How to Live as a Half-Dragon

106. Great Competition (1)

The venue where the meeting was held was solemn.

There was, of course, a considerable difference from social gatherings where people laughed and chatted, such as balls and dinners that fostered friendship.

The atmosphere, where even the sound of coughing seemed to be taken care of, made Xian nervous.

“Xian Alteon is entering.”

At the shout of the man guarding the entrance, the eyes of the venue were immediately focused.

It wasn’t a very loud voice, but the quiet environment of the venue helped.

There were both favorable and unfavorable gazes toward Xian. Of course, if I had to ask, there were a lot more people who didn’t like it.

Xian found a familiar eye among the gaze.

‘Stain that guy… .’

Stein averted his eyes as he bowed his head slightly.

Although our encounter was brief, it was enough to read his emotions.

‘Didn’t I avoid it for no reason… .’

As Xian thought about that for a while at the entrance, he heard footsteps after a while.

When I turned my head there, I saw a tall man walking towards me.

‘First Prince Kirchion… .’

His feet soon reached and stopped in front of Xian.

With a stocky body one head taller than Xian and purple hair, he is, strictly speaking, the protagonist of this tournament.

He touched Xian’s shoulder and opened his mouth with a very unpleasant smile.

“Please take good care of me in many ways. Nephew.”

As planned, Xi’an should have been of great help in his succession today.

And that was also the wish of his maternal grandfather and this Alteon.

It meant that Xi’an’s cooperation was as important as he was to be reborn as a complete successor.

“… yes”

Even though Xian knew that, he bowed his head to his uncle.

‘There’s no need to show your teeth already.’

Anyway, when the tournament starts, the right to speak will pass to you.

It didn’t hurt at all to bite the scruff of the neck.

1 Prince Kirchion smiled satisfactorily.

“For now, my nephew, sit down in an empty seat in the back row.”

“thank you.”

It was a story that seemed like you were just right, but there is nothing to feel bad about if you have a separate inside.

Xian smiled brightly and followed without showing anything.

Well, I didn’t want to do politics in Alteon, and all I wanted was to ruin today’s tournament.

Strictly speaking, it was to make sure things didn’t go the way Lugrant wanted, so I’m afraid, but…

‘Would you like this place?’

Xian went to the end of the back row and sat down, as the Archduke had said.

Considering the time to speak later, this was the most reasonable place.

‘Even if a knife comes flying, it will be easy to avoid.’

When it starts, the venue will be packed full of people.

Considering the worst situation, we preoccupied a large space.

‘Anyway, there are many… .’

Even after Xi’an, people continued to come in and sit in the venue.

It was a side that made me realize that there are many nobles who follow Alteon.

Since he had to rebel against this kind of Alteon, Xian was slightly more nervous.

‘Still, all the people who are likely to come have come.’

At first glance, there were hardly any empty seats.

It was when Xian thought so.

Many footsteps were heard in Xian’s senses.

The owners of the footsteps heard from the outside hallway were all of a high level.

Xian guessed who they were.

“The rightful leader of Alteon, the ruler of glory, His Excellency Duke Alteon enters.”

At the words of the man, the people in the venue stood up all at once.

Xian also stood up from his seat.

Lugrand received the eyes of loyal nobles and soon entered the chairmanship.

Slowly and moderately, exuding the spirit of a great aristocrat, he headed towards his seat.

‘That person… .’

And there are people who come after them.

3 guys.

Xian knew who they were.

One of the three had a familiar face, so I was sure.

From left to right, they should have been Counts Highgreve, Counts Craston, and Counts Inglas.

Looking at the patterns embedded in the three insignias standing side by side in front of Alteon’s main house, it was clear.

‘Three pillars supporting Alteon… .’

Xian watched them closely and sat down as the others sat down.

Before I knew it, my maternal grandfather, Lugrant, was sitting down.

“I express my gratitude to all of you who stepped forward to today’s tournament.”

Lugrant checked Kirsion, who was sitting in a relatively close seat, and glanced at Xian, who was sitting in the corner.

“As you all know, this tournament is to designate the next head of household, which has been vacant for a long time. I would like to hear the opinions of various vassals.”

As Lugrant finished his words, there was silence for a while.

However, that was short-lived, and soon a man with an impressive goatee stood up.

Judging from the fact that he was standing in the front seat, he seemed like a fairly famous vassal.

“May I say something?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t think there’s any problem with the Grand Duke leading Alteon after the family head.”

The title of grand duke or grand duchess is allowed to the successor who will inherit the position of the next family head.

However, the man called Kirchion a grand duke.

But even so, no one pointed it out, let alone Lugrand, and no one in the president.

It was because everyone knew of Rugrant’s intentions.

“I want to hear the reason.”

“First of all, he is the eldest son of the head of the household. Age does not represent a person’s talent, but I think it’s right to let a worthy successor continue his will even for the sake of any confusion.”

After that, the man recited several reasons, but Xi’an was not particularly interested.

Of course.

Anyway, it was something that had already been discussed with the head of household in advance.

What Xian had to check was who was on the side of the Archduke and how much.

He gave a speech and withdrew, and soon another spoke.

“I think the reason could be that the Grand Duke stood by the head of the household for a long time and became the support of the family. In particular, if you are a ruler who will rule this Alteon, you must be someone who cares for Alteon above all else. It is only natural that the grand duke inherit the heir.”

The second man also expressed his support for the Archduke and withdrew from his seat.

After that, after about four people put their strength into the argument, the chairman became quiet.

After all, the archduke’s face had been painted with gold, so there was no way he could say anything more.

As silence reigned over the venue, Rugland spoke.

“Do you have any other opinions?”

It seemed like he was talking to everyone in the president, but in fact he was talking to specific people.

It means that some of the vassals have expressed their will as spokesmen, so if you have any complaints, speak up.

At Rugland’s question, one of the vassals in the front ten corners quietly stood up.

“I am Viscount Uland.”

“Tell me.”

“I think that the original Grand Duchess is suitable for the heir of the family.”

“If you are the Grand Duchess, are you referring to Laceilla?”

Viscount Uland was taken aback by Rugland’s words.

It was because even though he knew who he was pointing to, insisting on mentioning Raycilla meant treating Sara as an absent child.

“Sir, I understand that you are uncomfortable. You must have been disappointed with Miss Sara’s irresponsible behavior.”

However, the Viscount was not intimidated by this and soon unfolded his own story.

“However, most of the grounds that the Grand Duke deserves the title of head of the household are met by Miss Sara as well.”

First of all, Sarah, the only child with her original wife, was close to the deficit, was the oldest, and was also smart and talented.

The only thing that cannot be refuted is that she suddenly left the family 17 years ago without any responsibility, and other than this, none of the family head’s descendants were worthy of pushing her out and inheriting the family headship.

Even in an era when males were preferred over females as successors, Sarah was the first to be counted as the successor.

“Again, Alteon is a warrior. The Archduke is obviously excellent at his own actions, but I know that he is not good enough to follow Lady Sarah.”

When Sara disappeared 17 years ago, she was already a high-level slayer.

At the age of 23, there are over 100 high-level slayers on the continent.

It was like the pride of Alteon.

On the other hand, Grand Duke is still at the level of an intermediate slayer.

It was unbelievable that they were born of the same seed, and his talent was below expectations.

No, the mid-level slayers were clearly a strong class, but it was laughable that they were pointed out as unsuitable because they were Dae Alteon.

“Nothing… Anyway, I understand Viscount Uland’s will.”

“thank you. dismissal.”

As Viscount Uland raised his greetings, Rugland looked at the congregation.

“Any other opinions?”

The Viscount, who had first expressed his support for the Archduke in a one-long speech, stood up again and said:

“I will tell you something.”

“Tell me.”

“I think inaction is an important virtue for those who lead Alteon, but I don’t think it fits the grounds that Lady Sarah is suitable for the head of the family.”

“Tell me why.”

“First of all, as someone else said before, the head of Alteon should be the one who will lead Alteon responsibly. Miss Sarah, who has already run away from her responsibilities once, doesn’t think she deserves it, no matter how talented she is.”

“Take care. Is there any other reason besides that?”

“there is.”

The man looked at Viscount Uland and said.

“Do you know where Miss Sarah is?”

“that… .”

Yes, this was the biggest problem.

No one knows where Sarah is.

Since he left Alteon 17 years ago without leaving a trace, no one knows.

“No matter how talented you are, you can’t entrust important affairs to someone you don’t even know where they are.”

The man laughed at Viscount Uland and sat down.

said Lugrand.

“Listen, everyone, your opinion is all valid. But Viscount Uhland.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“Even if he knows where Sarah is, there is one more reason why he can’t become the head of the household.”

“… What is?”

“Where is the basis that the child who ran away 17 years ago not wanting to become the head of Alteon would want to take over Alteon now?”

“that… .”

“It’s funny to find someone who left because he didn’t like Alteon. Is it not?”

The viscount was speechless.

It was because the argument of the head of state was the right theory.

It wasn’t that Sara came here to repent and pray, and even if the people who remained in Alteon begged each other without the person concerned, there would be no justification for it.

He hoped that she, who has more outstanding qualities than anyone else, would lead Alteon, but it seemed unreasonable to force her any further.

“However, I also know that you will not easily understand even if I say this.”

Viscount Uland raised his head.

As the head of Alteon, if they showed that much sincerity, even if they pushed for the results with an iron fist, they, as vassals, would have no choice but to follow in the end.

Rather than following with the heart, it must have been the loyalty that came from the head, but it was like that anyway.

However, Ga-joo speaks as if that is not the end.

Viscount Uland was curious about that intention.

“In fact, Sarah’s resuscitation is here.”

A slight wave rose in the conference hall.

Those who came before Xian already knew the contents, but those who did not seem to be aware of it.

“I’m sure everyone has heard.”

7 years ago, the existence that once infested Alteon and left under the direction of the head of the house.

I had to come back to Alteon a few days ago, but I thought I was here…

“How about asking the child?”

“What does that mean… ?”

“I’m going to ask if my mother wants to lead Alteon at the head of her family.”

Xian, who had been watching the contents of the agreement for a long time, immediately stood up from his seat at the rushing gaze.

Now is the time to show the teeth you’ve been hiding.