"Hey, you!"
"Hmm...?"
I was just about to head home when someone called out to me in a rough, aggressive tone. I turned around to find a young man standing there who looked to be two or three years older than me.
"You're Rest, aren't you? The one engaged to Lady Viola and Lady Primula."
"I am... and you are?"
"I'm Nick Bale! A member of the Marquis Rosemary House's vassal group!"
I recognized the name Bale. They were a noble family serving as a Yoriko to the Marquis Rosemary House. In the world of the nobility, the Yorioya and Yoriko relationship defined a hierarchy where a higher-ranking noble supervised and protected a lower-ranking one. While it wasn't a formal master-servant bond like the one between the Royal Family and the nobility, in most cases, the Yoriko family viewed the Yorioya as their primary liege. Since a Marquis held the highest rank below a Duke—who were usually relatives of the Crown—the Rosemary family had many such houses under its wing.
"Just so you know... I don't acknowledge you! I'll never allow some upstart who appeared out of nowhere to marry both of our young ladies!"
The young man—Nick—narrowed his eyes and shouted at me. Several other boys and young men from his generation stood behind him, all glaring with similar intensity.
Ah... well, I suppose it’s only natural, I thought with a wry smile.
Setting aside whether Nick and his friends had any right to criticize a son-in-law handpicked by Albert, the head of the main house, I understood their feelings perfectly. In the terms of my previous life, it was like the school’s top idols had suddenly started dating some inconspicuous, background-character nerd. From the perspective of the men around them, it was a hard pill to swallow.
I’m taking women as incredible as Viola and Primula as my wives. I have to accept that drawing the jealousy of every other man is just part of the deal.
"I see... and since you don't acknowledge me, what do you intend to do about it?" I asked.
Was he going to try and pick a fight? If so, I’d have to teach him a lesson to ensure he didn't look down on me.
"Compete with me in a footrace!"
"...A footrace?"
I’d expected a challenge, but I hadn't expected the content to be a simple footrace.
"That's right! A race from here to the Master’s mansion in the Marquis Rosemary Territory! First one there wins! If I get there first, you’ll withdraw your engagement to the ladies!"
"A footrace... that's an unexpectedly peaceful way to settle this."
"Of course it is! You think I’d use violence against a fellow mage who’s younger than me?" Nick snapped, placing his hands on his hips and puffing out his chest with a look of indignation.
He seemed to have a bit of a temper, but he didn't appear to be a bad person at heart.
"Um... well, I don't mind the competition, but I can't exactly 'withdraw' the engagement."
"What did you say!?"
"It's a formal engagement that’s already been officially processed after discussions with the ladies and the Marquis. You and I can't just cancel it on a whim, can we?"
"Guh..." Nick faltered, clearly struck by the logic. "...I suppose you're right. But you're still going to race me! I can't just back down now!"
"I don't mind."
In fact, this was a good opportunity. For me to truly marry into the Marquis Rosemary House, I needed to earn the respect of the vassal group and the subordinate nobility. A chance to demonstrate my abilities was exactly what I needed.
"I can't cancel the engagement, but if I lose, you're free to report the result to the Marquis and tell him you think I'm unworthy of his daughters."
"You said it! Fine, let's start right now!"
"I'm in too!"
"Me as well!"
Other boys and young men nearby raised their hands. They must have also been eyeing the position of the Rosemary sisters' husband. Seeing this as a chance to prove their worth, they all insisted on joining.
"Hahaha! It’s good to see the youngsters have so much fire in them!"
"Reminds me of the old days... we used to pick fights with Albert back then, too!"
"Should we place bets on who takes first? I'm putting my money on Dieble's disciple!"
Meanwhile, the veteran mages watching from the sidelines were laughing heartily at the sight. I wondered if this was some kind of tradition within the Marquis Rosemary House.
The Marquis Rosemary House is a prestigious magic family, but it seems there are quite a few muscle-brained people here... The Mistress is basically a runaway boar herself, after all.
I felt a bit exasperated, but it was far better to have them challenge me openly like this than to deal with insidious rumors. I stretched my limbs, preparing for the race.
"Alright... let's do this! Everyone ready!?"
Nick signaled to one of the older mages. The man nodded and raised his right hand.
"Everyone, on your marks... Go!"
"Accelerator!"
"Physical Enhancement!"
At the signal, the young mages took off in a pack. They used magic to bolster their bodies, kicking off the earth and sprinting at high speeds.
"Physical Enhancement! Accelerator!"
Among them, Nick surged ahead, activating two spells simultaneously. For all his bluster, he was actually capable of Duo casting.
"I’ve got the lead! I’ll stay out in front all the way to the—!"
"High Accelerator."
Nick was grinning with triumph—until I passed him like a bolt of lightning.
"Eh...?"
Stunned by my overwhelming speed, the other racers could only stop and stare, watching my receding back with wide, saucer-like eyes.