Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 180: Unbeknownst to Me
A few days passed after I taught Axel and Ijidol how to train their mana. During that time, I also completed the Magic-Potion Material Ledger, and things concerning magic potions were progressing smoothly.
And tomorrow was finally my day off.
At last, I’d be able to visit the orphanage.
“Brother, tomorrow I’m going to the cathedral orphanage.”
“All right. I’ve prepared the soap. You should arrange some sweets as well. I hope you don’t mind if I visit in the afternoon.”
“Of course. That’s no problem.”
Reporting what had happened that day and what I planned to do the next had become a daily routine at the dinner table. Brother Alex’s final examinations were over, and his expression looked a little more relaxed than before, but there was still something subtle about his face.
“Julius, did you know there’s a rumour going around the royal castle?”
“What rumour? I haven’t heard anything.”
I couldn’t help tilting my head. Neither Axel nor Ijidol had mentioned anything happening. Maybe it was something that hadn’t spread among the children.
In that case, perhaps it was an adult topic.
Was it about Brother Alex and Princess Daniela?
“I heard from Daniela that Commander Yeongseon has been singing your praises. She heard it from His Majesty the King.”
“Why!? This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
Why would that be? I was sure nothing like that had been said during our swordsmanship practice. It was true that I’d been putting Axel through some fairly hard training while trying not to let the commander notice, but…
Had he noticed?
Maybe he’d been watching me without saying anything. I’d let my guard down precisely because he never commented.
“That expression tells me you remember something,” Brother Alex said. “The story is spreading little by little among the knights. And then there’s Ijidol Capuson. You know him, don’t you, Julius?”
“Yes, of course. We’re friends.”
What now? Was it Ijidol this time? I didn’t think I’d done anything particularly special with him. I hadn’t taught him any powerful magic or any strange spells.
I tilted my head again, and Brother Alex looked troubled.
“It seems you really don’t realise. Ijidol Capuson’s magic has improved tremendously lately. He’s begun using magic without chanting. Apparently it’s only beginner magic so far, but that’s still remarkable for a ten-year-old.”
“I see. I hadn’t noticed.”
That wasn’t good.
I’d taught Ijidol to fire Light repeatedly, which had enabled him to use it without an incantation. That must have given him confidence. Apparently he’d begun experimenting with ways to cast other beginner spells without chanting too.
“Now that I think about it, you can also use magic without chanting, can’t you?” Brother Alex continued. “I remember reading that in one of the knights’ reports.”
“Well, yes. To some extent.”
“Did you teach Ijidol how to do it?”
He gave me a suspicious look.
But I really hadn’t.
I’d given Ijidol some advice that I thought might help, but he was the one who had put it into practice and acquired the skill through his own effort. I hadn’t done it for him.
“We practise together, but the talent he already had has simply begun to blossom.”
“Hmm. Very well, I’ll leave it at that for now. Even when other people ask him, all he apparently says is, ‘It’s the result of daily practice.’”
That was true. Exactly right. There were no shortcuts or tricks. It was the result of daily effort.
Well, he probably didn’t think of it as effort himself.
People did things because they liked them. Because they wanted to. That was all, and that was precisely why they grew. People never grew as much when they were simply being forced to do something.
I didn’t know whether Brother Alex was really convinced, but he didn’t question me any further.
I was trying very hard not to cause trouble, yet somehow trouble kept happening without my knowledge.
How troublesome.
The next morning, a servant reported, “The sweets have been purchased, Lord Julius.”
“Thank you. Then let’s go. Oh, please bring this wooden box as well. There are some fragile things inside, so be careful carrying it.”
“Of course. What exactly is in the box?”
“Magic potions to donate to the orphanage, a sugoroku board game, and a set of karuta cards. I made them for the children to play with.”
I’d had time before my day off, so I’d prepared everything in advance. Colds seemed to be spreading more and more, so the medicine would certainly be useful. And in the middle of winter there would be days when the children couldn’t go outside. It would be nice if they could play sugoroku and karuta then.
After watching the servants load everything into the carriage, I headed for the cathedral.
Nobles basically didn’t have designated days off. They took time off whenever their own schedules allowed it. As a result, nobles who couldn’t manage their work properly could end up working all year round. Some might even work through the night every day during the horse-racing season.
Even at the House Heine estate, I’d never seen Father take an entire day off. By working every day, he probably avoided letting his duties pile up.
I was a child of a noble house, so I had to follow that custom too.
Eventually, though, I wanted to introduce a five-day working week.
The carriage arrived at the cathedral. I’d sent advance notice, so everything went smoothly. After making an offering, I prayed before the altar. Then we headed for the orphanage I’d been looking forward to visiting.
“Welcome, Lord Julius.”
“I’m glad you remember me, Nero.”
“Of course I do.”
He smiled as he spoke, but there was something gloomy behind it.
Had something happened?
When they heard I’d arrived, the children gathered around, but there seemed to be fewer of them than last time.
Had some of them been sold off!?
“Nero, I don’t see Lelie. What’s going on?”
“That’s…”
“Nero!”
I grabbed Nero by the shoulders and shook him back and forth.
No way.