Everyone in the Greyrat household felt it at once—their blood ran cold.
Sylphy, her face pale, stared at Philip standing before her.
Paul, Zenith, Lilia, Rudy, Sylphy—all of them instinctively turned their eyes toward Allen.
But before they could even fully turn, they heard Allen's calm, unhurried voice drift into the silence.
Without the slightest hesitation:
"Yes. My name is Allen."
For a moment the air seemed to freeze, but it passed as though it had never happened.
All eyes were now on Allen. His smile remained utterly serene as he answered in that calm, measured tone.
You ask me if my name is Allen?
Yes. That's right. I'm Allen.
A response that required no thought.
The problem, of course, was that Philip's son…was also named Allen.
Rudy's pupils trembled as he looked at Allen. He couldn't comprehend what Allen was thinking. Sure, they'd never hidden his name—it was common enough—but standing here in front of his father, saying it so openly, wasn't he afraid of being recognized?!
Philip's smile twitched slightly at the corners before quickly resuming its calm. His eyes, filled with interest, lingered on Allen's unruffled smile as though admiring a work of art he himself had crafted.
"Allen? That's a good name. What a coincidence—my eldest son is also named Allen."
Allen patted Rudy lightly on the shoulder, signaling him not to worry, and replied with an easy smile:
"What a coincidence indeed."
Philip studied the dark-gray eyes, so common in this world of sword and magic, and his own smile deepened.
"I know you."
Sylphy's white hair was idly combed through by Allen's fingers. Within his kanryū (feeling the flow) technique, he felt her heartbeat gradually calm under his touch. His response was casual, almost indifferent:
"And I've heard your name plenty of times."
Philip raised a brow at that, reaching out to stop Paul—who looked like he was about to say something—from speaking.
"Oh? Is that so?"
Allen's gaze swept past the tense faces of the household, dissolving their nervousness in a single glance. He replied offhandedly:
"The name of the lord of Roa City is known to all."
From there, the two men exchanged words at a rapid pace, the rhythm like the crack of blades meeting in the courtyard air.
"Heh. I didn't know I was so famous. Aren't you curious how I know your name?"
"Not really."
"And why not?"
"You have many eyes. And they see far, don't they?"
"Many eyes? See far? Now that's an interesting way to put it."
"Sir Paul's knighthood was granted by you, wasn't it? Naturally I'd have heard of you."
"So you think I have people stationed here in Buena Village, watching him?"
"You have many eyes, and they see far. Surely they watch over all your lands, not just one little village."
"Then shouldn't I have known about you earlier?"
"Information is easily lost in transmission. Your 'filtering network' likely discarded the detail of a household teacher as insignificant. After all, you've hired others before, and never took notice, did you?"
"You don't seem like the reckless adventurer I'd heard about."
"Not all adventurers are reckless, sir. You jest."
"Then do you know why I'm here today?"
Allen, standing in the midst of the Greyrats' wide-eyed stares, immediately countered:
"To find me?"
"That's right. Aren't you curious why?"
"No need to be."
He fell silent as Paul wiped sweat furiously from his brow. Allen met Philip's now fully open eyes without flinching.
"Surely because word of how I singlehandedly broke through the winter monster horde reached Roa, and you, as lord, wanted to see this promising young man for yourself. Isn't that it?"
"Couldn't there be another reason?"
Allen's smile remained warm.
"There could be. But there shouldn't be."
Across from him, the look in Philip's eyes now burned even hotter than the noonday sun.
"How old are you again?"
Allen only smiled without answering.
Because that wasn't a question—it was a sigh.
Then Philip spoke again, turning to Paul.
"As for the letter I sent you—have you thought it over? I think Allen here is quite something. When I heard last winter that Buena Village had produced a youth who carved through the monster horde on his own, I thought—what a talent. I quite admire him. That job—will you consider it?"
Paul looked between Philip and Allen, bewildered and at a loss for words.
And then—
The smoky letters reappeared before Allen's eyes!
[Test (1/2) complete. Time taken: 4 minutes 57 seconds]
[Caught in a deadlock of your own mind, you were unable to enter the kateikyō arc. But now an 'external force' has appeared as a chance to do so—how will you seize it?]
[Acknowledge him? That would be the worst outcome. Recruitment? Take it.]
[Philip has already deduced, from scattered clues, that you are his son. But James's spies don't support him acknowledging you. Even this trip to Buena Village can only be justified under the pretense of recruiting you for your deeds in last winter's monster horde—not as his son.]
[Why come here at all? It was just a 'recruitment.']
[And you, without needing even a hint from me, analyzed the situation from prior knowledge and fully grasped Philip's intent. In just a few words you communicated everything between you clearly. Honestly? That was beyond his expectations.]
[As for the name Allen? Just a coincidence.]
[In a world without cameras, even if you returned to Roa, how could anyone match your current, mild-mannered appearance to the sharp little boy James remembers?]
[You didn't even wait for the test Philip had planned—instead you bluntly demonstrated yourself.]
[Efficient.]
[You've already passed Philip's first test: 'capability.' In the eyes of a political schemer, your insight into information proves your judgment of a situation; your calmness proves your adaptability; the Greyrats' concern for you proves your people skills.]
[All this, and you're only eleven.]
[And his son.]
[Reward: Interaction score +5]
[Commentary: Opportunity means nothing if you can't seize it. And you… just happen to be someone who can.]
The wind blew past Paul's still-dazed face, lifting the parchment on the desk in the master bedroom.
—
Paul, long time no see.
I heard last winter's monster horde in Buena Village was effortlessly quelled? Truly impressive…
But.
I also heard it wasn't you alone—that a wandering adventurer was the key. This adventurer is now teaching at your home?
Frankly, I find that sort of talent very appealing, and I'd like to recruit him.
I also hear your son has exceptional magical talent, already a saint-ranked magician despite his age.
Since he's your son's teacher, I wouldn't dream of stealing him away. But perhaps… bringing both of them to Roa would be best.
I'd gain a talent. Your son would gain a better education. I'm even willing to pay them two gold coins each per month.
And in exchange, just have them handle a few very simple tasks. Nothing dangerous, I assure you.
Please think it over carefully.
Yours,Philip
P.S. …By the way, I hear this adventurer is somehow connected to that matter I once asked you about. Funny—there sure are a lot of people named Allen, aren't there? Heh.
—
Allen hadn't even seen that letter.
(End of Chapter)
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