Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Magic (6)
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After creating the mana droplet, I immediately began learning magic.
Ellie asked me what kind of magic I wanted to learn, and I gave her a simple answer.
"Teach me light magic."
The only magic I could currently imbue was 'Light'.
So, it made sense to start with light magic before anything else.
"Ugh... Well, it's fine if you want to learn light magic. But is there any particular reason?"
"I have my reasons. Why? Can't I start with light magic?"
"L-Light magic isn't something a lot of people want to learn. How should I put it... it's not flashy, and it's less popular than you'd think..."
"Is that so?"
I had no interest in learning something just because it was popular.
Still, I was a bit curious why light magic was considered undesirable.
"Why's that?"
"Light magic has broad but shallow applications. It can be used for defense, offense, confusion, and more, but because it's so versatile, it lacks specialization. Ugh... So I never expected Young Master Kline to want light magic."
"Ah, I see."
So, it was jack-of-all-trades but master of none.
If I aimed to become a great mage, that might have given me pause.
But honestly, I didn't care.
'Learning magic itself isn't the goal anyway.'
What mattered was how useful it would be as a magic swordsman.
Versatility was even better—it let me adapt to any situation.
"It's fine. Teach me."
"H-Huh? Y-Yes! Then, the first spell worth teaching is... yeah, this one's the best. Flare."
Ellie raised her finger.
Mana gathered at her fingertip.
Then sparkling light converged, turning it into something like a blinking magic stone.
"It's a spell that concentrates light into a single point and makes it shine. It has all sorts of uses—like illuminating your field of view, distracting enemies, or even dealing minor damage if it touches their body."
"Talk about broad and shallow."
"Yes. B-But if your goal is just to learn light magic, this is the best one. It's easy to pick up and has tons of practical uses."
"Got it."
She was right.
I didn't need some incredibly powerful spell.
What I needed was something perfect for imbuing on my sword.
As long as I can wield a magic sword infused with 'Light', anything works.
"Alright, now I'll teach you how to cast it. It's like this..."
With Ellie growing deadly serious and beginning her patient explanation,
my magic lessons truly started.
How many weeks passed after that?
Learning Flare wasn't much harder than making mana droplets.
Ellie said people picked it up this fast were rare.
But that didn't mean much to me. I wasn't trying to become a mage.
My goal was imbuing light magic onto my sword.
So I asked Ellie to focus on raising my proficiency with Flare over other spells.
Time passed like that.
"Come here a moment, Lady Elisicia."
"Ah. Y-Yes! Do you have something to say...?"
"I just have a few questions about my son."
Ellie was gradually getting closer to the household staff.
People who initially saw her as just a guest now chatted freely with her.
Even Alfred, who left everything to me, occasionally talked with her.
And even Father was summoning her periodically for conversations.
Though it seemed he was mostly curious if I was learning magic well.
"...I see. No major roadblocks, then."
"Y-Yes! Young Master Kline has exceptional talent! His attitude toward learning is impeccable! H-He really is quite charming!"
"No need to praise him that much. People might misunderstand."
"U-Ugh! S-Sorry...!"
The way Father cracked a small smile whenever Ellie spouted nonsense,
made me think he quite liked her.
...What if Father ended up liking Ellie more than Adel?
Well, honestly, the household and Father bonding with Ellie wasn't a big issue.
What I was actually worried about was the relationship between Ariel and Ellie.
My little sister had been down about lacking magic talent for a while, but she'd perk up eventually.
I was tense that she'd growl at Ellie then—
But surprisingly, Ariel didn't pay much attention to her.
She'd sometimes watch silently when Ellie and I had private lessons,
but she never intervened or stormed off in a huff.
She just stared blankly,
observing me from afar as if studying me.
One time, bothered by Ariel's gaze from atop a nearby tree, Ellie spoke up.
"Ah, h-hello?"
Ellie forced an awkward smile as she greeted Ariel, who was perched silently above us.
She probably thought Ariel was a weird girl.
Quiet, expressionless, not fully blending with the household.
She existed in the mansion, yet felt like a stranger.
That ambiguous presence—clearly my little sister.
Ellie found her unfamiliar but didn't show much wariness.
That was one big reason I liked her.
"U-Um, do you want to learn magic too...? You've been watching so intently..."
"Ellie, why are you so scared? She's younger than you and my little sister. Just talk normally."
"Ugh. B-But! She's not someone you can treat lightly. Feels like she'd devour me if I slipped up..."
Ellie shook her head vigorously at my words.
Sharp instincts, this one.
Ariel might look docile, but she was a super-predator at heart.
So I asked on her behalf.
"Ariel. You interested in Ellie?"
"...No."
Ariel shook her head.
She hopped down from the tree without batting an eye and continued quietly.
"Just curious if you're learning magic well, big brother."
"Ah. Th-That's what you were wondering about? D-Don't worry. I'm teaching him properly."
"...Yeah. I don't know much, but it looks that way."
"Ah. Ahaha."
Ellie was the older one, yet Ariel had total control.
Creating a suffocatingly awkward atmosphere, Ariel left with slow steps.
Ellie watched her go, then turned to me.
"F-For some reason, it felt like I crossed the line between life and death... Like she was testing if she'd let me live, and I passed..."
she muttered.
Yeah.
Ariel's scary part was how Ellie's guess felt spot on.
**
The lessons, which lasted about two months, finally ended.
It had been quite some time since Ellie arrived at our mansion.
It wasn't good for either of us if she stayed much longer.
There were other nobles' eyes to consider. And my fiancée, Adel.
In those two months, the only magic I learned was Flare.
Ellie lamented that it was too few spells for my talent,
but I preferred it that way.
I'd raised my Flare proficiency quite high.
Next step: imbuing it on my sword.
On the day Ellie departed,
as the carriage was prepared in the front garden again, I saw her off with Ariel.
"Thanks for everything. I learned magic and got tons of help thanks to you."
"Ah, n-no! That was just my duty. Y-You don't have to praise me like that."
"You're great in every way, but your excessive shyness is a flaw. No confidence makes dating tough."
"I-Is that so...? Um, d-does that mean you dislike girls like me? If so, I'll try to fix it...!"
"I told you, I like everything about you. Even like this, I don't mind."
"H-Hehe. Y-Yes."
A simple well-wish for a safe trip, and she beams.
She can smile so prettily—why the lack of confidence?
"Come on, Ariel. Say goodbye."
"...Bye."
I nudged my sister beside me.
She gave a slight nod in response.
"Sorry. My sister's still a bit immature."
"Huh? Oh, no! I don't mind. It happens."
"My goal is to make her someone who can greet people properly someday. Just wait till then."
"...Hmph."
Ariel snorted at my resolution.
Then she stepped away from me and headed inside.
'She's perked up again.'
She'd been listless for a while, barely reacting to me,
but showing pique like this meant she was back to normal.
Or maybe just relieved Ellie was leaving.
"Ahem. Um, Young Master Kline. Haven't you ever thought...?"
"Huh? Thought what?"
"About the Bloodyed incident. You did such great work then."
"Yeah, pretty much."
"But isn't it weird that there's been no reward?"
"?"
It was odd if you nitpicked,
but I figured the emperor had said something, and nobles were watching, so no big reward for me.
Wasn't that it?
"You mean there was a separate reward? Weird. I haven't heard anything."
"Ah! N-No, you're right, there's no official imperial reward. B-But it's like a personal thank-you gift."
"???"
What was she getting at?
I tilted my head at Ellie, and she blushed furiously before shouting.
"Wh-What I mean is! I want to give you a reward in my name. It bothered me that you got nothing for it. I felt like I had to give you something... U-Ugh. Does it bother you...?"
Ah.
Got it. Ellie prepared a personal gift.
I hadn't expected that at all, so I was a bit stunned.
I'd thought Adel would be more likely, if anyone.
She was the one whose life I directly saved, while Ellie had even healed me.
"No, it's fine. Of course I'm happy. But why?"
"Ah. W-Well... I was grateful back then. Learned a lot too..."
Ellie didn't seem inclined to elaborate.
She trailed off and averted her eyes—definitely holding back.
'Whatever, doesn't matter.'
The point was she was giving me a gift.
Intentions didn't matter.
"Thanks. So, what is it? You're hyping it up so much, I'm excited."
"Ugh. Ahem! D-Don't be shocked? No, don't be disappointed?"
"As if I'd be disappointed. What do you take me for, Ellie?"
"Y-You promised...!"
Relieved by my words, she pulled a small box from her bosom.
A compact box, sized for a small object.
I took it from her hand.
'What is it?'
No clue from the outside.
Following her expectant gaze, I opened it.
Inside was a pair of lenses.
...Lenses?
"What are these?"
"M-Magic tools recovered from the Bloodyed Consortium leader's corpse. Rare effect, so my family bought them."
"Rare effect? What does it do?"
"Well, you wear them, and they merge with your eyes, letting you change your eye color. Like purple for me, or blue like yours... It's useful, right?"
"......"
I held the box silently.
I got the effect.
Lenses that permanently change eye color.
Rare, considering temporary changes via magic or tools were possible, but not permanent...
"Still, no on/off switch is kinda meh, isn't it?"
"Eek! Y-You said you wouldn't be disappointed...!"
"No, I'm not disappointed. Of course I'm grateful. Wait, these are the magic tools Bloodyed used to disguise his face, right?"
"Ah. Yes! Th-That's why I kept them. Hard to replicate with other tools."
"Hmm."
"It might come in handy someday? Like gifting to a lover or something. It'll definitely help."
"Got it. Thanks."
I tucked the box away.
Now that I'd received the gift, it was really time for her to go.
"......"
As conversation ended, an awkward air settled, and Ellie boarded the carriage.
Probably because she hadn't explained the gift's reason fully.
Maybe she'd tell me someday.
"W-Well, I'll be going now."
Just as she climbed in and closed the door,
I said to her,
"Later."
"Pardon?"
"Later, when we meet again, I'll give you a gift."
"Ah..."
Ellie's eyes widened briefly,
then she smiled brightly and nodded.
"Yes. I'll look forward to it."