Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: The Dullard and the Genius (6)
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Vivian spoke up first.
"How's Helena doing?"
"She's gotten a lot better, but she'll be resting all day today and sleeping through it. Mana exhaustion."
For superhumans, exercise isn't just about improving physical abilities.
Once you deplete your stamina to a certain point, your body naturally draws on mana to reinforce itself.
Whether knight, archer, mage, or priest.
Using mana to strengthen the body is a basic virtue.
And one of the goals of training is to internalize that process completely naturally.
That's why Helena ended up with mana exhaustion just from running for a long time.
I'd explained it to Vivian and Helena once before, so they should remember.
"Will she be okay by tomorrow?"
"She should be."
"But shouldn't you be nursing her?"
"She's asleep right now. Kati and Mercy are watching her for me."
"Oh... okay..."
We left the training hall and walked down the main street.
Thanks to Vivian breaking the ice, the awkward tension had thankfully dissipated.
"Um... where are we going?"
"To buy some books."
It was about time for Vivian to learn more advanced magic.
She'd need to study magic theory too.
That's what this outing was for.
"...Huh?"
"You've mastered the five basic spells now, so moving to the next stage would be easier with books."
"Ah, aaaah... R-right! Yeah!"
"...? Is there somewhere you wanted to go?"
"Yes... Huh? No? N-no!"
Of course.
Vivian had never really had a chance to relax.
Even when we went to Macdullin Abbey, she'd trained alone the whole time.
She should focus on training for the time being, but since we're out today, maybe letting her unwind a bit wouldn't hurt.
Breaks are part of training too—occasional changes of pace like this are important.
"Where did you want to go?"
"Ah, uh... Well, no, I mean... Um..."
"Tell me if you think of something."
"Okay..."
"Anyway, we're buying magic books first. Can you read?"
"Mm... I know the basics from teaching the kids."
"We'll need a grammar book and dictionary too, then."
We left the training hall area and turned into the commercial district.
There were more people now that the streets had widened, but few recognized Vivian.
The area around the training hall naturally drew people connected to it.
So lots of folks there knew her.
But this far away, in a crowded spot like this, hardly anyone did.
And she wasn't in mage robes—just neat, casual clothes.
A natural silence settled in, and for a moment, we walked peacefully, forgetting about training.
"Eek!"
Suddenly, Vivian tripped.
I caught her quickly as she started to fall.
"Careful."
"Y-yes...!"
She steadied herself slowly, leaning on my arm.
"Not hurt?"
"N-no... Just twisted my foot."
"Good. You can't afford to get injured."
"......"
No rush, but I didn't plan on dawdling either.
She needed steady daily training to grow—getting hurt over something like this could set her back.
And beyond that, no one likes seeing a teammate get hurt.
*
We arrived at the largest bookstore in Superbia.
It was grand enough to rival a temple.
Vivian gaped as she looked around.
"Whoa..."
Every time I came here, I wondered if they'd gathered every book in the world.
"Ever read any magic books?"
"Nuh-uh, no. I've snuck peeks a few times..."
"Hm. Well, this one and..."
Having been here a few times, I picked out books familiarly.
Vivian's eyes trembled anxiously as she checked the titles.
[Mastering Magic Fundamentals in One Volume (Including Geometry and Basic Natural Sciences) - Author Scarlett] 'Geometry... what's that?'
Her face said it all.
[On the Properties and Methods of Magic Elements and Their Subordinate Correlations - Author Scarlett] [Collection and Commentary of Low- to Mid-Tier Elemental Magic Diagrams - Authors Scarlett, Hayden von Munichgrad] "Lots of books by someone named Scarlett."
Over half the magic books were by her.
"She's the Tower Master."
"...Huh? Tower... Master? You know the Tower Master?"
...Ah.
I'd mixed up my second-loop memories with the present for a second.
Most folks living in the Magic Tower cut ties with the outside world.
So sounding like I knew its head would raise eyebrows, and I had no good excuse.
"Uh... a little? By chance."
I brushed it off casually.
She wouldn't pry... right?
"Whoa... Then who's this Hayden guy? His name's on a lot too."
"Imperial Magic Corps Commander."
"From the 1st Hero Party?"
"Hayden yeah, because of them. But the Tower Master... personally."
Knowing her personally sounded even weirder, but no excuse came to mind...
No way to verify anyway, so it'd be fine.
"You picked these knowing all about them, huh?"
"Something like that."
Next, I grabbed a grammar book and imperial standard dictionary for her.
"If you run into anything confusing while studying, ask me. No need to struggle alone."
"Magic too?"
"Well... I know the basics, sure."
"What if I ask every day...?"
I even picked up a combat techniques manual for Helena.
Hands-on learning was great, but books could offer something extra.
"Vivian, grab anything else you want."
"Hmm..."
She must have had something in mind—she quickly fetched one.
"This one..."
[The Me Before You, The You After Me - Author William Austin] "What's this?"
"Well..."
A bookstore clerk popped in and chattered away.
"Excellent choice! It's a masterpiece by William Austin, the master of modern romance novels! Two wounded souls meet, heal each other's scars through love—truly the pinnacle of destined romance...!"
"Should we skip it?"
"No, just curious. If you want to read it, you should."
I paid for everything at once, including the romance novel.
It came to two gold.
Scarlett's magic books were pricey.
Two gold was a lot, but not for me right now.
"Where should I spend my money...?"
"Well, this is for training, so it's on me, right?"
"Mm... yeah...?"
"Plenty of chances to spend later."
I handed her two notebooks as I said it.
"How'd you manage money before?"
"Never had enough to call it 'managing'..."
Hm. Fair.
"One notebook for studying. The other for tracking income and expenses."
"...Income and expenses?"
"It's crucial to log how much you earn and spend."
They say money management starts with an allowance ledger.
This was part of that.
Vivian stared blankly at the notebooks, then blurted,
"Did you teach the 1st Hero Party this stuff too? Or was it Philip...?"
The 1st Hero Party...
I wasn't an economist, but I'd tried teaching them basic money management so they could fend for themselves.
I couldn't babysit them forever.
After slaying the Demon King, they'd have to go their own ways.
Supporting them for life? Pointless—killing the Demon King would've been for nothing.
I'd die of stress first.
What had they said when I told them to track income and expenses...?
'Do I have to? Aaaah, no way. Can't you just do it all, Ian? ...What if you're not around? What're you saying? You're gonna leave me? Ian? What was that? Say it again. Say it again.'
Sylvia.
'...Isn't handling this your job? What would we do without you? Why would that happen? You belong here, nowhere else...'
Aria.
'Weaklings like you obsess over skills, idiots over useless crap like this. You too. I don't need it. One question: Does this kill the Demon King? Make you stronger? ...Can't answer, huh? Get lost.'
Kaily.
'You think I followed you to do this crap? I came to boss around types like you. If I have to handle petty stuff, I wouldn't have started. Don't waste my time.'
Beatrice.
...Beatrice especially—she'd gotten under my skin.
Because in the second loop, I'd heard she'd gone berserk over money issues.
She loved being on top, so she needed extra pointers.
Training time for the 1st Hero Party was mostly combat-focused, true.
But not entirely.
I'd taught basics like economics, morals and ethics, society and culture, language and writing.
To prevent that second-loop malice from emerging, and so they could thrive on their own later.
Untrained, they'd run wild after leaving my watch—troublesome.
Part of their training was 'education.'
Sylvia pretended to comply because it was me.
Aria loved society and culture—humanity fascinated her.
Kaily and Beatrice despised it all; I had to pay them to listen a few times.
Those few times were it.
...All pretty useless, huh?
Flaws of rote education? Or just them...?
"...Ian? Fly in your mouth? Your face..."
"Ah, got lost in thought. Yeah, the 1st Hero Party did similar stuff."
"Wow... No manager anywhere teaches this."
Vivian clutched the notebook like treasure.
"I'll do my best. Thanks, Ian."
...What is this?
Were simple things this touching...?
Whatever—feels good, so it's good.
*
We didn't head straight back to the training hall.
Better knock out everything we could while out.
A bit because she'd been so touched earlier.
This place was flashy, bright, cute—full of giggling girls.
A dessert shop.
The go-to spot for Superbia's well-off daughters and ladies.
Prioritizing treats over socializing.
"Eek...!"
Vivian couldn't close her mouth at the colorful candies and jellies.
"Uwaaah..."
"Like it?"
"Yes! Totally! So much!"
Recent observations: Vivian loved sweets.
Half-doubted it, but glad she did.
She darted around, picking as many as she wanted.
Her face stayed lit with pure, childlike joy.
Brimming with desserts, she grinned the whole way back.
"Ian, thank you so much!"
Good if she liked it.
Days off like this mattered sometimes.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ When Vivian got back to the room, Helena was asleep in bed.
"Ah, you're back. We moved her when she woke earlier," Mercy whispered softly.
"How was your date?"
"H-heh...? Y-yes...?"
Vivian deflated with her reply, and Kati slowly turned to her.
Vivian averted her gaze, mumbling.
"J-just... went to buy books..."
"Hmm... Truly just that?"
"Of course...!"
Mercy kept pressing playfully, so Vivian spilled everything about the outing with Ian.
The more she talked, the closer Kati edged toward her.
"Th-that's how it happened... K-Kati, too close...!"
"It was a date!"
Mercy teased loudly, and Kati cut in abruptly.
"How was Master?"
"Huh? Ian? Um..."
Vivian recalled today's Ian.
Despite his fierce looks, he smiled decently often.
Not quite smiles—more smirks or light chuckles.
But today, closer to real smiles.
Especially when she'd thanked him.
"Ian... seemed happy. More relaxed too..."
"I see."
Kati nodded and stepped back.
That was enough.
Mercy sighed shortly at Kati's demeanor.
"I went too far teasing."
Kati shook her head like it was nothing and sat by sleeping Helena.
As if that was her spot, her duty.
'...She looks lonely.'
Kati's face rarely changed, hard to read.
But right now, she looked lonely.
Eyes covered, expression static—but Vivian felt it.
Seeing that lonely face stirred unexplained guilt.
"D-did I do something wrong...?"
-Tap.
Mercy grabbed Vivian's hand and shook her head.
Don't say it.
Marie's old advice came to mind.
Humility is deception too—why now?
Vivian said nothing, carefully perching on the bed.
Not in the mood for study, she opened the romance novel first.
The 'William Austin' book everyone raved about.
At 25, romance intrigued her plenty.
Turning to the first page, one line stood bold in the center.
[Why Does Love Turn Us Back into Children?] "......"
Vivian stared at that line, unable to turn the page for a long while.
-Slam!
Snapping to, she shut it fast and opened the magic diagrams book.
Recalling the two spells Ian taught—Flame Strike, Ice Bloom—she hunted for their diagrams.
She dove deeper into magic to shake off stray thoughts.
Ian had said on the way back: dungeon dive soon.
No mood for study? No excuse to slack.
She had to keep pushing, growing stronger.
*
The black barley piled in Badenverk's warehouses vanished quickly.
The brewery-processed, aged black beer sold out fast.
As the 1st Hero Party's first specialty promo, its value was immense.
Problem: it wasn't that good.
The long-stored barley was already low quality.
Some spoiled or rotten.
The beer too.
Far worse than what the 1st Hero Party got.
Reactions split two ways.
"Oof, as expected from the 1st Party's pick—different, even in mediocrity."
"Why not? Heroes beyond measure drink it—of course!"
Drinking the 1st Party's name, not the beer.
"This good?"
"Eh... just okay, maybe..."
"Not even average! Who buys this at that price?"
"My husband's been drinking it—can't get up since yesterday! Diarrhea all day! What's this?!"
Honest ones, regardless of the 1st Party.
More of the latter, but they stayed quiet publicly.
No one dared voice negativity tied to the 1st Hero Party.
Blame the beer? Barley? Badenverk?
In this weird flow where no one faulted the Party,
One rumor spread.
"Kaily, apparently..."
"Stabbed by a 1st Party member? Their fault then!"
"But stabbing? Overkill?"
"Hey, doubting the 1st Hero Party?"
"Not exactly..."
"Heard the 1st Party's taking money now?"
"Money? They always refused."
"Dunno, new manager maybe..."
"Kaily stabbed for cash?"
Truth and lies mingled; the Badenverk rumor slowly spread across the continent.
Unaware,
The carriage carrying the 1st Party's four rolled awkwardly silent toward the A-rank dungeon outpost.
"......"
Each quiet for their reasons—the silence first broken by Beatrice.
She spat irritably.