Chapter 145: The Morning the Guests Depart

By the time the Acorn Feather Drop tournament ended, the sun had begun to set.

All the magic stones prepared as prizes had been distributed, and the children laughed over who had won and lost. Since the guests planned to depart the next day, all the children ate dinner together.

“Let’s play again!”

Yona happily waved the feathered end of her acorn. Sylvie and Tina grinned and waved theirs too.

“Let me join in.”

Patrick hurriedly pulled an acorn from the set they were putting away. Somehow, they all ended up waving the acorn feathers at one another. The strange greeting made everyone laugh, and Ren smiled naturally.

(I’m glad I made it.)

It wasn’t a sword or magic, so everyone could play together. They were even using it as a greeting. That made him happy.

Everyone returned to their rooms. Ren headed towards the storehouse room in the annexe, with Royce walking beside him.

“Why was I the only one…?”

Royce muttered.

“Huh?”

Ren turned.

“I received the Earth Magic skill too…”

Royce kept his gaze on the ground as he walked.

“There wasn’t any celebration like this last year… and I didn’t receive gifts from our relatives…”

“…The same happened to me.”

Royce stopped and glared at him.

“You’re different, Ren-niisan. I’m not the same as you…”

“There hasn’t been a celebration since Ryan-niiue received his skill. Liese-neeue and Lewis-niiue didn’t have one either.”

“…I know, but… I’m working hard too…”

Royce pouted and ran off.

Ren couldn’t say he didn’t understand. Grandfather had explained why Swordsmanship was given special treatment, but Ren still couldn’t accept that those without Swordsmanship—or without combat skills at all—might not even have their Academy tuition paid.

Watching Royce run away, Ren sighed quietly.

Early the next morning, the manor was bustling from dawn, despite the celebration having ended only the previous day. The guests would depart after breakfast. Servants carried luggage, tended horses, and prepared carriages.

When Ren went into the garden, the clack of wooden swords came from the rear yard.

“Hah!”

“Not yet!”

Patrick and Yuan were practising. Patrick still seemed completely at ease, deflecting every one of Yuan’s repeated strikes.

(Yuan is working hard…)

At the archery range, Scott and Theo loosed arrows at a target.

Whish.

An arrow cut through the air and struck near the centre. Ren watched, fascinated. When Scott drew his bow, faint magic power gathered around his arms and shoulders. His arrow struck with an especially sharp sound.

(Ryan-niiue looked like that too…)

He remembered the day his eldest brother had taught him a little archery before leaving for the Royal Capital.

“Interested?”

Ren looked up to find Scott smiling.

“Huh?”

“Want to shoot?”

Ren hesitated.

“But…”

“You can borrow my bow.”

Theo held his out.

“It’s for practice.”

At their urging, Ren accepted it. Theo’s bow was longer and a little heavier than his own. He carefully nocked an arrow, breathed in, drew slowly, and released.

Thud.

The arrow struck the edge of the target.

“Oh.”

Scott looked surprised.

“Have you practised archery?”

“Yes… though I don’t have the Archery skill.”

“That’s normal where we live. Even knights without the skill practise with bows.”

“Exactly,” Theo agreed.

Ren’s eyes widened.

“They do?”

“Is it different in the Cream Barony?”

“…I don’t know.”

Ren didn’t know much about the knights’ training. Father had told him it was pointless to train without the matching skill. If so, perhaps their knights didn’t use bows unless they had Archery.

“Many of the knights also work as adventurers, don’t they?” Scott asked.

“Yes… that’s what I’ve heard.”

“Then I’d think they use bows too.”

“…Maybe…”

Ren considered it. Many knights in the barony also worked as adventurers, and bows were common among adventurers at the guild. Perhaps the knights did use them after all. The question stayed with him.

As the sun rose higher, carriages lined up before the entrance and escort knights mounted their horses. Ren and his siblings stood together to see everyone off.

“Let’s play again!”

Tina waved her acorn.

“I’ll score more next time!”

Yuan smiled in reply.

Scott waved. “Let’s practise archery again too!”

“Yes!”

Ren waved back. Just as the Margrave’s carriage began to move, he noticed someone mounting a horse elsewhere.

“Huh…? Grandfather?”

Ren hurried over.

“Grandfather!”

Cain turned.

“What is it?”

“Um… are you leaving already?”

“Yes.”

Grandfather nodded calmly.

“I will escort House Brûlée part of the way.”

Ren blurted, “There are still so many things I want to talk about…”

Spear Arts, swords, and the Academy—he had mountains of questions. His voice trembled with distress.

Grandfather narrowed his eyes and gave a small smile.

“We’ll meet again. Don’t neglect your training.”

“…Yes.”

Grandfather turned his horse.

“Tell me your story when we next meet.”

Ren nodded firmly.

“I will!”

Grandfather joined the Margrave’s procession.

Ren watched him go and quietly exhaled. Even after the horses vanished beyond the trees, he couldn’t move for a while.

(I should’ve tried harder to talk to him…)

Watching the carriages recede, he quietly clenched his fist.

(Next time we meet, I’ll ask him much more.)

He watched until Grandfather was completely out of sight.