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“If you’re a knight, draw your sword. I’ll test if you’re a man worthy of Camilla.”

Gilbert sighed inwardly as he looked at the head of the Tristitia family, who was glaring at him with wide eyes. He had no idea how things had escalated to this point.

Just a while ago, when he first visited the Tristitia mansion, the atmosphere hadn’t been bad. But before he knew it, he found himself face-to-face with Count Tristitia in the duel arena.

And that wasn’t all.

Looking around, Count Tristitia’s three sons were also glaring at Gilbert with fiery eyes. If it weren’t for the Count, they would have stepped forward themselves, gripping and releasing their sword hilts repeatedly.

The reason was obvious.

Even though he said he had no idea, Gilbert knew exactly why things had turned out this way.

“Gilbert, you can do it!”

Camilla’s cheerful voice, cheering with clenched fists, echoed through the silent duel arena.

The aura emanating from the Count and his three sons grew even stronger. It wasn’t just his imagination that a murderous intent, sharp enough to make his hair stand on end, was mixed in.

Gilbert steeled his heart at the grim sight.

It was already a losing battle.

If he backed down now, he would likely face even greater backlash.

In the end, Gilbert decided to give it his all. He took a deep breath and slowly drew his sword.

“Fighting, Gilbert!”

Gilbert clicked his tongue at Camilla, who was still fanning the flames. Her cheering was absolutely no help at all.

***

A few hours before Gilbert’s duel with Count Tristitia, to be precise, it was when he had just arrived at the Lithuania Territory.

Originally, Gilbert had planned to use the warp magic circle as soon as he arrived in Lithuania. Although there was still time before the main scenario would begin, he wanted to prevent any unforeseen variables.

The Sigurdian invasion, known as the start of the Barbarian Warrior arc, always followed a formal declaration of war.

Though the Empire called them barbarians who knew no etiquette, the Sigurdians were a people who valued honor and combat above all else. They were descendants of the great Sigurdian heroes of old and strictly forbade any actions that would tarnish their ancestors’ honor.

Even though this world was based on a game, it was still influenced by the game’s systems due to Gilbert’s presence. Since Gilbert was the main subject progressing the main scenario, it was certain that the main scenario would proceed after their declaration of war.

Since Gilbert hadn’t received any communication from the Lithuania Territory yet, he assumed there was still time.

But the variable appeared from an unexpected place. Camilla had stopped Gilbert from using the warp magic circle immediately. This mischievous young lady had stubbornly invited Gilbert to the Tristitia mansion, and in the end, Gilbert had no choice but to visit.

“Welcome, Miss. The Count and the young masters are waiting for you.”

“Ah! Long time no see, Delmont!”

As they got out of the carriage in front of the mansion, a butler with snow-white hair greeted them. Gilbert quickly observed the butler, named Delmont, as he stepped out of the carriage.

This part was similar to the game, after all.

Gilbert nodded inwardly as he looked at the butler, who exuded an unusual aura.

In Tactical Combat, the butler was classified as a high-tier companion character that could be recruited if you formed a friendly relationship with the Tristitia Count family.

His name was Delmont Pavlov. Once known as the “Avatar of the Battlefield,” he was a formidable warrior who had been saved by Count Tristitia and had since served as his chief butler.

Though his prime had passed, his robust physique and the experience gained from countless battles still made him a seasoned individual.

“And who is this with you…?”

“Gilbert! Gilbert Lion Heart. He’s my close friend!”

“My apologies, Lord Gilbert. I am Delmont, the chief butler of the Tristitia Count family.”

Delmont bowed in greeting. It was unexpected that Gilbert, once known as a troublemaker, had come here, but since Camilla had introduced him as a close friend, he didn’t show any outward reaction.

“It’s an honor to meet the one once called the Avatar of the Battlefield. I’ll be in your care for this short time.”

“If you’re a friend of the young lady, then you are an important guest of the Tristitia family. We will do our best to serve you.”

Delmont found it hard to believe that the young knight before him was the same troublemaker from the Count family. The aura and composed demeanor he exuded were nothing short of sacred, something that had recently stirred the Empire.

He must have grown up.

Feeling inwardly pleased at the promising future of the Empire, Delmont guided them to the reception room.

As if to prove its status as a prominent knight family of the Infractus Empire, the interior of the Tristitia mansion was straightforward and somewhat rigidly decorated. Instead of lavish items, it displayed artifacts from knights who had once dominated an era, and even the paintings on the walls mostly depicted swordsmanship stances.

Considering that all of these were representations of the outstanding knights produced by the Tristitia family, it was clear at a glance just how remarkable this family was.

“My lord, I have brought Miss Camilla and her friend.”

“Friend?”

As the door to the reception room opened, Count Tristitia was seen seated at the head. Though he had ascended to the position of Count, his well-trained muscles, hidden beneath his clothes, were impressive.

His overall appearance was sharp and robust, and his three sons, seated nearby, were similar. At first glance, they seemed quite different from the slender Camilla, but upon closer inspection, there were subtle resemblances.

“My apologies for arriving unannounced. I am Gilbert Lion Heart.”

“Well, well. Has William’s troublemaker changed this much? You live long enough, and you see everything.”

Count Tristitia was as straightforward as he looked. He had been close friends with Gilbert’s father, the Count of Lithuania, and now looked at Gilbert with interest.

Just a while ago, he had been troubled by his own children, and now the son of his old friend, who had once been a troublemaker, stood before him. The composed and calm aura Gilbert exuded was surprising, to say the least.

Count Tristitia, who had seen Gilbert in the Lithuania Territory a few years ago, couldn’t help but be amazed at how much he had changed.

He had thought Gilbert had somehow been granted a knighthood, but now the once troublesome boy had transformed into a tiger.

“It’s been a while. Five years, right? You’re quite different from back then.”

What kind of setting is this now?

Gilbert broke into a cold sweat as Count Tristitia spoke as if he had known him before. He had only inserted a custom character from Golden Sun, but it seemed some strange settings had been attached to this side as well.

Thinking about it, since Count Tristitia was close friends with the Count of Lithuania, it made sense that he had seen Gilbert before. But hearing it so suddenly, even Gilbert couldn’t help but be taken aback.

“You flatter me.”

“That arrogant brat showing manners? I never expected to see the day. I must introduce you to my sons.”

The Count, laughing heartily, introduced his three sons to Gilbert one by one. Their sharp gazes were unsettling, but Gilbert decided to play along.

“Dad! I’m here, and you’re not paying attention to me?”

“Oh! My daughter! Come into your father’s arms!”

The atmosphere around Count Tristitia, who had been hearty but dignified just moments ago, suddenly became frivolous. Though Gilbert knew he was an extreme doting father, seeing such a quick change was still hard to adjust to.

But Gilbert didn’t let it show. Getting caught up in unnecessary trouble here was the last thing he wanted.

“Dad… I’m not a child anymore.”

“Camilla?”

Count Tristitia, who had spread his arms waiting for Camilla to hug him, was taken aback by her aloof attitude. Before she went to the academy, she would have hugged him without hesitation, but now she had changed.

Clearing his throat to hide his unease, Count Tristitia looked at his precious daughter.

“Ahem. I was being too familiar in front of our guest.”

“By the way, Dad. I’m going to Lithuania with Gilbert.”

“…What?”

“I said I’m going to Lithuania with Gilbert!”

As Camilla cheerfully announced this, Count Tristitia closed his eyes. He had always known this day would come, but he had never expected it to be now.

He should have realized something was up when Camilla, who had never invited guests before, brought a man home.

Count Tristitia glared sharply at Gilbert.

He had thought the troublemaker had reformed, but it seemed the opposite was true. The scoundrel had become even worse and had come to take his daughter away.

Meanwhile, Gilbert, suddenly under the intense gaze of four men, was bewildered by the sudden turn of events. He wondered why the Count’s three sons were glaring at him, but now it made sense.

The Count’s three sons, who doted on their youngest sister, were now wary of the man she had brought home. The problem was that Camilla’s earlier statement had lit the fuse.

Even Count Tristitia, who had been pleased to see his friend’s son grow up, now looked at Gilbert as if he were a scoundrel come to steal his precious daughter.

Gilbert’s eyes met with the main culprit who had caused this situation. Camilla, interpreting Gilbert’s gaze in her own way, gave a V-sign and started grinning as if to say, “I did well!”

This only added to the misunderstanding, and the heated gazes began to mix with murderous intent. Feeling the situation spiraling out of control, Gilbert quickly tried to salvage it, but Count Tristitia was faster.

“We need to have a detailed discussion about this situation.”

Are you really planning to have a conversation?

Gilbert couldn’t help but sigh at the overwhelming aura.

It seemed that whenever he got involved with Camilla, things never went smoothly.

 

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