Chapter 7: His reward to them & and boomshells left and right
(Fixing the grammar & shit in ch 6 soon~)
---
Swoooosh!!
Ahem, scene pause.
A minute before.....
The silence in the throne room was deafening as hell that bird's wouldn't chirp here.
Noah stood there, his usual laid-back demeanor completely gone. His eyes had turned cold—not angry, but something far more dangerous. One may think: How could a child have such a look? Well, they would never see the answer to that.
"Me? A mongrel?" Noah's voice was barely above a whisper, yet it carried through the entire hall like a death knell.
King Philip shifted uncomfortably on his throne, sensing the sudden shift in the atmosphere. Princess Flora's hand, unknown to her, clenched tightly. While princess Christina leaned forward with sharp interest.
Alfred, still maintaining his perfect knight's posture, seemed oblivious to the change. "Did I stutter, boy? Tsk, i don't repeat myself to commoners~"
That's when Noah's lips twitched.
It wasn't twitching to his usual sarcastic grin. This smile was razor-thin and absolutely terrifying.
"Alfie..." Noah's voice took on an almost sing-song quality as he began to slowly walk forward. "You know what? I've changed my mind about that duel..."
He stopped just outside sword range, with his hands hanging loosely at his sides.
"I'm not going to use my foot to stomp you out." With a smile that said "fuck you", and eye's that narrowed pointedly, he continued. "Nah, I'm' going to use my foot to teach you some common manners~"
Alfred's eyebrow twitched at Noah's nonsense. "You? A commoner with no training? Against a Knight of the Royal Guard?"
'Bro.... Is this guy braindead? No training? What? Fucker I just told you something that would need training!?'
"Oh, training?" Noah tapped his forehead with an annoyed glint dancing through his gaze like a beautiful lady's slow dance. With a light head tilte, he mocked Alfie. "Is that what you call that fancy sword dancing yous do? Tell me, Alfie, when's the last time you actually fought for your life?"
The knight's grip tightened on his sword hilt. "I've served in three campaigns—"
"Blah blah blah. Did i ask? No, i didn't~" Noah interrupted, his voice dripping with disdain. "When's the last time someone tried to actually kill you, one-on-one, with nothing but the will to survive, and the drive to fight?"
Alfred's face twitched uncontrollably seeing he got cut off. "You insolent brat—"
"Your Majesty," Noah called out without taking his eyes off Alfred for even a millisecond, "may I have permission to fight this knight? I promise not to kill him. Permanently maim, maybe, but not kill. Also i won't destroy this lovely place~, so don't worry."
King Philip looked between the two, clearly torn. This was highly irregular, something he should refuse. But something told him this boy wouldn't take no for an answer. Soo... "Very well. But this ends when I say it ends."
Like a hungry fat kid ready to devour food.
Alfred drew his sword with a flourish, the blade singing as it left its sheath. "Heh~Finally. I'll teach you some decency and respect, boy."
Noah just stood there calmly, with his hands still loosely hanging at his sides.
"Come on then, cock sucker. Show me royal guard training worth all the hype~"
Back to the present....
Swooooosh!
Alfred lunged forward with textbook precision—a perfect thrust aimed at Noah's chest, fast and deadly.
But noah simply wasn't there anymore.
The knight's eyes widened as his sword met empty air. Noah had sidestepped at the last possible second, moving with fluid grace that seemed almost lazy.
"Too slow, Alfie." Noah's voice came from beside him. "And too predictable. Did they teach you that move in the royal training? That shit was ass~"
Alfred spun, bringing his sword around in a wide arc, but again found nothing. Noah had ducked under the swing and was now behind him.
"Strike two." Noah lightly jumped and flicked the back of Alfred's head with one finger. "You know, for someone who talks so much about breeding and bloodlines, you sure move like you've got something in your boots~"
The court watched in stunned silence as Alfred—one of their finest knights—who holds the title of "king's sword" stumbled forward from the simple flick of a kid.
"Damn brat, stop toying with me!" Alfred roared, launching into a series of rapid slashes and thrusts.
Noah danced between them all, his movements flowing like water. Duck, weave, sidestep, slight lean backs, light head tiltes—each dodge was minimal, efficient, almost mocking in how effortless it appeared.
"Toying?" Noah chuckled, a sound devoid of humor. "Oh, Alfie, if I were toying with you, i would of told you by now~"
As Alfred's latest thrust went wide, Noah finally moved to attack. His hand shot out in a simple palm strike—nothing fancy, just raw technique and perfect timing.
CRACK!
The strike hit Alfred's sword arm just above the elbow right where Noah wanted. The knight screamed as his arm went numb, the sword he welled, clattering to the ground.
"What's wrong?" Noah asked innocently, circling the now-weaponless man. "Having trouble holding your sword there? Or using you arm? Maybe royal training aren't as strong as you thought, huh~"
Alfred clutched his useless arm, his eyes wide with pain, confusion, and demanding context. "What... what did you do?"
"Pressure point's." Noah shrugged casually. "Funny thing about the human body—it doesn't care about your title or your training. Everyone has the same weak spots~, that is unless you kill them. But obviously you haven't."
Before Alfred could react, or reply, Noah was moving again. A quick step forward, a precise strike to the side of Alfred's knee.
Alfred collapsed with a grunt, his leg buckling soon as Noah's leg kicked his.
"And everyone falls the same way when you know where to hit them~"
Princess Christina leaned forward, her eyes bright with fascination. She'd never seen anything like this—it wasn't the brutal strength of a warrior or the elegant technique of a master swordsman. This was something else entirely. Her sister, and Miss Vanessa, plus lady celia were also in the same boat.
"Please..." Alfred gasped, as he backed up slowly upon seeing noah approache. "I yield... Wait! Hey! Kid! I said I yield!"
"Oh no, no, no." Noah crouched down beside the fallen knight. "You don't get to yield yet, Alfie. See, you called me a mongrel. And mongrels? Hold grudges just like noble's~"
He reached out and grabbed Alfred's chin, forcing the knight to look right into his eye's.
Much to Alfred's horror.
"Tell me, dickless, what makes someone a mongrel? Is it the lack of a fancy title? The absence of noble blood?" Noah's voice dropped to a whisper. "Or is it the willingness to get your hands dirty when polite society turns its back? Or cause you just see people under you as ants?"
Alfred whimpered. Failing to utter any word's to save himself.
"Because if that's what makes a mongrel," Noah continued, his grip tightening slightly, "then I guess you're about to learn what happens when you fuck with someone who hates being called one~, especially something close to an ant..."
"WAIT!!" Alfred clamped his eye's shut, as his non numb arm flew out to protect himself.
"That's enough."
King Philip's voice cut through the tension like a blade. Noah's slowly raised his gaze, and for a moment, the king saw something in those eyes that made his warm blood run cold.
Then, just like that, the moment passed. Noah's smile returned to its usual sarcastic curl as he released Alfred and stood up, brushing imaginary dust off his clothes.
"Of course, Your Majesty." He gave a small "alright dude" face. "I was just having a friendly conversation with Sir Alfred here about proper etiquette~, my bad for the wait."
Alfred layed still on the ground, clutching his numb arm and injured leg, his perfect knight's composure completely shattered.
His almighty pride? Now singing with the bird's.
Noah looked down at him one last time. "Next time someone offers you a friendly duel, Alfie, maybe think twice before throwing around words like 'mongrel.' You never know what kind of fucked up person you might run into~"
The silence that followed was broken only by Alfred's labored breathing.
Princess Flora stared at Noah with wide eyes, her mind racing with speed unknown. This was the same boy who had gently reassured her during her rescue, who had cracked jokes to keep her calm. But this....'w–woah! He looks just as cool from back then!'
(Note~Sniff Sniff? Any of yous smell that? It's smells like a yandere being born.)
Princess Christina, on the other hand, was smiling. A small, intrigued smile that spoke of newfound respect and dangerous curiosity.
Noah turned back to the king, his casual demeanor completely restored. "So, Your Majesty, about that reward we were discussing before we were so rudely interrupted?"
King Philip stared at him for a long moment, then let out a bark of laughter that surprised everyone, including himself.
"Indeed. I believe we have much to discuss, young Noah."
Snap!
As servants rushed to tend to Alfred, Noah couldn't help but feel a certain satisfaction. Sometimes the best way to earn respect was to show exactly why disrespect was a very, very bad idea.
As he watched the nobles whisper among themselves. He couldn't help but evilly, and boldly think. 'Hmmm. Should I become king? It kinda has more pros then cons. Though the main pro being: my little family would be safer. Plus I'll fucken cool as hell. And the main con being:...the throne is to small....'
He was broken out of his train a thought's when the throne room had finally settled after the servants finished carrying away the groaning Alfred. King Philip leaned back in his throne, studying Noah with newfound respect and wariness.
"Well then," the king said, clearing his throat before he continued. "We were discussing your reward for saving my daughter, no?"
Noah's demeanor shifted back to his usual laid-back self, that terrifying intensity swirling in his stomach and thoughts completely gone. He scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin.
"Right, about that. I've got a few requests, if that's cool with you, Your Majesty."
"....Speak freely."
"Heh, with pleasure~"
Noah held up one finger. "First up—I need a mansion. And before you ask, no, it's not for me to live the high life or throw fancy parties..." He paused. A slight flickering through his eyes as he thought of something. "Okay. That "throw fancy parties" bit, is completely a lie. On good acations I'm throwing the most unfiltered parties ever~"
With that lie out the window, he thought of something. Something that will help him, the kid's, fend for themselves out there in the beautiful place called "the world". "Also, wanna add a training ground~, thanks."
King Philip raised an eyebrow, somewhat amused.
"Second," Noah continued, holding up another finger, "I want all of them enrolled in the Royal Institute. Yeah, I know what you all are gonna think—'But Noah, they are commoners!' Well, guess what? Fuck you, and so was I until about five minutes ago when I became the guy who saved your daughter and humiliated your knight~"
Princess Christina snorted softly at his bluntness, probably thinking of so many sentences that had "RUDE" as the main character.
While dear Flora looked both embarrassed at a thought and impressed by his rudeness.
Seriously though: How can a 9 year old have such a foul mouth?
(A/n:..drugs...)
From her left side and Noah's right side, Celia Claire watched the exchange with growing fascination. The young genius magician, despite her petite appearance and tendency toward absent-mindedness when absorbed in research, was surprisingly perceptive when it came to people. Her kind and caring nature made her naturally curious about this boy who treated everyone equally, regardless of their background.
(A/n:You sure about that girl?)
"Look, Your Majesty," Noah's voice took on a more serious tone, though he kept it light, "these kids are family to me. And best believe their gonna be some monsters that will have more power in the pinky's, than half the nobles in this room have in their entire bodies~"
He spread his arms wide with a light swoosh. His mouth slightly opened as a big grin formed, with his eyes narrowed lightly with goldness glowing from them. "Plus, think about it from a practical standpoint. You invest in their education now, and in a few years, you'll have a whole group of "loyal", incredibly capable people who remember exactly who gave them their chance. That's just good politics, ain't it?"
King Philip found himself genuinely considering it. The boy had a strong point, and after that display of combat prowess...
The king shivered just thinking of what the future held.
"You make a compelling argument, noah, " the king admitted. "Very well. I'll arrange for a suitable mansion and Royal Institute enrollment for your family...."
"Heheheee~" The goldness in Noah's gazes intensified unknowingly, and unseen by all.
How did noone see it? Well, it was cause of his mocking bow that seemed genuinely to everyone hid it~
"You're officially the coolest king I've ever met. Granted, you're also the only king I've ever met, but still."
Princess Flora covered her mouth to hide her giggle, while several nobles looked scandalized at Noah's informal address. Matter of fact, several thought this boy was rude as hell, every single word he spoke seemed informal for their liking.
But they never spoke up because they were pussys.
"Is there anything else?" King Philip asked, still somewhat amused despite himself.
Noah pretended to think, tapping his chin with an exaggerated expression of deep contemplation. It felt and seemed like the entire throne room held its breath.
Then his grin that still was present on his features turned into something people would soon call in the future, "incoming mischief".
"Actually, yeeaah~. There is one more teensy, tiny little thing..." Noah's voice carried that dangerous playful edge that should have been a warning to everyone present.
Well, to be fair they barely knew the kid sooo.
King Philip's eye twitched. He was beginning to recognize that tone. Same goes for flora, who looked ready to stop it right then and there...
But she was too late.
"I'd like to ask for the hands of both your daughters in marriage~"
The words hit the throne room like a physical force. The silence that followed was so complete, so absolute, that the very air seemed to crystallize around them.
They all, every single person, looked at the kid with eyes so awestruck they could pop out.
Then chaos erupted.
"WHAT?!" Princess Christina shrieked, her face cycling through several shades of red before settling on a deep crimson that rivaled her dress. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for water.
Princess Flora made a small, strangled noise that might have been a squeak and looked like she wanted to disappear into the marble floor. Her hands flew up to cover her burning cheeks, peeking, and blinking so fast through her fingers at Noah with wide, disbelieving eyes.
"Did he just—" one noble started.
"Both princesses—" another choked out.
"At the same time—" a third wheezed.
"H o l y s h i t" the last plopped out.
King Philip's face went through its own spectrum of colors—surprise, outrage, disbelief, and finally settling on what could only be described as 'impending aneurysm.' He gripped the arms of his throne so hard his knuckles turned white.
"You—" the king utterd, his voice dripping with his utmost disbelief once again. "You can't be serious...."
"Seriousness with no limits , Your Majesty, " Noah replied cheerfully, completely unfazed by the royal meltdown occurring around him. "I mean, think about it logically. Flora and I already have history—I saved her life, we've got that whole romantic rescue thing going for us. And Christina?" He turned that insufferable grin towards the first princess. "Well, she's beautiful, intelligent, clearly doesn't take shit from anyone, and let's be honest, the wife potential is off the charts~"
"WIFE POTENTIAL?!" Christina's voice cracked on the last words he spoke.
Near the back of the throne standing far to the kings left, Vanessa Emerle stood frozen in shock, her stern expression completely shattered. The sister of the Royal captain, known for her unwavering loyalty and strict demeanor, looked like someone had just told her the sky was green and would turn yellow soon. Her protective instincts regarding her master warred with the sheer audacity of what she'd just witnessed/heard.
"This is... this kids completely insane," Vanessa muttered under her breath, her hand instinctively moving to her sword hilt before she caught herself. "How dare he—Princess Christina would never—but he did defeat Alfred—no what am i saying—but he is stron—okay shut up venessa."
If one looked her way, all they would see was many head shakes, OMG faces, and a struggling single women.
(A/n:I think she is haha)
Celia, meanwhile, had covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes wide like all other's with a mixture of shock and what might have been... amusement? Excitement? Her absent-minded nature was completely overridden by the sheer scene unfolding before her. "Oh my," she whispered lightly. "He really just... to both of them... at the same time...oh my."
"Look," Noah continued, apparently still oblivious to the mental breakdowns occurring around him, "I figured I'd shoot my shot. Worst case scenario, you say no and I still get a mansion and academy enrollment out of the deal. Best case scenario..." He gestured toward the two princesses with theatrical jazz hands. "Royal wedding bells and happily ever afters!"
"You absolute madman!" Christina finally found her voice, though it came out as more of a strangled shriek. "You can't just casually propose to both of us like you're ordering lunch at a tavern! That's just rude, noah!"
"Why though?" Noah asked with genuine curiosity, tilting his head like a confused puppy. "I mean, you're both gorgeous, intelligent, and if I'm being completely honest here, you both seem way too good for most of the stuck-up nobles I've seen prancing around this place. Plus, I already saved Flora, so I've got a head start on the whole 'proving my worth' thing."
Flora peeked through her fingers for the millionth time, her voice barely above a whisper but still somehow was heard. "N-Noah... you can't possibly be serious about this..."
"Right, let me phrase. Some of that unlimited seriousness is on something else," Noah replied with that same easy grin. "Some of it is just me being curious about how many different shades of red Christina's face can turn. Including you. And I'll say we're at about shade number five right now, and I'm genuinely impressed~, I'm just now waiting for the 'puff' of smoke to come from you's~"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN SMOKE?!" Christina's voice hit a pitch that probably shouldn't have been humanly possible.
At this moment: she felt utterly humiliated.
King Philip rubbed his temple in a circle motion, looking like he was developing the mother of all headaches. "This is completely inappropriate. You do realize that royal marriages are matters of state, not... not casual proposals made in throne rooms by..." He gestured helplessly at Noah.
"By a devastatingly handsome hero who saved your daughter's life?" Noah supplied helpfully.
"By impossible, insufferable, infuriating—" Christina cut in swiftly before her father could reply.
"You forgot irresistible, princess~" Noah interrupted with a wink.
Steam might have actually been coming out of Christina's ears at this point. Key word: Might.
"But think about it practically, Your Majesty," Noah continued, turning back to the king with that same seriousness beneath his playful exterior he had before. "I'm clearly capable of protecting them—I did just demonstrate that rather thoroughly. I'm about to become a Royal Institute student, I've got my own place now, and let's be completely honest once more, after today's little performance, I'm probably going to end up as some kind of significant figure whether we plan for it or not. Might as well get ahead of the curve, no?"
He didn't stop there though, he went on his yapping fest like a chatterbox. "Besides, I've got that whole 'mysterious powerful guy who appeared out of nowhere' thing going for me. That's got to count for something in the marriage market, right?"
Flora made another small squeaking noise, while Christina looked torn between outrage and... something else entirely that she wasn't quite ready to examine too closely.
That's dangerous, she thought.
Celia found herself leaning forward slightly, her naturally caring nature making her curious about how this unprecedented situation would resolve. "He's certainly... confident," she murmured.
Vanessa, meanwhile, looked like she was having an internal war between her duty to protect Princess Christina and her grudging respect for anyone bold enough to defeat her brother in combat. "This is madness," she whispered, though there was a hint of something that might have been admiration in her stern voice.
King Philip stared at Noah for a long, tense moment, then slowly turned to his daughters. When he spoke, his voice was carefully controlled. "Flora... Christina... this is ultimately your decision. I won't force either of you into anything, but..." He paused, his expression becoming more serious. "I must admit, after witnessing his capabilities today, and considering his... unique approach to problem-solving, he would certainly be capable of protecting you both."
The throne room held its breath once again. The children of both genders eager to hear 'no', cause the young lady's wanted him, and young men wanted them.
Princess Christina was the first to speak, her voice shaky but determined. "I... I need time to think about this. This is all so sudden, and he's..." She gestured at Noah, who gave her a cheerful wave. "He's completely insane."
Well, the girl ain't wrong.
Flora nodded rapidly, still hiding behind her hands. "M-me too! This is... it's too much all at once!"
Noah nodded understandingly, his expression gentling slightly. "Fair enough. Take all the lovely time you need. I'm not going anywhere any time soon." He paused, then added with that irrepressible fucken grin, "Well, except maybe to that new mansion~"
(A/n: the romance will fully begin when I do a time skip. Why? Cause I think it's weird romancing kids. Don't know why though...)
King Philip looked like he'd aged a decade in the span of five minutes. "Very well. The mansion will be prepared within an hour, and I'll arrange for Royal Institute evaluations for your family. I'll put it so you all start next week, so you all can settle down in your new home and take some rest to prepare. "
"Your coolness has now excided, your majesty. Appreciate it~" Noah gave a soft look towards the daughters. "Princess Christina, Princess Flora—no pressure, but just so you know, I make excellent pancakes, I'm surprisingly good at giving back rubs, and I promise I'd be the most entertaining husband you could possibly ask for~"
With that completely shameless declaration, he turned and strolled toward the throne room doors as casually as if he'd just finished discussing the weather.
Right, where is kings wife/mother some may ask? Well let's just say she went through everything everybody else went through. But she was also happy someone like noah has interest in her daughters, even though he has....issues. Many of them at that.
As the massive doors closed behind him, the throne room remained in stunned silence for several more seconds before exploding into excited chatter.
"Did that really just happen?" Flora whispered to her sister.
Christina, now slightly red-faced after their soon to be mischief hubby left, was looking slightly dazed, which she could only nod mutely towards her sister.
Celia shook her head in amazement. "I've never seen anything quite like that," she murmured. "He's certainly... interesting. I do hope he is in my class~, he also seems to be just like me. A genius magician..."
Vanessa straightened, trying to regain her earlier composure. "Princess Christina," she said formally, though her voice carried an undertone of bewilderment, "shall I have him arrested for... for whatever that was?"
"No," Christina said quietly, still staring at the doors through which Noah had departed. "No, I... I think I need my bed right now."
King Philip leaned back in his throne with a heavy sigh, looking up at the ornate ceiling as if seeking divine guidance.
"I have a feeling," he said to no one in particular, "that life around here is about to become exponentially more complicated."
From somewhere in the crowd of nobles, someone muttered, "That boy is either a genius or completely mad."
"Why not both?" another voice replied.
And in the distance, echoing faintly through the castle corridors, they could swear they heard Noah whistling a cheerful tune as he made his way back to the slums to share the news with his family.
It seems....Noah's true story begin's now.
---
The afternoon setting sun casted a long shadow across the cobblestone streets as Noah made his way back through the noble district, hands casually tucked into his pockets and that same insufferable grin that was stuck to his face was now nonexistent.
The events in the throne room replayed in his mind like a particularly entertaining stage performance.
"Man, I really went all out back there," he mused, dodging a pompous-looking merchant who was gesticulating wildly about fabric prices. "Christina's face went through more colors than a rainbow having an identity crisis. And Flora... poor girl looked like she wanted to melt into the floor~, haaa, I miss it already."
He chuckled to himself, earning a few strange looks from passing nobles. Not that he particularly cared after all he had bigger things to think about.
"Those little shits are going to lose their absolute minds when I tell them about all of this." Noah thought with mischievous excitement. "Rio's probably going to do that thing where he gets all up into his "interrogation mode". Mira's going to go into full mother-hen mode, worrying about whether they're prepared and what not~"
The thought of his makeshift family's reactions dangerously warmed something in his chest, but it also brought up another consideration: Training.
If they were going to attend the Royal Academy, they'd need to be ready for whatever challenges awaited them there.
"I'll have to design training regimens for each of them," he decided, already running through possibilities in his head. "Rio... well, I know what's coming for him eventually. Haruto's soul will merge with his when the mother of time gives the okay. Until then, I can still train him in the basics of swordsmanship, physical conditioning, maybe some of the fundamentals of spirit arts. The kid's got potential even without his haruto's soul. Perks of being a protagonist I guess."
"Mira doesn't even know she has magic yet," Noah muttered, a small smile playing on his lips. "I'll have to break that news to her gently and help build her confidence. She's got a natural motherly instinct, but she'll need to believe in herself first."
"Toma... daggers, definitely. He's got the right build for it, and with some magic training on the side, he could be incredibly versatile. Rika might do well with a spear—she's got the reach and the discipline for it, though I might adjust that later if it doesn't suit her."
"Kenji's easy—sword and hand-to-hand combat. The knucklehead wants to punch everything anyway, might as well teach him how to do it properly. And Lina... she'll probably excel at whatever she puts her mind to, knowing her."
"But Yui..." Noah's expression grew thoughtful. "She's still so young, and I'm not sure what kind of combat training would even be appropriate for her. Maybe I should focus on basic self-defense and see what natural talents emerge as she grows."
He paused his rambling, considering something else entirely. Something useful. "I should probably buy a skill that'll speed up their training progress. With limy, I can afford to give them every advantage possible."
'Yooo, limy~" Noah thought internally. Not even a second later did limy responded.
[DING~ What can I do for you today, master?]
Without skipping a beat, Noah responded just as fast.
"Simple. Show me skills related to training others~"
A translucent interface appeared in his vision, displaying various options for what he was looking for. After scrolling through several possibilities, one caught his attention:
[Master's Guidance~ Categorie; passive]
[Description: Anyone trained directly by the user learns 300% faster and retains information with perfect clarity. Additionally, provides instinctive understanding of each student's optimal learning style and training methods~]
"Hehehee, perfect ~" Noah grinned, mentally selecting the skill. "With this, they'll all be academy-ready in no time."
He paused mid-thought as a particularly ostentatious noble walked past, practically dripping in jewelry and fine silks. The man was so busy bragging loudly to his companion about his "extensive wine collection" that he didn't notice Noah smoothly lift a hefty coin purse from his belt.
(A/n: not the girly one's by the way)
'Seriously?' Noah thought, weighing the purse in his hand before making it disappear into his necklace. 'This guy's practically advertising that he's carrying a fortune. It's like he wants to be robbed cause he has a fetish~'
"—and then I told the merchant that I simply wouldn't accept anything less than vintage—" the noble continued his nonsense completely oblivious to his coin being took.
Noah shook his head in amusement. "Some people make it too easy," he muttered under his breath.
A few minutes later, another opportunity presented itself. A group of young nobles were clustered around a street performer, showing off by tossing coins with elaborate flourishes. All their purses hung loose and unguarded, almost like they wanted Noah's attention.
'It's like they've never heard of thieves' Noah observed as he slowly walke towards them, casually bumping into one of them on purpose during a particularly animated gesture. "Oh, sorry about that," he said with an apologetic smile as the noble waved him off dismissively.
"Quite alright, commoner," the noble replied haughtily, not even bothering to look at him properly.
"Commoner?" Noah's deadpanned face flashed a small grin as he put the man's coin purse into his inventory. "If only you knew, buddy. If only you knew~"
By the time he reached the edge of the noble district, Noah had acquired a small collection of coin purses from various inattentive aristocrats that sat comfortably inside his necklace. Each theft had been laughably easy—these people had clearly never faced any real hardship or learned to be cautious.
'I almost feel bad for them,' he thought, though his grin suggested otherwise. 'Almost. But then I remember how they treat people like me and the others, and then suddenly I wanna rob them again~'
As he entered the more familiar territory of the lower districts, Noah's thoughts returned to his family and the massive changes about to hit their lives. The Royal Institute was filled with crybaby nobles who would likely look down on them for just being "them". They'd need to be strong—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally aswell.
The ramshackle buildings of the slums came into his full view, a stark contrast to the pristine noble district he'd just left. Here, the streets were muddy, with the buildings patched together with whatever materials people could find, and the air carried the scent of cooking fires and honest depression.
'Home,' Noah thought with genuine sarcasm.
As he approached their small, run-down house, he could hear voices inside—his family was all there, probably wondering why he's not back yet.
The sound of Toma and Kenji arguing about something slipped through the covered windows, as mira's voice slipped out right after trying to calm them down, and the softer tones of the girls and a boy discussing whatever had caught their interest.
Noah paused at the door, his hand on the latch lightly, and his face now grinning from ear to ear. After the day he'd had—defeating a royal knight, making outrageous demands to a king, and casually proposing to two princesses—he figured his entrance should be appropriately dramatic.
'Time to give them a show~,' he thought mischiefly, with his grin widening in agreement.
So
Instead of simply opening the door like a normal person, Noah took a few steps back, then launched himself forward and kicked the door open with enough force to send it slamming against the wall.
"What the!!"
Then, he struck a dramatic pose in the doorway, head high like he was free, arms spread wide like he was god, and declared in his most theatrical voice:
"BEHOLD MORTALS! Your hero has returned from his epic quest to charm royalty!"
First, they blinked in surprise. Then, the response was immediate and chaotic upon seeing who just kicked in there door.
"NOAH?!" came a chorus of voices from inside.
"What the fuck—" Toma started.
"Language!!" Mira scolded quickly after.
"Are you insane?!" Rio shouted, jumping up from where he'd been sitting. "You could have broken the door idiot!"
"Actually, I think he did break the door," Lina chipped in right after she observed calmly, pointing at where the latch had been torn clean off.
Yui, who had been sitting quietly next to mira, got up and ran right for noahs leg, as she looked up with wide eyes, a. "Noah, why are you being weird?"
Feeling a light bump below him, he looked down slightly.
"Weird?" Noah gasped, changing his pose by pressing a hand to his chest in mock offense. "I prefer the term 'dramatically appropriate.' And trust me, after the day I've had, a little drama is completely warranted, dear yui~"
He stepped into the house, as he carefully picked up yui and closed the now-broken door behind him, and surveyed his family. They were all staring at him with varying degrees of confusion, concern, and exasperation since he was being weird right now.
"So," Noah said, settling yui with the others then sitting into his favorite chair with a satisfied sigh, "who wants to hear about how I accidentally became engaged to two princesses?"
The silence that followed was deafening. If the candles had eyes, their side-eye would be lethal.
Then, predictably on time, the reactions erupted.
"WHAT?!" seven voices shouted in perfect unison.
Noah's small smile widened. "Yep. This is going to be fun."
---
End
(Note~ the time Noah has been in Seirei Gensouki would be changed. Instead of 4 weeks. It'll be 3 mouths now☆. Also sometimes the chapter show the old chapter. I don't know why. So if you get that cal 911)