Chapter 45 Celebration （B1 END） #2
Instead, I gave my Minor Simulations—still Mila—the Swordsmanship Skill I had placed into Limbo for the tournament.
It worked almost as well as Unarmed Combat.
During my second run with that skill I had received a Common Grade leather chest piece that I was wearing right now.
In addition to that, Hiding reached 100 Skill Shards, turning into a Skill, and over the past week I got the Swordsmanship Skill a total of four times.
I waited before giving the Skills out—I hoped that maybe I could combine them into Uncommon Grade Swordsmanship. It was also the reason why I didn't try giving Timothy a Skill yet. It would come afterwards.
Besides that, I also had another round of good news. I could feel Life Simulation being less than 24 hours away. While I was deep inside my thoughts, thinking about how to strengthen my town even further, somebody shouting brought me out of my stupor.
"Lord Ivor!" I heard before a heavy arm wrapped around my shoulders. "How are you? We have not seen each other for a long time!"
"We have seen each other yesterday, Gerald," I sighed. "Also, the party just started. How are you already so drunk?"
"That oaf of a man decided to pre-drink," Julie arrived shortly after Gerald. "Back in our days in the city we used to do that so we didn't have to spend money on drinks in any of the bars we visited. To think he would still do that when the alcohol is free."
"Oh?" I said, as I wrapped my own arm around Gerald. It sure was quite the funny sight, considering the size of the man. "I thought you guys spent all of your life here in Blackstone Town?"
"We were born here," Julie said. "But spent a couple years studying at the Local Academy before coming back here and deciding to settle."
Around us the sounds of singing and laughter filled the air. People were having fun, and I was happy for them. The past year had not been easy for them–the famine, the collapse of their mine and income, and now the Beast Wave. I arrived at the end of it all, and it sucked.
"Hey, I have always wondered why everyone here has the same surname. Doesn't that get confusing?"
Julie shook her head, "Not really. Only nobles hold real surnames.
Commoners like us officially have no surname.
But this makes it hard to keep track of everyone, especially in places like cities.
So unofficially everyone just goes with their first name, their occupation, and the place they were born in.
For example, Jason Blackstone Smith. Sometimes it's just the occupation or the birthplace, especially for those who aren't proud of their occupation or birthplace. "
"Seems like it would be just easier to let everyone have a surname," I said.
"It would be," Julie said. "Alas, it's one way the nobles get to keep power over us. I am truly thankful that you aren't such a person, Lord Ivor. I am sorry for having misjudged you so horribly when we first met. It was a character fault of mine."
"Don't sweat it," I waved my hand, my other arm still wrapped around her husband. "At the end of the day, we are in this together. I might rule over this town, but it's nothing without its people."
"WELL SAID!" Gerald screamed next to my ear, causing me to turn my head and wince. "LET'S DRINK TO LORD IVOR! MAY HE RULE THE HEAVENS!"
"May he rule the heavens!" The people around us cheered.
The evening turned to night as the festive atmosphere continued.
People drank. They ate. Sang and danced.
Then drank and ate some more. Our bellies were stuffed with alcohol and meat–it was awesome.
But as happy as our celebration was, we made sure to keep those who died in mind.
Our songs were about their sacrifices, and our dances mimicked their ferocious fighting spirit.
But every peaceful moment had to come to an end.
In the middle of our celebration, the alarm bells rang.
We might be partying, but we still kept our guard up.
We sobered up quickly and grabbed our weapons.
The civilians were rushed back home while Gerald and I made our way towards the origin of the threat.
I took out my chestplate and gauntlets out of my Storage Bracelet–I had put them away in the middle of the party–and strapped them on.
"Is it the Nine Mountain Bandits?" I asked the moment we reached the soldiers who sounded the alarm.
In the distance I watched as a convoy of armed men on horseback emerged from the darkness. They had torches that illuminated the path in front of them, while a single wooden carriage was protected in the middle. A large banner rustled in the air, but I couldn't quite make out the symbol.
"We are not sure–" one soldier started before he was interrupted.
"No," Gerald said, his drunkenness nowhere to be seen. "It's Baron Adrian's men."
The figures in the distance might have been far away, but they were moving fast. Minutes passed quickly and the banner became fully visible as Baron Adrian's men closed the distance. It was a dark red triangle with two swords crossed above it on a grayish background.
What could they possibly want?
The leading horses rode up towards the edge of our town. More men and women gathered behind me. We gripped our weapons tight, but we didn't attack. Who knows? Maybe they came here for vacation?
The knight slammed his spear into the ground before screaming, "Meet the delegate of Baron Adrian! The fleeting messenger! The bringer of words, Jackson von Adrian!"
On that notion a man in his early thirties stepped out of the carriage.
He wore a chic black suit similar to the one Sebastian always wore.
Unlike my butler however, Jackson was clearly balding, and he had an ugly frown on his face.
His eyes scanned me and the people beside me and then the town behind.
His frown deepened and I could hear him mumble something under his breath.
"I am Lord Ivor," I said and stepped forward. Jackson might be rude, but I decided to stay polite. "What could the delegate of Baron Adrian be here for? Is there anything we could help you with?"
"There is nothing you could help us with," Jackson spat. "This is going to be quick."
Then out of thin air a white scroll plopped down into Jackson's hands. He promptly opened it, before I could feel him gather Mana inside his throat.
"Congratulations, peasants of Blackstone Town!
" Jackson screamed, his voice much much louder than mine could have ever been.
"After recent events such as the Beast Wave, and the increasing activity of the Nine Mountain Bandits in this region, Baron Adrian has decided to bless you with his protection!
You have been given the right to live under his rule and will be granted many benefits if you accept this spectacular offer. "
What a bunch of bullshit.