Chapter 110: The Founding Day Party

“Please enter.”

The moment I nodded at those words.

“The Black Knight! Sir Muno Drasen enters!!”

The attendant beside me let out a tremendous shout, and simultaneously, the doors to the party hall opened.

Innumerable gazes poured in.

“Oh……”

“Is that the one……”

“That’s truly fearsome armor.”

“His build, he doesn’t look as young as I thought……”

“They say some grow up fast if they awaken at a young age……”

The men in their formal wear with those shoulder pads and emphasized embarrassing spots, and the women in all sorts of colorful dresses were all chattering about me.

“They say he handled the incident this morning too.”

“How at that age……”

“He deserves to be called the Black Knight. Just looking at his recent actions……”

Every comment was a positive one, which made me feel needlessly awkward.

‘This isn’t the time to be listening to this kind of talk.’

Embarrassed, I let the voices drift by and forced my gaze away.

I spread the senses of the Demon Devourer, searching for the presence of any potential magicians.

‘Thankfully, it seems there are none…….’

Even if there was someone with a Double Veil, I would eventually see the faces of all the participating nobles as the party progressed.

“Phew……”

Once I put that worry to rest, the brilliantly shining, enormous chandelier and the equally impressive surrounding decorations finally came into view.

‘Is that an artifact……?’

A single chandelier that filled the ceiling, emitting light on its own without any candles.

Yet, the light pouring from it was not excessive, feeling only warm.

It felt like spring had arrived solely within this vast party hall in the middle of winter.

‘Nice.’

I had no deep knowledge of interior design or art, but I could tell that everything, from the tables laden with food to the candlesticks on them, was well-decorated with an antique and elegant design.

However.

‘Urk……. The smell again…….’

If it were just body odor, I could get used to it by now, but the smell of perfume, which I rarely had a chance to smell, felt so foul.

It was even worse when it mixed with the body odor.

I had felt the same thing at the Drasen party, but this time, befitting the capital (?), the perfume terror was much worse.

‘Aren’t perfumes originally used to cover up smells?’

Then why was I distinguishing between body odor and perfume smells, and even getting stressed about it?

Was the perfume the problem, or was I the problem?

As I was trying my best not to show it, forcing my expression to remain neutral.

A strong scent of body odor, no, a person, approached.

“It is a pleasure to meet the much-reputed new star of the kingdom. I am Deorte Osnal.”

A middle-aged man extending his hand with a smiling face.

A warm impression and build that contrasted with his half-balding brown hair.

But the attitude of stating only his name without a special introduction was based on the premise that the other party naturally knew who he was.

‘Marquis Osnal.’

The biggest family in the current 3rd Prince’s faction, and one of the most powerful men in the kingdom.

It was the public’s speculation that because his was a large family somewhat overshadowed by Aslan, he had deliberately taken the opposite side.

……Or so El’s report said.

And he was also a great noble, the lord of Erundel, the city that was my destination for tomorrow’s departure.

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Excellency the Marquis.”

“So young, yet already a 3-Star-level knight, and you’ve dealt with countless servants of evil, haven’t you? Truly a great fortune for the kingdom.”

“You praise me too much.”

“Too much? I’ve only stated the plain facts. It’s reassuring from the start to have a talent like you in our faction.”

As expected.

I couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile at those words.

It seemed the prince and princess hadn’t bothered to mention anything specific about me.

So, I felt I had to draw a clear line here.

“I am not participating in the Contest of Virtue. Naturally, I have not joined His Highness Christopher’s faction either.”

“What……?”

Deorte, who had paused for a moment, widened his eyes.

“……Aren’t you affiliated with Trian?”

“I am from the Drasen family, under Trian.”

“That’s the same thing. Hah, that friend Enoch is one thing, but the stubbornness of you northerners……”

He clicked his tongue and looked me up and down.

“Well, His Highness must have his reasons. We’ll meet again.”

He shook his head and immediately walked away.

As soon as he was a little distance away.

“Puhuhuhu.”

The knight next to him let out a low chuckle.

A man wearing antique-style armor decorated with a golden lion crest.

‘It looks like an old artifact……. Ah, is that the artifact that became the origin of that family, ‘Lionel’?’

For the owner of an artifact that looked extraordinary at a glance, he was holding a lot of food in both hands rather undignifiedly.

Not much time had passed since the party began, but the food on the table in front of him was already devastated.

‘How can food go down in this smell……. Ah, I’m the strange one here, right? Hah…….’

Contrary to his messy table manners, his appearance was quite neat.

A handsome man with blond hair, blue eyes, and a somewhat chiseled, statue-like face.

Soon, the man’s eyes met mine. He put down his food, wiped his gauntlet, which was covered in all sorts of seasoning, on the tablecloth, then approached and extended his hand.

“Sir Muno Drasen, the Black Knight? I am Philip Lionel. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Ah, I might seem a bit foolish, but it’s not every day you get to see that old man look so chagrined.”

However, Muno’s expression as he looked at the offered hand couldn’t help but be hesitant.

‘Ugh…….’

Even if it was a gauntlet, I didn’t want to clasp that hand.

Even after living here for over ten years, I still couldn’t get used to the hygiene standards of this place.

The knightly body odor (?) that hit me as he approached was an added bonus.

‘He even put on perfume. Ughh…….’

“……Sir Muno?”

But Karina’s advice from just before came to mind.

“Ah, I apologize. I was lost in thought. The Golden Lion of Lionel. I have heard much of your name.”

Muno forced his expression to remain neutral and extended a fist.

I just couldn’t bring myself to shake his hand.

Fortunately, a smile appeared on Philip’s slightly stiffened face at that response.

“Wow, for the most famous Black Knight these days to remember my name, this is an honor.”

Thump. I could feel a sense of pleasure from the fist that bumped against mine.

Until Karina defeated the vice-commander of the Steel Knightly Order at the royal castle, and until I caught the magicians operating in secret within the kingdom, it was this Philip Lionel who was called the kingdom’s new star.

‘Late 20s, but already a 4-Star-level knight. He’s certainly a capable person.’

I had considered him one of the people to be wary of at the party, as his name had been buried by the sudden appearance of new talents.

But he felt cooler than I thought.

“The honor is all mine, Sir Philip.”

“I hear you haven’t joined His Highness Christopher’s faction, but I suppose there’s no harm in knights building a friendship, right?”

Aside from the slightly messy eating etiquette and the smell, he seemed like a decent person.

“Yes, I look forward to getting to know you.”

Of course, in that place.

“Ahem. If you intend to build camaraderie among knights, isn’t it proper to greet your senior first?”

There was also a person who gave a completely different impression from him.

As Philip and I turned our gazes at the voice, we saw a middle-aged knight with a brown mustache.

“Alondo……”

The moment Philip grimaced at the sight of him, Muno also recalled El’s information.

‘Alondo Hernandez, 42 years old. A 3-Star-level knight. A man called the Golden Knight for a different reason than Philip.’

The dazzlingly decorated armor he was wearing. It wasn’t just an empty shell with a flashy appearance.

‘Weapon, armor, and even what seem to be useless decorations are all artifacts.’

3-Star at his age. It wasn’t an incompetent level, but it was certainly a stretch to call him outstanding.

The equipment he possessed was far too extravagant for such a person.

And it was all.

“If you get on my good side, gold coins might flow into the poor Lionel or the backwater Drasen. Why are young people so tactless?”

Purchased with the wealth of his family, the Hernandez County.

Well, buying equipment with family money wasn’t wrong in itself, but.

“Especially you, Philip. If you have any intention of paying back your family’s debt, shouldn’t you be doing so even more?

Surely you don’t mistake yourself for being truly rich just because you’re called the Golden Lion or something, do you? You were busy eating the royal palace’s food just now. You just have to show off how poor you are.”

To spout such nonsense to someone’s face, he was definitely a messed-up guy.

“Or you could sell that ‘family heirloom you’re wearing’ and pay off the debt.”

Heh.

‘Did the 3rd Prince accept people indiscriminately? Well, I suppose that’s possible.’

The Hernandez family, who had amassed enormous wealth through trade with the Empire, would undoubtedly be a great asset to the faction.

However.

“I believe my family’s debt is being paid off gradually. Let’s not get on each other’s nerves when we’re in the same boat, Sir Alondo.”

“Did stating a fact get on your nerves? If so, I apologize. I was just giving you advice because it seemed like you were wasting time holding onto the wrong rope.”

“The wrong rope?”

“I believe that brat over there has decided not to participate in the contest. Isn’t that right, the adopted son of Drasen?”

My, for a man over forty, his manner of speaking was something else.

“Your face is so full of spite, you must be jealous of Sir Philip. Don’t you think that’s why you can’t even be called the successor at your age?”

Oops, my mistake.

‘They said it would be a good family to build a rapport with.’

The words just slipped out because I got annoyed again.

“……What? What did you just say?”

He must not have much experience being rebuked to his face, as Alondo’s face was visibly reddening.

Well, it seemed becoming friends was already a lost cause.

It wouldn’t matter if I went even further from here.

“Ah, my apologies. Words just come out when I see a person with a shattered personality. Haha.”

“Sir Muno?”

As Philip looked at me with a dry laugh.

“You, what do you think you’re…….”

The spiteful middle-aged man was stuttering, his face red as if he were having trouble breathing.

I wanted to see just how far his expression would change.

At that moment, a booming shout was heard from the main entrance of the party hall.

“The heir of Iron! The true successor of steel, His Highness Christopher Iron, enters!!!”

All eyes naturally turned.

Grrr-thump.

In a brilliant light, a couple was seen walking leisurely into the party hall.

A silver-haired man in formal wear of blended silver-gray and white.

And a blond-haired woman in a dress of the same colors with an added vibrant red hue.

The moment they appeared, gasps of admiration erupted from all sides.

“My……”

“A handsome man and a beautiful woman……”

“What a wonderful couple.”

But Muno’s gaze was on those who followed behind them, rather than the couple themselves.

Karina, whom I had seen earlier, as well as Klarm, Chloe, and Rasmia.

The emissaries from Trian walked in behind Princess Roanna, each giving me a nod of greeting.

Since I wouldn’t be able to speak with them separately as they were attending as escorts, we exchanged simple greetings with just a smile.

Before long, the 3rd Prince and his partner had ascended the stairs on the left and right of the party hall to the seats of honor on the second floor.

And the 3rd Prince raised his glass.

“Now, since I dislike empty formalities as much as His Majesty the King, I will not speak long. It is Founding Day and the beginning of a new year. This year will be a year of new leaps for everyone gathered here. A toast!”

“A toast!!”

Led by the 3rd Prince’s call, all the nobles in the hall raised their glasses.

And then.

“And as you have all heard, His Majesty has just declared the start of the Contest of Virtue.”

Everyone held their breath at the words that followed.

“The location for the first round will be the Rodon Plains in the west. The number of knights for the contest will be 32 from the 1st Prince’s side, 33 from the 2nd Prince’s side, and 42 from our side……”

From Muno’s perspective, the words that followed were of no interest.

“……Is there anyone here who doubts our victory?”

“No!”

The prince smiled at the chorus of shouts that erupted almost simultaneously.

And.

“Yes, that’s right. Everyone is confident of victory, but today, another piece of good news was delivered.”

Just as I felt his gaze was particularly directed at me.

“With the help of Sir Muno Drasen, the Black Knight over there, the Aslan family’s participation in the contest has been partially restricted. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Sir Muno.”

Oh, already?

I was once again surprised by the 3rd Prince’s underlying strength.

“Woooooah!”

Cheers and applause erupted, and everyone’s attention focused on me.

I had expected it, but it didn’t feel particularly good.

‘Tsk…….’

If this was the case, no matter how much I insisted I wasn’t part of the 3rd Prince’s faction, others wouldn’t see it that way.

Muno let out a dry laugh inwardly as he saw Princess Roanna, who was half-hiding her face with a fan behind the prince, smiling with her eyes.

‘I even let it slip that I had a royal command, but they’re determined to use me to the very end.’

Well, once I left the capital, I wouldn’t need to worry about the other princes anyway.

“It was only what I ought to have done, Your Highness.”

When I accepted with a suitable pleasantry, a smile blossomed on the prince’s face.

“Now. To a new year, and a new era!”

“To a new era!”

In an atmosphere that felt as if victory in the contest was already certain, Muno alone showed an awkward smile.

But then.

“Your Highness, may I say a word?”

An unpleasant voice came from beside me.

“Oh, Sir Alondo Hernandez. Speak.”

“To liven up the party, I would like to test the skills of that Sir Black Knight as his senior.”

“What did you say?”

“In any case, I understand the Black Knight has decided not to join Your Highness’s faction. It would be troublesome if the young man becomes conceited from slightly exaggerated rumors, so I wish to teach him a lesson as a senior.”

The fool who had shattered the mood the host of this party had painstakingly created was digging his own grave.

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