He had spent a week recuperating from wild fruit poisoning and was also making an effort to adapt to his new identity after transmigration. Liszt often felt incredulous.
The overworked self who died suddenly at work has actually been reborn as a noble.
Moreover, a noble in a different world.
This different world was somewhat similar to medieval Europe, a place where castles and knights ruled everything. However, it was a magical fantasy world with the existence of dragons and elves. Knights could cultivate Dou Qi, and there were mysterious magicians. Even he himself had cultivated "Basic Dou Qi" to become an Apprentice Knight.
"Primary Dou Qi, huh."
A stream of energy flowed endlessly through his body and, guided by his will towards his hands, he instantly felt his palms heating up, filled with immense power.
That slightly tingling swelling sensation made him feel as though he could tear tigers and leopards apart with his bare hands.
It was Dou Qi, which symbolized power, that allowed knights to rule the vast lands.
Dou Qi cultivation.
An "Apprentice Knight" would master Primary Dou Qi, an "Earth Knight" would master Intermediate Dou Qi, and a "Sky Knight" would master Advanced Dou Qi.
Liszt's father, Hereditary "Coral Island's Count," Li Weiliam Tulip, was a Sky Knight who had mastered Advanced Dou Qi. He possessed absolute power over life and death on his territory, Coral Island, which was as large as a prefecture-level city, and only needed to swear allegiance to the Sapphire Duke.
Regrettably.
As the third son of the Earl, he had not inherited the Tulip Family's talent for Dou Qi. Even though he had already reached the age of sixteen, he was still an Apprentice Knight.
His elder brother, Levis Tulip, became an Earth Knight at thirteen and was now an elite among Earth Knights, capable of challenging three Earth Knights single-handedly.
His sister, Lvera Tulip, also became an Earth Knight before reaching adulthood.
He also had a half-brother, Lytton Tulip, who was twelve years old and was said to be on the verge of becoming an Earth Knight.
Liszt inherited more of his mother's appearance, the late Countess. His light golden, slightly curly short hair, deep sapphire-like eyes, handsome features, fair skin, and slender figure all gave him the air of a naturally elegant nobleman. However, his aptitude was unfortunately poor.
Perhaps because he looked so much like his mother, the Earl once had high hopes for him.
The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.
As he grew older, his father became completely disillusioned with him, even displaying indifference.
His brother Levis was temporarily ennobled as a "Hereditary Viscount" and was destined to inherit the title of "Hereditary Earl." His sister Lvera also received the title of Baron of Falcon Town, becoming a rare "Hereditary Baroness" with her own territory in the Grand Duchy of Sapphire, rather than a life peer without land.
As for him, he was merely ennobled as a Baron, just like his sister, but of Fresh Flower Town, the most remote place on Coral Island.
Liszt, who had a personality like his mother's, was always soft and weak, constantly bullied by his brother and sister. As he grew older, his communication with the Earl diminished even further, to the point where he would rather live in the Knight Academy than return home.
"Thankfully he was an unnoticed incompetent; by taking his place, no one would realize the difference... And having my territory, with hereditary and unquestionable rights over life and death, is wonderful," Liszt had already gotten past the initial panic and was making efforts to blend into this world.
And he had to blend in, to live like a native.
Because in this world, transmigrators didn't have much of an advantage—magic and Dou Qi surpassed technology—he couldn't simply make nuclear weapons and spread destruction, so the idea of competing with magic and Dou Qi using technology had to be put aside.
Even more so after understanding some of the situation, he felt the need to keep a low profile—metal resources were entirely provided by dragons, while lush vegetation couldn't exist without elves!
Without dragons, without elves.
The idea of farming or having an industrial revolution was something completely out of reach!
But dragons and elves are rare essences in this world, and the Duchy of Sapphire has only one dragon—the Sapphire Dragon, which was the mount of the Sapphire Duke 150 years ago, and the entire Sapphire Family was established on the back of this dragon.
It is said that a dragon can live for a thousand years, which means that the Duchy of Sapphire can enjoy its national fortune for hundreds of years to come.
Elves are more numerous than dragons, but their ranks are clearly defined.
Liszt's father, Li Weiliam Tulip, possesses a "Tulip Great Elf," which helps the family cultivate a large number of tulips, thereby establishing the family, and even changing their surname to "Tulip." The Great Elf can live for two hundred years and, barring accidents, the Tulip Family can still enjoy fortune for over one hundred and fifty more years.
Beneath the Great Elf are the Minor Elves, who can live for one hundred years.
The Tulip Family owns twelve Minor Elves, which help the family cultivate various plants.
Beneath the Minor Elves are the Elf Bugs, beings birthed from within plants with a lifespan of ten years, capable of affecting plant growth. If they encounter a stroke of fortune within those ten years, they can evolve into Minor Elves. As for the Elf Bugs themselves, it is only by a lucky chance that one might be birthed from a plant.
The Tulip Family has cultivated Coral Island for over twenty years, reaping more than a hundred Elf Bugs, and considering those that have died, there have only been a little over one hundred and fifty in total. Among them, only twelve have evolved into Minor Elves.
"Elves... It's a pity that the previous soul indeed displeased the Earl, even Li Vera has obtained a Minor Elf, whereas I, have only four Elf Bugs!"
At Liszt's coming-of-age ceremony, the Earl of Coral Island announced his ennoblement as the Baron of Fresh Flower Town and gifted him four Elf Bugs.
That was all.
"My lord, dinner time has arrived, shall we dine now?" Butler Carter knocked on the door and came in, bowing slightly.
"It's already dinner time, eh? Very well, please invite the two teachers to join us," Liszt said, not so elegantly stretching his back. His time spent nurturing his health had bored him terribly.
Soon, the two teachers arrived together.
The one with blond hair and tailed coat was Goltai, the family tutor, already forty-five years old. He was a down-on-his-luck Honored Knight who depended on the Tulip Family, mainly responsible for Liszt's scholarly education. Of course, his primary job was as the Administrative Officer of Fresh Flower Town, helping Liszt manage the whole town.
"Liszt, you look much better. Thank heavens; it's good to see you healthy and lively again," Goltai said with playful ease, quite casually.
The other with a serious expression and meticulous movements was Liszt's knight teacher, Marcus.
His strength had reached that of an Earth Knight, but he had not yet gained a noble title. His family had been Retainer Knights for the Tulip Family for several generations, and in his generation, he was the first to become an Earth Knight.
Liszt smiled slightly, "Now that both teachers have arrived, Mr. Carter, please proceed with the meal."
"As you wish, my lord," the old butler Carter left the parlor gracefully to inform the kitchen downstairs to serve the meal.
"Teacher Marcus, my health has mostly recovered, and I hope to continue my knight training classes from tomorrow," Liszt said.
Marcus's square face was expressionless: "Possible."
Seeing this, Liszt smiled faintly, knowing in his heart that this Earth Knight harbored some resentment. He had hoped to earn distinction on the battlefield, win the title of Honored Knight, and join the ranks of high society as a noble member. Instead, he was dispatched here to serve as Liszt's knight teacher, trapped in the backwater of Fresh Flower Town.
And within the Tulip Family, Liszt was notoriously inept, which meant, following Liszt, the chances of becoming a noble were almost nonexistent.
Soon, the old butler arrived with the maids and manservants, bringing the plated meals.
The meal was not elaborate. The quality of life in Fresh Flower Town was low, and production was limited. Liszt, being a son not favored by the Earl, had meager resources and could not support a lavish lifestyle.
Still, Liszt ate with great seriousness.
Transmigration is a technical affair, and becoming a noble was already a great fortune. One should know that in this world, aside from the nobles, most commoners are but sheep to be slaughtered at will.
His two teachers included, were in fact his servants, and he could decide their life or death with a single word.