Grandfather was utterly dumbfounded when he heard about Ben and Count Baltzar’s intense fistfight.
“You’ve been the same since you were young.”
“……”
Count Baltzar turned his face away at Grandfather’s remark.
“So, how did Ben fare?”
“…Hmph.”
“Gahaha! You can’t talk big after losing, can you? Hahahahaha!”
Grandfather was clearly enjoying teasing Count Baltzar, wasn’t he?
“Damn you, you monstrous old man.”
“If I’m an old man, then you’re a stubborn geezer. Now, let’s proceed with Lady Claudia’s engagement to Ben, the retainer of House Roxfall.”
“Do as you wish.”
Grandfather made sure to warn Count Baltzar not to poach Ben from our family. He had considered letting him go if it was for Ben’s happiness, but fortunately, it didn’t come to that. Thank goodness.
“Oh, and about your knee—you should get that healed quickly. Sooner or later, we’ll have to settle matters with the Holy Kingdom of Catriais . Won’t you be leading the charge?”
“Of course! Who else but me would lead the charge?”
It’s good to see you’re spirited, but should the Minister of War really be at the frontlines? By all logic, you should be staying in the rear.
After that, I began attending the academy twice a week. In the afternoons, I examined sick nobles, and on my days off, I took care of Siegvalt and Elze while exploring dungeons.
As for Ben, he officially got engaged to Lady Claudia. Before that, he was conferred the rank of baronet for his achievements during the Bahaten Incident.
An emissary from the royal castle arrived to confer the title of Baronet upon Ben. His new family name became “Flamebark.”
“Hey, is it really okay for me to be a noble?”
“Of course it is.”
“Yeah, but at the very least, you should learn to read and write.”
Charmy’s remark hit Ben where it hurt.
“Ugh… I’m just not good at that stuff!”
“If you can’t even write, Lady Claudia might lose interest in you.”
“Ugh…”
Charmy, who was also granted the title of baronet this time, could already read, write, and do arithmetic. She must have picked it up from all the time she spent in the temple of the Ashud domain when she had free time.
“Not just reading and writing—you need to learn math too.”
“Thomas!”
“If you can’t even do basic arithmetic, Lady Claudia really will hate you.”
“N-no way…”
Ben’s face was painted with despair.
Now that he’s a noble, he really needs to learn this stuff.
▽▽▽ Side: Ben ▽▽▽
When was it…? Oh yeah, I was about ten years old when I first met Thomas.
I thought there was some scrawny little kid hanging around, but it turned out he was the lord’s son.
That year’s Meat Festival was incredible—I got to eat everything first thanks to Thomas! Hehehe.
Then Thomas discovered a dungeon, and I gathered intel. When I heard from the soldiers that Thomas was planning to enter the dungeon, I thought, “I’ve got to go too!”
When I told my dad I was going to protect Thomas, he agreed right away.
“Alright, go and be a good meat shield!”
“You got it!”
A “meat shield”? That’s the perfect term for a meat lover like me! My dad really gets it!
While helping with dungeon exploration and the brewery, I got to enjoy my fill of meat every day. Then one day, Thomas became an “apostle.” I still remember the usually calm priests in the temple making a huge fuss over it.
After that, some big-shot lady came from the royal capital. When the priest got too high and mighty, she smacked him on the head with her fist. I dodged her punch, though, like a pro.
Anyway, life’s never boring with Thomas around.
Oh yeah, I remember. It was just before Thomas went to the royal capital to take the academy entrance exam.
I felt lighter, so I checked my status, and guess what—I’d ranked up to A! My blessing had also changed to “Flame Burst Warrior.”
At first, I didn’t get why, but Charmy had also ranked up to an A-ranked “Saintly Mage of Light.”
We figured it had to be Thomas’s doing. But thanks to the rank-up, our abilities skyrocketed. I could feel my strength increase immediately. Life really isn’t dull with Thomas around.
A few years passed, and somehow, Thomas became a marquis. Apparently, being an apostle is prestigious, but a marquis is a pretty high-ranking noble too.
I don’t really get it, but it’s always fun being with Thomas. That’s why I came to the royal capital with him. Charmy, my childhood friend, came too.
I became Thomas’s knight. My job is to stay by his side and protect him. Plus, I get paid every month, and when we explore dungeons, we split the profits three ways. Hehehe, it’s a good deal!
Since Thomas was going to attend the academy, I also went along as his bodyguard.
That’s when I met the Goddess. Her name was Claudia. She was incredibly beautiful. I was so captivated by her beauty that I stared at her for a while.
Later, Charmy told me that what I was feeling was love. I didn’t believe it at first, but every time I thought of Claudia, my heart would pound like it was about to burst.
One day, the academy held both a martial arts tournament and a magic tournament.
Thomas won the magic tournament. Given his skills, he wasn’t even trying his hardest.
Well, when it comes to fighting someone who can actually go up against Thomas, the only one who could is probably me. There’s no way someone scrawny from the academy could beat him.
The winners of the martial arts and magic tournaments were supposed to face off. The winner of the martial arts tournament was a blonde-haired kid. Apparently, he was the prince of this country, but to me, he was still far from impressive.
The blonde-haired kid fought Thomas, but he wasn’t even close to being a match. I was watching the match from the back of the arena.
Bodyguards aren’t allowed to enter the arena, and the prince was no different.
Just after Thomas and the prince’s match ended, explosions suddenly erupted from the stands. I was about to head toward the arena with Captain Susanna, but the entrance was blocked with rubble, so we couldn’t go directly in.
“Ben, you’ll need to go outside and then come in through the stands. I’ll look for another way.”
“Got it!”
Following Captain Susanna’s instructions, I ran outside. Then, something flew at me from behind cover. I quickly pulled out my morning star and swung it.
There was a sharp sound, and the knife fell to the ground.
The person who threw the knife charged at me. Pathetic!
“Gah!”
It was fast, but there are plenty of monsters faster than this guy. I’ve always been the one to stop those monsters!
Wait, I can’t waste time with this guy.
But just like before, people like him were attacking students and teachers all over the place. What are these guys trying to do?
As I knocked a few of them out and moved forward, I heard a scream. I thought it was just another one of the attacks, but it was probably someone on the way to the arena.
I kicked a man attacking a female student right in the groin.
“Gyaaaah!”
I punched the man who was sent flying.
“Shut up! Hey, are you alright…”
When I reached out to help the female student up, I was surprised to find that it was Claudia.
“Thank you… huh?!”
It seemed she had injured her leg and grimaced in pain as she tried to stand.
What should I do? I need to get to Thomas quickly, but I can’t just leave her here.
I have no choice!
“Please hang on a bit.”
I picked her up.
“Eh, uh… no…”
And I started running.
“Eep!”
“Don’t bite your tongue, be careful.”
“Y-yes…”
A female teacher happened to be nearby, so I entrusted Claudia to her.
Now I could finally go to Thomas… or so I thought, but by the time I got there, it was already over.
“Damn it, I didn’t make it in time…”
“Ben, you’re late.”
Thomas, looking all ragged, didn’t have a single scratch on him. Captain Susanna said it was a strange sight, and I agreed.
Come to think of it, there was also that time when assassins came to the mansion, and Thomas had no wounds, but his clothes were torn and covered in blood.
Well, it’s Thomas. If I’m going to be surprised by this kind of thing, I’d get worn out pretty quickly.
Ben’s story – Completed in three parts!
