episode_0019

“The Count Messiah invited me to dinner.”

Even if it’s rotten, it’s still a courtesy.

Was it because of my title as a fiancé candidate?

That’s how I was invited to a dinner gathering among the Messiah family members.

Creak…

I pushed open the door of the restaurant.

There was no food yet, and no one had arrived.

“That seat must be reserved for the Count Messiah.”

Even if I pretend to be blind, it’s still the head seat.

I found the farthest seat possible and sat down.

Quietly, I waited for the Count Messiah and Asia at the restaurant.

Eventually, Asia and the Count Messiah arrived, the food was served, and the meal began.

“Why eat in silence….”

Even the clinking of plates and utensils didn’t make a sound.

A silent meal.

And so, the conversation-less meal came to an end.

Thanks to the delicious food, my stomach was full, but my heart was not satisfied.

“Indeed, this kind of atmosphere doesn’t suit me.”

I tapped my full stomach, lost in thought for a moment.

“The Count Messiah must have had a reason for inviting me here.”

Was it because of my title as a fiancé candidate? Did he really invite me for that reason?

No.

Absolutely not.

There must be a reason he called me here.

And soon enough, the Count Messiah realized why he had invited me to this gathering.

A test.

There was no doubt that the reason for my invitation here was for the next test.

Well, it was obvious, I guess. I couldn’t escape being a candidate in the previous test.

“It would be surprising if I passed with just one test.”

Anyway, it didn’t matter.

Having another test was good.

No, it was good for both me and Asia to keep having tests.

“It’s better to keep rejecting me like this endlessly.”

If I were to gain favor, the aftermath would be even scarier.

Someday, the false relationship between me and Asia would come to an end.

It would be more frightening later if I gained favor.

“It’s better to be caught in a lie than to be caught by a trusted axe.”

So, I hoped to keep being rejected like this.

“By the way, what will the next test be?”

I thought about it carefully, but no other thoughts came to mind.

The only thing that came to mind was monster subjugation.

The monster subjugation had ended.

Thinking about that, I observed the Count Messiah.

The Count Messiah showed a confident attitude.

“What kind of difficult test did he prepare that he’s so confident?”

I was curious about what kind of test it would be.

For the Count Messiah to be that confident.

“Surely… he’s not going to ask me to hunt a dragon, right?”

A creature that often appears in myths, dragons.

I hadn’t seen one yet, but they were real creatures.

A powerful creature that appeared frequently in myths.

It was not a creature I could handle.

Not even a veteran…

“Wait…? Could I handle it if it’s a veteran?”

But as I was having such slightly delusional thoughts.

The Count Messiah spoke up.

“Arthur, you have remarkable skills. Just as my father should take you as his disciple.”

And so, I conversed with the Count Messiah.

And as the conversation turned to the main topic.

“The next test I will give you is…!”

The test?

“It’s academia! You can’t become the heir of the Messiah family just because your sword skills are exceptional!”

I was taken aback by the Count Messiah’s words.

Academia.

“Oh no, this is bad!”

Before anything about academia or whatever, I was illiterate.

Of course, among commoners, illiteracy was not uncommon.

It was more like the average.

That’s why the current situation was extremely difficult.

Academia.

How could I discuss academia when I didn’t even know how to read?

“What am I going to do?”

As I was panicking, my eyes met Asia’s.

Did she notice my distress?

Asia’s pupils were shaking violently.

To Asia, who was in such a predicament, I honestly confessed with my mouth.

“I… I don’t know how to read.”

At the same time.

“What?!”

Asia exclaimed in surprise.

After the meal was over, I returned to my room.

And not long after.

Knock.

I could hear the sound of someone knocking on my door.

Before they even entered, I knew who it was.

Asia Messiah.

It was clear that it was her.

Without even checking, I opened the door.

Standing in front of the open door was indeed Asia.

She stepped into my room and started scolding me.

“W-what is all this about? Y-you don’t know the characters.”

I was as flustered as Asia seemed to be.

Well, it was to be expected.

If I had already failed the exam, it would be quite troublesome for Asia too.

To the puzzled Asia, I said one sensible thing.

“I am a commoner.”

A commoner.

What could a commoner have learned about characters if not from the nobility or the wealthy?

Characters were also a symbol of nobility or the wealthy.

So, as Asia inquired, she asked.

“Even if you’re a commoner, you’re Grandpa’s disciple!!!”

That’s right.

I was a disciple of Gumsung.

I was a disciple of the Messiah’s predecessor, the Viscount.

As I was a disciple of the nobility, the chances of me being familiar with characters were high.

But that was a wrong assumption.

If you knew Gumsung, that is.

“…Gumsung did not teach me characters.”

In fact, I had tried to ask once before.

At that time, I called the old man Young Master.

“Young Master… Could you please teach me characters?”

“Characters? Why all of a sudden? Do you want to become a scholar?”

“No, even if I wander the outside world, wouldn’t it be good to know characters? Also… if Young Master Hans is self-proclaimed… ahem! Gumsung, then isn’t it strange that his disciple doesn’t know characters?”

To my question, the old man replied like this.

“Don’t worry. If you just learn characters, most complicated things will be solved.”

“…Is that so.”

“Haha, yes. Let me tell you an old story of mine. I once met a barbarian with whom I couldn’t communicate…”

The story he told me at that time was this.

Even if words don’t get through, if fists do, conversation happens.

Forced to learn that lesson, I did not learn characters.

In fact, it was a bit bothersome.

Even if I couldn’t write or read, I could converse.

I thought there wouldn’t be a problem.

I had such a careless thought, and the aftermath of it came only now.

Looking back now, the old man must have been too lazy to teach me characters.

“That damn old man….”

Asia seemed lost in thought for a moment.

Soon, she nodded as if understanding.

It seemed that if it was her grandfather, he would do that and leave.

Asia put her hand on her waist and said.

“Sigh… I will teach you.”

“Really?”

If I didn’t mishear, Asia said she would teach me characters.

“Of course, it might be difficult in a short period, but the exam is in a month. That should be enough time to manage somehow.”

“Thank you.”

Asia teaching me characters…

Suddenly, the images of Gumsung and the Messiah Viscount flashed through my mind.

And their personalities too.

People who were clearly far from academia.

Asia was their granddaughter and daughter.

Some inexplicable unease began to rise.

“Just a moment… could you possibly assign someone else…?”

“No! I can’t trust anyone else! So I will teach you properly. For the remaining month!”

Why did Asia say those words?

To me, it sounded like an invitation to hell.

Hell.

The past week.

I saw hell.

“I’m tired….”

I only slept for three hours.

Every day for a week.

But why?

Even though I felt so tired and hazy, my mind was clear.

Having reached enlightenment, my body was still strong.

But it was strangely agonizing.

“Concentrate!”

As soon as I got distracted, Asia’s scolding returned.

“Only a week left! Are you trying to avoid passing the exam by pretending to be sick?”

“No, I will work hard.”

I hate myself when I act like this.

If only my mind was foggy, or my body was weak…

‘I could just faint and get some rest.’

It’s frustrating that I can’t even pretend to be weak because I don’t even shed a tear.

Despite the torment, I couldn’t bring myself to give up.

I never had the intention to give up in the first place.

‘Because there are others working just as hard as me.’

I can only sleep for three hours a day now.

That means my Asian tutor, who is teaching me, is probably in the same boat.

The Asian tutor probably can’t sleep for more than three hours either.

‘No…’

They probably have it worse than me.

They need time to prepare for classes too.

In reality, Asia looked very different compared to a week ago.

Even though she was covering it up with makeup, it was noticeable.

The long dark circles under her eyes.

“Alright, let’s focus again!”

I had to pass this exam for Asia, who was working hard for me.

I sent a grateful look to Asia.

Receiving my gaze, Asia said,

“Why are you looking at me like that? It’s not break time yet, so don’t look at me like that. I am determined to keep break time sacred.”

My grateful gaze turned into the eyes of a child wanting break time.