Chapter 209
Chapter 209
The second son of the Dedencman Family, Villed.
Wisdom recalled the first moment he had heard the rumors about him.
Because of that, he had assumed he would be a reckless and arrogant delinquent noble.
However, the Villed he faced was different from what he had expected.
Unlike the rumors, he was not rude.
He had even given a slight bow to someone like himself, who did not even hold a title.
For it to be mere formality, his gaze had been too steady, and his attitude had not been exaggerated in the slightest.
……He was a noble. Wisdom was nothing more than a commoner.
No one was unaware of that gap.
And yet, Villed’s attitude was less like that of a noble addressing a commoner and more like……
‘A person treating another person.’
Perhaps it was not such a remarkable action.
But to Wisdom, that very triviality had remained vividly in his mind.
And so, he decided not to judge him hastily based on rumors alone.
……Of course, he had not completely lowered his guard.
After all, Villed was suspicious.
Well…… what high-ranking noble dressed like a farmer in Work Clothes and held a shovel?
He had even gone so far as to personally build his own house.
Was there truly any need for the son of a great family—one said to partially own the Empire’s assets—to do such a thing?
No, no.
Absolutely not.
He was certain there would not be a single person like that—except for the Villed standing before him.
‘Perhaps he is someone who moves purely based on interest.’
If that were the case……
Then perhaps even the way he was treating Wisdom right now was merely tailored to suit his mood.
There were quite a few nobles whose personalities shifted depending on how they felt.
Such individuals could be kind as angels one moment, only to suddenly turn into cold demons the next.
A temperamental noble who changed masks at will was more dangerous than anyone else. One must never grow close to such a person.
If he had deliberately worn farmer’s clothes and acted before Wisdom……
Then that would be a severe case indeed.
Even other nobles who constantly changed masks would not go so far as to dress like this and work.
Wisdom decided he would observe him a little longer.
At that moment, Villed, who had been watching them eat, opened his mouth.
“I hope the food suits your taste.”
“It’s incredibly delicious. Right, Manager?”
“……It is excellent.”
It was not flattery. It came from the depths of his heart.
……How long had it been since he tasted such exceptional food?
This meat was not ordinary pork.
It had less fat than typical pork, making it light and clean.
The texture was remarkably chewy, giving it a satisfying bite.
Usually, magical wild boars inhabiting snowy mountains possessed such meat.
However, if purification was not properly carried out, it could negatively affect the body—a difficult ingredient to handle.
……But this meat had been perfectly purified.
It was a difficult process, so Villed likely had not done it himself.
It must have been a rare ingredient purchased at a high price at auction.
Nobles always served their finest dishes to guests to display their wealth.
Villed, too, had presented the best possible meal to Maggrim and Wisdom.
But who had prepared this dish?
Surely Villed had a Personal Assistant chef in the kitchen.
“I am also grateful to Young Master Villed for preparing such a meal. And after we finish, I would like to greet the chef as well.”
At his words, Villed let out a small chuckle.
“There is no dedicated chef.”
……No chef?
Hearing that answer, Wisdom paused.
And when he heard Villed’s next words, his eyes widened.
“I made it.”
“…….”
Wisdom could not speak for a while.
He made it himself?
A dish of this caliber?
Not a chef who had painstakingly built skill through years of handling countless ingredients in the kitchen—but merely…… a student of the Academy?
“Manager, Villed is really good at cooking. I told you last time that I went to Villed’s restaurant in the dungeon, didn’t I?”
“Miss Maggrim, was that not an exaggeration?”
“No, no. Not even a little. It was all real. Villed, please tell him.”
Villed shrugged his shoulders as he replied.
“What, you mean the pork cutlet and toast from last time?”
“Yes! And the steamed eggs too. See, Manager? Right?”
“…….”
Wisdom’s eyes trembled slightly.
Such refined cuisine was not something one could imitate with a superficial attempt.
Wisdom saw Villed in a new light.
……A noble with such strong survival skills.
He was quite an unusual person.
Perhaps, just perhaps, everything he had shown so far had not been an act.
After the meal ended, the two wiped their mouths with napkins.
Villed spoke first.
“Shall we begin? Even if we call it an interview, it’s nothing much. I’ll just ask a few questions.”
With that, Villed took out a memo pad from his pocket.
“First, I should mention that lodging and meals will be fully provided free of charge. I will personally handle the cooking at all times.”
“Wow, Manager is so lucky! To eat food like this every day…….”
Wisdom kept his mouth shut, but inwardly, he could not deny that he looked forward to Villed’s cooking.
He lowered his head.
“It is more generosity than I deserve.”
“There are conditions, however.”
Villed leaned back against his chair and continued.
……The interview went on for some time.
And then, Villed received the result.
Ophel Wisdom’s Recommended Role: Livestock Shed Guard
‘As expected.’
Even without the system’s recommendation, Villed had already decided to appoint Wisdom as a guard.
……However.
The system recommended one more role.
Second Recommended Role: The Farm Owner’s Sparring Partner.
If you frequently spar with Wisdom, you may gain various experiences and insights!
……Sparring?
Sparring, huh.
Granted, although he had learned swordsmanship from the Empire’s Current Greatest Swordsman, he still lacked real combat experience.
……But sparring with someone like Wisdom would surely help him grow immensely.
Villed stared at the message for a moment before speaking.
“Maggrim, could you step outside for a moment? I have something personal to discuss with the Manager.”
Maggrim stared into Villed’s eyes for a while before eventually nodding.
“……Alright.”
She opened the door and stepped outside.
Now alone, Villed opened his Subspace.
“Manager, judging by your build, you seem like someone who has handled a sword quite a bit in the past.”
From within, he took out two wooden swords.
“Please, take this for now.”
“…….”
Wisdom grasped the wooden sword Villed offered.
“Let’s spar without using Magical Energy. If you win, I will permit your residency.”
“…….”
A sudden request for sparring.
Wisdom stared at the wooden sword for a moment before finally nodding.
The First-floor Living Room was spacious enough for a simple spar.
……And so, the spar began.
Villed was the first to swing his sword.
Bang—!
Baaang—!
The swords clashed repeatedly.
At first, it was nothing more than an ordinary exchange—blades meeting blades.
But Villed knew.
Wisdom was not a man whose swordsmanship amounted to only this.
Baaang—!
After crossing their swords in an X, Villed glared into Wisdom’s eyes.
“Manager. I am disappointed.”
Disappointed?
Ah, he understood.
Wisdom had deliberately concealed his skill and swung clumsily on purpose.
He had assumed Villed looked disappointed because he seemed unskilled, but……
“What are you hiding for?”
At Villed’s next words, Wisdom’s breath caught for a moment.
“I have been sincere from the beginning.”
The crossed wooden swords trembled.
As Villed clenched his teeth and spoke, Wisdom’s eyes widened in realization.
……It was he who had been rude by hiding his sincerity.
“Please treat me sincerely as well.”
“……My apologies. Then.”
From that moment on, Wisdom’s eyes flashed. His movements changed entirely.
Villed could no longer keep up with his pace.
Baaang—!
Baaang—!
Baaang—!
After merely three exchanges—
Clatter—!
A wooden sword fell and rolled across the floor. Wisdom pointed his wooden sword at Villed’s neck.
Villed’s hand held nothing.
……As expected.
Even if he had learned the swordsmanship of the Empire’s Current Greatest Swordsman.
Without the help of a Spirit Creature, he was still nothing more than a fledgling.
“I lost. You handle a sword exceptionally well.”
When Villed answered with a smile, Wisdom withdrew his blade.
“You flatter me.”
Villed picked up the wooden sword Wisdom handed back and the one that had fallen, sending them back into the Subspace.
“Will you continue to do this for me?”
“……You mean as your practice partner?”
“Yes.”
After a brief hesitation, Wisdom spoke.
“May I ask the reason, presumptuous as it may be?”
“The reason…… It’s nothing much.”
With a faint smile, Villed added,
“I want to grow. That’s all.”
“…….”
Wisdom fell silent.
He had already formed his own assessment of Villed.
An unconventional noble with remarkable survival skills and incomprehensible eccentricities.
……And yet.
“I want to grow.”
There had been no embellishment in those words.
The trembling of the hand holding the sword, the steadying breath—everything had been sincere.
Eyes that did not retreat even before a stronger opponent.
An attitude that acknowledged defeat yet lifted his head to speak of what came next.
Wisdom knew such people well.
And…… he liked such people.
One who yearned for growth.
One who sought to take even a single step further.
He could not refuse the request of such a person.
Villed, he was……
The best of the best……!
“Will you help me?”
“Of course.”
Wisdom bowed at a ninety-degree angle and clasped Villed’s hand.
“I would like to offer even a small contribution to your growth, Young Master.”
At that moment—
Second Residency Contract Completed!
Name: Ophel Wisdom
That was how the system appeared before Villed’s eyes.
With a faint smile, he spoke.
“Manager, congratulations on your residency.”
“……Shall I continue to call you Young Master from now on?”
“As you are comfortable.”
Villed gripped Wisdom’s hand firmly.
Under a cloudless blue sky, on a bright and clear day.
In a location in the eastern part of the Academy, where fields and forests blended together.
Dozens of Schuler had gathered here.
“Is everyone present, Schuler cadets?”
A professor in a uniform coat, Jennings, stood atop a small platform and called out.
Behind him, wearing a uniform cap pulled low, Chariot stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
“I will now explain the Mock War training!”
The Schuler listened attentively to Jennings’ words……
Only Ren did not keep his eyes on him and instead looked around.
Noticing this, Kaelin, standing beside him, lightly tapped his shoulder and whispered.
“Ren, what’s wrong? Are you looking for someone?”
Perhaps having heard the whisper, Elined, who had been focused solely on Jennings, also glanced subtly at the two.
“……It seems Villed is not here.”
“Hmm…….”
Kaelin briefly closed her eyes.
As her vision sank into darkness, one by one, ‘blue flames’ began to appear.
Where Jennings stood, there was a large blazing flame, and below it, dozens of brilliant flames were scattered.
……Villed was easy to find.
All she had to do was look for the flame that was nearly extinguished.
He had the lowest Magical Energy among the Academy students.
But……
“He’s not around here.”
“What?”
At that, Ren—and even Elined, who had been quietly listening—widened their eyes.