𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐨’𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝
Kid returned, and regular classes began the next day.
As usual, they changed clothes, prepared breakfast, ate together, cleaned up, and headed to the S-class building.
Classes had started even before Kid’s return, but now that everyone was back, things seemed to return to normal. . . . . .but not quite.
Kid barely spoke at all.
He helped with breakfast preparations, but even when Albero or Lapis thanked him, he only responded with an emotionless “Yeah.” They wanted to ask him more about it, but it felt awkward.
In the classroom, Kid looked out the window with a bored expression.
ㅤ
“You know. . . . . .about Kid’s behavior.”
ㅤ
Albero asked Lapis.
ㅤ
“Hmm. . . . . .he doesn’t seem as irritated as usual. He’d usually mutter something like ‘Tch…’ or ‘How ridiculous. . . . . .’.”
“Yeah, I think something must’ve happened during the demon attack.”
ㅤ
Then, Ridelle spoke up.
ㅤ
“You know, maybe Kid’s worried about the demon.”
“The demon. . . . . .oh, there was that strange woman. The moment he saw her, his face turned pale.”
“A woman who could make the usually composed Kid turn pale. . . . . .『lust』.”
“I’d like to ask him directly, but it’s a sensitive issue.”
ㅤ
Both Lapis and Ridelle looked concerned.
Kid’s archenemy, 『lust』. . . . . .if he had fought her and won, he wouldn’t look so dejected. Albero guessed that Kid didn’t lose, but he also didn’t win.
ㅤ
“For now, let’s give it some time. He’s just come back. . . . . .and we’ve defeated two demons. Only 『greed』 and 『lust』 remain. . . . . .”
ㅤ
Just then, the classroom door opened, and Yorha entered.
There’s still time before the lesson begins. It wasn’t Teacher Garnet.
Yorha looked at Kid.
ㅤ
“You’re back, Kid.”
“. . . . . .”
“You lost to 『lust』, didn’t you?”
ㅤ
Kid glared at Yorha.
From his expression alone, Yorha understood.
ㅤ
“He didn’t lose. But he didn’t win either. Report the details later. And Albero, don’t be so optimistic. Did you forget? The demons you defeated were the demons of 『envy』 and 『sloth』. This means as long as the Demon Emperor exists, more demons can be summoned. And they might be even more powerful than before.”
“Uh. . . . . .”
“Unless we take down the root cause, demons will keep appearing.”
ㅤ
Yorha might be blunt, but she was right.
Albero braced himself.
Then, the classroom door opened again, and Garnet entered.
ㅤ
“Alright, let’s begin the lesson. Oh, Kid, you’re back?”
“. . . . . .Yeah.”
“Good timing. Join me tonight.”
“. . . . . .Hmm.”
“Once the lesson’s over, change and wait. I’ll come pick you up.”
“. . . . . .”
ㅤ
On that day, regular classes took place as usual.
Training is also conducted, except for Kid.
Damocles, Arjan, and Venus engaged in a mock battle with Albero and his group. Albero’s group was soundly defeated.
Ridelle, having gained confidence from defeating Bahamut, was overwhelmed when facing twenty-one summoners. This was due to her lack of real combat experience. Unlike Bahamut, who only used straightforward attacks, strategic battles requiring thought are still challenging for her.
Albero has also become considerably stronger. However, he still struggles against Damocles.
Ashe and her group underwent training against Arjan and developed several new techniques.
The training is going smoothly. Albero and his group are undoubtedly becoming stronger.
ㅤ
“Right now, even if a bunch of A-Class Summoners come at us, we can annihilate them in less than a minute.”
ㅤ
After training, everyone went to a high-end restaurant for dinner.
Yorha, who joined them later, spoke assertively.
ㅤ
“You all have become stronger. I’ll take care of those sneaking around behind the scenes. I’ll teach them how foolish it is to make enemies of the royal family.”
“Y, Yorha seems so intense.”
ㅤ
Ashe spoke while eating her pasta.
Lapis sipped her tea and wiped the mouth of Leivinia, who was sitting next to her, with a napkin.
ㅤ
“Look, you have something on your mouth.”
“Mmm. . . . . . Hey, I want something sweeter!”
“Fufu, shall we order a parfait then?”
“Ten, ten of them! Hey, Nisrok, you eat too.”
“Little sis, that’s too much~.”
“Shut up!”
ㅤ
This demon sibling duo never changes. That made everyone happy.
Lapis ordered a parfait and fed it to Leivinia.
There was a warm atmosphere, but the mood was different on Yorha’s side.
ㅤ
“Oh, I should report. When we searched Oswald’s mansion, we found so many pieces of criminal evidence. . . . . .The Blush Viscount family is doomed for sure. Oswald is going to be tried. A guilty verdict is certain. . . . . .There was talk of hanging, but I stopped it.”
ㅤ
It was unexpected news.
Albero involuntarily stopped drinking his orange juice.
ㅤ
“Huh, you’re kind for stopping the execution.”
“Don’t be stupid. If he dies, he’s liberated, right? I just thought making him do 『forced labor in the mines for fifty years』 would be a better punishment. Working in mines overseen by the Asgard Kingdom for fifty years. . . . . .By the end, Oswald will be an old grandpa. Returning to no home and spending his lonely final years with a frail body. There’s no greater punishment.”
“. . . . . .”
“Of course, it’s labor with a special 『summoning seal』. Once put on, it never comes off. It’s a special invention by Dr. Albert, the inventor among the twenty-one summoners. . . . . .”
ㅤ
Yorha grinned wickedly. . . . . .A chill ran down Albero’s spine.
Without a doubt, Yorha is a summoner one should not anger.
ㅤ
“Honestly. . . . . .all these troubles because of Oswald. Do you know he abandoned the citizens of the Astrum Kingdom? The compensations, apologies. . . . . .Ah, my stupid brother does nothing. He’s so useless.”
“Uh, okay. . . . . .”
ㅤ
Before they knew it, Yorha was complaining.
Oswald would face a fate worse than death. Albero thought he would never see him again and didn’t really care.
Before long, the conversation was just between Albero and Yorha, with Ashe and the others paying attention to Leivinia and Nisrok.
Then, as if recalling something, Yorha spoke.
ㅤ
“Ah, that’s right. Albero, about the reward for the demon subjugation.”
“Hm, oh.”
“I’ve decided to grant you some territory.”
“. . . . . .Wait, seriously?”
“Yes. It’s a small territory with a few villages, one town, and mostly forests.”
“A, A territory for me?!”
“Yes. It’s the 『Isavel territory』 located on the edge of the Asgard kingdom. It has no relation to the territories governed by the Rushout family, so you can relax. . . . . .”
“. . . . . .That’s not really reassuring, is it?”
“I’m sorry. . . . . .The Rushout family has grown largely because of Albero. If you were to be expelled from the Rushout family, other nobles would become suspicious of the newly titled Rushout family. They might think that they’ve just expelled the youngest son, Albero, and took credit for his achievements.”
“That’s exactly it.”
“I know. . . . . .The nobles might understand, but the residents of the territory might become distrustful. I’m sorry, but we can’t fully expel you from the Rushout family.”
“Hmm. . . . . .”
“So, until you can fully become independent, keep your name with the Rushout family. Once you turn eighteen, you can get married and become independent, governing the Isavel territory as its noble.”
“Ugh. . . . . .that sounds troublesome.”
“Don’t say that. Oh, and I’ll also grant you a title. There will be a title conferment ceremony soon. From now on, you’ll be 『Baron Albero・Rushout・Isavel』.”
“That’s long. And it’s hard to say and sounds lame.”
“Don’t complain! Also, in order to become independent, you’ll need to find a fiancée.”
“A fiancée, huh. . . . . .Wait, what?”
ㅤ
At this point, Ashe and the others finally realized they were eavesdropping on Albero and Yorha’s conversation.
ㅤ
“A, Albero becoming a Baron. . . . . .Hey, I want to go to that territory too.”
“Fiancée, huh. . . . . .”
ㅤ
For some reason, Ashe and Lapis were nodding in agreement.
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