Sword, Magic and Academic Society-Chapter 213Vol. 1 - - Liancool Barony (1)

In the north of the mountain range called Seven Spears, Liancool barony was located nearby its centre.

The barony boasted a vast land under its landscape, but with strong monsters creeping around the region, there were but few places for the inhabitants to lead a risk-free life. And with few avenues to earn as to be expected from mountain regions, the tax harvest also lagged behind, while in contrast, the expenditure in sustaining the land could be envisioned.

A reason alluding to the settlement in the mountains was a countermeasure against any irregular outbreak of a monster, so the sustenance money was in fact paid by royal family or Dosperior family.

But there would always be cases when the fund fell short, so that portion was furnished by the Liancool family's income generated from animal husbandry and et cetera. In a sense, leading this territory was a charitable work.

"Are you here, sis Lala?"

"Can you read me the picture book again~?"

"Ahh, you cheater! Sis promised to do sword training with me today!"

"Alright, no need to argue. I will read Sokura picture book first, and then help you out, Tamotsu. Hmm, but you're not going to listen? And you used to like them so much."

Responding to the voices of kids, Lala replied, her face drawing a joyous smile. Though Tamotsu, to whom the last sentence was referring to, huffed and looked the other way.

"I am fine. And I am grown up already. I can't become a strong man by reading picture books for girls."

Lala giggled at the boy's attempt to appear far-reaching, and left behind the 'alright, then wait for me to finish then' reply and turned to the kids—given their appearance and age, they should be elementary schoolers—who had been waiting for her in the circle. Then she began to read them a book from her collection.

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With the isolated land Liancool was, it had no elementary school. The usual trend was to rely on relatives from neighbouring viscountry for lodging while enrolling them in the elementary school there.

The kids gathered were almost around the age to join the elementary school soon, so the book reading was an activity to give them a basic sense of literacy. The contents of the books were typical. For example, the story book Lala read the kids was something like this:

[Once upon a time, a beautiful girl from a destitute viscounty caught the eye of an evil count. By the many schemes and underhanded tricks, the already destitute viscounty was cornered to a dead end. Eventually, caving to the hands of evil, the beautiful girl, on the condition that her family be spared, let herself be taken away by the walking pig that was count.

It was apparent the cruel fate that awaits her at the end of her path, however a man, who just happened to be there, couldn't swallow the injustice happening and to save the girl, he went through various efforts and hardship, and eventually succeeded in bringing the count to his knees. At the end, after they swore their oath of love, the man revealed himself to be the crown prince, and took the girl to be his queen, leading a happy life.]

A tale as template-ish as it could be, this was the story for today.

Of course, the retort would arise—the hardship wouldn't have been there if the prince had revealed his status promptly, however everyone knows not to point out the obvious.

For Lala, the type of story like a commoner becoming a princess was her favourite.

As for her, she had also attended the elementary school in Kunowa viscounty—it was alongside the old highway—however her feats left her peers far behind. The rumours spread around, and reached to the ear of Count Nelson, a heavyweight noble from nearby region, and brought her under his umbrella, providing her the best possible education in his territory.

Well, it wasn't to say Count Nelson was the type of philanthropist, however he, too, saw the lurking potential in her, and had decided to support her for the rewards that her success would bring in.

In the beginning, Count Nelson had rather wanted her to focus on the knight course in the prestigious Noble School in Rabeldin. He must've tried to persuade her thousands of times, but Lala never budged from her wish to go to the Royal Academy that she'd been insisting on ever since Count Nelson brought her under his wing.

She had always wanted to make pretty friends like the princess in the picture book, and had a longing for the romantic meeting like in the books, seeking 'true love' but that required her to travel to the royal capital.

But it was a dream that anyone would laugh, so she had never revealed it to anyone. Though her father did perceive the dream lurking in his little girl, he never denied or laughed at that. Lala's father was quite a sagious person.

Either way, with the two will clashing, Count Nelson would held many discussion with Baron Liancool, and after a long shot, they arrived at the middle ground; only if she could score for Royal Academy can she proceed her studies in royal capital, however in case she failed, she would be studying in the Rabeldin's Noble School.

Fast-forward to last spring.

Lana aced the exam for Royal Academy, and even got her placement in the illustrious Class A.

The anti-royal academy sentiment ran more deep within the Dosperior region, and, maybe not completely, Count Nelson could be said to hold the same opinion. A mixed feeling for sure, but he couldn't argue any further when she had put up a brilliant score. Albeit, he also received the cold shoulder from his fellow nobles for sending forth the treasure of their land to the central region.

And then, a year had passed since then.

Arriving here, the cold gazes had now taken a sharp flip for Count Nelson.

◆◆◆

The residence of Baron Liancool in the Komori Village.

After her afternoon teaching session—teaching basic reading and writing to dabbling into Boyd Strengthening magic while sword practicing—to the children of Komori Village had completed, which she had been doing daily since her homecoming, Lana was now inside her home, and before her were the uncountable number of pictures.

Facing the photos of potential suitors, and the Count Nelson, who had a grinning expression like a child showing his card collection, Lala's face winced.

"......Count Nelson. I had said it yesterday too, but I do not plan to seek any suitor—"

Lana turned to reject his proposal, however Count Nelson pre-emptively raised his hand, interrupting her.

"Say less, girl. I understand your inner feeling, and of course, I am not trying to rush you or force you for marriage either. However I am in the spot to look after that aspect, and I just want you to understand the proposal coming for you."

After giving his reason, Count Nelson began to point at each individual photo, each appearing a young scion with remarkable features, and gave a rundown of their character and career.

Lala barely stopped her from sighing at Count Nelson's face and replied.

"Very well, Count Nelson. I have glanced at the photos for now, so I think that's enough for today."

Count Nelson had believed if not delighted, Lala should be showing some interest at the very least, however the rather lackluster response instead had him confused.

"...Just to confirm, maybe... you have found someone in the royal capital?"

Lala's ears were beat red at the sudden curveball question, and shook her hand in fluster.

"I ain't got no one I l-l-like."

Realising she had slipped in her local accent to a visitor, Lala swiftly hide her mouth behind the folding fan.

"...Not trying to appear pushy, however all the gentlemen in these pictures are one who wouldn't mind marrying into Liancool House. I doubt anyone, especially the talents with prospective futures attending that academy, would agree to that either...

But, if you say you don't mind passing the seat of Head of Liancool to any of your relatives, and are fine with marrying into another family, I would focus on bringing a better proposal leaning on this side.In fact, my youngest son Sunny is just the fit if I may add so. He's 20, so the age is a bit apart, however he's quite excellent, serving the Dosperior family as the knight too. I would say he also looks his part..."

Seeing as Count Nelson once again ignited the proposal of his son that she had somehow managed to turn down, Lala finally had been spent.

"Pardon me, but as I had mentioned yesterday, I am of the intention to inherit the title of our family. ...As a matter of fact, I had been informed that some visitors made their way to the Donco Village last night, and as the head of Liancool family, It's my duty to visit them. Now, if you may, I would like to keep further discussion for another date."

Imitating the noble tone that she had learned from her fairy-tales, Lana pushed for the end of discussion, bringing a crease between Count Nelson's brow.

"Visitors in that desolate village? I wouldn't put any mind on that. I mean, I doubt the visitors are of any status to require your presence, must be some riff-raff."

Lala shook her head.

"It's apparently more than so. They seemed to be acquainted with Esteemed Grandma Mu, and have expressly come to visit her after tens of years in their travels. I have heard a lot about the graceful young lady—albeit, she must have also experienced the passage of time—from her, and it intrigued me to visit who that persona actually is."

The crease further deepened when Count Nelson heard the explanation.

"An acquaintance of that fossilized hag? Then we can't appear negligent even more... I would believe they'd heard about your fame, and thus came at this sudden timing for the visit. You can just rest yourself in the house, I believe they will surely come to visit either way."

So Count Nelson said, however Lala strongly shook her head.

"They've showed themselves to refrain from visiting without an appointment, and in fact, their schedule is to go back on their trip after the grave visit of their acquaintance. Please ease your concern, today might not, but I should be available tomorrow and onward."

Lala firmly pressed on the topic, and leaving behind the rest of annoyance at her father, Lana waited no further and exited.

◆◆◆

It was evening when Lana made it to the Donco Village on horse.

"Oh, it's sis Lala! Come, play with us~!"

She had just got down from her horse and passed the entrance of the village when the children of the village gathered around her in the blink of an eye.

"I’m 'ere for some work, you see, so maybe another time? Are the guests of Gran Mu still 'ere?"

"Granny has left with the guests to the grave, but they should be coming back in some time. Haa... others in Komori Village are so lucky, they get to play with sis everyday..."

A kid replied to Lana's query, and gave a pouted look at the end of his sentence.

Lala took a quick glance at the stable of Village Chief, and saw a magnificent horse tied there.

She quickly deduced the guests were to stay tonight if they hadn't departed when it's already late.

A relieved sigh escaped from her, and then she crouched in front of the sulking kid from earlier, gently caressing his head.

"Haha, then let's play a game until the guests are back. What do you want to play?"

A squeal of delight promptly left the kids once Lala said so.

"I, I want to play hide and seek!"

"No, capture the flag~!"

"I want you to come with me to catch bugs, sis!"

"Make-believe!"

'Let's decide with Rock-Paper-Scissor then,' meeting the enthusiasm of kids, Lala chuckled and suggested.

T/N - Sorry for the delay guys, had internet problem for a while. I was behind two chapters (3 including friday's) from earlier weeks, so this covers the two of them. Remains last, I will cover it next week. Sorry, and thanks for your patience!