The dungeon exploration was halted.
For two reasons.
First, if knights or mages were carelessly deployed into a dungeon of that scale and they died, the losses would be enormous.
Second, it wasn't simply a dungeon full of magic items or resources—it was a dungeon with historical value.
Conclusion: Wait until experts arrive.
Three days after returning to the estate.
There was an Assembly of Illegitimate Children meeting.
If there was a difference from the last meeting... it was the atmosphere.
They had received 100 gold and dumped the 'annoying political mission' on me.
And the result?
Two counts executed.
First Age dungeon discovered.
They couldn't say it outright, but everyone looked like they were dying of envy. Even Valen hyung, who could be called the organizer of this gathering, was no exception.
However, unlike them, I didn't think too highly of this fame.
Fame.
It was a double-edged sword.
A strategist who blocked 500 orcs without casualties.
A tactician who toyed with two counts in the palm of his hand.
The one who discovered a First Age dungeon.
I only heard good things, but the problem was that Big Brother Excellency was also hearing these good things.
Ernst Von Krustein.
The legitimate eldest son.
The future duke.
And... someone I absolutely must not provoke.
"And just as Adrian predicted, Sylvester Duke himself is coming from the capital. Must be nice. Everything's in the palm of your hand from start to finish."
What? The Academy actually granted my request?
I'm saved!
**
Upon returning to the estate, I headed straight to the study.
Lise was already waiting there.
On the desk lay an ancient text book from the dungeon, opened.
"Young Master! Why are you grinning so much?"
"Because Sylvester Duke is coming."
"The person you always talk about, Young Master?"
"Yep."
I pulled out a chair and sat down.
Sylvester Duke.
Dean of the Imperial Academy's History Department.
The foremost authority on ancient history.
And...
The pinnacle of a field Big Brother has absolutely no interest in.
Perfect.
"Anyway, let's continue studying."
"Yes!"
Lise pointed to a section of the book.
"Young Master, try reading this sentence."
I read slowly.
"The primordial... king... sleeps...?"
"That's right! Well done!"
Lise clapped her hands.
A brightly smiling face.
I smiled too.
For the past three days, I had clung to Lise learning the ancient language. Three to four hours a day, transcribing what she deciphered and learning the grammar.
The reason was simple.
Before the Academy's delegation arrives, if I learn at least the basics of the ancient language?
A ten-year-old knows ancient language!
That reaction was inevitable.
Adults are like that.
If a 10-year-old seems even slightly impressive, they overestimate them.
And in that state, I drop the bait.
That I want to enroll in the Academy's History Department.
Then I can escape Big Brother's surveillance while taking a step toward my dream.
A perfect plan.
Moreover, that 'living history book' is coming in person. It was beyond perfect—ultra-perfect.
"Lise."
"Yes?"
"I'll take you to the Academy too."
Lise's eyes widened.
"M-me?"
"Yeah. With that level of ancient language skill, you should be able to enroll as a student too."
Lise's jaw dropped.
Naturally.
In this world, the 'Academy' was a place only for noble children.
"But... I'm... not even a noble..."
"I can pay that much money for you."
"Y-Young Master..."
Lise's eyes reddened.
Hic.
A small sound came out.
But this time it wasn't trembling... it seemed to be emotion.
She had done so much for me, so this much was only natural.
Lise, who could read First Age ancient language fluently.
Normally with that level of talent, there'd be no need to worry about tuition.
But...
History.
In this world, as in my past life, it was a poorly treated discipline.
In my past life, it was the 'Sa' (å²) in the 'Literature-History-Philosophy hopeless trio.'
Employment? No such thing.
This world was the same.
Sword aura whooshing swordsmanship.
Flames blazing magic.
Abandoning such things to study history.
'Learning a completely useless discipline?'
'You can't even build connections there.'
'That bastard has no ambition.'
That's how it would inevitably look.
There were no scholarships given to exceptional commoners either.
But...
This was exactly the picture I wanted.
The moment I enrolled in the History Department, Big Brother's gaze would soften considerably and his surveillance of me would diminish.
Can't get employed?
I'm a gold spoon to begin with, so it doesn't matter.
Honestly speaking, just with what I'd done for the family so far, the family should support me for life.
I had cut off the orc threat early.
I had also cut off the rebellion of two counts early.
And on top of that, I'm a good kid who has no desire for the ducal title at all.
Ernst hyung should properly give Adrian an allowance.
With that allowance, living a life researching history with Lise, who's fluent in ancient language.
The best.
Hehehehe...
Just thinking about it made me laugh.
"Young Master, seeing you so happy... you must really admire Sylvester Duke."
Lise said with an equally bright smile.
Ah, I see.
Lise seemed to mistake my laughter as purely excitement about meeting Sylvester Duke.
But there was no need to correct her.
'No, Lise, I'm laughing because I'm happy about escaping Big Brother Excellency's surveillance.'
I couldn't say something like that.
Hmm.
Of course, there were aspects I did admire.
But...
The real reason I wanted to meet him was different.
"He's a living history book."
"A living history book?"
**
Sylvester.
There were various epithets for him.
But most of those nicknames were rarely actually used.
People called him by a more direct characteristic.
The Elf Duke.
Elves active in the human world were rare.
Most elves lived in their own forests and kept their distance from human society.
Much less elves active in the Empire were even rarer.
Especially an elf who had been active in the Empire for hundreds of years, even receiving a title?
Moreover, an elf with the title of 'Duke,' the highest rank next to the Emperor?
There was only one.
Inside the carriage.
Duke Sylvester slowly read through the report.
The Battle of Granfeld.
Execution of two counts.
Discovery of a First Age dungeon.
And the last page.
'Adrian Von Krustein has requested that Duke Sylvester visit in person.'
Sylvester put down the report with a smile on his lips.
"Impressive."
"What is, Master?"
The elderly woman sitting across from him asked.
She was Sylvester's aide.
She had been accompanying him for 50 years.
Though called an aide, it wasn't a hierarchical relationship. She simply volunteered to be her master's adjutant out of respect.
She was also a duchess.
Of course, her title wasn't hereditary. Only her husband's title of count was hereditary.
If ducal titles were made hereditary for all princes and princesses, the entire Empire would be overflowing with dukes.
She was Sylvester's disciple.
And the current Emperor's aunt.
Yet her face was more wrinkled than Sylvester's.
Elf and human.
Two species through which time flowed differently.
"The fact that this young child specifically asked to meet me."
Sylvester picked up the report again.
"A ten-year-old illegitimate child?"
"Indeed."
"That's surely the Knight Slayer's scheme. A plan to raise the illegitimate child's value for use in a political marriage."
"Well, that could be. By the way, Princess, you still dislike him."
"...Naturally."
Her voice dropped coldly.
"Duke Krustein is a pro-Emperor faction noble. His Majesty the Emperor personally appointed him, and we all agreed."
"I'm aware of that."
"But he's expanding his territory too quickly. It's good to keep other great nobles in check. But he himself is becoming a new great noble, Master."
Sylvester nodded.
His disciple's words weren't wrong.
Territory.
Productivity.
In those terms alone, the Krustein Duchy couldn't compare to other duchies.
Some large count families were actually better off.
But if limited to 'military power'?
Was there a noble in the entire Empire who could defeat Walther Von Krustein and his army?
No.
If they fought with only forces from direct territories, could the Imperial Family win?
What if the dungeon was developed?
The estate's weight class would grow as well.
"Honestly, I wonder if we weren't too hasty. Making the Knight Slayer a duke, Master."
Sylvester was silent for a moment.
Then slowly shook his head.
"That was the best option at the time, Princess."
The elderly princess didn't deny that fact either.
She had been there too.
"Let's stop talking about the duke. What interests me now is his son. Looking at his record, he's a typical tactician. But in all my life, among those who called themselves tacticians, the real ones could be counted on one hand."
"In all your life?"
"Yes, in all my life."
1,800 years.
The years he had lived.
"Princess, what do you think is the essence of strategy and tactics?"
"I'm not sure. I've spent my life only wielding a magic staff."
Sylvester nodded.
"I believe it's adaptability. There were many humans who learned military strategy. But not many humans who used that strategy in the right place at the right time, with adaptability."
"I see."
"Other than that, there were only commanders who were merely good at fighting by the book, or idiots who made a fuss about scheming but produced worse results."
"I'd prefer if it were like that."
The elderly princess said coldly.
Sylvester looked at her.
"What would you do if it weren't, Princess?"
"...What do you mean?"
"If that child named Adrian truly is a genius who freely wields tactics born of adaptability at the age of ten."
The princess was silent for a moment.
Then answered firmly.
"I would kill him. We can't hand a club to an ogre."
The elf who had lived 1,800 years neither agreed nor refuted his disciple's words, merely smiling.
The carriage continued on.
Toward the Krustein estate.