I felt a little strange at that sight.
How should I put it?
'Aen is just that kind of person.'
He's originally a kind and nice person, so it wasn't particularly surprising that he was cheering me on and encouraging me.
But Ligrin is different.
Ligrin...
'He hated me.'
It was strange that someone who hated and despised me so much was now taking the lead in supporting me.
I still hadn't quite gotten used to it.
But I should still say hello.
I bowed slightly.
Then, a faint smile appeared on Ligrin's lips.
I was about to turn my head after finishing the greeting.
"......!"
I made eye contact with the Duke.
He had been watching me the whole time.
I was flustered because I didn't expect the Duke to be watching me, and then I turned my head away.
'What?'
Why was he watching me?
Since when was he watching me?
Could it be that...
'He's not going to try to drop me now, is he?'
Maybe he was watching to catch me cheating.
That's because the Duke's expression as he watched me was so cold.
"......Who do you think will let you have your way?"
'I'm going to pass this gate perfectly.'
Then, even the Duke will have no choice but to acknowledge my qualifications.
"Hyah!"
With a powerful shout, Bansis was the first to enter the forest.
"Lady, shall we go too?"
"Yes!"
Miracle also entered the forest alongside the knight.
And.
"......Let's go."
Reville said in a curt tone and started moving ahead.
I also grabbed the reins and shook them.
"Hyah."
Clop- Clop-
The horse moved forward quickly.
Fortunately, it moved as I wanted it to.
'Aen's riding lessons were a big help.'
Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to even get on the horse, let alone hunt monsters.
In the worst case, I would have had to ask Reville to carry me.
"......Hmph."
Reville seemed displeased that I had learned to ride, and he rushed into the forest first.
"Hyah!"
I followed him, increasing my speed.
As the children disappeared into the forest, the stands began to stir.
"I wonder who will hunt the monster first?"
Someone asked, and a man wearing a hat immediately answered.
"It's obvious it will be the second son, isn't it?"
Everyone nodded and agreed with his answer.
Then another person soon said.
"But the important thing isn't who hunts the fastest, is it?"
People nodded in agreement with that statement as well.
"The one who catches the fiercest monster is the closest to becoming the Lordbel, isn't he?"
That was true.
There is a secret legend in the final gate of the qualification test, the monster hunt, that is unknown to the cadets.
That is, the one who catches the strongest monster in the monster hunt will become the master of Lordbel in the future.
And in fact, all the past heads of the family hunted the strongest monster in the monster hunt.
The current head of the family, Duke Ego Lordbel, was no exception to the legend either.
'Even low-level monsters aren't all the same.'
There is a clear class among low-level monsters.
They are divided into lower low-level monsters, which are among the weakest of the low-level monsters, commonly known low-level monsters, and upper low-level monsters, which have some intelligence and power among low-level monsters.
Therefore, although it is called a low-level monster hunt, the meaning of the hunt varies depending on the individual.
Therefore, the key to this test was not 'who hunts the monster the fastest' or 'who hunts the most monsters', but 'who hunts the strongest low-level monster'.
And while the children were hunting, one way to enjoy the test was for the attendees to predict who would hunt the strongest monster.
"That would be the little master, without even looking."
Everyone nodded at that statement.
Although he is smaller than his peers, everyone knew that Bansis had inherited the Lordbel blood more deeply than anyone else.
In addition, he was born with Lordbel's magic power, so they thought he would become a great magic knight in the future.
But there were other opinions as well.
"You never know. Maybe the youngest lady will hunt the strongest monster."
"What? Hahaha. I think it will be difficult, but if Miracle really hunts the strongest monster, I have no choice but to acknowledge it."
"Ahaha!"
Everyone burst out laughing when Miracle's name came up.
It wasn't a negative laugh, but a laugh full of affection.
In fact, they didn't care whether Bansis or Miracle caught the strongest monster.
After all, Estio is the successor.
They just wanted to enjoy the growth of the young Lordbel from the closest possible distance.
"I'll bet that Master Bansis will hunt the strongest monster."
"I agree."
"I'll bet on Miss Miracle."
"I'm looking forward to seeing how much Miss Miracle has grown."
From the senators to the members of the allied families who had been interacting with the Lordbel family for a long time, they speculated on who would hunt the strongest monster between Bansis and Miracle and burst into laughter.
It was then.
The youngest man among the attendees turned to the head table and asked.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, you would of course be on Miss Miracle's side, wouldn't you?"
He was the first to bet on Miracle.
As the Crown Prince lowered his gaze, the man gave the most innocent-looking smile he could muster.
At the same time, he was making intense calculations in his head.
'He'll obviously be on the side of his fiancée, Miss Miracle.'
Then, he would continue the conversation with that and build a friendship with the Crown Prince.
'Even if he's said to be weak-willed, he's the next emperor who will take over the empire in the future, so if I become friends with the Crown Prince, the guys in my family won't be able to ignore me!'
He was a member of the Lordbel's allied family, but because he was the second son, he didn't get much from the family.
But he had great ambition, so he decided to use this opportunity to increase his standing.
'Do you know how hard I worked to attend this Lordbel qualification test instead of my brother?'
Originally, it was his older brother, the heir and eldest son, who was supposed to attend this Lordbel qualification test as the family's representative.
But he couldn't miss this opportunity.
So...
He mixed a poison that caused allergies into his brother's food to create an opportunity.
When he returns to the family after the test, there will definitely be an investigation.
The friendship he builds with the Crown Prince now will be a great help then.
He smiled brightly and looked at the Crown Prince.
"......"
But the Crown Prince didn't react at all.
He had even withdrawn his gaze again.
The man's heart grew more anxious.
He has to get his attention somehow.
And the only thing he can get a consensus on right now is Miracle.
He has to lead the conversation more provocatively.
'What's a good way... Ah, right! I had something useful.'
The corners of the man's mouth curled up as he came up with a brilliant idea.
After flicking his tongue like a snake, he said.
"Speaking of Miss Miracle. I realized it again today, but the name Lordbel really suits her. Unlike 'someone'."
Then the Crown Prince's eyes turned back to the man.
He tilted his head slightly and parted his lips.
"......Someone?"
The Crown Prince was really interested!
It wasn't just the Crown Prince.
Even the Duke, who had shown no interest in the conversations the attendees were having, glanced at him.
'Hehe...!'
Joy spread across the man's face.
The two greatest figures in the empire were showing interest in his words at once...!!
He couldn't miss this heaven-sent opportunity and quickly blurted out.
"Yes! That black hair. Being next to Miss Miracle made the comparison so stark...! It was like a crow next to a white heron. Not knowing its place!"
"Ah. A crow."
"......"
Repeating the man's words, the Crown Prince laughed as if amused and nodded.
The Duke's expression remained indifferent.
But he was clearly interested in this conversation.
That fact alone made the man very excited.
The attention of those around him was focused on the man.
Everyone gathered here has similar desires.
To establish a close relationship with the imperial family or Lordbel somehow.
They are just waiting for that opportunity like hawks eyeing their prey.
'I'm the one who snatched it first!'
Envy and jealousy flashed from everywhere.
'Hehe, fools. Do you think this kind of opportunity comes to just anyone?'
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