Chapter 52 Banquet

"Huff, huff, huff. FUCK!"

For the first time after I came to this world, I swore out loud.

/STAB/ /STAB/

"Next time, I will win; just wait."

No matter how calm I was at that time when facing Julia after the loss, the moment I was alone, the frustration kicked in.

/STAB/ /STAB/

"I am still lacking. My sword is still lacking."

Stabbing the dummy in front of me, I mumbled.

Looking at the scar mark on my right shoulder, I remembered the sensation of losing.

"Huff."

However, you can't live while always looking your back, remembering the bad things that happened to you. You need to move on, taking control of your emotions.

Exhaling my breath, I emptied my head and started my sword training again...

***

'System, finish the quest. I won't be dueling with any other seventh-rank knight.'

After I finished today's training and cooled my head, I said to the system to get my rewards.

In the first place, there was no reason to get agitated over something normal since I was already expecting such results. Therefore, regaining my calm didn't take too long.

<Are you sure, host? You won't be able to start this quest once it is deemed complete.>

'Yes. I am sure.'

Since dueling with a seven-star knight is not an easy thing either. At that time, the only reason I was able to duel with the knights was that I had set the stage to do so. And considering there are only four other seven-star knights aside from Julia in dukedom, finding them is not that easy either.

<Understood, master. Rewards will be distributed accordingly.>

Hearing the system sound, I started looking at the new panel appearing in front of me.

Quests

[Beat the knights] â€" Completed

You need to beat the knights to show that you are also talented with a sword.

Highest Rank of the Knight Beaten â€" Six-star

Completion Rate â€" S

Rewards â€" Trait [Duelist], Art [Blade Waltz]

<Rewards are being distributed.>

<New trait [Duelist] will be added to the art section.>

<New skill [Grand Challenge] will be added to the skill section.>

Seeing the reward of the quest, there was a slight smile on my face.

'Hmm, another trait and a new skill related to combat. You could acquire 'Duelist' in the game, too. Albeit, I don't know [Grand Challenge].'

I thought, remembering the definition of this trait in the game.

'If I remember correctly, it would increase the attack power of the player when fighting one on one against an enemy.'

Well, that was definitely a good improvement from my point.

'System, show the skill's description.'

[Grand Challenge]

Definition - After marking an enemy, the user will be able to deal more damage by seeing the enemy's weak points. When striking those points, the user will deal increased damage while also ignoring the enemy's all defenses.

Cost - %20 of users' mana

Cooldown â€" 24 Hours

Looking at the system panel that appeared before me, I thought:

'A good skill for strong enemies. However, I won't be able to abuse it since it has a huge cooldown. Saving it for strong enemies as my trump card seems a very good idea.'

After the duel ended, Julia had already said that she didn't want the money I offered as a price.

And since I won 4 duels without losing, normally, I was going to cut Heschel's eight fingers; however, Adelyn interfered with the process.

Since the time of leaving was already coming close and I got what I wanted from the duels, I decided not to pursue this matter for the time being, although I will never forget and forgive.

And just like that, days went on with my training until the famed day came...

***

In the first place, if you want to disgrace a person, what would you do? Which course of action you would like to take?

There are several answers to that, but generally, the most common way would be exposing the person in front of a lot of people. In front of a crowd.

And that was exactly what they did to the Callius in the game as well.

Although at that time, Callius had already started walking in the path of the villain.

You may already know that fact, but a banquet would be held on the birthdays of noble children. And when it comes to the day of the thirteenth birthday, in this world, there would be a huge banquet being held to celebrate the debut of the birthday child.

It has been fifteen days after the duels I had, and today is the day I officially passed the age of thirteen, albeit I am already 13 right now.

Since Callius was left in Austin's office as a baby, his birthday was unknown; therefore, Austin decided to make the way he found Callius as his birthday.

Anyway, today will be the day of my banquet, and it will also be the day of my banishment.

Normally in the game, after displaying bad deeds of Callius, the family banished him. Of course, it was not only the decision of Adelyn but also the decision of his grandfather as well, since Adelyn can't simply make such a judgment.

However, now that I haven't done anything bad, I wonder what they will do and which course of action they will take.

My relationship with my grandparents is not good since they are the types focusing more on the family name instead of familial love. Therefore, with my lack of 'class,' they won't care about the things that happened to me either. There are other factors as well, but let's not talk about them for now. It is slightly complicated.

With those thoughts in my mind, I returned to my room from the training grounds and started taking a shower.

/KNOCK/ /KNOCK/

After getting out of the shower, I heard a knocking sound on my door.

"Enter."

Wrapping a towel around my body, I signaled, and a young maid entered my room.

"Young Lord, I will be the one to prepare you."

Bowing her head, the maid said, gesturing to the chair.

The banquet will start around noon, so there isn't much time left.

And just like that, she started preparing me, making my hair and make-up.

Normally maids would do much more than that, but I don't like other people touching me, so aside from my hair, I didn't let her do anything.

'Hmm, I am certainly good-looking. If he had a little chance to get stronger in the game, Callius would be quite a lady killer. Such a pity.'

I thought, looking at the long black hair combined with my red eyes, slightly chiseled body, and jade beauty standard white skin.

I think my skin could even make the most beautiful females in the world jealous.

Putting my clothes on, I left my room and went to the banquet hall.

Since it was still early, there weren't any people aside from maids designing.

Slowly making my way to the entrance, I saw Adelyn directing the maids and checking everything.

Albeit, looking at her smiling face, something certainly will happen.

Just like that, I started waiting for the banquet to begin while reading a book since I had nothing to do either.

Since the guests were close to coming and she was in a good mood, Adelyn didn't mess with me either, so I had a peaceful time.

.....

....

...

..

.

Around one hour later, the guests started coming, and the banquet hall started being filled.

"Hello, Young Master Callius. I am the third son of the Viscount Family Russell Walter. I am happy to be your acquaintance."

"Young Master Callius, I am the second son of the McCall Family, Adrian McCall."

"Young Master Callius..."

"Young Master Callius..."

"Young Master Callius..."

"Young Master Callius..."

And just like that, the bootlicking service had already started.

Although this was my birthday, generally, such things would be used as social gatherings in nobility, so not everyone's attention was on me either.

However, there was a slightly weird atmosphere at the banquet, especially between those who greeted me and left.

More than half of them had forced smiles, and they were gazing at me like a scumbag, not that I minded.

"The young master of the Nightlance Dukedom, Arthur Nightlance, has arrived."

"Young Lady of the Leafsnow Dukedom, Celia Leafsnow, has arrived."

"Young Lady of the Montalet Dukedom, Alicia Montalet, has arrived."

Announcing the arrival of newcomers, the butler at the entrance shouted, and everyone's attention turned to that side.

Of course, as a main cast, they would look good, and seeing them coming together like showing their bond, everyone's attention was on them.

After that, without greeting me, they went to the corner of Adelyn and started chatting.

"Hmm, wasn't Lady Alicia the fiancée of Young Master? Why didn't she greet him?"

"Yes, yes. I heard he was a horrible person, forcing maids to serve him at night."

"I also heard that he was also abusing them. It is said that two weeks ago, he was going to cut the fingers of the knight just because he wanted it."

Hearing those rumors, a smile bloomed on my face.

'I see, so that's why everyone had those stiff expressions. I thought if I simply trained, nobody would bother with those rumors, but it seems I was wrong. Not that it matters. I neither care about the opinions of those nobles nor my reputation.'

I thought while sipping from my drink, a fruit juice.

/THUD/ /THUD/

At that moment, I heard the sound of heavy armor crashing.

"Huh, what is happening? Why are the Paladins of Celestia Church here?"

"We are looking for Callius Augustride. There are charges against him."

And a soldier with yellow armor dropped the bomb...