Kays Translations

Chapter 9: Lucius' Appraisal

Lucius stepped forward alone.

As he thought about being judged himself in the upcoming appraisal, he felt nervous. He pushed his way through the crowd when suddenly he stumbled and tripped on something.

"Whoa!" 

As he fell and looked back, he saw Viscount Gaeden with a wicked grin on his face.

- Did he trip me?

A small wave of sneering laughter arose from those around them.

"He's so stiff from the tension."

"Hehe, he's a perfect fit for the lowest seat of the Baron's family."

- Is this how adults behave towards a three-year-old?

Lucius pretended to remain calm as he got up, dusted himself off, and proceeded towards the center of the hall. Count Strauss looked at Lucius like a hawk.

"Today, it ends with you."

"So it seems."

Lucius gracefully performed a bow that was anything but childish. The aristocrats who had laughed at him earlier were now silent.

Apparently, the order of appraisal was determined by the family's status. It started with Olivia, the daughter of the Strauss family, who ruled over the scene, and since the ranks of the nobles went down one by one, Lucius had realized it halfway through. 

In other words, the lowest-ranking family in this place seems to be the Dragon family.

It is unknown whether or not they had a son to undergo the appraisal in the first place, but they apparently broke the family treasure, the Magic Corpse Stone, and sold the father's territory in order to survive. 

"Child of the Dragon family, show us your worth, for you have been spared even though you smashed your family treasure, the Magic Corpse Stone, and disposed of your father's land."

- Family treasure? Magic Corpse Stone? There are so many things I don't understand today.

The talk about the land was probably what Viscount Garden had mentioned earlier, but Lucius had never heard of the Magic Corpse Stone before.

He couldn't keep up with the conversation, but this wasn't the atmosphere to ask questions.

He swallowed his doubts.

"... As you wish."

As Lord Strauss stepped back, the Siren next to the old woman floated up.

At a closer look, her grotesque appearance became even more prominent.

Her upper body was that of a pretty girl with such refined features that one could feel the coldness, but her lower half was that of a peacock with a massive claw that was sharp and reminiscent of a carnivorous dinosaur.

"Ugh..."

As the Siren came closer to his eyes and nose, he felt like taking a step back instinctively.

Anyone would want to distance themselves instinctively if they had an abnormal creature approach them.

However, he did not move back.

His body became immobilized as the Siren's four tails instantly coiled around him, just like the children had experienced earlier.

His left and right hands, eyes, and mouth were bound, and his vision was taken away. He had no idea what was happening.

"You look very delicious."

Suddenly, a voice spoke in his ear.

The voice was very seductive. As the voice echoed in his mind like a song, he felt a strange desire, even though he was still a child.

"Who are you?"

"You don't have to hold back. Let's become one."

The voice continued to stimulate his instincts even more.

"Just say yes, and it will come true."

It was an irresistible temptation.

After wandering the desert for several days, his heart and body were yearning for the voice's owner as if they were presented with the supreme fruit water in front of their eyes.

"Yes..."

As Lucius began to respond as desired, a voice interrupted him.

"Stop. That's a violation of the contract."

The hoarse voice of an old woman echoed in the room.

The singing voice stopped abruptly.

Lucius suddenly had his hands and mouth untied, and he could see the old woman standing up, controlling the Siren.

When the old woman held out her left hand, the Siren was drawn to it, dissipating into particles.

The Siren had a graceful smile and laughed as it disappeared.

"What was that?"

Until just now, the flow was supposed to be that the Siren sang and the old woman announced the result of the appraisal, but this time it seemed different.

The old woman did not stand in the way, nor did the Siren speak.

Lucius couldn't comprehend the situation and looked around.

"What's going on?"

The faces of the surrounding nobles turned pale.

Everyone had a ghastly expression, as if they had just seen a ghost in broad daylight.

"Hey! What the hell is going on here!?"

"A loud voice echoed through the hall.

The king himself stood up from his chair and asked a question to no one in particular.

"Anyone who can explain, answer me. It doesn't matter who it is," he said, his tone growing rough.

"Your Majesty, I, who was responsible for appraising this time, would like to offer an explanation," said the old woman as she prostrated herself.

"There is a historic quartet:

A first-class rider magic core,

A second-class gunner magic core,

A second-class chanting magic core,

And a second-class white-eyed magic core."

The voice of surprise rises throughout the venue.

The commotion is such that it feels as if the windows of the opening hall will shatter at any moment.

In the midst of the chaos, Count Strauss approached the old woman with his mouth trembling.

"What kind of appraisal is that!? Are you absolutely sure!?"

"I am positive. I stake my family's honor on it."

The old woman humbly bowed and retreated, seemingly intimidated.

Marquis Strauss, who was sweating profusely, turned to the most powerful person in the room, no, the most prestigious person in the country.

"Your Majesty, what should we do...?"

"I do not know. But something unprecedented has occurred."

"Holding four magic cores was deemed impossible."

Though it was only a minute or so, the King closed his eyes and hesitated.

"Everyone, please refrain from speaking about what you witnessed today. And Baron Dragon will come to my chambers later. So will Count Strauss."

My father opened and closed his mouth repeatedly, shocked beyond words. My mother's face turned pale.

-What happened? I don't understand.

It was a bewildering meeting, but the current situation is even more incomprehensible.

I was called out by a dignified voice as I was confused.

The King himself spoke directly to me while standing up.

Normally, the King would not speak directly to someone who doesn't even hold a title, unless it's an exceptional situation.

This is an unprecedented exception.

"Youngster of the Dragon family. What is your name?"

"My name is Lucius. What is going on?"

"Lucius, the small light, is it?... Are you a harbinger of good luck, or..."

The King put his hand on the sword at his waist, making a clinking sound.

"Is it a calamity?"

"H-Your Majesty!?"

Lord Strauss quickly sensed the unusual atmosphere and hurriedly approached, sensing the potential danger. The nobles in the hall also became concerned about the possibility of a crisis.

The king untied the cord that held his sword to his waist.

"Lucius, I will send this sword with you."

Lucius couldn't immediately comprehend what was happening, but he knew better than to disrespect the king's gift.

"Thank you."

Lucius kneeled down and raised his hands.

"Oh?"

The impressed king placed the sword in his hands.

The sword was too heavy for the three-year-old child to hold with his arms alone, and he stumbled and almost fell.

But someone caught him just in time.

Lucius looked up to see the elderly king holding his hand.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I never thought a child like you could handle it in the first place. You did a pretty good job though."

The king's expression was like that of a doting grandfather, but his eyes still shone like those of a lion.

"However, why this sudden--"

"Somebody with four magic cores has appeared. This means that my evaluation for the future has been decided in this moment. Either I will be remembered as a benevolent king who protected a hero and brought peace, or as a tyrant who couldn't even control his own retainers. So I've made a bet. I bet on you, to bring light to this country as a hero."

Lucius was puzzled internally.

--No, please don't expect that from me.

He intended to hand over his inheritance to his future siblings and sever all ties with the nobility.

But he couldn't say that in this situation.

"I understand."

"This sword is a family heirloom adorned with the feathers of the king's beast, Griffin. It is said that when the true owner appears, they will be able to repel evil and wrap themselves in light. It is perfect for you, Lucius, with the name of a small light. Well, I was never able to wrap myself in light anyway."

The king laughed resolutely.

His spirited appearance made him look much younger than his age.

After saying a few more words to Lucius, the king stood him up and left the room with his knights.

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