The Extra Wants To Live

Carl, dressed in a fine outfit and proudly holding his chest out, had little of the boyish look of his past.

"I'll grow more, what if you start crying here already?" he said.

"I really… I really hope so," Lilly replied, her voice trembling.

"No, I said I'll grow more," Carl reassured her.

Eventually, Lilly started to sob, and Carl had to sweat profusely trying to comfort her.

"You've become so handsome that you could get married right away. All the ladies of Himmeln won't be able to take their eyes off you," Lilly said, while crying and adjusting Carl's clothes. She wrapped a rich scarf around him.

"Then that's good. Stop crying," Carl said gently.

"Even if you like it, tears will still flow," Lilly laughed through her tears.

Finally, as Lilly, who had fixed Carl's hair, took a step back, Carl also stepped back slightly so that she could see better. He stood with a confident posture and a slightly playful expression.

"I'll be back soon. Don't cry."

"Yes, Master Carl. Take care on your way back," Lilly smiled happily and waved shyly.

Carl also waved at her and left the room.

"Harmon, tell Milton to treat Lilly."

"Yes, Master Carl."

As soon as the door closed, Carl's expression changed, and he gave Harmon an order.

"When you cry, your eyes get swollen and your physical strength decreases. Of course, she needs to get treatment."

'There is a limit to sincerity,' Harmon thought, moving busily and grumbling inwardly.

There was so little time left that he had to practically run to get a word to Milton and return to assist Carl. At times like this, he desperately wished there was just one more servant or maid.

'I also want to get married as soon as possible,' Carl mused, echoing Lilly's earlier sentiment.

Carl also wanted to get married soon. This would help strengthen relationships, build trust, and make it easier to use important moments.

'That's why I'm going to Milione's party,' he thought.

The moment he considered this, Carl suddenly remembered a pair of sparkling, jewel-like hazel eyes. But the thought passed quickly as his mind filled with plans for his next move.

A while later, Carl left the palace with Catherine, Bilford, and Harmon.

Coincidentally, Nero was unusually late, so Carl became the center of a fairly large crowd as nobles heading to Milione's party joined him one by one. Carl led the nobles much like Ias did, actively interacting and riding horses.

The party venue was not Milione Hansvall's mansion in Himmeln.

Instead, Milione had set up a sort of garrison outside Himmeln.

This seemed strange, but it was a tradition passed down for a long time due to various complicated circumstances.

It provided an opportunity for talented young men to show off and advance in their careers, kept knights and officers from becoming lazy in peaceful Himmeln, and strengthened the unity of the military.

In fact, quite a few people had risen to fame and become very successful through this party, so ambitious individuals often rushed to it with their eyes set ablaze.

The party had been held for many high-ranking military figures even before Milione, demonstrating how much power Milione, who maintained the tradition, held within the military.

Given the strong tendency to value cavalry, it was natural that Milione, a cavalry commander, would enjoy the honor of upholding the tradition.

Karl burst into laughter at the sight of the camp that had suddenly appeared near the hill where he had met the old woman a few days ago.

Everyone praised Milione, but it was the engineers who did the hard work.

When Carl entered the party venue, there were already quite a few people there, talking and even riding horses around the racecourse.

"That's cool!" Carl exclaimed.

"Some people wait a year for this moment, and there are nobles from far away who travel to visit," one noble said.

"There are also knights who spend a lot of money or show off their skills to get recommendations. Well, those who spend money are usually just average," another added.

"Lady Catherine, would you like to join us?" Carl asked Catherine, who had been quietly following behind him.

"If Lord Carl permits, I will participate," Catherine replied.

Catherine was no longer interested in showing off in places like this. She had returned to Himmeln carrying the Emperor's banner, and the Mold family was growing sufficiently while managing the silver mines in Hilfin.

But since Carl had laid the groundwork, there was no reason to refuse. Catherine also needed to show off her skills for the sake of Carl's prestige.

"Billford, how about you join us?"

"Yes, I understand," Billford answered right away.

Originally, one could only be invited if recommended by a prestigious noble or if they were a famous and capable person.

He took that as Carl's position and had a mere servant who didn't know anyone participate. Yet no one complained. It seemed that Carl had now become a proud prince and a powerful man supported by the military.

Billford seemed a little nervous, because in any match he entered, his opponents would either be military nobles or proven knights. That didn't mean they would go easy on Billford.

Since this was a match, using mana was prohibited. Although the physical abilities of mana users were superior, they were not so superior that they couldn't be surpassed.

That meant, if only he had the skills, Billford could win the match.

"Master Jaren."

Carl rolled his eyes when he heard someone's voice. Not only that, many people were turning their heads at the same time. A large crowd of people was gathered around a tent erected on one side.

"Master Jaren, it is an honor to meet you."

"Nice to meet you. Sorry, I don't know who are you."

"Oh, I haven't said hello yet," someone said.

Carl, who was on horseback, could see a man among the people.

A tall, lean man with a tight body greeted and smiled as he gathered around. He had wavy brown curly hair that hung down below his ears, and a slightly darker beard that grew neatly on his cheeks and chin, giving him a handsome appearance.

Jaren.

He was the most recent man to become a Master and come under the banner of the Morgan Empire.

Masters were very special beings, and their treatment could not help but be special.

The Master was considered a strategic weapon because he possessed such immense power.

All Masters of the Empire, except those who were heads or heirs of noble houses, or those with special status like Gilbert, would renounce their family name and become members of the Imperial Family.

Of course, they didn't receive the surname Hardion.

They just received the name 'Master' and were called by that name. They usually stayed in the villa and lived a life that was the envy of the royal family.

Then, when something happened, they received the Emperor's order to go on an expedition, and with the Master's overwhelming power, they successfully resolved the issue.

If that were all, there would be no reason for a noble family to offer up their hard-earned Master to the Empire.

Naturally, the reward for that went back to the family.

Unimaginable privileges were granted, and even a declining family could suddenly become a local power player.

That's why families that had tradition and ability but had fallen into decline were always obsessed with nurturing masters.

Just like Catherine did.

'Jaren, what brings you here?' Carl took his eyes off Jaren and rode past. He knew a guy named Jaren. He saw him in the original.

'This is a case that proves that ability and character are not proportional,' Carl thought.

'That's why it's good to use him as you like and then throw him away,' he agreed with the original Adrian assessment.

Jaren was capable.

Although he was not outstanding, he was a stable master with no shortcomings.

It meant that no matter where you threw him, he would be enough for one person.

However, his personality was arrogant beyond his ability, and he was just a brat who took pleasure in being praised by those around him.

When you became a master, you could be arrogant and enjoy riding the wave of success.

But the problem was 'arrogance beyond one's ability.'

In the original, Jaren went on an expedition under orders from Adrian but was killed by people who weren't even his masters due to his carelessness.

Thanks to this, Adrian, who had been able to command numerous wars simultaneously without blinking an eye, achieved a feat that made him lose control of himself in front of others and sigh with his hand on his forehead.

He tried to throw it away after using it but couldn't use it and lost it, so he couldn't help but sigh.

That too, a Master!

'It's a problem.'

If Carl kept him in his hands, he couldn't entrust him with important work, but if he gave him to someone else, it felt like a shame since he was the master.

If he wanted to use him, he would have to throw him into enemy territory as if he were throwing a defective grenade.

It would be better if it didn't explode, but if it exploded the moment Carl pulled out the pin, there was really no answer.

'Let's just leave it for now. I can think about how to use him later after we become emperor. He won't be involved in the succession to the throne anyway,' Carl thought.

Carl, who was trying to ignore Jaren, stopped when he felt his hot gaze.