Ch.159159. So you’re saying he’s got a quirky personality but is quite perceptive?

*Swish.*

-Kweeeeek-!

The monsters of the Death Forest began to fall amid Rio and Luna’s dazzling sword dance.

Serion Lykus opened his mouth wide in admiration.

“This… I don’t think there’s even room for me to join in?”

“These are the knights I take pride in.”

“The knights of House Alphonse are truly amazing. I suppose knights from other houses aren’t quite at this level?”

“Of course not. I dare say they’re not at all inferior even to the Imperial Knights.”

“…It seems so. With such excellent knights, I suppose that’s how you were able to stop the monster wave that occurred in Lake Territory.”

I smiled contentedly at Serion Lykus’s praise.

“In a way, Lake Territory is still rural—it’s almost a waste for such knights to be stuck in a place like this.”

“I’m surprised their skills are so exceptional.”

“Haha! If only they could be active in a broader arena…”

“Couldn’t they hunt monsters in other territories when you have time?”

“Due to some trouble I caused in my foolish days, I’m currently in exile and cannot freely venture outside.”

Hearing my words, Serion Lykus slowly nodded, seemingly having heard the rumors.

“Ah… I see. When will your exile be lifted?”

“It should be lifted soon, but there’s much to do. We need to restore the areas devastated by the monster wave.”

“Hmm, that’s true. Reconstruction must take priority for the sake of the villagers.”

“Yes, I was actually thinking of sending Rio and Luna to hunt monsters in other territories. Though I haven’t found anyone to accompany them yet…”

“You’re planning to send just the two of them to another territory? What’s your reason?”

I straightened my back at Serion Lykus’s question.

“Each territory has different types of monsters. I want them to gain experience and build their skills by facing different monsters.”

Serion Lykus nodded as if he found my reasoning sound.

Then he turned his gaze toward Luna and Rio in the distance, who were fearlessly hunting monsters at the front line.

He must be tempted.

Rio and Luna would certainly be worthy companions to entrust his back to.

Moreover.

Rather than asking to be accepted as companions, suggesting they merely travel together for experience would be much less burdensome.

Serion Lykus appeared deep in thought.

“…Unimpressive.”

A single remark from Rebecca, who had been silently watching from behind.

She had been quiet until now, but it seemed she was finally starting.

Serion Lykus opened his mouth with a bewildered expression.

“Re-Rebecca! What do you mean ‘unimpressive’?”

“Acting so proud when these monsters aren’t even that strong.”

Serion Lykus glanced nervously at me.

“…Lord Selden Alphonse, I apologize on her behalf.”

It was fortunate that Rio and Luna were too busy hunting monsters to hear Rebecca’s words, but this kind of behavior was becoming problematic.

I turned my gaze toward Rebecca.

Her large eyes were cold, yet simultaneously captivating.

Her black hair flowed long and supple down to her waist, her nose was small and delicate with a perfect curve.

Her lips were red and glossy, and her skin was as smooth as glass.

That’s right.

She was described as having legendary beauty in the novel “The Youngest Son of the Illustrious Family.”

She was so beautiful I’d want to live with her right away.

Of course, only until the moment she opened her mouth.

“…What are you looking at?”

“I’m looking at you. Is there a problem?”

“Are you being disrespectful to me?”

“Is this your first time experiencing disrespect from a noble?”

At my blunt response, Rebecca stared at me with an ice-cold expression and then opened her palm.

A transparent, sharp shard of ice formed in her hand.

“Ice—”

“Rebecca!!”

Serion Lykus, with an urgent expression, spread his arms and blocked me.

Rebecca continued with an irritated voice.

“Move aside.”

“What do you think you’re doing!? To someone who’s showing us the Death Forest!”

“We could have come to the Death Forest without this person.”

“Put away that magic right now!”

This was the commotion I had anticipated.

The fortunate thing was that Luna and Rio were so focused on hunting in the distance that they didn’t notice the atmosphere here at all.

At Serion Lykus’s shout, Rebecca dispelled her magic and shook her head.

“Tch!”

After confirming she had withdrawn her magic, Serion Lykus turned around and bowed to me.

“Lord Selden Alphonse, I am truly sorry. My companion—”

“There’s no need for you to apologize. I cannot accept Lord Serion Lykus bowing because of an inadequate companion.”

Rebecca’s shoulders trembled at my provocation.

Serion Lykus looked back and forth between Rebecca and me, then bowed once more.

“No. The fault is mine for failing to control my companion.”

“It’s fine. Thanks to Lord Serion Lykus’s intervention, I avoided injury.”

“…Are you really alright?”

Though this is a world within a novel, it’s still a society with clear class distinctions.

A commoner casting magic at a noble is an offense punishable by law.

That’s why Serion Lykus is so flustered.

By the way.

If she falls for this level of provocation, maybe I should push a bit further?

Her quick temper might actually work to my advantage.

Rio and Luna were still focused on hunting monsters.

I looked at Rebecca and smirked mockingly.

“Ice Arrow!”

*Wheeeeeing-!*

Unable to contain herself, Rebecca extended her hand and launched an “Ice Arrow” directly at me.

It happened too quickly for even Serion Lykus to react.

However, it seemed the arrow was aimed slightly off, meant to scare rather than harm.

I immediately threw myself forward and took the Ice Arrow head-on.

“Urgh-!”

“A-Are you alright?”

I had thrown myself forward knowing I wouldn’t die, but taking the spell directly made my body instantly cold.

I hid my hand behind my back and slowly melted the ice with a fireball.

Rebecca also seemed shocked, her icy, haughty face contorting for the first time.

“Kuhuk!! What on earth is this—”

“I-I’m so sorry!”

At Serion Lykus’s repeated apologies, Rebecca fidgeted anxiously before carefully speaking.

“…It seems like that person deliberately took my ‘Ice Arrow’…”

“Rebecca, what are you saying! How could you cast magic at Lord Selden Alphonse!!”

Her personality might be difficult, but her perception is quite sharp.

But who am I?

A master of acting.

I am “Selden Alphonse.”

“Oh my!! I’m dying!! A noble hit by magic is dying!!”

“L-Lord Selden Alphonse!”

As I squeezed my eyes shut and rolled on the ground, Serion Lykus shouted at Rebecca.

“Rebecca, quickly!!”

Startled by Serion Lykus’s voice, Rebecca let out a short sigh.

“Extra Heal.”

With Rebecca’s incantation, a sacred energy enveloped my entire body.

I half-raised myself while sitting on the ground.

“Do you know how severe the punishment is for assaulting a noble?”

Rebecca silently shook her head again, and Serion Lykus, after seeing this, let out a brief sigh and bent down to meet my eye level.

“Lord Selden Alphonse, I am truly ashamed.”

“Why do you keep apologizing, Lord Serion Lykus? She’s the one who provoked me and cast magic at me.”

“She’s an immature companion. For my sake, please forgive her just this once—”

I cut off Serion Lykus’s words and stood up.

“Enough. I could tolerate the provocation, but I absolutely cannot tolerate having magic cast at me.”

“Lord Selden Alphonse… what can I do to appease your anger… at least she’s healed you.”

As expected of Serion Lykus.

In the original work, it was always the protagonist’s role to apologize while caught between crazy women.

“Healing? That’s like giving medicine after causing the illness… If it weren’t for Lord Serion Lykus, I would have summoned all the knights and mercenaries stationed at the entrance of the Death Forest by now!!”

“Rebecca has never gone so far as to cast magic at someone before… I have no words to offer.”

“Moreover, it’s fortunate that Rio and Luna hunting monsters ahead didn’t see this. If they had seen me being hit by magic, they wouldn’t have stayed quiet.”

“…I apologize.”

“What deficiency does Lord Serion Lykus have that makes you partner with someone with such anger management issues?”

Serion Lykus continued to offer sincere apologies.

Rebecca also seemed concerned, repeatedly glancing at him.

Serion Lykus, seemingly developing a headache, pressed his temples and spoke.

“Lord Selden Alphonse, what can I do to appease your anger?”

“Are you saying you’ll grant me anything right now?”

At my question, Serion Lykus swallowed hard and nodded.

“A-Anything you ask, I will grant if it’s within my power.”

This was the response I had been waiting for.

I looked at Serion Lykus with a smile tinged with artifice.

“Then there’s no backing out?”