My father told me about it, and three days later it was decided that I would leave.
　If he spent two years as a son of the Balor Chamber of Commerce in Murteu territory, he would be recognized as a man and entrusted with the work of the Touahade.
　It was decided that only when he became a full-fledged medical and assassination expert, or both, would he conduct his ordeal outside, and he would be the youngest person ever to go outside at twelve, and even three years earlier than his father, the strongest Touahade of all time, who was tested at fifteen.

And, as is customary, a banquet was being held today to celebrate with only the relatives before leaving for the final ordeal.
　The relatives here refer to my family and branch families.
　I only see my branch family members about once a month, but I remember their faces and names.
　After all, they are a valuable asset.
　The branch families may not have as much blood in their veins as the main family, but they have magic in their veins. In the event of a war, if the country calls upon them, they will lead them into battle.
　In addition, although the family business of assassination is only carried out by members of the main family, who are well-trained to ensure that their crimes will not be exposed should they fail, the branch family also takes care of the medical arts.
　It's someone I'd like to get to know as well as possible. ........And yet, you've been staring at me strongly since a moment ago.
　That's my fourth cousin. That's Ronaha.

Without paying attention to the food that my mother, I and Tart had prepared, Ronaha was just pouring sake on top of it.
　Then Ronaha suddenly stands up, finishes his drink and throws a glass at us.
　I was wary from his stern stare, so I took the glass softly so as not to break it and put it on the desk.
　The veins in my temples were twitching, as if that action was even more disturbing.

'I won't admit it!　I'm not going to accept a kid like that as the next head of the family!

I've known for a while that's what I was thinking about.
　It's been an attitude.
　Even at the occasional joint training sessions with the branch family, they had gotten involved in a bad way.
　When it came to these celebrations, the frustration must have finally exploded. ........The tart standing behind me released a slight killing intent, so I admonished him with a hand sign.
　Ronaha's father tried to yell at me, but he said it was unnecessary and opened his mouth.

'Hmm.' What's Ronaha's beef with the rogue?
'I was supposed to be next in line after Ruf!　It's funny how that's such a weak looking kid!　I'm stronger than you!　I should be the next head of the family.

Ruf is my brother or sister, who was deceased when I was born. My father and mother don't mention Ruf unnaturally, and there is no record of him, and I don't know his gender or age.
　Perhaps it's because Ronaha thought that Ruf's death would bring the headship of the family to roll over, and that's why she's so sparse on me.
　........It doesn't feel so good.
　My father continues his words.

'So that's your argument. I'm sorry, but you're not the right man for Touahade. You are fundamentally out of alignment. It sounds like you are claiming that the strongest one in your argument is the head of Touahade, but Touahade is an assassin. He is third-rate when he falls into battle in the first place. We're only honing our fighting skills as insurance in case we fall into battle.

My father is right.
　At the time of the battle, it is known that the target has an intention to kill him, and the assassination has almost failed.
　Strength is also an important factor.
　If you're strong, you can force a result if things are exposed, you can survive through the siege, and you can start over.
　But if strength is the most important thing, then you're not the right person to be an assassin. Ideally, you should only be able to approach and kill without being distracted by anyone and without being recognized by them.

''Shut up, why don't you just kill them head-on, fair and square!

My head is starting to hurt.
　In the first place, Touahade's job is to secretly eliminate the evils that cannot be disposed of outwardly at the request of the royal family.
　In the unlikely event that an assassination by Touahade was discovered, the royal family would cut Touahade down without mercy.

Never admit that it is a request from the royal family, and it will be punished as a heinous act of Touahade.
　It must never be revealed.
　I can't believe you don't understand from there.
　Ronaha's father has his head in his hands. Well, I know how he feels.

Ronach, I have a lot to say. If a rogue were stronger than you, would you accept him as the next head of the family?
Of course I will. But if I'm stronger than you, you'll be the next in line.

His eyes glisten and his mouth hangs up at the corners.
　It's not very mature to be dealing with twelve children.

All right. Then get on with it. Now.
'Huh?

Ronaha made a dumb noise.
　Because I was holding a magic-infused knife against his throat.
　A piece of skin is cut off and blood flows. ........If I wanted to kill him, I could have. Yes, it wasn't even a battle, and Lonach is dead without understanding what happened until the moment of his death. This is an assassination.

'Apparently, the rogue is stronger than you. I hope this satisfies you?
Ugh, ugh, oh, that.

That was quick.
　I predicted this would happen based on the flow of the conversation, and took advantage of Ronaha's attention on my father to hide in his blind spot, distracting him from the signs.
　All that's left is to approach soundlessly at the same time as my father gave the signal to start the battle.

''That's it, that's it!''
That's what an assassin is. We are not like knights. As I said before, Ronaha seems to have misunderstood Touahade...................Roug, put your knife away.

He sheathed the knife as he was told.
　Then Ronaha's muscles swelled up.

'I didn't say I was overwhelmed, eh, eh, eh, eh!

Then, he strikes out at me with a devil-like appearance.
　.........Totally, why did he think that he could take over Touahade with this?
　I ducked that arm and threw it with my arm, threw it on my back on my waist, dropped it off my back, and solidified it with an arthroscopic technique when he went rigid.
　He tries to flail, but he's completely hardened and can't get out. Still, he puts up a futile resistance, so I break him. There is a dull sound and he stops resisting.

You didn't have to fuss about it. I folded it neatly so that it would connect immediately. With his magical powers, he could be attached in three days if he was treated by Touahade.

''You've found out by doing so. Even in a normal fight, the rogue is stronger than you. ........I said earlier that strength is not the most important thing, but it's necessary. You're third-rate when it comes to combat, but you're prepared for what happens if you do, so you can use your bold hands.

We'll make sure we don't get into combat.
　But the available hands are severely narrowed under the condition that they should never be in combat.
　That's why my father trained me. .........Well, in my case, there's also the circumstance that I can't assassinate a brave man unless I'm strong enough to screw all but a brave man head on.

I look at Ronaha, my heart was broken.
　There would be no more violence.

'What do you think, gentlemen? How do you like my boy?　I assure you that you are a genius at both medicine and assassination, surpassing me in both. I liked the move you just made, too. It was the right assassin.

When my father says that, the stagnant air brightens.
　As expected, Ronaha's parents have a complicated look on their faces, but the rest of them are praising me for being a dependable successor.

Perhaps my father was agitated while pretending to admonish Ronaha for this performance.

But we'll have to follow up with Ronach later.
　Because he will be my man eventually.

◇

Finally, the day before my departure, I visit Lonach with some souvenirs.
　I visited Lonach with a souvenir.

"What's up with you, buddy? You come here to sass me or something?
No, I'm not. I just thought you might be depressed.

His tone was not the polite one he would use against his father or mother, but rather he dared to be martial.
　It's better this way when dealing with him. This type of person would feel like they were staying on high if they were treated with a low, polite manner.

''Well I'm not depressed. I'm just frustrated with my own misery. I was frustrated because I was miserable and frustrated with myself, getting played by a kid four years younger than me.
Speaking of which, my father was treated well by a kid 30 years younger than me.
'The rumor is true? Beating the greatest Touahade of all time by twelve. I'll be d*mned if I'm going to do anything about it.

Ronach laughs to himself.

'Yeah, right. No matter what Ronaha does, you can't win against me. .... but I don't need to win either. The Touahade will be more prosperous when I am the head of the family. I promise you that you will be treated better than you are now when you become my man. You may not be as good as I am, but you're better than that. Last year, I watched a tournament of young knights in King's Landing, and out of the twenty participants, only four could be sure that they were stronger than Ronalha. That's how good they are. I want Roniha. As a knight of Touahade, I look forward to his success on the battlefield.

It's a false feeling.
　A knight is a standing army formed only by the second or third son of a nobleman whose vassal is unable to take over, or by the rare civilian magician born, and one must pass a rigorous test to be named in it.
　They have a higher level of skill than the nobles who are only called in for emergencies because they specialize in fighting.
　Not only are they not inferior to those twenty such elites, but they have a higher level of ability.
　He's too short-tempered to be an assassin, but if it's just strength alone among Touahade's pawns, Ronaha is a cut above the rest.
　In addition, his skill as a doctor isn't bad either, despite looking like this.

''Hey, you, you think you're praising me for that?''
Yeah, yeah. And I'm recruiting for it.
'They're all of them. Who's going to enjoy being told that there are four people of your age who are stronger than you?　But, well, it ain't bad. It's better to be told frankly than to be cajoled into being weird and cajoled.
It's a souvenir.
"...This is a sword. It's incredibly light. And the cutting quality is also good. Is it a magic sword or something?
'Yes, this one suits Ronach better than the knife. A knight is better suited to a knight than an assassin. Both in character and physique. And there is a job for a knight in Toahaade. Eventually, if you become my man, I want you to wield that sword as a knight.

Ronaha hung her sword on her hip and then exhaled heavily.

'Han, go home, go home.'

Was the solicitation a failure?
　Considering Ronaha's character, I stepped on this kind of method as being more likely to succeed.......
　I put my hand on the door.

I'll be better than that when you come back in two years time. I get what you're saying. I don't belong in that assassination business. I'll be the kind of knight you want, and you'll be fine on your own.
Yeah, we'll keep each other in line.

I see... these types can't be this honest in some ways.
　I'll remember that.
　At any rate, I got a good knight.
　I'll put it to good use when I'm elected master.

The name of the game.

When I returned to the mansion, my father asked me what happened to Ronach. .........I didn't expect him to even read this behavior.
　But I also think that this father could be.

The next day, he was leaving in a carriage, seen off by his parents and the Lords.
　In the next town, they would change to another carriage.

''There's no need to force yourself to follow me, okay?　I can ask the squads to train you in my absence, and Murteu is a commercial city. It's too different from this one.
'It doesn't matter!　I'm Master Lugue's personal servant. I will follow you wherever you go and take care of Master Lugue.

Tart accompanied him.
　For some reason, he was sniffing around with a large package.
　........Come to think of it, yesterday, my mother called Tart into her room and talked at length. It must have been that mother. She must have blown some things into the tart.

Before changing carriages, he used dye to cover up his mother's prized silver hair.
　This is because I can't show my connection to the rogue as long as I spend the next two years as an Ilg.
　Because of that kind of entanglement, it would be better not to take the tart with you, but if you're a servant, there's nothing you can't cheat.
　Besides, they'll be busy over there. It would be easier to have a servant there. I'll have Tart put on a simple disguise later.

'Master Lug, I'm looking forward to seeing Murteau.
Yeah.

Now, what would the commercial city of Murteu look like?
　My father and I promised that in two years, I would learn about the world, make connections, get a network of information, and become a successful merchant.
　I want to be successful enough that my peers will send me an assassin. Being on the other side of a target sounds interesting, and depending on who you're dealing with, it can be a learning experience.
　It's impossible to achieve this level of success in just two years by normal means.
　That's why it burns. I had already started making a plan for it in my head.
　Let's see if I can pull off what I need to do as Irg Balor.