I look into the room.

In the back, a group of bards are playing music. A single huge and long table reaches across the massive room.

Food and drink that are quite expensive in this world’s technological age are going every which way. Though I can’t see the food, I know some of what’s on the menu.

I wonder how much this has cost?

As I stand there wondering that, a man who looks to be in his early thirties walks up to me.

“Salutations… Viscount Akashi.” he greets, sounding quite angry.

“Salutations,” I reply

I wonder who this guy is…?

“I’ve heard about you’re duel with my son… did you really have to injure him that badly?” The man asks, almost shouting

Ah… has news spread that quickly? It didn’t feel like long.

…This is quite a bad situation I’m in… a noble who seems just past his prime such as this man is someone I don’t believe I can handle in a duel.

A majority of Nobles have higher stats than the common person, haven’t ever worried about starvation, and have much better training.

Cent was reckless, dumb, and not yet at the prime of his combat prowess.

The assassins, discounting that hateful guy, Blake Powell, didn’t seem to be that well trained, nor particularly well-fed.

“...An injury is to be expected in a duel, no?” I ask

The man’s eye twitches. “I suppose the same could go for death if I were to challenge you?” the man threatens.

“Surely, it would be greatly looked down upon if a noble well into their adult life, such as you, were to challenge someone, such as me, who isn’t yet even two?” I reply, trying to sound confident.

“...” The knight has no response.

“I’ll challenge you when you reach an acceptable age, in that case.” the knight growls

“Sure…” I reply, sounding rather cocky.

The man walks off.

“...not like you’ll last that long anyway,” I mutter under my breath.

Even if he’s not doing anything illegal, he’s someone who’s a danger to my health. I’ll push some sort of crime onto him if I have to.

Sure, it’s corrupt, but letting someone like him live freely as a knight is something that could turn into a disaster.

I make my way through the room, avoiding the small crowds of nobles and the members of their harems that follow them as I do.

To be frank, I’m somewhat afraid of being stepped on…

Most of the knights don’t seem to notice me, so it would be quite easy for them to step on me.

I reach one of the corners of the room.

I’ve never been to a party before, but it just seems so very natural for me to gravitate towards a corner such as this.

Quite a few knights have done the same.

Talking to others isn’t very fun.

Before long, a dame who looks to be in her early twenties walks up to me.

Even though I’ve fully committed to purity until I come across a fellow immortal, it’s quite difficult not to notice her massive chest.

“Salutations, Viscount Akashi,” she greets

“Salutations,” I reply

In my mind, I’m hoping she goes away.

My mind is still that of a teenage boy. While I have no intention of doing anything lewd, it’s still a bit of a complicated situation. I might've had a hard time not thinking of lewd things if I wasn’t a toddler.

Her chest blocks the view of much of her face, and I feel really awkward looking at her chest. It’s kinda similar to how a normal guy feels when there’s a girl in front of them going up the stairs.

I’d stare at the floor, but it’s quite rude to look away when someone’s talking. I’m very unsure of what I’m supposed to do…

I’m also socially exhausted, and I feel like every sentence I speak to someone is going to screw something up somehow.

“I’m quite impressed that you managed to beat Baron Ulden’s son Cent in a duel. He may not be a fighter, but he’s still a noble.” the dame compliments

“I… I’m quite surprised I managed to beat him as well. I have a rather… special skill though that renders the average combatant quite useless against me, despite me not yet being two.” I explain

…I’m sure it’s fine to share some details on my skill, as long as I don’t share to many.

“That is still quite impressive… rather, I’d say it makes it even better. Such a skill will surely bring great success to the house in the future…” she tells me

…She’s just sucking up to me, isn’t she?

How far has her house fallen that she’d resort to sucking up to me?

…No, no. Maybe she’s being genuine?

Still doesn’t change the fact that she’s sucking up to me, but it takes most of the negatives out of it.

…I really doubt that though. It feels kinda painful getting compliments as hollow as these. Worse than my norm of getting absolutely zero compliments.

The girl continues to suck up to me for a while, and I ignore her the best I can. She leaves after getting the hint that it won’t work.

After the dame leaves, the rest of the banquet goes on with knights and dames coming up to talk to me every once in a while, with me becoming more and more social exhausted and becoming sleepy slowly, until it’s time for me to get to the point of the banquet at roughly the midpoint of the entire thing.

Bedo walks up to me.

“Salutations, Master Akashi,” He greets

“...Salutations Bedo. I’m quite exhausted. Would it be alright for me to rest for a bit?” I ask

“Apologies. It’s time to get to the official reason for this banquet.” Bedo tells me

…

A bleeped-out string of curses go through my mind.

I sigh. “...Alright then…”

Let’s not screw this up. After this, I’ll head to the children’s area, where hopefully most of them are asleep, and I’ll be able to rest my social battery a bit, at the very least.

Though I still won’t be able to sleep, so I’ll just have to deal with that.

I stand straight and try to wake myself up. I raise my hand over my mouth and yawn.

I’m not used to this amount of activity, even if it isn’t really physical.

My attempts to make myself feel not as sleep fail. My eyelids of drooping.

…Maybe it would be acceptable for me to sleep… I’m not even two yet, so it should be fine.

I yawn again.

Momentarily, I’m awake. I can tell I won’t be able to keep myself awake for long though no matter what though.

I make my way towards the head of the table and sit down at it.

I take a quick look at my cheat sheet speech, before sighing, folding it up, and placing it into my pocket.

I won’t be following it. I didn’t prepare it, and I never do well with strict scripts like this anyway, based on my experience in school.

Knowing what’s going on in your subject, and being able to answer any questions necessary while still also keeping to a few main points, is the best way to do a speech or presentation, or something similar, in my opinion.

The points I need to touch up on are what happened, what’s going on right now, and then have the knight houses come up with ideas for what to respond with. I don’t really have the energy to think much right now, so I’ll go with allowing the knights to vote tonight.

I stand up on my chair and Bedo rings a special instrument. It’s not something that exists on Earth, to my knowledge. It’s called a Banquet Bell, and it’s used to signify that it’s time to get to the point of the banquet.

Conversation quickly dies down. Once it stops, I begin.

“Salutations, I’m Viscount Akashi... I’m quite sure you all are well aware of the reason for this banquet… I’ll give those who are unaware a refresher, though” I start, getting a bit more into talking.

“Perhaps… two weeks ago, Baron Ulden’s Son, Cent Ulden, had challenged me to a duel. I, quite offended, accepted. Thanks to my special skill, I had won the duel. Rather offended by Cent challenging someone not yet two years old such as myself, and quite afraid of what would happen to the next child in such a predicament, I ended his Life.” I explain

I pause for a bit. “Surely, you all agree that such a man is best left dead, correct?” I continue without much pause for a response. “Though, let’s keep that information away from Baron Ulden, yes? Probably, that wouldn’t end too well for you all. Baron Ulden has quite the nasty personality.”

“This nasty personality of his was revealed to me with his response to the duel. He’s asking for reparations for his son’s death.” I enhance and multiply my inner frustration at Baron Ulden from minor annoyance, to actual anger. “In the first place, his son is the one who challenges me, and in the second, death is something to be expected in a duel! I’m sure you all can see why I’m so frustrated with such an insolent fool.”

I stop for a bit, to allow for some knights and dames to mutter their agreement. I no longer feel so sleepy.

“...Now, this doesn’t quite make it enough to call this banquet. I, being a viscount, can surely squish Baron House Ulden.” I start the final part.

“However, with how nasty of a personality Baron Ulden is, I’m sure he’d attempt to kill off you, and your families while he’s in the process of being squished. I’m fairly sure he has something to do with the attack launched on me recently.” I tell the knights and dames, trying my best to rile them up, while also painting myself as relatable and as someone who cares for them. It’s not even really a lie, more just an over-exaggeration of some minor suspicions.

After all, I’m quite incapable of uttering something I think is a lie. A full lie goes against my personal values, and makes me feel incredibly guilty.

A great over-exaggeration, however, is fine.

“...As such, since you’ll likely be the ones more impacted, I’ve decided to call this banquet, so you may decide. The attack on me was almost certainly led my some other faction, so I don’t believe they’ll attack once more. However, I don’t believe he’ll have much trouble killing houses that are less armed, and of lesser rank.” I continue.

“Now, if anyone has any ideas, they may take the head chair. At dawn, you shall vote, and whichever idea has the largest following will be followed.” I finish

Then I force myself to flinch-teleport off the chair, and to the floor, before heading back off into a corner, to give myself a flashy finish.

Mentally, I give myself a pat on the back.

Bedo comes up to me.

“That was excellent, Master Akashi. It seems as if you’re genuinely angry at Baron Ulden.” Bedo praises

…I’m sure it’s not that good until you take my age into account.

Perhaps it was alright, though.

“To be frank he is quite the imbecile. If I actually had to deal with him I’d be quite angry.” I reply, choosing to ignore the more direct praise. “Now, I’m going to go to the children’s area once more. Hopefully they’re asleep and I can sleep as well. If I’m not back before dawn, send someone to get me.”

With that, I head off.