Kays Translations

Chapter 223: Nero Joins the Fray!

I decided to forget about the broken magic target. Nothing had happened. With that settled, we could resume practice as though everything were normal.

“All right, you two can let loose here.”

“No, wait.”

“Julius, you aren’t going to pretend this never happened, are you?!”

Both of them immediately objected. Apparently, I was not allowed to brush the matter aside. Ijidol was especially curious about the spell I had used, but I had no intention of explaining it. If I did, he might start calling me a great mage. No, thank you.

“There’s nothing to explain. I didn’t do anything special; I only did what I normally do. Look, Ijidol, you can use stronger magic here—spells you normally wouldn’t be allowed to practise.”

If Ijidol broke a target too, they would realise I was not special. A perfect plan.

“Right! That’s true. It’s only magic. I can use it too.”

Ijidol repeated the words to himself. He was still a child, after all. Just as Pietro must want to unleash powerful spells while training under the Royal Mage Corps commander’s supervision, Ijidol clearly wanted the chance to test his own strength.

Ijidol began chanting unfamiliar spells. Some failed to activate, probably because he was using them for the first time, but he seemed to be enjoying himself enormously. He repeated each chant until the spell finally worked.

He released one spell after another. Axel stared in speechless amazement; he had probably never imagined Ijidol could wield magic so skilfully. Ijidol soon abandoned beginner spells altogether. After trying intermediate magic, he moved on to advanced spells.

“Is this all right? Ijidol’s eyes look strange.”

“I know. I may have opened a door that should have remained closed…”

I was about to laugh it off, but Axel was staring at me with complete seriousness. His expression was almost frightening.

“I want you to take me seriously too.”

“Don’t you always practise seriously, Axel?”

“Not me. I want you to be serious.”

Axel’s gaze did not waver. How long had he known? Perhaps from the beginning. Someone as talented with a sword as Axel would naturally notice that something was unusual.

“You may end up crushed by the difference between us.”

“I still want to know. I want to understand how far apart we are.”

“You might lose the will to continue with the sword.”

“I will never abandon it. I am your sword, Julius. I swear it—and I will catch up with you.”

I did not entirely understand why his loyalty to me had become so intense. Still, after hearing such resolve, refusing to take him seriously would be disrespectful. Axel, I would trust his promise not to abandon the sword.

“All right.”

I picked up a wooden sword. I could not truly fight at full strength; reviving the dead was hardly an acceptable solution. Anyone capable of that would have transcended humanity. When I thought about it, games were full of absurdly powerful people.

While I considered this, Axel assumed his stance. He looked more formidable than ever and radiated an intensity he never showed in ordinary practice. I quietly took my own stance. The colour immediately drained from his face.

Later, Brother Alex sat across the table from me with his arms folded, looking distinctly displeased. Faced with that unusual expression, I shrank like a frightened hamster.

“So you were practising both magic and swordsmanship. These two are completely exhausted.”

“I think we overdid it a little.”

“A little?”

“A great deal.”

Brother Alex’s quiet pressure forced me to correct myself. Axel and Ijidol, seated on either side of me, were utterly spent. I had noticed and was about to give them magic potions when Brother Alex returned.

He had brought Nero and Lelie with him.

“Honestly, the moment I take my eyes off you, this happens. Julius clearly needs supervision.”

“Supervision?”

“Yes. I’m assigning Nero to watch over you.”

“Nero will be my attendant? Thank you!”

I bowed in sincere gratitude, but Brother Alex looked conflicted, as though wondering whether he had made the right decision. It was fine. With Nero advising me, everything would become much easier—or rather, I could learn what other people considered normal.

“Um, Lord Julius, are you certain you want me?”

“Of course. You’ll do wonderfully, Nero.”

“…Why are you going so far to take me into your service?”

“You’ll be fine. My instincts tell me so.”

Everyone stared at me with open mouths, plainly wondering what I was talking about. But I believed I was the person best able to make use of Nero’s abilities. It was far better than allowing him to work somewhere obscure and waste his talent.

“If Julius insists, I won’t object. Nero, as I explained earlier, you must also report to me.”

“Yes, my lord.”

So Nero would remain connected to Brother Alex. That was acceptable. Nero would surely place my interests first. Now Brother Alex would finally stop regarding me as a problem child.

“Nero, I’ll show you my room first. Axel, Ijidol, wait here. I’ll bring back some potions.”

“Understood, Lord Julius.”

Nero was very formal, but he would loosen up eventually. The other two were making strange faces. Was there some problem?

“Thank you.”

“You’re sure those potions are safe, right?”

“Of course. They’re simply potions I made myself.”

The two of them visibly relaxed. As for Lelie, another servant appeared ready to look after her. She did not seem concerned; apparently, the arrangements had already been explained to her. In fact, she looked delighted. For some reason, that made me uneasy.

Nero noticed me watching Lelie and spoke.

“There is no need to worry, Lord Julius. Lelie will be trained here as a maid, and she is eager to become your personal attendant.”

“That doesn’t reassure me! Do you know what a personal attendant has to do?”

“I do.”

“Then why aren’t you stopping her?”

“Because it is what she wants.”

He said it bluntly, as though that settled everything. Was this really all right? A personal attendant would remain close to me, help me bathe and handle my laundry. Still, if Lelie truly wanted the position, perhaps there was nothing more to say.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter