Noble’s debute and forest of monsters

„So, now that your training is over, it’s time for your debut, Leo.“

„Ah, I completly forgot!“

„I’m not supprised that you did, you were learning how to fight non-stop for past two months, but now, you will have to learn how to fight with your tongue,“ mother smiled warmly.

„I see…“

„I will be there with you so no need to worry!“ Kiira smiled.

Given that she was studying politics in our old world, it will be probably somewhat easier for her… wait, she doesn’t remember that… to be honest, I have problems with small talk so I will have probably problems with this as well…

„Thanks Kiira,“ I smiled.

„You will do great, Leo. You are only five years old and you are already much smarter then most of kids your age.“

Yeah, ‘couse my age here plus my years on earth is higher then age of my other siblings…

And in a week a debut before all nobles of our territory was held. Some nobles also bring their children to introduce them. Wait, are they trying to enter marriage talks right now?! I'm just five years old you know!

„Ladies and gentleman, I present you my son, Leo Netrose, who two months ago reached age of five and recived blessings of gods,“ Father said and pointed at me with open hand.

With that signal I came down to him, gave an elegant bow and started my speach: „Thank you for atending my debut party, everyone. My name is Leo Netrose and I hope that you will bestow your wisdom upon me, as I am still young and inexperienced in the ways of life.“

Loud cheers rose from people in the room. After that I was introduced to big variety of people. And I easily forgot most of them.

„Leo, this is Viscount Marius Butell, older brother of Liteena,“ father introduced me to blond man in his thirties.

„You are older brother of Liteena-sensei?“

„Yes, although we don’t really look the part as we are from different mothers.“

„You may have different features, but your eyes are same, sir Butell,“ I smiled at the slightly deppresed man.

„Thank you young master,“ he smiled and went his seperate way.

„The next person I want to introduce to you is Count Litt Grenell and his first son Lasten,“ father introduced pair of two before us.

„It’s great to see you again Lord Flik, your son show us really great introduction and didn’t even bite his tongue,“ slighly chubby man said while bowing.

His son got little red in face after hearing that, but didn’t say anything. He, unlike his father, had really athletic figure and broad shoulders, my Apprisal showed me that he was sixteen years old with war god blessing of level 5.

„Lasten here is actually fiancée of your sister Hima,“ father added.

„So, you will be my big brother one day?“ I asked innocently.

„Y-yeah, nice to meet you.“

„Lasten and Hima finished their first half of their six years curriculum in school, so they have holidays now.“

„That is true, Lord duke, but as you know, miss Hina is currently researching magic with thirteen wands. So we don’t really have free time.“

„Ohh~ it seems like you are sad that you can’t spend time with our daughter hmmm?“ mother said teasingly.

„I-I don’t mean it like that!“

„So you don’t want to be with our daughter?“ father said with dark voice.

„N-no that’s not what I meant! I–“

„Don’t worry, I know exactly what you meant, brother Lasten. I know that my sisters teasing attitude can be a handful at times, but please take good care of her,“ I said with smile.

„Y-yesh!“ he said blushing.

„And here it is again,“ Lasten's father said with a facepalm.

After saying our goodbyes to the father-son duo I got to greet rest of the nobles which was terribly exhausting.

„Fuuu, I’m beat…“

„That was really something, I must say,“ Kiira said walking by my side writing names of people in her notebook.

„Yeah, it was. I got to see some new skills, like Smashing strike and Dead shot.“

„Did you take them?“

„They would realize they are missing. So I will not be taking skills from normal people. Criminals are fine tough.“

„So you want to take skills only from criminals and monsters? That doesn’t sound really greedy,“ Kiira chimed.

Given that her unique skill [Plunderer] only steal skills from defeated enemies, she can’t really get other skills then from monsters without becoming a criminal herself.

„Hm? A little girl?“ Kiira said looking down the hallway we were walking.

„Is she lost?“

The girl before us was sitting on the ground crying. She had cyan colored hair and slightly tanned skin.

„Hi, are you lost?“ I asked with my trademark smile.

„Y-yeah… I went for some fresh air… then I got separated from papa…“

„He’s probably in the main hall, we will take you there okay? Oh, by the way, I’m Leo,“ I extended my hand towards her.

„I–I’m Lulu…“

„Well, let’s get going Lulu!“ I pulled her up on her feet and started walking towards the main hall of the banquet.

„Ah! There he is! Papa!“ Lulu started running to man with simmilar features.

„Ah! Lulu! Where have you been? I was worried sick!“

„I got lost, but Leo here found me,“ she said with big smile.

„L-Leo?“

„Oh, hello sir Seawed, so Lulu is the daughter that you were talking about I see,“ I smiled.

„So Leo is the big star today?“ Lulu asked while innocently tilting her head.

„L-Lulu!“

„It’s fine, isn’t it? We are friends after all, right?“

„Yeah!“ Lulu smiled.

After that we said our good byes and went separated ways. Apparently, they will stay in our city for a month before heading back to their home in shoreside city in the south.

„So, will you spill it? Why are you having such a wicked grin?“

„She have unique skill.“

„Whoa, what kind?“

„It’s called [Sword saintess], it makes all swordsmanship releated skills ten times more powerful and she can learn all sword fighting techniques to Master levels in matter of days…“

„You want that skill right?“

„I’m more mage then swordsman, but it would be nice to have her join us…“

„Then, why don’t you tell your father to make her your fiancée then?“ Kiira said pouting and turning her head away.

„That wouldn’t work as she is of low status. Yes, one could say that after Big bro Gavin take the title of our father I would become a commoner, but the difference between Duke’s son and Baron’s daughter is extreemly big, and then, there is a principle I follow.“

„And that is?“

„I don’t want to marry without us both being in love with each other,“ I smiled at Kiira holding her hand.

„Geez, you can get so smooth at times… How could I resist this,“ she said blushing and kissed my cheek.

The next morning I get up early and prepared my armor. This is the day I will train in forest with Kiira under Ruzu’s guidance.

I had armor made from wyvern hide and mithril-alloy short sword, given to me by father. Mithril thanks to it’s incredible magic conduction could be always used as conduct for magic if nececary. Sadly it would not act as wand, which is mostly used to rise the accuracy.

Near the gates of the mansion I met up with Ruzu and Kiira, who came from servants dormitory. Kiira had matching set with me while Ruzu had light scout armor with bandanna, all in colors of our family coat, light blue and dark green.

„Ruzu, Kiira, I’m looking forward to our training,“ I said with light bow.

„Yeah, me too.“

„Same here. Ah, how much I was looking for geting of those stupid maid clothes.“

Ruzu from the day she entered our house was training under Head maid, Pesta. From morning to evening every day. Although she was quite clumsy at the begining, she worked herself up to the standards of a profesional maid alongside my nurse maid Tina.

„Well then, let’s get going,“ I said with big grin.

„„Yes!““

We left the area of our mansion and headed down the noble district towards forest of monsters. And there, near guard station between Noble and commoners district we saw two shadows standing there.

Ruzu went on alert right away, but I and Kiira were calm.

The two shadows belonged to person we know and her knight.

„Ah, you’re finaly here Leo, Kiira!“ Lulu said smiling.

„Hi Lulu, what are you doing here in this hour?“

„Hehe~ You see, I have a skill that makes me master swordsman, but I need training and after yesterday our fathers said it would be good if we got chance to train together!“

I see, father had same idea as me. He wants us to become close friends and then boost her standing within kingdom to allow her to rise in rank. After that it wouldn’t be weird if we got married and in turn getting the [Sword saintess] skill in our family. Well played, Father.

„I see. That’s a good idea. Sir knight, are you acompanying us as well?“

„Ah, no. I was ordered to leave my lady in your care. Apparently you have a former explorer as your guide and you were trained by sir Helbert, so my master said it will be okay to leave her with you.“

And if something happenes and she get scarred for life I will have to take responsibility. Well played Baron Seawed. Adults are quite cunning, I better learn a thing or two from this…

„Alright, I see how it is. Let’s get going,“ I give the knight the ‚I know what’s going on‘ smile.

With that, all four of us headed through gates and after leaving commoners district we were finaly out of the city. It was my first time outside of the city in my life, it felt nice and refreshing for some reason.

We walked through the fields when we were attacked by Green slimes. The apprisal found out that they were level 2-5 with self-regeneration, absorb and dissolve skills.

Before I could say something, Lulu had already unsheated her sword and slashed at the highest leveled slime. Kiira was also fighting her slime and one was coming after me. I let it get closer and when I slash at it I touched it with my empty hand, stealing it’s self-regeneration, absorb and dissolve skills of level 1. After that I simply stabbed the slime and killed it.

„Kuu… this is hard, they regenerate quickly…“ Lulu said angrily.

Where is that crying girl I met last night?!

„You finished Leo?“ Ruzu asked as she finished her two slimes.

Well as expected from someone of level 48. I must say, she is one of the highest leveled people I met so far. Father is level 56 and mother is level 58. Yet most adult nobles I met yesterday were barely level 20, I wonder why. Brother Lasten is level 31.

„Yeah, that one must have been extra weak, as he didn’t regenerate.“

„I see, well go help Lulu. You can go by yourself right, Kiira?“ Ruzu said with a little frown.

„Sure!“ Kiira answered readily.

With my sword in hand I tried something new. I chaneled my magic power into the sword, while imagining fire atribute. The flame sword was formed as outcome of it.

With a single slash the slime was defeated and a pearl droped from it.

„Wow,“ Lulu exclaimed.

„Nice work Leo. You used fire magic against monster which is weak to it. Good job,“ Ruzu chimmed in.

„Yeah, that was really cool, Leo! How did you even do that?“ Kiira said as she finished her slime.

„Well, mithril is good at conducting magic, so I though that if I combine fire magic with sword as base I could do both physical and magical damage.“

„Yeah, that was not something you see every day. Geez, how am I going to report this…“ Ruzu dropped her shoulders in defeat.

„So, Ruzu, could you tell us what is this?“ I held Green slime pearl towards her.

„That’s slime pearl, it’s not that rare, but it can be used in alchemy for potions, I heard. We call it [Drop], it’s something you can harvest from monsters. The quality, damage, and rarity give it it’s value. For this one… I would say 3 bronze coins, which is about one bread in commoners district,“ Ruzu explained.

Drops huh? That name deffinitely come from someone from earth. Probably some reincarnator like me and Kiira.

„Lulu, what if you keep it?“

„I–I can’t! You were the one who defeated it!“ Lulu protested.

„Then keep it as a gift from me to remember our first outdoor training,“ I smiled at her with my trademark smile.

„O-okay!“ she said blushing and hid her slime pearl in her pocket.

After that suprising ecounter with slimes we continued into the forest and hunted more monsters and before lunch time we headed back.

„So how many skills did you get?“ Kiira asked me.

„Ten in total. Self-regeneration from slime, Leap from that frog, Harden skin and sense temperature from that lizard. The next were resistances for poison and paralysis. I also got Hide presence from that yellow bird and as a bonus for noticing it I got Sense presence as well. Last skill I got from monster was Sticky thread from that grose purple spider.“

„Yeah, who would have though that Lulu is bad with spiders. She practicaly throw it at you.“

„Yeah, I got so suprised that I used my leap skill and kicked it so hard that it died. As a result I got the Kick skill.“

„You serious?“

„Yeah… so, how’s your skills?“

„I got same as you except for the Sensing skills and kick skill.“

„And what about your new unique skill, did you learn how to use it?“

„Well… I hope, you would help me with it tonight…“ she said blushing.

„You know this body is five years old right?“

„Well… yeah… but little hug won't hurt right“

„Geez you are thirsty… well fine. You can stay for the night if you don’t do anything perverted.“

„Okay!“ she said and started hugging me and I could feel her rib cage. Yep, we are still kids after all.

That night, once again Mina came for a sleepover. We didn’t have much time for us during last few days so I was cool with it. Just if she stopped saying things like: Onii-chan so cute when he’s sleeping.

Our days were calm and before we know it, last day of Lulu’s stay came.

„So this is our last hunt?“ I asked.

„Yeah,“ Lulu said with sad look in her eyes.

„We better make this the best day we can!“ Kiira sliped between us and grabbed us by shoulders with a big grin.

In last month we leveled up quite nicely, both me and Kiira were already level 18, while Lulu was at level 15. We uncovered interesting thing during our time together. Although Sword saintess gives it’s weilder enormous power, but it also makes leveling up the skills at same time harder.

This day we have defeated many bird type monsters and then, all of the sudden, their boss appeared. A cockatrice. It’s level was 30 with skills like Petrifying gaze, resist petrification and Fly.

I want them all! Wait, I already have the Fly skill… wait, what is that? A unique skill?!

„Everyone on your marks! This one is strong! Level 30, be aware of it’s petrification gaze. No looking into the eyes!“

„„Yes!““

„Kiira, prepare [Flame binding], Lulu, you guard me as I will prepare [Call thunder]. Is that fine, Ruzu?“

„Your leadership still needs some improvements, but it’s good so far. Don’t worry, if it looks like you can’t beat it, I will handle the rest.“

„Thanks.“

Flames rose from Kiira’s wand and the cockatrice noticing the flames, rose higher to the sky and prepred long ranged attack.

„Now go! Call thunder!“ A gigantic lightning came down from newly formed black cloud and hit the cockatrice’s left wing. That was all I needed to bring it down.

„Now, go for the eyes!“ Ruzu shouted and me with Lulu attacked it’s head. In that moment I stole four skills the cockatrice had, which drained me of all remaining magic. Thanks to my increased mana recovery of level 6 it was no problem.

„Gyaaaa!“ the cockatrice shrieked.

„Now! Kiira! Use your strongest fire spell!“

„Already on it! Go, [Inferno]!“ Kiira chanted her spell and giant pillar of flames rose from the place, where the cockatrice was flailing around blindly.

„And now for finishing touch, Space magic coated slash!“ I used all my power into that attack. The slash left my sword and in form of pure magical energy hit the neck of the cockatrice and the head fell off.

„„„W-we won!“““

„Great job. Now it’s time to dissect the corpse. Try not to damage the scales on it’s chest and belly. The legs of cockatrice are very tasty so after you cut them off make sure the blood get’s out. Same goes for the tail, but pluck the feathers first as they are really pricey. The wings are burnt compleatly so we will not take them. Take the head, we will boil it for a soup. After that, the skull can be sold for quite some money. Also, Leo, take the magic core from it.“

„Magic core? What’s that Ruzu?“ I asked.

„It’s organ that forms inside bodies of living creatures which can use magic. The bigger your magic core is, the more magic you can use I heard.“

„It’s said that elves are born with magic cores, while humas develop them over time,“ Lulu added.

„Well, we elves are descendants of wind fairies after all,“ Ruzu puffed her cheeks proudly.

„And, what you can do with Magic core?“

„I heard that you can use it to boost your own magical power or put in in living doll or flesh golem, but the later one is illegal. You can also use them to make potions. There are dungeons where your main goal is collecting cores. Your father should tell you more as he's in charge of all dungeons in kingdom.“

I can understand, why flesh golems are illegal. You don’t want to see your children walking around as mindless slaves to grave robbers… wait… what if it wasn’t flesh golem but homunculus? Couldn’t that work out?

„Well, I will keep it for now, I think.“

I have to learn more about it before doing anything with it.

With dissected cockatrice inside my Item box we headed home, but as Lulu was leading us, I sensed enemies nearby.

In that moment, a Blade bull jumped from nearby tree shadow and attacked Lulu.

But before it could hit her, I used my transfer spell, which I trained ever since I learned about space magic, and punched it in the blade with my skill hand to hand combat of level 5. The punch send the blade bull flying and the blade broke.

„Phew, that was dangerous. You can’t let your guard down Lulu,“ I said with a smile.

I took deffensive stance against the bull, but it seemed like it lost it’s will to fight with it’s horn broken.

„Hey, is that?“

As Kiira said that I used apprisal on the bull. Weirdly now it had new status read as: Taming possible.

„Come to me, Bull,“ I said and extended my hand.

The bull, still worried slowly came to me and I pat it’s head. In that moment, I got the Taming skill.

„You tame it?“ Ruzu said, clearly suprised.

„You tame it Leo!“ Kiira jumped up laughing.

„Seems that way. I better give you a good name… Eltor. That sounds nice.“

With that, the empty name column of apprisal now read Eltor.

"He's taming monster which needs squadron of knights to defeat like a dog, how am I going to report this..." Ruzu grumbled.

After that we headed back home.

I give the broken blade from Eltor to our blacksmith, who made me a dagger from it.

Father and mother were supprised by coming home with tamed monster, but when I showed them the cockatrice head, my mother fainted on the spot.

*

Behind closed door that night three figures were sitting on high class chairs. Before them, one elvish woman was giving her report.

„So, how did they do?“ Flik Netrose asked.

„Yes! Lord Leo showed perfect use of his apprisal and leadership to pin down the cockatrice. Although it is considered Blood red level monster he didn’t even flinch.“

The ranks of monsters goes as follow: Dragon, Catastrophe, Tempest, Adamantite blue, Mithril green, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Blood red, Bee yellow, Goblin green, White, wolf gray and Coal black. Same ranking is used for adventurers and explorers in dungeons with highest leveled people in world are Adamantite blue. Dragon, Catastrophe and Tempest are titles allocated to natural disaster level monsters as Basilisk's, Dragons, Angels, Demons and alike.

„What about my daughter?“ Baron Seawed asked.

„Yes! Miss Lulu followed lord Leo’s every order. From their moves I could tell that they were trying to protect each other.“

„Seem like young Leo still didn’t realize how much Lulu like’s him. This is actually first time I saw her coming home from hunt so happy. And every evening I hear, Leo this and Leo that…“

„Fufufu~ it sounds like she is falling in love with our son~ Although they are too young for something like that,“ Sareen Netrose smiled behind her fan.

„Well, I know you long enough to be fine with our kids marrying, but as you know, the difference between our ranks is too big for it going without notice of other higher nobles.“

„Yes, things like: You chose low rank girl instead of our mighty and powerful family? Don’t think we will be helping you anytime soon,“ Sareen added.

„It was similar when we married remember?“ Flik said to his wife.

„Yes, it was really hard times… it would be best, if Leo got himself a noble title of his own.“

„Agreed, that would be for the best, but given that they just slay a Blood red level monster like nothing in combination with his strenght and magical prowness, I wouldn’t be suprised if royal family set their eyes on him as well,“ Baron Seawed said.

„Yeah, I heard that their youngest daughter, the sixth princess can use space magic like Leo. If he do it alone they will make a suggestion to marry those two. We should have Lulu and Kiira be always by his side.“

„Yeah, but we are talking about Leo here,“ Sareen said with loving smile remembering her son.

„What do you mean by that?“ Flik asked and Ruzu with Baron Seawed looked at her with questionmarks flying around their heads.

„I heard what he said to Kiira after the debut party. I will not marry someone I don’t love! It was so cute, coming from our son…“

„He really said that? Is he really five years old?“ baron Seawed exclaimed.

„Sometimes we ask that question ourselves as well.“

„Well, let’s hope, that our kids will grow stronger and stronger until they meet again.“

„Yes, I belive that they could meet at least once a year?“

„If we find time to come here, then I would be happy to.“

And with that they dispersed their secret meeting and just like flowning water, five years passed and Noble debut of Leo and Lulu came.