The Story Of The Second Son Of The Baron Family [EN]: Chapter 52

Finding Willand wasn’t difficult. If he wasn’t at the Magic Tower, he’d be at the main family residence. Similarly, locating the Kramer County residence wasn’t a challenge. The Kramer County family has a relatively short history, truly emerging during the previous Count Kramer’s time. Some might even call them nouveau riche [new money].

Such individuals often possess abundant visible wealth but lack the intangible elements that time cultivates, like reputation and honor. A common tactic is to buy fame. Owning a magnificent mansion in the capital is one way to achieve this.

Whoosh-

“At this level… it’s one of the largest among the Empire’s nobles.”

In sheer size, it dwarfed the Duke Jik household. Of course, its history couldn’t compare. The mansion, from its walls to the entrance, practically screamed, “I’m rich!”

“Who are you?”

Even the guards’ attire was extravagant. As the first faces visitors encounter, they wouldn’t entrust just anyone with guard duty. The fact that they didn’t immediately level spears at me for suspicious behavior suggested good training, though my attire likely helped.

“Is Willand inside?”

“…Excuse me?”

“Isn’t this the Kramer County residence? I haven’t heard that Willand was disowned.”

“May I ask your name?”

“Renil. If you announce Renil from the Magic Tower has arrived, they’ll understand.”

#

Starting with the soldier who rushed inside and then back out, I entered the mansion without delay.

Four years after arriving in the capital, even if my popularity had waned due to focusing on research, nearly every noble knew me. Moreover, the Kramer County family had a past dealing with me. The chance they, aspiring to greater heights, were unaware of me was virtually zero.

“Coming without notice… putting that aside, what’s with the armor?”

“Ah, this? You’ll find out soon enough. More importantly, I have a favor to ask.”

“Please speak. I will do my best if it is within my capabilities.”

“Oh, it’s nothing much, but I’d like to borrow the training grounds.”

“The training grounds?”

“Yeah. I need a large space.”

“If it’s space you need, you could use the training grounds inside the Magic Tower. Why come all the way here?”

“I need a slightly larger space, preferably one without prying eyes. It’s not a bad deal for you either, is it?”

“…That’s true.”

Willand replied with a wry smile. His three years at the Terra Barrier had fundamentally changed his thoughts, ideologies, and perspectives. He experienced things firsthand that he never would have in the capital’s comfortable life.

Therefore, he was grateful to me. Without my providing the opportunity, he would still be a naive boy, ignorant of the world, even as he approached his mid-twenties.

However, the Terra Barrier wasn’t entirely beneficial. His personal growth was remarkable, but his factional standing hadn’t improved. In fact, it had regressed as his competitors expanded their power.

Almost a year had passed since his return to the capital, but his position within the family remained weak, despite his mother being Count Kramer’s wife. In this situation, Renil’s direct approach and show of friendship would be a great and harmless help.

“So, can you lend it to me?”

“How much time do you need?”

“An hour should be enough.”

“Please wait a moment, I’ll check right away.”

#

“I have strictly forbidden anyone from entering for an hour, so please use it as you wish.”

“Thank you for granting my request despite my sudden arrival.”

“Don’t mention it. As the Great Disciple said, it will benefit me. There’s no need to worry about it being harmful. Then, I’ll return in an hour.”

Once Willand, who had led me to the training grounds, disappeared, I stood alone in the wide, open space. The training grounds were as large as the mansion, offering ample room to move.

“Should I start with some light movement?”

Basically, the entire armor was enchanted with weight reduction magic. Inconvenience due to structural issues was unavoidable, but I could move without lacking strength or the armor being too heavy. Of course, the effect would diminish if my magic power ran out.

Thud-

“!”

If it were just weight reduction magic, I wouldn’t need such a large space for prototype testing. Injecting magic power into the shoes and taking a step generated more propulsion than expected.

If I hadn’t controlled it, I would have crashed through several walls on the way here. Connecting the sequences was difficult, resulting in a leap rather than a jump [the author uses two different words for jump here, one implying a simple hop and the other a more athletic jump], but it was satisfactory for a prototype.

“Flying freely will be difficult, but changing direction should be manageable.”

Unfortunately, only the armor was completed as a prototype. The protective gear to block claws was ready, but the blades to stab the neck and heart were not. Time passed unexpectedly quietly in the training grounds.

“Huff. Huff.”

It felt like less than thirty minutes, not the expected hour, had passed, but I was on my back, gazing at the sky. My magic power and stamina were clearly exhausted, as the once-light armor now pressed heavily on me.

‘This needs improvement.’

These are just engravings of single characters, not even words. Even if I continued repeated testing, using it in actual combat would be burdensome like this.

Nevertheless, it was a successful test. Tests don’t demand perfection. The fact that the path so far hasn’t been wrong, and that I’ve found points to improve and strengthen, is enough to applaud the results.

‘I should ask my father to send me some high-quality magic stones.’

The underground base for developing the magic stone mine was successfully created. They began mining in earnest about two years ago and were experiencing less damage than expected.

As the Emperor publicly announced, ten percent of the mined amount was sent to my hometown, and the remaining amount was split 6:4 between the Terra Barrier and the Magic Tower. Diverting some of it wouldn’t be difficult.

‘If I have the magic power of magic stones on my back… it depends on its efficiency.’

After organizing solutions to the biggest problem I discovered today, I got up. I wanted to record these thoughts before forgetting them and dedicate time to research. However, I had to delay my return to the Magic Tower. It was rare for me to leave, and many wanted to seize this opportunity.

#

“Haha. Do you know how many times I’ve sent people to invite you? I’m truly glad to see your face now.”

“I’m honored to be invited to dinner.”

“Honor, my foot! I’m the one honored to invite you. Come on, let’s eat.”

After finishing the test and a short conversation with Willand, Count Kramer grabbed me as I was about to return to the Magic Tower. I had refused dozens of invitations, citing research within the Magic Tower. However, refusing after coming to his mansion would be rude.

“Hmm.”

The dinner was lavish. Dishes made with expensive ingredients filled the table, and the drinks were rare and costly. But the taste was irrelevant when my heart was uncomfortable. The dinner, where they were trying to connect me with their daughter, only brought discomfort.

“But what brings you here today? You, who wouldn’t budge when I invited you so many times.”

“I came to see my brother.”

“Brother?”

“Yes. I had quite a conversation with the Count’s second son. We’re close in age, so we decided to call each other brothers.”

When I called Willand my brother, some eyes sparkled, and most frowned. It was easy to discern allegiances.

“Haha. It’s a relief that the guy who always gave me a headache can communicate with you. I’ll leave my son in your care in the future.”

#

“I… I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what? You only did me a favor. Everything after that was done by your father. There’s no need to apologize when you deserve thanks.”

After dinner, I avoided Count Kramer and headed to Willand’s room. Darkness had engulfed the world, but the mansion remained bright, lit by the low-quality magic stones nobles often used.

“And thank you. It seems it will be easier to move forward, thanks to you.”

“If you’re grateful, just keep the mindset you gained at the Terra Barrier. By the way… 4th Circle?”

“Ah, yes. Thanks to my experience at the Terra Barrier, climbing the wall has become much easier. It feels like I can reach it if I just reach out, but I’m struggling because I can’t quite grasp it.”

This wasn’t a difficult topic for me now. Watching him reminded me of when I surpassed the 4th Circle.

‘The change in mindset played a big role.’

When I decided to change the environment that made me crave only survival, beyond mere survival, I surpassed the 4th Circle.

“What’s the problem?”

“Are you giving me guidance?”

“Guidance, my foot. I’m just saying I’ll think about it with you.”

“Actually…”

The feeling of being able to reach it but not being able to. Perhaps Willand’s inability to move forward wasn’t a matter of skill. Surviving three years at the Terra Barrier meant winning hundreds of battles. Since he was already in the 3rd Circle when he left, he should be able to handle the existing Circles.

“Think simply. Simply. There’s no need to complicate things.”

“…Simply?”

If he couldn’t climb the wall due to a psychological problem, a simple word could break it down.

“There’s an old story. Someone offered a large prize to anyone who could untie the knot of a cart tied to a pillar and bring the cart to him. Many tried, but no one could. Then, a traveler heard the news and immediately took the cart and received the prize. How did he do it?”

“…I don’t know.”

“He cut the knot with a knife he was carrying. It’s an old story that tells us that even if a problem seems complicated, the solution is often simple. I hope it helps with your worries.”

Willand, thinking after listening to my story, seemed to realize something and fell into thought. I quietly watched him, knowing how important this moment was.

‘There will be another commotion tomorrow.’

4th Circle at twenty-four. It was a realm that would shake the Magic Tower for a while.

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