Ch.1717. They say people die when they change, so I must be dying soon.

CLANG-!

CLASH-!

The fierce sound of wooden swords echoed throughout the training ground.

Selden Alphonse’s sparring partner was Lightner.

In terms of skill, he was considered one of the weaker knights among those brought by Baron Byron.

“Huff, hah…”

As Selden Alphonse breathed heavily, Lightner smiled smugly.

“Young master, may I ask why you chose me as your sparring partner?”

“Huff… It’s simple. When I saw you entering the reception room earlier, I was convinced you’d be the worst fighter among the knights.”

“W-what did you say?”

“It’s always guys like you who look at me with contempt. Some kind of inferiority complex, perhaps?”

The provocation seemed to work as Lightner gripped his wooden sword with both hands and charged with all his might.

Selden Alphonse reacted with split-second timing.

CLASH-!

Baron Byron’s mouth fell open at the evenly matched duel.

Wasn’t this his youngest son who had always slithered away like a rat whenever he tried to teach him swordsmanship since childhood?

Moreover.

He had hoped his son would mature with age, but instead he had been a troublemaker obsessed with alcohol and women, constantly causing incidents.

That’s why he had sent him to exile for a period of self-reflection…

Then one day, strange rumors began to circulate.

Rumors that he had eliminated an assassin group, that he had dealt with goblins for the sake of the village—these baseless rumors kept irritating Baron Byron’s ears.

‘He must be doing anything to return to the family quickly.’

While the mainland was like a splendid city, the place of exile was mostly barren plains.

It must have been unbearable for a good-for-nothing.

He must have stolen credit from the knights, Baron Byron thought.

When he arrived, the situation was even more ridiculous.

What was his name? Jawill Wilson?

Having sold his honor as a knight somewhere, he was giving false testimony that the good-for-nothing Selden Alphonse had cleanly defeated him with skill.

But.

CLASH-!

‘Why is he fighting so well?’

Even for a low-ranked knight, how could he be fighting on equal terms…

Baron Byron was utterly shocked.

CLASH-!

BANG-!

On the opposite side, Knight Commander Rain Breaker and Rio Sergang were equally surprised.

They watched the duel with wide eyes.

However, their surprise was somewhat different from Baron Byron’s.

CLANG-!

Unable to contain himself, Rio Sergang murmured quietly to Knight Commander Rain Breaker.

“The young master… right?”

“Yes, the young master is hiding his skills.”

Rio Sergang pressed his lips tightly together.

‘As I thought, he’s hiding his abilities for the upcoming succession battle.’

Selden Alphonse was hiding his skills simply to avoid troublesome situations.

He knew better than anyone that if rumors spread about his excellent swordsmanship, Baron Byron would directly involve him in the succession battle.

-Isn’t Lightner at the same skill level as Jawill Wilson?

-That’s right, he finished off Jawill Wilson with a single strike before, so why does this duel seem so evenly matched?

-Come to think of it, he seems different from when he fought the assassins too.

-…Be quiet. He’s hiding his skills.

-Has everyone just noticed? I knew it all along!

The knights’ murmuring soon quieted down.

However, their eyes gleamed brightly like Rio Sergang’s.

They were all thinking the same thing.

‘The young master is hiding his skills because he plans to enter the succession battle after returning to the family.’

Knights need to align themselves well.

Even with the same skills, the salary they receive varies greatly depending on which young master they serve.

Especially if Selden Alphonse, whom they serve, becomes the successor?

That would mean gaining both wealth and honor as knights.

Selden Alphonse had been a good-for-nothing.

For the knights under him, that meant there had been no expectations.

But now, seeing a ray of warm light from him, they couldn’t help but get excited.

-Y-young master!! You can do it!! We’re here for you!!

-We believe in you, young master!!

-You’re fighting well! You need to keep pushing your opponent like this!

They were all in it together.

Among them, there was even a knight who acted surprised at Selden Alphonse’s duel without being instructed to do so.

SWISH!

CLASH-!

After a fierce exchange, Lightner’s wooden sword flew into the air from Selden Alphonse’s strike.

The moment Lightner looked up to catch it, a sword was already pointed at his throat.

“…I concede.”

With Lightner’s admission, the training ground heated up even more like a furnace.

The knights’ cheers were so loud they could be heard by people outside the mansion.

-Long live Young Master Selden Alphonse!!!

-W-we won!! We won!!

-Our young master can defeat a low-ranked knight!

As everyone was surprised with their own thoughts, Selden Alphonse slowly approached Baron Byron.

Still maintaining the pretense of being exhausted, breathing heavily.

“Selden Alphonse has proven himself to Father.”

*

“Why aren’t you drinking?”

“Yes, I’ll drink.”

Though I thought I would leave as soon as my questions were answered, Baron Byron entered the reception room and ordered various snacks and alcohol to be served.

Such a heavy drinker he was, blowing into the bottle of alcohol before opening his mouth wide.

“Gulp!”

Is this person really a baron?

Well, he was originally a commoner knight…

At this point, isn’t he just a bandit?

“I heard you don’t drink these days, seems it’s true.”

“Ah… I just didn’t think it was appropriate to drink while in exile.”

“Since when did you care about such things?”

“I’m at an age where I should start caring.”

Baron Byron stared at me intently before shaking his head.

“They say people die when they change, so you must be close to death.”

Sigh…

I’m already struggling to survive, and this is what a father says to his son?

Still, the atmosphere was much better than before, so that was something to be thankful for, I suppose?

“Did you choose Lightner because he was weak?”

“No, sir.”

“Then why did you choose Lightner for the duel?”

I’m afraid to speak honestly now.

If I told the truth that I chose him because his slouching, evasive manner when entering the reception room irritated me, he would likely summon him like Jawill Wilson and say, “Retire,” so…

“I just chose anyone to spar with.”

“If you had chosen another knight, you would have had a high chance of losing. You were lucky.”

“It wouldn’t have mattered. This duel wasn’t about winning, but about proving myself, wasn’t it?”

“That’s true.”

And then.

Like many father-son pairs, silence fell over the drinking session.

Drinking whatever Baron Byron poured without conversation made me feel the effects of alcohol faster.

Feeling like I might get drunk soon, I spoke first.

“How is Mother doing?”

“You ask quickly.”

“Haha… I’ve been preoccupied until now.”

“Since I sent you into exile, she’s been sulking and refuses to speak with me, but she’s doing well. Anyway…”

Baron Byron trailed off, then picked up his glass and continued.

“Why did you hide your swordsmanship skills? Don’t give me the obvious lie that your skills improved in just five months.”

“I simply learned swordsmanship to preserve my life.”

“When did you stop running away from learning?”

“Isn’t there a certain pleasure in learning secretly?”

“Just because of that? Or are you really secretly eyeing the successor position?”

If I said I was building strength in preparation for the monster wave that would come to the territory in a year and six months, who would believe me?

It was easier for now to mix in some lies.

“I have no interest in the successor position. I don’t want to fight with my siblings.”

“The strong inherit—it’s a natural process for sons born into the Alphonse family.”

“Then I’m not qualified. From what you’ve said, I seem to be too small in both physical and mental capacity to become the head of the family.”

“Tsk, you insolent…”

“Have another drink.”

Despite his words, his expression seemed much more gentle than before.

Well, how proud and sympathetic must he feel to learn that the son he thought was just a good-for-nothing had actually been wearing a mask to build his strength?

Of course, he seems to be misunderstanding unintentionally…

“Do you really have no intention of returning to the family?”

If I were the original good-for-nothing Selden Alphonse rather than someone who possessed his body, returning to the family would have been out of the question anyway.

I need to try my best to let things flow according to the original story without making changes.

“Yes, and if I return to the family, there would be talk of favoritism compared to my other siblings.”

“…Yes, that could happen. Then let me ask you one last thing. Are you certain you have no desire for the successor position?”

Successor…

Managing the territory, collecting taxes to secure operating funds, commanding knights in preparation for war…

And that’s not all.

Managing judicial and administrative institutions to ensure smooth operation, as well as maintaining diplomatic activities with other nobles without falling behind.

It’s unfair enough that I’ve been possessed, but now you want me to work for the rest of my life?

Besides, if my siblings are willing to do it, there’s no need for me to live like a slave.

I can earn money on my own even without inheriting anything.

“Yes, I’m fine with it.”

Displeased with my answer for some reason, Baron Byron repeatedly clicked his tongue and strode out of the reception room, not even giving me time to say goodbye.

I could only stare blankly at the open door.

Then Pedericks entered cautiously.

“…Shall I clean up?”

“Oh, yes.”

Servants began entering the reception room one by one to clear the table where Baron Byron and I had sat.

Luna was among them.

“Young master, did you enjoy the lunchbox?”

“I ate it well. You’re a good cook.”

I stood up, staggering from the alcohol.

Then Luna spoke to me again.

“Oh right, I think a piece of paper accidentally got mixed in while I was preparing the food. Did you see it?”

“Yes, I did.”

“What color was the paper?”

“You’re talking about the red paper, aren’t you?”

“Ah… yes. That’s right.”

“Well, anyway, it was delicious.”

After expressing my gratitude, I grabbed the reception room doorknob to go to sleep when Luna’s mumbling voice reached my ears.

“He really ate it all…?”

*Ding* ♪

━Luna’s Affection Deficiency

= 40 → 20 changed [↓20 decrease]