CH 38

It is already late autumn so this morning, my breath is already foggy.

I submitted my thesis on infinite magic crystals and the actual product to Professor Marino.

I don’t mind whether it was Laura or Professor Marino claims this paper.

As long as I make profit by selling my products, I have no problem with that.

If I get greedy and get ordered to go to the capital, things will get bad.

I will not cede my position as the king of the mountain of the lowers in Torquiva to anyone!

However, what Professor Marino said to me was something I never expected.

「Schenker, we’re going to publish this in your name.」

「Eh….」

「You’re going to be a noble soon so you should at least publish one research under your name.」

「Ehto, do you mean under the name Sawadi Slayra?」

「Exactly. It will take time to develop this research and the timing will be perfect when you come of age.」

「T-thank you very much.」

That’s great but, I don’t want to be invited to the capital because of it….

Professor Marino should have noticed how tense I am and continued.

「Don’t worry, I won’t let you go to the royal capital. I’m going to recommend you to be an assistant professor soon.」

「Eh! Really?」

Professor Marino nodded generously.

Going from commoner to assistant professor, that result is already the best in my class.

In other words, I’m going to get the best amount of attention too.

I don’t really want to be one but it looks like society won’t let me.

I can only show my appreciation and adjust later.

「Thank you very much.」

「Oya, are you really thankful?」

The professor chuckled.

Laura did the same.

Ah, I see. It looks like they really know me well.

「Ehto, that…..」

「I said I’ll make you an assistant professor because I’m thankful to you but that’s only half the reason. The other half is for your children.」

「What do you mean…..?」

「Whether your future children will be talented or not, if their parents have enough merit, they will be treated very differently in the future.」

「I see……thank you very much!」

That’s quite far in the future.

However, I’m certainly grateful.

I was not a big fan of crawling into nobility but I guess it’s impossible to force my children to do the same.

A young man needs pride to stand alone.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a bluff or parental power but pride can be used as a foundation for one’s heart.

「Besides, this is not even my decision alone.」

「Eh? What do you mean?」

「Actually, we received several letters of commendation from the army addressed to the headmaster. The headmaster has an uncle that is a marshal in the army. Do you get it?」

「A, ahhh….I see….」

It seems like I’m being covered by someone unexpected.

I’m glad that the professor told me about this and it would be dangerous if I’m considered ungrateful.

I should thank him properly via Laura.

I view military nobles negatively after getting involved in a super DQN* family. It looks like I’m completely caught up in the factional warfare.

TN: DQN means delinquent. He’s referring to the family of a certain swordsman ojousama.

「Also….」

T-there’s more!?

「I heard that the royal family is interested in the transcontinental railroad. A royal tour is already scheduled.」

「Royal tour」

In other words, the royal family will come to inspect the manufacturing process of the intercontinental railroad.

The topic has become too big for me to carry.

As I held my wobbly head, Laura grabbed me by the shoulders from behind.

「What do you think? They’re people you can put your faith in, right?」

I feel bad for Laura who says that with pride but…

I don’t think I can put my faith in someone just because of that.

However, I never said that.

After all, she was a member of the army.

It is something obvious.

-0-

That day, I went home alone for the first time in a while.

Too many things had happened to me and I was still unable to digest them.

I decided to take a little detour today before going home to sort my mind.

For now, let’s stop by the second coffee shop that opened near the school.

What I need right now is caffeine as much as I need time.

「Areh? Master! Welcome!」

「Ah, coffee. Take out.」

「Understood!」

I told the wavy brown-haired waitress my order and waited outside the store.

The inside of the store is a world of commoners.

I’m a commoner too but given that I’m wearing the academy uniform, none of them would think so.

I don’t have the hobby of scaring people for no reason so you could say it’s my own way of caring for them.

「Sorry to have kept you waiting」

The waitress from earlier brought a paper cup of coffee with a lid on it.

「Good job. Here.」

「Yeah, thank you very much!」

The waitress who received the money from me bowed and went back to the store.

I looked at the coffee.

The name “Astrobucks” was stamped on the paper cup.

This paper cup is a luxury item.

The cost is simply ridiculous.

If you order a takeout, the price of the coffee doubles which is ridiculous.

Even so, many people do so.

They seem to find it stylish to walk while holding one.

I’m not sure but, if it’s really so popular, why not sell t-shirts with the store’s name on it?

However, won’t that make them look like a ramen store?

-0-

Walking around the city, I found that it seems to be livelier than before.

There are more people and stores and children of all races are running around the alleys with balls.

Come to think of it, father has built a large noodle factory and is exporting Schenker Dried Noodles to other cities along with the noodle-eating culture.

Perhaps that’s one of the reasons there are more people here now.

「Yo! Isn’t that young master?」

I turn to a corner and run into Roast, a retired slave, drinking ale in front of a sake vendor’s stall.

Roast is unperturbed but her underlings awkwardly hide their ale from me.

I hope these girls didn’t convert their entire paycheck to sake.

Thinking about that, I gave Roast some money.

「Don’t drink here, go to a bar.」

「Ah, you don’t mind? Guys! Young master gave me some war money, let’s go to the bar!」

「Eh! Thank you very much!」

「Thanks!」

「Thank you very much!」

Roast and the women in armor thanked me and were sucked into a nearby bar.

Ehto, sake.

There’s a big demand for it, is there?

I wonder if I can make sake with a brewery.

No, things are getting harder and harder because I’m trying to make everything into a business like this….

If I continue to do this, I’ll die from overwork just like in my previous life.

Let’s keep it in moderation.