Kays Translations

Chapter 152: Rumble

Brother Cain had begun seriously thinking about what the academy’s student council ought to be like. The expression on his face was completely earnest. Watching him, I felt a growing sense of danger.

This was bad. If things continued like this, the academy’s student council might change drastically because of something I’d said.

“B-Brother Cain, what sort of shops are around here? They all seem to be closed…”

“Hmm? Oh, there’s a shop around here that sells daily necessities. But it looks like we’re too early, so it isn’t open yet. I thought it might be. That’s a shame. It brings in goods from all sorts of regions and is very popular.”

I would have liked to see it. A shop that gathered goods from different places was bound to have something exciting in it. So students could shop freely inside the academy grounds. Maybe Brother Cain had wanted me to experience the fun of being able to shop for myself while at school.

“Do they sell books?”

“There’s a bookshop somewhere else. I don’t think it has a huge selection, though. Most of the books are textbooks and reference books.”

I see. From the way he answered, Brother Cain probably didn’t visit bookshops very often.

As we walked on, I noticed an anvil painted on the sign of one of the closed shops.

“Brother Cain, do they sell weapons at that shop?”

That surprised me a little. I hadn’t expected the academy to allow shops that sold dangerous things capable of killing people.

“Oh, that’s a weapon-repair shop. They repair blades when they’re chipped, bent, or broken.”

“I see.”

So it wasn’t actually selling dangerous merchandise. I felt a little relieved. If there really were a weapon shop inside the academy, this place would be rather dangerous.

There were other signs painted with magic wands and clothes. You could even buy clothes here? The academy grounds were starting to feel like a small town. Apparently there was a café as well.

After walking around the campus for a while, we entered the only café that was open. Quite a bit of time had passed since we came through the gates. I wondered whether the knights waiting outside were starting to get impatient.

“Well? Did you find it at least a little interesting?”

“Yes. It really does feel like the largest academy in the royal capital.”

There were other schools in the royal capital, of course. But nobles came to this academy from all over the kingdom, and there was no way it could admit every student in the capital as well. Only a limited number of selected students could enter.

“I see. You’re still planning to attend the academy in the territorial capital, then.”

“Yes. I’m going to study magic potions at the academy there.”

“So even this place isn’t enough for you? Well, it can’t be helped.”

Apparently Brother Cain had wanted a junior from the family here with him.

But, Brother Cain, unless you repeat a year, you and I still wouldn’t attend the academy at the same time. You do understand that, right?

After our break, we left the academy. I didn’t miss the sighs of relief from the knights and servants when they saw us emerge safely through the gates.

Were they really that worried?

Once we returned to the townhouse, I immediately got hold of the spoils from our shopping trip. I was curious about the magic-potion textbook, but the illustrated book on monsters and magical materials also caught my attention.

The monster book described not only the characteristics of each monster, but also the materials that could be harvested from them. This was basically a book for adventurers, wasn’t it? Yet it had been sold in a bookshop for nobles. Were there really nobles who bought books like this? Maybe more nobles dreamed of becoming adventurers than I’d thought.

“Julius, why don’t we have a spar in the garden?”

“Eh? No, thank you.”

“Oh.”

Brother Cain looked visibly dejected.

I’m not doing it, even if you make that face. What would happen if I sparred with Brother Cain and he realised how strong I actually was? I couldn’t take that risk, especially if it ended up damaging his confidence.

I did feel a little bad for him, though, so I went back to reading the book he’d bought for me. That was for Brother Cain’s sake too. Probably.

While I was reading, Brother Alex returned.

“Welcome home, Brother Alex.”

“I’m home. Have you two been good?”

He was treating us completely like children. Was he practising being a father or something? You’re not ready for that yet, Brother Alex.

Brother Cain was clearly irritated. Apparently he didn’t like being treated like a child. He might still be young, but in his own mind he was already a full-fledged man. As for me, I found being treated like a child rather convenient.

“I’ve been reading a book Brother Cain bought for me. I think he’s in the garden testing the sword he bought.”

“I see… Cain, did you buy another sword?”

Rumble, rumble, rumble.

I could practically hear the ominous sound coming from behind Brother Alex. He was smiling, but it was a terribly sad smile.

Scary.

Brother Cain’s face stiffened as well. He shot me a glare that plainly said, You said too much!

Even if you tried to hide it, Brother Alex would have found out soon enough, Brother Cain. He wasn’t going to miss something like that.

“Brother Alex, I’m not the only one who bought a sword! Julius bought one too!”

“Oh? He did?”

The ominous rumbling suddenly receded. Brother Alex looked as surprised as a pigeon struck by a peashooter.

So that was it. Brother Cain had bought me the sword because he was planning to use me as a shield.

Unforgivable. You spent your allowance on me for that reason?!

“Yes. I refused at first, but Brother Cain insisted he would buy it for me, so…”

“…Cain. I told you that you could buy what you wanted, but that doesn’t mean you should buy things you don’t need.”

“I’m sorry! I-I really am.”

The rumbling returned.

Ah, now I understood why Brother Cain had so much money. It wasn’t ordinary pocket money. It was money he’d been given for the social season.

No wonder Brother Alex was angry. The social season hadn’t even begun and Brother Cain was already spending the money.

“Well, what’s bought is bought. Julius, may I see what sort of sword you chose?”

“Of course.”

I asked a servant to bring it. When I removed the wakizashi from the cloth it had been wrapped in and handed it over, Brother Alex tilted his head.

Did I do something wrong?

“That’s an unfamiliar kind of sword.”

“It’s called a wakizashi. Apparently it was brought from the East. It seems to be quite rare; there was only one in the shop.”

After listening to Brother Cain’s explanation, Brother Alex’s brows drew together even more. His expression had become openly suspicious.

“And Julius chose this himself?”

“Yes. That’s right, but…?”

Why was he looking at me like that?

Had buying this sword been a mistake?

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