Upstart Pastry Chef ~Territory Management of a Genius Pâtisserie~ - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Declaration of War

My innate healing magic, Heal.

Through it, I came to understand the principles of this world.

In this world, there exists something called proficiency for all sorts of skills, and once it surpasses a certain threshold, it is sublimated into a skill.

For example, from what I can see now, my father has Spear Aptitude B and Spear Skill III. And my younger brother, Jorg, has Spear Aptitude B and Spear Skill I.

Aptitude ranges from S, A, B, C, D, E, to F, with ordinary people being at D. It’s fair to say that B is genius level. With D, you can acquire skills if you diligently train for ten years. With B, you can master it in about a year. For a parent and child to possess such high spear skills, it must be a talent inherited by the Arnoldt family.

However, I have Spear Aptitude F and have not mastered the Spear Skill.

Of course, that’s only natural. With the lowest aptitude for spears.

The benefit of the Spear Skill is a rise in effectiveness for actions involving the spear. The reason why Jorg’s spear was fast and heavy was thanks to that skill.

Just with the Spear Skill alone, Jorg surpassed the ten years of effort I had put in.

How unfair it all seems.

What was the point of my ten years of training…? Any technique pales in comparison to the Spear Skill. And with Jorg having aptitude B, he will continue to develop his Spear Skill. From I to II, from II to III. Meanwhile, I can’t expect any further growth.

“Tina, what if… you’ve been giving it your all for so long, and it turns out to be completely futile, and you realize there’s nothing you can do about it anymore?”

I ask as I hold Tina close.

I feel like I want to let out a helpless complaint.

“…If it were me, I’d keep trying. I’d keep trying, and even if it doesn’t work out, I’ll think of another way. I’m sure, giving your best isn’t the goal but rather the means. So, I’ll look for another means to achieve the goal.”

“I see. Giving your best, then finding another way…”
What have I been training the spear for?

Because the spear is the symbol of the Arnoldt family, did I want to acquire it as the eldest son of the Arnoldt family?

Because my father told me to?

No, that’s not it.

I wanted to become the world’s greatest pastry chef. That’s why I wanted to inherit the Arnoldt family. So, I needed to be chosen in the Selection Ceremony. The spear was just a means to that end.

Then, as long as I can win with martial arts, I don’t need the spear.

“Thank you, Tina. I see a glimmer of hope now… and I’m sorry for suddenly hugging you.”

I loosen my grip around Tina and release her.

Tina looks disappointed.

“You don’t have to apologize! I was happy that you relied on me. And knowing that you get down too, I like you even more. From now on, please rely on me more and more.”

Tina speaks rapidly, her face blushing.

I feel like I’m back to my usual self. I gently stroke Tina’s head.

“Thanks to you, I see a ray of hope.”

I won’t let go of the village I created for my dream, or Tina.

Closing my eyes, I ask myself.

What am I good at? Is there anything else I can fight with besides the spear?

The answer comes back. Through the magic of recovery, the eyes that see everything can discern one’s own talent.

The answer is… a talent with aptitude S.

“But, can I make it in time?”

If I develop the talent with aptitude S, defeating Jorg will be a piece of cake.
However, there are still issues.

In the Battle Ceremony, while it’s only the martial arts that determine the outcome and there’s no specification of weapons, the spear is the symbol of the Arnoldt family. Can I truly claim to be the lord of the Arnoldt family after abandoning it?

Another issue is the lack of time. Can I discard the spear, take up a new weapon now, and become proficient in just one week? Even with an aptitude of S, it takes a month to sublimate it into a skill.

Then there’s the emotional issue. Even though I understand rationally that I must abandon the spear, I can’t discard the ten years of effort. There’s a swirling feeling of not wanting to admit it’s futile.

“Kurt-sama, let’s go back. You seem to be in pain staying here.”

Tina holds my hand. Her small hand, transmitting Tina’s warmth.

This warmth awakens me.

“Yeah, let’s go. To our village.”

To protect this warmth, what is there to hesitate about? Whatever I have to sacrifice, whatever means I have to employ, I must win.

Using my discerning eyes, I desperately think.

One method, like a hidden trick, comes to mind. However, it’s only a method to increase proficiency and sublimate it into a skill.

But that alone isn’t enough.

Is there something, anything else? A way to reduce one month’s time to one week.

Suddenly, one of the skills I possessed comes to mind.

【Fool’s Determination】

Focusing on those words, I understand its true nature.

Fool’s Determination: The obsession of those without talent. Unwavering determination that turns the impossible into possible.

※ Acquisition Condition: Train a skill with an aptitude value of F for over ten years, every day.

※ Effect: All skills are treated as if their aptitude rank has been raised by one.

“Haha, haha, it wasn’t in vain. My spear…”

By desperately continuing efforts despite lacking talent, I gained the “knack” that connects to everything at its core. That must have been sublimated into a skill. Only I can possess an aptitude even higher than S.

A skill that wouldn’t have been acquired if I slacked off for even a day. The crystallization of my stubbornness and determination.

What the spear training provided wasn’t this skill. It’s something Jorg could never have. The principles of combat. How to move the body. Breathing. I learned them alongside the spear.

I tightly grip the spear in my hand. Thank you for ten years. I’m taking a new step forward from here.

“Shall we go, Tina? I’m alright now.”

“Yes, Kurt-sama. Let’s return to our village.”

I hold Tina’s hand and start walking.

◇

Arriving at the stable where my beloved horse was kept, Jorg was there, poised with his spear.

Two burly men, his cronies, stood nearby.

“You’re late, brother. Honestly, to keep me waiting like this takes some guts.”

“I don’t have anything to do with you.”

“But I have something to do with you, brother. I’ve thought about it. I think a cowardly brother like you needs to be punished. It’s a penalty for winning by cheating and humiliating me. And the fact that you still think you can beat me doesn’t sit well with me. I’ll teach you a lesson about your place.”

Jorg wears a contemptuous expression. His cronies wear the same.

The three of them gaze not at me but at Tina.

Tina senses danger and shrinks her body.

“Anyway, I understand what you’re thinking, but let me ask just to be clear.”

“Shall I take that girl off your hands, brother? With her, I can clear my name. I couldn’t wait until you became the lord. You should go back home alone.”

“Declined.”

“Hey, brother, do you think it’s okay to defy me? You saw in today’s match that I’m the next lord, right? Well, if you don’t listen, I’ll take her forcibly. It might be fun to do it right in front of you.”

Jorg ostentatiously aims the tip of his spear at me.

“Weakling brother, don’t anger me too much. You’ll regret it.”

I exhaled deeply.

“Hey, Jorg. I’ve been thinking for a while now. Aren’t you misunderstanding something?”

I’ve always found this brother of mine inexplicable. Why can he take such a disrespectful attitude towards me?

“What, are you scared? Even if you’re angry, brother, I’m not scared.”

Jorg steps back.

“No way, you. You don’t really think you’re stronger than me, do you?”

Upon hearing my question, Jorg and his cronies burst into laughter, clutching their stomachs.

“Hahaha, heh, hee, I’m dying of laughter. Brother, what’s with that joke? Has there ever been a time when you beat me with a spear?”

I see, this guy is a real idiot.

“Jorg, get ready.”

“Huh?”

“I said, get your spear ready.”

Feeling my killing intent, Jorg awkwardly prepares his spear.

In that moment, surging with magical power throughout my body, I step forward. The ground caves in. My footprints are deeply imprinted in the ground.

Jorg reflexively thrusts the spear he held in his hand.

I grab the spear and swing it with all my might.

Jorg, who didn’t let go of the spear, is swung around with it. Unable to withstand the centrifugal force, he releases his hand from the spear and is forcefully slammed into the stone wall of the stable.

“Gah!?”

“It seems you’re misunderstanding something, so let me enlighten you. You’re weak. You’re just better with a spear than I am. Did you seriously think you were stronger than me, even though you don’t even have any magical power?”

Approaching Jorg, who leans against the wall in agony from the intense pain, I do so slowly, in an intimidating manner.

“Heh, hee, brother, why are you so angry? It was just a joke, just a joke.”

In the match in front of our father, magical power couldn’t be used. And it’s because of the rule that we had to fight with spears that I couldn’t beat Jorg.

In the first place, if anything goes, a man of this caliber is hardly worth my time.

“Was it a joke that you scared my precious girl?”

I crouch down in front of Jorg, grab his hair with my left hand, forcing him to look up, and raise my right arm.

Then, I thrust my fist forward.

There’s a squelching sound as something collapses.

“Ahh, agh, agh, hii, brother, hii, hiiii!”

My fist grazes Jorg’s left cheek and punches through the stone wall.

Jorg was so scared that he wet himself, leaving a stain on his crotch.

“You know, I’ve put up with all your nonsense up until now. Do you know why? Because there’s a high chance you’ll become the next lord. As someone entrusted with a village, it’s not good to have a bad relationship with the future lord, so I endured it.”

“T-th-that’s right, brother, I-I’m the next lord, so, to-to go against me, hii, heehee.”

Fed up with his annoying remarks, I now aim to strike his cheek with my left hand, piercing through the stone wall once again.

“Do you know how many times I’ve thought about killing you? I’ve lost count. Killing you is as easy as pie, and it would make me the lord. I could do it anytime without a second thought.”

That method crossed my mind repeatedly. Probably easier than making a cake.

“But you see, I’ve been held back by familial ties, fair play, and such common sense. In a way, you’ve survived because of me. If I were impatient, you’d have been dead long ago. Lucky to have a kind brother, aren’t you? But you know, even I have my limits. If you keep pushing it, I’ll stop caring.”

“P-please, forgive me, brother, don’t kill me, I was wrong, that’s why…”

Seeing Jorg begging for forgiveness with tears streaming down his face, I feel a slight cooling in my head.

“Jorg, that was the first time I laid out my true feelings. Do you know why I chose to share them with you?”

“T-that’s because I, I tried to…hurt your important person…”

“That’s one major reason. Actually, there’s another. Even if we fought normally, I’d be chosen in the selection ceremony. So, there’s no reason for me to avoid conflict with you anymore. I won’t tolerate your disrespect any longer. Choose your words wisely if you don’t want to die. Consider this my declaration of war. I’ll win on your turf.”

That’s what I wanted to say.

“Tina, shall we go?”

“Y-yes, Kurt-sama.”

As I mount the horse, Tina rushes over, quickly climbs up behind me, and wraps her arms around my waist.

“I’m sorry, Tina. I scared you, didn’t I?”

“N-no, I’m okay! It was scary, but Kurt-sama, you were so cool today.”

Blushing and sounding a bit more lively. Seems like she’s really not scared.

Feeling a bit relieved inwardly, I urge the horse to gallop away.