Guardian knight? He must have been a great person.”

“Yes. Because he was the top graduate of our jockey.”

“ah.”

At Louis’ words, Robin finally knew who the motive was.

The person she brought up when talking to Alphonse.

It means that he was talking about Shion Leonheart of the Leonheart family, who is one of the three greatest martial artists of the empire and has held the position of the Imperial Knight Commander for several generations.

Just as Lewis was once called the greatest swordsman in the South, there was a boy called the greatest swordsman of the Empire at the time, and that was Shion. The reason why Lewis always took the second place was because Ishion always took the first place.

While listening to Louise’s story, when he found out that his motive was Shion, Robin told her with a hearty smile as to what came to his mind.

“Hey, our Lord Louis. You focus too much on swordsmanship, so I thought you wouldn’t have a relationship with that kind of person, but it turned out really well.”

“Yeah? What is that…”

“Ah. No. No. Please just talk to me when you go later. Don’t worry about the time and come back comfortably.”

“Ah yes…”

At Robin’s sudden change of reaction, Lewis replied with a confused look on his face.

Alphonse, who was quietly listening to the two of them while looking out the window, shook his head and let out a small sigh when he saw Robin’s reflection in the window.