Chapter 70
"I don't understand what you mean......"
"Someone other than Billy......?"
"Specifically, who are you referring to?"
Despite making a face that clearly shows annoyance, it seems he's willing to listen.
This might work......! Thinking so, he offered sweets that are always placed at the corner of the table to the three of them. Since there was no meat at hand, he reluctantly opted for sweets, but perhaps as a bribe, it was too weak. Celestia merely glanced at the sweets and urged him to continue the conversation without interest.
"I'm talking about Finn Scott from our class."
"Finn...... Finn...... Hmm, Severi?"
"I don't know him either."
"You guys......"
Harrison covered his face with both hands, exasperated by Silvio and Severi, who unapologetically admitted they didn't know Finn despite having taken classes together for over half a year.
Severi aside, Harrison was especially surprised about Silvio, as he often saw him casually chatting with everyone.
"I believe he's the quiet boy who reads books by the window seat."
Harrison hadn't expected to have to describe Finn's appearance, and he felt genuinely relieved that Celestia recognized him.
"By the window......? Everyone other than Billy and the others is quiet, so I can't tell. I'm not interested either."
"Such people tend to avoid interacting with others, so shouldn't we leave them alone instead?"
"......Celestia."
"Ignore these two. So, what about Finn?"
Known recently as a tyrant in addition to being sharp-tongued and harsh, Celestia is, to Harrison, a reliable student who responds when asked for help.
So, while offering another piece of sweets as a bribe to Celestia, he let out a small sigh, lowered his eyebrows, and put on an air of being extremely, terribly troubled.
"Finn's father is a Colonel at Lekui Fortress in the east. Despite being a noble, he's bold, impartial, and well-liked by those around him for his caring nature. However, Finn, his son, doesn't seem to take after his father and is extremely shy. Even I, as his assigned instructor, have only heard Finn's voice maybe twice!"
"Don't say that with pride."
"I'm begging you, could you talk to him, not just once, but even to the point where he finds it annoying?"
"Wouldn't that just be harassment? Besides, I don't think talking to him will change anything."
"It will change something. You're the grandchild of Fildé Rotish, with that appearance of yours. On top of that, you're a fierce talent who passed the basic physical training and exams in record time to start swordsmanship training. Most guys either dislike or admire you for it."
"And if he dislikes me?"
"Even then, as long as you keep the conversation going, it'll work out somehow. If it's Celestia, who tamed the troublesome young master Billy from day one and made him obedient, you can do it. No, I'd be in trouble if you couldn't...... Next year, an incredibly difficult big shot will be joining us."
I thanked God for the first time that I'm not the assigned instructor for that one.
"An upper-class noble?"
"It's not confirmed yet, so I can't go into details...... but that's another thing I'll likely have to rely on you for, Celestia."
While glancing at Celestia, who furrowed her brows tightly, Harrison placed a box of high-end sweets from Taurus—meant as both a reward and an apology—quietly next to the sweets he had given earlier.
"Aren't you using the Rotish name too conveniently?"
"It's not because of the Rotish name. It's because Nick praised you, saying Celestia is very capable."
"Yes, Colonel Nick often praised me as a competent subordinate."
"......"
"Even if you make that face, I'll talk to Finn once."
"He's not a bad guy, just quiet, so I'm counting on you."
"And also......"
Feeling the weight finally lift off his shoulders, Harrison raised both arms to stretch his body. While nodding to Celestia, who seemed hesitant to continue speaking, he took out his wallet, wondering if he should send some meat to the girls' dormitory later.
"Please stop mentioning taming and such from earlier. It causes misunderstandings around us."
"No way, you're not aware of it......?"
Coins scattered grandly from the wallet that fell from his hand onto the table and then to the floor, but that was the least of his concerns.
"I don't think it's a misunderstanding, you know?"
"It's practically a talent at this point."
It wasn't just Harrison who was surprised by her words. Silvio and Severi, who had been quietly listening, also looked at Celestia with indescribable expressions, letting unnecessary words slip from their mouths.
They had expected at least a glare or a threatening remark, but seeing Celestia slowly raise the corners of her mouth in silence, the three of them instinctively sensed danger and moved immediately.
"Well, it's almost time for basic physical training. I have preparations to make, so go on ahead."
"Yes, we're short on time, so we need to hurry."
"As for the sweets, we'll leave our share to Celes."
Harrison opened the door to the staff room, Silvio gently took Celes's arm to help her stand, and Severi placed the sweets in both of Celestia's hands, giving her a light push on the back.
Celestia, with a polite smile directed at the three men, shook her head lightly from side to side and left the room.
"For the meat, quantity over quality, right......?"
Closing the door and sluggishly returning to the sofa, Harrison flopped down sideways and muttered resentfully toward the corner of the room.
"Don't just watch, help me out."
"Was there something you needed help with?"
In the shadow of a large potted plant, about as tall as Harrison, placed in a breezy spot by a big window, there was a small desk and chair. Hidden from view from the door, a woman sat there, silently handling her work. She bundled up the documents in her hand and stood up with an amused laugh in response to her junior's complaints.
"Since it was the Marshal and Ada who recruited Ivan Tseli, they can explain it better than I can."
"I'm not the assigned instructor for those kids."
Indirectly told it was his job, Harrison turned his back to Ada, who was preparing tea, and threw a piece of sweets at her. However, it didn't hit her back and was easily caught by her hand.
Ada, a veteran instructor specializing in senior students, is also a retired former soldier. During her active duty, she served as Fildé Rotish's adjutant.
"You explained it well enough. Though, if I may add one thing, military rank doesn't signify excellence—it shows responsibility, workload, and lack of sleep."
"That's harsh......"
"No one aspires to be a Marshal or a high-ranking officer. Those who get promoted to such positions salute with the eyes of the dead. I'd refuse even if they piled money in front of me."
Coming from a woman who sat in such a high-ranking position for many years, her words carried weight.
Sitting on the opposite sofa sipping tea, Ada glanced at Harrison, who pressed his fingers to his eyes and gave a wry smile.
"You, too, could have been in a high-ranking position by now."
"Yeah, probably."
Ada glanced at Harrison, who responded as if it were someone else's problem, and tossed a warm towel toward his face.
"Gah......!?"
"Your left eye hurts, doesn't it? Warm it up."
His left eye, with vision deteriorating year by year, could no longer distinguish colors, only vaguely perceiving shadows.
If it would just go completely blind at once, he could walk a different path from the military without clinging to expectations or lingering hopes......
"The current Knight Commander is the old man who was Ivan Tseli's assistant, right?"
"Don't call a noble 'old man.'"
"Is the knight training also short on personnel?"
"The Marquis is just a temporary stand-in until the next generation is ready. Over there, even if someone is capable, they're looked down on for being too young. The real candidate is Altried Sable, who serves as the Crown Prince's Escort Knight. I believe he'll be appointed Knight Commander when His Highness becomes king."
"A knight training with the time and resources to nurture the next generation is secure...... Damn, that's annoying."
"There are plenty of people who aspire to be soldiers because they admire Lord Fildé."
"Of course. I'd entrust my life to him without hesitation, and I'd be fine dying in his place."
"Even so, as you explained to those kids, the number of people leaving outnumbers those coming in, so we're still short on personnel."
That's why Harrison, along with everyone at Ransheen Fortress, has been working hard to lessen his burden even a little.
"Who can take on the title?"
"Either the eccentric in the west or the gentleman in the east. But apparently, both have already declined. They'd take on any amount of work, but they can't become Marshal."
"Marshal has practically become synonymous with Fildé Rotish......"
"Besides, there aren't many people with the ability and charisma to lead others. That's why it's such a shame that Miss Celestia is the heir."
Harrison nodded in agreement with Ada, who clicked her tongue softly.
That grandfather and granddaughter resemble each other not just in appearance but especially in personality.
"She's got more than enough potential, though."
The girl's resolve is firm, clearly stating she has no intention of becoming a soldier, and even her family, the Count family, likely wouldn't allow it to that extent.
What a pity...... Harrison and Ada dropped their shoulders and returned to their respective tasks.