Chapter 39
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Envy
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I wasn't jogging. I was slowly strolling around the estate grounds.
Originally, I had planned to endure the injury with 'Patience' and go for a run, but Wendy blocked me at the door.
"Ah, nooo! You need to rest, Count...!"
"Move. I've rested enough."
"You've only rested one day!"
"That much rest is enough."
"N-no way...! Th-this is advice from your exclusive maid! If you want to go, step over me!"
It's more like a threat than advice.
Besides, threats don't work on me.
Wendy was blocking my path with her arms spread wide.
With tears welling up in her eyes, she even seemed resolute.
Such a cute gatekeeper.
I had no choice but to give up on jogging.
Instead, I compromised with Wendy on just walking.
However, I made her jog while I walked alone.
Because there was something I'd wanted to test for a while.
The Ruelverta estate had a forest suitable for walking.
It was large and well-maintained, perfect for forest bathing.
The reason I chose this place was that the dense tall trees hid what I was doing from outsiders.
When I fought Blanche, I thought:
She's one of the top powerhouses in this world.
I luckily survived a near-death encounter with her, but there's no guarantee I won't meet another powerhouse like her.
Even then, fighting with just one gun wouldn't cut it.
I needed more means to fight.
Following Wrath, Pride, Greed, and Patience, I checked the last trait.
Trait: Envy
Rank: SS
Details: You envy all the geniuses in the world. You constantly obsess over them. Through envy, you imitate their talents. However, you can never reach the domain of their talents. Because they are not your talents. The more you envy, the more your soul rots from inferiority.
This trait is one of the seven deadly sins.
At first, I didn't know how to use it, but now I had an idea.
I closed my eyes and recalled the day I fought Blanche.
Sorry, Wendy, but I have to push a bit.
You 'Envy'!
A nauseous feeling rose from deep within my body.
Thinking of Blanche, an ugly emotion seized me.
Blanche's movements precisely targeting vital points.
Instantaneous speed invisible to the eye.
Her reflexes that overwhelmed opponentsI envied her.
I envied her elegant assassination style.
I envied her boldness facing the guard captain, Marco, head-on.
I was insanely jealous of Blanche's talents.
I began clumsily imitating Blanche's movements.
Blanche's sharp nails became my hand blade, snapping a branch off the tree in front.
Snap.
Not yet.
Once more, my hand blade snapped a branch.
But her attacks were never this sloppy.
Not this dull.
Chop. Chop.
If it were Blanche...
What would she do...
I kept recalling her martial arts and struck the branches.
Like her, I swung my hand blade at the branches. Swung and swung again.
Chop. Chop. Chop. Snap. Chop.
I wanted to copy Blanche.
I wanted her sharpness.
The more I thought that, the faster my hand became.
And I felt my soul being dyed with ugly emotions.
Chop. Chop. Chop. Chop. Thud. Thud. Thud. Chop.
Broken branches piled up at my feet.
The tree lost branches as if being pruned.
And toward the last branch, I swung my hand blade.
Swish.
At that moment, the branch slid down.
As if cut by a sharp knife.
I finally cut the branch with my hand blade.
You 'Endure'!
"Haa...."
The churning in my stomach settled.
It felt like waking from muddied emotions.
So this is what it feels like for the soul to rot.
I picked up the severed branch.
None reached Blanche's level.
Not as sharp as hers.
Not as fast as hers.
But for me, this was enough.
For now, achieving this much was satisfactory.
As the saying goes, envy is my power; my envy will be a great strength.
No real combat experience yet, but I should add envy-based training to my routine.
But... my abdominal wound started to sting.
Maybe the wound reopened.
If Wendy finds out, I'll get an earful.
While thinking that, I heard someone calling me.
"Count!"
I saw her running from afar.
They say even gentlemen can't resist.
Having jogged as I instructed, Wendy came running in her workout clothes.
As she approached, I naturally covered my bandaged abdomen.
"Haa... haa... C-Count..."
"What is it?"
Wendy, panting.
I waited for her breathing to calm.
"A letter... arrived for Uncle Arthur...!"
"It should be around here somewhere..."
Bella was in the central market in Luddrow.
The market was bustling with people.
This was a traditional market mainly used by the empire's commoners.
There were street vendors, shop owners, and people haggling all sorts of people.
In every way, it was a place unfit for a duke's daughter like Bella.
Indeed, looking around, there were no nobles who looked like her.
Nobles had no reason or need to come to the commoners' market.
Nevertheless, Bella came here to repair her doll.
The sewing street in the central market.
She'd heard from servants before that they could repair anything made of fabric.
Her bear doll could surely be repaired too.
So Bella came alone.
It was quite bothersome, but she couldn't ask the mansion's servants to repair a doll.
Because she had to hide the fact that she still had such a doll.
Fortunately, today Blanche was out on business.
Bella sneaked out of the mansion to the central market.
Even pulling her hood low because her appearance drew too much attention.
Bella mingled with the crowd and looked around the market.
It was a complicated place.
The market had maze-like alleys and too many shops, making it hard for her to find a sewing shop easily.
It was then, as she was about to move.
"Waaah... Mommy..."
Bella looked down at the crying sound and saw a child clutching her hem.
A tear-streaked little girl was looking up at Bella.
"...Did you lose your mommy?"
"Mommy... sniff. She suddenly disappeared... sniff."
Bella knelt to meet the girl's eye level.
Seeing her face revealed under the slightly tilted hood, the girl's mouth dropped open.
"Pretty big sister..."
"Hehe... You have good taste."
Bella smiled, lightly touching her shining silver hair.
It was a charming smile by anyone's standards.
"...Big sister is a fairy? Sniff."
"Yes. Finding me here, you must be a good child."
"Really?"
"Yes. I know you. Asmiell Kindergarten, Tulip Class, No. 15 Alice. Right?"
"Y-yes! Wow! A real fairy...! For real!"
The girl jumped up and down, eyes sparkling.
Bella smiled, looking away from the name tag on the girl's uniform.
"Of course, real as can be. Want to go find Mommy with big sister?"
Alice nodded eagerly.
Seeing her nod cutely with her little head, Bella couldn't help but smile.
Alice wiped her tears with her sleeve and asked.
"But why did fairy big sister come here...?"
"Me? Well..."
Bella took out the bear doll from her bosom and said.
"Uncle Bear is sick, so I came to get him treated. Hehe..."