CHAPTER 31: NO MORE BABYSITTING (2)

In just one hour, the assassin teaches me the basics of the technique and leave while leaving a contract: a vanguard-type warrior named KALOK ISGARD. He arrived in town yesterday after murdering the whole family of a butler working for a wealthy family.

The reward should be high enough to allow me to pay for the book this time. Speaking of the book, I go to the library to see the old man. I stopped there rarely since I started my mental training. Since I am a child, I thought it would be better to train more and harder, so I took my time.

***

"Oh, would you look at that! We have a warrior here."

As soon as I enter the library, Excafol greets me with a warm smile. He is wearing a scarf and by his side: Lanuvel Grandcross! What is she doing here?

"Good morning, old man. I have come to inquire about the book. Can't lower the price a bit?"

"What a rude man you are! I haven't seen you in two years, and you are as rude as ever. A pitiful man!"

"So, what do you say?" I simply ignore her and looks at the old man. If I answer her even once, then I won't be able to do anything. I have a hard time dealing with strong personality girls.

"Lanuvel, you should leave the guy alone. He must be tired. Didn't you see him training with your parents earlier?"

So she was observing our training session. I didn't notice her.

"I did but…"

"It's okay. Anyway, how much do you currently have, kid?"

"12.000.000 wellis."

"WHAT?!!!!"

"AHH?!!"

When I tell them how much I have, they both scream so loud you could think somebody just died in front of them.

"Where did you find that much money? No, how can you even have so much? Are you the bastard son of a noble, perhaps?" This girl. Why is she so harsh in her words?

"Kid, hm…How do I say this...?" Excafol seems hesitant. What is the problem?

"What is it, old man?"

"Don't ignore me!" Why are you so noisy?

"Can't you shut up a bit?"

"What?!" When I ask her to shut up, Lanuvel jumps from her seat like a grasshopper. Then she walks to me and stands right in front.

I didn't realize until now but, I am taller than her even though we are the same age. By at least 5 cm at that. Must be the training.

"Why do you always have to be like this? If you have a problem with me, just say so. I don't like rude people, and you even more so." She looks right into my eyes. Should I answer her?

"Lanuvel, calm down. Did you forget why you came here today?"

Excafol saves me from the claws of Lanuvel before something happens. Thank you, old man. But why is she here?

"No, I didn't. I hope you will come."

"Of course, I will, but you should also invite Kevin. That would be the etiquette, after all." What are those two talking about? Invite me to what?

"Inviting this shitty dog is so irritating, but I suppose you are right. Kevin..."

She now looks at me with disdain and discomfort.

"Romas and I will hold a party tomorrow evening. I hope to see you among our guests."

After saying that, she simply goes out of the library, without even giving any other information.

"Party?" I look at Excafol.

"Yeah, they are getting engaged." Ah, now I see. No, actually, I don't understand. Why do I have to go?

"And why should I go?"

"Her mother is your instructor, so you are, in a sense, a related party. Nobles, even from the second-degree like them, have to inform all possible related person so that there can be no possible complaint. Nobles sometimes use that to destabilize each other, it might seem like a trivial matter, but in fact, it is not."

Excafol is gently caressing his beard while talking. He must know quite a lot about that then.

"I see. And you. What are you to her, if I may ask? Also, you said second-degree nobility? What does it mean?"

"Ah, this lad truly knows nothing of the world. There are three degrees of nobility: first-degree with the royal family of each kingdom and their direct lieges. For example, here, the FLORAS royal family and the FLOLERL family, which is their liege. Then you have the second-degree nobility: families that are liege to the first degree like the GRANDCROSS and families that have influence in the army like the SILONIA."

He looks at Lanuvel for a moment and she turns her head to the other side. I hope your neck break when you do that again.

"And finally, third-degree nobility with wealthy merchants or successful free citizens. They are just given the title of noble by the royal family so that they can be more useful to the kingdom, but asides from that, they don't really have a noble status. Of course, they are still better than us free citizens or slaves. And for your first question, I am her Angas teacher. Rose came to see me two weeks ago because Lanuvel had received the blessing and can use four elemental attributes of Angas. She might become a mage at the academy, but she will need the basics before, so I have accepted to teach her."

So, Lanuvel received her blessing and got married directly. I feel like they were just waiting for that actually.

"Old man, about the book?"

"Ah, yes, yes. The book, I was joking about the price. Silly me."

"What?!!" He was what now?