Sir Hero, It’s Time to Train!

Garcia turned pale as if he had suffered a significant blow from Aira’s answer.

Garcia, who was both her mother’s close aide and her own swordsmanship teacher, found it hard to believe that someone could value Ketn higher than himself.

“Do you think so too, young master Christian?”

“Yes, isn’t Sir Ketn the highest in seniority after Mother?”

Christian, too, agreed with Aira. Garcia, shocked by the siblings’ lack of trust in him, slumped his shoulders.

“But aside from that, we can’t afford to waste time.”

“Huh? Why? They’re not doing anything, right? Shouldn’t we just wait for the punitive force to come back?”

“No, the longer this goes on, the more damage we’ll inevitably suffer.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Sir Garcia already mentioned it. Because of them, the traders’ entrances have decreased, and the people of Flamme are anxious.”

Christian shrugged at Aira’s indifferent gaze, as if questioning what the problem was.

“Right now, it’s an unusual situation, so we can let it slide, but if this persists for a long time, dissatisfaction will arise among the subjects. If merchants judge that trading with us is a loss, they might pull away.”

“No matter what, would merchants really cut off trade? It’s not like this happens often. Isn’t that a bit of a stretch?”

“Trust is shattered by small things. Moreover, this isn’t a trivial matter; it is life-threatening. Don’t you understand what that means?”

Christian spoke loudly so that Aira, Garcia, and the soldiers watching could all hear.

“The Worden family can no longer manage the Rangar region. If they can’t even eliminate the monsters invading their domain and are just hiding behind walls, what do you think it would do to the family’s prestige if such rumors spread?”

The reason the Worden County could maintain its hold over the Rangar region was because they were the protector able to defend the surrounding territories.

But the Worden County hesitated to exterminate monsters in their domain? Everyone would invariably doubt the capability of the Worden family.

In short, the Worden family should not allow any compromise regarding the suppression of these monsters. Even if there was a gap in their military forces, it was the same. The leader of Rangar, count ‘Worden’ , always had to prove his might.

“Listen carefully, Aira. Being above someone isn’t a comfortable position where you just order others around. Rather, it’s a heavy burden where you must take responsibility for the lives of those who follow you. I must always live up to their trust as long as they entrust their lives to me.”

“……”

“But don’t think too hard about it. On the contrary, isn’t this a great opportunity to show the subjects what kind of person the next heir of the Worden family is?”

Christian grinned playfully once more, but the expressions of Aira, Garcia, and the soldiers watching were peculiarly mixed.

“Don’t be so arrogant.”

“So, are you going to back out?”

“Shut up. You’re not the heir; you’re just a candidate. And since I’m also a candidate, we’re going to get permission together.”

Aira puffed her cheeks slightly and turned her head. As she walked ahead, she spoke, prompting Christian to hastily follow her, saying, “Yeah, right. That’s encouraging. Ah, then, I’ll leave Aunt to you.”

“……”

“You’ll do it, right? Won’t you?”

“…… You’re close with my mother, right? You handle it. I’m close with Aunt, so I’ll persuade her.”

“No, why do you think you can take care of our mom?”

“Legally, she’s my mom too. Besides, my mom is quite scary.”

“I’m scared too! Honestly, it would be a hundred times easier for me to jump off here and run toward those monsters right now.”

Garcia’s expression grew complicated as he watched the two siblings bicker and move ahead, uncertain if their relationship was good or bad.

‘Family trust… indeed.’

He hadn’t really intended for things to become this complicated.

He had simply advocated for the extermination due to the monsters appearing near the territory, without any ulterior motives.

‘Well, I guess he was born to be a ruler. His way of thinking is different from ordinary people.’

Garcia wore a self-deprecating smile, embarrassed by the realization.

‘Being on good terms isn’t always a purely positive thing.’

In a noble family where the successor was not yet decided, there was nothing more unfortunate or tragic than the heirs getting along too well.

Even if the heirs didn’t desire it, their supporters would plot and scheme to place their master on the throne, often causing rifts between siblings, which was a common topic of gossip in social circles.

Unaware of Garcia’s concerns, Christian signaled from afar to hurry up and come over.

“Hoo, I’m coming right away!”

Nevertheless, there was work to be done, and Garcia had to follow the siblings.

However, he had no clue that the signal meant, “Aunt wants to speak with Sir Garcia alone.”

***

The next morning, right after breakfast, a group of people unlikely to gather together formed a cluster.

The warmth of the morning was gone, replaced by chilliness in the meeting room. Liana Worden, holding most of the responsibility for the icy atmosphere, glared coolly at the siblings, specifically at Christian, before speaking.

“Sir Garcia made an amusing joke. So, you two want to join the monster extermination?”

“…”

Christian, avoiding Liana Worden’s gaze, glanced sideways at a man sitting a bit away, looking thoroughly intimidated.

Aira also appeared uncomfortable with the situation, glaring at Garcia, who, in turn, averted his gaze under the siblings’ scrutiny.

‘You were supposed to persuade them, not sell us out!’

While they had pushed Garcia for it, creating this kind of public hearing was unnecessary.

Before them, Liana Worden and Neria Worden frowned and glared, while Kephen, standing behind the two ladies, overtly displayed his displeasure.

Realizing nothing would be resolved by remaining silent, Christian reluctantly stood up. As all eyes focused on him, he cleared his throat nervously and began to speak.

“Ahem, it’s not youthful recklessness or curiosity driving our desire to pursue the monster extermination. You all know the state of Flamme right now, don’t you?”

“No way! Mom won’t allow it!”

Neria, who had been quietly watching the conversation, suddenly burst out in anger, as if releasing her suppressed emotions.

Even Liana, who would normally have accused her of lacking manners, nodded in agreement with her sentiment.

“The issues adults deal with are not your concern. There’s no need for you to meddle.”

“Yes, this is a matter for Sir Ketn and the family knights to handle, so Christian, you should continue focusing on your training with Aira.”

For once, the two mothers were in agreement. Instead of being offended, they tried to persuade their children, and aligning with their view, Sir Ketn spoke up.

“I agree with the ladies. Young master and young lady, I understand your concerns and am impressed by your spirit. However, this is not yet a matter you should involve yourselves in.”

Though his words were softened, the message was clear: the children should stay out of it. Liana, who would usually point out any rudeness, silently indicated her agreement.

“Sir Ketn, does that mean there is someone who will represent the family in this matter?!”

Christian responded calmly, his eyes watching Ketn with a sharp gaze.

“I am one of the legitimate heirs of the Worden family. In the absence of the family head, I bear the responsibility of protecting our family and estate.”

Christian’s logic was flawless. Neither Liana nor Neria could provide a fitting response to Christian’s assertive statement, and Sir Ketn tactfully upheld his stance.

“Understandable, but young master Christian, this does not justify your participation in the subjugation squad. If the two of you, who should govern the family in the family head’s absence, were to head to the field, who would lead the remaining people? Moreover, sending one to the field and keeping the other within the family would invite issues of fairness. The mothers have considered these political aspects in their decision.”

Liana nodded nonchalantly, while Neria nodded with a hint of stiffness, as if she was hearing this for the first time.

Emboldened by the mothers’ assent, Ketn was about to continue persuading Christian when Aira, who had been quietly listening, finally rose from her seat.

“What Christian and Sir Ketn said are both right. However, we cannot merely hide behind the family’s name for safety or political reasons. We are knights, Sir Ketn. We are protectors, not the ones seeking protection.”

The two mothers were well aware of the firm resolve of their two children. Liana and Neria simultaneously sighed.

Contrary to that, Sir Ketn seemed to appreciate Christian and Aira’s resoluteness, his usual stubbornness softening.

Sensing the change in the adults as an opportunity, Christian spoke up.

“If we delay the subjugation, it will certainly tarnish our Worden family. In the worst-case scenario, our rights to manage the Rangar region and monster subjugation granted by the royal family might be jeopardized.”

“That’s an exaggeration. It’s just a few monsters near Flamme. That’s hardly…”

“Aunt, this incident will serve as a great pretext for those looking for an opportunity. The severity of the incident doesn’t matter.”

At Christian’s firm statement, both mothers frowned. However, they did not refute his words.

“Rumors must have started spreading to nearby estates through the merchants leaving Flamme. They’ll be saying that even a few monsters are disrupting trade, tarnishing the city’s atmosphere…”

“A trivial matter.”

“Yes, if the family steps in, it could be resolved quickly. But what about the rumors that have already spread? As time passes, they will grow beyond the control of even Count Worden’s name.”

“That might be…”

Words without feet travel a thousand miles, and as they spread, they gain distortions and alterations that change them from their original intent.

Liana and Neria, the Countess and long-time figures of the social scene, knew the dangers of rumors and understood Christian’s concerns.

“There are many who covet our family’s interests. But what has made them hesitant is nothing but the power and dignity of the Worden family.”

The Count Worden, as the protector of the Rangar region, had been subjugating monsters that threatened humanity. Although fraught with danger, the endeavor brought substantial wealth.

The leaders of the noble and royal factions sought marital ties with the Worden family due to its financial security and military strength.

“But should such rumors spread, or rather malicious rumors be spread, it could breach the impregnable fortress that is Worden.”

However, unfortunately, the enemies of the Worden family were not just monsters.