Chapter 67 – Camilton (2)

It was a meeting between son and father for the first time in three years.

Topics of conversation poured out endlessly.

Even during the moments they drank tea, had meals, and looked at the newly planted crops, Henry and Lucas constantly exchanged conversation.

The territory residents who came to visit Lucas Camilton whenever they were bored did not disturb them today.

It was consideration to give them time solely with his son.

Because the residents here and Lucas Camilton had that close of a relationship.

“If they just grow well like this, I think we will probably be able to bake a decent pie. It will be very sweet.”

Pointing to a large yellow pumpkin, Lucas Camilton spoke.

Although it was a small field, it had everything it should.

In fact, the crops grown here were Viscount Camilton’s pocket money and pastime.

The money needed to live alone was not that large.

Enough that even the amount thrown by the royal family in pennies was sufficient.

“Pumpkin pie is nice.”

“It is more than good. If only we could obtain a bit more spices, it would be much……”

“Father.”

Henry interrupted him then. Lucas sent a strange look, and Henry shrugged.

“Pumpkin is pumpkin, but shouldn’t you also see how much your son has grown? Before I leave.”

“I know even without looking.”

“There is nothing as certain as seeing it directly.”

“That is……”

“It is what you always used to say.”

“……That is true.”

They had now shared enough small talk.

Of course, it was far from enough to untangle all of the three years of time, but currently, Henry was out on a mission.

It would not be too late to visit again once he cleared up this matter first.

“I will probably have to leave sometime tomorrow. Because the distance to the destination is quite far.”

“Is this that mission you mentioned?”

“Yes, the task given only to the most outstanding trainees in the academy.”

“You mean you have belonged to the most outstanding group?”

“For now, yes.”

“Very well, just how much do you plan to show me?”

“What fun would it be if you watched knowing it beforehand?”

“Testing this father of yours?”

Lucas Camilton chuckled.

He had already guessed his son’s greatness through the circumstances in the meantime.

How could his skill be just ordinary greatness?

When those great knights bowed and scraped just to take Henry.

‘Perhaps he might have reached a 1-star knight.’

1-Star Knight.

It might be a slightly excessive expectation.

While it was true that it was seemingly considered a low level, the moment one received the evaluation of a 1-star knight, it meant they had become a complete knight.

Although in truth it meant the lowest level among knights, the fact that he became an official knight in the first place put an immense distance between him and ordinary people.

‘He might fall a bit short of it…… but as a father, I must not show a disappointed reaction.’

Lucas finished preparing his mind.

It meant he was ready to be surprised no matter what Henry showed him.

He too had once been a knight.

Ultimately, the skill of an academy trainee would not be at a level to surprise him, but the Henry in front of him was his own son.

And a son who had lived bearing a burden for a long time because of Lucas himself.

Giving such a Henry any disappointment was unacceptable.

“As expected!”

Lucas clapped his hands.

Because Henry circulated the mana in his body.

How long had he looked forward to this moment?

Over the past three years.

Even without seeing it directly, he could tell what kind of plight Henry had been placed in at the academy.

Just for the reason that he could not handle mana, all his efforts would have been undervalued, and he would have had to endure countless mocking gazes.

“It is not yet, Father.”

Henry was relaxed.

The flowing mana had a stronger momentum than Lucas’s expectation.

“It is a considerable amount. How long have you……”

“I said it is not yet.”

Lucas, who was about to praise him, shut his mouth. Henry clearly still had a trump card.

And something of a level that he would be anxious to show Lucas.

Shring.

The sword was drawn.

The pure white sword shed light. Even in the eyes of Lucas, who had laid down the sword long ago, it was a very valuable object.

‘I heard that such gifts are given to Class A trainees.’

Lucas pulled out the common sense that had settled deep in his memory.

He too had once been a trainee at the academy, and though he had not experienced it personally, he knew.

Outstanding trainees receive the dean’s favoritism.

That is to say, a difference arose that could truly be called favoritism.

“It is a good sword.”

“It is usable.”

“Your eyes have gotten higher.”

“Because my skill has increased.”

“That is…… good to hear.”

Lucas smiled warmly once again.

Lucas was one of the few people who could purely rejoice in Henry’s growth.

A bluish film of mana formed on Henry’s sword.

From now on was the core.

The six basic accomplishments of a knight.

[Circulation] had already been shown, and Henry displayed the remaining techniques in succession before Lucas’s eyes.

The flow of mana was elegant.

However, there was no instability.

The straight momentum lingered, moved, and returned repeatedly.

And in the end.

It formed the shape of a very clear Half-Moon Sword.

“How can this be.”

Lucas ended up marveling.

It was pure admiration.

With this level of skill, he belonged to the outstanding side even among 1-star knights.

In particular, the sturdier the basic skills were, the more evaluation he received that there was a lot of room for growth.

Only then could Lucas understand the reaction of the knights who had visited this place.

“You are truly amazing, Henry.”

Lucas barely managed his mind.

He was in the most excited state of his life.

He strived to maintain his minimum dignity as a father, and that was at a level that could collapse if someone just nudged it.

And.

“It is not yet.”

At Henry’s single word, Lucas gave up in the end.

“……Not yet. Surely, you mean there is more left? This is not the end?”

“There is more. Those knights did not come for nothing…… no, actually, I grew again after that.”

“Not that long of a time should have passed.”

“It did not take long to reach this level either. Was it about a month?”

“Bwahaha!”

Now Lucas could not control his emotions at all.

His widely raised corners of the mouth were on the verge of reaching his ears.

With a completely flushed face, and also eyes that could not believe it, Lucas looked at Henry.

“Then there must still be a lot left.”

“I was planning to show you step-by-step in case you got surprised. In the first place, this is not all the mana I can use.”

“I am calm now. No, I am trying to calm down.”

“Will you be able to not be surprised?”

Henry smirked.

Lucas barely, really barely pressed down the corners of his mouth.

“I will do my best.”

The moment he replied so.

Henry began to display swordsmanship in the air.

This was a kind that Lucas also knew.

The basic swordsmanship learned at the academy.

As such, the path of the sword itself was extremely simple.

Since the series of processes of honestly slashing, stabbing, and slashing again was everything.

But even if they walked the same path.

“…….”

Depending on who walked it, the meaning was bound to differ.

Before long.

Lucas realized that his mouth was wide open.

Now, not even a laugh came out.

What Henry had declared confidently was not a bluff.

‘A clear 2-star knight…… and even then, in terms of the amount of mana, he is close to a 3-star.’

It was a level where he could sufficiently stand against those acting smug as knights of any noble family right now.

In fact, it was clear that anyone would not doubt he was a knight if not for his youthful face.

Unless it was some most outstanding knight in an earldom, if it was an ordinary knight, the result would be unpredictable.

‘……I simply cannot believe it.’

Was this an achievement that could be accomplished in just a few months?

Furthermore, at this rate, it was clear that he would reach 3-star before long.

The knights who were only mentioned in history books.

It was said that only knights of a level who left their names over several generations displayed such talent.

And the even more surprising fact was.

The fact that Henry’s growth was not an empty shell.

‘He has a basic foundation more solid than anyone else. If they are at the same level, there is no knight who can beat Henry. Unless it was a mercenary rolling on the battlefield!’

That was precisely the fact that made Lucas truly marvel.

An overwhelmingly solid basic foundation.

It was the academic consensus that to build a basic foundation, there was no choice but to spend time honestly.

That was, unless there was an overwhelming talent.

“……To think my son was a genius.”

Lucas muttered with a dazed face.

Henry finished his demonstration, sheathed his sword, and faced Lucas, who was frozen.

“Please calm down first.”

“How could I calm down…… no, Henry. Henry Camilton.”

“Yes.”

“Before you entered the academy.”

“Yes.”

“By any chance, do you remember the gift I handed you……”

“The fountain pen. Along with the words that a knight must have intellectual accomplishments. Just what on earth are you thinking?”

“You are indeed my son……”

“Of course I am.”

“Right?”

“Yes.”

“Then you……”

“Everyone showed a similar reaction to you, Father. That is why they sought me out all the way here. Would those great knights have done so for no reason?”

“…….”

“Actually, it might be so for ordinary nobles, but wouldn’t the standard be stricter if it is a royal knight?”

“……?”

Lucas raised his eyebrows.

It was a face asking what he meant.

Henry grasped the situation.

“Ah, those people did not come. Sir Melissa proposed that I join the knights. I postponed it, saying I could not decide yet. I am a bit disappointed. I thought they would come.”

“R-Royal Knights……”

“They asked me to join. I should refuse, right?”

At his son’s nonchalant reaction, Lucas’s mind went blank.

“R-Refuse. The Royal Knights…… just……”

“I am a Camilton, after all.”

“…….”

“Ah, there was something else I wanted to say. In any case, you have seen my skills sufficiently, right?”

Nod, nod!

Lucas’s head nodded up and down vigorously.

“Then let’s go inside. Because this is not a talk to be had outside.”

“W-What kind of talk are you trying to have?”

“Talk about money. Because my skill suddenly grew, and my price rose as well.”

A story without head or tail burst out.

The only action Lucas could take right now was to follow his son, who had suddenly grown so large, inside.

***

“……So, the dean was that kind of person?”

“Do you know him too, Father?”

“Versailles Bergent. During the days when I was a trainee, he was just about to inherit the position. Perhaps it is a method learned from his father.”

“Probably. Where would the roots go? I am like that too.”

“The roots of the Camilton family…… yes, both your grandfather and great-grandfather were truly outstanding knights. I feel both ashamed and pleased. They would have been truly happy if they had seen your figure. I failed to fulfill my duty as a child.”

Lucas Camilton chuckled strangely.

It was because his situation was bitter, and at the same time, he was so happy.

But it was not the time to be lost in sentiment.

“Anyway, I did not know that the Bergent house traded in human business. Ransom…… right, how much did they demand?”

“What they demanded directly was…… actually, they did demand it directly. Because the atmosphere was telling me not to think about useless things since it was clear I wouldn’t be able to prepare the money.”

“Henry.”

“Yes.”

Lucas pursed his lips and then released them.

Seeing that he did not state how much it was immediately, it was clear that it must be a significant amount.

This time was truly the moment to show something as a father.

“Fortunately, I have a bit of wealth left until the very end. The one inherited from your grandfather…… yes, I can tell them to get lost.”

“Are you planning to sell that?”

“If I ask Viscount Redwood and find a decent sales outlet……”

“They said 16,000 gold.”

Lucas’s mouth shut. It was because his breath was choked.

The amount he thought he could prepare was 3,000 gold at best.

It fell far short of 16,000 gold.

“It is the average ransom of Class A trainees recently. Mine will probably jump even higher.”

Lucas could not reply.

His heart ached at the fact that there was nothing he could do as a father.

When he recalled the thought that he might have to join the Royal Knights because they could not prepare the money, he felt as if his eyes were growing dark.

But.

His son Henry, this time too, went beyond his expectations.

“So I prepared it. I put 15,000 gold in the bank under my name. Since it will keep increasing in the future, that will be enough.”

BJ Swordmaster