Kays Translations

Chapter 254: Mother Faints

At the entrance to the mansion stood the now-familiar figure of a "bipedal turtle wearing a mask." This time the mask was blue. Apparently, the spirits were going for a unified look. They weren't planning to call themselves some kind of Sentai squad, were they?

"So that's the spirit."

"Yes, that's—"

"Madam! Madam, please stay with us!"

"Amelia!"

Apparently, Mother had fainted. As expected of a sheltered young lady. The stimulation was too strong for her.

I'd warned Mother's personal attendant beforehand, so she managed to keep Mother from hitting the floor. Father hurriedly supported Mother's body.

It would be rude to the spirit if the commotion got any worse, so I pretended nothing was wrong and greeted the visitor.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Julius Heine."

"So it was you after all. This may be the first time you've seen me, but I've met you before."

"What? Ah, perhaps at the Toradel River? Forgive me. I didn't notice you."

"Ha ha ha! Think nothing of it. Ordinary humans can't see our forms."

The River Spirit laughed heartily. Father joined us after entrusting Mother to the servants. His complexion was still a little poor, but perhaps he thought any further blunder would be unacceptable, because he had firmly composed his expression.

"I am Maximilian Heine, Julius's father. May I ask what brings you here today?"

"Oh, so you're Julius's father. Truly, you've been blessed with an excellent son. Thanks to my friend Julius, many of our companions have been revived. I've come today to thank him."

I didn't particularly need any thanks… Had giving them mana-restoration potion out of sympathy been a mistake?

Father gently placed a hand on my head. He didn't seem angry with me in particular. I'd half expected him to be upset because Mother had fainted.

"I see. I am deeply grateful for such consideration. Julius is my pride."

Father's smile deepened. Apparently, he wasn't joking. He probably thought I was a problem child, but his affection for me ran deeper than that. Thank goodness.

"My wife also wished to greet you, but it seems she isn't feeling well…"

"Pay it no mind. The form of a spirit must have been too stimulating. Many humans caused a commotion on my way here as well."

The River Spirit laughed heartily again.

So the spirit had come through the middle of the city looking like that. The River Spirit probably thought people were reacting to a "superstar," not a "pervert." Spirits really were objects of worship, so perhaps it wasn't unreasonable for them to misunderstand.

"Um, I've wondered this whenever I've met the other spirits too, but why do you take that form?"

"Hm? The Lake Spirit told me that you liked this form."

"I-is that so~?"

Smile, smile.

I didn't remember ever saying that… though I hadn't exactly denied it either. Had they taken my lack of denial as agreement? What was I supposed to do now? Denying it at this point might make the Lake Spirit lose face.

"I've grown rather fond of this form myself."

The River Spirit struck a bodybuilder's pose. The rippling muscles were truly magnificent. Father couldn't help letting out an impressed, "Oh." Pleased by the reaction, the River Spirit struck pose after pose. I had a feeling it was a good thing Sister-in-law Meeka wasn't here.

"Oh, I nearly forgot. Julius, you've done a great deal for us. I'll grant you my blessing as proof that you're my friend."

The River Spirit sent something sparkling from a fingertip, and the pattern of a droplet appeared on the back of my hand.

Third gym badge, get! …Sigh. At this rate, just how many of these was I going to end up collecting?

Apparently, that was everything the River Spirit had come to do. The spirit left.

"Julius, what do you intend to do?"

Once the two of us were alone in front of the entrance, Father murmured the question. He didn't look at me. His eyes remained fixed on the direction the River Spirit had gone.

"What do you mean, what do I intend to do…? I don't intend to do anything in particular."

"You possess three spirit blessings. There has probably never been anyone like that before. As you are now, the kingdom won't be able to ignore your existence."

"I have no intention of doing anything to the kingdom. If I had to name one goal, it would be the same one I've always spoken of: I want to contribute, even if only a little, to the development of magic potions in this country and throughout this world."

"I see. So the aspiration you inherited from Mother hasn't changed. I'm sure Mother would be pleased."

Would she? I couldn't shake the feeling Grandmother would pat me on the shoulder from behind and say with a smile, "Seriously, enough already, all right?"

When Father and I returned to the salon, Mother still wasn't there. The moment Father noticed, he left the salon again. He was probably going to see his beloved wife. Once Mother woke up, Father could explain what had happened.

"Julius, would you mind telling us exactly what happened?"

Brother Alex smiled as he asked. I explained that the River Spirit had given me a blessing and that Mother had fainted when she saw the River Spirit. Sister-in-law Daniela nodded as if to say, I understand. I completely understand.

"Three blessings. I doubt it'll end with just those."

"I think so too. More spirits who have regained their strength may come here from now on."

I imagined one bipedal turtle-shaped spirit after another coming to House Heine. Strange rumours were going to start spreading through the territorial capital. The guards might even be mobilised.

"…Julius, can't you do something about that appearance?"

"The spirits seem to like it. I can't very well be the one to ask them to change into something else. Why don't you try asking, Brother Alex?"

"Shouldn't Julius, their friend, be the one to say it?"

Yeah. Of course that's how this would go.

How could I get them to change their appearance without causing offence? Somebody lend me your wisdom.

Nero. This was a job for Nero, my strategist. I would ask him.

I wasn't just dumping the whole problem on Nero. Definitely not.

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