Ascendance of a Bookworm

"Matthias, you're not seeing the perimeter. Hunting while thinking is dangerous. Isn't that what you always say yourself?"

It is obviously my fault that I was distracted by the warcraft of the slightly larger one and didn't realize that there was a small warcraft looming behind me. I scratch up my forehead and look back, exhaling gently.

"Raulenz, I'm sorry. Thanks."

I was in fifth grade and arrived early in the House of Lords. I went out to collect material as soon as Laurenz, a knight apprentice under the first grade, arrived the next day. Quality materials can be picked at Aerenfest's collection site, revived by Rosemayne's blessings. As much as the quality of the herb has improved, the demons coming for it also seem to be getting a little stronger. Just like last year, and Laurenz and I came together, but the next time we come, it looks like we should have a little more manpower.

"I picked it somewhat, and let's end it today. What the hell are you worried about?

Laurenz, who wielded Sturp's sword as a bun, puts the material he collected in a leather bag while pointing a frightened orange eye at him. When I recovered the material in the same way and put it in a leather bag, I put out the horseman and crossed it.

"... I was thinking about name dedication. Wasn't Laurenz forced by his parents?

"Was. As Matthias said, when I was an adult, I ran away."

Laurenz crosses the horseman with a slight exhale that looks troublesome.

I also had a request from my father to dedicate my name to Master Georgine, but both me and Laurenz are in the midst of increasing their magic in a way that compresses the magic that my father taught me by Master Georgine.

I can dedicate my name if I have materials like Rhoderich that don't seem to have any problems growing up, but the quality I usually deserve to dedicate my name until I grow up and the magic stops growing is unclear. I said "I'd love to after adulthood" for that reason and said no. When Rhoderich gets the material, both me and Laurenz get enough quality material but it's a secret to their parents. I still need time.

"Matthias must have met Master Georgine in the summer? What 'd you think?

"... I thought that was your father's lord."

It was after the middle of the summer that Lady Georgine came. Although the parents seemed vigorously to hold meetings and tea parties in the aristocratic district, Laurenz never seemed to see Lady Georgine in person because she had been entrusted with leaving a message for Geebe.

I left a message in Gerlach too, but I was able to meet you because Master Georgine was overnight at my house on his way back to Arlensbach in a hurry. Considering that he was well prepared to welcome Master Georgine, and that his father had used his horseman to come back from the aristocracy before Master Georgine, I suppose he was ready for an advance meeting.

The day Lady Georgine was present, the nobles who gave their name to Lady Georgine came to our house. It was really a small group, and besides, it was like a secret gathering where everyone would come on horseback. Not offering my name, I was not allowed to show my face to that gathering, and my father had ordered me to be in my chamber.

But Master Georgine, who knew I was a brilliant man, wanted to see me. I was rushed to get myself ready by the side service I was contacted by my father, and I was taken out to a meeting place where all the followers of Master Georgine gathered.

It seemed like the meal was already over and the place for the welcome had been moved to our hall. I can see at a glance that Master Georgine, surrounded by everyone and smiling, is the Lord of this gathering. I approached Master Georgine and knelt at his feet.

"Allow me to pray for blessings on the glorious good day of the Rydenshaft, God of Fire, on the encounter guided by the Gods"

"I forgive you."

After sending my blessings and finishing my greetings, Master Georgine has reached out to me. Then a cold hand strokes around his temples.

"A brilliant kid who knows the effort is very good. Geebe Gerlach, you raised a good boy."

Red, red lips were caught in the shape of a laugh, and the core of my head crept to the sweet smell that drifted. Nickely, narrowed, dark green eyes have a dark color at the bottom. The frightened eyes at the bottom were frightened and tingled. There's a fire in the fireplace, so much so that I can hear the patsy and occasional tree blow up that my spine feels frozen.

... I know these eyes.

It looked just like the eyes of a father who crazily seeks the Lord. I'm in front of you and I'm talking to you, but I'm looking at something else, not myself. Nothing else is in sight. I don't know what Master Georgine wants. But I thought it was purely scary.

"It's an honor to keep it in compliment. I never thought Matthias would be this good, but it was a delightful miscalculation"

I knelt down and drooped my neck and listened in silence to what my father, who had never praised me in particular, would say so well. I don't understand the way your father's thoughts revolve around Master Georgine.

... Oh, I want to go home to my room soon.

Though I thought so, I had to stay on the spot. Because Master Georgine smiled so vividly that he said something extraordinary.

"Hey, guys. I have some delightful news. I know how to get the magic of Aerenfest's foundations."

"Holy shit!?

Although she is now the First Lady of Aub Ahrensbach, she cannot move, but after Aub's death, Master Georgine said she will be back to get the magic of the foundations of Aerenfest. Aub is the one who has acquired the magic of the foundation. If Master Georgine gets the foundation magic and turns Master Gilvester into a deceased, Master Georgine automatically becomes the next Aub.

"I will certainly return to Aerenfest. Geebe Gerlach, may I ask you to prepare for that?

"Be sure to do it and show it to me. We look forward to your return as soon as possible, Master Georgine."

My father receives the letter given by Master Georgine, and he blocks the words as he was extremely impressed. I've never seen a happy face full of Father's joy.

"I, Aerenfest, need an excellent minister."

"Matthias would also like to give his name if he were an adult, and it would be useful to Master Georgine. My son will serve Lord Georgine with all his heart."

"Well, what if you're an adult?

gazing at me as Master Georgine raised his joyful voice. But those deep green eyes are never laughing. I was quietly looking forward to my reaction. In the gaze of even feeling the weight, I speak of the reasons I have also stated to my father.

"I don't have the good material I deserve because this is where the magic is stretched by the magic compression methods of Master Georgine taught by my father. You know you want to match adults whose magic stretches stop, collect them in the House of Lords, and dedicate your name.... take it then?

"Alas, you're stretching your magic beyond the material you picked last year in time. That's what a child to be chosen for excellence is dependable. Of course, I get my first name. Look forward to seeing how much you grow, Matthias."

If you don't have yourself firmly, you're going to be swallowed up by the different atmosphere in this place where all the followers of Master Georgine gather. I held a tight fist and spent that time with an aristocratic social grin.

"Is the deadline until the adult? Apparently, we're destined to live without a name dedication to Aub Aerenfest. I don't know if Aub Aerenfest is Gilvester or Georgine at the moment."

Laurenz vomits a mixed sigh of words as he flies the horseman. I agree. Being children of the old Veronicans, we have two options. You can either set yourself apart from your family and give your name to the Lords clan, or you can give your name to Master Georgine just like your family.

"My brother both gave their names to Master Georgine on this visit. I guess I'll devote my whole life to Master Georgine. Like Father. I still can't decide. But as Veronica's power flipped in an instant, we can never say that Gilvester's reign will be turned upside down by Georgine, can we? If you can get the magic of the basics, it's even worse."

I still have no choice between dedicating my name to the present clan of lords and cutting off my family, or waiting for Master Georgine to return and dedicate his name to the new Aub.

"... it just seems that Father is seriously going to make Master Georgine an Aub Aerenfest. I was plotting something."

"Really?

"Perhaps, I can only say. I did not give my name to Master Georgine because I have not been informed in detail."

It was a real coincidence that I noticed. As I was preparing to head to the winter social world, my father summoned me to become the next House of Lords of Excellence for Master Georgine, and a small transition group happened to glow, and small objects wrapped in cloth were transferred.

Now that we're in the middle of collecting things to take to the winter social world from here and there in Gerlach, it's not so uncommon for things to arrive in the transfer formation. However, because the cloth resembles the pattern of costumes that Rosemaine likes and often summons, it was slightly heterogeneous and somewhat eye-catching as an object to be sent to the transfer team in Father's room.

"I did receive it. Clear up the transfer team immediately."

Father flies Ordnants, grips a small wrap to the point where he can hold it with one hand, and smiles with a happy, satisfied grin. That looked a lot like the grin I had when I heard Master Georgine was coming back.

And immediately send that little package somewhere in another transfer formation, "As soon as you receive it, burn the transfer formation," and fly the Ordnants again.

"It's Bettina. I did receive it, Geebe Gerlach"

Ordonanz's reply arrived. No, Father burned both the transfer lines. It takes a variety of materials to create a transfer formation. "You can't burn me..." he muttered, looking at me, and his father exhaled as if he was frightened.

"Clean up what you've done for me. You mustn't leave any excess behind, Matthias.... Oh, I don't need that one anymore"

That's what he said. Father took the demon stone out of his desk drawer, added magic and crushed it to pieces. It is a demonic stone paired with a subordinate ring. Perhaps, somewhere now, your father's soldier disappeared.

"Looks like the little package was sending to Bettina. Do you know what Laurenz is? Freuden's your brother, isn't he?

"I don't know if you're married and the house is divided.... but I heard that Bettina is preparing to send winter favorites to her parents. Arlensbach seems magically tough."

"Then maybe that little package headed for Arlensbach, too. I don't know exactly what my father is up to, but he may be successful. 'Cause I'm a careful, multi-insured person."

I don't even know how far my father's plan to Aub Master Georgine is going. However, I was in a good mood before I left for the House of Lords, so I guess the plan is going well.

"What's Matthias going to do? Dedicated to Master Georgine?

"... now I think I just have to wait. Either way, I don't have enough information to give my name, and I don't know how things will change."

Father is undoubtedly planning to eliminate Master Zilvester. I intend to vacate Aub's seat so that Master Georgine can return soon. I was unable to learn more because I had not offered my name to Master Georgine, but my brother, Improvement, had been called to his father's room to discuss something.

"Aren't you going to let Master Rosemayne or Aub know?

"To be honest, I'm very lost"

If the aim was to plunge Aerenfest into chaos only by assassinating Aub, I would have fought Master Georgine with all my might, even by offering my name to the clan of lords. But Master Georgine seems to be getting the art of obtaining basic magic. Then a new Aub will be born, and it will only be a story of Father and our clan returning to the mainstream, arguably the petition of Master Georgine.

If you just cut off Master Veronica and cut off Master Zilvester just as the mainstream has been replaced and the mainstream will be replaced again, I don't know what the point is in giving a name to the Lords clan and cutting off the family and becoming a traitor.

"Can Laurenz be determined to completely cut off his family with no reading of how the situation will fall? It's not just my family. Your family will be involved."

"I like the atmosphere of the House of Lords today, as well as Aerenfest, which is coming together around Dear Wilfried and Rosemayne. At least not more than Master Georgine, the First Lady of the Other Territories."

In the words of Laurenz, I thought of the appearance of a family of lords. Dear Georgine's child is already married except Dear Dietrinde. Even if Georgine, who became Aub Aerenfest, thinks of adopting and succeeding his grandchildren, Wilfried, Charlotte and Merhior will be used to make connections to other territories and to make ground. At least I don't have to worry about my life.

... but Lady Rosemayne...

I think of Master Rosemaine. Golden eyes looking straight at this one in the color hair of the night sky. Not only is it young but beautiful, but it boasts the brilliance and magical power to excel for two years in a row. I believe it is in the hands of the Lords' clan that they create numerous epidemics, invest in the upbringing of the next generation, and evaluate them fairly regardless of the enemy allies. Rhoderich is an old Veronican, but he laughed happily that he was being taken care of.

"My father says Master Rosemaine is a blue witch apprentice who goes up as a civilian. After Mr. Georgine became Aub Aerenfest, I don't think Mr. Rosemaine's treatment would be a good thing. That's all I worry about."

"Whether you trump your family in the name of Aub now or wear Master Georgine as Aub, it's going to have a bad aftertaste."

I nodded deeply at Laurenz's words, which leaked quietly as he scratched his dark green hair. The situation between me and Laurenz is very similar in the sense that both parents are giving their names to Master Georgine. Whatever you dedicate your name to the Lords' clan or Master Georgine, if we move, it will have a huge impact on the children of the old Veronicans. At the same time, it would be heavily involved in the way Aerenfest as a whole.

"I'd like to buy you a little time until I know how Mr. Georgine and Father get out."

In the end, we had arrived at the dorm when we both nodded at the conclusion that we had to wait for the situation to decide.

Lord Candidates Wilfried and Rosemayne are scheduled to arrive today. Until the room is ready, the Lordship Candidate will spend time in the multi-purpose hall, so we will also head to the multi-purpose hall to pick him up.

For those of us who must be aware of the changes in the faction even when we are at home, the House of Lords is very cozy with Lady Rosemaine, who has removed the hedges of the faction.

"Master Wilfried has arrived"

I blinked at the voice I touched first. From the original order, Master Rosemaine should arrive first.

... Did they break down again?

I didn't seem to be the only one wondering, and everyone would look at what happened. One asked Master Wilfried.

"Dear Wilfried, what happened to Master Rosemayne? Did you even get sick?

"No, Rosemaine is supposed to come after this. I was supposed to leave first in order to confirm the last of the books that were being prepared elsewhere. Rosemaine is supposed to manage the books to be brought to the House of Lords. Civilians were preparing us, so there shouldn't be a problem, but just in case, we have to keep an eye out."

Gently exhaling and saying so, Master Wilfried looks around the multi-purpose hall. I was laughing, but I could see vigilance in those eyes. Little has ever been seen in the House of Lords, as if Master Rosemayne had seen the children of the old Veronicans when they were soaking up and sleeping in Yurevé.

... looks like we're in a bad situation.

I swallowed gokuri and spit. I don't know exactly what your father was plotting. But they weren't moving under the water, something was happening around the Lords' clan. And I suppose it is known that the cause is due to the parents of the old Veronicans.

... Did something happen to Master Zilvester?

I don't think that careful father would leave evidence that easily. But the vigilance in Master Wilfried's eyes is clearly directed here.

"Matthias, we don't have time to get lost."

Raulenz sitting next to him whispers barely even moving his mouth. I have a grin welcoming the Lordship candidate, but it has been conveyed that my heart feels the same impatience as mine. I respond to Laurenz by nodding small.

"Master Rosemaine has arrived"

As Master Wilfried said, it appears that Master Rosemayne arrived soon as well. We waited for Lady Rosemaine to come in anticipation. From sticking to factions when the old Veronicans were thinking narrowly about their shoulders to competing with other territories, I thought Rosemayne would do something about it again.

However, the eyes of the proximity surrounding Master Rosemayne had become as alarming as Master Wilfried's. The tingling tension of Lord Rosemayne's escort knights is the same as he felt at the beginning feast. I thought at that time it was because I was on your father's side, the heart of the old Veronicans, but it is odd that you are so nervous in the House of Lords.

Above all, Master Rosemayne did not stop the perimeter alert, unlike before, he just looked at this one with a caring look.

... something happened to Lady Rosemaine, not Lady Zilvester?

If the evidence of something plotted by my father is being grabbed and it means a consortium, I do not know, of course, how many children of the old Veronicans will be helped. I was vaguely wondering if Rosemaine, the most impartial member of the Lords' clan, would protect the children who had been spared from the union. But if Lady Rosemaine turns her back on us, even if she survives, the whereabouts of the children of the old Veronicans will be very dark.

... What do I do?

I grabbed my fist on my lap. Assuming that the Lords only have proof of what's going on, it's not if you're looking at the situation for a long time. More than Aub dropped us off at the House of Lords, our lives should be covered until the end of this year's House of Lords, but we don't know after that.

It takes the children of the old Veronicans to make their decision. I saw Laurenz unexpectedly. Likewise, Laurenz's complexion is poor. Before I knew it, they were on the verge of making a decision.

"Do you think you can raise yourself to live, Laurenz?

"That's an odd encounter. That's what I was gonna say, too."

It would be better to take the story with you here than to make a decision after you've been cut out of something. I don't know what my father was plotting, but here's the information: "I hear Master Georgine found out something to get the magic of the foundation". Will this buy the lives of the children of the old Veronicans?

... No, we manage to negotiate and win.

"Dear Wilfried, Dear Rosemayne"

I stand up slowly, keeping my strength in my fist. Seeing that I was so nervous that the air hurt even when I just stood up, I crossed my hands in front of my chest when I knelt as I did.

"I was eagerly awaiting the opportunity to talk to you about this regardless of your parents or faction. We have an important story to tell you about the goddess of chaos that causes discord in Aerenfest."

Lady Wilfried and Lady Rosemayne opened their eyes wide and looked at me. After all, it looks like Father and Master Georgine did something.

"We'll take care of it whether you believe it or not. I just want to tell you what I know. Even if we have parents of the old Veronicans, the nobility of Aerenfest. I pledge my allegiance to Aub Aerenfest."

Rosemaine-like's golden eyes, which were floating with anxiety and surprise, lay down once and slowly open. That was the only thing that gave me a quiet glance.

Let's talk, Matthias.

I'm breathtaking. And I saw the children of the old Veronicans behind me once.

"I just want to ask you one thing before that. I intend to pledge allegiance, but will Aub Aerenfest treat us as Aerenfest nobles?

"What do you mean?

I ask, staring at the two of you, Lord Wilfried and Lord Rosemayne, whether you will be treated in the same way as Roderich, who has become a close proximity to Master Rosemayne, even if he is a child of the old Veronicans.

"... does it make any difference to your saying that if you dedicate your name to the Lords clan, you can get out of the influence of your parents?

"It's no different. Those who gave their names are treated as neighbors, even if they are children of the old Veronicans. At least that's what Aub and I are gonna do."

Master Wilfried said so in a clear tone, and Master Rosemayne nodded as well.

"If you're going to give your name to Mr. and Mrs. Aub, not us Lords' candidates, you're going to take it if you can prepare a stone of fame by the time of the territorial rivalry."

"... may I say that I wish to dedicate myself to Master Rosemaine?

Reacting to that word were, rather, those around him who were neither lord candidates nor nearby. In the midst of purposeful dizziness, Lady Rosemayne stepped forward with her hands gently raised to control the proximity.

"Of course, I am ready to accept Matthias, son of Geebe Gerlach"

That said, Master Rosemayne's eyes were completely different from those from when he was bewildered by the dedication of Rhoderich's name. The golden eyes that dwell in the strong light look straight at me. Standing next to it, Rhoderich laughs proudly and looks at his Lord. I gained the certainty that my determination was not wrong in the way it was.

I lay my eyes down for the first time and exhale slowly.

My family's face came up one after the other. The way my brothers proudly give their name, the way my father felt, the happy smile of my mother. The happiness of my family was with Master Georgine. If I could have been as intoxicated by Master Georgine as my family, maybe that would have made me happy. But it's not Master Georgine I want to serve, it's Master Rosemaine.

... I'm sorry, Father. I'm not on the same path as you.

Cool face up and look around the whole multi-purpose hall. I can see a lot of gaze is right for me.

"Master Georgine stopped by my house on his way home to Aerenfest"

To inform the children of the old Veronicans of the dangers of their position, and to impress them that they were waiting for the arrival of the two Lords' candidates, I did not set aside time, did not move the place and began to talk about what I knew on the spot.