Kays Translations

Chapter 310: I Am Not a Sage

I was drinking tea in the salon when Brother Cain arrived after completing his report, accompanied by Sister-in-law Meeka. They seemed ready to explain the expedition in greater detail, and I suspected they would soon ask me to contribute.

"Julius, Father said he wants to talk to you later."

"Why is that!?"

"Well, since there were various things that happened. He wants to hear about it directly from you."

"I see."

My attempt to avoid the debriefing had failed. I had hoped Father would be satisfied with Brother Cain's and Lionel's reports. Perhaps 'Overheat' was the problem, or the temporary base. It could easily be both.

"Brother Cain, I heard you defeated the Snow Worm! What was it actually like?"

"Um, it was like a giant worm…"

Rosalia and Lelie grimaced as they listened to Brother Cain's description and even stopped eating their dried fruit. Hearing about the enormous worm and the slimy fluid that sprayed from its wounds would ruin anyone's appetite.

"Julius, I had no idea you could use magic like that. You can use both offensive and defensive spells—it's almost as though you're a sage."

Sister-in-law Meeka said this with a strangely proud expression, and Brother Cain nodded beside her. This was the last subject I wanted discussed in front of Rosalia.

"Is Brother Julius a sage?"

There it was. Rosalia gazed at me with sparkling, utterly trusting eyes, but I could not say yes. I was not a sage in this world, and I had not been one in the game.

"No. I can merely use a little of several kinds of magic."

"That seems a bit of a stretch, doesn’t it?"

"Brother Cain."

"Uh, sorry."

I activated my newly acquired 'Lionel's Intensity'. Lowering my voice and smiling as I spoke made Brother Cain's smile turn strained. Rosalia remained completely unaffected and continued staring at me with shining eyes.

Rosalia was not alone. Sister-in-law Meeka, Lelie and even Nero looked at me the same way. I escaped their gazes by feeding Mira dried fruit and stroking Mira's soft scales. How soothing.

After the break, I returned to the workshop. I had asked Nero to collect the elementary healing potions on the way. Since dinner would be a small banquet, I planned to give the potions to the cooks afterwards.

"What are you making, Brother Julius?"

"I'm making a glass pen for Lady Fabienne. I also plan to make the magic-stone hand warmer you improved."

"Can I watch you make it?"

"Sure, that’s fine."

I doubted that watching me make a glass pen would be exciting, but I did not mind. As planned, I melted deep pre-dawn-blue glass and formed it into a pen, scattering gold stars across the barrel. The finished piece looked like the night sky just before sunrise and had turned out beautifully, even if I was praising my own work.

"It’s done. A perfect finish."

"Brother Julius…"

Rosalia fidgeted. A perceptive elder brother could immediately understand what his precious little sister wanted.

"I’ll make a similar glass pen for Rosalia too. It won’t be exactly the same, though."

"Really!? Thank you so much!"

Rosalia hugged me. Lelie watched us intently. Perhaps she wanted one as well. We had enough materials, and Lelie was always helping Rosalia, so I decided to make one for her too.

"I’ll make one for Lelie too."

"Is that alright!?"

"Of course."

With the two girls watching, I made two more glass pens. Arranged together in a velvet-lined box, all three glittered as though they held pieces of the night sky.

"For your future sister-in-law, I think this one is the best."

"I agree with Lady Rosalia."

"O-Oh."

Rosalia already regarded Lady Fabienne as her future sister-in-law. I was not entirely sure how to react, but the single pen they selected did appear superior; the placement of its stars and the variations in the glass were especially beautiful.

I could make things, but I lacked artistic judgement. I had suspected as much while choosing a gift with Lady Fabienne.

"Then we'll give Lady Fabienne the one you chose. As for the other two…"

"Don’t worry. The other two are equally wonderful."

Lelie nodded in agreement. Neither girl objected. Differences in status made such decisions awkward: if everyone held the same rank, we could draw lots, but otherwise the finest item should go to the person of highest status. With my poor artistic judgement, I could not reliably decide that myself.

After giving the other two glass pens to Rosalia and Lelie, Nero returned carrying the elementary healing potions in both arms. I should have sent a knight to help him. I still needed to become accustomed to directing other people.

"It must have been heavy, right? I’ll be more careful next time."

"It wasn’t a problem. This amount of luggage is no trouble."

Nero smiled as he answered, and he did not appear to be pretending. I had been teaching him enhancement magic, so he could probably carry far more than other children his age. Perhaps the load truly had been manageable.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter