Chapter 38: The Hero’s Son Is Also Brave

Chapter 38: The Hero’s Son Is Also Brave

The news that Little Dragon Boy had been knocked down quickly reached the Duke in the castle. So, that evening, the father warmly invited the elders of Little Dragon Boy’s family to a banquet. He specifically asked them to bring their children, so the younger generation could get to know each other. During the meal, he mentioned more than once that they were getting old, and the future would depend on their children.

These words were quite annoying. Dragon Rider Father just kept his head down and ate, not looking up, as if he intended to eat the host out of house and home.

Northlanders had a trait: when they were happy, they tended to forget themselves, and when they forgot themselves, they had no bottom line. After making fun of the young ones, they started on the old ones. The Duke sighed with emotion: “Everyone knows that we Northland Warriors may bear the name of Knight, but our horses are just for transportation. When it really comes to fighting, we rely on our own strength. We can’t bear to risk our own horses, so we dismount to fight. Back in the day, we Northlanders suffered because of this soft-heartedness, letting a group of people escape alive. Later, it even spread that they were considered our equals.” At this point, the Duke sighed and shook his head.

Dragon Rider Father, I’ll endure. This meat is good, I’ll eat a few more pieces.

At the banquet, the two sides sat facing each other, but the atmosphere was high on one side, while the other silently kept their heads down and ate fiercely.

Finally, Little Dragon Boy couldn’t take it anymore. He slammed his dinner knife on the table and stood up angrily, shouting at Bran, “I challenge you!” Perhaps the aftereffects of the three slaps hadn’t fully faded, as his body seemed to sway a little, or maybe it was from anger.

After all, he’s just a child, Bran sighed inwardly. Your father and the others can endure, surely because they need something from us. Taking advantage of us Northlanders being dizzy with happiness, anything can be discussed. If you really jump up and hit me, or if I hit you, and especially in front of both sides’ elders, faces would be lost. It doesn’t matter how we fight in private, but if you really turn it into a public duel…

Bran comforted himself, I am an idiot, I won’t stoop to your level.

Facing Little Dragon Boy’s provocation, Bran acted as if he didn’t see it. He even casually smoothed the whiskers at the corner of his own Huahua’s mouth and placed two pieces of meat from his bowl into Huahua’s plate. So, the black cat Huahua ate contentedly, making “owawa” sounds…

This act of ignoring him completely infuriated the young Little Dragon Rider opposite him. He grabbed a large piece of meat from his plate and threw it at Bran. However, Huahua, who had been keeping his head down and eating fiercely, sprang up. In mid-air, he swatted the missile down to the ground with a paw. Then, shaking his paw, he returned to Bran’s side on three legs in a strange posture, presenting the constantly shaking, oil-covered little paw to Bran. Bran picked up a napkin and carefully began to wipe and clean this little paw. Then, the boy and the cat, as if no one else was around, meticulously, carefully, wiped and wiped, checked and checked. Finally, it seemed both the boy and the cat confirmed at the same time that the little paw was clean, and they both let out a long sigh of relief. The black cat continued eating, and the idiot Bran continued to carefully serve…

Dragon Rider Father finally couldn’t bear to see his own child suffer any longer. He scolded Little Dragon Boy, who already had tears in his eyes, “Sit down. Why are you picking a fight with an idiot?”

However, these words really stirred up a hornet’s nest…

The Northlanders sitting opposite all stopped their actions. Laughter and curses disappeared, and the entire hall fell silent. Then, the Dragon Riders who had been eating fiercely with their heads down also stopped their actions and sat up straight. Bran instantly felt pressure, an enormous, indescribable pressure that seemed to act directly on his spirit, making him feel somewhat dizzy. Bran shook his head, and the power and mana within him surged simultaneously, dispelling this feeling.

Although people in the castle still privately called Bran an idiot, the meaning carried by “idiot” had already changed. It had become a code name, a complex mixture of meanings, even a teasing nickname. Many people, because of their attitude towards Bran when he was a child, their rejection and coldness towards him, felt more or less guilty for how they had treated a child back then. This feeling had become a scar many didn’t want to uncover.

Now the scar had been uncovered, inadvertently, when no one expected it, by someone using the term “idiot” in a simple, straightforward way, telling everyone around the correct way to use it. So, an awkward silence appeared, filled with some embarrassment and helplessness.

Dragon Rider Father, who had shouted “idiot,” didn’t understand why it caused this standoff, so he was baffled. The Northlanders had their scar uncovered, feeling embarrassed, helpless, and additionally angry. This anger was directed partly at others, but mostly at themselves.

The auras of both sides clashed, leaving the Dragon Riders somewhat confused. They could feel the anger of the Northlanders, but that anger wasn’t completely directed at their own side. It lingered among the Northlanders, suppressed, unable to find an outlet for a long time. Although the Dragon Riders didn’t fear these Northlanders, they didn’t want to become that outlet either, so they all restrained their auras and remained still as mountains.

What broke the deadlock was Bran’s sister, Little Loli. She indicated she was full, so Bran got up with his cat, took Little Loli’s hand, and left.

…

What taste did each person finally have in their mouth from this meal? Bran couldn’t imagine. But he knew an enraged Little Dragon Boy was destined to be troublesome. Moreover, he looked forward even more to the reaction of the family of the girl who received the ring. Exquisite accessories were always favorites of the leisure and wealthy class. Perhaps the material value of the ring itself was limited, but judging from the fine craftsmanship, Bran believed the value of this ring wouldn’t be too low in the eyes of many.

Where there is giving, there is returning. After all, in this world, there were too few like the Northlanders, who hold the attitude of “I give you something just because I want to.” And according to the rules among nobles, he believed a nice return gift would soon be sent to the Mountain Villa, no matter under what name.

Since the Northlands refused to sell their ironware and horses, then looking from another angle, trying to get some useless, pure luxuries might work.

…

The useless, pure luxury in Bran’s mind was now in the hands of Zoya’s parents. Their daughter really had some skill, actually managing to get an exquisite accessory from an idiot’s hands.

At first glance, it didn’t look like much. But when viewed up close, the cold, hard floral pattern actually seemed to sway. This was magical, and its value became hard to estimate.

It was a pity it was a gift for their own daughter. The two parents couldn’t very well take it from their daughter’s hand, at least not during their stay in the Northlands; it had to stay on their daughter’s hand.

At the same time, they noticed the Duchess’s bracelet and the accessories of her two daughters were all rare, fine pieces. But out of face-saving concerns, they naturally wouldn’t ask too many questions. When they tried to probe indirectly, the other party just smiled and didn’t respond. Now it seemed these accessories likely came from the Northlands, but when could Northlanders make such exquisite accessories? The style was a bit chaotic.

The two of them each had their own thoughts. The father remarked casually, “The kids did well today, they made progress. Especially my silly boy. He got tricked yesterday, and today he turned around and sold out the other guy. Good. I heard he even got kicked one more time than my son. This kid takes after me, has great wisdom.”

“My daughter takes after me, generous and graceful, and her looks are outstanding. Even an idiot can see how good my daughter is. But if he really has taken a fancy to our daughter… although our goal is to trick this fool back home, this is just too pitiful…”

So the two fell silent simultaneously, their faces unsettled…