Ch.223223. Why Are Your Shoulders So Raised?

“Hello, Lord Selden Alphonse.”

“It’s an honor to meet you. Thank you so much for attending my coming-of-age ceremony.”

About two hours had passed, perhaps?

A sweet taste was beginning to form in my mouth.

When I saw the guest list, I hadn’t expected there would be so many people, but since most of the family members from various houses were attending, it felt like a bustling marketplace.

“Selden, it’s been a while!?”

From Rohan Bricks, Lina Covet, and Sophia Leite whom I met in Lumestia, to Lucas Hyde and Reiner Flame who had been Selden Alphonse’s friends even before I possessed this body…

I wondered how they all decided to make such a long journey here.

“Oh!! Rohan, how have you been?”

“Same as always. By the way, when I heard about the monster wave, I was really shocked!”

Most greetings fell into two categories.

The first was, naturally, about the monster wave.

How I stopped the monster wave, how solidly the defense formation was designed…

Answering the same questions over and over left a sweet taste in my mouth.

“Haha!! Really?”

“How on earth did you stop the monster wave!?”

“Well, since Lake Territory has the Forest of Death, we built defense formations just in case, which turned out to be a stroke of luck.”

“Wow!! How sturdy did you make those defense formations to block a monster wave?”

“If you’re curious, feel free to take a look. We’ve opened up the path for attendees to see.”

So they say.

I couldn’t show a tired expression, could I?

Sure, I’ve been asked the same questions countless times, but for each person asking, it’s always their first time.

“I am Baron Lewit of House Marit. Congratulations on your coming-of-age ceremony.”

“Hello. I’m Selden Alphonse. Thank you for making the difficult journey here.”

“This is my daughter, Hailey Marit. Exchange greetings with her.”

The second type of greeting involved nobles eagerly introducing their daughters.

The hero who first stopped a monster wave in the Eastern Continent.

A business genius profiting from numerous ventures.

Without my knowledge, all sorts of titles had been attached to my name, so it was only natural that marriage proposals were flooding in.

“How do you do? I’m Selden Alphonse.”

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Hailey Marit. I’m quite thrilled to finally meet the famous Selden Alphonse in person after hearing so much about you.”

On top of that.

While I was limited to brief exchanges due to the long line of people waiting to greet me, Baron Byron Alphonse and Ellaria Alphonse must be having an even worse time.

Nobles were clinging to them, busy boasting about how wonderful their daughters were.

“Are you alright?”

As I was barely managing to maintain my composure, Federicks approached with a concerned look and spoke to me.

I let out a short sigh before speaking.

“…Would I be?”

“That was the last of the morning visitors.”

“Really? That’s a relief. I was on the verge of collapsing.”

“Why don’t you rest a bit before receiving the afternoon guests?”

“I’d like to, but…”

I directed my gaze toward the entrance of the mansion.

Baron Byron and Ellaria were still surrounded by nobles, wearing perplexed expressions.

How on earth was I supposed to get through that crowd?

After repeatedly sighing, Federicks gave a faint smile.

“Let’s sneak out through the back door.”

“Like a rat?”

“Would you prefer to push through that crowd?”

“Ahem! I suppose there’s nothing wrong with going like a rat.”

Having barely escaped people’s eyes, we arrived at the study.

I casually tossed my coat aside and clicked my tongue at Federicks who followed me in.

“So I have to do this charade again in the afternoon?”

“…And tomorrow as well.”

“Ha! I won’t survive if I have to go through two coming-of-age ceremonies.”

“There will be even more people than expected since nobles who weren’t on the invitation list have also shown up.”

“They came without invitations?”

“Some nobles attend such events thinking it’s an opportunity to make connections. It just shows how much the status of both the family and young master has risen.”

I plopped down in a chair with a sigh.

“Can’t we turn away people with suspicious intentions?”

“How can we turn away someone who has prepared a gift? If we send them back, it would surely spread unfavorable rumors about the family and young master.”

“Well, I suppose that’s true. But won’t we run out of rooms in the mansion?”

Federicks straightened his back and smiled leisurely.

“We’ve already asked for understanding from the nobles not on the list. They’ve all agreed without complaint to stay at nearby inns.”

“Wow… you handled it well?”

“Of course. These are people who came to Lake Territory with gifts, hoping to make a good impression on the family and young master, despite not receiving invitations.”

“Ha! By the way, am I the only one who’s become famous in the Eastern Continent? Why is everyone trying to arrange marriages with their daughters?”

“Unfortunately, you’re the only one who has achieved anything noteworthy recently.”

I blocked the monster wave just to survive, yet why did I become so famous…

I should have been more discreet.

Well, it’s a bit too late for that now.

“By the way, the invited guests were full of praise for the knights and mercenary corps members, saying how impressive they looked?”

At my words, Federicks shrugged his shoulders.

“Haha! Of course—the armor was commissioned from the most famous craftsman in the Eastern Continent.”

“You’re usually so frugal, but you made quite a decision?”

“If we don’t use money at times like this, what’s the point of saving? It would just go to waste.”

I nodded and folded my arms heavily.

“Hmm, but I don’t see Jawill Wilson anywhere. Where did he go?”

“Ah, Jawill Wilson went to Ca—”

Just as Federicks was about to speak, Jawill Wilson entered the study after knocking, though not quite like a gentleman.

Wearing the armor that Federicks had commissioned, he held his head high with an arrogant demeanor that was truly an eyesore.

“Jawill Wilson.”

“At your service.”

“Why are your shoulders so high?”

“…Pardon?”

“Are you excited at the thought of not having to train with Wortman for a few days because of the coming-of-age ceremony?”

“Th-that’s not it…”

“Would you mind calling Wortman to the underground training hall for a brief session?”

Jawill Wilson immediately became dejected.

Unfortunately, I had to occasionally put this guy in his place.

Like Leonard, he was bound to cause trouble whenever his shoulders rose too high.

“…I apologize.”

“Where were you that I couldn’t even catch a glimpse of you?”

“I was training with Wortman in the underground training hall at dawn.”

“Oh? Without my orders?”

Jawill Wilson scratched his head awkwardly.

“My body felt stiff after resting for a day…”

“Well done. And then?”

“I went to see the head of Cataria Territory.”

“The head of Cataria Territory? You mean the place where you became a hero while playing around with Lucien?”

At my question, Jawill Wilson cleared his throat, seemingly embarrassed.

“Ahem! That’s right.”

Come to think of it, I vaguely remembered greeting the head of Cataria earlier.

Of course, due to the crowd, I couldn’t recall the face clearly.

“So?”

“He asked me to show him around Lake Territory, so I guided him personally. If you wish to punish me for acting without permission, I’ll accept it.”

“It’s fine. It wasn’t without reason, and if it’s the head of Cataria Territory, he’s probably a guest who came more out of gratitude to you than to me.”

“…Thank you for your understanding. And…”

Jawill Wilson, who had been trailing off, continued.

“The head of Cataria Territory wishes to have a conversation with you.”

I had no intention of having private conversations with heads of territories in personal settings, though official occasions would be different.

Talking to some and not to others…

That could lead to gossip.

However, Cataria Territory was geographically close to Lake Territory, and Jawill Wilson had a connection there.

Moreover.

If I refused, it would only put Jawill Wilson in an awkward position.

I rose from my chair and put on the coat I had tossed aside.

“Where is he now?”

“…I’ve shown him to the reception room.”

“Let’s go.”

Leaving the study, we moved to the reception room.

Opening the door, I saw a middle-aged man who appeared to be the head of Cataria, along with a beautiful lady, sitting side by side on the sofa. The middle-aged man greeted me with a bright smile.

“Good to see you. We briefly greeted each other earlier…”

Baron Gerard Cataria.

He was the head of Cataria Territory, where Lucien and Jawill Wilson had traveled.

Despite his thin build and seemingly timid, deferential demeanor, his eyes sparkled with the vitality befitting the head of a territory.

I bowed respectfully and greeted him.

“Baron Gerard Cataria, I remember.”

“Haha, I’m honored.”

“I heard you had something to discuss with me…”

As I trailed off, he glanced briefly at his daughter who was hesitating on the sofa, then continued.

“Let’s sit down and talk first.”

“Very well.”

I carefully sat down on the sofa.

Across from me sat a demure woman.

Another marriage proposal?

If I had known this would happen, I should have declined despite Jawill Wilson’s face.

As I was letting out a quiet sigh, Gerard Cataria adjusted his posture and spoke.

“I know you’re very busy, so I’ll get straight to the point.”

“Yes, please do.”

“I was thinking of arranging a marriage between my daughter and Jawill Wilson. What do you think?”

“…What!?”