060: Horseplay in the Venue

November 19, 2020 - 8 minutes read - 1635 words

“Maid, can I get some wine…” Al

“Um, it’s not allowed. Wine is only for adults.” Maid

I want to have a drink, but that’s not allowed. I’m still only a child.

“So… I’m supposed to eat the hors d’oeuvres with fruit juice?” Al

I’ve just finished greeting other aristocrats along with my father. There were so many people with long names, I almost forgot some of them. It’s unrealistic to expect a kid to properly greet and remember so many people all at once. Thanks to Nord hinting at them during conversation, I’ve made it through the receiving line. Now that Nord is free, the noble daughters and sons are surrounding him.

“Are you staying in the royal capital for a few days Mr. Nord? If you can, your presence would be appreciated at a tea party in my mansion?” Daughter A

“How about my mansion, come and join me in swordsmanship practice!” Future Knight

“Give us your perspective on your achievements, Dragon Slayer! I’ve only heard it from plays or stories.” Daughter B

Oh, Nord is popular, more popular than I expected. I see many daughters, but also noble sons. Although they aren’t as aggressive as the daughters, the sons are boldly asking questions that Nord is responding to politely. The faces of the daughters were mesmerized, I’m scared of those women. I’m not so sure about the guys speaking so delightedly about swords either. Is this a world where it is difficult to survive as a passive person?

My mother Elna has started a conversation with some other wives. She has a smile on her face, but she occasionally sends a nasty look at the crowd surrounding Nord. Are you not able to do more because of rank? Nord notices, but he can’t be rude and leave.

I get some fruit juice from a waiter, then pretend I’m not involved with Nord while I walk over to the other side of the room. Nord said that my time could be spent as I like, his only request was to make friends with the children of other aristocrats. When I look around the venue, I see children of my same age forming groups and having conversations.

Some of the groups are formed around children of high-rank families, others are formed around people who are good at flattering others. Many seem to have a high pride, I’m not sure I could be friends with them. I’ll probably find more people I could be friendly with by watching who is most interested in the food. The fancy foods collected for the party are colorful and beautifully plated. The scents coming from the tables are irresistible.

It seems like these noble delicacies will be easier to get along with than the noble children. I hummed a happy song as I grabbed various things to put on my plate. Meat, vegetables, seafood, is this some sort of shrimp? It’s tail is longer than I expected. Well, I guess aristocrats like some odd looking food, that must be why it’s here.

Hmm, I’m starting to like this aristocratic food. The chef is better than I would have expected, is this the level of chef employed by a duke’s family? I’m enduring an attack of delicious food. What kind of ingredient was put in this sauce for the meat?

Well, maybe I’ll find out another time. The sauce really brings out the flavors of the food. Potentially it’s an ingredient that requires visiting the capital to buy? I’ve never had anything like it in Koriat Village.

I noticed the table I’m sitting at had almost run out of food. I’ll just let you know, I only ate as much as a normal seven-year-old boy would. It’s all the fault of the boy across from me, he’s been eating like a horse since he sat down. Waiters or maids are regularly replacing the empty plates at the table, then disappearing to the back. They must be having a hard time keeping this table well-stocked.

Oh, there’s only one piece of meat left. I really enjoyed the piece I had earlier, I should grab it. As I reach out with a set of tongs to grab it, I run into another set of tongs.

I meet the eyes of the other boy at the table. He’s a disheveled boy with brown hair split down the middle. His brown suit marks him as an aristocrat, but he is indistinguishable otherwise.

“Where are you from?” Boy

What kind of question is that?

“Don’t you usually ask for a name first? Can you start with yours?” Al

He tries to manuever the tongs to casually steal the meat, but I move to prevent him.

“Ugh, you. Eric Sylford.” Eric

Sylford? I’ve never heard of it?

“Is it like the Slowlette family?” Al

“Hey, what’s your name?” Eric

“No, where is your family based?” Al

“I’ve already asked that silly question!” Eric

“Ok, fine. Alfred Slowlette” Al

“Are you a baron?” Eric

“That’s right, so?” Al

“If so give it up. I was looking at it first.” Eric

“But you’re also the son of a baron” Al

I defend Eric’s tongs with my tongs. His family is only a baron, but he depends on others not knowing his rank to get away with what he wants. What a cunning guy.

“Do you think an Eastern countryside baronage is equal to my territory?” Eric

“Eh? Your territory is in the far southern countryside.”

The Sylford territory is located in the southernmost section of the Misfilt Kingdom, it’s as far from the royal capital as the Slowlette territory. Nord taught me the different territories using a map. I do envy his territory’s abundance of fruit and its fishing industry. This guy gets all-you-can-eat seafood, how envious.

“Are you making fun of my hometown?!” Eric

“Weren’t you the one that started this?” Al

Eric and I glare at each other for a little while, then we smile. It’s embarrassing to quarrel with each other like this.

“This is a place to form bonds among the future aristocracy, fighting over a piece of meat is…” Eric

That’s right. Feuding over a thing like this would make both houses look silly…" Al

Hmm, we stare at each other for a few moments.

“Come on!” Al & Eric

We start a dangerous dance with tongs to try to grab the piece of meat. I deflect my opponent’s tongs and try to pull the plate towards me. If I can move it closer I’ll have a better range of attack.

“Ooh, a little trick” Eric

Eric noticed my intention and hindered my tongs using his own. I twist my wrist to escape his tongs. The situation reminds of the Princess Marine story. In the story, there is a castle where the dragon takes the captured princess. The meat is like the captured princess, and I’m fighting against a dragon for the princess. The knight Alfred will defeat the enemy and save you!

The evil enemy doesn’t give up. Once I escape from my capture, I retaliate with the tongs. Are they really tongs? When they collide, sparks shoot out. I watch for his attacks, counter some and dodge others.

With a short thrust, Eric sticks out his right hand as fast as an arrow from a bow. It’s aimed at the handle of my tongs, I’ll need to pull a out a special move. I avoid by rotating the tongs with my finger. I see a flash of frustration on Eric’s face. His third thrust deviates to grab the meat, but I sandwich his tongs.

I thought I had caught his thrust accurately, but Eric quickly pulled back his tongs. Then he swung them down diagonally like a sword. To retaliate, I grabbed the grip of my tongs to use them more like a sword. The tongs make worrying noises as if they protested their treatment.

Eric retreats his tongs before making repeated thrusting attacks. If I want meat, I’ll need to beat this guy first. Eric seems surprised, he must not have expected me to be able to block his attacks. I’ll swap from defending to attacking, I’ll start with a slow thrust that’s a feint. Eric is able to defend, and each time the tongs hit there’s an impact transmitted back.

Eric is no longer underestimating me, he has a serious expression as if he’s taking on an opponent of the same rank. Eric evades my continuous attacks, then releases a piercing thrust using his torsional power of his body. I hit his attack on the side of his tongs.

“What?!” Eric

Eric is surprised and has revealed gaps. I take advantage and stick my finger near his nose and said a single word.

“Light” Al

A strong flash of light blinds Eric for a second.

“Augh! My eyes! What? I can’t see!” Eric

It’s fine to grab the meat now. With Eric writhing around, I gently take the meat onto my plate. The hard fought meat was the best reward, let’s ignore Eric’s scream for now.

“Then, I’ll take it!” Al

“Take what? Al?” Nord

Looking over, the dragon slayer seems to be very angry. Looking around, the venue had quieted down as if I had done something wrong.

“I’m sorry for the disruption…” Al

“I saw it now” Son

“Yes, it seems he has a considerable sword arm. The handling of the grip suggest familiarity with a knife or assassination tools. The opponent is from a noted house of swordsmen, so he was a strong opponent.” Father

“Hmm?” Son

“Yes?” Father

“That’s true, but that last blow was interesting. That magic seems uncommon.” Son

“Really?” Father

“Hmm, maybe not, he did just chant ‘Light’.” Son

“He was able to defeat a swordsman with such a short chant…” Father