Chapter 33 – Austin (2)

Austin Roderick.

The second son of a Ducal House who had no interest in succession, and a young man who pursued freedom rather than noble honor.

The mages had presumed that he surely had some hidden facts, and that was a precise judgment.

Because Austin too was controlling the skill he displayed on the outside under the single-minded thought of ‘not wanting to stand out.’

“I move up together with you? To Class B?”

“This time, I should ask that question again. Does it work out as you wish?”

Henry asked even though he had already roughly guessed.

Because he wanted to hear a definite answer from the other’s own mouth.

“If I set my mind to it, yeah. Actually, I was staying behind on purpose.”

“Why?”

“Because from Class B, eyes gather a bit. If I were in an ordinary position it might be different, but within our family, there are quite a lot of people who think unfavorably of my older brother.”

It was, all in all, the highest Ducal House in the kingdom.

Factions had already split within the family, and some among them were running wild claiming they would follow Austin, who had turned his attention away from succession.

The mere fact of entering Class B of the academy as a trainee would give them sufficient reason to run wild.

“Saying something about talent as a knight… they’d force me. Adding words like to think of the family’s future. Ugh, just thinking about it is horrible.”

“So, will you do it?”

“Is it okay if I follow?”

“Finding a decent roommate is quite tricky. I have no intention of dealing with other guys acting troublesome.”

“Then what about me?”

“It’s the same as what you feel when looking at me. You have no interest in useless things, right? Simply being annoying and acting troublesome are different.”

That was true.

Both Henry and Austin.

Neither of them was ordinary, but they never displayed excessive interest in each other.

They were only interested in what kind of human being the other party was.

At that moment, Austin began to grin again.

“By all means, Henry.”

“Why?”

“You can use a private room starting from Class B.”

For a moment, Henry lost his words.

A private room?

‘I am permitted to use the dormitory alone?’

Suddenly, the story changed.

For the sake of the broadcast, it was naturally better to be alone.

If Austin was needed?

Since he only needed to come find him and converse at those times.

“Austin, I’ve thought about it. In any case, you moving up to Class B has too much risk. Rather, after that person you call your older brother completely solidifies the succession structure…”

“The structure is already solidified. The ones running wild claiming they will follow me aren’t even that many.”

“Or in case you arouse inappropriate suspicions for nothing…”

“Fortunately, my older brother is not that kind of person. Father also knows my intentions clearly. I was the one who went ahead and was cautious; it’s not a situation where I must absolutely be cautious.”

“…I must use a private room.”

“Of course. It’s not like you have a choice.”

“Ah, really?”

“We can get adjacent rooms, probably. A relationship where we can be guaranteed our respective lives, yet exchange help when needed. How about it?”

If it were something like that, it wasn’t bad.

Just one more thing.

Henry had something to ask permission for.

“Then nothing wrong with it. I have another thing to ask, about you being a Roderick.”

“You can reveal it if you want.”

“You answer that easily?”

“Because the instructors all know in the first place. Whether other friends know or not isn’t important anyway.”

Permission was granted.

Austin really considered it not to matter, which meant it was fine to confess the truth to the viewers.

‘Very good. Another piece of content is born.’

If he broadcasted with this content, he would be able to grab a video as well.

“Good. Let’s go.”

“Where? Me too?”

“To train.”

“I mean, where are we going?”

“The place I go every day.”

Henry stood up, and Austin hurriedly followed behind him.

“If it’s the place you go every day, it’s there. Chief Instructor Rousseau’s training ground. Is it okay for me to enter? Wasn’t it a space permitted only to you?”

“It was so until now.”

“…?”

“I should ask him. To permit it.”

Austin’s smile grew much brighter.

Since it was something he hadn’t even imagined.

Training together with another trainee was one thing, and being able to use the chief instructor’s training ground was another.

“I feel truly great.”

He had hidden his identity on his own, and had no intention of particularly getting close to anyone.

Since he had judged that killing time like this and graduating was the best.

But now, a reason had arisen.

It was not simply that promotion was important, but that a friend who would make that tedious process less tedious had been made.

“So what training do you intend to do? Since they said the instructors’ training grounds have high concentrations of mana… mana building? Or do you plan to study and learn from a swordsmanship manual?”

“Sparring.”

“Sparring! That’s good! You mean you and I will clash with swords? Will you use that too? The sword you got today.”

“I will.”

“To think you’d become this cold the moment the business is finished. But don’t worry, Henry. I know it’s annoying, but when I hold a sword, I’m the type to focus on training. So…”

The fully excited Austin rattled on endlessly.

However, contrary to his thoughts, Henry was not giving half-hearted replies right now because he was annoyed.

“Indeed. Just as the viewers guessed, Austin was a member of the Roderick Ducal House. He is the second son, and has no interest in the succession structure. He plans to yield to his brother and wander around as a wandering knight himself.”

For he had only been busy conducting the broadcast.

The replies currently going to Austin were content that the [Broadcasting Microphone] had appropriately modified.

[Where are you going right now?]

[Wow lol. If it’s Roderick, isn’t it there? The place you said was the strongest in the kingdom last time lol]

[Seems correct. Wow, he gave that up.]

[It seems it would be highly helpful if he just became the duke lol. He says he will absolutely not?]

“He says he has absolutely no intention of doing so. It looked firm to my feel. And right now, we are heading to Instructor Rousseau’s training ground where I train every day. What we will do there is sparring. Probably with real swords… Of course, I intend to use my sword which I showed you in this afternoon’s broadcast.”

He had already raised the expectations by a lot.

Because Henry’s new sword was an item that looked good even to people who had absolutely no interest in weapons.

The sword-light flashing every time it moved slightly was more than enough to make even mages look forward to it.

“Also, to speak regarding the mission proposed by Mage Oop Oop.”

Not long ago.

‘Oop Oop,’ who had readily sponsored a whopping millions of won, proposed a new mission to Henry.

The content was to rise to Class B in the upcoming exam.

“It won’t be an easy task, but I decided to take the challenge. Because I cannot betray the expectations you, the mages, have placed in me.”

When he was proposed the mission,

Henry first took his time.

As if the mission were extremely tricky, and even Henry could not achieve it easily.

The hesitant appearance was enough to stimulate Oop Oop, and Henry was able to obtain the desired result.

“I am not taking the challenge because I covet 3 million won. I simply know the fact that you look upon me favorably enough to invest such a huge sum in me. I hope there is no misunderstanding…”

[Anyone can see it’s because of money lolol]

[Then will you do it even if they don’t give you money?]

“Of course. I do not break a word I have once spoken. Especially to those who are precious to me like you, the mages.”

A whopping one-month mission.

Such a huge sum was at stake, and given Oop Oop’s personality that Henry had seen, giving more than that was also thoroughly possible.

Even in the process of broadcasting, it was the mage named Oop Oop who constantly set minor missions, and drawing those missions out was the part directly linked to Henry’s ability.

‘I must gather closely. My current state will fall slightly short. Although recent videos have increased quite a bit… there is still a long way to go to reach a satisfactory level.’

To secure a spot in Class B, his current state fell slightly short.

Because from there, they only gathered trainees who could act as knights anytime, anywhere.

Only leaving room for growth, those whose skills themselves did not fall far behind ordinary knights were precisely the Class B trainees.

And the action Henry took just now in saying he would accept the mission

was equivalent to declaring he would completely close the gap with them in a month.

***

Chief Instructor Rousseau did not display much reaction.

He gladly granted permission to use the training ground for the request of sparring with Austin, and only cast a gaze of admiration at the sword forged with Osland Pure Steel.

He seemed somewhat disappointed by the fact that Henry had not used the money pouch he left at the entrance, but even that was not very significant.

Just one thing.

There was a condition Rousseau proposed.

“I will permit it if you allow me to observe the spar.”

Wanting to watch the spar between Henry and Austin was the sole condition.

A condition unacceptable in the past.

But now?

Thanks to the broadcasting microphone, Henry could readily nod his head.

“Thank you, Henry. Also, is there a reason you changed the training schedule? If it is simply because you wish to try using the sword…”

“I plan to move up to Class B.”

“Class B. You mean in this exam, correct? It won’t be an easy task.”

“Since Instructor spoke to me sincerely, I will do so too. I can definitely do it. These are not words spoken just to steel my own resolve.”

“Excellent. Exceedingly excellent.”

Rousseau said so and only clapped his hands.

The emotion revealed in his eyes was almost close to marvel.

From the thought that Henry’s talent was always beyond the limits he had imagined.

“But regrettably, I cannot go watch right now. I will stop by later, Henry.”

The work of the chief instructor was endless.

Henry moved to the training ground first with Austin.

A place not permitted to others.

Once entering, enjoying that silence was Henry’s daily routine, but regrettably, it was impossible today.

“My goodness! This is what’s provided to instructors… ah, no. He was the chief instructor. The difference must be clear. As such… wow, it seems even more outstanding than our main house’s training ground?”

Austin beginning to run wild intensely.

The words he spoke in his current state were every single one of them insubstantial.

“As I said earlier, the biggest reason I obtained the sword is because it affects swordsmanship proficiency.”

[Swordsmanship]

* Proficiency: Level 9, 55%

* Grows to Level 10 upon reaching 100% proficiency.

* Additional bonus is granted upon reaching Level 10.

Henry floated the message.

The viewers could also see this, and naturally, the newly added message was the same.

“As you can see, it seems something new will be given when reaching Level 10. So I plan to definitely obtain that today, and there was also one other harvest.”

[Other harvest (sponsorship shop) lolol]

[What is it again?]

[It’s not even awkward anymore when things like this pop up lol]

“I will show you first.”

[Henry Camilton]

[Comprehensive Evaluation]

* Possesses overwhelmingly outstanding physical capability compared to the same age and gender. Also possesses overwhelmingly outstanding skill in handling mana.

* Possesses outstanding physical capability compared to the affiliated group. Also has average skill in handling mana.

* To check additional information, you must pay a fee.

He floated the second window.

It was the content revealing even hidden information by investing an additional 20,000 won.

[Without fail, the status window appears lol]

[??? It really tells him to pay money??? It wasn’t just character roleplay???]

[Pay a fee lolol]

[Does that really mean to pay cash? lol]

[It must be game money lol. Surely it wouldn’t be cash unless they’re crazy lolol]

[But our knight will speak as if it is cash lolol]

“Cash… Well, I did not understand what you meant, but anyway, it said 100,000 won is needed to check the next information. Ah, and…”

[How much is 100,000 won crazy lolol]

[It really is too much of a rip-off game lolol]

Absurd reactions rose in a line.

Fortunately, it was close to the positive side.

Yet amidst that,

Once again, Oop Oop flaunted unrivaled financial power.

BJ Swordmaster