Sir Hero, It’s Time to Train!

10,000 gold coins.

One gold coin equaled ten silver coins.

One silver coin equaled ten copper coins.

Considering a middle-class family, living comfortably, spent about 20 to 30 gold coins a month, 10,000 gold coins was a substantial amount, even for a noble wielding considerable influence.

It was an amount that would typically require a heated debate between the person in charge of finances and the family head before it was approved for use within a household. Yet now, Christian was demanding it with a smile.

Even Neria Worden and Aira could not hide their stunned expressions at Christian’s request.

“Hmm, 10,000 gold coins. It is indeed a significant amount.”

“…… Quite a lot, you say?”

Liana’s calm remark left Neria perplexed.

It was an amount that would even fluster the daughter of no ordinary noble family, but rather of the esteemed Marquis family itself…

‘What? Quite a lot? Really, quite a lot?!’

Contrary to Neria’s inner turmoil, Christian continued to babble nonchalantly.

“Isn’t that so? As expected from the daughter of the Miles Viscount family that holds a firm position within the continent’s trade sector. It’s not as much as it seems, right?”

“…… Is our son really sick?”

“He’s not sick. No fever, so please take your hand off my forehead.”

“No, he’s definitely sick. Look, he’s burning up.”

“That’s just because your hand is warm, mother.”

Christian gently removed Neria’s seemingly urgent hand from his forehead and put it down quietly.

Watching this, Liana sneered at the actions of the mother and son.

“In your impoverished family, such an amount must seem unattainable. Are you suddenly harboring ambitions to change your life?”

“Our family is also Aunt’s family, you know?”

Was she truly thinking of them as outsiders?

While such thoughts briefly crossed his mind, Christian subtly sighed to himself and continued the negotiation.

“I thought it was a reasonable amount…”

“Reasonable? We usually call that irrational.”

“Oh, no. In three months, I’ll activate your body, so pay up 10,000 gold coins. You wouldn’t believe how many people would gather the money somehow to pay up.”

What’s 10,000 gold coins anyway?

There would be plenty of individuals willing to pay even 100,000 gold coins.

In his past life, Christian had witnessed various individuals offering enormous sums of money, or items of equivalent value, pleading with the master to accept them as disciples. They even prostrated themselves flat on the ground.

‘Of course, they all ran away after a few days.’

Naturally, they did not get their money back. It was they who couldn’t endure and fled; it wasn’t like the master failed to fulfill the contract.

Having seen this firsthand, Christian believed that 10,000 gold coins was a perfectly reasonable price.

“Surely, however, that’s only possible if the person has shown capability, possessed power, and had a reliable background. Such individuals are often referred to as the greatest on the continent.”

“Hehe, the greatest on the continent. Well, that’s an embarrassing thing to hear…”

“Why are you delighting in that?”

Well, because… I was once the greatest on this continent not so long ago.

Knowing that saying such a thing would make people deem him crazy, Christian merely coughed embarrassingly.

“Ahem, anyway, I already kept my promise, and now it’s Aunt’s turn to keep hers. Surely the famous Miles Viscount family wouldn’t break a promise and betray trust….”

“No, don’t. Don’t provoke her. You’ll regret it. You’ll honestly be scolded by Mother.”

Aira, unable to stand by any longer, yanked at Christian’s collar with a wild shake of her head.

Ignoring Aira’s desperate warning, Christian continued to stare intently at Liana.

Liana also held Christian’s gaze for a moment in silence.

“Right. This wasn’t a simple promise; it was a deal. It must be kept. Moreover, just because no amount was stated doesn’t mean I can break our agreement with your son over an outrageous amount.”

‘Scary, aunt.’

And Christian wasn’t the only one who felt this way. Neria, who always bickered with Liana, subtly avoided eye contact.

“However, you should remember this as well. If you don’t achieve it, you will have to pay a penalty, including the investment amount.”

“Hey, the ten thousand gold coins were not investment money; they were legitimate profits that I earned from the deal. Well, it’s fine with me. I’ll pay as much as needed.”

Christian shrugged, casting a sly glance at Neria as he continued.

“Well, if things go wrong, my mom will take care of it. Right?”

“No, no, mom doesn’t know about any of that. You shouldn’t do it. Your grandfather said never to gamble, guarantee, or make contracts with the Miles family.”

Indeed, even when the world was falling apart, merchants were always busy securing their own profits.

Who would have thought they would sell goods indiscriminately, whether the client was a traitor to humanity or a demi-human?

‘Oh, surely the Miles family isn’t like that?’

Reluctantly, as if not wanting to converse anymore, Liana Worden unfastened a bracelet and held it out.

“It is worth more than ten thousand gold coins.”

“…… You were wearing something worth ten thousand gold coins on you?”

The family really lived on a grand scale. Though we are from the same family, you live in a completely different world, aunt.

The price of many ornaments you’re wearing, if one bracelet alone is worth ten thousand gold coins, what’s it all worth?!

They said the economic power of the Miles family was like that of a small country, and they weren’t joking.

Aunt, you really are like a walking estate, aren’t you?

Pulling himself together, Christian finally spoke with a hardened expression.

“Uh, but if this is worth more than ten thousand gold coins, I don’t have any change for it…….”

“Keep it. Think of it as a charitable donation.”

“There’s a more pleasant term for it, like an allowance, right?”

Although he felt a bit uneasy, Christian’s face brightened as he received the money without any further complications.

“Hehehe. Something worth ten thousand gold coins is in my hands…….”

“If you run off with that, my mother will chase you to the ends of the continent, so remember that.”

“Who’s running off? If anyone should run, it’d be you!”

“Me? Why?”

Aira asked back with a genuinely innocent face, not understanding at all. Christian felt a shiver at how different she was from how he remembered his master.

“No need to know right now, but just have high expectations.”

“Expectations for what…….”

“No matter what, it’ll be beyond anything you imagine.”

Still, her expression was quite excited.

Was it really that enjoyable?

Well, when past Christian first learned about swordsmanship, he had so much anticipation that he couldn’t sleep at night.

His master was the first to offer to teach a wandering child something. And that boy, too young, had impossible dreams of becoming a knight.

Back then, just like Aira now, she was a dream-filled young girl just like the boy he once was.

‘Yeah, keep dreaming.’

You won’t be able to at all once this is over.

Liana did not seem greatly interested in where Christian spent his money. She was only surprised by the amount, and after handing over the bracelet, she behaved as she normally would.

She probably thought she could retrieve it at any time and didn’t pay much attention.

“But, aren’t you curious about what I’m going to use this money for?”

After leaving the drawing-room, Neria didn’t ask Christian any questions as they walked down the hallway together.

Considering her usually persistent nature, Christian found it odd, so he eventually asked first.

“Huh? Why should I ask?”

“Well, it’s just that…”

Wouldn’t most people be curious?

When Christian expressed his own surprise, Neria gave him a sweet smile.

“It’s the money our child earned through hard work. Just because I’m his mother, I can’t dictate what to do with it. You must have a solid reason for asking for that much money, right? I’ll trust you’ll use it well.”

“Isn’t that too reckless?”

“Reckless? No, it’s not that.”

Neria, crossing her arms confidently, looked at Christian and said,

“It’s belief. And trust.”

Belief and trust.

These were undoubtedly good words, but to Christian, who had lived in a world where people who easily betrayed trust and used faith like garbage thrived, they sounded somewhat alien.

“You won’t use it for anything strange, right?”

“Of course not.”

“Then that’s settled.”

It was truly a bit too reckless, this belief and trust.

‘Master feels that way, and now, my current mother too…’

He couldn’t understand why those who became his parents cherished him so.

Some might ask if all parents in the world aren’t like that.

“Well, the world isn’t always that beautiful.”

After all, Christian himself was a child abandoned by his parents once.

“More importantly, are you really okay with it?”

“Sorry? With what?”

“The promise you made with your Aunt. It’s not something to take lightly. If you get tangled with that money-hungry family, it could lead to big trouble.”

While not worried at all about where the money would be spent, she seemed anxious about the other promises with his Aunt.

“Don’t worry. There truly won’t be any problem.”

“If you say so, Chris, it must be true…”

“Look forward to it. I’ll make sure to show you Aunt’s incredibly surprised face.”

“Hmm. I’d love to see her icy expression crumble. That would be enough of a birthday gift for mom!”

Christian was not startled by Neria’s outlandish request.

“Wanting to see your Aunt’s face contorted as a birthday gift…”

Christian was curious, too.

What would his Aunt think if Aira completely changed her appearance?

‘And what expression would Master make?’

Would she run away, crying with snot and tears like I used to, or cling to me while crying?

Whatever it was…

‘I am already prepared, master.’

For the next three months, his master would belong to him.

He hoped she would be impressed with how he’d make her work, worth even more than the ten thousand gold coins.