Chapter: 329
The Kent family has a long history.
It is the family established by an unnamed man who built his reputation with his sword during the chaotic time when the Evil God aimed to destroy this land.
As descendants of heroes, the Kent family, having trained in swordsmanship for a long time, had no shortage of skill to be called a swordsmanship family.
Naturally, the territory of the Kent family is imbued with everything related to swords.
Various dojos that teach swordsmanship.
Forges that create swords.
Additionally, the various shops set up for those who continue to train.
The scenery here, where any character related to swords should visit at least once, was not much different from what I remembered.
This probably means that many of the settings present here are exactly the same as in the game.
“…I really dislike teleportation.”
While I was admiring it, Frey stumbled out from outside the door.
Even Frey, who usually is indifferent to most things, seemed to find it hard to tolerate her insides churning.
‘Let’s take a break…’
“Is this too hard for you to handle? Sister Frey? Totally sloppy. What are you going to do? I could take a break if you insist.”
“…No, it’s fine. Let’s go right away.”
Despite stumbling, Frey led me across the street.
‘Over there. Sister Frey…’
“Sister Frey, I haven’t heard anything about what I’m supposed to do yet. Don’t tell me you forgot what you were going to ask because you’re a fool?”
What on earth is she trying to make me do by taking me to the Kent family mansion?
I genuinely don’t understand.
If it were anyone other than Frey in front of me, I might have made predictions based on the game’s settings, but this four-dimensional kid doesn’t fit into any sort of prediction.
Even I, a Natsu from the Soul Academy, don’t know what she’s thinking at all.
“Duel.”
‘…What?’
“What?”
“I said we’re going to have a duel.”
A duel? Is that what you brought me all the way to your home for?
If that’s the case, couldn’t we have just done it at the academy’s training grounds?
Not knowing whether Frey’s words were a joke or serious, I tilted my head as we arrived at the entrance of the Kent family.
“Miss, who’s that next to you?”
The soldier guarding the door stared at me and his eyes widened.
Does this person also know about Lucy’s infamous reputation?
Used to earning others’ fear, I simply shrugged without saying a word.
It was obvious that whatever I said would only make the situation worse.
“This is Lucy. My friend.”
“Friend. You say?”
“Yep. A friend. Right?”
‘Yes, that’s correct. Sister Frey.’
“If calling you a friend means that she’s the one who clings to you, then sure, I could go along with that.”
“Impossible! Miss is not a victim but instead brings a friend to the mansion!”
I was the one taken aback by the soldier’s tearful shouting.
Could it be he wasn’t trembling in fear of me?
Was he just panicking because Frey caused another ruckus?
…That doesn’t make sense. There’s no way anyone wouldn’t know the reputation attached to the name Lucy.
“Cough! Please wait a moment! I will report this touching fact to the head of the household!”
As I blankly stared at the soldier who wiped away his tears and hurried away, I barely came to my senses when Frey patted my shoulder.
“Let’s go in.”
‘That soldier just now…’
“That stupid idiot just told me to wait. Is that something even the foolish Sister Frey can’t understand?”
“It’s fine. No problem at all.”
No matter how I thought about it, it seemed like a problem-filled scenario, but I couldn’t refuse Frey’s command as she led me into the mansion.
“Oh my! Miss, what brings you here? And who’s that? What? A friend? A friend?!”
“Looks like the head of the household’s efforts have finally paid off! Miss is bringing a friend to the mansion!”
“Please take good care of our Miss! Lady Allen!”
“Wah! How can I express this gratitude?”
The Kent family servants were all flawless beings without a wrinkle in sight.
Even upon hearing the name Lucy Allen, instead of showcasing fear, they bowed down to express gratitude for the lady’s presence that allowed Miss to change!
I naturally came to understand why Frey’s younger sibling was so noisy during the Partlan Festival.
It’s only normal that growing up in this family would lead to that.
“Sister Frey! When did you arrive?! You should have told me you were coming! And who’s that next to you…”
Ah, damn it. How did she pick up on my thoughts? The loudest person in this mansion appeared.
Parnah Kent.
Frey’s younger sister.
Unlike the taciturn and aloof Frey, the vibrant and natural Parnah was a loud character whose lines were notably louder than others when she appeared in the game.
And that didn’t change much in reality.
Actually, it seemed to have become even noisier. What was once dialogue became actual sound.
“…You’re Lady Allen, right?!”
‘Yes, that’s me.’
“I can see it! You’re on a whole different level from you sloppy people.”
“Wow! You were super pretty before, but now you’re uhhh…”
This girl must have great lung capacity. Is that something you inherit from being in a noble family?
“…You’ve become uhh super beautiful! Like an angel descended from heaven! The goddess of beauty might be jealous!”
‘Thank you.’
“Isn’t it funny that you have to say something that obvious in a loud voice? For a noble lady to be so unrestrained, how pitiful.”
“Haha! I often hear that, but I can’t help it!”
To hear her say that without a change in expression was impressive.
She looked as if she didn’t even grasp that what she had heard were poisonous words.
…Wait a second. Could she really not realize it? Is that a thing?
“Move. I’m busy.”
Thinking she might genuinely be that uninformed, Frey stepped between Parnah and me.
“Why?”
“I have something to do with my friend.”
“Friend! Hearing my sister say the word friend made me so emotional!”
“My mom feels the same! Parnah!”
Overlapping with Parnah’s loud voice came another clamor.
The Countess of Kent appeared from behind Parnah.
The woman with the physique befitting the term “strong woman” appeared with a thud and wrapped her thick arms around Frey.
“Our Frey brought a friend home! Ugh! I feel like crying!”
“Um, mom? It’s me…”
“Gah! I can’t believe my sister has changed this much! I’m so proud!”
“No. I can’t breathe…”
As I watched Frey’s face turn blue, I gave up on thinking altogether.
It was clear that anything I said would be swallowed up by that commotion.
[This reminds me of Parnah. He was quite the noisy one, huh.]
‘…He is probably the founder of the Kent family.’
[Oh? Really? The power of blood is truly remarkable. To have that legacy remain intact for hundreds of years.]
‘But why don’t I grow taller? Considering my father’s physique, I should be much bigger than I am now.’
As I heard the old man’s story, I almost blurted out that Shoddy Lord Jushin was a pedo-rican sexual criminal, but I managed to hold it in.
After all, I couldn’t trash the Lord’s reputation in front of the venerable clergyman.
*
The uproar created by Parnah Kent and the Countess of Kent grew louder with time.
Realizing that Frey almost fainted, they hurriedly showered her with apologies.
Thanking Frey for changing her, they attempted to suffocate me with their gratitude.
As soon as I uttered “Sister Frey,” Parnah chimed in with:
“If you’re calling her sister Frey, then can I call you Sister Lucy?! Oh sooo beautiful Sister Lucy, right?!”
“Then does this cute and adorable lady become my daughter?! I completely welcome this! Will you call me mama?!”
They screamed as if trying to burst my eardrums.
But I wasn’t just sitting back.
I attempted to interrupt their incessant chatter using the unique moves of the Mesugaki Skill.
However, the two of them, who interpreted everything differently, didn’t care whether I interrupted or not, and in the end, Frey and I were freed only when Count Kent finally made his appearance.
It seemed this wasn’t the first time an uproar like this had occurred, as Count Kent’s handling was succinct.
He immediately scolded Parnah and the Countess fiercely and sent them back to the mansion, then bowed his head to me several times.
“I truly apologize! Lady Allen! Neither of them means any harm, but that doesn’t change the fact that their behavior is rude! Once again, I sincerely apologize!”
As I watched the Count apologize for his family’s rudeness, I was reminded of Benedict.
Wasn’t he like this when Lucy used to cause all sorts of trouble?
‘It’s alright. Don’t worry about it.’
“Don’t mention it. What can I do when such an unrefined person is the head of the family? Don’t worry about it.”
“Thank you for understanding!”
How many troubles had his family brought upon him for such a social demeanor to surface from the head of a swordsmanship family?
…Maybe I should create an opportunity for Benedict to have a chat with this guy later. They’d get along great.
“Um, Lady Allen, may I ask why you’re visiting this place?”
‘Well, it’s because of Sister Frey…’
“I got dragged here by the recklessly foolish Sister Frey, and I’m still not quite sure. Unrefined Count.”
Upon hearing my explanation, Count Kent examined my face with curious eyes, then slightly turned his head sideways.
“…Frey? Is this true?”
“Yep. That’s right. I brought Lucy along.”
“Why?”
“I want to see Dad and Lucy duel.”
“…What?”
‘…Huh?’
“…What?”
Even though Count Kent and I uttered bewildered voices, Frey was unperturbed.
“Well, if I watch them duel, I feel like I can understand something. So please let it happen.”
“Um, Frey? This isn’t as simple as you think.”
Count Kent made every effort to dissuade Frey.
The disparity between my level and the Count’s level is too vast.
If I get hurt during the duel, it could become a huge problem.
He suggested that it may be better for him to duel instead and let me observe that.
‘I’m fine with it.’
“What’s this? Are you worried I might lose to an unrefined Count? I’m fine!”
However, Frey’s suggestion didn’t seem so bothersome to me.
Thinking it over, it’s a proposal I have no reason to decline from my position.
In front of family, Count Kent might show a weak side, but once he draws his sword, he is an entirely different person.
A man who isn’t certain even the Sword Saint would claim superiority over him.
A genius who has comprehensively consolidated the Kent family’s swordsmanship into his own style.
Named the best swordsman on the continent, he’s someone everyone knows about.
Having recently experienced the lack of experience when facing Duke Burrow, I would not forsake the chance to fight a strong opponent.
“Lady, you may be okay, but I’m not. If something happens to you, Lord Benedict would kill me.”
From the Count’s words, I sensed his fear of Benedict.
Despite being a man who flaunts his strength, he’s ready to raise a white flag just to avoid a confrontation with Lord Benedict.
What kind of person was Benedict, who swept through battlefields in the past?
I was newly aware of his strength, but that doesn’t mean my desire to duel would change.
To be honest, even if things go wrong, Lord Kent would be the one to face the consequences, not me.
Since I don’t have to clean up anyone’s mess, why bother with someone else’s affairs?
“Oh my♡ Are you afraid of being overwhelmed by a little girl?♡ You must be scared of not being able to control your strength, right?♡”
“…Lady?”
“It’s okay♡ That’s not your fault♡ It’s not bad if you’re a coward who can’t even trust your own sword, Count!♡”
“…No matter how noble a lady you are, there are things you should and shouldn’t say.”
“Oh♡ Not being able to fulfill your own daughter’s request is the Count’s fault! How pitiful that Sister Frey has to deal with a shabby dad like you!♡”
With a giggle, I observed the Count’s expression and was sure he would not back down.
The look on his face, barely holding onto his reason, was fierce enough to make someone cry if they were weak.
“I understand. I will fulfill your request. The duel.”
Just as expected.
After seeing the Count bite down on his lips, I slowly began to maneuver my divine energy within me.
Alright.
Let’s see how far I can go now.
Time to show him what I’ve got against a swordsman way stronger than me!
