Virtuous Old Man, SSS-Rank is Confirmed in Your Next Life - Volume 1: 11

The end of the self-made rebellion came  with the capture of the traitorous Fleming.

And I was treated as having uncovered Fleming’s conspiracy, rather than subduing him, and I was told that I would have a formal audience with Her Majesty the Monarch, as well as a grateful award.

This is the sole reason I am here in the Imperial Capital with Angie, and our accommodation is at the mansion of a nobleman said to be a friend of my father’s.

「Oh!　Kiddo is the Greatest Treasure of Carlisle?」

As we entered the mansion, a bearded, brawny man greeted us.

He is muscular, with a voice as loud as a gong.

He is the type of man that any person would think of as a robust man.

I bowed calmly and politely.

「Good day to you, Hessen Chohi-sama. I am Alexander Carlisle. This is my fiancée, Angelica  」

「Ha, nice to meet you!　My name is Angelica! 」

Angie tried to greet him as well, but she blurted

out as a child, just as she is one.

She was so overwhelmed by the size of the bearded man that she cut her greeting short.

「Hahaha!　Don’t be nervous, I won’t eat you. You can talk like you normally do  」

「Yes, thank you 」

「But I see… 」

Hessen plucked his chin, bent down, and looked at me intensely.

「So kid’s Carlisle’s Greatest Treasure. I see, you got a nice face  」

「Well, what’s this『Carlisle’s Treasure 』you speak of? 」

「Hmm?　Oh, what can I say kid. Every time your father visits, he brags to everyone that he has the best son in the world, so I just started to call you that  」

「He he  」

What were you thinking, Father!　I almost clicked my tongue.

But let’s not forget that this is something my father would do. He did it with Her Majesty the Monarch – Eliza, why wouldn’t he do it with a fellow nobleman?

「If possible, I would be glad if you would stop with that Carlisle’s Greatest Treasure. I’m still inexperienced in a lot of fields, so it’s embarrassing to be called that 」

「Oh, come on. Well, that’s just a way of teasing Carlisle, and it’s the same way I use it with you kid 」

Maybe it was to tease Father, I can understand the sentiment, but I bet my father did not take it as such.

『He’s not Carlisle’s  Greatest  Treasure, he’s an Imperial treasure 』

I can see my father angrily cry out.

「I will just call you kiddo 」

「Thank you, Hessen-sama 」

Hahaha – Hessen led us to the guest room with a blustering laugh.

Following behind us were maids, the servants, but Hessen felt the need to lead us in himself.

「Here, how do you like it, it’s the best guest room in the house 」

「Thank you. It’s a very nice room 」

「If there’s anything you lack, just say the word. You know, His Majesty’s gift will be here soon, so you probably won’t come to need much 」

He said in a loud, but utterly composed voice.

He is a simple man with good mannerism.

Hessen Chohi is known as the strongest warrior in the Empire.

From his appearance it might be true.

「By the way, kiddo, is this alright? 」

Hessen asked, and with a gulp, he tilted the cup-like circle he had made with his fingers to his mouth.

I chuckle at the classic drinking gesture, not something that could be asked of a normal seven-year-old.

I’m an Imperial Baron, though, and I’ve had my share of socializing and such.

「Just a little. I hope to be able to drink like a man when I grow up 」

「Yeah, well, that’s how a man should do. Kiddo, go out with me!　I’ll be borrowing your fiancée 」

「I’m sorry Angie, I’m just going to go out for a while 」

「Yes, have a good day, Mr. Alec 」

Angie sent us off with a smile.

She is intelligent, and has gained the etiquette and knowledge befitting a baroness.

When the baron receives an invite from a general to go somewhere, she knows that the only right approach is to send him off with a smile as a chaste wife, and she does.

I was then led by Hessen to the dining room of the mansion.

「Wow, it’s a fine dining room 」

I said in an honest impression.

The Hessen house dining room is more than twice as large as that of the Carlisle house.

There is a long narrow table in the middle of it for only the master of the house, but it is so long that it can seat fifty people on each row.

「Oh!　I use it for meeting with some of my chaps now and then! 」

「I see 」

I can imagine what a scene it is.

A stout and most well-known warrior, with a robust personality, and loves to drink.

I’m sure it’s quite a mess, every time.

「……I took him out just like you ordered 」

I suddenly overheard Hessen muttering to himself as he stared out the dining room window.

「What’s the matter, Hessen-sama? 」

「Hmm?　Oh, no, it’s nothing. Hey, bring me a drink 」

Hessen ordered, and within ten seconds the maids brought in drink and food, in that order.

I noticed that one of the maids was carrying salt.

「Salt is good. I feel like I could drink all night with it 」

「–Oh, oh, oh! 」

Hessen with wide eyes grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me.

Before I thought he had a bold personality, but this was the most excited he’d been since we met.

Uh … did I say something wrong?

「You know your stuff. I know what you mean. Meat and other delicacies just fool your tongue and ruin the drink. You understand that, don’t you, kid? 」

… Oh.

Oh, yes, I am a child.

A child of only seven years old. I usually think before I speak but I accidentally blurted that out.

I’ve been doing a combination of alcohol and salt since I was old enough to be an old man in the previous life, so it just came out.

Hessen stared at me.

「What’s the matter, Hessen-sama? 」

「I like you! 」

「Eh? 」

「I like you, Alec 」

Hessen admitted as he patted me on the shoulder.

I honestly want to say it hurt a bit, but it was more than a bit.

「Not many people know about it. What do you say?  Be my brother-in-law 」

…..