Reincarnated as a Genius Prodigy of a Prestigious Family - Chapter 168

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Reincarnated as a Legendary Talent Genius of a Noble Family Episode 168

 

113. The Gift the Emperor Received (1)

 

The Imperial Treasury.

 

A place where countless treasures collected by the Imperial Palace over long years are organized by section and thoroughly managed.

 

Only key figures in the Imperial Palace can enter this place, and even then, the reason must be clear and the time spent inside is limited.

 

A place that has never been robbed even once, and where not a single item has ever gone missing.

 

In such a place…

 

‘He was certain it would be something interesting…’

 

What Dane brought out was just a single book.

 

“Are you really saying that’s all you need?”

 

“Yes. I already received a sword and armor. As for artifacts… I don’t particularly need them.”

 

Dane answered calmly and held up the book.

 

The Ancient Arcana Kingdom.

 

This book, which was also a legacy of the destroyed Magic Kingdom, had been in the most neglected ‘Ancient Document Section’ of the Imperial Treasury.

 

“…Are you really sure you won’t regret this?”

 

So Hank asked again, feeling more regretful than Dane himself. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. To waste such an opportunity on ‘just’ a book!

 

‘He might as well have chosen a novel.’

 

At least novels could be read.

 

Incidentally, the Imperial Treasury had several books that had been confiscated and designated as forbidden books due to their overly explicit descriptions, then burned until only one copy remained.

 

Was it Lord Talmeon’s legendary <Kmet Night Tales> that had been passed down through legends?

 

No, that’s not what’s important here.

 

“Really… just one book is enough?”

 

“Yes. This is sufficient. This one caught my interest the most.”

 

“…”

 

Hank let out a deep sigh.

 

Still, Dane’s reaction didn’t change.

 

Rather than giving even a glance to the abundant treasures around him, his gaze was focused solely on the book’s cover.

 

“Perhaps… you didn’t just choose it because it looked cool, did you?”

 

“That’s not it. I just find it interesting.”

 

There should be countless items several times, no, dozens of times more interesting than this…

 

‘Did Count Sogress develop some hobby of collecting ancient documents?’

 

Without that, it was such an absurd choice that no other reason came to mind.

 

“Really… no regrets?”

 

“Yes. There’s a banquet later, right? We shouldn’t be late.”

 

“…Right. We shouldn’t be late.”

 

Hank finally closed the treasury door like someone who had lost everything in the world.

 

Seeing the interested expression while holding the book made him wonder what it could be.

 

But no matter how he looked at it, it was an ancient book written in Ancient Arcana Language that was absolutely unreadable.

 

‘Kids will be kids.’

 

Without knowing Dane’s true thoughts, Hank just shook his head.

 

Meanwhile, Dane was quite pleased.

 

‘Who would have thought there’d be an Ancient Arcana text that deals exclusively with dragons.’

 

As expected of the Imperial Treasury.

 

The person who collected this naturally wouldn’t have been able to recognize it and probably collected it without knowing what it was, but it was visible to Dane’s eyes.

 

‘I’ll be able to learn a bit more about what kind of fellow Karnas is.’

 

I’ve gained so much from this Imperial invitation.

 

Not to mention the money, but also the armor and formal wear personally crafted by the Imperial Palace, the famous horse Chiron, and this ancient text.

 

Incidentally, Chiron was obediently placed in the stable, but…

 

Dane knows.

 

That fellow is one who will act up whenever he sees an opportunity.

 

So he plans to slowly take time to instill proper manners in him.

 

‘Seeing how he subdued that Chiron, he really is an incredible fellow… but kids will be kids?’

 

Though it’s not really related, the fellow who subdued and tamed Chiron chose just a book.

 

And an incomprehensible book at that.

 

Hank decided to conclude that he chose it just because it looked cool.

 

That would be less of a headache.

 

But then Dane asked.

 

“By the way, I have something to present to His Majesty the Emperor. I can submit it before the banquet, right?”

 

“Something to present?”

 

“Yes. Since it’s proper to give it during the banquet, I’m mentioning it in advance.”

 

A tribute.

 

Usually, when invited, people wouldn’t even think of such things.

 

“Please follow me.”

 

Dane Sogress.

 

He really is a fellow who’s hard to figure out.

 

Such thoughts suddenly began to occur.

 

* * *

 

I hate banquets.

 

To be precise, I don’t particularly prefer that boisterous atmosphere.

 

Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m the type to avoid them from the start.

 

Even at family gatherings, I always slipped away only when everyone was flushed with alcohol.

 

And this time, I know well that if I slip away at any point, it will put both Father and Mother in an awkward position.

 

“Is this… called a debutante?”

 

“That term is only used for young ladies. Priscilla and I already passed that stage.”

 

“I, is that so?”

 

Incidentally, Ernest was quite frightened.

 

I heard that Ernest’s Dylan family doesn’t participate much in such banquets.

 

Since they’re always out exploring, other nobles who used to send invitations even as a formality now don’t even mention it anymore.

 

And Dorian was saying crazy things.

 

“Still… would taking off my shirt and showing off my muscles work better?”

 

He really is crazy about muscles.

 

I’m the crazy one for thinking his muscles looked pretty cool for a moment.

 

“You’ll get your skin peeled off completely.”

 

“M-my skin will be completely peeled off?”

 

“From your scalp to the skin on your feet, everything.”

 

No joke, the crime of disrespect is serious.

 

I heard there was a time decades ago when showing skin other than hands and face at a ball would cause an uproar for being ‘obscene.’

 

Anyway, what needs to be done at the banquet is clear.

 

Greet appropriately, converse appropriately, drink appropriately, and appeal appropriately.

 

That’s sufficient.

 

“Leila, it seems like you’ll need to look after Ernest and Dorian.”

 

“Leave it to me. I’ll keep a good eye on them so they don’t talk nonsense.”

 

This is very reassuring.

 

“I’m screwed. There are quite a few nobles who want to curry favor with the Temple right now, so they’ll probably try to talk to me a lot. Damn.”

 

There’s a high probability I won’t see Priscilla throughout the banquet.

 

And I…

 

“Dane, will you be okay? It seems like everyone will try to talk to you.”

 

“You’re the Academy freshman who caught His Majesty the Emperor’s favor.”

 

“I’m envious. I heard you even got a famous horse…”

 

There’s probably a high chance I won’t be able to escape throughout the banquet.

 

Even for me, it’s hard to turn away someone who approaches with goodwill.

 

Of course, some among them probably have dark ulterior motives.

 

Mother used to say that.

 

Anyone who approaches you has their reasons and purposes. Whether it’s goodwill, hypocrisy, or malice.

 

Well, I’ll know once I talk to them.

 

What their purpose is.

 

“Oh, Dane Sogress! The hero of the subjugation who surprised His Majesty the Emperor!”

 

“Dane Sogress, nice to meet you. I’m among the Capital nobles…”

 

“Haha! How is Count Sogress doing? It feels like yesterday when I was roaming the battlefield with the Count!”

 

“My, you’ve grown up so well! Yes, anyone can see you’re Count Sogress’s son!”

 

Most people came purely to praise me and exchange a few words.

 

So I conversed with them comfortably too.

 

It would be a bit much for me to be suspicious of people like this.

 

Well, that said, it wasn’t just people like this.

 

“Dane Sogress, so you’re 14 this year? This… in the old days, marriage talks would have been going on long ago and you’d be engaged.”

 

“Do you have anyone you like? Or perhaps a woman you’ve set your sights on? If you want, I can connect you with any woman in the Empire!”

 

Naturally, marriage talks also came up.

 

Though free love is becoming the trend among nobles, any 14-year-old heir from a prominent family would be coveted by anyone.

 

“I’m grateful for your words, but I’ll think about it a bit more.”

 

Of course, I politely declined them all.

 

Engagement and marriage – it’s not even time to think about such things yet…

 

I never experienced romance in my previous life.

 

All I did was roll around on battlefields with men, and the occasional women I saw were refugees, priests from temples, or the occasional female knight.

 

Then I discovered my talent and was recommended for special knight appointment, finally dreaming of starting a family…

 

But what does it matter.

 

In this life, I’ve grown up in a wonderful and happy family.

 

“It’s been a while?”

 

When I turned my head toward the voice that came from among all this, there was some girl around my age standing there.

 

I tilted my head.

 

“Who are you?”

 

“…You don’t remember me?”

 

“No. I don’t.”

 

Even searching my memory, I can’t recall.

 

“Your 7th birthday! I greeted you then!”

 

My 7th birthday.

 

I greeted so many people then that I can’t remember.

 

“I really don’t remember. And if you had introduced yourself first, wouldn’t I have recognized you right away?”

 

“…Good grief, really.”

 

The fellow grumbled and finally said her name.

 

“Silvia Opent. Baron Opent’s family. Do you remember now?”

 

“Ah.”

 

“See! You remember!”

 

I remember.

 

She’s the kid who tried to talk to me then, but turned pale when she saw Leila and ran away.

 

“Phew. Well, it would be strange if you couldn’t remember.”

 

Silvia said that while suddenly brushing her hair behind her ear and smiling slyly.

 

Why is she suddenly acting like this?

 

“Don’t I look a bit different?”

 

“…”

 

“What, are you speechless because I’ve become too pretty?”

 

“I can’t remember what you looked like before…”

 

“…”

 

Silvia stared at me blankly, then made an expression of disbelief.

 

“Are you being indifferent, or are you pretending not to know?”

 

“I don’t really like lying.”

 

“…Let’s just go with indifferent.”

 

It was then that Silvia was shaking her head.

 

“Oh ho, who do we have here. Isn’t this the famous Dane Sogress, Young Master, whose rumors have spread throughout the Empire?”

 

Another one appeared beside us.

 

This time it’s a guy.

 

“I am Caledo Opent, the eldest son of Baron Opent’s family. I’m the older brother of this lovely sister here.”

 

Same bloodline.

 

Then he probably didn’t come to pick a fight.

 

The man with a neatly trimmed beard placed his hand on Silvia’s shoulder and smiled at me.

 

“I heard you know my sister, and to think we’d meet again at an Imperial banquet. How fascinating this is.”

 

I wondered what he was going to say-

 

“My sister is quite shy, but if you really get to know her, she has a wonderful personality. There’s a saying about gentle and virtuous ladies, isn’t there? Just yesterday before today’s banquet, she was so excited she couldn’t even sleep properly…”

 

Caledo was enthusiastically praising his sister.

 

“S-stop it!”

 

“Oh my. How could I hide such a lovely sister from anyone? Young Master Dane Sogress, if it’s alright with you, would the three of us share a glass of Vermell Mountain wine together?”

 

I was thinking of a good reason to decline when-

 

“Sorry to interrupt your conversation, Young Master Caledo Opent. Lady Silvia Opent.”

 

Just then, a good excuse arrived.

 

It was Leila.

 

“Ah, L-Lady Leila.”

 

Leila, who had somehow slipped in, gave a brief nod to the two and then spoke to me.

 

“Dane, the Chief Clerk seems to be looking for you.”

 

“Ah.”

 

The item to present to His Majesty the Emperor.

 

It must be about that.

 

“I’ll go now.”

 

“Okay.”

 

I also gave a light greeting to the two.

 

“Young Master, Lady. It was nice meeting you. Well then.”

 

“Ha, haha if the Chief Clerk is looking for you, you should hurry and go. B-but later, if we could talk for a moment…”

 

“If I have time, I’ll do that.”

 

As we parted from the two and walked away, Leila suddenly asked.

 

“Dane.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“It’s better not to get involved with Baron Opent’s family.”

 

“Why?”

 

“…Just because.”

 

“…”

 

Why is she suddenly acting like this?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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