Chapter 27
Chapter 27
“Ugh…!”
After my date with Marianne, I couldn’t even absorb 5%, let alone 10% of her power, and collapsed onto the bed with a groan.
It turned out that absorbing around 30% the first time had been nothing short of a miracle.
In the end, I ended up clutching the blanket like someone who had overeaten and was suffering for it.
[This is why people shouldn’t be greedy.]
“I only absorbed 30%, and my level jumped up by a whole stage. Of course I’d get greedy.”
[And what was the result?]
“…Damn it.”
I had no excuse.
‘But still… I couldn’t help it…’
Since Bern started out as a near-complete character, his growth had been painfully slow.
So when I finally reached the level of higher magic, I got too excited.
Higher-tier magic was something only mages of rank 6 or above could achieve.
Bern, who had been stuck at rank 5, had reached rank 6 after absorbing the power.
Who could resist that kind of temptation?
I’d say almost no one.
[Still, you managed to take about 3% more. Be satisfied with that.]
“Ugh…!”
Even 3% of divine power was incredible.
I hadn’t broken through to the next level, but I did gain a new ability.
‘The World of a Moment.’
It allowed me to perceive and act one second ahead of others.
An ability Bern only awakened much later in the story.
And I gained it within a year.
That meant I had already caught up to Bern two years in the future.
Even if it was a shortcut, strength was strength.
‘My growth is terrifying!’
[Calling that growth when you stole it from others is shameless.]
‘You’ve been hitting me with facts all morning. Got a problem?’
[None!]
Even though Prah denied it, there was a hint of dissatisfaction in its tone.
What had annoyed it?
Was it… jealousy?
Because of my date with Marianne?
But a sword being jealous sounded ridiculous.
Though…
‘Actually… there was something like that.’
There had been a story of a hero marrying a holy sword.
But that was just a rumor.
“…No way.”
I decided not to think about it.
For now.
After spending the last night in the elf forest, morning came.
Usually, Rene would burst in loudly to wake me.
But today was different.
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
“Good morning, Master!”
When I opened my eyes, the first person I saw wasn’t Rene, but Rin.
She stood at the entrance, bowing politely.
Just her presence here was surprising enough.
“Why are you here…? Wait—are you the blind swordsman who helped me?”
“Yes.”
I hadn’t expected it to really be her.
She usually spent all her time with her younger sibling.
I thought she would stay with them after their recovery.
Yet she had come all the way here.
“Rene?”
“….”
Rene sat beside me, glaring at Rin.
“She’s been like that since I arrived,” Rin said calmly.
Rene must have thought Rin came to harm me.
I lightly patted her head.
“You don’t need to be wary.”
“But… we can’t trust her yet.”
“If she meant harm, she wouldn’t have saved the saintess.”
“It could be a trick!”
“The Mage Tower is behind this. Would she oppose them just to deceive me? I doubt it.”
The Mage Tower was powerful.
70% of mages belonged to it.
They monopolized magical knowledge.
Their founder was a rank 8 mage—two levels above me.
That kind of power wasn’t something to underestimate.
“Anyway, don’t push her away. She came to help.”
“…Okay.”
“Thank you, Master!”
Rene sulked while Rin beamed.
What a chaotic morning.
“So why are you here? Any side effects from the medicine?”
“No. It worked perfectly. My sibling is healthy now.”
“That’s good.”
“I came to repay you.”
“You’ve already helped enough.”
“Not at all!”
Rin suddenly raised her voice.
“What do you mean?”
“You saved my sibling’s life. I only swung my sword a few times!”
“You also protected Rene and opposed the Mage Tower.”
“The previous client is dead, so it doesn’t matter. And I was going to oppose the Mage Tower eventually anyway.”
That was true.
The Mage Tower disliked Rin.
She was born with the ability to sense mana through her entire body.
Yet she chose the sword over magic.
They resented her for it.
“Sounds like you’ve had it rough.”
“It’s fine. Just having you acknowledge me is enough.”
“Stop flattering me.”
At this rate, honey would drip from my ears.
Her gratitude was… excessive.
“Big sis!”
At that moment, a small child burst into the room.
They ran to Rin and hugged her.
“Ruen? I told you to play outside.”
“But I wanted to see the person who helped me!”
“Ah…”
Rin smiled helplessly.
“Ruen, this is the one who cured you.”
“The one you told me about?!”
“Yes.”
“Wow!!”
The child jumped onto the bed and hugged me.
“Thank you for curing me!”
“Ah… yeah.”
Their joy was pure.
I had only used the medicine to persuade Rin.
Yet seeing this made me feel something.
I awkwardly scratched my cheek and patted their head.
The child laughed happily.
I was glad I helped.
[This looks like a family.]
‘What family? Just a kind man and a kid.’
[Is that so? That girl seems to think otherwise.]
“Hm?”
I looked at Rin.
She was muttering to herself.
“…If I built a family with Master, could I see this every day? Hehe…”
Something was wrong.
I told her to stop flattering me—
not to start drooling.