51. Story

Eventually, I was caught by Ainel and brought to the office.

I showed a pitiful expression on my face asking for help from Sione, but Shione sent me away without saying anything to Ainel.

Ainel’s atmosphere was unusual, and he looked down in front of Ainel.

He couldn’t help it.

Kiki. Clap.

Upon entering the office, Ainel closed the door.

“Now, let’s finish the meal and talk about the main topic.”

She sat with her legs crossed on a leather chair in front of her desk before she knew it.

“Servant, Ray. What trick did you use to defeat Arachne?”

“… It is as you know. I gave my left arm to Arachne while he was biting my arm. I thrust my sword into his head and knocked him down.”

From noble mtl dot com

Gently.

Ainel’s hair swayed as she shook her head.

She gently closed her eyes and shook her head, then slowly lifted her eyelids.

Her closed eyes were filled with negative emotions that were united by annoyance and hassle.

“That’s not the answer I wanted. I must have said I opened the place where you stabbed the knife myself and checked Arachne’s head to see the burnt and melted wound.”

“… No way Wouldn’t that mean that I used some magic?”

Ainel is someone like a beggar sword master.

If you want to hear it, even the sound of your heartbeat will try to detect lies.

She denied what she said, thinking that if she grabbed it once, she would let it go.

Indeed, Ainel was silently listening to me.

“Furthermore, Ainel-nim cut Arachne’s head and checked the wounds I had inflicted on the lowly person. I don’t understand Ainel-sama’s intentions.”

I expressed my feelings.

To be honest.

Why the hell did Ainel go so far as to dig her head out of Arachne’s already dead corpse.

I’m not sure if he was listening to check the wound I gave to the spider.

Even if you look at it to investigate Magi.

It’s a little hard to look closely at the wounds I inflicted while killing that spiderling.

“Before I bought you from the merchant, your swordsmanship was cleaner and more refined than the other slaves, but that was only when you looked at it based on other slaves. Your skills at that time were just swordsmanship that could work against trivial things such as barbershops and goblins.”

Took. Took. Took.

Child Nel habitually started tapping her desk with her index finger.

“While you were on your way to the marquess house, I heard that you killed a cultist’s nephew while protecting Shione alone. They said that among the dogs, there are people who are as skilled as sword users.”

“… I gave up my body to protect Shione-sama, and God only took my side.”

“Let’s talk nonsense as much as we can. Killing a sword user was just a matter of luck relying on God. I’m dumbfounded. I’m speechless.”

Child Nell snorted at me.

Her index finger, which had been tapping the desk for a moment, stopped.

“How on earth could a man with such petty swordsmanship be able to kill women who have become sword users. Just as I was wondering, he even caught Arachne this time.”

“It is…….”

“Yes, I can somehow get past archery. Before I bought you, I even heard from the merchant that your archery skills are definitely excellent.”

Ainel rested her chin on her chin.

The cold spirit of the knight standing on the border between sword expert and master began to weigh on my shoulders.

“However, since the story of Arachne has also come out, how can I do without checking it myself?”

Ainel’s words fly sharply and begin to pierce her ears.

“Even a male mercenary who has spent his entire life wandering around as a mercenary will die 8 out of 10 if he fights Arachne alone. Because they can’t hold mana.”

“However, you are a man who has never been on the battlefield and was born in a lowly position and has never learned to wield a sword gracefully. Nevertheless, he single-handedly guarded Sione and captured Arachne.”

“If I hadn’t been hiding something from me, how could I have produced such phenomenal results?”

Ainel untied her legs and stood up.

“Ray, the seventh slave of the iron cage. Blow the truth.”

She walked slowly and picked up the sword that was hanging on her wall hanging in the corner of her office.

“Even if Shione is an unsatisfactory daughter, she can’t have someone like you with a lot of things hidden by her side.”

I began to feel a cold sensation around my neck.

I warn you that my body is in an infinitely dangerous state against Siabelle’s momentum.

It’s unfair.

It was pitiful that I had no choice but to watch as a halfway swordsman, who hadn’t fully reached the level of a sword master, was taking control of my life.

I don’t know why all the Cianella people are fussy, and they can’t get along with me.

If I had to hide my magic any longer, I would only see that sword pulled out of its scabbard.

Eventually, the truth began to blow.

“… If I tell you frankly, could you put down the sword?”

“Wouldn’t that be up to you?”

I caught my breath and began to answer calmly.

“I know how to use magic. I just borrowed the power of magic to protect Shione-sama.”

As expected.

Ainel must have already roughly guessed that I can handle magic.

He didn’t show much reaction to my words other than a small nod.

“Since when have you been able to handle magic?”

Ainel tilted her head and met my eyes.

“Don’t even think about telling lies. Seeing through everything.”

I nodded.

If it’s an Ainel-level knight, if I make up a lie.

It’s obvious that you’ll be able to see through the lies through my little reactions, even the sound of my heart beating.

I caught and beat him a few times in front of him, but he doesn’t seem to have any intention of letting it go after seeing the reaction in the end.

Now, it is only right to speak plainly.

“I couldn’t handle it when I was imprisoned in iron bars, but the longer I spent with Sione-nim, the more mana and magic I could handle.”

As if this answer was unexpected, Ainel’s eyes widened slightly.

“That means.”

“That’s literally it. It wasn’t until I came into the Count’s house that I was able to handle magic.”

“Hmm.”

Ainel stroked my chin and thought.

She watched her in silence for a while.

It wasn’t long before I could see that her interest shifted back to me from her alone thoughts.

“Let me show you the magic.”

“Okay.”

I used the same magic I showed Siabelle before.

As long as it’s inside the office. Scale is small. But to show that you can definitely handle magic.

Fire rides the wind and creates a veil, but the spirit’s fire burns things according to my will.

You don’t have to worry about fire.

Disbelief appeared on Ainel’s face after the short spell ended.

No, she didn’t mind when I said she could use magic.

Why are you doing that again this time?

“It’s like a man who is still human can use the magic of fairies and elves.”

“… Do you know about this magic?”

“The Cianella family shares a deep relationship with the tree keepers of the Great Forest. Your magic… It’s like the power the children of the great forest can handle.”

As he said that, silence flowed.

Apparently, Ainel knows that my magic is not ordinary magic, but spirit magic.

It seems that only fairies and elves can handle spirit magic in this world.

It seems that you are even more astonished at my true identity after being caught by this coincidence again.

If she goes like this, it seems like it will take a long time for her to organize her thoughts by herself.

She said she wanted to get her attention.

“All of my hidden abilities have been blown away. What are you going to do with me now?”

“Okay.”

Ainel, who had been watching quietly, moved quickly in an instant.

Sureureung!

Before I knew it, the tip of the sharp blade pulled out of the scabbard was aimed at my neck.

“Maybe.”

Ainel approached me step by step, holding the sharp blue blade to my neck.

“Without a leash, not even a restraint ball on her wrists and ankles. It is not enough that there is no subordinate magic applied.”

“Is it right to kill you with the excuse that it is dangerous to keep you by your side?”

“Or should I just keep Cianella by her side? You’re worried.”

It was then.

[The quest has been formed.]

「Proof of Loyalty」

「Ainel Cianella wants to confirm your loyalty in a somewhat radical and eccentric way. Earn her recognition by proving her loyalty to your Cianella with brilliant rhetoric and equally eccentric ways.”

「Reward: Improvement of physical ability」

「Failure: None」

Although I was embarrassed by the sudden thrust of the knife.

When she saw the quest, she realized that her blade had no murderous intent.

Nothing was specified in the penalty for failing the quest.

The explanation that it is a confirmation of loyalty that is done in a radical and eccentric way proves this.

In fact, Ainel probably already knew everything.

Even though I’m dealing with magic, I wonder how much of my loyalty I wrapped around Shione, throwing away even my arms.

Maybe I want to hear this with my own ears and confirm it.

All I have to do is listen to her wishes.

In the same eccentric way.

“I will ask. Are you loyal to Cianella?”

“… It is half right and half wrong.”

Ainel’s eyebrows twitched.

“The subject of my loyalty is always Sione-sama, and Cianella is just an additional object of loyalty.”

“Is it okay if you say that in front of me?”

“Didn’t you say that you can see through all lies anyway?”

“Fun.”

Ainel smiled coldly.

“If so, how will I prove my loyalty to Sione?”

“My allegiance is evident in everything I do.”

I thought for a moment.

Even if it’s because of the quest.

How much I struggled and rolled for that bastard.

“When the devil worshipers attacked Shione-nim, I fought until mana exhaustion came to protect Shione-nim.”

“In the Beltrin Mountains, I rolled down the mountainside holding Sione-sama in my arms to avoid the charging orcs.”

“To protect Sione-nim, I fought, even risking my life against Arachne.”

Ainel’s mouth slowly went up in an arc.

Those eyes.

It was the same look in Siabelle’s eyes when she saw my magic.

“Moreover, the most important thing.”

Finally, you can’t miss this story.

“If my loyalty to Shione-nim wasn’t so great, I would have had to work as a servant.”

“Didn’t you raise Shione-nim, who had closed her heart due to direct comparisons and belittling of others, to her feet and change her?”

From noble mtl dot com

How much effort did I put into making Shione from one person to another?

I am very proud of this achievement, which would have been impossible if it had not been for my sincerity.

That’s because the situation in Sione at that time was miserable.

Right now, I am walking around looking at the world with twinkling eyes.

At that time, Shione had been living her life lying in her own bed and looking up at the same ceiling every day.

Ainel must be well aware of the fact that I created a small miracle.

To think of Shione like that.

Even though she said that it was difficult and annoying until now, I felt that the amount of time she had accumulated with her was not small in her own way.

Then.

Thinking of Shione like that, she came up with something she wanted to say.

She looked straight at Ainel and said.

“So I will ask.”

“What is it?”

“Why did Ainel-sama not say hello even though Sione-nim was by my side?”

Ainel’s expression, which was amused by my words, cooled down.

“Are you trying to teach me now?”

“No. It’s not a hunsu. It is advice.”

Even now, when I think about it, I begin to think that I said it for nothing.

Well, how is it? It’s already spilled water.

Since we can’t put it back, let’s talk until the end.

“Do you think it’s right to disregard Cianella’s daughter and just talk with an attendant like me?”

“… ….”

Ai Nell is her. Even though Sione was right next to her, she ignored her and focused only on me.

She’s still my daughter. She

Doesn’t it make sense that she never pretends to know her, and that she addresses her words only to that attendant?

Shione had a deep sense of pride in the Cianella family.

The one who leads such a family is my mother.

Even if the relationship is twisted and the affection of the past is being forgotten, they would still be my parents that I respect.

It is still good to see her staring at Ainel and me without saying a word while being ignored one-sidedly.

“I dare to ask you for this opportunity. I hope that Ainel-nim will never turn away from or ignore Sione-nim. At least-“

He said, accepting her cold gaze.

“Shouldn’t we say hello to each other?”

After I finished my words, Ainel, who had been staring blankly at me for a while, came out of the air’s mouth.

Starting with that, he even smiled brightly, which did not match the usual cold atmosphere.

Why are you laughing all of a sudden like a crazy person?

I waited until Ainel’s laughter subsided.

“Shione has an unusually loyal person.”

Ainel took her sword away and she hung it on her wall again.

She went back to her chair and sat with her legs crossed.

“I asked you to fully see Sione’s changed appearance.”

Ai Nell showed me the luxurious stationery that was on her desk and said.

“Don’t worry about that.”

“… Yes?”

“As you said, I have a schedule set up for Shione, who has changed.”

What kind of schedule did you have for Daehang?

“This fall, I plan to take Shione to her 1st princess’ coming-of-age ceremony soon.”

Nel, the child holding her chin, said with a slight smile, holding her chin.

“I haven’t seen my face even once at a social church for years, and only rumors remain. Isn’t it time to clear up the rumors?”

“Ah…”

How long has it been since you rode a mountain and caught monsters?

At Ai Nel’s words, she thinks of the life in the carriage to the capital and all the troubles she has to deal with in the future.