Reincarnated as a Genius Prodigy of a Prestigious Family - Chapter 294

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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 294

189. If It Were Father

According to Ernest’s explanation, Ernest’s father Baron Noland Ernest is not a very aristocratic person.

To be precise, he has a wandering nature that’s unbecoming of a noble.

Almost like a fallen noble.

“He’s probably home less than ten days a year, right?”

“Then what about the family servants? The butler? Does the mansion even function?”

At Leila’s question, which seemed to express complete incomprehension, Ernest shook his head.

“Our house isn’t a mansion though?”

“Huh?”

“Father said it was bothersome, so he just kept it as a modest two-story house. The territory is tiny too. You can’t even call it a territory since it’s an independent territory with no residents.”

Even from my perspective, it’s quite a unique arrangement, but it’s not like such forms don’t exist.

“I believe our family bought the title a very long time ago.”

Nobles who obtained titles when the Imperial Palace was distributing them in the past.

However, a considerable number of them have fallen into ruin at this point.

“Really?”

“Yeah. It’s not really anything new.”

Ernest didn’t seem to have any particular inferiority complex about this.

“What matters is the noble title. So thanks to that, I could easily enter the Academy, and our father uses the noble title to travel around everywhere.”

Simply put, he’s taking advantage of only the benefits.

Considering the nobles’ characteristic desire to show off, keeping just one small house wouldn’t be easy, but Baron Dylan doesn’t seem to particularly care.

“Actually, well, it’s more convenient for traveling around. Like I said, he’s not home even ten days a year.”

“Doesn’t that make you feel lonely?”

“Not really? When I was young, the butler took good care of me, and thanks to father, I came to dream of becoming an explorer too.”

If he’s fine with it, then it’s none of my business, but considering how Ernest was bullied by Bron’s gang, it seems a bit irresponsible.

Well, the logic of power among nobles is all like that, but still, doesn’t it seem a bit too much?

Anyway.

That father, Baron Dylan, has apparently returned to the family.

“So you can contact your father now?”

“Yeah. I’ll probably be able to meet him directly in a few days.”

“Really?”

Jenna looked surprised, and then Altur asked.

“So he’s coming here?”

“Yeah. He’s going on his next expedition, and the Academy is on his way, so he said he’d stop by.”

He’s not coming to the Academy but just stopping by?

This kind of father-son relationship is a first for me.

Such a father, and such a son who doesn’t mind it at all.

“Then we can ask him as soon as he arrives.”

A total of seven candidate locations.

I wonder what kind of information he’ll be able to provide.

And really, a few days later.

“Oh, you’re alive and well, I see?”

We were able to meet Ernest’s father, Baron Noland Dylan.

And in the Academy’s VIP reception room, no less.

I heard he has connections with the Academy Dean.

“Your first words are asking if I’m alive?”

“Well yeah, as long as you’re alive, that’s what matters. What does our family have to lose? Hahaha.”

He looks like a vagabond, definitely not what you’d think of as a noble.

A face shape reminiscent of Ernest, and though somewhat small, a sturdy-looking build.

And his carelessly grown beard brought to mind a wanderer.

“But how did you end up in this reception room, Father?”

“Well, the Dean and I know each other. When I said I came to see my son, he gladly offered it to me.”

Baron Dylan then looked at me.

“So you’re Dane. Nice to meet you. Thanks to you, our son seems to have changed a lot.”

“It’s my pleasure to meet you. I’m Dane Sogress of the Sogress County.”

“Mm. I can see why you’re so famous. Just looking at you… you’re quite different.”

“You’re too kind.”

“Too kind, you say.”

Baron Dylan chuckled.

“I’ve been traveling around here and there, and I noticed those Trillion Church guys have been quiet lately. But then, some fellow completely demolished them, didn’t he?”

Various stories followed.

“At least in Alteon, if not the rural countryside, your name is somewhat known in the major cities. Newspapers reach there too, after all.”

“Is that so.”

Then Baron Dylan recognized Leila, Priscilla, and the other friends and greeted them.

“Still, I can easily recognize everyone since Ernest left me voice messages telling me about his friends. Ah, right. Who’s this friend?”

“This is Jenna Shirodil, a friend who newly joined our club.”

“Ah. The Shirodil family. I stopped by there once before. They welcomed me so warmly.”

Jenna’s family is in a corner of the Empire.

Beyond knowing such a family, the fact that he’s actually visited there makes me understand why he’s called an ‘exploration expert.’

“Anyway, since I’m busy and you’re all busy too, let’s get straight to business.”

Baron Dylan’s greetings weren’t long. After hearing our story, he got to the main point.

“Hmm. Seven candidate locations… You used the method I taught you, didn’t you, Ernest?”

“Yes. We managed to find places where basins might exist, but realistically, it’s impossible for us to search through all seven locations.”

Baron Dylan immediately opened a subspace and pulled out several large maps.

“As you well know, this is classified. If it leaks out, the Imperial Palace will hunt me down until I die.”

I rearranged my mana to cast a barrier magic field around us as a sign of reassurance.

Baron Dylan, recognizing this, looked surprised.

“I heard you have considerable talent in magic, but to cast a barrier magic field that quickly? You’re truly worthy of being the Magic Tower Master’s disciple.”

Has that strange rumor spread that far?

I really need to officially become someone’s disciple.

“Mm, good. For seven locations… I should spread out the topographical maps like this.”

Baron Dylan immediately unfolded incredibly detailed maps.

They were almost at the level used for military purposes. They even showed the terrain’s elevation at a glance.

“These maps feel different, don’t they? They’re maps our family has been creating for generations.”

“Family treasure. An incredible family treasure.”

“There’s a reason why those Drenick fellows tried so hard to kidnap even one of our family members.”

That makes sense.

From an enemy nation’s perspective, if they could obtain these maps from the Dylan Baron family, whether through threats or persuasion, it would be an enormous gain.

“Anyway, looking at this… there are only two places that could accommodate a basin of this size.”

As if it were such a simple problem, Baron Dylan spread out the map and quickly pointed to two locations.

“First, here, ‘Hexen Mountain’ has some possibility.”

The first candidate.

Hexen Mountain.

Located in the northern region, this place isn’t as formidable as the Havarosk mountain range, but conversely, I know it’s an incredibly treacherous mountain.

“It’s a mountain made of stone, but according to the village residents below the mountain, there’s a legend that a sacred being once dwelled there.”

A legend of a sacred being dwelling there.

“However, we must consider that legends often get distorted or transformed during the oral transmission process.”

Baron Dylan continued with his seamless explanation.

“The second is here.”

The place Baron Dylan pointed to was the western region.

“This place is called ‘Ariella Mountain.'”

“The name is feminine?”

“That’s right. She was one of our family’s previous heads. This is the mountain she conquered, and after completing her exploration, it was officially given that name.”

His voice carried a sense of pride.

“Ernest, your family is amazing.”

“Right?”

Ernest puffed up with pride at Leila’s compliment.

“Looking at Lady Ariella’s records, she said there was some unknown strange mana floating around this mountain.”

And then the map Baron Dylan showed us was somewhat peculiar.

“Certain areas are left blank.”

“That’s right. She conquered the peak, but strangely couldn’t approach certain areas, so she left records saying she couldn’t complete the map.”

Certainly, if she went there for the purpose of making a map, she would have had no choice but to feel puzzled.

Since she couldn’t approach certain areas, she wouldn’t be able to complete the entire map.

“Dane, then this…”

“This seems to be the right place.”

I nodded at Ernest’s words.

An incomplete map.

An inaccessible region.

This was exactly the place.

“Didn’t the residents near this area say anything special?”

“There are no legends or anything, but everyone knows it’s dangerous so they don’t approach it.”

“What’s the reason?”

“Many monsters live there. Strangely more than other mountains.”

Well, without needing to see more, this seemed to be the place.

Of course, I’d have to go there and see what’s actually there myself.

“In that sense, take this. It will probably be helpful.”

But Baron Dylan unexpectedly handed us the map.

“Is this something we can take?”

I was a bit surprised.

Of course, it wasn’t something I couldn’t remember, but remembering a map and actually taking the map with us were different matters.

Moreover, a map with such detailed terrain drawn on it was an incredibly valuable item.

“I’ve already been there once anyway, and if they’re my son’s friends, I can give it to them anytime.”

Baron Dylan spoke as if it was nothing while patting Ernest’s shoulder.

“While we’re at it, it would be even better if my son could continue and complete the map I couldn’t finish.”

He grinned and stood up from his seat.

“Well, I should get going now.”

“Already?”

“I have to go exploring.”

Everyone was at a loss for words, but what made us surprised was his next statement.

“Drenick is calling me.”

For a moment, I doubted my ears.

Where did he say he was going?

“Drenick…”

“D-D-Drenick?”

Priscilla’s muttering.

Altur turning pale with shock.

“I’ve seen all of Alteon now, so next is Drenick. Wasn’t it for this day that I practiced the Drenick language?”

Was it simply because he was crazy about exploration?

Or was there another reason for his explorations?

While I was grateful for his help, the fact that he had neglected Ernest still bothered me a little.

It’s not like I was interfering in another family’s affairs, but—

Thanks to that, Ernest had been bullied the whole time and only recently managed to overcome his trauma.

In the midst of this, Baron Dylan said to me.

“Dane, if you have time, shall we have a chat?”

A little later.

In the drawing room with just the two of us, Baron Dylan brought up this topic.

“Ernest seems to have changed, so I’m curious about what happened in the meantime.”

“Is there a reason you’re asking me instead of asking him directly?”

That’s what I think.

If you’re family, you should at least show interest.

It’s different from trusting that he’ll handle things well on his own.

“Hmm… That’s right. I am quite a shameful and regrettable person.”

Surprisingly, Baron Dylan seemed to be aware of this.

“I’ve always worried about it. My father, who was the previous head, was the same, and the generation above him was the same. And the generation above that too.”

“Is there some reason for it?”

“Would you understand quickly if I said it was the lifelong task of the Dylan Baron family?”

I shook my head.

“I don’t really know what kind of lifelong task it is, but I don’t think that would be a reason to leave a son with trauma alone.”

“…Trauma.”

“If you knew, that would be worse, and if you didn’t know, I think that shouldn’t be the case.”

Having said that much, I added one more thing.

“Ernest still respects Baron Dylan the most in the world.”

“…”

“So it would be better if you went and talked to him. At least that’s what I think is right.”

Baron Dylan looked at me silently.

His expression was complicated.

He probably felt like he had stopped by with a light heart but was leaving with a heavy burden.

The family’s lifelong task.

I didn’t really know what it was.

But whatever it was, if you’re a father, you should make an effort to look into and understand your son.

At least my father did that.

I too would do the same in the future.

“Then, may I get up first?”

“…I want to say thank you.”

I shook my head again.

“I only did things because Ernest is my friend. So, I think it would be good if you said the things you can say to your son because you’re his father.”

After saying that much, I bowed and concluded the meeting.

And I felt it.

That my mouth tasted a little bitter.

Also—

That my heart, which I thought had become calm after obtaining the third Ancient Mana Concentrator, was still stirring a little when it came to the topic of family.

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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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