069: The Sub-Story

Noblesse Oblige was your quintessential RPG.

The main story was a straightforward "royal road" tale: the commoner protagonist, Allen, rises up despite the pressures of aristocratic society, meets friends, suffers through partings, and eventually defeats the Demon King.

It was simple and clear, yet it was the kind of story that almost no one could truly hate.

The reason the game had such a massive following, however, was the sheer volume of branching side stories and a narrative that shifted based on the player’s choices. The Academy was merely one small part of that world.

For example, say a player visited a town. Saving a girl from a group of thugs was a total cliché, but in Noblesse, even that had branching paths. Would you raise her affection and recruit her as an ally, or would you simply say your goodbyes and never see her again?

There were even players who never bothered to clear the main story at all, choosing instead to wander the world forever. Some of those "mere" side stories were written with a level of depth that rivaled the main plot.

And then, I received a letter.

The sender was my father, Agate Fansent.

House Fanscent managed a wide array of businesses. I tried to stick my nose into whatever parts I could, but even so, there were many ventures I hadn't fully grasped yet. The contents of the letter were related to one of them.

As part of my Practical Test, I had obtained an official adventurer’s license. Between that and the time I spent hunting bounties in Traba Town, I had somehow climbed the ranks to B-rank before I even realized it.

My father must have known. I hadn't exactly intended to hide it, but I hadn't gone out of my way to tell him, either. I already knew his information-gathering skills were top-notch, so I wasn't particularly surprised he’d found out.

More importantly, though...

...I remember this sub-event.

I couldn't help but smirk as I folded the letter. I glanced over at Cynthia, who was currently lying on the bed wearing next to nothing.

"Cynthia, something has come up. I’m going outside."

"Oh? And where are we going, Weiss?"

After the School Trip concluded, Noblesse Magic Academy entered a state of temporary closure. This was a change that hadn't existed in the Original Story. Following the Calamity, the Academy decided to overhaul its security—specifically, installing barrier magic circles—to ensure no more teleportation marks could be placed within the facilities.

According to the rumors I’d gathered, the Headmaster was personally scouting for a new defensive magic teacher. I’d heard that Chloe and Darius had also been recruited through the Headmaster’s personal eye for talent. That level of passion and discernment was likely what had cemented the Academy’s prestigious status in the first place, even if the game hadn't delved into it.

I had been agonizing over how to spend this unexpected vacation. I had several sub-stories memorized; I could go hunting for magic items that might be useful later, or I could try to scout talented people for House Fanscent. This abundance of choices was exactly what made Noblesse so special.

Then, my father’s letter arrived. Since it was an event I already knew, I couldn't stop a grin from spreading across my face.

I had intended to head out alone, but by the time I turned around, Cynthia was already standing there, fully dressed and ready to go.

"...That was fast. Just so you know, it’s a bit of a trek."

"As long as I am with you, Weiss, I do not mind where we go."

I really couldn't compete with that level of loyalty. ...Actually, is it just me, or is she getting even cuter?

---

Travel in this world was primarily done by foot, carriage, monster-drawn carts, or ships. Just like on the School Trip, if you were heading to a distant country, the sea was your best bet.

"These state-of-the-art ships are incredible! To think we covered this distance in just two days!" Lilith exclaimed.

"Yeah, I’m impressed too," I admitted.

"I’m sorry for dragging you along, Lilith," Cynthia added.

"Don't be! If you and Weiss-sama are going, it’s only natural that I come along too!"

In the end, Lilith had joined us. I’d told them they should take it easy since it was supposed to be a vacation, but apparently, neither of them felt like resting. It might be an exaggeration, but I had the feeling that if I told them I was dropping out of school, they’d both do the same without a second thought.

Honestly, it made me a little happy.

"Weiss, are you smiling about something?"

"It’s your imagination."

The ship docked at the port, and we officially entered the country. Thanks to my noble status, we bypassed the tedious red tape and stepped onto solid ground.

The country was called [Bruno]. It was quite a distance from the Academy, but as Lilith said, we’d arrived much faster than I’d anticipated.

The defining feature of this city was its sheer, staggering size. If I remembered correctly, it was one of the largest in the world. The reason it could rival even the Ostrava Royal Capital was because the country was in a constant state of expansion and renovation. They were perpetually building walls just to tear them down and push the borders further out.

Prosperity requires a lot of factors to align. First and foremost, commerce has to be booming, which is heavily tied to tax revenue. It’s no exaggeration to say that taxes are the single most important thing to a merchant.

In that regard, [Bruno] had remarkably low taxes. Toss in four distinct seasons, a thriving agricultural sector, a low monster population in the surrounding area, and stable politics—the list of perks went on forever.

And the event being held today was one of the vital organs that kept Bruno pumping.

"I hate to speak ill of him, but Agate-sama certainly is impulsive," Cynthia remarked.

The crowd disembarking at the port was a melting pot of races. There were people who looked filthy rich, people who looked like they’d never worked an honest day in their lives, and people who looked incredibly dangerous. All of them were here for the same reason mentioned in my father’s letter.

"He wrote that I shouldn't push myself, but making a name for the family is never a bad thing."

House Fanscent was a prestigious name. Despite being a Duke, my father worked tirelessly. He could have spent his days wallowing in luxury and laziness, but he seemed to have zero interest in that. It’s hard to believe he ever raised a 'Son of Indolence' like the original Weiss.

My father also donated heavily to underprivileged children. According to Zebis, my mother had started that tradition while she was alive, and he had simply carried the torch.

So why the hell was the original Weiss such a piece of garbage?

As we moved from the port into the city, the architecture became even more imposing. Between the unfamiliar stalls and the various races, there were guys walking around with such massive builds that they made us look like toddlers. It was easy to forget while tucked away at the Academy, but the world was overflowing with people. Every time I saw a new country, that reality hit me hard.

Once this whole mess was over, maybe traveling the world wouldn't be such a bad idea. Though, I had no clue when "over" would actually be.

"Weiss-sama, the Adventurer's Guild is that way! ...Wait, Weiss-sama?"

I didn't answer. I was currently glued to a specific stall.

"Get 'em while they're hot! Melo-Melon boiled dumplings!"

...Excuse me?

Before I knew it, I was sprinting.

"Give me one—no, two."

"Weiss, I want some too."

"Me too, Weiss-sama!"

"...Make it five."

I ate two myself. Naturally, the taste was divine.

"""Delicious..."""

If I became a full-time traveler, could I just do food tours every day? Is this the peak of human existence?

---

"That concludes your registration! The event begins in one hour!"

"Right, thanks."

After finishing the paperwork, we waited inside the guild hall. The walls were plastered with bounty posters and requests for herb gathering. Mixed in were things like 'Goblin Extermination' or 'Flash of Light Guild, Seeking Members!'

"The chuunibyou is strong with this place..." I muttered.

"Weiss, what is a 'choo-nee-bee-yo'? Lilith, do you know?"

"No clue..."

Just then, a man with a massive frame lumbered over to me. He was wearing a greasy smirk, and the cronies behind him all had the same punchable expressions.

Ah, right. I forgot.

Back at the Academy, no one dared to mess with me anymore. But once I stepped into the outside world, there were suddenly thousands of people who had no idea who I was. It was such a refreshing change of pace that I’d momentarily lowered my guard.

"Look at the brat, acting like a big man with two girls on his arm. I saw you sign up, kid. You really think you can compete at that size?"

The guy was a giant, probably pushing two meters. It reminded me of—what was his name? Boudan? Yeah, that guy. Looking back, I think I was actually a little intimidated by Boudan at the time. Though, watching him freak out after I took his arm was pretty comical.

"What's so funny, brat? What are you laughing at?"

The man clearly took my reminiscing smile as a personal insult. He had an adventurer’s tag pinned to his chest. He was B-rank, just like me. It was honestly insulting to be ranked alongside a guy like this.

"Nothing. I just remembered a piece of trash I met a while back who looked just like you. Don't worry about it."

I could feel Lilith radiating pure bloodlust behind me, but she wouldn't move without my say-so. The man’s face went red, then suddenly turned deathly still as his anger peaked. The atmosphere in the guild hall grew heavy.

"Hey, isn't that 'Giby the B-Rank'? He’s a regular in the tournament."

"That kid picked a fight with the wrong guy..."

"Someone should help him..."

A massive greatsword was strapped to the man’s back. Cynthia, Lilith, and even the bystanders probably already knew exactly how this was going to end.

"Brat’s got a big mouth. But hey, I’m an adult, so I’ll be generous. I’ll let you go if you get on your hands and knees and apologize. The little girls too."

"I was thinking the same thing. I’ll forgive you if you curl up into a ball and put your face in the dirt."

I suddenly recalled a conversation I’d had with Teacher Milk. 'If it were me, I would have taken his arm off inside the guild hall before he ever had the chance to drag me into an alley. That’s what it means to take the initiative.'

At the time, I’d been speechless. Now, I understood exactly what she meant.

But, we were about to start a tournament. I decided to settle for simple self-defense.

Come on. Do it.

"You little shit! I'll kill you!"

Giby roared, drawing his greatsword and swinging it down toward my skull. His form was smoother than I expected; he’d clearly put in some work to reach his rank. However, he clearly lacked the brain cells to consider the consequences. If you kill someone in the middle of a guild hall, you get thrown in a dungeon immediately.

Good grief. I wanted to punish him, but by stopping him here, I was technically saving his life.

"...Wh-What?!"

The sword stopped dead in the air, inches above my head. I hadn't even bothered to move. A guy like this didn't have anywhere near enough power to crack my Barrier.

A few onlookers noticed the magic effect and let out gasps of "No way!"

Giby’s eyes went wide. He was trembling. He was looking at me like I was some kind of freakish monster.

"I’d rather not get blood on my clothes today. I’ll go easy on you."

I used Unnatural to launch myself upward and delivered a snapping roundhouse kick directly into Giby’s right arm. A sickening crunch echoed through the hall as the joint shattered, his arm bending in a direction that nature never intended.

"GYAAAAAAAHHHH!"

Giby let out a pathetic wail and hit the floor, clutching his ruined limb and groveling just like I’d suggested. His cronies scrambled over to him, but not a single one of them dared to look at me. The adults in the room were stunned into silence—mostly.

"As expected of Weiss-sama! Clap, clap!"

Only Lilith was smiling, providing a one-woman standing ovation. Cynthia just looked on with cold, indifferent eyes; the guy had started it, after all. It seemed she was slowly being dyed in my own colors.

But man, it was quiet. I thought adventurers were supposed to be a rowdy, gutsy bunch. Maybe I was wrong—

"Holy shit! Did you see that kid?!"

"Is he in the tournament too?!"

"Move it! I need to change my bets right now!"

...Ah, I see. They were just waiting for the punchline.

In a world where violence was a valid form of communication, no one was actually worried about Giby’s arm. Quite the opposite—the strong were celebrated.

I had to admit, this felt a lot more comfortable than the Academy.

"Cynthia, Lilith. Shall we?"

"Yes!"

"Of course. I’m quite looking forward to watching this."

To summarize my father’s letter: House Fanscent had risen to its current heights through Agate’s sheer competence. However, a house built on a single pillar is fragile. And unfortunately, I was still famous as the "Indolent Son." He’d sugar-coated it, of course, but the message was clear.

The Noblesse Sword and Magic Cup was a school event, not an official match, so the rumors of my "change" hadn't spread to the general public yet. My father’s wish was for me to enter the world-famous [Bruno Adventurer Tournament] and produce "respectable results."

But I knew his real hope was for me to win. He just didn't want to put that pressure on me. He really was a good father.

I would use this tournament to broadcast the name of House Fanscent—and the name of Weiss Fancent—to the entire world. I hadn't been able to fight to my heart's content during the team-based Sword-Magic Cup, but this was a pure individual match.

This was a classic sub-story. I didn't remember every single contestant from the game’s roster, but it didn't matter. My goal was simple: suppress everyone with overwhelming force.

While I was at it, I planned to keep Dark Eye and Time Lapse active at all times, peering into and stealing every useful magic I saw. This place was crawling with people confident in their skills; surely some of them had something worth taking. Even if I couldn't master the spells instantly, I could memorize the formulas and train once I got back to school.

It was two birds with one stone. Actually, since I got to eat those dumplings, let’s call it three.

After this tournament, no one would ever call Weiss Fancent "indolent" again.

Today was the day I rewrote my own story.