How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 46

Living as the Third Son of a Failed Novel – Chapter 46

* * *

I understood why Baranka insisted on going to the Knight’s Hall alone.

The Hall of Radiance was an incredibly tedious place.

Numerous nobles dressed in formal attire were gathered in groups of three or five, chatting. The topics varied, but their desires were all the same.

A struggle to build connections.

Thinking of it that way, it was subtly amusing to watch. Those gathered around one high-ranking noble… it was like watching a whale and its remoras [small fish that attach themselves to larger marine animals].

However, most of the nobles gathered in the banquet hall were either minor nobles with little influence or, at best, those who had just been recognized as successors, like Fleta.

The real protagonists would reveal themselves later.

Some nobles hadn’t arrived yet, and even if they had, they would postpone their attendance under the pretext of fatigue from their journey.

It was a kind of consideration.

Giving those who would soon be reduced to extras some time.

The real banquet would begin on the night of the tournament’s opening match.

Therefore, those gathered here now were more like small fry than heavyweights.

‘Well, even among those small fry, I’m alone.’

Unlike those diligently building friendships, I was monopolizing a table alone, sipping wine.

It felt like being an outcast. There were definitely no familiar faces here. The only person I had any acquaintance with was Fleta.

Finding her wasn’t difficult.

I just had to find the most bustling place.

“Whew.”

Having found her, I whistled softly.

Fleta, wearing a silver dress and a white fox fur around her neck, was undoubtedly the main attraction. The dozen or so nobles gathered around her were proof of that.

After all, she was the heir to a powerful ducal family.

It was natural that there was a difference in status between us.

Similarly, if Dane, who had attended every year, were here instead of me, the story would be different.

Dane would have had numerous remoras around him, just like Fleta. He was, after all, a strong candidate for heir.

On the other hand, what about me?

Subjugation of the Blade Tribe? To them, it was just orcs stuck in the mountains. Except for the northerners, no one would even be interested.

Rescuing Fleta from the attack?

The truth hadn’t spread properly yet, so everyone would be dubious. Even if they believed it, they would think Fleta had managed to overcome it on her own.

The conclusion was that the title of the third son of a count family alone had no power or influence.

They would just think that Dane couldn’t attend due to some reason and I was here in his place.

‘Should I just go to the Knight’s Hall?’

Just as I was contemplating leaving and drinking with Ruth, Fleta, who had been looking bored in the crowd, met my eyes.

Then she stood up.

As she gestured, the nobles around her parted to the sides. Fleta walked through the path that was created.

Eventually, she found the table where I was sitting.

“Were you always one to enjoy solitude?”

Was she here to tease me?

Well, it didn’t seem like it.

I shrugged and lightly raised my wine glass.

“Why did you come?”

“Am I not allowed to come here?”

“Your friends will be upset.”

As I pointed to those who had lost their center, Fleta clicked her tongue.

“Who are you calling *whose* friends?”

“Then am I your friend?”

“I don’t understand the intention of your question.”

“You’re embarrassed.”

“…Quiet.”

“Well, since you’re here, want to have a drink?”

Fleta listened to my words and sat gracefully across from me, grabbing a glass. It was unexpected. I thought she would just go somewhere else.

Ting!

Soon, we lightly clinked glasses and sipped wine.

I shrugged at the strange sense of amusement.

“The composition is quite strange.”

“Strange how?”

“Two men and women who broke off their engagement are sitting face to face, drinking wine. It’s perfect gossip material.”

“Are you concerned about what others think?”

“Of course not.”

“Neither am I.”

I looked around.

I could feel the remoras who had lost their whale watching us. The gazes towards me weren’t very friendly.

“Honestly, I thought that since my family is who they are, at least some people would approach me.”

“They’re not fools either.”

“I guess so. After all, I have my brother.”

Most of those gathered here probably had a close relationship with Dane Lindeyer, a strong candidate for heir.

In that situation, approaching me?

How nice would it be if everyone could get along and have a happy ending, but the world isn’t that beautiful.

If you want to be close to someone, you have to distance yourself from someone else.

It’s funny. It’s childish.

But I can’t say I don’t understand it. Even in modern times, there were definitely lines.

“By the way, Third Son.”

“Hm?”

“I heard you’re participating in the opening match and competing in a jousting match against Baron Hogarde.”

“The rumors are already spreading that far?”

“It’s widespread. It’s something that happened publicly, isn’t it.”

“That’s true, but.”

I felt like all the whispers around me were directed at me.

“Baron Hogarde’s jousting skills are recognized as top-notch.”

“I guess so. He’s the champion, after all.”

“Why did you do such a reckless thing?”

“Why do you think it’s reckless?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know? Baron Hogarde has had a long-standing relationship with the First Son, Dane Lindeyer. So, you should have thought of it as a trap to disqualify you. But you readily accepted the offer.”

Really?

I didn’t know that. But isn’t that even better?

It’s an opportunity to erase Dane’s influence.

But if Baron Hogarde was close to Dane, why didn’t Baranka tell me in advance?

Was she maintaining neutrality? Was she worried about getting caught between Dane and me?

Well, whatever.

“It’s not just me who readily accepted it.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s that kind of thing. Anyway, it’s a good thing.”

“What’s so good about it…”

“It means there’s one more benefit to gain if I win.”

“Ha.”

Fleta sighed as if she was dumbfounded.

“Baron Hogarde is last year’s champion.”

“If I had participated last year, I might have been the champion.”

“Do you think it’s that easy? Baron Hogarde may lack talent for mana, but he is renowned as the best in lance technique.”

“Better than Hans Rodgon?”

“…Isn’t he a master of lance technique who will be remembered in history? There’s no comparison.”

“So, Baron Hogarde is weaker than him? Then that’s good enough.”

“What confidence do you have?”

“Why can’t you think that my skills might be high?”

“I didn’t come here to play word games.”

“I don’t intend to play word games with you either.”

“I’m worried about you!”

“Why are you worried about me? I’ll take care of my own business.”

“…”

Fleta bit her lip at my words and stared at me intently when…

“Oh, are you the Third Son who’s going up against that Baron Hogarde?”

A young man who looked to be about my age approached us.

He was a sly man with seemingly closed eyes and always upturned lips.

I didn’t recognize his face. It’s hard to guess since the appearance of young people changes over time.

But this time, I could guess.

I saw the brooch on his red uniform.

It was a red lion.

“The direct line and young heir of the Basarac baronial family, the Red Lion, Redran Basarac.”

The man, spreading his hands, spoke exaggeratedly and sat next to the table.

“That *is* my name.”

Fleta frowned at the funny way he referred to himself.

“How rude.”

“I know.”

“Even if you know, shouldn’t you at least show some respect? Use honorifics.”

“I don’t want to. A ruffian should act like a ruffian. If you feel wronged, Princess, you can drop the honorifics too.”

Fleta scoffed in disbelief at the sly answer.

But I couldn’t laugh.

Redran Basarac, the Red Baron.

One of the many heroes who runs through the novel, and a figure closer to evil when dividing by good and evil.

A person who raises Bloody Knights through Bloodthirsty Grass and becomes the ruler of the East in an instant, taking advantage of the war.

Of course, now he was just a playful young lion.

I quickly raised my glass to cover my face, in case my expression betrayed me.

Fortunately, Redran, who didn’t see my face, reached out and picked up a grape.

“Is it because it’s still the first day of the banquet? There aren’t any decent nobles, just a bunch of clumsy kids. Don’t you think?”

“I agree, but you should look elsewhere for the reason why everyone is avoiding you.”

“Why, because of the rumor that I killed my father?”

“Well, what do you think?”

Redran smiled indifferently at Fleta’s words.

“Rumors are rumors because there is no evidence.”

“Are you admitting it?”

“What changes if I admit it?”

“Nothing changes.”

“Right. I am already the Basarac family itself.”

“How arrogant.”

“All the heroes who left their names in history had an arrogant side.”

Fleta, who didn’t give in a single word, seemed to have decided to ignore him altogether and didn’t answer.

Redran, who had his arm on the chair, smiled and looked at me.

“Kain Lindeyer?”

“Kain Lindeyer.”

“Ah, right. Kain Lindeyer. So, you’re having the opening match with Baron Hogarde?”

Redran naturally dropped the honorifics.

Redran called himself a young heir. He actually looked young too.

Besides, he seemed to be caught up in not-so-good rumors.

It seemed that an accident had happened in his family and he had inherited the territory and title earlier than expected.

Even so, mutual respect is the basic principle.

If he still speaks informally, it means that I can also drop the honorifics. In fact, he told the princess to drop the honorifics if she didn’t like it.

“It’s the opening match. That’s how it is.”

“Damn it, to take the lead like that. If I had known, I would have provoked the baron first.”

He was a guy who felt so easygoing that he felt light.

But when I faced him, I felt like he was wearing a mask rather than being light. Was it because I knew him in the future?

“Judging by how disappointed you are, you must be quite confident?”

“Of course. Hogarde won last year because I didn’t participate in the tournament.”

“That’s a lot of confidence.”

“If I had been chosen for the opening match, I would have bet on myself and made a fortune.”

“Listening to you is nothing but low-class.”

Unlike Fleta, who frowned, I was slightly intrigued.

“Bet money?”

“What, didn’t you know? Do you think nobles aren’t interested in gambling? You’re a clumsy young master. Look around.”

Redran spread his arms and pointed to the numerous nobles gathered in the banquet hall.

“I don’t know for sure, but they’re all excited about enjoying the tournament. It’s a light entertainment and a tradition of the long anniversary.”

“Tradition, really.”

Redran chuckled at Fleta’s retort.

“Well, the most money is bet on the opening match. Usually, the best opponents face each other in the best condition.”

“Gambling? Is that okay at a tournament hosted by the royal family?”

“Huh? What kind of nonsense is that?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Redran’s way of speaking, which was different from other nobles.

“Would it be blocked if it was banned? Knowing that it will flourish in the shadows anyway, the royal palace is hosting it directly. They have the justification of taking a certain amount of the betting amount and using it for good purposes.”

“What’s the upper limit?”

“There isn’t one. It’s a method of dividing and distributing the ratio according to the amount bet anyway.”

“How much was bet on this opening match?”

“Bet? Are you kidding me? No one bets. There’s no money bet on your side, so it can’t be established in the first place. Wait a minute, I’m out of alcohol.”

Since no one is betting on my side, there’s nothing to gain even if I bet on Hogarde.

Then if I bet on myself?

Are they going to flock to Hogarde’s side, aiming for that?

This is going to be fun.

While Redran went to get alcohol from another table, I leaned over and whispered to Fleta.

“Fleta.”

“What is it?”

“I believe you owe me money.”

Most of the money I have on hand has already been transferred to the Blue Wind Merchant Guild, but there are still corners where money will come out.

“…I know what you’re thinking, but that’s a stupid thing to do.”

“I’m confident I can win. And you said you would definitely pay the price then? Are you saying you don’t want to now?”

When I mentioned the price of saving her from the black-haired man’s attack, Fleta frowned as if she was dumbfounded.

“So, are you telling me to bet money on you now?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have any funds to manage right now.”

“Write a promissory note or something. My name doesn’t work, but yours will.”

“…So, how much do you want me to bet?”

“1,000 gold coins. It’s a very, very cheap price for the life of a duchess’s daughter. If you don’t accept it now, I might charge you more next time.”

“…”

It was the amount I set because she had to be able to guarantee it even as a princess.

Was my prediction correct? Fleta nodded as if she felt it was cheaper than she thought.

“I don’t know what kind of stupid thing this is, but I’ll accept it. It’s a condition that doesn’t hurt me much.”

At the same time as confirming her intention to bet money, Redran, holding bottles of alcohol in both hands, approached.

“What are you two talking about so much? I feel left out.”

Redran was clearly different from other nobles.

I and Fleta laughed in vain at his appearance, not even thinking about what others thought.

“Let’s have a drink between the people who will rule the North, West, and East in the distant future.”

Fleta snorted at Redran’s words.

“I don’t know about the West, but it seems a bit early for the others.”

“Then the esteemed princess can leave. Let’s have a drink between us.”

Redran, ignoring Fleta, looked at me and sniffed.

“Kain Lindeyer, you smell… a very strong smell of ambition.”

“I definitely took a shower before coming here.”

“At least I like you more than that Dane or whatever his name is. Seriously. He’s too stupid. He doesn’t know how to distinguish between flattery and loyalty.”

“…”

“Tell me honestly. The fact that you came to this anniversary instead of Dane Lindeyer, it’s not just a simple proxy attendance, is it?”

“If not?”

“Has Count Lindeyer’s scale tilted a little?”

“Thinking is free.”

Is he really just doing this based on his senses?

I can’t know his intentions. But now that it’s come to this, it didn’t seem like a bad idea to get to know him.

Redran Basarac will definitely be a big headache in the future.

To prepare for that time, it might be easier to know him in advance. Of course, it must be based on the premise that I can control him, but that’s up to me.

“Anyway, you know that tomorrow is the opening match, right? Third Son.”

Redran asked, pouring alcohol.

“Of course.”

“Will a young hawk from the North cause a reversal? Can such a wonderful achievement be born?”

“Are you teasing me?”

“Of course not. I’m secretly looking forward to it.”

“Then bet money on me.”

“Of course, expectations should end with expectations.”

“Are you scared?”

“Scared? Ha! I’m just not getting involved in a fight with no chance of winning.”

“What if I win?”

“If you win? Well, should I run around the capital naked? Or should I treat you like my older brother?”

What a funny guy.

Redran smiled and held out his glass.

Clink!

After clinking glasses, Redran and I exchanged subtle glances.

“Do your best, Third Son.”

“I will.”

* * *

The next day at noon.

In the huge arena prepared on one side of the inner castle, I was in the waiting room where the contestants were doing their final checks.

Thump… Thump…

The heavy drumbeat echoing from outside was transmitted to the waiting room. My heartbeat slowly began to follow that rhythm.

“Young Master.”

Ruth, who approached me, was holding parts such as gauntlets and greaves in her hand.

It was equipment for the jousting match.

Ruth, who had decided to act as my attendant especially for today, began to put on my armor.

“If you wish, you can get an amulet with a shield magic on it.”

“It’s okay. There will be guys who will whisper behind my back that I’m a coward.”

There are also artifacts that automatically deploy shield magic to prevent major injuries.

However, the jousting match on the anniversary of the founding of the country, which prohibits even mana, is precisely for competing only with trained bodies and skills.

In that situation, if I use an artifact, I’ll be called a coward behind my back.

“By the way, I heard that Princess Bashrun bet 1,000 gold coins on you, Young Master.”

“Really? What’s the reaction?”

“People thought it was free money and all sided with Baron Hogarde.”

“That’s great.”

As I was thinking about hitting the jackpot, Ruth made a meaningful face.

“It seems like there’s something I don’t know, so I also bet 50 gold coins on you, Young Master.”

“Really? No one thought I would win.”

“Honestly, I don’t know why you accepted Baron Hogarde’s offer, Young Master, but…”

“But?”

“Hasn’t that been the case once or twice so far?”

Ruth smiled and checked my outfit for the last time.

“But every time, you always win and come back.”

“You’re praising me too much.”

“I believe you will do so this time as well. I bet a small amount of gold coins too.”

“You’ll regret not betting more.”

Soon, as if it was time, a groom led a warhorse and approached me.

It was a white horse with a white mane.

The coat covering the horse along with the saddle had the emblem symbolizing the Lindeyer family drawn on it.

As I easily climbed onto the horse, Ruth finally wrapped a cloak with gray wings drawn on it behind me.

“I feel like I’ve become a clown.”

“A clown? You look great.”

After that, the helmet that Ruth handed me also had straight wings attached to it. The small shield I received next had the family crest drawn on it.

Finally, after receiving the lance with the blunt end, Ruth looked at the guard standing next to the door.

“Ready.”

Creak…

At Ruth’s words, the iron door leading to the arena began to open roughly.

Hoo.

After taking a light breath.

I turned the horse’s head towards the iron door.

“Young Master.”

I glanced back at Ruth’s call.

“Birds of prey are not hunted.”

“They only hunt.”

“Come back safely.”

“I will, Ruth.”

Click!

I lowered the cover that covered my face.

After that, I kicked the horse’s side and slowly headed out the door.

Thump… Thump… Thump…

Wow!

The shouts and drumbeats that squeezed through the door pierced my ears.