Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 193: Guardian Deity of the Royal Magic Pharmacists’ Corps
The compounding room smelled dreadful, but the mixtures inside the pots looked good. Despite the abundance of poor-quality ingredients, the process was proceeding smoothly.
As expected of the Royal Magic Pharmacists. Their mana control was first-rate.
"You've all done extremely well so far. Now you only need to maintain this state. Change places well before anyone reaches their limit. That's why you're working as teams."
"Yes, Julius-sensei."
I really was a splendid teacher now.
Incidentally, this was their final examination. Once the Panaceas were complete, I would be a free man.
I inspected each team's pot once more. There were no problems, and everyone faced the work with grave concentration.
"It looks as though you'll manage without me."
"Are you going somewhere?"
"I have swordsmanship practice this afternoon, and I can't stay overnight in the royal castle."
Commander Giovanni's expression became troubled. He was obviously uneasy about my leaving. I understood, but that wasn't an expression one should direct at a ten-year-old child.
I was a child. A pre-adult child.
"Couldn't we make special arrangements for today and have you stay overnight at the castle?"
"I can't decide that by myself. Very well. I'll send a letter to Brother Alex."
Faced with such pleading eyes, I couldn't simply refuse. I was softhearted that way—and then I inevitably ended up tightening the noose around my own neck.
"Thank you. I'll send a letter as well. We need you to watch over us, no matter what."
Oh dear. Somehow I'd gone from being revered as their teacher to serving as the guardian deity watching over the Royal Magic Pharmacists.
I kept my face from twitching and left for lunch.
"Young Master Julius, I've brought writing paper and a pen."
"Thank you. I'd better write while I still have time."
As soon as I finished eating, I wrote to Brother Alex. He should have been at the townhouse, so his reply would probably arrive quickly.
Still, an overnight stay at the royal castle… I wasn't enthusiastic. I'd suggested taking a nap in the rest room beside the compounding room, but everyone had refused.
I handed the completed letter to the servant. He knew enough of the situation to explain the rest.
This wasn't my fault. I hadn't asked to spend the night at the castle.
I wasn't particularly tired even after the morning's work, but I headed to training in a gloomy mood.
"What's wrong, Julius? You're moving badly today."
"I'm feeling rather depressed."
As usual, Axel and I talked while exchanging blows. He was steadily mastering enhancement magic. He could sustain it for only an instant, but he was beginning to activate it naturally within the flow of his movements.
Dealing with him was becoming difficult. I couldn't relax for even a moment. Today, however, I simply couldn't concentrate.
"It's hard to attack you when you're like this."
"Axel, you don't use enhancement magic when sparring with anyone else, do you?"
"I keep my promises. Besides, I'd injure them if I did."
An attack empowered by enhancement magic was extremely dangerous. Unless the defender countered with the same kind of enhancement, the result could be far worse than a broken bone. That was why I'd ordered Axel never to use it against anyone but me.
"You haven't sparred with Ovidio?"
"Commander Yeongseon won't allow it. Ovidio seems desperate to settle matters with me, though."
I glanced at Ovidio. He was sparring with Commander Yeongseon while the other children watched. Observation was useful practice, but no one could truly learn without moving their own body.
"He seems to have been practising with the commander quite often lately."
"Yeah. He declared that nobody else was worthy of being his opponent. He waited until you weren't here to say it."
"Why wait until I wasn't here?"
"Jealousy, probably. I've been getting stronger and stronger from fighting you."
Don't look so pleased. It sounded as though I were simply making Axel stronger. We were training together, but Axel had earned that strength himself. I hadn't handed it to him without effort.
"Why would that make him jealous?"
"Because Commander Yeongseon praised you."
"…What did he say?"
I didn't want to hear any more, but I had to. If strange rumours were spreading, I needed Brother Alex and Princess Daniela's influence to stamp them out.
"He said there was nothing more he could teach you."
"That's bad."
How had this happened? Since I began training here, I'd barely interacted with Commander Yeongseon at all. Why did he think so highly of me?
Lionel. Was this your fault?
"Won't Ovidio challenge you eventually?"
"I'll simply refuse. I'm only a child of a margrave's family. I'll emphasise that part. If he injured the child of a high-ranking noble house, he'd be in serious trouble."
"Do you dislike the idea that much? How confident are you that you could beat him?"
"I will never lose to Ovidio, because I will never fight him."
"You…"
Axel stared at me in disbelief, but defeating the Knight Commander's son would cause enormous trouble. Ovidio's pride would be shattered, and Commander Yeongseon might not feel kindly towards me either.
That was why I had no intention of letting Axel and Ovidio clash.
Commander Yeongseon was probably overprotective, but the greatest problem was Ovidio's emotional immaturity. Only time could solve that. As he grew older and broader-minded, perhaps he would learn to accept defeat.
Axel and I continued sparring for a while, but in the end, he never attacked with enhancement magic. My warning about injuring the child of a high-ranking noble must have affected him.
Given my poor concentration, that was for the best. Axel, on the other hand, looked thoroughly dissatisfied.
I felt a little sorry for him.
Still… spending the night at the royal castle. I truly wasn't looking forward to it.