Chapter 042
What was that supposed to an this ti? If I was still alive in a week?
That made it sound as though I were going off to die.
When I rely stood there blankly as if asking what on earth he ant, Yanrof stepped forward. Then he placed a hand on my shoulder and gave it a reassuring pat.
Thanks to that, an opening presented itself for to ask.
“I do not quite understand what you an. Am I going sowhere to die?”
“Keep your head down as much as possible. That is the only way you will endure under Young Master Hal. It seems that is all I can say for you.”
“……Understood.”
I could not press him for details. It did not seem as though he would answer anyway. At tis like this, the answer was simple: use Rohanpedia. I offered my respects to Yanrof and left the office.
First, I needed to find out where Rohan was.
I stopped an apprentice who happened to be passing nearby. At first he had only been an acquaintance, but lately, as I began earning rit, he had drifted over to my side.
“Jas. Do you happen to know where Rohan is?”
“He should be in the quarters. I ran into him a little while ago, and he looked to be in a rotten mood. He kept muttering things about being jealous and whatnot, so I wondered what had happened.”
“Did he?”
I let out a short laugh. He was obviously envious of whatever had gone on between Young Lady Sapiela and .
“But are you all right? I heard that you stepped on Young Master Hal’s foot and broke it. Is that true?”
“Part of it is true. I did step on it, but I didn’t break it. He was not seriously hurt.”
“That’s a relief, but......”
“Why do you look disappointed? Like soone who wishes I had stepped on him harder.”
Jas glanced around once, confird that no one was nearby, and then spoke cautiously.
“……Everyone has a lot piled up against Young Master Hal, so they’re all cheering for you. They said next ti you ought to stomp right on his manhood. Keep that in mind.”
“Is it really that bad?”
“Do not even ask. If you get assigned exclusively to Young Master Hal, it might be better to bite your tongue and die. Either that, or co out half-crippled and have to quit the apprenticeship.”
It seed Jas had suffered sothing at his hands too. Things really were going from bad to worse. After parting from him, I changed direction and headed for Rohan’s quarters.
When I knocked and stepped inside, I found that an unexpected guest was there as well. Arwen had co to visit. She greeted brightly with a beaming smile.
“Oh, Dilen. What brings you here? You do not usually co to Rohan’s room.”
“This is a pleasant scene. Have I interrupted sothing?”
At my teasing remark, Arwen waved both arms furiously, trying to fluster the Rohan sitting beside her. But his resistance was formidable.
“Quit talking nonsense and sit down, idiot.”
Rohan was utterly unfazed. Proof that he did not think of Arwen as a woman at all.
From ti to ti, I liked to tease them by probing at the two of them like this, but neither ever took the bait. It really did seem that the two were no more than childhood friends.
For the mont, I shrugged off my robe, set it aside, unfastened the cumberso sword at my waist, and took a seat.
Then I turned to Arwen, who was looking at with sparkling eyes.
“How is the work at Rosetta?”
“It is hard, but manageable. I had no idea cooking could be this enjoyable! The other day, the Knights ca all together, and while I was helping prepare their al, my heart was pounding.”
Yes. You were born to be a cook. Hurry up and refine yourself until you beco the chef in charge of Prira. And while you are at it, turn those A-rank Traits into S-rank.
But could Traits be upgraded too?
I would have to check that later when I had the ti. Fortunately, the Status Window had so sort of convenience system built into it, so comparing new information with existing information would not be difficult.
Sotis I wondered who had made such a thing in the first place.
Did a god really exist, after all?
“But I heard you went out today? Rohan told you got an outing pass from the Young Lady, and he sounded positively sick with envy.”
“Oh, my aching stomach!”
“I was going to go out, but I could not in the end. Sothing ca up.”
“Sothing?”
Arwen tilted her head with an adorable expression.
“Did sothing happen? Now that I look at you, your face does not look very good.”
“It beca a little complicated. But aren’t you on duty today? Is it really all right for you to be relaxing like this?”
“My shift ended already.”
The three of us often spent ti together, as one would expect of people from the sa village. When the day’s work ended and free ti was given, we usually gathered in one place and talked about whatever had happened that day. Normally, we t in my quarters.
And it was not just us. The sa went for other butlers and maids as well.
People from the sa hotown gathered together in little groups. Even House Adeline, famous for its harsh discipline, did not interfere with that much. If it did, people would not be able to bear the stress.
“So what beca complicated this ti? Did Young Lady Sapiela confess her feelings to you or sothing?”
Rohan said it with a sneer. He seed even more jealous than I had thought. It almost made want to prescribe him dicine for his stomachache.
“Well...... my posting got changed.”
“Suddenly?”
Both of them stared at in shock, their eyes clearly urging to continue.
“Young Master Hal specifically singled out. Starting tomorrow, for one week, I’m to attend him.”
“What?”
“What?”
As expected, both of them jerked in surprise. Rohan’s expression, in particular, was spectacular. To call it serious would not have done it justice. He looked like a man who had just seen hell.
A helpless laugh escaped , and I asked him,
“Is it really that bad?”
“……Bad doesn’t even begin to cover it. But who told you about the reassignnt?”
“The Head Butler himself, kindly enough.”
“He didn’t say anything else?”
“He said that this ti can’t be helped, but that he’ll sohow do sothing about it if it happens again. Assuming I survive this ti, that is.”
“Hm.”
Rohan stroked his chin and sank into thought. I sat back at an angle and crossed my legs comfortably.
“Well, now that it’s co to this, I’ll just have to prove my ability. Whatever task he gives , I plan to carry it out perfectly.”
“If it’s you, Dilen, you’ll do well. Don’t worry too much.”
“Thank you.”
I steadied my mind with Arwen’s comfort. But Rohan had gone strangely quiet, sunk in thought ever since. That sort of behavior did not suit him at all.
“What are you thinking about that has made you so silent?”
“Well, actually, there’s a rumor about Young Master Hal.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Everyone knows Young Master Hal is a hellion, right? But they say no one knows why he beca one.”
That was genuinely interesting. I looked at Rohan and urged him on.
“They say that when he was younger, he was extrely clever. But then, all of a sudden, his personality changed and he turned into the wreck he is now. There may be sothing hidden there that we don’t know.”
“That could be.”
“That’s why I’m telling you to be even more careful. You don’t know how Young Master Hal is going to try to work you over. I’m saying that simply doing your tasks well won’t be enough to get you through this.”
“Thanks for the warning.”
My curiosity about Young Master Hal only deepened.
But the serious mood ended there. Rohan abruptly changed the subject and began prying into the latest developnts between Young Lady Sapiela and .
***
That night, I went to the Training Ground reserved for Butler Apprentices to practice. I had assud it would be empty as usual, but soone had gotten there before and was already training.
It was none other than Arthas, the Apprentice Knight.
“Oh, Dilen! So you’re still alive.”
That made the third ti I had heard that exact line today. My affair with Young Master Hal had caused quite a stir. Everyone seed to be worrying about .
To be honest, I had expected Young Lady Sapiela to say at least sothing once she heard the news, but there had still been no word from her. Whether she had so other thought in mind, or whether her interest in extended only so far, I had no way of knowing yet.
I picked up one of the Wooden Swords from the tray set nearby and walked forward.
“I was wondering why I hadn’t seen you lately. So you’ve co to train again after all?”
“I’ve been busy.”
With a grin, I thrust the Wooden Sword at Arthas without warning.
TACK!
A clean impact rang out, and he knocked my blade away with absurd ease. As expected of a four-star talent. One day, I needed to make him into a reliable ally.
This ti Arthas settled into a Sword Form and swung at once. It was a fine attack, but my sword was already in the way, closing off the path of his blade.
TAAK!
“Not bad.”
“I ought to manage at least this much. I’m destined to beco a first-rate butler.”
“Shall we have a proper bout? I’ve been wondering where the limits of your skill lie.”
A aningful remark.
Hearing it, I found myself admiring Arthas’s eye once again. Even if he was still only an apprentice, in terms of martial skill he stood several moves above . We were administrative personnel, after all, not combat personnel.
And yet Arthas was not underestimating my skill. Which ant he had the ability to size up an opponent properly without letting down his guard.
I had not yet sparred with Arthas even once. Partly because our training tis had never lined up well, and partly because when we did et, we spent more ti talking than doing anything else.
Smiling, I shook my head.
“Next ti. Don’t misunderstand—I’m not avoiding it because I’m scared. I just thought I ought to preserve myself a little, since I start attending Young Master Hal tomorrow.”
“What? You’re going to attend the Young Master? Hm...... so it has co to that after all.”
“Do you know sothing?”
He spun the Wooden Sword around twice and then brought it to rest in a neat finish. Stylish, wasn’t it? I ought to try that myself soti.
“There were Apprentice Knights who ended up in situations similar to yours. So ca back after being dragged off and beaten senseless. Others were given absurd tasks, ended up gravely injured, or even lost their lives.”
“I see.”
“You’re not worried?”
“Not really.”
“Hahaha. Sotis I envy that confidence of yours.”
“Worrying doesn’t improve the situation.”
Apparently my cool answer pleased him, because Arthas smiled with amused interest.
“Take care of yourself, and once you get out from under Young Master Hal’s hand safely, we’ll have a proper bout then.”
“Agreed.”
After that, we each returned to our own training. While Arthas swung his sword as though he intended to kill soone, I finished my own practice with little more than so light loosening up.
I had ant to unfold my Mana Cultivation thod, but there were eyes on , so I ended up returning to my quarters, sitting down cross-legged, and starting again there.
Closing my eyes, I spread the mysterious energy pouring out of my heart throughout my entire body.
“……Good. The pace is slow, but the results are continuing to accumulate.”
I examined my Mana Circuit. There had been no dramatic change, but I could tell that the circuit was slowly growing more solid.
The amount of mana was fixed.
And mana possessed properties similar to electric current.
If so, then the result would differ greatly depending on how one passed mana through the circuit. Even with the sa amount of mana, the intensity changed depending on how the circuit was used.
Thus I ended the day with training and greeted a new morning.
After washing up simply, I stopped by Training Officer Vesper to report the change in my assignnt, listened to the obvious warnings, and was imdiately sent off to my new duty.
My heart was pounding.
What sort of duty awaited this ti?
I lightly knocked on the door of the residence where Young Master Hal was staying.
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