Chapter 20: The Second Promotion in Peerage
“Anyone with grievances, step forward! No one? On the day of the incident, among the high-ranking nobles surrounding me, not a single one attempted to protect me. Only the Royal Guards stood as my shield, safeguarding the area. It was a pitiful sight. There were those who used women as shields, others who lay on the ground clutching their heads, and some who wandered about seeking an escape. I even considered cutting down that man on the spot. Did you see the nobles who were participants in the Magic Tournament? Not one of them dared to retaliate. Do you understand how I felt? Sharda Hamawal, come forth!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Kneel, and take the Prime Minister’s Sword!”
“Your Majesty… what for?”
I glared at the Prime Minister, silently extending my hand. Overwhelmed by my aura, he presented the Sacred Sword. I drew the blade and placed it upon the shoulder of the kneeling Marquis Hamawal.
“I hereby appoint you, Sharda Hamawal, as a Marquis. From this day forth, demonstrate the spirit of the kingdom’s nobility and serve as an example to the other nobles!”
“Your Majesty, is that truly acceptable?”
“I permit it.”
“Isn’t this reward rather excessive?”
“After hearing that man’s claims, I reflected on how poorly I treated you, Hyalda, and Fiene. If you desire, I can arrange for you to inherit that man’s territory.”
“No, I am satisfied with my current domain. To be honest, changing territories would be a hassle.”
A booming laughter erupted from King Nagayar, echoing through the now silent audience chamber.
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“Haah, what a ridiculous situation we’ve found ourselves in.”
“Yet, the King speaks the truth. At that moment, it was only the King and the Royal Guards standing on the platform. Among the nobles seated in the same viewing area as us, not a single one made a move to retaliate. To stand alone amidst the chaos and observe the situation calmly is quite something.”
“Isn’t that a problem? What if they ask about Kaito?”
“In that case, we’ll say he was the merchant’s son with a Mana Grade of 40, who, despite his low power, wished to witness the Magic Tournament… That should suffice. In truth, he hasn’t even entered my estate. He’s just a country merchant’s child staying at a hotel.”
“Seems like there’s someone here who doesn’t miss a beat.”
I heard Fiene’s small murmur.
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After finishing a late breakfast, I pondered where to go today when the manager approached me.
“Kaito-sama, you have a letter from Marquis Hamawal.”
He presented a letter on a tray.
“Marquis?”
“It seems he was promoted yesterday.”
“Wasn’t he a count before the promotion?”
“Yes, he was a count, but shortly after his promotion, he became a Marquis. The letter also addresses him as Marquis Hamawal.”
I thanked him and took the letter, barely able to suppress a laugh as I read it. However, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was some sort of internet in this world; the information spread too quickly. I recalled hearing about the Moccasin Telegraph in North America, a system that transmitted rumors and news thousands of kilometers in just a few days. Even in Japan, there were flag signaling systems that connected Osaka and Edo for rice market communications, allowing Osaka’s rice prices to be relayed to Edo by evening. Surely, the events at the Magic Tournament had already spread like wildfire.
It would be wise to follow the Marquis’s script.
Deciding to play the part of a newcomer, I set out to buy a watch that matched my fine clothing. When I asked the manager, he said it was far, so I took advantage of his kindness and had the hotel carriage prepared. The watch I had previously purchased clashed terribly with the outfit the Marquis had made for me, drawing far too much attention.
I arrived at a jewelry store, where noble carriages were parked, and stepped out from behind one of them. A man standing in front of the store glanced at me, silently bowed his head, and opened the door.
Inside, I spotted a pair of nobles lounging on a sofa while a clerk attended to them.
“Welcome, what can I assist you with today?”
“I’m looking for a watch that complements this outfit, something understated. I usually wear merchant’s clothing, so I need something that suits that as well.”
He briefly glanced at my attire before gesturing toward a chair near the counter.
The outfit made for me by the current Marquis had a subtle embroidery of crossed swords and a stag, which would be recognizable to those who knew the Hamawal family. It was a dangerous world where appearances mattered.
After examining several options, I eliminated those with flashy gemstones and ostentatious designs, realizing that I had forgotten how much the noble world valued appearances. As I frowned at the watches, I heard someone call my name.
“Kaito, is that you? What are you doing here?”
Turning around, I saw Fiene standing there with a maid, flanked by two guards.
“Oh, Fiene, I was just thinking of buying a watch that matches this outfit. I dislike anything gaudy, so I’m having trouble finding something I like.”
The maid pulled out a chair for her, and Fiene sat down beside me, peering over.
“You’re right; it doesn’t suit your taste at all.”
“If I wear my usual adventurer’s gear, it would tarnish the Marquis’s reputation.”
“Oh, I thought you didn’t care about that.”
“If I wore that watch with this outfit, everyone would stare at me with strange expressions. I’ve finally learned that one should match their possessions to their attire. But more importantly, what happened with the Marquis’s promotion?”
Fiene shrugged, a wry smile on her face.
“My brother was granted permission to use the title of Viscount until he inherits the family estate.”
“So Hyalda is now Viscountess? That’s a fitting reward. What brings you here, Fiene?”
“You can drop the formalities; just call me by my name.”
“But we’re in public, and if we’re seen as equals, it could lead to misunderstandings.”
“I need a brooch for official events. I can no longer wear the brooch that signifies my family as a Viscount. The jewels given to me by the King don’t include anything like that.”
“Nobility has its challenges, doesn’t it?”
Reluctantly, I purchased the most understated brooch available, but it cost a staggering 80 gold coins—truly a noble establishment. Not wanting to fumble with my leather pouch for each transaction, I inquired about a more convenient option and was informed about a Magic Pouch that could serve as a wallet. I immediately headed to the magic shop.
The pouch resembled a larger version of a commoner’s leather wallet, akin to a drawstring bag. A Class 2 pouch capable of holding 30 gold coins seemed quite spacious for a wallet, but I learned it could also store travel gear like weapons and clothing. No wonder the high-ranking adventurers had no visible luggage; I had no idea such a convenient item existed. Surely, a high-ranking adventurer could afford one.
In the end, I bought a Class 2 pouch and a genuine wallet that could hold 1,000 coins, paying 45 gold coins for it.
I stopped by the Commercial Guild to exchange 10 gold coins for silver coins, placing them into my genuine leather pouch. They deducted a 1% fee, leaving me with 99 silver coins, which felt light and convenient. I had the carriage drop me off at the market and returned to the hotel.
As I strolled through the market, passing through the square, I peeked into various shops along the street. Drawn in by a delightful aroma, I entered a shop selling cookies and tea. The Hamawal family occasionally served tea and cookies, but this was the first time I had seen such a store in this world. Reminiscing about tea houses, I found the sweet tea reminiscent of black tea, paired perfectly with the cookies.
When I asked the shopkeeper, they informed me they also sold retail, so I purchased some tea leaves and cookies, tossing them into my Magic Pouch.
With a satisfied smile, I headed back to the hotel, only to encounter a group of people I had no desire to see, sprawling across the street as they walked toward me. Today, there were six of them. These types tended to grow stronger in numbers.
“Hey, brother, you’re looking sharp in those clothes! You look different. I want to repay you for the other day, so come hang out with us.”
“How can you approach me after seeing my outfit? Are you reckless or just plain foolish? You should choose your company wisely.”
“Don’t get cocky. I know you’re an adventurer. You’re just a country bumpkin who tagged along with high-ranking adventurers to the Royal Capital.”
“If you don’t understand, I owe you no explanation. This is your last warning: clear the way, trash!”
It seemed four out of the six were ready to fight, while the remaining two hesitated, likely intimidated by my words and appearance. The fools reached for their longswords in the middle of the street, so I promptly gifted them a soft mudball bullet.
Though it was the size of a soft baseball, it was traveling at about 200 kilometers per hour (I guessed). It struck one in the stomach, causing him to double over and vomit.
“You lot can go free this time, so disappear. I’ll hand these fools over to the Royal Capital’s guard.”
I didn’t want to touch the idiot rolling around covered in vomit, so I was pondering how to carry him when help arrived.
“Hey, what’s going on here? What happened?”
“Ah, they came at me demanding money, so I gave one a good punch to the gut. Since this is the second time, I was thinking of handing them over.”
As he scrutinized my appearance, I showed Viscount Hamawar’s identification—now the Marquis. I worried for a moment if it would be valid in the Royal Capital, but it was accepted without issue.
The guards’ demeanor shifted immediately, and I couldn’t help but be impressed by the power of noble identification.
I informed them that I was staying at the Egdra Hotel and told them they could come by anytime if they had any concerns before leaving the scene.