Chapter 39
Three years had passed, and I, Claude, had turned eight.
Netzal-san had told me there was nothing more he could teach me, and now we were colleagues, researching alchemy together.
Brother Fahrenheit, while helping Father with his work, still found time to oversee my studies.
Alicia-neesama married into the household of Margrave Missia right after graduating from the academy. The wedding ceremony was held magnificently at a church in the Royal Capital, and our entire family celebrated it.
Currently, I was working on improving magic circles, wondering if I could make everyday magic tools more efficient. Being magic circles that had been used for many years, they were quite refined, but I was experimenting, believing there was still room to increase their potency or improve their mana consumption.
There was a knock on the door, and Brother Fahrenheit came in.
“Sorry to bother you while you’re busy. Father is calling for you, could you come with me?”
“Understood.”
I stored the magic tool I was modifying into my Item Box and headed to the study with Brother Fahrenheit. Brother Fahrenheit knocked on the study door and entered, and I followed him into the room.
“Excuse me, Father,” I said. “You summoned us? Has something happened?”
“Thank you both for coming,” Father replied. “A dungeon in the adjacent House Rimtech’s territory has caused a Stampede, and a fast horse messenger has arrived requesting reinforcements.”
“That’s a dungeon managed by the Kingdom, isn’t it?” Brother Fahrenheit remarked. “If I recall correctly, orcs inhabit it.”
“If we leave this as is, there’s a possibility our own territory will suffer damage,” Father continued, looking at Brother Fahrenheit. “Fahrenheit, I want you to take the knightly order and head there.”
“And your reason for summoning Claude?” Brother Fahrenheit asked.
“There’s no doubt he’s a powerful asset as a solo combatant,” Father said, then looked at me. “It’s up to you, Claude, but what will you do?”
“This is an emergency,” I replied. “If there’s something I can do, I’ll go.”
“I understand you’ll go,” Father said. “However, I won’t permit you to act alone. I’ll assign a troop of knights to you, so don’t overdo it.”
“Brother Fahrenheit,” I said. “Thank you very much.”
“Both of you, make sure you return safely,” Father said.
“Well then, we have preparations to make, so please excuse us,” Brother Fahrenheit said.
Leaving Father’s study, I returned to my room and began to put on my equipment.
When I went outside the mansion in full gear, a stableman was waiting with two horses. We each mounted our horses and headed for the knights’ garrison.
Upon entering the garrison, the knights had finished their preparations for deployment and were lined up.
Commander Bannel noticed us and called out.
“Fahrenheit-sama. Preparations for departure are complete.”
“Good work,” Brother Fahrenheit responded. “I apologize for the trouble, but I’d like you to lend Kallion’s troop to Claude and have them operate as a separate unit.”
“I am aware of Claude-sama’s martial prowess,” Commander Bannel said, “but what about his commanding skills?”
“I’ve been teaching him whenever I find the time, so there shouldn’t be a problem,” Brother Fahrenheit replied.
“Understood,” Commander Bannel said.
The Prominence Knights set out to save the Rimtech Territory.