CH 7

“We’re going to the Royal Capital. Get ready at once.”

The uncle who barged into my house begins talking with a line like that.

I don’t even know who you are though?

As I widen my eyes and stare at the uncle, he becomes frustrated and begins to glare at me.

Though I’m not scared even if someone like him stares at me.

“You dullard, it’s your engagement announcement party.”

“Aa…”

That reminds me, there was something like that.

Anti-demon aristocrats play an important role of protecting this country’s border.

Someone who can manage all the monsters creeping in from the Demon Forest can be called a considerable force.

As a country, leaving such a force alone at the border to collude with the nobles possessing land nearby would be unacceptable.

Moreover, given the nature of our work, we can’t move from the border.

For these reasons, anti-demon aristocrats are promised the hand of a high-ranking aristocrat from birth.

The aristocrat with the closest birth-date is chosen for that role.

This is by royal decree, Neither anti-demon aristocrats nor the royal family could go against it.

Though we’re treated as barbarians today, I’m sure anti-demon aristocrats had better treatment sometime back.

From that law, I can feel the desire to keep anti-demon aristocrats connected to this country no matter what.

In any case, the one closest to my birthday, the third Princess A-something-something, was fated to become my betrothed.

As soon as I become an adult, which means at age 15, she moves on from being my betrothed and officially becomes my fiancée, for which the engagement anouncement party is held.

“If you get it then be quick. A son like you has no use other than being a tool for political marriage!”

The uncle says this and heads towards the most luxurious looking horse carriage. Wait a minute, the place where that carriage is parked is my farmland. Though I haven’t planted anything, I’ll have to plow it again now.

If I didn’t have a magic tool to do so, I might have snapped.

“Please wait, I can’t move away from the frontier.”

This was when I realized.

There were no anti-demon aristocrats other than me.

Since things were like this, my mother went crazy having succeeded this job at the age of 10.

I don’t know how my mother managed, but I can’t possibly leave for the Royal Capital, which was one month’s ride from here.

The man boards his carriage, without turning back.

Oi oi, what will you do about this?

The one who answered my question was the full body armor guy.

“From here on out for two months, the central army will take over exterminating the monsters coming from the Demon Forest. Our country’s central army is cut from a different cloth than the soldiers employed here. Monsters approaching from the Demon Forest don’t stand a chance against it.”

The central army employs some tens of thousands of soldiers.

There used to be skirmishes with the neighboring country all the time, so he must be keeping that in mind.

If it’s the central army, I suppose border protection shouldn’t be a problem.

“I understand. Let’s head to the Royal Capital. How long will I have to be there?”

“I’m afraid Count Lunan Forseed has already prepared your carriage. Pack your things and get in already.”

(Eeh?)

Truthfully, it would be a lot faster if I just ran after strengthening my body, rather than go by horse carriage.

Though if I reach the capital without carriages, I’d be accused of not bringing wedding gifts.

Also, was the guy earlier really Count Lunan Forseed?

If so, he’s the only aristocrat I know anything about.

That’s because, Count Lunan Forseed is my father.

He won’t attend mother’s funeral but he will come to my engagement announcement party, huh.

Probably because I’m marrying into the royal family.

To be honest, I don’t find this appetizing at all, but I can’t complain here.

Even I only ever contacted him when I needed to.

I reply to Full-Body-Armor while trying my best not to sound thorny.

“Alright. Let’s depart right away.”

As I head towards my carriage, Full-Body-Armor stand in front of me.

What? didn’t you tell me to move it?

“…Hey, you can’t be, leaving in that getup right?”

Well, my shirt, trousers, and leather armor are all handmade by myself, so if someone says “Rejected” I can only reply “Is that so”.

I have plenty of my mother’s dresses inside the [Storage], but I sure can’t wear those and go.

“…It can’t be helped, I’ll prepare your clothes in the royal capital. Wear those and attend the party.”

After bowing my head, I go below Full-Body-Armor’s arm, and head to the carriage.

“Oi, that’s not your carriage.”

“I’m sorry?”

As I’m about to open the door to the Count’s horse-carriage, Full-Body grabs my shoulder and stops me.

It seems I’m not riding the same horse-carriage as the Count.

“The carriage you’ll be riding is that one.”

He points to the wagon located at the very end of the tail, carrying all the goods. Far from being a box wagon, it isn’t even a covered wagon.

It has just a bleached cloth with no walls or roof.

“It’s perfect for an anti-demon aristocrat barbarian like you.”

Saying that, Full-Body-Armor gets into a box carriage.

I peak into my carriage to find food and weapons inside. My treatment is lower than luggage.

“I don’t feel like going to the Royal Capital anymore…”

I get into the carriage with a sullen mood, while thinking of all the socialization I’d have to do at the capital.