Chapter 3
“I have no idea before that a briny bacon will be a great pair with mead like this . ” Volg, with his hand holding the bacon that I took out and drinking mead, makes an admiring praise .
“I’m just pairing the things I like . I hope you would enjoy it . ”
A sweet alcohol and briny flavored side dish are a great pair . My trial mead has drawn the alcohol percentage from a complete decomposition of sugar, so it definitely could become a special product if I adjust the flavor by adding honey and fruit juice . With a strong alcohol percentage, it can still have a mild taste and be drunk smoothly .
“Volg, tell me one thing . Why is a mana-wielder like you go to this kind of remote region? Usually, you can be stationed anywhere you want, right?”
That is the common sense of this world . A person who can wield mana is very valuable just for the sake of it . In that sense, the Arnolds are the abnormal ones .
“It’s for the sake of protecting my lady, of course . With you as the opponent, she can’t be protected unless by me . … . . Well, that’s the excuse, at least . ” Volg throws a challenging look at me . “You intended to make my tongue loose from the alcohol and leak some information to you, I suppose . ”
“You caught me . That was indeed my intention when I offered this alcohol . ” I lightly confirm it .
It’s true that I have that kind of ulterior motive . Even if I’m caught, I don’t feel offended nor hurt .
“Actually, there is no need for you to do that . I have no intention to hide anything from you from the beginning . Marquis Fernandes entrusted his wish for me to train you . ”
I tilt my neck to side when I hear that .
“You were recognized as the next feudal lord of Arnold due to your mastery in spear . When I saw your stance and behavior, I could tell that there was nothing I could teach you about martial arts . But that’s it . In this world, there are people who are overwhelmingly powerful once they wield a specific weapon . ”
Without knowing the existence of Abilities, the fact that such people do exist is perceived as a general knowledge . For example, the ancestor of Arnold family: the moment he wielded a spear, he demonstrated movements whose might far surpassed the next person . There are many more stories of those kinds of existence .
“Furthermore, people who wield mana have extraordinary physical abilities, being able to move that surpasses any ordinary man . ”
That’s also the truth . It is said that the difference of fighting power between a soldier who wields mana and one who doesn’t is about 30 : 1 . Generally, the physical abilities of someone who wields mana is approximately equal to Ability II . Conversely, if someone has Ability III, they can win against an ordinary mana-wielder .
“It means, you cannot draw out your full power unless you are using a specific weapon, despite being able to use mana . ”
“I was found out, huh… Well, with my undeveloped body, even that is already doubtful . ” I couldn’t utilize the most of my physical ability once it was increased by my Ability . That’s the reason why I never go full power except when I’m training .
“Even if you can’t draw out your full power, that strength is still something to watch out for . As expected from the man who my lady sees . Back to the topic, you have to be able to pull out your full power while wielding a spear, in addition to the combined power from your mana boost . You have both mana and your weapon, the making of a great soldier . You have that potential . ”
I thought so, too . If I can wield both the power of an Ability and the power from mana at the same time, to what extent can I display my strength, I wonder? Although this strength is not important for baking pastries, there are things that I cannot protect if I am powerless . Being strong can only mean something if I exist . I want to protect everything with my own power .
“I want to be able to do that too . ”
“That’s the exact reason for me being here . Incidentally, I can also use both . In other words, this is something that I can teach you . Let’s train you properly until you can draw forth your full power from wielding both mana and weapon simultaneously . ”
“What do you get from doing this?”
“In times of emergency, Marquis Fernandes will be able to rely on your power . Ultimately, the number of excellent mana-wielders will determine the superiority in battlefield . You alone are worth a hundred soldiers . Isn’t that something worth expecting for?”
“Does that mean I have to return this favor if a battle occurs?”
“A baronet’s position doesn’t allow him to refuse a dispatch call from the marquis in the first place . No matter how small, this offer increases your likelihood of survival, so it has a huge benefit for you . Though I also have my personal expectation . ……Me, I want to go all out . ”
Volg shows me a bloody grin .
“Three years ago, in the war, I also participated . As I could wield mana and able to increase my strength the moment I used a weapon, I naturally did . But it was terribly dull . Too weak . ”
That was the smile of an overwhelmingly strong soldier, his hidden arrogance .
“I really wish for an opponent I can fight earnestly, a toy that won’t break even if I go all out . At your current state, Kurt-sama, your strength isn’t enough . However, if I train you, you can become a man worthy of me going all out with . No, maybe you’ll even come out as someone who can beat me with ease . I believed that since the first time I took a look at you . ”
I wryly smile . How to say it, that reason is so straightforward that I feel at ease, on the contrary .
“I understand . Volg, train me . ”
“Yes, I’ll train you thoroughly . ”
This talk has no merit for me . It’s only a justification for what I’ll receive . Using both mana and Ability together . I’ll show this man how I will completely pass that special training .
Afterwards, Volg took a while to go back to his place . Tina perceived Volg as a scary person, so she worried deeply about me, who had agreed to accept his teachings . I patted her head, then she stopped looking so anxious . Don’t worry . That man means no harm .
Feeling relieved, Tina looks interested in the alcohol now . She can’t stop looking at the leftover alcohol .
“Tina, do you perhaps want to taste this drink?”
“Th- that is, only a tiny, little bit . ”
She’s young, but she’s growing fast . There shouldn’t be a problem with letting her drink the alcoholic beverage .
“It’s okay, you can drink, but only a little . This is the alcohol that I made through great effort, so I’ll be happy if you can tell me your impressions . Once we successfully increase the number of the bees, this will be produced in large amount, too . ”
“Yes, Kurt-sama, thank you for the drink! Everyone seems to enjoy alcohol with happy faces, I really wanted to try . ”
I pour some mead into Tina’s cup . Tina’s eyes are sparkling with anticipation .
“Uwaa, it’s golden colored and pretty, and it smells so good . ”
She grasps the cup respectfully with both hands, then drinks from it . Gulp, gulp, gulp, the sound comes from her throat . It’s sweet and tastes good, so she drinks it smoothly . But, it’s no good . If she drinks the glass in one go like that… . .
“Kurt-shamaa…”
It seems my bad feeling is on point, her eyes are completely on the hunt . Somehow, she seems weak against alcohol . She’s completely drunk now .
“What is it, Tina?”
“Why can’t Kurt-shama just look at me? There’s looots of women around you, I’m lonely . Even though Kurt-shama is my Kurt-shama and we’ve aaalways been together . ”
As she says that, Tina climbs onto my lap and leans her body weight on me . She’s behaving like those times when I’m spoiling her .
“Tina is very important to me, though?”
“I knew that . Kurt-shama is kind, and spoils me lots and lots, but, I want you to only look at me . I want you to only be my Kurt-shamaa . ”
From the position of leaning her back on me, she turns around . She opens her legs and straddles my lap like a koala . Then she rubs her cheek on my chest .
“Kurt-shamaa, just what am I to you? Why won’t you lay your hands on me, nobles usually do, everyone says so, I’m fine though if it’s Kurt-shama, so why, you’re so kind, you’re way too kind . ”
Tina’s eyes are clouded, her heart is beating hard .
“Say, Kurt-sama,”
Tina looks up and meets my eyes .
“I’m,”
Her breath is hot . She’s different than Tina that I know . My distance with her grows closer . Then……
“Zzz…”
“Huh?” Without realizing, I made a stupid sound .
After saying whatever she wanted, Tina’s breath grows deeper as she falls asleep . Jeez, what a selfish princess .
I decided not to let her drink alcohol again . I smile bitterly, then carry her over to the bedroom . If, once she wakes up, she remembers all of this, let’s try hard to make fun of her instead .
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login