Chapter 37
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Scene 037: Master
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...Hows your body holding up?
Fine.
The man who answered Blanches greeting was one and the same.
The Pig Count, infamous across the empire for his arrogant gaze and vile personality.
Tristan Ruelverta.
That said, the nickname Pig Count felt a bit off these days.
Tristans complexion was pale, his cheeks gaunt.
He looked like hed barely survived death itself, having lost a noticeable amount of weight.
Blanche, who had been the cause of it all, felt deeply uncomfortable in this room.
If not for Bellas orders, she never would have come to see this man.
Glancing at him cautiously, she spoke up.
You seem... a bit thinner.
So I do.
Tristan replied without even meeting her eyes.
Seated at the desk in his study, he pored over documents, occasionally frowning as he jotted something down.
Our young lady asked me to pass along her thanks for the other day, along with her regards.
Got it. Tell the Lady not to worry.
Yes. Then if thats all
Blanche.
Blanche, who had been about to slip out now that business was done, froze in place.
...Yes?
Where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?
Tristan had already set aside his papers and was now looking straight at her.
His gaze held no trace of emotion.
Which made it impossible to tell.
What this man was really thinking.
Afraid her own feelings might show, Blanche avoided his eyes as she answered.
Yes. Im heading back to the dukes estate to resume my duty guarding the young lady.
I see. How much do they pay you for that?
...Pardon?
Blanche blinked at the sudden question.
Im asking about your salary. How much does the Izarkhel family give you? They must pay you something.
It was an incredibly rude question.
Yet Blanches expression didnt change as she replied.
Im sorry, but I cant disclose that. I can only say that the dukes family provides me with far more than I deserve.
Pathetic.
...What was that?
The way youre dodging tells me its a pitiful amount.
The corner of Tristans eye twitched upward.
That contemptuous look was utterly infuriating.
She could tolerate it up to that point.
But when the man sneered, it wasnt at her.
It was at the Izarkhel dukes family.
The house she served.
Feeling her family insulted, Blanche bristled.
Its not pitiful.
When you do a job, you should get paid what its worth. From where Im sitting, the Izarkhels cant possibly pay you enough.
Dont speak so carelessly! I receive more than enough!
Is that so?
Yes!
Then you could pay off five hundred million kaels in no time.
...?!
Oh, right. Ill waive five million of that. For carrying me last time.
Blanche froze on the spot.
Five hundred million kaels.
An astronomical sum she could never repay with her dukes family salaryit crushed down on her.
Gritting her teeth, Blanche replied.
Didnt I say Id repay it with my body?
To clear five hundred million with that body, youll have to work hard.
Blanches shoulders twitched.
Tristan approached her.
Fine body youve got.
?!
A chill ran down Blanches spine.
Tristan was eyeing her up and down.
His gaze appraised every inch of her like a prime piece of merchandise.
Kh...
But she couldnt refuse that look.
She was the one who had offered her body in repayment.
Humiliation burning through her, Blanche squeezed her eyes shut.
Looks like you train hard.
...Yes. I train the knights at the dukes estate too.
Perfect in every way. Come with me.
Tristan headed for the door.
Blanche, her expression grim, called after him.
Where to...?
Youll see when we get there.
Tristan threw on his jet-black coat.
From now on, Ill squeeze every last kael out of that body of yours.
Imagining the humiliations and degradations ahead, Blanche followed him like livestock to the slaughterhouse.
Little miss. Thats not how its done.
Eh?
In a small clearing on the Ruelverta estate grounds.
The bipedal cat, Myohail, twirled his whiskers as he spoke.
You need to channel mana steadily through your hand. Like this...
Myohail dipped his hand into a bucket of water, then pulled it out a moment later.
See? If you coat your skin just with mana like this, you wont get wet even in water.
Wow... Th-thats amazing...
Wendy had accepted Myohail as her magic master.
It started when she passed his test.
For the first time, she realized she had real power.
The power that summoned that massive golemshe wanted to make it fully her own.
And someday, use it to protect him.
Give it another try.
Y-Yes!
Wendy focused mana into her hand.
It began to glow faintly.
Good. Very good. Now dial back the output just a touch. The key is spreading the mana as thinly as possible. Imagine spreading sweet creamthinly sliced over parfaitacross every inch of your palm.
Th-that metaphors kinda confusing...
Hm... Might be a bit advanced for a little miss. Its an adult analogy, after all.
An adult... an-analogy...?
Wendy tilted her head, even more baffled.
Myohail hopped lightly onto her shoulder.
Little miss, when you cast magic, what do you think of mana as?
M-Mana...?
Yes. Or to rephrase: Do you think of mana as something like the water in front of us?
Um... Sort of... Dont people often compare it to flowing mana...?
Hm. True enough. It does flow through our bodies, so we call it flowing mana.
Myohail licked his paw as he spoke.
But little miss, mana doesnt always flow.
Eh?
Mana can be like water sometimes, fire other times, or wind. Or even solid rock.
Th-thats too hard...
Its not. The point is recognizing manas many forms.
Manas forms...?
Exactly.
Myohail yawned.
He sprawled fully across Wendys shoulder as he continued.
Casting magic means being bold. Mana isnt abstract. It doesnt just flowit can burn or flutter in the wind. Magic only works its miracle for those who think that way.
Myohail went on.
Yes. Magic is a miracle. Mana is a kind of prayer. If the mage yearns desperately, magic will surely manifest. No matter the form.
Magic is a miracle... and mana is prayer...
Wendy murmured it a few times, then nodded.
I think... I get it a little...
Thats the feeling for now. By the way, little miss, youre awfully lucky.
Eh?
Who gets one-on-one lessons from a sage? Ho ho ho.
Myohail laughed heartily.
No oned believe it if you told them. And before that, they wouldnt even believe Im still alive. Ho ho.
Thats true...
Even Wendy, ignorant of magic history, knew how legendary sages were.
Each had etched their mark on magics history, with tales of epic feats.
Just then, Myohails whiskers twitched like a compass.
Hm. Looks like we have a visitor.
Eh?
Wendy looked around, and sure enough, two people approached from afar.
One was Tristan, the count she served. Beside him was a tall woman who looked vaguely familiar.
As they drew near, Wendy recognized her.
Eh...? B-Blanch...
Its Blanche. Good to see you again so soon, Wendy.
Ah, ah! Y-Yes! Hello...
Wendy bowed her head.
Then she remembered Myohail.
Hed snuck onto Blanches leg, rubbing against it.
Mew
What a cute cat. Does the estate keep it?
Y-Yes, um... Is it keeping...? Sort of...?
Good kitty.
Blanche carefully scooped up Myohail.
He purred coquettishly in her arms.
Mew
Tristan, watching, scowled like hed spotted magical waste.
Just a stray. Dont touch itits got germs.
Germs...? Thats too much. The cat might take offense, Count.
Mew!
...I warned you.
Blanches face softened slightly as she held Myohail.
She was a beauty even with her stern look, but her smile was explosively stunning.
Wendy suddenly felt herself shrinking in comparison.
Wendy.
Y-Yes?!
Startled by the sudden call, Wendy jumped to respond.
Pay attention and listen well.
S-Sorry...
Wendy straightened her back unnecessarily, assuming a listening posture.
Tristan continued.
You already know, but let me introduce her again. This is Blanche. The Izarkhel familys guard knight and...
Wendy swallowed hard for some reason.
...the woman wholl be your martial arts instructor from now on.