Kays Translations

Chapter 294: Of Course, That Is the Plan

While Nero remained fascinated by the pencil case, I decided to make one more item. I had told them to sharpen the pencils with a knife whenever the leads grew short, but that would be inconvenient during work. A pencil sharpener would be far more practical, and it would be easy to make from wood.

I made a box-shaped sharpener with a removable lid so the shavings could be discarded easily. The blade was iron. Rust would eventually become a problem, but by then the blade would probably need replacing anyway. It was finished in no time.

“Here, Nero. This too.”

“What is it?”

“It's a pencil sharpener. You use it like this.”

I demonstrated by sharpening a pencil with a smooth rasping sound. The blade cut cleanly, leaving the point neither too sharp nor too blunt. This would let them keep their pencils in good condition at any time.

Nero stood dumbfounded, but that was fine. All I had left to do was go to bed.

“Lord Julius, I have a request.”

“Lelie should have the same set, correct? Tomorrow I will teach Rosalia how to make them… No, I had better wait. We have introduced too many new products at once. Very well, I shall make another set now. Please keep it secret from Lelie until it is ready.”

“Understood.”

I still had plenty of materials, so I quickly made a second set. The work went even more smoothly this time. I would introduce the zipper more widely on another occasion.

I asked Nero to deliver the pencil case, sharpener and pencil caps to Lelie, then finally went to bed.

It had been an exhausting day in many ways. I should have fallen asleep at once, yet the moment I closed my eyes, Sister-in-law Daniela's ample bosom returned to mind. This was not good. I had tried so hard not to think about it in the bath, and now it was all I could picture.

I eventually drifted off, hoping I would not wake the next morning with an embarrassing problem.

At breakfast the following morning, Father and Mother scolded me a little. Thanks to Sister-in-law Daniela's enthusiasm, however, we settled the matter of producing pencils with erasers. House Heine would employ not only established craftsmen but also ordinary residents seeking paid work.

“Julius, is there anything else?”

“No, nothing at the moment.”

I met Brother Alex's searching gaze without flinching. Looking away would only make me appear suspicious.

Brother Alex sighed. Somehow, I had managed to deceive him.

I felt guilty, but I was only trying to avoid increasing his workload. Once the current recruitment effort had settled down, I would consult him about the remaining stationery.

I needed to make Father's fountain pen today. The coloured glass I had ordered should arrive soon as well, after which we would have to make the glass pens. Before things became busy, I decided to visit the training ground. I had not exercised properly for some time.

“Nero, we are going to the territorial knights' training ground.”

“Understood. Lord Cain and Lady Meeka are scheduled to inspect the territory this morning.”

“I see—a date. I am jealous. Still, that is convenient. I shall be able to move freely for the first time in a while.”

I was beginning to look forward to it. With Brother Cain and the others away, nothing would prevent me from sparring with Lionel. My body had grown a little sluggish lately, so this was the perfect opportunity to train properly.

“Well, well, good morning, Julius.”

“Good morning, Lionel. I heard Brother Cain and the others are away today.”

“You are well informed. They are inspecting the territory. The other day, they were asking the knights to recommend suitable places for a date.”

“Haha…”

He was not even trying to hide it. That was precisely what made Brother Cain so admirable: his attitude never wavered, even when his fiancée was beside him.

In that case, there was no need for me to hold back either.

“I would like to devote the morning to training for the first time in a while. Lionel, will you spar with me?”

The gathered knights buzzed with excitement. I seemed to command a strange degree of reverence among House Heine's territorial knights; merely appearing at the training ground drew knights of both sexes around me.

I did not dislike the attention, but it also made me feel like the leader of some peculiar cult. My feelings were decidedly mixed.

“Understood. I will be your opponent.”

Lionel smiled, but an intimidating pressure lay behind it—the sort of aura one might direct at a long-standing rival. Beside me, Nero went pale.

It was the first time Nero had seen Lionel like that, so his reaction was understandable. Several of the other knights looked startled as well.

I spent the morning training with the knights. Naturally, I sparred with Nero and several others as well. For some reason, training with me seemed especially instructive, and everyone responded to it remarkably well.

Until recently, I had not understood why. Then one alarming possibility occurred to me.

In the game, I had wanted to play with fluffy creatures, so I had acquired several “Tamer” skills for that rather impure reason.

One of those skills improved the growth of creatures that had become my companions. Could it be affecting the knights? If so, had they somehow become equivalent to my subordinates without my noticing?

Surely not. I had never been presented with a message asking, Do you want to make them your companion?

“I am astonished. I never imagined you were this strong, Lord Julius. No one would question your being called a Sword Saint.”

“Nero, please tell no one about this—especially no one in the royal capital.”

“Of course. I shall never speak of it again.”

I imitated Lionel's intimidating smile. Nero went even paler. Perhaps I had frightened him too much. Finding the right balance was surprisingly difficult.

And so I acquired a new skill: “Lionel's Intensity”. Ta-da!

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