After saying goodbye to Five Mountains, Ryo and Abel finally returned to the guesthouse within the castle grounds. Over a bath and dinner, they discussed his training bout with Ceferino.
“Abel, you’re the kind of guy who just can’t turn down a rookie asking for a favor.”
“You’re not wrong. When someone who’s motivated and puts in the effort asks for your help, you can’t say no. You’re the same way, Ryo.”
“Tch...you’re not wrong.”
These two were two peas in a pod.
“But con artists will take advantage of that kind of kindness,” Ryo continued.
“Con artists?”
“Yes, con artists. You have to keep an eye out for them. They’ll pretend to be on your side to get into your good graces, and then BAM, you’ve been swindled!”
“And what exactly would they try to get out of me? A meal? Treats?” Abel stared at the water magician pointedly. “If that’s the case, it seems like I’m getting swindled 24-7.”
“H-Hey, maybe they wouldn’t be so direct about it. Y-You never know...” Ryo stammered, but he knew he had to defend himself! “Of course, kindness is a wonderful thing. I think it’s incredibly generous to treat your peers and associates to a meal out of the kindness of your heart.”
“Do you mean Shoken and the other adventurers who worked so hard as our bodyguards, plus Zach, Scotty, and the other knights?”
“Certainly. However, while I’m sure they did their best, there’s also a magician close to you who works even harder!”
Abel looked around, feigning ignorance. “Oh? Where?”
Ryo, indignant, raised his hand. “Right here!”
“Hmm...”
“You know, Abel, I’m your junior too. It’s your duty to treat me!”
“I don’t feel even the slightest obligation to treat a newbie with pockets as deep as yours.”
“W-Wealth or the lack thereof is irrelevant.”
Worn down by Ryo’s argument, Abel finally nodded in defeat. “Fine. You win.”
“Praise be!”
“Eat as much as you want while we’re staying here. I’ve got you covered.”
“Wait,” Ryo said, frowning. “But the food at the guesthouse is free!”
“Dang.” Abel smirked like a mischievous little boy. “Busted.”
If nothing else, it showed just how close they’d gotten...
✦ ✦ ✦
The next day, Ryo and Abel were tasked with instructing the archduke’s knights. To no one’s surprise, however, the lecture turned into a full-on training session about halfway through. Adventurers and knights simply preferred hands-on experience to passive listening—or something like that...
Like yesterday, Abel and Ceferino spent the evening sparring in the courtyard outside the castle gates. Meanwhile, Ryo hosted a tea party of all things with the other four members of Five Mountains. He made coffee and listened while they introduced themselves, talked about how the party formed, and discussed some of their biggest jobs.
The party consisted of the air magician Ilana, the cleric Nieves, the scout Primo, and the shield bearer Leoncio. Ilana and Nieves were women, and the rest were men. All were twenty-five years old.
Eventually, their conversation moved on to current affairs.
“Really? You’ve never met an aristocrat?” Ryo asked, puzzled.
“That’s right. There are so many too, which makes it even stranger. As B-ranks, we receive a lot of commissions from the nobility—but I’ve still never met one, let alone their families. Butlers and stewards are our points of contact. Nothing wrong with that, but...” Ilana shrugged.
“She isn’t alone,” Nieves answered, frowning. “None of us has met a noble.”
Leoncio nodded along silently, just like Warren of Crimson Blade was prone to do. Perhaps shield bearers were just naturally taciturn.
“That’s just how things go in Twilight, at least,” Primo said. He was the only man in the party speaking. “I’m curious about the way things work in the Kingdom, though.”
“Hmm... I’d say it’s a bit different in Knightley.” Ryo thought about Phelps for a moment. “I know a B-rank in Lune who’s the son and heir of the marquess, so I think there’s at least some overlap between adventurers and the nobility.”
Ilana gasped. “The heir to a marquessate!”
“Amazing!” Nieves said.
Primo blinked in surprise. “No wonder people call the Kingdom a country of adventurers.”
Although Leoncio remained silent, his eyes went wide and his mouth dropped open in shock.
“Do nobles never make public appearances around here?” Ryo asked. “Surely some work for the government or serve as ministers.”
“They don’t. That may be the norm in other countries, but Twilightland is completely different.”
“Nobles don’t hold positions in the central government.”
“Well, the only exception is the archduke.”
That made sense. As the leader of the country and head of the central government, he basically had to make frequent public appearances.
“Then what do the aristocrats here do?”
“They have territories all over the country, so I suppose they spend most of their time there...”
“They have mansions here in Thebes too. They’re absolutely enormous.”
“You know what’s enormous? The gulf between us commoners and the aristocracy...”
Once again, Ilana, Nieves, and Primo answered him in the same order and, once again, Leoncio nodded silently.
“Can anyone become a noble?” Ryo asked.
Ilana cocked her head in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“As in, can a commoner raise their status by doing good deeds and achieving incredible things?”
“Nope.”
“That hasn’t happened once since the country was founded.”
“Just the kind of place Twilight is.”
It seemed like the division between nobility and commoners was entirely determined at birth.
“But surely that doesn’t mean regular people never meet aristocrats, right?”
“Right. Their hired help do, of course, and occasionally their subjects will get the chance.”
“We hear a lot about how beautiful the noblewomen are and how dashing the men are.”
“Maybe they’re just a different breed from us plebs.”
All three released a deep sigh. Only the shield bearer, Leoncio, shook his head silently and smiled. Perhaps his role was to listen quietly to his fellows’ complaints.
While the five chatted, today’s mock battle came to an end. Just like before, Ceferino dropped to his knees, and Nieves rushed over to heal him.
Spotting Abel, Ryo strolled over ever so casually.
“Didn’t get the chance to spectate, but you seem fine.”
“Yeah? What were you doing?”
“A lot of things.”
“All I saw you do was talk.”
Ryo shrugged. “No, we were exchanging information.”
After recovering, Ceferino approached them. “Why does it feel like I did worse than yesterday?”
“You’re imagining things, Ceferino.”
“No, you were definitely more comfortable today.”
“Ohhh, yeah... Probably ’cuz I have a better idea of your swordsmanship now, which makes it easier to predict your movements.”
“You have got to be kidding me...” Ceferino’s shoulders slumped for a moment, but he quickly raised his head. “That doesn’t matter, and it’s certainly not going to stop me. I’m counting on seeing you again tomorrow!”
“Uh, sure. See ya then.”