Isekai Adventure in the Dimensional Cube

The next day, the Franzel household became slightly livelier than ever before.

Many people had already received the news that in a few days, the Franzel family would be hosting the battle festival.

Initially, many were unfamiliar with and puzzled by the term "battle festival," not knowing what it actually was.

It was normal for many to not respond immediately since the battle festival, which hadn't been held for decades, was now being proclaimed to take place once again.

Only after Eredman began a grand campaign to revive the battle festival did people come to understand what it really was.

Consequently, the whole Franzel family was abuzz.

"The young lady and the master are actually planning to participate in this kind of combat festival?"

"It sounds like it could be very interesting."

"It's been a long time since such a lively festival took place in the Franzel territory."

"I'm starting to look forward to it."

Under such expectations, many people started gossiping.

Eredman, however, did not disclose the true purpose of the battle festival.

In other words, although people knew that Yuri and Eredman were preparing to participate in a festival themed around combat, facing off against each other, they were unaware that the festival was being held to force the other party to compromise.

Since it was an internal conflict and decision within the direct line of the Franzel family, it was naturally inappropriate for subordinates to be privy to it.

Therefore, once people learned of the battle festival's existence, they simply looked forward to it and discussed it without sensing anything amiss.

Only a handful of insightful individuals clearly discerned something unusual.

"The commotion Marquis Franzel has caused in the capital is no small matter; now he finally shows up in public but is suddenly participating in some battle festival?"

"At this point, with Basolo so openly hostile toward the Franzels, shouldn't Lord Eredman be first seeking ways to ease the tension between both sides?"

"This matter isn't that simple. There must be something we don't know about."

"Let's investigate."

Those who reacted like this were either spies sent by certain nobles or nations or agents belonging to mysterious forces who had been paying close attention to the Franzel family's movements.

They acutely sensed that there was more to the situation and started their operations in secret.

And admit it or not, they did find an answer.

After all, the battle festival was a traditional event of the Franzel family. Contemporary individuals might not be aware of its purpose, but anyone determined to investigate could certainly discover how the Franzel family used to hold the battle festival and why it existed in the first place.

It was not a particularly significant secret; those with some influence could surely find out if they investigated.

Thanks to this, they understood the reasons behind the resurgence of the battle festival.

"It seems that Marquis Franzel and Lord Eredman have reached an irreconcilable disagreement."

"Is it because of the marriage alliance with the Basolo family?"

"It's necessary to pay attention to this."

Those with ulterior motives quietly began to make their moves.

Even those unconcerned with the Franzel family's internal affairs found the battle festival itself very interesting.

"This is a great opportunity to closely understand the power of the Franzel family."

"Yuri Franzel, the Tactical Level Magician, will also take the stage. The chance to see her demonstrate her power up close might only come this once."

"The battle festival is open to the public, right? When does it start?"

In this manner, whether it was the common people or those with intent, everyone turned their attention to the battle festival.

The Franzel family did not conceal the news and directly released the relevant information.

Being a celebration, a festival, it naturally wouldn't proceed in secrecy.

It was completely open to the public, but those who wanted to watch the battles would need to buy tickets.

Eredman, reviving the battle festival, even planned to hold it at Wendtini's largest practice field, whether or not he intentionally aimed for this aspect.

The place was usually used for training the knights, allowing magicians to practice their magic, which meant it was an arena equipped to withstand all sorts of fierce bombardments, provided that neither Tactical Level Magic nor Strategic Level Magic was unleashed.

There were also spectator stands there, not seating many—about five thousand seats—but this was ample.

Eredman planned to sell 4,400 of these spots, allowing the citizens of Wendtini to attend and watch the battle festival with tickets.

As for the remaining 600 seats, those were reserved for special invites.

Eredman seemed intent on inviting local nobles from the Franzel territory to watch the battle festival and even prepared to invite some dignitaries to witness the spectacle, seemingly determined to make the battle festival grand and upscale, much to Yuri's displeasure.

"I feel like I've been used. That man, could he have had the idea to revive the battle festival from the start?"

Yuri couldn't help but suspect this and vented her frustrations in front of Reiger, incessantly grumbling about her father.

Reiger had not expected that this so-called battle festival would end up being so widely known.

He wasn't exactly fond of being in the limelight, the idea of being evaluated and talked about in public wasn't appealing to him.

The main issue was that, given this, his strength would likely no longer be a secret.

Until now, others had seen him as nothing more than a useless person.

However, with further thought, Reiger felt indifferent to it.

"Anyway, I'm already famous in the capital."

Reiger also found this matter utterly puzzling.

Yuri seemed to have always been paying attention to the developments in the capital, and finally learned about the intelligence that Reiger's identity as a Tactical Level Magician had been exposed.

Now, any well-informed noble already knew that Yuri had a Tactical Level Magician by her side, and that person was Reiger, who had recently been rumored to have damaged the "Gate" and could no longer use magic, having to switch to swordsmanship instead.

This made many people curse Yuri behind her back for being sly.

A Tactical Level Magician had been silently recruited by her, and not only that, he had been crafted into a disabled person to be hidden away. If it wasn't for the Basoro family who unfortunately took the lead and revealed this hidden card of the Franzel family, perhaps it would have been themselves who were caught off guard by this move.

The royal family was quite concerned about this too and had contacted Yuri, urging her to bring Reiger back with her when she returned to the capital.

The reason, of course, was to confer a title and an official post on Reiger.

Any magician who had achieved Tactical Level Magic could meet the King in the palace and be conferred a noble title in front of other nobles.

And it wasn't the lowest rank of Baron, but a Viscount, one rank higher.

Every Tactical Level Magician, once titled, would at least start as a Viscount.

Such individuals, if they could earn some merit on the battlefield, would immediately be promoted to Earl and become a Grand Noble.

As for Strategic Level Magicians, if they achieved such status and weren't nobles, they would start directly as Grand Nobles and would be given the title of Earl. If they were already nobles, their rank would be elevated unconditionally by one or even two orders on the spot.

Yuri herself had done just that, achieving the rank of Strategic Level Magician at the age of 15 and jumping two levels from Viscount to Marquis.

Now, with Reiger's status as a Tactical Level Magician exposed, the royal palace naturally couldn't wait for him to rush back, be conferred with an official post and title, and be branded with the mark of the Ginas Kingdom to prevent other countries from poaching him.

When Yuri told Reiger about this, she even apologized, saying she didn't expect the news to spread and causing such a stir in noble society that everyone knew.

The part that Reiger couldn't understand was exactly this.

"How could it have been exposed?"

At that time, the Franzel family had already suppressed the attack, and under Yuri's instruction, had taken refuge in the basement.

So, logically speaking, nobody should have known that Reiger used the "High-level Victory Sword."

How then, was it exposed?

"Could it be that there were people from other forces mixed in the residence at that time, witnessing me casting the magic?"

Reiger was somewhat suspicious of this.

If that was the case, then that person was quite lucky; a Tactical Level area annihilation magic coming down, if there wasn't a Tactical Level barrier to block it for a moment, the surrounding area of the Franzel residence would likely have been turned into a sea of fire.

That person stayed inside the barrier, within the range of the "High-level Victory Sword" attack, and yet they lived to tell the tale. They were either someone capable or just extremely lucky.

Reiger sighed over this matter and then stopped thinking about it.

If it's exposed, it's exposed. It's not like he'd die from it; the most that could happen was that he'd be targeted by the Heretic Assassins again.

But for Reiger, this was actually desired.

As long as no Sword Saint-level existence came after him, such assassins, no matter how many, could just become experience points for Reiger.

Of course, regarding the kingdom's wish for Reiger to return to the capital to receive his title, he was utterly unwilling.

In his previous life, he had suffered enough from the treachery of the high society; now that he had finally detached himself from that world, why would he go back?

Nobility?

He'd never be a noble in this lifetime!

"I kind of guessed you would say that. Don't worry, I'll try to delay as much as possible and make excuses for you."

Yuri took on this task.

However, as the news gradually spread, Reiger began to be entangled by others.

...

On this day, just as Reiger was about to practice magic, he was interrupted by someone who suddenly appeared.

"Teach me magic!"

The person who said this so imperiously was—

"It's you, the youngest."

Seeing the little figure who jumped out, Reiger unconsciously said this.

"I'm not the youngest!" Isu jumped up, shouting: "Impertinent wretch! You should call me Young Master!"

Seeing this little 'youngest' putting on airs like a noble, Reiger couldn't help but feel an irresistible urge to teach him a lesson.

"Are you sure you want me to call you Young Master?"

Reiger squeezed his fist, which was as large as a sandbag.

"...Forget it, I won't stoop to your level."

The capable and flexible Young Master Isu ultimately chose to be magnanimous and forgave Reiger's impertinence.

But...

"But you have to teach me magic."

Isu insisted, leaving Reiger puzzled.