Stranger's Handbook - WN Chapter 01-76

by Chapter 01-76 (epub)

  My magical power was at full throttle and I was putting up an intimidating air as I looked all around me.

  And then, I wonder who started it?

  Everyone started to kneel on the ground.

  Some of them were trembling……some of them were looking at me with veneration in their eyes like I was some sort of a hero.

  I looked up at the young lady.

  “Beatrice-sama, I, Zest, the heir of the Gaiyus Household, am asking you to marry me! Will you give me the honor to accept this marriage proposal!?”

  I put my sword back in its sheath and knelt down.

  The young lady’s answer was already decided…..However……

  “There is no one else in this world who could control such a beast like person as you, but me. I will look after you. I accept your marriage proposal!”

  ‘Zest-sama, Zest-sama, Zest-sama, Zest-sama, Zest-sama, Zest-sama, Zest-sama, Zest-sama……‘

  In the middle of all these wild cheers blessing the two of us, no one knew that I, who have risen a death flag, being scared I might get killed by this yandere young lady, wet myself a little…….

  * * *

  Translation: Nana

  Proofreading: Carmina

  DA BEST (among the worst): Mockii

  Chapter 23: Cleaning Up after the Turmoil

  Sorry guys for the late update, things have been hectic for me lately.

  It really is damn hard to study in a foreign country, I feel I’m reaching my limits, but it’s just a little longer, so ganbaru wa.

  Please expect the next few updates to be also irregular, but once I’ve finished with uni, I’ll go back to my previous update schedule.

  Have fun readin ♪

  * * *

  Chapter 23: Cleaning Up after the Turmoil

  “Haha, as expected from the heir of the Knights Commander. You overwhelmed that imperial mage with your power.”

  “Thank you. Compared to my father and my master, I still have a long way to go.”

  I can’t remember how many times I had the same exchange over and over again, but there were a lot of people waiting in a queue to congratulate me.

  After I physically ‘said’ good-bye to that damn pig, the nobles surrounded me and gave birth to this commotion.

  When I easily killed an Imperial Mage of the 3rd rank, who is said to be at the top of all mages of the empire, I worried that they would be too scared to approach me, but it seems that it wasn’t the case at all.

  “To easily defeat an Imperial Mage, you’re just like your father.”

  “Yeah, like when the Knights Commander was young.”

  ……So it’s all thanks to my foster father.

  “Gahahaha, that’s my son for you!”

  With a warlike smile, the full-plate started to beat my shoulders.

  Hey, I’m being buried…..look, the stone pavement is cracking.

  “Thank you, father.”

  My very happy foster father can’t be stopped.

  “You’re being modest. But you know, after you showed us such wonderful bravery you should at least boast a little more! I know! Since we’re at it, let’s have a little contest of our own too…..”

  “I cannot do that. I am still no match for you, father.”

  As an adopted son, or more importantly, as his heir it is essential to show the good relationships between the two of us.

  It’s like a performance for the nobles.

  Father, please don’t look at me with bloodthirsty filled eyes.

  It’s all for the show, right? Please tell me it’s all for the show.

  “Zest-sama, I’m sorry to disturb you while you’re busy. I bring a message from his Excellency the Frontier Count.”

  A soldier interrupted.

  If his Excellency gave orders, then that’s definitely a priority, and what’s more, it was such a good timing too, I’m saved.

  “Oh, what is it that his Excellency wants to tell me?”

  “Yes Sir! It’s about the banquet his Excellency intends to hold starting tonight, in order to celebrate your engagement with Beatrice-sama. It is also the matter of discussing the arrangements for your entering the palace. Please, follow me.”

  “I see, lead the way then. I’m sorry everyone, but per his Excellency’s orders I must take my leave now.”

  The full-plate was feeling somewhat bitter, but since he couldn’t disobey his Excellency’s orders, he obediently……well, not really, but he somehow consented.

  “Argh! Then, you guys, I’m sure your bodies are throbbing for a fight!? Let’s have a match, come with me!”

  “Great! Let’s do it, Knights Commander!” “If I can spar with the Knights Commander, I will gladly join you!” “Hyaa, a contest!”

  “Knights Commander-dono! Please let us, the magic division soldiers, join you as well!”

  “Gahahaha, I don’t mind it, everyone is welcome to follow me!”

  These muscle brains started to run towards the training camp.

  They’ll be back by evening, so I’ll just ignore them……Even the magic division soldiers, what the heck are you doing?

  Well, at least I’m glad they don’t feel enmity towards me.

  The nail that sticks out gets hammered in, huh?……But to stick out this much, it’ll be hard to hammer it back in.

  Even so, I must go greet the nobles tonight.

  It’s so amazing, you won. Congratulations for your engagement.

  And they all lived happily ever after.

  Something like this it’s rather impossible in the nobles’ society.

  At least this time the Frontier Count made the necessary arrangements and it seems my foster father has started to move too. Precisely because of this, the result was favorable.

  All that’s left now it’s the very enjoyable and fun greetings and congratulations.

  Damn bothersome…..But if I don’t do it the enemies will increase while the allies will decrease in numbers. It can’t be helped.

  I casually looked in front of me and I realized the soldier I was following was fluttering and watching me with imploring eyes.

  “Is something wrong? Is there something bothering you?”

  Started, he flinched and turned around to look at me apologetically.

  “I…I’m very sorry, Zest-sama. But I….well…..I also have someone I want to propose to, so could I at least shake your hands? I want to share your good luck.”

  The shy and already completely red soldier was in his teens, a youngster that was still rather immature.

  “Haha, I don’t mind it. But I truly hope that person is not Beatrice-sama. Do you want to duel me?”

  “Th…th…..that’s unthinkable!…..This…this…..She’s not such a sublime person, just a childhood friend, the daughter of a knight’s household. “

  ……Hey, if you’re scared just say it.

  “I hope it’ll turn out well. Good luck!”

  I said that and let him shake my hands, while he lowered his head countless of times saying ‘It’s an honor! Thank you so much!’

  It’s really nice, a childhood friend.

  Is this girl the cute type? The beautiful type? What’s her hair color? Her height?…..while I kept on teasing the young knight, we arrived inside the castle, in front of the room that was prepared in advance.

  This room, just like the reception room, had a very comfortable looking sofa as well.

  The moment I sat down in order to rest my body, the maids came in and started preparing the tea, but…

  They didn’t stop at just preparing the tea.

  They’re young girls after all.

  “Congratulations for your engagement.” “Such a wonderful proposal, just like in fairy tales.” “I’m so envious of the young lady.”

  Looking delightful, they started to make a fuss over it.

  Normally, they would have been scolded for this, but since today is special and everyone is in a festival merrymaking mood, it seems it’s safe.


  Even though the very stiff maid chief was here too, she didn’t seem to be in the mood to scold them either.

  “If it’s Zest-sama, I wonder if he’ll take some concubines too? That’s right, when he marries the young lady, new servants will have to enter the mansion!”

  For some reason, the maids started to quarrel among themselves, but I pretended I haven’t seen anything.

  It would be wise not to intervene when women quarrel, nothing good would come out of it.

  I was looking at empty space while drinking my tea when the call came.

  It seems the maid chief took over the role of guiding me to the Frontier Counts office.

  She’s a woman in her 30s, she certainly has good style and she does her job properly…..but it seems she’s still single. There’s something fishy about her, and that’s scary.

  While I was pretending I didn’t notice her flirtatious glances, we arrived at the office door and when I entered the room I could hear a ‘tsk’……her clicking her tongue, was that my imagination?

  The Frontier Count and my master were waiting inside the office.

  “I’ve come at your request, your Excellency.”

  When I wanted to lower my head he raised his hand and stopped me.

  “Very well, grandson-in-law-dono. You’re now officially engaged. I want you to think of us as your family.”

  His Excellency smiled at me……If you really think so, then why does your smile look so evil?

  “Yes, I understand, grandfather, father.”

  “Haha, I want to see my grandchild’s face soon. If it’s a child born to the two of you, I’m sure this child will be an excellent magic user. I’m so looking forward to it!”

  I’m really glad my master is in his happy papa mode……He’s the refreshment of the Frontier Count’s Household.

  “Please treat me favorably.”

  I lowered my head slightly.

  “Yea. Well, for now you did very well. We had to make a few revisions, but we got to this point as planned.”

  I was encouraged to sit next to my master.

  “Now, the reason I called for you is not just to congratulate you. I thought I should let you know about the cleaning up after this incident with that pig of an Imperial Mage.”

  He fixed his eyes on me to ascertain the strength of my decision and then continued.

  “Since he was a priest noble and an Imperial Mage, after we notified the imperial capital about his death, a person in charge to investigate the incident has been dispatched. He will most likely look into why the duel took place, or whether there was any unfairness or foul play during the duel.”

  That’s only natural.

  A noble of the country’s upper echelons has died. The cause of death is unknown, but that’s all right.

  I’m not an idiot to think that it would simply end like that.

  “That’s why, just in case, I wanted to let you know that an investigator is on his way here……Ah, that and I also want you to sign this report explaining the circumstances of this incident.”

  He said that and handed over a one sheet parchment that explained in details the incident of the ‘pig that couldn’t fly’.

  Though, one passage caught my attention entirely.

  ‘Even in my dreams, I’ve never imagined an Imperial Mage would have fallen to such a degree, I was really astonished. Furthermore, such a weak magic user dared to propose to the daughter of the Frontier Count’s Household. This is sheer insult. Prepare for battle.’

  This report was brimming with desire to quarrel with the imperial capital……..

  Can I even survive this? This is……..

  * * *

  Translation: Nana

  Proofreading: Carmina

  DA BEST (among the worst): Mockii

  Chapter 24: The Frontier Count’s Household’s Secret

  Hello everyone! ^^

  I am really, really sorry for such late updates these days, but the good news is that I will be able to get back to my previous update schedule in about a week or so.

  Until then, please bear with me a little longer! ♥

  * * *

  Chapter 24: The Frontier Count’s Household’s Secret

  The Frontier Count showed me his report full of determination, which made me want to pull back a little.

  How comes these people can laugh after reading this report……

  “Err, are you…..all right with this?”

  I asked timidly.

  “Hehe, it’s all right. I think, grandson-in-law-dono, that you’re misunderstanding the Frontier Count’s Household a little bit.”

  The Frontier Count adjusted his posture and started explaining me, while deepening his smile.

  “Our Grun Empire, as you already know, is located at the tip of the continent, therefore we are surrounded by sea, but our Varnam Frontier Count’s land is the only territory that has a border with other foreign countries……You’ve already studied this, right?”

  He paused a little to sip some black tea.

  “And so we, the people from the Varnam Frontier Count’s Household, have a few privileges. The first is that we are allowed to use black for our army’s equipment. But it’s not simply about the black color, you know? We are the only ones allowed to use for our equipment the specialty product of our territory, the mineral so-called black iron.”

  The Frontier Count grinned broadly.

  I see, so the armor my foster father made me wear was made from this very precious metal, black iron.

  The fact that they’re allowed to monopolize this metal is not something of small significance.

  Its value is rather moderate, but as a raw material it has some very splendid abilities.

  From all the metals used in this world, black metal is the hardest and strongest metal against magic, so it’s used for armors and weapons, while mythril is used for ornaments. Their equipment sure uses the most supreme materials.

  “The empire’s support sure is extraordinary.”

  I muttered without even realizing.

  Still, this is amazing, right? They’re monopolizing such a valuable metal. Normally the empire would directly control the manufacture, being afraid of other clans and nobles rebelling against them.

  “It’s because of his Majesty, the First Emperor’s imperial command. ‘We’ll make the Varman Household the empire’s shield. The Varnam Household is the only one who’s allowed to handle black iron with no exceptions’ he decided.”

  Oh! I somehow feel that there’s some back-story here.

  Otherwise, the country would be in a complete state of chaos.

  “And then, there’s another thing…… It’s about the Varnam Frontier Count’s Household’s affairs. This was also decided by his Majesty, the First Emperor through imperial command.”

  ………The First Emperor sure cared a lot about the Varnam Household. This is more than favorable treatment.

  “ ‘The Varnam Household will administrate the Frontier territory for eternity. In exchange, I appoint the Varnam Household to be the empire’s strongest weapon and shield’ he decided.”

  I stared at him involuntarily.

  In….in short ‘If you’re strong, I can ignore the trivial things’ or something like this.

  The Frontier Count, seemingly delighted, continued.

  “That’s why, once they dare to defy our military might, they must reap what they sowed.”

  “Ha, hahaha, I see.”

  “However, since those idiots in the imperial capital keep taking us lightly, this is good medicine for them.”

  Haha, I’m happy you’re enjoying yourself…….The Varnam Household sure is scary.

  “Well, there are other things as well, but as long as you remember this it’s enough for now. You should just wait calmly, grandson-in-law-dono.”

  “That’s right. Very soon you’ll be enjoying the party together with Bea. Zest, you’ll be very busy from now on.”

  Master…..as I thought, yo
u really are the refreshment in this family.

  I’m so happy you’re a gentle ‘papa’…….even though you sometimes switch to the Frontier Count mode.

  “This is all I wanted to tell you. You should go change your clothes now and then go see Bea. Because of that pig of a noble, she really is in a bad mood lately.”

  I was told that and made to leave the room.

  The maids took me captive and started changing my clothes.

  Was there really a need to leave me only in my underpants? Chief maid, look at them.

  It seems that this very eye-catching, first-class, black military uniform that they made me wear is the Frontier Count’s Household’s formal clothing.

  This black uniform is only worn by the regular soldiers of the Frontier Count’s territory, and the one I’m currently wearing, with these extravagant decorations, is only worn by the Frontier Count’s Household members.

  I’m completely treated as a family member now.

  Well, this way they won’t easily get rid of me, right?

  No, I still have to be careful, otherwise the situation might turn dangerous. I must not act rashly.

  I finally arrived at the room the young lady was waiting in, with the maids’ guidance.

  The young lady was not the only one waiting in this room, there were a few other ladies wearing formal dresses, accompanying her.

  Aaargh!…..This will be bothersome……I greeted them without letting these thoughts show on my face.

  “I’m sorry to disturb you. Bea, have I made you wait?”

  First, I talked to the young lady.

  To suddenly ignore the main person in this room and go greet the other ladies that I’ve only met for the first time, might turn into something ugly, so it was out of the question.

  “Hello, Zest-sama. It’s not like I’ve really waited for you, we’ll have to stay together at tonight’s party after all.”

  ‘Zest-sama! I wanted to see you so badly that I got impatient. However, since tonight we’ll be able to be together all the time, I somehow managed to endure.’