NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 20
Chapter 20: Boldly Recruiting Talent (3)
“Both of them will return to school in three days. I apologize for troubling you, Your Highness.”
In other words, come back in three days.
But I wouldn’t be here in three days. Killing Fennel quickly had brought about this butterfly effect. Of course, it had to be on the day I was leaving.
“Then, just call Kyle for me. I’ll find the others when I have time later.”
At least Kyle was still around out of the three. I needed him to move forward with the current tech tree.
“Understood. Well then… Didi!”
Didi? What’s that supposed to mean?
“You called for me?”
At that moment, a boy with brown skin cautiously opened the door and entered the principal’s office. The baron raised his chin abruptly and glared at the boy with a cold expression.
“Yes. Tell Cadet Kyle Gusf from the graduating class to come to the principal’s office immediately. As quickly as possible.”
“Understood. Then…”
The boy bowed and exited the room again. I thought about the boy’s striking skin tone and asked.
“That kid just now, his name is Didi?”
“Yes. He’s a vagrant from Zagra. He’s been hanging around the academy since last year, so I put him to work.”
Zagra was the name of the largest slum located on the outskirts of the imperial capital.
Come to think of it, there’s an event related to that place too, isn’t there? I should probably proceed with that once I finish the current tech tree.
—
“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness. I’m Kyle Gusf, a graduating cadet from the military academy.”
A blonde-haired boy who entered the principal’s office saluted with courtesy. I nodded at the familiar face I hadn’t seen in a while.
“Right, Kyle. No need for introductions. Come, have a seat.”
Kyle Gusf.
This guy was essentially an original member of my team. Our connection goes all the way back to my first regression.
At that time, Kyle was a knight who had distinguished himself in the anti-imperial war.
As a knight, his combat prowess wasn’t top-tier by any means. Instead, he excelled as a field commander, with a remarkable talent for leading battles.
Interestingly, such talent was rare in the empire. There were plenty of strong individuals, but few who were skilled in command.
So, starting from the second round, I made sure to form a bond with him early, grooming him to become the commander of the first line of defense during the invasion from the other world.
Excluding the third round, when we fell out due to my choice of the undead army, from the fourth round onwards, I even discovered another one of his talents—commerce.
Coming from a family of merchants, he had an exceptional aptitude for anything related to finances and supplies.
This was an indispensable skill in large-scale warfare, and he was irreplaceable in this regard.
Starting from the fifth round, I even had him undergo special knight training during the early stages. Though it wasn’t a grand success, it was still moderately fruitful!
“I’ve heard many stories about you lately, Your Highness. First, I must congratulate you on your great victory in Elston County.”
Kyle, sitting across from me, began speaking in a polite tone that belied his age.
“And I also heard that to effectively defend against the next invasion, you’re establishing a special unit dedicated to fighting the undead. I am deeply honored to have been recommended for a place in that unit.”
But here comes the “but.”
“But I cannot join Your Highness’ unit.”
“Kyle! What are you talking about?! How dare you refuse His Highness’ offer!”
The baron, who had been standing beside me, shouted in disbelief. He looked ready to grab Kyle by the collar, but I stopped him, smiling.
“It’s fine. I’m sure there’s a reason. Baron, could you leave us alone for a bit? I’d like to speak with him privately.”
“What? But, Your Highness…”
“Is there a problem?”
“No, not at all. I’ll leave you to it, then.”
With a sheepish expression, the baron walked out of the principal’s office.
Now that it was just the two of us, I got straight to the point, mindful of the upcoming schedule.
“Alright. I’ve heard the gist of what’s happening.”
“What do you mean, Your Highness?”
“Your family in Yotun, your hometown. They used to thrive in fishing and trade, right? But a few years ago, the ‘Sea Serpents’ took over the entrance to the bay.”
Yotun was a region located in the southwest of the empire, known for its harbor, protected by a massive bay that shielded it from storms and waves.
However, five years ago, hundreds of sea serpents began appearing at the entrance of Yotun Bay, indiscriminately attacking any fishing or trading vessels trying to pass.
As a result, the local economy of Yotun had been paralyzed. Jess, the regent, should have handled the situation swiftly, but he was likely overwhelmed by more pressing matters like the ogre uprisings in the region.
“…Your Highness is correct.”
Kyle lowered his head with a heavy expression.
“Our family’s trading company is on the brink of bankruptcy. My father sent me to the military academy, hoping to make me a knight, but now, he’s barely able to support me. He’s already deep in debt, and my siblings’ letters say that creditors have started seizing our ships. So, I…”
“I’ll pay off all your debts.”
Kyle’s eyes widened in shock. I crossed my arms and gestured with a flick of my fingers.
“You were planning to either quit the academy or somehow graduate and return home instead of joining the knighthood, right?”
“That’s true, but…”
“That’s why you said you couldn’t join me. Don’t worry. I’ll cover all your family’s debts.”
“But why…”
Kyle couldn’t hide his confusion.
“I’m deeply grateful, but why would you do this for me? We have no personal connection, Your Highness.”
“Connection? Your skills are the connection.”
“Even if you say I’m skilled, my abilities aren’t that impressive. My average academic score is only around the middle of the graduating class, and in combat, I’ve only just managed to wear the lowest-grade armor for training.”
“But your field command scores were the highest, weren’t they? You scored full marks on the tactics exams for three consecutive years.”
“That’s…”
“Not to mention, you were born into a merchant family, you’ve captained ships, and you’ve already ventured to other continents at your age.”
“The ship I captained was just a small fishing boat, and when I traveled to another continent, I was only ten, tagging along with my father. As for my business acumen, I wouldn’t say I’m particularly talented…”
“Didn’t you gather investment from your classmates, buy silver ingots in advance, and then sell them at a profit when prices rose to cover your living expenses?”
“How… how do you know about that?”
How do I know?
Well, because you told me yourself, of course. We ate together, fought in wars together, and even went to the sauna together, you know? No joke.
I simply smiled without a word. Kyle, still baffled, thought for a moment before asking.
“You must have investigated me thoroughly. But why would all those things matter to you? Isn’t the undead army the main concern of the special unit?”
“There will be battles, sure. That’s why I’m bringing in special instructors for training.”
As I spoke, I used my power to appraise Kyle’s abilities. Though my control was still a bit inconsistent, appraising individuals was something I’d perfected.
Species: Human
Current Strength: D
Potential Strength: B-
Hmm.
As I suspected… he has no extraordinary talent in combat.
For reference, Kyle’s strength, given that I secure an excellent knight as his mentor, would allow him to grow into a third-tier knight, or “Knight Expert.”
If I calculate based on his potential B- level, how much higher would his potential need to be for him to reach the highest rank, “Knight Master”?
The letter grades stop at A+, so A+ must be the level of a Knight Master. Incidentally, Meredith, my family’s maid, is A+.
“Anyway, I’ll pay off your family’s debt, and I’ll also clear out the sea serpents blocking Yotun Bay.”
“The sea serpents, Your Highness?”
“Yes. With all that being done, will you still refuse? Is there anything else you need? Should I even arrange for your siblings to enroll in the Imperial Military Academy later?”
For a brief moment, Kyle’s expression flickered through a wide range of emotions. At this point, the outcome was all but decided.
Even in the past, when my reputation was abysmal, he ended up joining me when I offered the same terms.
So now, when I’m being hailed as a hero, there was no way he’d refuse. After a long, serious deliberation, he finally bowed deeply.
“I will gladly join Your Highness’ Undead Task Force.”
“You’ve made the right choice. Now pack your things and come right away.”
“Right now?”
“Yes. We’re leaving for Yotun tonight.”
“To Yotun? Right away…? Could it be…?”
What do you mean, could it be? Didn’t you hear the conditions I just laid out?
“Yes. We’re going to head to your hometown immediately, pay off your family’s debt, and deal with those sea monsters.”
“I’ll pack my things and return at once!”
Fully understanding the situation, Kyle shot up from his seat and saluted. I waved my hand, gesturing toward the parade grounds outside the window.
“Don’t come here. Head to the front gate. You’ll find a carriage guarded by a priest.”
“Understood. Then…”
With a flushed face, Kyle hurried out of the principal’s office.
So, is that it for today’s tasks? I was initially planning to bring all three of them along, but a funeral leaves no room for flexibility.
“Should I just ask the baron to have the remaining two come to the estate later? No, changing the location could alter the conditions… better play it safe…”
Mumbling to myself, I stepped out of the principal’s office, only to bump into the baron, who was awkwardly lingering near the door, unsure whether to enter.
“Ah, are you leaving now, Your Highness?”
“Yes. I’ll be taking Kyle with me right away, just so you know.”
“Understood. I’ll notify the security team immediately for your escort…”
“No need. There’s no point in making it a hassle. It’s not that far from the carriage.”
I dismissed him with a wave of my hand. As I turned to leave, I noticed the boy from earlier, Didi, bowing deeply nearby.
His name was Didi, right?
Suddenly, my left eye heated up, and my appraisal ability flared up uncontrollably. Oh no, not again. I don’t really need to appraise everyone I meet…
Species: Human
Current Strength: E+
Potential Strength: B
Current Beast Affinity: B+
Potential Beast Affinity: A+
Huh?
Beast Affinity? What the hell is that?
Despite having gone through nine regressions, this was the first time I’d seen such an ability.
I know a few types of beasts, but being able to get along with those vicious creatures—does that even make sense?
“Your Highness? Did this boy do something to offend you?”
Sensing something wrong, the baron rushed over, grabbing Didi by the head and pressing him down.
“If so, I apologize on his behalf. He’s an uneducated commoner, after all…”
“I’ll be taking him with me.”
“Pardon?”
The baron blinked several times, confused.
“Do you mean you’re taking him to your estate to punish him personally? Perhaps confining him in the basement or—”
“Haha, my dear baron. You have quite the imagination, don’t you?”
Given my reputation from just two weeks ago, I suppose it wasn’t that strange for him to think this way. I tapped the back of his hand, which was still clutching Didi’s head, signaling him to let go.
“First things first, let him go.”
“Oh! Y-Yes, of course.”
“I’m taking him because I have a job for him. From now on, he’ll serve as an attendant for the Undead Task Force. Keep that in mind.”
“But, no matter how you put it, this is rather sudden…”
“Do I need to pay for him? Was he a slave?”
I glared at the baron. The Faywood Empire officially prohibited slavery, so he quickly panicked, shaking his head vigorously.
“No, no, not at all. I just paid an advance to employ him around the academy, that’s all…”
“An advance? To whom? A slave trader? How much did you pay?”
“It was… 50 silver coins. Ah, no! No! I merely paid his parents for the hiring fee since the boy was wandering around the academy. So, technically…”
“Here’s the money.”
I pulled five gold coins from my pouch and handed them to the baron.
“Your Highness! I can’t possibly accept money from you! Please take it back!”
The baron, startled by the sudden payment, didn’t know what to do. I simply smiled and placed a small pouch containing twenty more gold coins into his hand.
“And here’s a token of my appreciation for running the academy so well.”
“Your Highness…”
“I know this academy is run by imperial mandate, but in the end, I’m taking away the excellent cadets you’ve raised. Consider it my gratitude. It’s not much, really.”
“I… I don’t know how to thank you enough, Your Highness.”
The baron bowed low, slipping the pouch into his pocket with the skill of a seasoned pro. You’ve got to admire a professional at work—look how smoothly he pocketed that bribe!
Maintaining good relations with the baron is important. I’ll be recruiting more cadets from here in the future.
I turned to Didi, who was standing still, and spoke with a smile.
“Your name’s Didi, right? You’re coming with me. Let’s go.”
“So, I’m to become Your Highness’ servant now?”
I like how he didn’t seem flustered or anxious, despite the suddenness of it all.
Maybe it’s because he grew up in the slums, where you learn quickly how the world works.
“Something like that. By the way, how old are you?”
Since he’s about my size, he’s probably younger than me by a few years. Didi quickly caught up to me, walking at my side, and answered in a quiet voice.
“I’m not sure, but I think I’m about twelve.”
“Not sure? Why?”
“I was born in Zagra, but no one there ever told me my age, so I’m not certain.”
So, this kid was not only from the slums but also an orphan, abandoned by his parents at a young age.
I let out a silent sigh.
“From now on, you’re part of the Lunembreth family. If anyone asks, tell them you’re employed as a servant at the Lunembreth Estate.”
“Understood. I spent most of my time at the academy cleaning the stables and taking care of the horses. Occasionally, I delivered messages from the principal to the instructors or cadets. What should I do now?”
Though his words were firm, I caught a flicker of anxiety in his eyes. I looked him in the face and shrugged.
“I don’t know.”
“Sorry?”
“I’m not sure what to do with you yet. I’ve never seen your kind of talent before. But your strength isn’t bad, so you’ll at least be useful in that regard. Just do your best.”
Didi seemed confused but nodded quietly. Feeling lighter, I descended the academy’s stairs with a spring in my step.
This is a jackpot!
The unexpected recruitment of such a promising talent had lifted my mood considerably. I didn’t know exactly what Beast Affinity would do, but if his potential was A+, it meant he had the talent to become the best in that field, whatever it was.
Maybe one day, he’ll turn out to be a crucial asset, playing a significant role in the war against the invaders from the other world!
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