Chapter 29
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Achievement Unlocked (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Kirigumo's daughter.
Kirigumo Tenka had been following me around with Ridel ever since she declared me her lord.
"If there's anything you need me to do, just say the word, my lord!"
That said, I hadn't assigned her any specific tasks yet.
Most things were handled by Ridel and the servants anyway.
For the first three days, I let her stick around since she looked the part, but I knew I couldn't leave it like that forever.
"Tenka."
"Yes! My lord! Do you have a task for me?"
"Not yet, so from now on, spend your time training as part of your rehab. I like capable subordinates."
"...! A wise decision!"
After that, she diligently carved out her own time for training.
Gillek told me she wanted to get stronger alongside her father, so she sparred with him or the knights.
Incidentally, the secret technique I'd been trying to learn while Tenka trailed me everywhere.
I'd fully mastered the Cloud Mist Step.
After all, I'd seen Kirigumo demonstrate it plenty of times in the Nardan Jungle. With a few tips from him directly, it only took a handful of attempts.
"Hah, hahaha! As expected of Your Highness!"
Even when I picked it up right away, Kirigumo reacted much like Gillek or Amelin.
"Incredible, my lord! It took me months to learn the Cloud Mist Step!"
"I'm a quick study."
Of course, the Cloud Mist Fist had more to teach beyond just the Step, so Kirigumo still had plenty to pass on as my tutor.
And so, my days were filled with morning spars against the knights while learning fist and foot techniques from Kirigumo, followed by afternoon magic lessons from Amelin.
One day, after finishing my afternoon schedule and settling into my room with a book—Tenka at my side after her training with Ridel—a maid came to deliver a message.
"Your Highness, someone at the estate gate is asking for Mr. Kirigumo."
"For Kirigumo?"
"My father?"
"Yes, he gave the name Trond."
"Uncle Trond!"
Tenka's reaction suggested she knew him.
"You know him?"
"He's Father's friend. He knew my late mother too. He'd visit me when I was bedridden and offer words of encouragement."
"I see."
I had no idea why he'd come to our estate looking for Kirigumo, but Tenka didn't seem wary, so he probably wasn't dangerous.
"Have you told Kirigumo?"
"Not yet."
"Go inform Kirigumo. I'll take Tenka and meet this Trond fellow myself."
"Yes, Your Highness."
I headed to the main gate with Tenka and Ridel in tow.
The moment Tenka saw the man standing there, she lit up and dashed toward the gate.
"Uncle Trond!"
"...!? Tenka? H-How are you here?!"
Trond stared at the rushing Tenka like he'd seen a ghost.
"It really is you, Uncle Trond! It's been so long!"
"Y-Yeah. Long time no see. But... how are you so healthy now?"
'He's acting awfully shocked.'
"It's all thanks to my lord!"
"Your lord?"
"Yes! That's him over there—my lord!"
"Hello?"
"Ah, h-hello."
"Tenka told me. You visited her when she was ill and cheered her up? And you're Kirigumo's friend."
"That's right."
I was about to ask more when Kirigumo came running.
"Trond!"
Kirigumo approached the gate, beaming with joy as he greeted his friend.
"How did you find your way here?!"
"I stopped by your house, but no one was home. Asked around, and heard you were staying at an estate in this village. I wondered why you'd bring your sick daughter to a place like this... but to see Tenka so healthy."
"Exactly! It's all... thanks to the young master."
Kirigumo avoided calling me "Your Highness" as usual, sticking to "young master" in front of his friend.
Not blurting out my identity without my say-so was a good sign, even before a friend.
"The young master helped me learn where to find Manlenesia, so we could cure Tenka like this."
"Is that true? You found Manlenesia?"
"We did! Isn't it great?!"
"Yeah. Really... what a stroke of luck! Congratulations, Kazuki!"
'Hmm?'
Trond offered congratulations, but something felt off.
He didn't seem genuinely happy about Tenka's recovery.
His joy rang false.
'Guess I need to check.'
I turned to the knights guarding the gate.
"Let him in. He's Kirigumo's friend."
"Understood."
At my word, the knights opened the gate.
I told Trond,
"Come in. Have some tea and catch up with Kirigumo and Tenka."
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
After ushering Trond inside, I joined them as they reminisced.
Kirigumo explained Tenka's recovery, embellishing details appropriately.
He stuck to the truth about me wanting to hire him and knowing about Manlenesia as a bargaining chip, but framed the expedition as something he'd done alone.
"So, is there any Manlenesia left?"
"Well..."
Before Kirigumo could respond, I spoke up.
"Unfortunately, we used it all up treating Tenka. Such a shame. If there'd been more, I'd have kept some for emergencies."
"I'm sorry, young master."
Kirigumo immediately played along.
"No need to apologize, Kirigumo. You said there wasn't much to begin with anyway."
"That's... truly regrettable. Ah, right!"
Trond rummaged through his bag and pulled out a vial.
"Actually, I brought something for Tenka."
"For me?"
"Yes. This is a herbal tea I gathered. They say it invigorates the body, so I thought it might help you a little."
"Trond..."
Kirigumo gazed at him, moved.
It was touching, him bringing herbal tea for his sick friend's daughter.
"Invigorates the body? Mind if I try some too?"
"Of course! It's good even if you're healthy! Especially for the benefactor who provided the clue to cure Tenka—you must have some."
I ordered a maid to prepare the tea.
Soon, she returned with six cups and a teapot, adding the right amount of herbs to each cup and pouring hot water.
"I'll take the first sip."
I lifted a cup and took a sip.
And the next moment.
[Detected intrusion of harmful poison in the body.]
[Supreme Physique trait activates.]
[Neutralized the poison that entered the body.]
The alert window, which I'd turned back on after leaving the Nardan Jungle, reacted.
I set the cup back on its saucer with a smile.
"As expected of herbs—it's bitter."
"Haha, medicine's supposed to be bitter for the body."
"Kirigumo."
"Yes, young master."
Keeping my smile, I told him,
"Subdue this man. It's poison."
"...!"
At my words, Kirigumo lunged at Trond.
Trond dodged and put some distance between them.
"W-What are you doing, Kazuki?!"
Kirigumo ignored him and pressed the attack to pin him down.
Seeing this, a flustered Tenka looked to me.
"My lord, what's going on...?"
"Just what I said."
I stood and told Tenka the plain truth.
"That guy's herbal tea was actually poison."
"To dare poison Lord Aren?!"
Ridel raged at my words and moved to cast a spell at Trond.
But I acted first, kicking Trond in the side as he focused on evading Kirigumo.
Thud!
"Gah!"
Targeting him as he tumbled, Kirigumo mounted and subdued him.
"Sorry, young master."
"No, he was so fixated on you it was easy to hit him."
"Urgh! Why are you doing this, Kazuki?! Just because he says it's poisoned—why attack your old friend?!"
"I don't doubt the young master's word. Trond, why use poison?! Explain!"
"Poison?! I didn't use any poison! Why believe him over me, Kazuki?!"
"Because he's more trustworthy. And I know poison better."
Looking down at the pinned Trond, I said,
"Come to think of it, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Aren Eldiad, Ninth Prince of this kingdom."
"Aren Eldiad? A prince?!"
"Imperial blood is trained in poison resistance from childhood to avoid assassination. I may not know the exact type, but I can always tell if it's poison. Figuring out which kind? That's for investigators. So, still gonna deny it?"
My words barely ended before Trond's shocked expression twisted into a scowl.
"Damn royals...!"
Bzzz!
A red pattern appeared on his face.