A few days since the day of my resolve――。
Haaaaa…
I went outside fired up to train again today, but…
「Come on, master! Let’s do thisssu!」
Ugh, she’s full of energy.
She’s spinning her arms around in circles…
She’s casually doing front flips and backflips like it’s just a warm-up… That footing isn’t a trampoline, right?
「Sigh…」
「Ano….master? Why do you lose motivation so openly when it’s me you’re fighting?」
「Well, you see…」
I’ve trained with Renge many times, but to be honest, she’s the scariest.
First, she’s too close. She comes at me in extreme close range, and whenever it’s against Renge, I end up only defending.
When she actually uses unarmed throws, I’m completely helpless.
I get taken down without being able to do anything, and she keeps striking just short of my stomach or face over and over.
「It’s fine. I won’t do any more aerial combosssu!」
「Of course you won’t!」
What was that supposed to be, “I’m gonna do something funssu, so please hold your sword straight”?
She launched me upward from below, then with a series of jumping kicks kept sending me higher, and she was grinning like she wanted me to praise her!
「Unlike Aina or Sorte, you’re mostly just flesh and blood, so you should know why I hesitate…」
「Ahaha, don’t worryssu. Master’s sword would never hit me, and even if it did, it wouldn’t cut messu!」
「That’s true, but still!」
Yeah, the Mana-Eater can’t cut her.
Yeah, I can’t even hit Renge.
It’s true, but it’s frustrating.
I glare with fighting spirit, determined to land a hit today.
「Ahaha, look, if you score one point on me, I’ll give you a special treat. I’ll use a thigh technique just for you, masterssu.」
「Alright then, let’s do this fair and square.」
What’s that supposed to mean?
A technique using her thighs… That? Could it be she’s going to trap me… I see, so that’s when the slime lotion comes in.
Hehehe, then I’ve got no choice but to go on the offensive this time.
I’m looking forward to it! Very much!
「Alright, here I comessu!」
「Yeah, let’s gooo!」
-0-
A few hours later…
「Um, master? Are you okay?」
「Ugh… haaa… urgh…」
In front of the worried Renge, I’m barely standing, using my sword like a cane…
Sorry, Mana-Eater. You must be a great weapon, but forgive me for using you like this…
But I feel like I’m about to cry. Can I cry?
I took the technique using her thighs, but it turned out to just be a Frankensteiner.
Well, it’s a big move, so calling it “just” that isn’t fair, but still… it’s flashy.
The moment I was caught between her legs was without a doubt the best moment.
But it was only a moment, because right after that I was flipped straight into the ground…
The way your vision spins around like that is terrifying…
「…You look completely worn out.」
I managed to turn my head toward the voice, and there stood Shiro and Mizera….wait, what!?
H-hold on, I can’t breathe! The shock made my breath catch!
「Cough, cough! Gahh!」
「Are you alright…?」
「Renge, you overdid it.」
「Yeahssu… I’ll reflect on it…」
「Lord is weak. If you don’t hold back properly, he’ll die.」
「E-everything was stopped short thoughssu!?」
「Hmm. But he’s in pieces.」
「Uuu… I’m sorryssu…」
Well… it was scary, yeah.
But you know, this is training. If I don’t go through things like this, I won’t get stronger.
Even today, I almost landed one hit. Probably.
Ugh, I want to talk but my breath still hasn’t recovered…
Alright, breathe in… breathe out…
「This is water, right? Here, can you drink?」
「Fuuu… th-thanks.」
「You don’t have to force yourself to talk. Take it slow.」
I received the cup of water from Mizera. Even though I felt the urge to gulp it all down at once, I followed her words and drank it little by little, one sip at a time.
「Phaa… haa. Thanks. Um… welcome back?」
「…I’m back.」
「You were a little late today.」
「I’ve been getting better at escaping for longer each day.」
「Doesn’t feel like something to be proud of, since you still end up caught…」
Ever since that day, Mizera had been running away from the mansion once a day.
I told her she was free to do as she pleased, so of course I didn’t mind.
I would never imprison her just to keep her from escaping.
Naturally, when she came back, I decided to treat her the same as everyone else.
「More importantly, are you okay?」
「Yeah… this much happens pretty often. Thanks for the training, Renge.」
「I’m really sorryssu… Do you want me to lend you a shoulder? Or go to the bathssu?」
「No, the three of you can go ahead without me. Besides…」
I welcomed Mizera, who had returned with Shiro, but it looked like they had gone through a narrow path. Her arms and face were smudged with a bit of dirt.
But more than that, her clothes below the neck were in a terrible state.
Bright red… It didn’t look like blood, but it was completely red.
That was why I had been so shocked earlier that I couldn’t breathe.
「…What happened with that?」
「…I spilled some of the tomatoes I was given.」
「Ah, from the usual vegetable seller?」
「Yes, I’m sorry, but…」
「Got it. I’ll put it on your tab.」
「Sorry. Please do…」
A few days after Mizera and Shiro’s game of chase began, their antics became well known to the townspeople, and one time, she received vegetables after being spotted hiding in the shadows of a shop by an old woman.
When I heard that, I tried to pay the old woman for the vegetables when I went shopping, but…
『Ahahaha, it’s fine. You always buy a lot from me, right? Being lively is the best. You can see that from our lord, can’t you?』
She said to me.
So I thought I could repay her by buying more than usual, but Mizera insists she will always pay her back herself, so I keep a ledger.
By the way, besides the vegetable vendor, there are lots of people cheering Mizera on….the butcher, the baker, and so on.
Those guys… they’re enjoying it.
「…Then, go take a bath.」
「Is that okay? Um… you look worse for wear. Wouldn’t it be better if you went first?」
「I’ve got some work to do… If I take a bath I’ll probably fall asleep right away, so I want to get it done first.」
I had a special order for ‘Mic’ from Iris.
She’s coming to pick it up, so I want to have it ready early in case she comes at any time.
Also…
「I see… alright.」
「Shiro, you should come too.」
「Hmm? Shiro isn’t dirty, right?」
「You went through a narrow path, didn’t you? Look, the tip of your tail is blackened.」
Shiro’s tail is pure white, so dirt shows up clearly….I wonder if she ever bothers to check his tail himself.
「Hmm. Got it.」
「Sorry to ask, Mizera, but could you wash her properly?」
「Understood, milord.」
Lately Mizera runs away every day, but when she returns, she dutifully acts like a slave.
Or rather, she comes back exhausted from running around so much, so she probably doesn’t want to use any extra energy.
I want her to bathe, eat, and properly recharge her strength so she can run away again tomorrow… though it would be better if she didn’t run away.
Well, it will probably take many trials before she gives up.
Since I decided to let her do as she pleases, I’ll let her.
「Then, shall I walk part of the way with you?」
「Master! I’ll support you!」
Thank you, I let Renge lend me her shoulder and started walking slowly.
「By the way… you lit the path to the basement, didn’t you…」
「Ah… well, I wanted to try making a magic lamp, too.」
Mizera’s trauma was the basement, and I figured the darkness would be bad for her, so I hastily made a magic lamp.
It was a lantern-style piece, a simple Western design made of steel and glass, but I think it turned out well enough.
「…You made this?」
「Yeah. For an alchemist like me, it’s nothing.」
「It gives off a nice atmosphere, doesn’t it? Just walking through feels bright and fun!」
「…Why is it, when you have talent in alchemy…」
「Hm?」
Mizera whispered something in a very small voice, but I missed it.
「It’s nothing. …Thank you.」
「Don’t mention it. Well… the bath is in the basement too. You’ll probably be using it often from now on.」
「Yes. And thank you for making it so I don’t have to go through alone… With this much light, I’ll be fine.」
「…Yeah.」
After answering just that, the three of them headed to the bath while I entered the workroom, poured magic power into the air purifier, and sat down in my work chair.
「Haaaa……」
Making the mic was quick thanks to the known magic circle (Experience Circle).
Since it was something pre-existing, it was easy.
After that I simply multiplied them instantly Multi Copy, and just like that the job was done in no time.
Haaa, I’m tired… my body hurts…
But I’m glad I made that lamp…
Mizera even smiled a little and said she’d be fine…
「Aaah…」
Alright, let’s continue with the study.
I stacked the books I had borrowed from the library onto my desk.
Let’s see, I left off here in this book…
Ahh, my eyes are a little blurry, the small letters are hard to read…
Should I make eye drops? Or maybe make glasses…
Either way, it’ll take time.
「…Master.」
「Whoa… Wendy. What is it?」
When I turned around, Wendy was standing there with a worried look.
She walked over to my side.
「Um, dinner is ready, so I came to let you know…」
「Thanks. Sorry for leaving it all to you…」
「Not at all. Aina and Sorte went shopping, so… Um, you seem very tired…」
「Yeah. Training was rough today… Haha, I got beaten up again.」
「…Um… what are you researching?」
「Oh, this… I was wondering why half-elves are discriminated against so strongly. Just because their ability growth is limited, being treated that harshly seems strange to me.」
The traits of half-elves are: poor skill growth, long lifespans, high resistance to skills, and those with wicked emotions cannot touch them…
Yeah. None of those really mean they’re doomed to unhappiness.
And having high resistance to skills should actually count as a strong ability, shouldn’t it?
In the first place, even if they are not Half-Elves, there are still those with low abilities.
And even if the rules of this country say it is acceptable to discriminate against those with low ability, I cannot be satisfied without some kind of reason behind it.
「……Um… is there anything I can help you with?」
「Well… I already leave the household matters to you, Wendy, and that helps me a lot, you know?」
Since the day of the celebration, I have left all the housework to Wendy.
Shopping too, I ask Aina and the others to go with her, and thanks to that I have more time to focus on my research. It has been a great help, but…
「I… I want you to rely on me more, Master. You’re always doing everything alone and pushing yourself too hard… it worries me」
「I don’t think I’m really pushing myself that much」
「That’s a lie… You haven’t even returned to your room at all…」
Ah…
Now that I think about it, whenever I lock the door to the workroom everyone takes the hint and doesn’t come in. It’s convenient and comfortable for concentrating, so I’ve been holed up there…
「I know you’re working hard for Mizera, Master. But if you collapse because of it, not only we but Mizera too will be sad…」
Wendy muttered in a trembling voice, looking as if she was about to cry.
「If it’s research, I can help too. So… please take better care of yourself… Even the other day…」
「…Sorry. My fault」
「I don’t want just words of apology… I’ll help you」
「…Yeah. Thank you」
I thought since I was already being selfish enough, I should at least handle this part myself, but…
「Then, I have a favor. Will you listen?」
「Yes!」
「…Let me sleep on your lap for a bit」
「Master… I’m happy, but…」
「And when I wake up, help me with the research…」
「Yes!!」
Wendy answered joyfully. On the sofa, she let me lie down with my head resting on her lap.
When I looked up from her knees, she was peering down at me with a loose, happy smile.
「Sorry for worrying you」
「I won’t forgive you. So please sleep properly…」
「Yeah… I’ll do that…」
With Wendy gently stroking my hair, I drifted into sleep on the most comfortable pillow imaginable.
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