Weekend Outing
So began our excursion.
It was my first outing with the young lady, but honestly, it didn't feel that way at all.
Because...
"Oh, look over there—Garrett's smithy."
"It's quite visible, miss."
"The sword you have at home, you bought it there, right? How'd you get it?"
Rather than the young lady, it was Thera chattering away at my side nonstop.
Deron and Caiden shot us stunned looks when Thera mentioned the sword made by Garrett standing in my room, but they quickly resumed scanning the surroundings, focused on their guard duty.
While the two of them glared intently, Thera kept talking to me, and...
"Rowell, where are we now?"
"According to the map, we're right here, miss."
Rowell smoothly guided her with directions.
Come to think of it, the young lady didn't know the area well either.
She was leading the way assertively, but she had no clue about the routes.
Rowell was marking her closely, explaining the surroundings as they went.
"Puppy, look over there! It's a smithy!"
"Ah, yes..."
"Whoa, so many people? Shall we check it out?"
"Pardon?"
"Let's go!"
To the smithy?
She'd already said it and was marching straight in.
"Um..."
"Yeah."
Our group didn't look ordinary at all, and as we followed her, the line of waiting customers stirred uneasily.
Rowell reeked of noble butler from the start.
Deron and Caiden were armed guards, lightly but obviously so.
Thera was dressed like she was screaming, I'm a mage.
And I...
"That guy..."
"A slave? What's with the collar?"
...was wearing normal clothes but had the collar around my neck, drawing the most stares.
Lots of eyes on us.
Well, I'd endured worse back in the Colosseum days, so it didn't faze me.
"Heh, so this is where you buy weapons, huh."
"It's the most popular spot in the capital."
"They don't sell mage weapons here, do they?"
"They have minor accessories, but anything proper you'd need the Magic Tower for."
"Then we're good!"
The young lady glanced around the smithy for a bit before losing interest and turning away.
She was at that age bursting with curiosity, so I figured we'd wander like this all day, poking into shops here and there.
With such heavy escort muscle, we could tour the whole capital if she wanted.
Anyway, like that.
"Let's check that out!"
"Uh... what's that?"
"Whoa... should I buy it?"
She spent the whole morning roaming the upscale commercial district, snapping up all sorts of goods.
Everything under the sun.
Watching Rowell pay without batting an eye really drove home that she was a noble lady.
This must all be pocket change for her.
Whatever.
"Puppy, try this on!"
"Ah, sure..."
With all the purchases piling up, a lot ended up draped over me.
Not just accessories—hats and coats too.
The silver lining: the young lady was a teenage girl obsessed with fashion, so my new look actually suited me pretty well.
Dressed in high-end district threads, I could've passed for some young lordling.
"Look at that..."
"Wow..."
Of course, the collar stayed on, so the stares only got weirder.
Our group screamed nobility, though, so people just let us pass without comment—but who knew what rumors would spread through the capital tomorrow.
Rowell had approved it, so probably no issue whatever the gossip.
From the reactions of others at the mansion when they first saw me, cases like mine were rare but not unheard of.
Like that.
"Phew, shall we head back now?"
She'd gone out in the morning and shopped till the sun was high before finally calling it quits, satisfied.
After that, lunch back at the mansion.
"Aria, time for your makeup lessons."
"Huh?"
"That's why I came."
Thera finally showed her true colors and dragged the young lady up to the second floor.
...She'd said she was just visiting, but nope—makeup lessons.
Obviously she doted on the young lady and wanted to teach her whenever she had a chance.
"Let's go too."
We were staying at the mansion anyway, so without a care, I headed straight for the training grounds.
"Right now?"
"I've been waiting."
Deron and Caiden were right beside me.
No need for guards while the young lady had her lesson, so sparring in the meantime.
We hadn't dueled since she started magic school, so it was a nice break.
Sparring Aura users was definitely helpful.
At the training grounds, we each grabbed wooden swords.
"Who first?"
I twirled my practice sword, eyeing the two brimming with energy—probably pent up from skimping on training at magic school.
"Both of you at once."
"Hm?"
"That's all you've got?"
How many brushes with death had I had lately?
My instincts had sharpened; I was sure of it.
So.
"I'll thrash you both."
I declared it boldly to their skeptical stares.
They'd probably try a 2-on-1 anyway.
"Puppy, why are you all beat up?"
The result of the 2-on-1 spar.
I got thoroughly pummeled by two Aura users.
...Still not ready for two.
It wasn't just numbers; their fundamentals were on another level.
Two Rushes exploding, two Fleets flashing.
And individually skilled to boot.
I got dogpiled like midsummer heat.
"We've been training harder."
"Heh, nothing serious, right?"
"I'm fine..."
Later, resting in the doghouse.
The young lady, done with lessons till late evening, came by, so I humored her.
"Ahh, so tiring!"
"Miss, it's cramped."
She wormed her way into my doghouse and flopped down anyway.
Whitey, who'd been snuggling slyly, freaked and retreated to his own spot.
"You let me lie here before!"
"Not anymore."
Two years ago, there'd been space.
Now we were both bigger.
Plus clutter everywhere—tight as hell.
"Whatever!"
Ignoring that, she burrowed deeper and settled in.
"Ugh... I wanna stay in the mansion forever."
Seemed like escapism from hating magic school.
"How's school life?"
"Hm? It's... fine."
"Tell me—just me."
I'd been curious anyway, so I asked about school.
Her hesitation suggested a reason she dreaded it.
She'd always been pretty open with me, so worth hearing.
Like venting to a doll or pet at home.
She'd dumped complaints on me plenty that way.
"Come on, spill."
I prodded gently, and...
"Well, actually..."
She finally caved.
"Yes? What's up?"
"Ugh, it's hard making friends..."
But surprisingly, it was an adorable worry.
"Friends?"
"Y-yeah... I don't know how to approach first. Everyone acts intimidated."
Fair enough, given her family.
Makes sense they'd be wary.
"So I'm just attending classes... What if I end up a loner?"
So quintessentially teenage.
Never guessed she'd fret like this.
"Why approach first?"
"Huh?"
Did she have to?
She was young, maybe didn't get it.
"You're in the position to receive approaches, miss."
As Boyd lady, no need to fret like that.
"Receive?"
"Haven't you been taught?"
She must've had lessons.
Like princely education or whatever nobles learn.
Handling people, for sure.
"I learned, but... is it really okay?"
"That's what you learn it for."
"Even how to order people around?"
"You're in the position to order, so yes."
With power, better to wield it.
Even I beat and bossed easier mercs.
"Just carry yourself with gravitas, and others will come to you."
"Really?"
"No need to rush."
Plus, this was a crapsack fantasy world.
At magic school, better not to seem hesitant or get looked down on.
Our young lady outclassed them in looks, talent, lineage—everything.
"U-uh, okay..."
She nodded like she got it, though her face said otherwise.
Once puberty passed and her head cleared, she'd grasp this world better.
"And if anyone disrespects you..."
That night, I gave her some advice—or not-quite-advice.
"Got it...!"
She nodded innocently.
"Then head to the mansion and sleep there."
"No way!"
Looking back later, this might've been the turning point.
"Hmm, I'm special, right? So I can sleep here."
When she started acting every bit the heiress to the kingdom's top house.