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Chapter – 04
The Eastern Marquis’s territory, the Lawrence Marquisate, was not only larger and broader than the Ilya County but also contained many fertile lands, producing 10% of the grains consumed by the Varda Empire. Many people lived there, making it their home.
Although the primary industry of the Lawrence Marquisate was agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and tourism also thrived, making it one of the wealthiest territories in the Varda Empire.
Furthermore, as Marquis Eastern governed and managed his territory well, the residents faithfully followed his policies, creating a bright atmosphere in the territory.
Of course, there were certainly those dissatisfied with Marquis Eastern’s policies or management, but even they recognized that the Lawrence Marquisate was a better place to live compared to other territories.
“The people’s expressions are all so bright.”
Pirancheva arrived at the Lawrence Marquisate a week after leaving Ilya County and was pleased to see the bustling lives of the people.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I could sense a feeling similar to the people of Ilya County from their expressions.”
Ilya County was also one of the wealthiest territories in the Varda Empire.
The reason why the Lawrence Marquisate and Ilya County were inevitably wealthier than other territories was very simple.
It was because the power held by these two territories was that strong.
The Lawrence Marquisate by the sword, and Ilya County by magic…
Of course, there were other territories in the Varda Empire with power similar to or even stronger than these two families, but as they were two territories with notable strength, their residents could focus on their work without major worries, leading to continuous development of the territories.
“If you speak too maturely for your young age, people will become suspicious.”
“Suspicious?”
“They might wonder if you are a reincarnator.”
Pirancheva gave an awkward smile at those words. Then she asked.
“But are there really reincarnators?”
“There can’t be such a person. I haven’t died yet, so I don’t know what the afterlife is like, or if one reincarnates or is reborn after death, but I have never heard of such a person existing until now.”
‘Well…’
As they passed by, the residents, noticing Marquis Eastern, bowed their waists and did not straighten up until they had passed.
Although he was now accustomed to it and felt no particular emotion, when he first encountered this behavior after waking up here, he had been somewhat flustered.
The difference between nobles and commoners was so different from what he had learned from books on Earth that getting used to living as a noble felt very awkward.
Fortunately, humans are adaptable creatures, and once he adapted, he found it somewhat amazing how he could accept and live with it as if it were nothing.
“But when I look at you and my daughter, I sometimes think you might be reincarnators.”
Pirancheva thought of Elina.
‘If Elina is in the same situation as me, it’s more likely to be Rozé than the “Meat Shield Cannon”.’
Pirancheva narrowed her eyes, briefly recalling her memories from her time on Earth.
In fact, Rozé and she were like rivals. Their relationship wasn’t exactly bad, but whenever they met, they would clash over differing opinions, and each time, they would fight fiercely until mediation from those around them made them both step back.
“There can’t be any reincarnators. I am cultivating my physical strength and learning swordsmanship to solve the chronic problem of mages while training in magic.”
“Chronic problem?”
“Yes. When casting, movement must be minimized, so without knights around, we are practically defenseless, right?”
“That’s true.”
“I am trying to overcome that weakness. Of course, my primary goal is to learn magic in a more varied way through swordsmanship, though.”
The reason Pirancheva was confident she could defeat a dragon by learning swordsmanship was because she relied on the Heavenly Demon Arts she had obtained from the ancient dungeon in the demon realm when using Freedom.
Since numerous dragons died by the swords of demons in the war between demons and dragons, she was convinced that if she mastered the Heavenly Demon Arts, she could hunt dragons using magic and the Heavenly Demon Arts.
‘If I master both magic and martial arts and become a magic swordsman, I should be able to hunt those lizard bastards for sure.’
“Listening to you, it makes sense.”
Marquis Eastern’s words snapped Pirancheva out of her thoughts.
“If I can prove that mages can use magic while moving around agilely like knights, as I thought, I could establish my own school and even build a magic tower.”
Marquis Eastern nodded.
‘Indeed, geniuses are different. Children their age usually just talk about dreams and imagination, but Elina and Pirancheva take action to realize their dreams and imagination.’
Marquis Eastern felt inwardly excited. He wondered how the world would change if these children truly achieved what they desired.
‘I’m curious. The shape of the Empire that these children will change as they grow up…’
Marquis Eastern’s castle walls were tinged with red, as if built from red bricks.
“Is it magically treated?”
Pirancheva could tell at a glance that the castle walls and gate were protected by magic circles.
“Yes. Your father personally engraved magical seals to protect the castle walls and gate. He said it can render magic below the 4th-circle useless and withstand a 5th-circle magic spell a few times.”
“My father’s magic circles are truly amazing. In terms of magic circles alone, he’s probably the best in the empire.”
Seeing her speak with a very proud expression, like a child boasting about their parent, Marquis Eastern thought that even a genius is still a child.
When they arrived at the castle gate, a resounding voice echoed through the air.
“Loyalty to Marquis Eastern!”
Then, the soldiers guarding the gate shouted in unison.
“Loyalty!”
Marquis Eastern gave a slight nod in response to the soldiers and entered the castle. Pirancheva was somewhat surprised and excited by the disciplined demeanor she hadn’t seen in Ilya territory.
‘As expected of a knight family, it’s different, isn’t it?’
Upon entering the castle, a wide courtyard appeared, with trees planted along the castle walls for landscaping.
There was also a path along the castle walls that seemed to be used for knights and soldiers to jog or sprint.
“The castle is incomparably larger than our house.”
“What, are you envious?”
“No. Our house is plenty spacious, so I’m not envious, but it seems nice that the knights can do lower-body exercises like running every day.”
“Haha, starting next week, you too will have to roll around with them as a trainee.”
“Starting next week?”
“What, now that you’re about to start swordsmanship training, are you afraid?”
“No. I can start even tomorrow if needed. So, please let me train from tomorrow.”
“Hehe.”
Marquis Eastern laughed at her words.
“There are a few things we need to check before starting swordsmanship training.”
“Check?”
“Your physical strength, physical advantages, abilities, mental toughness, etc…”
“Ah…”
“This week, you will undergo those examinations and tests, and then training will commence according to your physical strength. Depending on your performance, you will be promoted or held back to receive appropriate training.”
Pirancheva nodded.
“So, if I do well, I can keep getting promoted?”
“Yes. But it won’t be easy. Elina has only recently been promoted to the Sword User rank.”
Just as mages have stages like 1st-circle, 2nd-circle, 3rd-circle, becoming higher, swordsmen, martial artists, physical arts practitioners, spirit users, and divine knights also have their own ranked stages.
Considering that Elina, called a genius in swordsmanship, was only a Sword User, it was clear that the path of a swordsman was not easy either.
“If even Elina, who is called a genius in swordsmanship, is a Sword User, then the path of a swordsman must not be easy either.”
But Pirancheva was not one to give up. During her Freedom days, she was called tenacious to the point of being stubborn, and that tenacity had led her to the top rank.
It was said jokingly that if she had put in the same effort in reality as she did in Freedom, she would have succeeded at anything; she was recognized as stubborn among the stubborn.
“What, lacking confidence?”
Pirancheva said with a bright smile.
“I am confident.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I may look like this, but I’m very tenacious.”
Marquis Eastern smiled.
“Pirancheva.”
“Yes, Marquis.”
“Do you know how old you are now?”
“Yes. I’m seven years old.”
Pirancheva looked at Marquis Eastern with a gaze that wondered why he was asking her age.
“Don’t you think it’s strange for a word like ‘tenacious’ to come so easily from a seven-year-old’s mouth?”
“Ah, that’s because the children living in the slums of Ilya County said that about me.”
“Children from the slums said that?”
“Yes. My father goes out once a month to check on the people living in the slums.”
“Why the slums?”
“Father said that serious crimes often occur in the slums, and the poor living conditions can lead to outbreaks of diseases like epidemics, so we must check on them at least once a month.”
“Earl Amand’s character is truly commendable.”
“But I went to the slums a few times with my father, and once I got into an argument with the children living there, and I won the fight.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I fought with as many as nine kids.”
Like a child boasting about her actions, she told Marquis Eastern the story from that time with characteristic excitement.
“At that time, I was beaten up pretty badly by those kids, but I focused on fighting just one kid who seemed the strongest among them.”
Marquis Eastern made an expression showing interest in Pirancheva’s story.
“And then?”
“I was hurt a lot too, but the kid I targeted was hurt even more than me. After I beat that kid, I looked around at the others, and they slowly started backing away out of fear.”
“That’s impressive.”
“But the kid I beat, being as tenacious as me, charged at me again. So, the two of us fought, and in the end, I won again.”
“Haha. Well done.”
“So then I said to the kids.”
“What did you say?”
“Anyone else want to fight me? When I said that, they all avoided my gaze out of fear, you see?”
Marquis Eastern nodded. He could easily imagine that level of fear arising from a fight among children.
“So then I said to them: I am Pirancheva Ran Ilya, the youngest son of Earl Amand Ran Ilya! If any of you want to fight me, come find me at the Earl’s castle anytime!”
“And then?”
“The kids all ran away without even looking back.”
“Hahahaha!”
Marquis Eastern burst into loud laughter at Pirancheva’s words, looking satisfied at having heard such an amusing story.
“Haha, well then. I’ll be watching to see just how tenacious our Pirancheva is, so I hope you don’t disappoint me.”
“Yes. I will never disappoint you.”
