He was going to develop the mana stone vein.
Father's bombshell planted an inner demon in me.
‘This is all because of Viscount Hadion.’
That bastard had put foolish ideas into Father's head.
Then what should I do?
For days on end, I went to Father and pleaded that developing the mana stone vein might be a little too ambitious, but his resolve remained firm.
“I will tell you when your brother returns, so wait patiently.”
Father, if my elder brother hears about this, he may be forced to inherit the title on the spot.
What was I supposed to do in this situation?
My ancestor provided the answer.
[For now, just train. Have you not rested long enough?]
“Phew, yes.”
He was right.
I had rested for an entire week after the war, so I had certainly rested enough.
What? Why had I suddenly become so diligent?
‘I need to become more diligent.’
After Father announced that he would develop the mana stone vein, I changed my mind.
Putting Vilheim forward as baron would be far too unfilial, so I would leave the territory instead.
Then what? What if the territory ended up buried beneath a mountain of debt?
‘I'll be independent.’
Wouldn't that make it all right?
Now that I had decided to strike out on my own, I needed to grow stronger.
Even in the modern world, people said it was dangerous outside the covers, but that was merely a figure of speech. This world was genuinely dangerous.
Of course, it would be nice if Vilheim broke Father's resolve before I left home, but…….
‘……I still need to prepare.’
And so, using the desire for independence Father had planted in me as fuel, I devoted myself to training.
Ah, there was one happy development.
What was it?!
CLACK, CLACK-CLACK!
Our friend Golgol had returned from death!
“Golgol, is it really you?”
CLACK!
“You really are the Golgol who saved my life?!”
CLACK-CLAAACK!
As though confirming its identity, Golgol reenacted the way it had leaped in to save me.
It truly was Golgol!
“Welcome back. I really am glad you are back!”
CLACK-CLACK!
Some might say this.
Skeletons were disposable items meant to be used and discarded anyway, so why was I making such a fuss?
But Golgol was no ordinary skeleton.
It was a comrade who had shared life and death, joy and sorrow with me, as well as the lifesaver who had rescued me from a monstrously wicked swordsman!
“Just tell me if there is anything you want, Golgol. This big brother of yours will do anything for you.”
CLACK-CLACK?!
“What? You’re asking if I mean it? Of course I do, you punk! Tell me anything, all right?!”
Was there truly anything I wouldn't do for my brother Golgol?!
Of course, if it asked for something unreasonable, I planned to bury Golgol in my heart forever. Fortunately, our faithful friend's wish was not particularly grand.
CLACK, CLACK-CLACK!
“What? Is there something over there?”
CLACK!
“Bring it here.”
CLATTER-CLATTER!
What Golgol eagerly brought back was a large sword.
Specifically, it was the practice Greatsword Father sometimes used for training.
It was 1.5 meters long and about as wide as an adult man's handspan, a truly massive thing.
“You want that? So you want to use a Greatsword?”
CLACK-CLACK!
“All right. Train with that one for now, and I’ll speak to Father and have a good one prepared for you.”
CLACK!
I was glad it seemed happy, but part of me was worried.
Could Golgol truly wield that monstrous sword?
People in comics and novels might freely swing swords as large as themselves, but this was reality.
Unless one had awakened one's bloodline, as the members of our family had…….
“Huh, it can?”
My eyes widened as I watched Golgol.
Although it appeared to be struggling a little, Golgol was swinging the sword!
Of course, it was not without problems.
‘This uses…… quite a lot of mana.’
But what could I do?
It was so happy.
And Golgol's happiness did not end there.
[Hmm, I shall take a look at that one's swordsmanship. If it uses a Greatsword, there should be something I can help with.]
CLACK-CLACK?!
[This is all in return for saving my descendant, so there is no particular need to thank me.]
CLACK! CLACK-CLAAACK!
Hmm, could it truly be that happy?
Seeing Golgol rejoice made me happy as well.
In any case, Golgol's swordsmanship training began under my ancestor's guidance.
I found a place on one side of the training ground and practiced necromancy as well.
‘Was this how it felt?’
My goal was to grow accustomed to the ‘Bone Armor’ I had used during the territorial war.
I had used it instinctively amid such chaos that some parts remained hazy, but I had a general grasp of it.
……How much time passed after that?
“The negotiations to end the war have officially concluded.”
Around the time we received the reparations from House Hadion in full.
He returned.
My elder brother, Vilheim.
Suddenly, a cinematic from a certain game flashed through my mind.
―I am inheriting the throne.
Ah, my poor father.
***
Like the unfilial son in the cinematic, Vilheim appeared with an imposing stride.
His skin was roughened.
Blood had soaked into his clothes here and there, hinting at the fierce battles he had fought.
Judging by his appearance alone, he looked less like a baron's son and more like a deranged murderer. Nevertheless, the bastard went straight to Father and offered his greetings.
“Father, I have returned.”
“You are back. You have worked hard. Did everything conclude well?”
“Yes. However, I heard something happened to our house.”
“Hmm, yes. Something did happen. Come inside for now.”
Father took the unfilial son into the dining room.
Mother fussed over Vilheim, asking whether he had been well and lamenting that his skin had suffered, but Vilheim merely gave dry answers.
I was the only person who foresaw that the seat of baron was about to change hands.
In any case.
“There was a territorial war.”
“I heard it was Hadion.”
“Yes, so you know. Viscount Hadion initiated a territorial war. He put forward an absurd pretext. As for the outcome…… well, I imagine you already know.”
“Yes, I heard we were victorious. I also heard that Ktun distinguished himself?”
“He did.”
Father gladly recounted my exploits.
He told Vilheim how valiantly I had hacked through the enemy soldiers and how I had faced a wandering knight named Zeke.
When he finished, chills ran over me.
‘……He's smiling?’
That was right.
Vilheim was smiling.
Vilheim, of all people, was smiling?
“You have done well, little brother. As expected of my brother. You protected our house admirably in my absence.”
“……I merely did what had to be done.”
“Many bear duties, but few fulfill them properly.”
After praising me, Vilheim looked at Father.
“I heard the negotiations to end the war concluded successfully. You received a considerable sum in reparations, correct?”
“Yes, ten thousand gold. A considerable amount remained even after it was distributed to the conscripts and the fallen.”
“I see. That is good news. But why did Viscount Hadion initiate the territorial war?”
“Hmm, where should I begin…….”
Father deliberately paused, but Vilheim spoke calmly, as though he had known from the beginning.
“Was it because of the mana stone vein?”
“……You knew about it?”
“Yes.”
This bastard…… was he a usurper in waiting?
But that was not it.
“I have a friend. This friend is a mage and once told me that there seemed to be a mana stone vein in our territory.”
“This is the first time I have heard that you have a mage friend.”
“Because I never told you. Nor does this friend wish to become known to the world.”
“Hmm, I see. Then again, mages are exceptionally eccentric. But wait, you said your friend knew?”
The mood suddenly grew heavy.
Even an old lion on the verge of being driven from the pride was still a lion.
A sharp gleam flashed in Father's eyes.
“Is this friend trustworthy?”
“Yes. That friend will not go around spreading the information.”
“Well, if you say so……. Still, I cannot help worrying. I would like to meet this friend sometime. Can you arrange it?”
“Yes, that will not be difficult. As it happens, my friend also wished to meet you.”
“Me? For what reason?”
“I believe it would be better for you to hear that directly.”
“Hmm…… very well. We will discuss that matter again later. Are you tired, by any chance?”
“I am fine.”
“Hmm, good. Then I may as well tell you now.”
Father deliberately straightened his posture and stroked his beard.
I realized the time had come.
Today, the title of Baron Palaon would change hands.
From the father to his son.
“The neighboring territories have taken an interest in Viscount Hadion's decision to initiate a territorial war. They are wondering why he coveted that useless patch of land.”
“I understand.”
“So I have made a decision.”
“I am listening.”
Father spoke with a resolute expression.
“I intend to develop the mana stone vein.”
How would Vilheim react?
‘Hmm, I see. Then I shall inherit the title, Father.’
……Would he say that?
‘Or perhaps…….’
But Vilheim's response was one I had not anticipated.
“You have finally made up your mind.”
“……?”
“……?”
Both Father and I tilted our heads.
Mother merely blinked and watched the situation unfold.
Father asked.
“What do you mean, I have made up my mind? Did you know? That I was making preparations?”
He had been making preparations?
Wasn't this a spur-of-the-moment decision?
Unable to follow the conversation, I looked back and forth between them. Vilheim, who had failed to evolve into an unfilial son, answered calmly.
“Yes. I have long known that you were stockpiling the territory's funds. I did not know the reason, but when my friend told me about the mana stone vein, I began to suspect it.”
Father laughed heartily at that answer.
“Ha ha! Then this discussion will go quickly!”
No, this was going far too quickly.
Had Father noticed how I felt?
He looked at me and spoke.
“Hmm, Ktun does not seem to understand, so I shall explain. To tell you how this came about…….”
***
According to Father, preparing to develop the mana stone vein was not something he had begun yesterday or today.
To be precise…….
‘They began when Grandfather told him about the mana stone vein.’
Long ago, when Vilheim was young.
And before I had even been born.
That was why Father had participated in the Kingdom War.
“I needed money. But it was such a vast sum that our territory could never have earned it, no matter what we did.”
Apparently, Father had distinguished himself considerably after going to war.
Exceptional knight though he was, Father was merely a regional powerhouse. I had no idea how he had managed to distinguish himself so greatly among national-level powerhouses, but in any event, the king had granted him an enormous reward.
At that point, I was astonished.
‘From the king himself?’
Well, who had given it to him was not important.
After that.
“It was a considerable sum, and many people would have coveted it. Therefore, I spread a rumor that I had exhausted all the money repaying the high-interest debts incurred in my father's time.”
That shocked me once again.
‘Is this…… Palaon?’
Even if it was for the sake of the territory, he had transformed his own father into an incompetent debtor?!
In any case, Father deposited the money in a bank operated by the royal house, then waited while steadily accumulating additional funds.
He waited for the time to develop the mana stone vein.
Of course.
“Not all the preparations are complete yet. But now that matters have come to this, I believe it would be better to take the initiative. That is why I decided to develop the vein.”
Hmm, so that was the situation.
But I had a question.
“Father, may I ask how large the budget is?”
“Yes, I will tell you. Sir Balt, the documents…….”
“Yes.”
Sir Balt must have known as well, because he brought the documents to Father without any particular reaction.
Instead of explaining it in words, Father showed me the documents.
“The amount written there is the entire budget for developing the mana stone vein.”
I haltingly read the number.
So there was one zero, two, three…….
[What in the world…… did your father behead the Red King or something? It is rare for the royal house to grant this much money.]
I do not know. Please do not ask me.
Who was it?
Who was the bastard who had claimed Father was afflicted with business fever, compared him to an old lion on the verge of being driven from his pride, and brought up inheriting the title?!
“Father, I believed in you.”
Vilheim, do you want the title?
I'm warning you.
This position is beyond a bastard like you, so look for another one!