Chapter 420 So, Who Is This Child Really？
When Alicia locked herself in her lab, Sara became bored.
Just as she was about to get up and head back to the Grandchester residence in the Royal Capital, she was informed by the golem of Adam's arrival.
"Hey, it's still early for the start of work. You're quite enthusiastic, aren't you?"
"It's for the academy's exam preparation. After reviewing the mistakes from yesterday's dictation class, I thought you would be working on your daily math."
"Is Adam making math a daily routine? Come to think of it, wasn't Adam bad at math?"
"He used to be bad at it, but now he can be called proficient. If it's just math, he might even rank high in the academy's exams. In the recent test, Sir Adam scored higher than Sir Scott."
"When did that happen?"
"Since I ordered Magi to give him math problems every day, his academic ability has improved remarkably."
"Every day?"
"Yes. I give him 100 questions every day. On days with many mistakes, he may be asked for additional questions. Since I instructed him to include trick questions, I mix in problems that are likely to be answered incorrectly, but his accuracy rate remains high."
"So you're making him do a hundred math drills? Indeed, math up to the lower grades of the academy is something one can solve with muscle."
"I apologize. I assume Miss Sara is using the word 'drill' in a different context than the action of knocking on a door. What specific meaning does it have?"
"How should I explain it? It's a method of defensive practice in ball games from my previous life, where you repeatedly catch and throw the ball. Originally, it was called 'a thousand drills' rather than just a hundred, but I don't think many people actually do it a thousand times. So, it came to mean making someone repeat the same action over and over."
"I see. Please tell me more about the sports from your previous life."
"If I find the time eventually. There are some strange phrases that come from old sports."
"Sir Rihito said something similar."
"I thought so."
"In any case, the repetition practice in mathematics never betrays you. Sir Adam can already factor like it's second nature."
"Surprisingly, Magi is a good teacher."
"It's more surprising that you thought it was surprising."
"Now that you mention it, that's true."
While talking with the golem, Adam made his way up to the library area.
"Sara, you're back here again?"
"Well, it's my home, so why not?"
"Seriously. Is Chloe with you?"
"No, it's just me today. I had something to discuss with Alicia. Oh, and I took Rihito and Amelia to the Royal Capital."
"I heard from the golem. It seems like it's starting in the Royal Capital too."
"Yeah, it looks that way."
At that moment, Marg appeared from the guest room and asked Sara in a dignified voice.
"Good morning, Sara. I overheard your conversation, and it seems like heat fever is starting to spread in the Royal Capital. By the way, are there slums in the Royal Capital?"
"Of course there are. Not just one or 2. According to Rihito, the slums in the Grandchester territory are actually better off than those in the Royal Capital."
"I see..."
Marg gazed out the window with a look of concern.
Inside Maiden's Tower, it was warm, and the window was fogged up, making it hard to see outside clearly.
However, she knew that if she stepped out of the tower, large snowflakes were falling heavily.
"Many people die in winter. Not just from heat fever, but also from the cold and hunger, one after another."
"I know. I almost died too."
"That's right."
Adam approached Marg, tightly grasped her hand, and murmured while looking down.
"It's difficult to eradicate poverty. Even the soup kitchens run by the territory and the Sophia Merchant Guild only provide temporary relief. Even we, the lord family, can't help all our subjects. Still, I think we have to keep doing what we can. So Marg... will you help me? You can see things that I can't, right?"
"Yeah. Let's do our best together."
'Um..., could it be that I'm a nuisance?'
Sara tried to leave the room so as not to interrupt the couple, but Adam called out to her back.
"Sara, please. I want you to teach me more things. I know it's selfish. But I have to change now. No matter what I have to do, or who I have to bow my head to."
Sara has no doubt that Adam is serious about wanting to change.
However, as someone who nearly died because of Adam, she began to think that it might be her duty to weave a few harsh words.
"Even you didn't bow your head to me, who lent money to uncle to cover your debts. Can you really bow your head to someone?"
"Of course. Anyone who teaches me is a respected teacher."
"Hmm. The world is vast, and there are infinite things to learn. I think you can learn various things from various people. But not everyone will teach you the right things. Some people teach wrong things. There are many problems that don't have a correct answer. So Adam will always have to choose what to learn or not learn. There may come a day when you go against the opinions of those you respect."
"Yeah. That's true."
"But the decision is always Adam's own. It's not anyone else's responsibility."
"I understand."
Seeing Adam being too much of a model student, Sara felt like saying something mean.
"Of course, it doesn't mean that what I say is always right."
"Y-Yeah, that might be true, but..."
"If you give up the title of Marquis Grandchester in the future, it might be easier, you know?"
At that, Adam chuckled.
"Sara, I won't fall for that kind of suggestion anymore. Whether I'm a lord or not isn't important. I am a direct descendant of the proud Grandchester family, and I have a responsibility to protect the Grandchester territory. If I don't fulfill that responsibility, I shouldn't call myself a member of the lord family."
"Then what is your name?"
"I am Adam Grandchester. I am the direct male heir of Marquis Grandchester, the lord of this land. It's quite embarrassing, but until recently, I didn't know how much suffering children without parents or homes were going through. Looking at the children in the slums, I finally understood how terrible I had been to Sara. I'm truly sorry for being cold. I'm sorry for bullying you. I sincerely regret it. I don't expect you to forgive me just because I apologized, and I know I don't really have the right to say this, but I still want to ask for your help, Sara."
'W-wait. Adam's evolution is happening too fast for me to keep up. I knew Miss Cordelia the female educator's brainwashing was effective, but did Marg accelerate it?'
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