20 – Episode 2. The Method to Regain the Favor of the Mysterious Girl (10)
“So… you plan to stay at Sirius Ga until the end of the vacation?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
During breakfast, I brought up the confidential conversation with Lena from last night to gain permission from Gellus.
“And the reason is to defeat Princess Miné 2, right?”
“Yes.”
“Is there any improvement training there compared to training at Spawn Ga?”
Gellus’ gaze on me isn’t pleasant. There’s a thorn in his words.
Is the talk that Sirius Ga is better than Spawn Ga discomforting?
This man is fostering a sense of competition in unnecessary places.
I put down my utensils and said, “There’s a Saintess.”
“What?”
“The saint possesses the power to heal the bodies of those around her. If one were to train there, it could significantly reduce the body’s burden.”
Actually, that’s not the only reason.
In the Sponsor House, there are none, but in the Sirius House, there are a total of ‘three’ things.
However, revealing them all would only disturb Gelus’s state of mind, so I planned to mention just enough to be convincing.
“I see.”
He mumbles, seemingly convinced.
“By the way, I heard that Princess Mine possesses the talent to become a Sword Master. Can you defeat her?”
“That… I don’t know.”
I can’t say for sure.
It depends on what Lina does from now on.
All I can do is guide her in the right direction by looking at the quests.
“I don’t know? Huh. Irresponsible talk.”
“Even if it’s irresponsible, there’s nothing I can say. But for Lina, who trusted and responded to my words, I will do my best. I don’t want to see Lina disappointed anymore.”
“Oh my. Be excited~!”
Amelia claps her hands, satisfied, and laughs.
“A man should show that level of responsibility! Ehem!”
“Mother…!”
Lina, sitting next to me, blushes and is visibly embarrassed. Gelus looks at me and Lina alternately, then lets out a deep sigh.
“Alright. I permit it. But if you do anything to Lina like before, I won’t forgive you.”
“Don’t worry.”
“That remains to be seen.”
Looking at Gelus’s expression as he spoke, it wasn’t bad. I thought I made the right decision to come.
Amelia’s hospitality was not bad either, and I felt relieved knowing that she was gradually settling Abel’s past.
* * *
“I entrust him to you, Abel.”
“Yes.”
I bowed my head in response to her. Somehow, dealing with Amelia seemed more challenging than dealing with Gelus.
“I hope that next time we meet, we’ll be close enough to share a bed. I really want to see my grandson soon.”
Should I give an answer to this…?
At least until the Verall sect is completely eradicated, it won’t be possible.
“Mother! Stop saying unnecessary things and go inside!”
“I heard you’re leaving, so I came to say goodbye.”
“Uh… Abel! Hurry up and get in!”
Unable to withstand Amelia’s teasing, Lina grabbed my hand and pulled me along. Amelia smiled even more at the sight.
Watching Lina being dragged as Amelia intended, I let out a bitter laugh.
“hehehe~”
Nevertheless, it’s a good hand, rough but with a warm touch. I could feel Lina’s efforts, making it admirable.
Although being squeezed into the carriage was a bit uncomfortable.
“It’s a pretty hand.”
I said, fondling Lina’s hand that she still held onto even inside the carriage.
“Ah, what, what is it?!”
Rina urgently pulls her hand away from my grip, then grabs another hand around her chest as if it were a treasure. Blushing shyly, she bites her lips.
“Rina.”
“Why. If you say something useless, you die.”
“…Thanks for trusting me.”
“…Ah, well, it’s not like… I don’t exactly trust you.”
“Really?”
“No… I might trust you a bit…”
On which side, I wonder.
I chuckle and gaze out of the carriage window. Watching the scenery changing rapidly, I organize my thoughts.
As of now, Rina had enough potential to surpass Mine. Just by mastering the Clearwater Technique, Rina could reach Mine.
However, I knew that alone wouldn’t be enough to win perfectly. The quest probably told Sirius knows that too, instructing to go to the Sirius Shrine to get a hint for the next stage.
But I wasn’t satisfied with just obtaining growth hints.
I intended to use everything in the Sirius Shrine to make Rina stronger.
“Rina.”
“Yeah?”
“I told you about swordsmanship because I didn’t want to see you overdoing it, but if you go to the Sirius Shrine, you’ll be trained even more rigorously.”
“Yeah. I’m prepared.”
“But don’t worry too much. Your physical condition will always be taken care of by Clara.”
“Clara… Yeah. I understand.”
She subtly narrowed her eyes when Clara’s name was mentioned.
“Take a break for now. We’ll start training from tomorrow.”
I laid back in the chair with a cushion on my head.
“It’s comfortable.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“Sitting for a long time can strain your back, you know? Try lying down. It’s more comfortable.”
In reality, even lying down didn’t ease the strain on my back, considering the unpaved road the carriage was traveling on.
“Ugh, this isn’t very noble-like.”
Ignoring Lena’s teasing, I casually tossed and turned, shaking off her words.
“Oh… but, you know.”
“Hmm?”
“What about… Clara? Is there something… going on?”
“Just… someone I took in. Why? Worried about Clara and our relationship?”
“What?! Who said anything about, about worrying!”
“Then don’t.”
Though it was obvious, Lena let it go when I denied it.
I closed my eyes, grumbling inwardly.
* * *
“Ah~! Sir Abel!”
As the sun set, Clara and other servants were waiting in front of the mansion we had just arrived at.
“Clara, did you have a good time?”
Clara, who was with the staff, greets us. She often runs to us with light steps, just like a pet wagging its tail when returning home.
“Welcome back! Are you feeling okay? Do you need any help from me?”
She talks in a casual manner, as if welcoming a long-lost lover. Her affection seeps deeply into her voice.
“I’m completely healthy.”
In reality, there was still some fatigue in my body, but I need to put on a show at times like this.
“Aren’t you getting too close?”
A chilly voice suddenly interrupts the pleasant atmosphere.
Lina, who has gotten off the carriage, stands with her arms crossed, glancing between Clara and me.
“Oh, hello, Lady Spon.”
“Hey there.”
As Clara bows, Lina responds curtly, narrowing her eyes.
“Clara… is it?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“You and Abel aren’t involved, are you?”
Clara flinches at Lina’s cold attitude and nervously fidgets with her hands.
“W-What do you mean? We’re just… friends.”
“Just friends… the saint being friends with the duke’s heir…”
“I’m sorry if it bothered you. You’re his fiancée, after all.”
Clara steps back, stuttering. There was a subtle sense of regret in her awkward smile.
“Be careful. Don’t misunderstand.”
“Yes. I apologize.”
“Abel, you should guide me quickly.”
Lena suddenly grabbed my sleeve and led me past Clara.
Clara seemed taken aback, opening her mouth before closing it. Her disappointed expression made me feel sorry.
“Please come in, Lady Sponsor.”
“Sure.”
All the servants who were there to greet us bowed their heads.
“Oh, Abel.”
“Yes?”
“The master asked that when you arrive, you and the lady should come straight to the study.”
“Is that so? Understood. Let’s go. I’ll leave my luggage here. Please prepare a room for the lady to stay.”
“Understood.”
After giving instructions to the servants, I released my sleeve from Lena’s grasp and entered the mansion. Lena followed me towards Houston’s study.
Porth stood in front of the study. He placed his hand on his chest and made a brief greeting.
“You’ve arrived.”
“I’m back, Porth.”
“The Duke is waiting. Please, come in.”
Porth opened the door to the study and went inside first. Lena and I followed, stepping into the study.
“I’m back, Father.”
“Good. Come in.”
Houston lifted his gaze from the documents at my greeting. He put the ink pen into the inkwell and crossed his fingers.
“I hope you haven’t offended anyone at the sponsorship gala?”
“Of course not. Right, Lina?”
“…I don’t know.”
The response was cool. Did her mood sour because of the friendly conversation with Clara, perhaps?
Now that I thought about it, Lina seemed surprisingly prone to jealousy. Maybe it had intensified because of Abel’s actions.
“Well… fine. I heard from Gellus. You want to challenge Princess Miné, right?”
“Yes.”
His crimson eyes, just like mine, seemed to scan my entire body as if trying to read me.
“What’s the catch, Abel?”
It’s not my catch but the sly catch of the guy issuing quests.
“I have no ulterior motives.”
“I know you’re not someone who acts without reason. Explain.”
“It’s just that I find it unfortunate that Lina keeps worrying about Princess Miné. And… I’m curious to see the expression you’d make when you defeat a genius who acts as if he’s the only one in the world.”
“…What?”
Houston’s expression turned arrogant. Lina and Porthos, who were next to him, looked at me as if I were crazy.
Did I say something strange? Doesn’t everyone want to try toppling a genius who seems to have it all figured out on their own at least once?
“Are you talking about Princess Miné?”
“That’s right?”
“…Don’t talk like that in front of Princess Mine.”
“I won’t. Of course not.”
I shrugged. Was there any point in scratching an itch that wasn’t there?
“Anyway… I won’t stop her from training. I don’t know if she can beat Princess Mine, but it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try.”
“Yes. So, that’s why. Can I borrow Forst?”
“Forst…?”
Quest looked at me.
‘You know the direction she should go and how to grow.’ That’s what Quest said.
The direction Quest was talking about is Rina Ryu, and the way to grow is the purification magic water taught by Magi.
With just this, Quest judged that Rina could beat Mine. If you think about the absoluteness of Quest content, she might really be able to win.
But I thought that alone wasn’t enough.
Since I decided to help, I planned to make her overwhelmingly victorious. And for that, I had three things to use.
Temporary stat boost from Magi’s purification magic water.
Forst’s swordsmanship.
Clara’s healing abilities.
These were the three.
Forst was a knight who could rival even the princess. Surely, a sparring match with him would be a good experience for Rina.
And with the healing abilities, I intended to minimize the burden on her body. I think the synergy won’t be bad.
“I’d like Forst to be Rina’s sparring partner. Is that impossible?”
Houston glanced at Lina for a moment before speaking.
“…After confirming the locations of Veral’s hideouts that you provided, Poros will set out to subdue Veral in a few days.”
“Is that so.”
It was fortunate that the original and the location hadn’t changed. However, it was regrettable that I couldn’t utilize Poros.
“…But until the day before the expedition, it should be fine. What do you think, Poros?”
“No problem, Your Grace.”
“That’s good. Feel free to make use of him.”
Poros answered indifferently, looking at me as he carried the burden. I smirked and gave a thumbs up.
“Thank you, Poros.”
“Not at all. If there’s anything I can help with, shouldn’t I help?”
The attitudes of the two towards me had changed a lot in the past month. I might indeed owe this to the quest.
If I had continued living without doing anything, they would still be looking at me with eyes filled with disdain and hatred.
“By the way… while I was away at Spawn Gaia… things seem to have improved quite a bit. What happened in Spawn Gaia?”
Houston, who had been glancing between me and Lina, asked. I nodded calmly.
“A lot happened.”
“Don’t say strange things…!”
As I smiled meaningfully, Lina glared at me, ready to bite.
“Why are you smiling!”
“…Is it true that things got better?”
Houston, who had been observing our banter, tilted his head. I raised my eyebrows with an even bigger smile and said,
“Ah, he’s feeling embarrassed.”
“Yiik…!”
We’re in front of Houston, so I can’t bring myself to hit him. I just glare at his face.
“If you’re going to settle a fight, do it somewhere else. All of you, leave now, except for Abel.”
“Understood.”
The two leave, leaving only Houston and me in the office. Even after they’re gone, he remains silent for a while.
“The more time passes, the more I become curious about you.”
“What do you mean?”
“…What did you do to the saint?”
“What do you mean by ‘what did I do’?”
Did something happen?
If there was any issue with Clara, the quest would have reacted. Or maybe other users would have given a warning.
“Clara’s sanctity is growing stronger as time goes by, especially during the period when you were absent from Sirius.”
Oh, I was skeptical, but it seems to be going well.
In the novel, the way Clara increases her sanctity is by accumulating the sanctity possessed by other believers. Even ordinary believers, although they have sanctity, cannot use it, so it is often used as material for the saint’s growth.
However, it doesn’t permanently transfer sanctity, so it doesn’t affect ordinary believers.
“I told you, there’s a way.”
“…Yeah. I believed what you said. How did you do it?”
“You can think of it as the effect of the magical purification water I planted a few days ago.”
“What…?”
He casually turned around. Even though it was evening, the magical purification tree outside the window was still emitting light.
“Did you know that tree had such an effect?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell the Chief Abbot right away?”
“I didn’t think it was worth mentioning.”
“Is that why you’re hiding it from me too? It’s not good to have too many secrets. I might be able to help when needed.”
“!”
Houston using his strength for Abel… No wonder I feel uneasy.
“I know. I can’t tell my father everything right now, but I’ll never do anything that harms the duke’s family. I’m Sirius, too.”
As he looked at me, his eyes widened. Eventually, a smile formed on his lips.
“Hmph, true. You’re Sirius too…”
Seemingly satisfied with my response, he even let out a small laugh.
“Alright. You should go out too.”
“Yes.”
I bowed in response to his gesture, then turned and left the study.
“Not bad.”
I heard him say.
Like seriously what did the guy do, I’m in doubt if he even did something bad