The won staying in the territory had a nice side effect.
My image among the people improved even more.
"I thought the great witch would be scary, but she’s so refined and kind~"
"Lady dea handles everything with that cool expression."
"Lady Morgan spends money like water! When she cos, the shop and rchants are all smiles."
"Haa! Haa! Lady Diana looked down at my bow and called it trash—it was thrilling! The best!"
...Sothing weird in that last one, but anyway.
All my won received great reviews.
Naturally that translated into favor toward .
They were all won I brought, after all.
’The fact that the people already liked helps a lot.’
My public sentint keeps rising.
Gaining the people’s hearts doesn’t directly make lord, but it’s not aningless either.
The vassals value that loyalty too.
Reasons for to beco lord (or proxy) are steadily piling up.
’Thanks to that, I can just focus on revenge now~’
Thinking that while wondering what training to do with Creusa today,
an unexpected big fish approached .
"U-um... little uncle?"
Only one person in this territory calls little uncle.
Creusa’s daughter, Leda.
Short hair unlike her mother, but the features are similar.
Blood really doesn’t lie.
Leda was also a considerable beauty.
Freshly adult, she had that youthful vibe.
More like ripe and young than innocent.
If anything, a different charm from the pure-type Creusa.
"Oh, hey. Leda. Sleep well?"
"Y-yes! Did you sleep well too, little uncle?"
"I always sleep easy. Nothing inconvenient because of us, right?"
"N-no way! The territory feels so lively—it’s great!"
Truthfully, I’d barely spoken with my niece Leda.
Mainly because I’d never gotten along with her father Dale.
More like he one-sidedly envied .
As rivals, genuine bonding was impossible anyway.
Naturally we didn’t et often.
I was busy with magic studies and trips too.
’The environnt didn’t help, and we never had chances to get close.’
So Leda and I were relatively awkward.
Not hostile, just not talkative.
Even after returning we only exchanged light greetings.
I worried approaching suddenly would make her wary.
’So I was wondering how to approach Leda...’
I never expected her to co to first like this.
"So what’s up? Need sothing?"
"W-well... it’s a bit... no, very shaless, but..."
Leda cautiously opened her mouth, glancing at .
"Could you... teach magic?"
"Magic?"
"After seeing the witches’ magic, I can’t get it out of my head. I want to learn even a little."
"Hmm..."
Yeah, those two’s magic would be that shocking.
It was literally a revolution beyond existing magic.
Leda is the lord’s daughter and a noble—most noble ladies stay far from academics or martial arts.
But she’s still a Mars family mber.
That ans a mage who trains and advances magic.
Moreover, she’s the current lord’s only daughter.
Magic will be essential to lead the territory in the future.
’She must be starting to feel that ordinary mage level isn’t enough.’
Freshly adult is when thirst for magic peaks.
Seeing witch magic in that state would ignite fierce desire.
Enough to ask even an uncle she barely knows.
"Hmm, you know it’s extrely rude to try learning soone else’s magic, right?"
"Y-yes, of course I know..."
Asking a mage about spell principles or secrets is beyond bad manners—it’s outright rude.
Mages live off those secrets and power.
Researching one spell costs imnse ti and money.
Asking to be taught for free? Pure thief mindset.
Naturally, asking to be taught magic is forbidden unless you’re a direct disciple.
That’s why vassals don’t openly ask to teach them.
A mage doing that is basically announcing "I have no morals."
Yet Leda boldly ca and asked to be taught.
"And if it’s witch magic, the secrecy and importance are beyond words."
"..."
Leda didn’t just want ordinary magic—she wanted witch magic.
Its value to a mage is astronomical.
You can’t just learn or teach it because you want to.
Even among witches it’s semi-taboo.
"S-sorry. I was thoughtless."
Realizing her mistake, Leda’s face turned red.
Excitent got ahead of her, but she now understood how rude it was to ask family for this.
Seeing that face made chuckle.
I actually don’t hate passionate young mages like this.
As a fellow mage, I understand the curiosity and desire to learn.
’Well... unlike her dad, she has so sha.’
She apologizes imdiately upon realizing her mistake and feels ashad.
Seems obvious, but many can’t do even that.
In that sense, Leda’s attitude was quite likable.
I could help her a little.
’Of course... with a bit of "training" in return.’
Her father and the territory are going to fall anyway.
Gaining magic skill instead is a profit for Leda.
"Normally I’d have to refuse, but it’s hard to say no to my cute niece."
"R-really...?"
"I can’t teach details or do it myself, but I can ask my secretary deia to give you so private lessons. That okay?"
"Yes! Of course! Thank you so much!"
Leda bowed deeply in gratitude.
Completely unaware what kind of "lessons" awaited her.
---
I went with Leda to find dea.
deia, casually admiring the garden, tilted her head.
"You want to teach her magic?"
"Sorry to ask during vacation. My niece really wants to learn."
"I’ve been bored with nothing to do, so it’s fine..."
Leda, watching nervously, bowed deeply.
"H-hello! I’m Leda of the Mars family."
Even as the Mars family lady, she couldn’t raise her head before dea.
The other was the great witch’s adopted daughter and personal secretary.
In pure authority and power, a rural territory noble like Leda was no match.
Plus dea had an indescribable charisma.
Always expressionless and cold—that’s probably why.
Even most nobles and knights tense up around her for so reason.
’Thanks to that we can relax here.’
Even in human territory, dea never forgot her role as the great witch’s secretary.
With her maid experience, she was thorough—demanding precision from the servants.
They were reportedly impressed by her superior intellect and knowledge compared to lifelong professionals.
Separately, dea herself could burn this territory alone.
And as a mage she’s far senior to Leda.
"I-if it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to touch even a tiny bit of witch magic!"
"Sure, that’s fine."
dea nodded without much thought.
We’re only here a month at most.
There’s a limit to what can be taught in that ti.
Just a tiny fraction of witch magic.
Sharing that much isn’t a problem.
"...This is unexpected."
dea glanced at .
She already knows my entire plan and goal.
She instantly figured out why I brought Leda.
"...Sigh, fine. Understood."
dea stepped forward.
Leda looked up at her nervously.
"I’ll teach you magic at set tis from now on. In return, you obey my instructions without question. That acceptable?"
"Yes! Of course! I’ll treat you as my master even if only briefly!"
"No need for that."
dea turned to .
"...You’ve been slacking on Circe lately. Focus on her instead of pointless stuff."
"Y-yes ma’am."
aning: I’ll handle Leda’s training, so do your night duties properly.
This is why I love dea—she’s smart and gets things done.
"Follow . We’ll start with a light test."
"Y-yes! Thank you!"
Leda excitedly followed dea.
A body that barely knows n about to receive dea’s thorough training.
For Leda, maybe doing it directly would’ve been the better future.
User Comments
0 comments from readers