Kays Translations

Chapter 140: A Walk with Mira

　After returning home from the greeting rounds, I immediately invited Mira to join me and we headed for Mount Claire. Rosalia wanted to go with me, but I was afraid she might not be able to handle it in case something happened. I managed to coax her out.

　Rosalia looked dissatisfied, but it was for her sake. I would take her with me once the mastermind was fully investigated and it was truly safe.

　As father had told me, I would take the knights and enter Mount Claire. I scanned the surrounding area with my “Search” skill, but there were no particularly suspicious reactions.

“Kyu! Kyu!”

　Mira is jumping up and down, excited for the first time in a long time at Mt. Claire. I didn’t expect her to be so happy. I’m glad I brought her along.

“Mira, don’t go too far.”

“Kyu!”

　Did she understand?　Well, that’s okay. If she get a little lost, it’s easy to find.

“Have the ingredients for the potion I ordered arrived yet?”

“I’m sorry, sir. It seems to be taking a long time because of the manpower required to guard the horse races, etc.”

“I see. Well, then, it can’t be helped.”

　I didn’t think the horse racing season would affect me this much. It’s true that I’ve asked the adventurers to provide security during this year’s horse racing season. It’s no wonder that the number of adventurers taking requests from the Adventurers’ Guild has been reduced.

　It looks like I’ll have to put off making the panacea until after the horse racing season is over. The ingredients for the panacea itself are hard to come by. It may be difficult to make it by the end of this year. Hopefully, nothing will happen before then.

　The next day, and the day after that, Mira insisted on going to the Mt. It was hard to say no when she looked at me with those round eyes. I ended up spending the rest of the horse racing season making greetings rounds and walking with Mira.

　But it wasn’t all bad. Since then, no suspicious people have appeared on Mt. Claire. It seems that the territory is now safe. Now it remains to be seen how the country will treat the suspicious person who was sent to the royal capital. All I can do is wait and see how things unfold.

　The tension with the neighboring Kingdom of Lund Al seems to have been resolved. The knights who had been strictly guarding the border seemed to have returned, and the knights’ quarters was bustling with activity.

　According to Lionel, the knights’ quarters are more lively and tense now that I have been training with them. Come to think of it, when we play tournament games, things get really exciting.

　I brought Mira with me, so I think she understands how strong I am.

　And just like that, this year’s racing season is over. As far as what I did, I got to meet and greet various nobles, caught a spy who was trying to investigate our territory, and ended up taking a walk with Mira.

　I can say that I barely managed to make a transformation potion, which was a good harvest. However, it is doubtful if it will be useful for everyone. It can only take my own form. It can only be useful for crimes or pranks. I’m pissed off.

　But now the horse racing season is over. What starts once the horse racing season is over? It is the social season.

　In other words, my parents and brother Cain will go to the royal capital. I am free!

“What?　 I’m going to the royal capital too?　No, I don’t really want to go there. ……”

　At the dinner table,  father suddenly cut to the chase. This was unexpected. He had never said anything like that to me before.

“That’s the thing, Julius. The potion masters in the royal castle tried to make the ‘panacea’ that you disclosed, but they failed miserably. To be more specific, I heard that less than 10% of it was completed.”

“Is that so…”

　Well, without the “Laboratory” skill, it would be very difficult to make. Even I, a master of magic potions, would have a 70-80% success rate without my skills. It can’t be helped. It’s not my fault, nor the fault of the royal magic potions masters. It’s a natural result. But 10% is …… a bit unsatisfying, isn’t it?

“Thanks to the completion of the panacea by the Potion masters at the royal castle, the suspicion that had been focused on our territory has now turned in their direction. This has made our territory safer.”

　Well, that is certainly true. His Majesty the King took the initiative to have a panacea made, not only because he wanted a panacea, but perhaps with the aim of getting them to turn their attention to themselves.

　It would not be so easy to spy on them in the royal castle. The number of guards is on a different level.

“And so. We’ve been talking about having Julius teach them.”

　This is what it is, and since I’ve secured the safety of the Margrave Heine territory, I might be feeling that it’s okay to cooperate a little. I don’t mind teaching them, but there’s nothing to do even if I go to the royal capital.

“If I go to the royal capital, only Rosalia will remain in here…”

　I glanced at Rosalia. she was sitting next to our mother, but her movements have stopped. Her complexion had turned pale.

“Don’t worry about that. Amelia and I will remain in the territory.”

“What!?”

“Why are you surprised?　My parents passed away last year. I have been in mourning for a year since then as is customary. I don’t know what people will say if I showed up at a social event. So I’ve left this year’s social season in Alex’s hands.”

　I see, so you are trying to expand brother Alex’s network. And he also has the matter with Miss Daniela. I guess they want to lay the groundwork now.

　But wait a minute.

　You said it was customary to mourn, and then you held a fancy horse race?　What’s going on around there?　Oh, maybe that’s why I was supposed to take the lead in greeting people? No wonder I thought that for some reason my mother was often behind me.

　I didn’t know there was more to it than simply being wary of border crossings with neighboring countries. I guess I still have a long way to go. If this is the case, it might have been better to prevent the horse race from being held.

　…… No, no. It’s a valuable source of income for the territory. It would be impossible to eliminate the annual horse racing season now.

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