The Second Son of the Count Is Too Good

‘There’s no way to miss expectations.’

Werner felt a throbbing headache and bowed his head to Michael.

“Welcome, Master Michael. What’s going on at the gymnasium?”

“Does he have to come only when he has work? Wherever I go, it’s my heart.”

“That’s right, but…”

Werner, who was gently soothing Michael, frowned. It was because he saw the knight standing behind Michael.

Unfamiliar armor form to the face you see for the first time. It was clearly a knight from outside the family.

“Bocchan, who is he?”

“Ah, Sir Gino.”

Michael smiled and shrugged his shoulders as if showing off a treasure.

“A knight I met in the capital not too long ago. I’m from the Golden Lion Knights, and he wants to swear allegiance to me.”

“This is Gino Ruble. Sir Werner’s reputation has been heard a lot.”

The knight who gave the name Gino slightly bowed his head towards Werner.

The greeting was polite, but the young knight’s confidence could be seen in his straight shoulders and bright smile.

Werner’s eyes, which were staring at the two, wavered.

“You mean you signed a contract for life?”

“Well, that’s how it happened.”

“Excuse me, sir Gino’s salary…”

“Don’t worry, I’ve prepared it for you.”

Michael didn’t even listen to everything and hung up halfway through. His face was full of annoyance, as if to say no more.

Werner, who guessed the circumstances, lamented.

‘Did you open your hand to your mother’s family?’

Helena’s parental family, the Below family, is famous for its wealth. Besides, the family head of the family of Below at the time is Michael’s maternal grandfather.

If it was a request from his grandson, he would have lightly paid the salary of a life knight. The problem was the aftermath.

‘How can a knight hired by an outside force be one’s own?’

No matter how important chivalry is, reality is not romance. The knight is also one of the humans who are seduced by the glittering gold.

There is even a saying that half of knights’ loyalty comes from wealth. But to pay a salary with someone else’s property, not your own.

Wouldn’t it be strange if the object of loyalty changes to the water owner at any time? Unless, like Sir Bruno, he was loyal to his master despite knowing his master’s circumstances.

‘That’s all the influence of the Below family.’

As Werner clicked his tongue inwardly, Michael closed his eyes and sniffed.

“By the way, Sir Werner, why does the gymnasium smell so bad?”

“Smell…?”

“I told you before. It smells like cloth. I want the sacred gymnasium to be this terrible.”

Pretending to cover his nose, Michael glanced at Luke. Receiving that gaze, Luke asked Werner, who stiffened.

“Who are you?”

“This is Master Michael. Master Luke may have heard of it…”

“ah!”

Luke clapped his hands and smiled as if he had just remembered it.

“Someone said it was my brother! Nice to meet you, brother!”

Luke smiled cheerfully and spread his arms. It was like a ‘come here’.

Seeing that, everyone in the gymnasium hardened. After a while, Michael’s face turned red when he came to his senses.

“This cloth! Who is your brother!”

“I heard about you. I’m the same age as you, but my birthday is a bit later, right? Then isn’t it right for me to be an older brother?”

“You can’t shut up! A guy who plows the fields and picks up animal skins imitates nobles!”

Michael pointed his finger at Luke’s face and uttered abusive language. Luke tilted his head and looked at the restless Werner.

“Sir Werner.”

“yes?”

“I’ve heard that there are cases where nobles adopt commoners. Is that true?”

“Yes, yes.”

It’s very rare, but not unheard of. Because one of the ways for a commoner to rise as an aristocrat is to become an adopted child.

“If a commoner becomes an adopted son, the original relationship with his or her parents will be that of siblings, right?”

“you’re right.”

“I’m not familiar with it, but at that time, were the names you used to call your siblings a little different?”

“… No. It’s the same.”

“But I don’t know why my younger brother is doing that to me like my father.”

Seeing Luke shrug his shoulders, a vein rose on Michael’s forehead.

“You idiot! Do you think that’s the same as the current situation!”

“Is there anything else?”

“Yes! Wash your ears and listen!”

When a noble adopts a child, it is when there is something beneficial to the family. For example, if you show genius talent in scheming or swordsmanship.

Or in the case of a mercenary commander or a warlord who possesses mighty forces. Adoption at this time is like a kind of contract.

It means to serve as a member of the family because I will give you aristocratic status and push you from the family. Of course, the children are not dissatisfied with the names of older brothers and sisters.

Because a horse is a child, it is a vassal. And if you can gain a sense of fellowship by changing the title, there is nothing more to wish for.

“Is that the same as you? The one who came into the family with nothing but his father’s warmth!”

“Um, indeed.”

Luke nodded as if he understood. Then he spoke in a tone full of regret.

“I’m sorry. I have nothing to give you.”

“what?”

“How can I not want to fulfill my older brother’s duty? But since I have neither wealth nor power… I wanted to be a real brother.”

Michael’s head tilted at the sudden remark. And after a few seconds, the context was matched in my head.

– We have the same father, so we are brothers.

-You’re a commoner, you lowly bastard.

– Even nobles who don’t have a drop of blood are called elder brother to commoners?

-They benefit.

-Ah, so if you give me an advantage, you’re happy to treat me like a big brother.

-uh?

– But I have nothing to give you. I don’t have the money and power that you like, so I can’t be an older brother.

“… such a bastard!”

Michael, angry to the end, clenched his fists. Turning yourself into a worm whose attitude changes according to profit!

It was even more crazy that I couldn’t think of anything to deny because of what I said earlier.

“You bastard right now…!”

“Brother Michael!”

It was when Werner stopped Michael who was about to rush in. Bruno, who was still in the back, stepped forward.

“That’s enough, Master Michael.”

“Who are you to stop me!”

“I am Bruno Baston. A knight who has devoted allegiance to Master Luke.”

“What? This thousand is a lifetime contract?”

Michael looked at Luke in disbelief. After a while, however, the astonishment on his face gradually turned into a sneer.

“Ah, now I remember. Southern Knight Bruno. No, Sir Bruno the Moneybug?”

“young master!”

“I’ve been called that before.”

Werner dissuaded him from the excessive insult, but Bruno accepted without hesitation.

I’ve never heard such swear words in my life. In the first place, in the southern region, which is famous for swear words, that level wasn’t even swear words.

“Yes, he’s the perfect master servant. By the way, there’s a knight there too, right?”

Michael’s smile deepened. I just wanted to challenge that cloth to a duel right away.

However, the opponent is a beginner who has just started learning the sword.

It was obvious that he would be criticized from all sides just for the fact that he had applied for a duel regardless of victory or defeat. However, if the opponent has a knight, the situation is different.

“Did you say Luke? You insulted my honor, so I challenge you to a duel.”

“Brother Michael, Master Luke…”

“You’re just learning the sword, right? But since there’s an article, you can send it out as an agent.”

At Michael’s words, Werner shut his mouth. A proxy duel was certainly possible.

It’s not that we’re fighting directly, it’s that we want to compete as knights under his command.

‘Hey, there won’t be any way to escape.’

It is not a fault if you avoid a duel due to lack of competence. However, it would be disgraceful if they refused even though they had sufficient competence.

It also means that I don’t believe in my knight’s ability. The self-respecting knights would be greatly hurt by themselves.

“If you win, I’ll call you big brother. But if I win, call me young boy. What are you going to do?”

Even so, I added an appetizing bait to avoid it. If he still avoids a duel, he proves himself a coward.

Looking at the triumphant Michael, Werner put on a puzzled expression, while Luke and Bruno whispered behind him.

‘Hey, doesn’t he know your skills?’

‘Maybe he doesn’t know.’

‘why?’

‘Because I went up to the capital before I was active.’

‘Then you only know notoriety?’

‘I guess that’s what I heard…?’

After organizing their thoughts, the master and servant looked at each other and smiled. While the two were talking, Werner shook his head and opened his mouth.

“My advice, Master Michael, is that you don’t do that.”

“Are you covering him now?

“That’s not it, Sir Bruno is very strong…”

“Nonsense! A duel!”

At that time, Luke quickly cut off Werner’s words and quickly stepped out.

“Even if it’s a duel, how do I know you’ll keep your promise? I can’t trust you unless you swear!”

“Oh, so you’re saying that if you swear an oath, we’ll have a duel?”

“No, that’s…!”

Oops, such a mistake! Looking at Luke, who was full of embarrassment, Michael smiled in repentance.

After all, cloth is unavoidable. Nobility is the one whose life comes and goes with a single slip of the tongue.

“Okay! If the knight I sent loses, I swear to the great founder Leonic and the goddess that I will call you my older brother!”

“Huh!”

I can’t believe you really swore! Disappointed! Luke took a step back, very embarrassed.

Seeing this, Michael smiled and showed his teeth.

“Now, you swear, too!

“Keuugh! I, I!”

“My lord! Do it!”

Bruno stepped out in front of Luke full of regret. It was the appearance of a knight who was ready for death.

“How can I be called a knight if my lord is not insulted! I will win even at the cost of my life!”

“But the opponent is the Golden Lion Knights! I’ve heard of that reputation too! I can’t lose you!”

“How can a knight avoid confrontation with fame!”

Bruno dropped to his knees and exclaimed desperately.

“Even though I’m a knight from the southern countryside, I know the duty of a knight! Let me fight!”

“Keuheuk! If you really want it…!”

Luke, whose eyes were wet with his vassal’s loyalty, stood up. His clenched fists were full of spleen beauty.

“Okay! If I lose, I will call you a young master and serve you wholeheartedly! I swear this to the great founder Leonic and the goddess!”

“hahahaha! Your courage is at the level of a noble!”

Michael laughed out loud and winked at Gino. Gino confidently stepped forward.

“My lord, what should I do?”

“He’s a spirited knight. Treat him as he deserves.”

“All right.”

At first glance, it seems to be respectful, but the meaning was to pretend to be a mistake and kill him.

What is the reason to save the limbs of a thousand things that you don’t want to see?

After hearing the conversation between the two, Bruno bit his lip and approached Werner as if he had a premonition of fate.

“Sir Werner, please do not stop the duel. No matter what happens to me. That is an insult to me.”

“What are you talking about earlier? You are the strongest here…”

“Looks like the time has come! Please declare the start of the duel!”

The two confronted each other, leaving Werner with a blank face. Bruno pulls out his sword with a nervous expression, and Jino is relaxed.

weird. I’ve recently developed presbyopia, but I’m not blind enough to see people’s expressions the other way around.

“Sir Werner, when are you going to start? The preparations are already over.”

At Michael’s urging, Werner gave up the idea. Both of them want to duel quickly, but what can I do?

“… May it be a confrontation without shame in front of the goddess. Draw your sword.”

Just let it be.

****

‘It’s a perfect stage to show off your skills.’

Michael’s knight, Gino, was quite satisfied with the current situation. This is because he did not have a chance to show his abilities to Michael after signing a lifetime contract.

A knight who dedicates allegiance to his lord must prove himself in some way.

Even a lord, no matter how benevolent, is bound to frown at idle idleness while spending an expensive salary.

‘Besides, a duel, isn’t it my chess field?’

The Golden Lion Knights were originally founded to deal with humans rather than monsters. Even within the Knights, Jino was above average.

Although he was kicked out for his bad behavior, he was confident in his interpersonal swordsmanship.

‘good. Let’s finish it in one blow.’

There was nothing like a one-on-one fight to impress others. When I lowered my back and set my sword horizontally, the southern knight in front of me also took the stance.

It was a stupid posture to receive the sword. Confident of victory, Jino rushed in and cut his sword horizontally with all his might.

jjoong

‘I won!’

With the sound of swords clashing, Jino was sure of victory. After the first bump, the sword gently brushed past.

Even though I didn’t feel the flesh cutting, I could see the blue sky far in front of my eyes!

“…sky?”

Wait a minute, why can’t I see the sky? Before the question could be resolved, a strong shock hit Gino’s entire body.

burst

“Kheuheouk!”

After rolling on the ground several times, Gino realized. The moment the swords collided for the first time, the opponent sent his entire sword flying into the sky.

And now the fact that he has fallen and is rolling on the ground.

“What the heck… Shuuugh!”

Gino, frightened by the absurd muscle strength, passed out trembling. His arm was broken and dangling, probably because he blocked that ignorant force.

He fell to the ground with both arms broken and rolled around, so he could have passed out.

“…”

“…”

Silence fell in the gymnasium. Bruno put his sword in the scabbard and lowered his head towards Gino.

“It was a good fight.”

“…”

“It’s really just a piece of paper. If I had been a little late in judging the situation, I would have run away…”

“Don’t be a jerk, Sir.”

Werner, impatient, finally said something. I have to say something that makes sense.