Chapter 10 : Chapter 10
Chapter 10. Statue Made of Gold (1)
“From today, shouldn't we not call you Blanc carelessly? Should we call you Baron Blanc?”
“No. Count! Please call me Blanc comfortably.”
“Hahaha. How can I do that.”
On the way out from the royal palace.
Inside the carriage returning to the Tolome family, Bartomyu was cracking jokes to Blanc.
It was inevitable to feel good. Since it was the day he got a Barony practically his own.
Moreover, since Bartomyu came to hold even the succession right of the land called Norington in his hand although it was just a justification.
Although he is enjoying the joy laughing now, from the moment he returns to the office, Bartomyu’s head will turn busily.
Because he will have to find a way to roll the Barony called Cadmus as expensively as possible.
Looking at Bartomyu laughing heartily, Blanc recalled what happened in the royal palace.
It was a well-scripted play.
As the pitiful boy who lost his parents and family in an instant by Gartaria’s raid began to cry loudly, the benevolent King who saw that appearance began to tear up.
Bartomyu didn't miss that moment and criticized Gartaria, passionately arguing that they must let Blanc succeed the name of Cadmus and reclaim Norington again.
As soon as he finished his passionate speech, surrounding nobles began to agree with timing like a knife as if prepared in advance.
And in such an agitated atmosphere, by Frederick, the King of the Kingdom of Felix, who kicked the throne and rose with an indignant appearance, the thirteen-year-old boy could rise to the Barony…… was the story.
‘Seeing there is no story about lending an army or whatnot, seems he already received this and that through the back door.’
Although it was Norington’s affair which was practically a grave provocation between nations, it was an incident without particular military conflict in the past life too.
Probably, it was certain Gartaria had already paid a price corresponding to and exceeding it.
From the perspective of the Felix royal family, they saw profit through Gartaria’s compensation and were securing justification by bestowing the Barony on Blanc, so it was a situation where giving up Norington wasn't wasteful at all.
‘However, trust collapsing is instantaneous.’
Because Cadmus didn't collapse in the form of a territory war through a legitimate justification.
No matter if it is a feudal system where king and subjects are connected in a loose form, if it is a situation where a vassal who offered loyalty to him was exterminated by invasion by another country like now, he should have raised an army in the name of the King long ago.
Not receiving compensation behind the scenes like now.
Eventually, King Frederick lost the trust of lords due to this matter and royal power was greatly weakened, but it wasn't for Blanc to care.
‘4 days later fourteen, 1 year later becoming an adult at fifteen.’
Now that he certainly received the Barony, Blanc intended to owe the Tolome family for a few years, learning the Assinsao family’s cultivation method and building up skills.
Although he could emit Aura even now, that was a kind of expedient, and it was still insufficient skill to advance to the realm of a knight who truly handles Aura.
‘Just need to secure safety within the Tolome family.’
Blanc thought if he just steps one step away from the power struggle happening inside the Tolome family and trains quietly, he could reach the level he targeted within at least 2 years.
‘Independent from the Tolome family in 3 years. To achieve my original goal.’
Since he regressed strictly to block the Void, if possible, contacting the 2 people who regressed together quickly and discussing future plans would be the most important thing.
However, anxiety was slowly rising in a corner of Blanc’s heart.
‘Why don't they come to find me?’
A situation where the range of action is restricted because Blanc is a thirteen-year-old young age and a member of a noble family.
Therefore, they were two people who said they would come to find him.
Even if acknowledging it can't be helped since the 1st rallying point Norington burned up, they should be two people who know he is in the Tolome family through rumors, but there was not even news for the past month.
“Right. Since you received the Barony, what do you intend to do from now on?”
“For now, I intend to learn the family’s cultivation method certainly.”
“Right. Since it is talent enough to manifest Aura at the age of thirteen, do not become lazy and devote yourself endlessly in the future. If there is anything lacking, say it anytime.”
As Blanc’s value rises, the choices Bartomyu can choose will also widen.
“And…….”
“And?”
Blanc daring not to meet eyes as if saying such words was apologetic.
“Try saying it.”
“Can I look around Baltimere with the two people who escorted me to this place?”
Bartomyu bursting into hearty laughter perhaps inwardly relieved that Blanc was finally acting his age.
“Hahaha! Indeed! Since it is the capital of the kingdom you see for the first time since birth, you must have wanted to look around once, I kept you too confined! I will attach people. Feel free to go out freely from now on!”
“Thank you! Count!”
Although Bartomyu thought Blanc just wanted to tour the capital, Blanc’s actual purpose wasn't that.
‘I have to go find the 2nd rallying point myself.’
He intended to find the regressors directly.
***
Blanc’s birthday party was held grandly.
Although he was a thirteen-year-old, no, a boy just fourteen now, strictly he was a baron of the kingdom acknowledged by the King, so face had to be saved for that.
And because now he was the head of a baron family connected by blood who would help them, not a competitor to share the Tolome family’s property, uncles and cousins who kept him in check in the meantime made much effort to buy his favor.
Of course, there were guys who didn't too.
Tolome Bartomyu’s eldest son. Schumacher Tolome.
Compared to the second son Vitelli who had no field showing particular prominence, he, the eldest son, was a man whose name was widely known even if he wasn't a member of the Count Tolome family.
A knight the Kingdom of Felix boasts of. Schumacher Tolome, called the Lion of the next generation of Tolome, was a knight whose name was widely known for outstanding swordsmanship skills.
Blanc of the previous life also knew well about his valor.
He also knew well the tragic ending of dying due to a sudden heart attack.
Of course, the outstanding knight Schumacher didn't particularly keep the young thirteen-year-old Cadmus Blanc in check.
The person openly keeping Blanc in check even now was his son Jonas Tolome.
Schumacher’s son Jonas.
If considering only lineage, he, Bartomyu’s eldest grandson, was a talent with talent in swordsmanship like his father.
However, if it was a misfortune, his talent wasn't outstanding compared to his father whose name was known even to other countries beyond the Kingdom of Felix.
Since Jonas had lived being compared to his father all his life, he was in a state where somewhere was twisted due to frustration and anger accumulating deep in his heart.
Although he was usually a gentle young man, if something didn't please him or a situation where he couldn't hold back anger occurred, he was prone to throwing tantrums.
Since his temper was well known within the family, even that raccoon-like Vitelli didn't particularly provoke Jonas.
However, recently. There was a person touching his nerves, precisely the boy named Blanc Cadmus.
It wasn't simply Blanc entering Tolome that stimulated his nerves. The part stimulating Jonas was precisely the part that he knows how to handle Aura at the age of thirteen.
Jonas staked everything to succeed his father called the strongest in the history of the Tolome family, but a situation where he couldn't even reach his toes no matter how much he tried.
In such a frustrating situation, when Blanc, who mixed the same blood, said he handles Aura at the age of thirteen, his eyes flipped over in inferiority complex.
‘Stop staring. Feel like I’ll get indigestion.’
Even now, Jonas' eyes were flipping over in jealousy as his grandfather personally took care of the Barony for Blanc.
Blanc just wanted to pass over Jonas' jealousy quietly.
Therefore, he treated Jonas as calmly and humbly as possible, but Jonas was angry about Blanc not dealing with him properly.
And perhaps because such a calm attitude looked mature, Blanc’s evaluation continued to rise even though he didn't intend it.
On the contrary, Jonas whose evaluation lowered day by day.
‘It’s all because of that bastard! Because of that rat-like guy!’
Blanc, who had read Jonas' shallow insides long ago, could guess life in the Tolome family wouldn't be just smooth.
‘Nothing passes easily.’
***
“Young Master, do you have any place you thought of first?”
A day not long after the banquet for Blanc ended. Blanc finally got free time to look around Baltimere.
And the person asking where to go next to him now was the butler Count Bartomyu attached from the first day entering the Tolome mansion. Precisely, should be called a butler candidate.
Since he was a person attached next to Blanc for quick adaptation to Tolome, they were already acquainted.
“Billy. I want to go there first. The place where the founding King Wilhelm I is carved.”
“You mean the Central Plaza? Excellent choice. Everyone who comes to Baltimere for the first time wants to see the visage of Wilhelm I.”
The great Conquering King and Founding King of the Kingdom of Felix, Wilhelm I.
To honor his contribution, a huge plaza was constructed in the center of Baltimere and a huge statue was erected on it.
His statue made of bronze was huge enough to enter the view no matter where one was in Baltimere, and this soon established itself as a specialty of Baltimere.
“Central Plaza! I heard the scones sold there are so delicious! I definitely wanted to try them once!”
“…….”
Rakshar, who pulled his cloak up to the tip of his head to hide being a werewolf, made a very reluctant expression when told they were going to a place with many people, but nevertheless, he didn't seem to have thoughts of leaving Blanc’s side.
Blanc, who knew his faithful gamekeeper had failed to adapt to the Tolome family perfectly, called him with a quiet hand gesture.
“Baron?”
“Endure just a little. In a little while, a training ground just for me will be created. I deliberately asked to make it towards the outermost side of the mansion as much as possible.”
Although the Tolome family was a meritorious noble not permitted to have territory, instead they owned quite large land inside the capital Baltimere.
Therefore, the garden owned by the Tolome family boasted a wide area close to a forest rather.
“So when that training ground is completed, I intend to appoint you as the manager there. I will let you solve the room and board there too.”
“Is, is that really true?”
Although Blanc explained his history to the Tolome family already, the people of the Tolome family didn't accept Rakshar with the appearance of a werewolf sincerely.
Especially in the case of servants encountering him directly, it was to the extent they tried not to associate with him at all.
Moreover, since Rakshar was one who disliked people in the first place, it was a situation where he became a loner with a feeling of half voluntary, half involuntary.
It was fortunate that there was Emilia who brought separate meals at every mealtime in consideration of Rakshar.
“So endure just a little.”
“T-Thank you. Young…… No, Baron.”
“Just call me Young Master. What Baron when I have no land.”
“N-No. Still…….”
Blanc’s party entering the Central Plaza following Billy’s guidance while conversing with Emilia and Rakshar.
It was a statue he remembered seeing in the past life too.
Although made of bronze and rusted blue, nevertheless boasting a majestic dignity…….
“Huh?”
“Indeed, I knew you would be surprised. Introducing! The statue of Founding King Wilhelm I, the pride of Baltimere!”
That statue huge enough to be caught in view from anywhere in Baltimere…….
“It is too early to be surprised already! Look at that flashing statue. It is real! It is a statue really made of gold!”
Unlike his previous life, it was made of huge gold.