19 - Chapter 1 Epilogue
"The First Family Meeting Without Riel~"
The haphazard Fourth Generation declared the start of the meeting before the group gathered in the conference room.
They didn't usually do this, but they had decided to discuss the future without Riel present.
"Now then, let's put the matter of Novem-chan on hold and decide what to do about Riel's future."
As the Fourth Generation spoke, the Third Generation cut in.
"Isn't that on hold too? After all, it's not clear what Riel is aiming for."
The Sixth Generation agreed, adding his own wish.
"Indeed. Though, for my part, I'd like him to inherit House Walt."
The Seventh Generation felt the same.
Basically, the opinions of the Sixth and Seventh Generations were in alignment.
The Sixth and Seventh Generations tended to be obsessed with the territory.
"If Celes inherits, we would have to bring in a son-in-law from another house. I'm sure everyone feels that would be unbearable."
Then, the First Generation spoke while picking his nose.
"Not really."
At that opinion, the Seventh and Sixth Generations, along with the Second and Fourth Generations, glared at him.
"Are you not frustrated that the territory we've built up to this point would be taken away!"
As the Seventh Generation grew indignant, the Third Generation spoke while pressing his temple.
"Remember why the First Generation started the pioneer village. I don't want to say it, but since he couldn't achieve his goal, his interest is probably thin."
The First Generation denied the Third Generation's opinion.
"Idiot! I struggled quite a bit to expand that land. Unlike you lot, I expanded it with my own blood, sweat, and tears. I have some attachment to it! But, looking at Riel..."
The Second Generation muttered—
"Those tears were from when your first love got married, right?"
The First Generation continued speaking while coughing.
It seemed he had hit the nail on the head.
"I've called him weak and all that, but he certainly has talent. I mean, I don't get why he's so timid when he can do that much."
The one who answered that opinion was the Fifth Generation.
He didn't seem interested in the meeting itself. Perhaps because of that, he might be the one capable of giving the most objective opinion.
"Being treated coldly from the age of ten means he didn't receive the educational policy Riel needed, or perhaps the education itself was stalled. I don't think he was taught the important things... Hey, did you change the educational policy since my time?"
The Fifth Generation looked at the Sixth and Seventh Generations.
From the time the Fifth Generation obtained the viscountcy, the Sixth and Seventh Generations had struggled to obtain the earldom.
"I omitted a few things. For a grandson aiming to be an Earl, governance is more important than knowledge and experience useful on the battlefield. Or rather, there wasn't enough time."
As the Sixth Generation spoke, the Seventh Generation agreed.
From the First Generation's perspective, House Walt had grown. Because of that, things judged as unnecessary had been removed from the education.
In their place, they had incorporated accomplishments suited to their status.
"Since things moved toward stability in my era, I told my grandson that while he should be taught the basics, he should emphasize management methods."
The First and Second Generations were surprised to hear this.
"You sound like a real noble."
"In our time, field work, monster hunting, and bandit hunting were essential..."
The Fifth Generation let out a sigh.
"They are real nobles. Once they become an Earl, there will be opportunities to gain experience, but it's more efficient to do paperwork in the manor than to do those things. It's also not good to steal the work of subordinates."
The Fourth Generation brought the conversation back since it had drifted.
"The conversation drifted. So, is it alright to put Riel's future on hold? Even though we went to the trouble of creating achievements for Riel's sake."
The Second Generation tilted his head, perhaps not noticing.
"Creating achievements? Defeating the bandit group clearly lowered his reputation. Or rather, it was also meant to appeal to the main house that Riel was spinning his wheels."
The scariest thing is not knowing what the opponent intends to do.
Given the scale of House Walt, information on Riel would come in even without trying to collect it.
Even if they had kicked him out, he was still their son.
If he were to make an eerie move, they might send pursuers. For the current Riel, fighting someone skilled in interpersonal combat would be difficult.
That's why he acted in a way that would make the opponent think they didn't need to interfere.
Make them think he was a foolish son who wouldn't be strange to be kicked out.
Of course, they had considered the possibility of being assassinated for the sake of lowering House Walt's reputation. But if that were the case, it would be more efficient to just kill him from the start.
Either the monster was unable to make a normal judgment, or they weren't particularly interested...
Either way, this matter would make it clear how the opponent would move. That was the conclusion they had reached.
The Sixth Generation grinned upon hearing the Second Generation's question.
"It might drop in Darion, but it's a fact that Riel defeated the bandit group. Reputation can be manipulated as much as one likes... just as I manipulated the reputation to make it seem like I managed all of House Walt's evil deeds. Because of that, my grandson hates me."
As the Sixth Generation slumped his shoulders, the Seventh Generation patted him on the shoulder to comfort him.
The Third Generation spoke while laughing.
"Reputations aren't reliable. In Darion, he's just a coward who threw away the money he was supported with against a bandit group and overwhelmed them with more than six times the numbers. But it's also a fact that he subjugated the bandit group. Look, you don't have to answer how you defeated them unless you're asked."
Everyone nodded while looking at the Third Generation.
The Third Generation, a former head who had died in battle, was famous to the general public as a righteous general who successfully executed a fighting retreat.
However, in reality, he didn't look like such a person at all.
"It has a different level of persuasiveness when you say it."
To the First Generation's irony, the Third Generation replied with a laugh, "Is that so?"
Then, the Third Generation spoke regarding Riel's future.
"Whether Riel achieves success as an adventurer or returns to House Walt, it depends on his own will. More than that, the monster the First Generation mentioned? It's starting to feel realistic."
The others fell into thought upon hearing that.
The reason was that Riel was more excellent than imagined.
After hearing the explanation of the skill, he showed he could master it in a few days, provided he was trained. He was still clumsy, but even so, it could be called phenomenal.
The First Generation puffed out his chest.
"I told you so! I mean, if Riel is at a level he can't beat, Celes is going to become something terrifying."
Everyone present felt that Celes was more dangerous than imagined.
His first real battle. Even when fighting Goblins, although he had allies, Riel was calm.
Even against the boss of the bandit group, he didn't panic.
While he lacked experience in various ways and had problems with stamina and magic power, his talent was extremely high.
And House Walt had given birth to a monster that could defeat even such a Riel.
"The territory is one thing, but the country will likely become chaotic from here on. After all, a monster's actions are unpredictable. Because of that, my grandfather's generation struggled considerably."
[Monster Celes]
That was becoming a major problem for the successive heads of the family.
At first, they thought there were problems with Riel too, but considering he had been treated coldly, it was understandable that he hadn't been properly educated.
If the object of comparison was too far outside the norm, his servile personality could be explained.
It was worth praising that he had endured such an environment for five years.
However, Riel was excellent.
The existence of Celes, who didn't give a damn about that, made it feel that calling her a monster wouldn't be strange.
They had to recognize the existence of the monster the First Generation spoke of.
"Overwhelming power, and a whimsical personality, huh. Troublesome."
As the Fifth Generation spoke, the Sixth Generation agreed.
"If Celes runs wild, House Walt will be ruined. Thinking of it that way, Riel was lucky to be thrown out. The bloodline will remain."
The First Generation agreed with that as well.
"True. If he becomes an adventurer and earns some money, shall we let him start a pioneer village again? It'll be fine to leave Vanseim this time. Novem-chan and Aria-chan are there. We can't let them encounter danger..."
However, the atmosphere wasn't one of complete satisfaction.
Everyone present wanted to do something about it if they possibly could.
"It's important what path Riel chooses. Though, I'm a bit curious about Novem-chan."
At the Third Generation's words, the Second Generation was exasperated.
"Are you still talking about that? Do you think such a good girl is thinking something black-hearted behind the scenes? She's a pure child who took Riel's lies at face value!"
The Third Generation was slightly exasperated by the words of the Second Generation, who was trying to believe her.
However, the Fifth Generation agreed with the Third Generation's opinion.
"Assuming Novem has things she's thinking about in her own way, she probably won't harm Riel, so isn't it fine to leave her alone? If she were to harm him, there'd be no reason to serve him this much. Besides... can we really kick Aria out now?"
At the Fifth Generation's opinion, the people present made troubled faces.
Her father was connected to the bandit group, and she was sent to the mines as a slave. On top of that, she had lost everything and was kicked out of her home.
The First Generation had a subtle expression.
"When I think about the spitting image of my first love marrying a descendant, it's somehow very subtle?"
The Seventh Generation spoke.
"It's because you made Riel do unnecessary things that this became such a pain! If he had just cooperated quickly, he wouldn't have had to worry about strange things."
The Fourth Generation brought the conversation back once more.
"Then, until Riel decides his future policy, this matter is on hold. Good work, everyone."
The First Generation, left alone in the conference room, crossed his arms and sat cross-legged on the chair.
What he was thinking about was Riel.
"In terms of pure talent, there's no doubt he's superior to any of us, huh."
The family motto that started from a single word the First Generation said at a banquet.
That might have polished the blood of House Walt—perhaps.
Riel's actual ability was still lacking in experience, but even so, he hid the greatest talent among the successive heads.
"...This is going to easily surpass my prime."
Muttering that, he jumped up and stood on the floor.
"Good grief, if his own skill is added to the seven in the Jewel Orb, what kind of monster will he become... If there's anyone who can truly stop Celes, it might only be Riel."
The First Generation—Basil Wolt—walked toward his room, the corners of his mouth quietly curving upward.
"Well, shall I start cooperating in earnest? The day might come when he masters the third stage, so I'll have to train him for that time. ...It might not take that much time."
The First Generation opened the door and entered his room.
"Finishing the teaching won't take much time either, huh..."
The door slowly closed.
No one was left in the conference room.