Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Reinhardt-4
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"...Hmm... This should be about right."
Leonardo looked at his packed luggage and said.
[Not much really. Only three sets of upper and lower clothes?]
Leo's luggage was so sparse it looked downright desolate. Simple dried rations, three sets of clothes, chainmail and one leather armor, and a few coins—that was it.
[At this point, I'm just a wandering mercenary. Too much luggage is nothing but a hassle.]
[But there's hardly any money, either.]
"I bought some meat for nutrition, but then some lunatic made me puke it all up. Food expenses piled up."
What was his name again... Sage? Eunuch? Both end with 'ja'—confusing. Ah, same guy anyway.
[Eating too fast causes indigestion. It was consideration from the heart.]
Without so much as wetting his lips, he spouted nonsense, drawing a hollow chuckle from Leo.
"Don't want that kind of 'consideration,' so kindly fold it up and shove it in your chest pocket."
[Is that any way to talk to your master?]
"Then should I show my guts to my disciple?"
Amid the exchange of heartfelt barbs, the packing was finished. Slinging the bag over his shoulder, Leo eyed the door.
"Alright, now..."
"Something the matter? Leonardo, boy? I've been hearing voices."
"It's nothing! I'll head out right now!"
His soliloquy must have dragged on, as Chris called out curiously. Ignoring the Sage's drivel, Leo grabbed his things and stepped out of the inn.
"Sorry I'm late."
"No harm done. I just got worried hearing you talk to yourself so much."
"I'm fine. I'm the chatty type by nature... haha..."
He'd planned to keep the Sage's existence under wraps. No upside to spilling it, and it could invite attacks targeting the Sage's Stone—or the Sage himself.
[Especially can't let Chris find out.]
[Why not?]
The Sage knew why. It was just too distant and pure a reason to grasp intuitively.
[She secretly yearns for stuff like that.]
Chris Reinhardt—she was over thirty and still pining for ancient powers like the "Black Flame Dragon, Evil Eye, Curse of the Right Arm."
[Guardian spirits are part of it too.]
He'd heard as much in his past life, on a mission with her—about settings where a spirit aids from the shadows.
[But what if she learns it's the Sage? What then?]
[One more fan for yours truly. Heh heh...]
Failing to grasp the gravity, the Sage replied with frivolous levity.
[If you want a fan who spouts that crap like breathing, I'll tell her.]
Leo tensed his throat without hesitation.
"Chris!"
[Sorry. Never again.]
Fear was unmatched for attitude shifts.
Especially when it triggered an innate, rational aversion.
"What's wrong?"
Truth be told, he had no intention of revealing the Sage. He'd called her for another reason.
"Where's the Escort Knight?"
"You mean 'former' Escort Knight Jehard?"
Seemed he'd been properly sacked.
"...Yes, 'former' knight now."
"...I owe you an apology about Jehard. Sorry."
The sudden apology halted Leo mid-word. He didn't know the context.
"I heard what he did to Ariasfil. Authoritative, insulting attitude—and he even drew his sword."
Oh yeah, that happened.
Too trivial to remember, though.
"It's fine. If anything, he picked the fight with Ariasfil."
"Grateful for your understanding."
As they talked, Leo glanced around curiously.
"What's up?"
"Ariasfil's not here. Where is she?"
The girl at the heart of this conversation was nowhere in sight.
"Ariasfil's sleeping back at the inn. Exhausted from the Balrog and Jehard, no doubt."
No matter her genius, Ariasfil had physical limits right now. A normal person would've collapsed after the Balrog alone.
"Let her rest deep—no waking her. Sleep's training at that age."
"Agreed."
"And there's another reason."
Chris's gaze turned deadly serious. No bluster or posturing—just weighty resolve.
"...Mind if I ask what?"
"I wanted to ask you to look after Ariasfil."
"...Ariasfil?"
An entrustment for Ariasfil—a twist from their first meeting.
"She's a genius for the ages—even awkward for blood kin like me to say."
Leo knew it best. Past, present—not even ten years into the future did anyone surpass her.
"So she's doomed to solitude. Like the excellent must chew on the lofty wolf's loneliness."
"...I see."
Made sense. Excellence meant standing apart from the masses.
"...But she's changed since meeting you."
"..."
"Never knew she could show her emotions like that. Skill aside, that's huge growth as a person."
Past-life Ariasfil was perpetually expressionless. Bored disinterest in everything, gazing at the world.
"That's why I'm asking you: don't leave that lonely wolf alone."
His fingers cringed a bit, but it was meaningful.
"Understood. Even without the request, I'd strive to stay by her side."
"You're a lonely wolf too. Nothing beats finding a rival and kindred spirit."
The final line fully curled his fingers. Cruel auditory torment—Leo's lips and tongue twitched.
"...One correction, though."
"What? Did I misspeak?"
The verbal dagger was loaded.
"Wolves are pack animals. Like dogs, they run in groups. So a 'lonely wolf' is..."
Chris flashed a deep smile and countered.
"Hah, narrow experience. I've seen it—a lone wolf wandering..."
"Ah, that's one kicked from the pack."
"...What?"
But reality remained a sewer.
"Lonely wolves fall into two categories: young ones splitting off to form their own pack, or old ones booted when past their prime."
Her eyebrows quivered massively. Her stern expression twisted wildly.
"T-That's...! I meant a young wolf! Yes!! Young wolf!!"
"A lonely young wolf? That's a failure. Too weak to form or join a pack."
Reality's a sewer, always.
"...T-That's..."
Chris fell silent again. Noble lion, lonely wolf—ideals she'd long cherished.
'Noble lion... fine... but not wolf... anything but lonely wolf...!!'
Nature had no such thing.
[You seem hell-bent on shattering her innocence.]
[At her age? Too old for innocence.]
[Harsh guy.]
[Nature's always harsh.]
What kind of nature is this?
"Leonardo?"
As one woman sank into shattered-ideal despair, another girl approached brightly.
"Ariasfil?"
There she was, Ariasfil.
Fully rested, her beauty shone.
Clear eyes brimmed with vitality, long white straight hair gleamed with luster.
Skin looked pristine as fresh snow, supple and dewy.
[Girl got prettier out of nowhere. Makeup?]
[Doesn't know makeup. Natural beauty.]
Ariasfil showed zero interest in fancy makeup or outfits. She cared for sharp swords and solid armor.
Still, looks alone earned her the title of nation-toppling beauty.
[Talent's what really toppled nations, I think.]
[Insult or compliment—pick one.]
No intent either way. Just fact.
"Sorry I'm late. Slept in..."
"Fine. Waking early after that would've been weirder."
Mid-greeting with Leo, she eyed her aunt brooding in anguish.
"Lion... no, wolf... wolf at least..."
Her lifelong ideal crumbling—mind followed.
"...Why's Aunt—no, Lady Chris—like that?"
That summed it up.
"She's growing up."
The road to the Reinhardt main house was far—long, if you would. A full day on horseback to the city, then paying for the warp gate.
"Warp gate fee's on me."
"Really okay? That's no small sum..."
"Fine. House of Reinhardt isn't so frail."
[Pretty frail to innocence-shattering, though.]
[Chris-specific.]
Thinking that, Leonardo eyed Chris and said,
"I'll repay more than that amount."
"I expect great things."
The group boarded the warp gate and departed.
They arrived at
"Welcome to the Reinhardt estate. Boy."
The grand Reinhardt mansion.
'Never gets less amazing.'
Plenty to stun: the mansion's scale, a private warp gate fit for a small city, a garden vast as a woods.
[Ruben must've raked it in.]
[If even the Hero can't make bank, life's pointless.]
[...Fair.]
The Sage's face darkened—complex, hard to pin. Before he could ask, a crowd surged at the main gate.
Noise erupted; servants lined the entrance.
[Royal treatment.]
[Ariasfil and Chris? Yeah.]
Direct descendants arriving—slight them, and who knows the backlash.
"Noisy welcome. Lady Chris."
"Tell me about it. Told them not to announce—wasted effort."
They hated the fanfare.
"Welcome, miladies."
At center: elderly butler Alfred Sebastian, approaching the two Reinhardt ladies.
"Long time. Alfred."
"Not really. Short compared to your last 'self-discovery' jaunt..."
Reinhardt's pillar of support silenced the old man to bury his black history.
"...Apologies, milady. Missed the guest—misspeaking."
"Refrain even without guests. Alfred."
Alfred composed himself sternly, eyeing Leo. The poise recalled Reinhardt prestige.
"Greetings. Alfred Sebastian, Head Butler of House of Reinhardt."
He knew knightly/noble protocol. But impressing the Head Butler needed more.
"Greetings, butler. Wandering mercenary Leonardo. Regrettably, no family name."
Protocol observed, Leo met Alfred's eyes. Strict etiquette aside, Alfred's doubt lay elsewhere.
"...Why so? Sir Leonardo?"
"Not the lord of the manor."
Air chilled; gaze cooled.
Even prankster Leo flushed.
[...Lost it? Warn me next time—no Sage's Stone.>
"Brurupuhahaha!!"
Sudden booming laughter.
"Aha!! Ahihihihi...! Ihihihi!!"
No old butler—just an elder writhing at the pun.
"Sorry...! Sorry...! Huhuhu...!"
"What's this?! Alfred!"
Alfred deep-breathed and fake-coughed the laughter down.
"Ahem... apologies. Most unbecoming..."
"Fine. Any oranges with tea? Craving them after so long."
"Puaakahaha!! Ahi!! Ahi! Ihik!!"
[What? Laughs at diarrhea jokes? Condition?]
[Yep.]
Alfred Sebastian.
Reinhardt's longest-serving, most esteemed Head Butler.
Graceful aura, speech, manners: men's respect, women's affection. Paragon of virtue.
Leo revered him as man and human.
Until one day.
'Something wrong, Leo?'
'Lost an item. Trophy from skeleton knight fight.'>
'Spare time—shall search together?'
'Thanks! Skeleton knight was a pain.'
No funny intent. Mercenary bluntness—no jest at all.
'Pfft!'
Leo learned: humans can't be perfect.
[...Newborn-puke-level gag, and gramps cracks up?]
[Loves 'em, so laughs. Got closer after.]
Shifted from formal to joke-swapping comrades.
"Cuhahaha!!"
[But...]
"Krhat hahaha!!"
[Overkill? Laughing himself dead?]
Nah—even laughing, Alfred wouldn't drop from that...
Thud.
Alfred collapsed. Foaming at the mouth.
"...Alfred!!!"
Leonardo, age 13.
"Alfred!!"
13 minutes at the estate.
"Head Butler!!"
Knocked out the Head Butler.