episode_0018

The hellish training I endured was all for the exam.

Honestly, training with these people didn’t really help me much.

“Well, I trained with the old man known as the Sword Master.”

Even though he was the hellish training instructor, how could I be satisfied?

Even simple training was not suitable for me.

However.

“Amazing!”

“That person is Lady Asia’s fiancé…! Another Messiah family member from the Swordsmen will be produced!!!”

“Not a fiancé, a fiancé candidate. Well, it seems like you’ll soon be upgraded from candidate to official fiancé.”

The results from the hellish training changed my reputation.

The way the three knight orders looked at me changed.

Well, except for the Sun Knights who already liked me, the other two knight orders’ views changed favorably.

Their gazes became friendly.

Of course, their leaders also showed me favor.

“If only he wasn’t Lady Asia’s fiancé candidate….”

Verteria, with a sticky tone, looking at me.

“Finally, someone who can teach me has appeared within the family!”

Pandert, hungry for growth.

“Hmm, as expected…! Just as I saw.”

Even Retid, suddenly acknowledging me.

Most of the Messiah Viscount’s knights had a better opinion of me.

Except for one…

“If the leaders of two knight orders join forces, could they take revenge on Shapirius…?”

Except for Teddy, who muttered incomprehensible words and sent hatred towards me.

The changed gazes after the hellish training ended.

I thought I had perfectly passed the test set by the Messiah Viscount.

So, I confidently looked at the Messiah Viscount.

‘Huh…?’

I corrected myself….

It wasn’t just Teddy.

The Messiah Viscount still looked at me unfavorably.

What’s the problem? With a slightly annoyed expression, the Messiah Viscount glared at me.

***

The Messiah Viscount looked down at Arthur, who was sitting on the stone seat.

“…He’s not an ordinary guy.”

Like Pandert, the Messiah Viscount was also at the top level of Sword Expert.

So, he had some idea of Arthur’s skills.

But he didn’t expect this level.

“It’s not going as planned.”

The Charyun Grand Tournament where he had to face both vice-captains and captains.

The reason he presented this to Arthur was simple.

Because he was the disciple of his father, Swordsmen.

Even though he was young, he thought Arthur could handle the captains.

But he didn’t expect this level.

He didn’t know Arthur would win so overwhelmingly.

“…I even prepared myself to step in.”

If the vice-captains and captains lost, he was ready to step in.

The strongest in the current Messiah Viscount.

He planned to personally face the exhausted Arthur and eliminate him from the test.

But he realized.

Even he couldn’t beat this guy.

‘Can’t be helped. The first test is passed…. Hmm… What should the next test be?’

The Messiah Viscount closed his eyes and pondered.

The next test.

What should it be?

The Messiah Viscount closed his eyes for a while.

‘Arthur…, my father’s disciple…. Hmm…?’

And suddenly, a good strategy crossed his mind.

Smirk-.

A smile involuntarily appeared on the Messiah Viscount’s lips.

He had a great idea to get rid of the scoundrel trying to marry his daughter.

“If he learned the sword from my father…!”

Arthur, the disciple of Swordsmen.

If he learned the sword from his father, he would know his weaknesses.

.

.

.

Mealtime arrived.

The Messiah Viscount invited Arthur and Asia to the dining table.

And when they arrived, they started eating.

Asia, the daughter, had a dignified meal like a noble.

Following the etiquette of nobles.

On the other hand, Arthur had a modest meal, but it was far from the etiquette of nobles.

Even though he acts like a noble, he doesn’t seem to have learned proper etiquette.

“As I thought, the probability of it being as I expected is high!”

During this meal, I came to a clear realization while looking at Asarth.

It was about Asarth’s weakness.

After finishing the meal, the Messiah Viscount focused their attention on the two.

“Asarth, you have remarkable skills. Just as expected from someone trained by your father.”

“You flatter me.”

Asarth showed a humble attitude.

This may have been normal, but it didn’t sit well with the Messiah Viscount.

“A person with your level of skill feigning humility is actually belittling their opponent.”

“…Well, in that case… I can say that I have talents that would please Master Geomsung.”

Although this attitude was desired, the Messiah Viscount couldn’t help but feel a sense of disdain towards Asarth.

To hide these emotions, the Messiah Viscount cleared their throat.

“Ahem!”

After calming their emotions, they continued speaking.

“Asarth, congratulations on passing the first test.”

“Thank you.”

“Well, now it’s time for the next test, isn’t it?”

“What?”

The test had just ended, and now there was another test.

Asarth showed a momentary expression of confusion.

Seeing Asarth’s reaction, the Messiah Viscount secretly felt pleased.

“It feels like I’ve got him right where I want him.”

“Yes, the next test.”

Asia, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, interjected.

“Father, we just finished a test, and now there’s another one. Isn’t this a bit rushed? Shouldn’t we give him some time to rest at least?”

“…Asia?”

The Messiah Viscount saw their daughter siding with Asarth.

Their heart grew colder than ever before.

No, to be precise, they felt worse.

They felt the urge to get rid of Asarth right in front of them.

But they held back.

“…It’s not that rushed. Right now, this is just a notification of another test, there will be plenty of time to prepare.”

“Time to prepare?”

“Yes, well… about a month should be enough…”

Trailing off, the Messiah Viscount observed Asia’s reaction.

Asia nodded quietly in understanding at the mention of a month.

Asia’s acquiescence.

Feeling relieved, the Messiah Viscount issued a test to Asarth.

“Listen carefully. The next test I will give you…!”

Asarth focused on the Messiah Viscount’s words.

“It’s about academics! Just because you excel in swordsmanship, doesn’t mean you can become a son-in-law of the Messiah family!”

The next test the Messiah Viscount had prepared.

It was about academics.

“You know that you are a commoner. Therefore, I don’t expect anything difficult. It will be basic… almost common sense questions.”

Not even a real academic test, just basic academics.

Something any noble could pass.

The Messiah Viscount added that even a ten-year-old child could get a perfect score.

Asia also nodded in agreement, thinking rationally.

“Well… if it’s that kind of test, that arrogant man should be able to pass easily…”

Just as Asia was muttering to herself, she locked eyes with Asarth.

In a moment, Asia was engulfed in unease.

“No way?”

The man who always had a relaxed expression, and therefore seemed arrogant, was now flustered.

It was probably the first time she had seen him so flustered.

In Asia’s mind, a sinister thought took root.

She considered it something that couldn’t possibly happen.

“No way he hasn’t learned anything other than swordsmanship from Grandfather…”

Asia vehemently shook her head to deny such thoughts.

But as if to confirm that such thoughts were correct, Asarth muttered something under his breath.

“I… don’t even know the characters.”

What Asos learned from Gumsung was only the sword.

He had never even learned basic knowledge, let alone letters.

At the shocking news, Asia…

“What?!?!”

I couldn’t help but shout.

Seeing the two in such a state, Count Messiah smiled with satisfaction.

“Hehehe, as expected. Just as I thought.”

The Gumsung that Count Messiah remembered was like this.

A quirky person who liked swords and enjoyed advancing his skills.

And a person who didn’t like using his head, to put it nicely, he was more of a man of action,

Or to put it harshly, just a lazy person who didn’t like using his brain.

“If my father teaches someone else how to wield a sword, that’s understandable. But… if my father teaches someone else academics…?”

That was absolutely unthinkable.

Of course, it had been ten years.

During that time, people could have changed.

But if it was his father that he knew….

“He won’t change.”

And the answer to that was…

The bewildered expression on Asos’s face was enough.

“My father is still the same, and that’s truly fortunate.”

Now that he could get rid of the fiancé he couldn’t stand to see.

“…I will never allow such an unreasonable thing as a fiancé for my daughter.”

There was a hint of anger in Count Messiah’s mind.

But at the same time, a trace of sadness could also be seen.