441 - - 四百三十九话 认识のズレ

The emotional reunion between Sarah and Mr. Viktor ended without incident. Mr. Viktor kindly allowed us to stay at the clan house, and for Kikka who missed Sara, Gina shared a room with Marco and Kikka. ...... I was somewhat lonely, so I played with Belle and the others and spent the night with Sylphy, who talked to me.

"Yuta-dono. We are planning to have a banquet in the evening.

While Victor, Becker and I were having breakfast in the cafeteria where we had a surprise last night, Victor, who was smiling and talking with Sara, asked me what I was going to do today.

"I don't have anything special to do. If I had to say, I would say sightseeing."

A country in the forest where wooden buildings dominate. It sounds like an interesting place to visit and discover new things, which I am quite interested in.

"I see. Well, I'd like to have a few minutes to talk with you, if that's all right."

Well, there are a lot of things we should tell each other. I'm sure we'll talk about what Sarah is going to do ...... and I'm getting kind of nervous.

I understand.

Well, I'll have Becker show you around after breakfast."

The deputy commander's showing us around. I'm sure Sarah told him a lot about me last night, but I wonder if he's still on the lookout for me.　I looked at Mr. Becker and he smiled and nodded. Yeah. I have no idea. It's impossible for me to read the emotions of a former but capable nobleman.

Breakfast time ends peacefully as we talk about Sarah's funny episode and Marco and Kikka's exploits.

"Master. I want to do a kunrenshin, is that too much to ask?"

Marco asks, a little reservedly. I guess he wants to exercise today since he was not able to do so yesterday due to the transportation.

However, I feel uneasy to let him go out freely for the first time in a new country, and I feel bad to let him do whatever he wants at Sarah's parents' house where he is staying.

"If that's the case, there is a training ground in the back. I'll have Achim show you.

When I was in trouble, Mr. Becker came up with a solution. I thought it was a pretty big clan house, but I didn't know there was even a place for training. I guess a clan is different from ordinary adventurers.

Are you sure?　Marco looks at me as if to say, "What are you doing here? It's great that he can check with me at a time like this. When I was a kid, I would have been so happy to hear that.

"Excuse me, please."

"Yes, sir. Ahim!"

Mr. Achim responded to Mr. Becker's call and came quickly and stood upright. Even after becoming an adventurer, you haven't lost the habits of your days as a knight. To tell the truth, I don't like the gymnastic atmosphere.

Mr. Becker ordered Mr. Achim to take Gina, Marco, and Kikka to the training site. Sarah stayed behind, so she's going to join the discussion. Well, it's natural, but I'm getting more and more nervous as the separation from Sara becomes more and more realistic.

It would have been better if I had asked Sara what she wanted to do first, but then she would have been reluctant to do so.

*** I am so sorry for the trouble I have caused.

Mr. Becker led us to the drawing room of the Clan House. The atmosphere is solemn and solemn, perhaps in the sense of a former aristocrat, and I feel a little swallowed up.

"Sara told me about you. Yuta-dono!　Thank you so much for saving Sara."

The discussion with Mr. Viktor began with his deep bow of gratitude. I wondered if the reason for the change of language to honorifics was because the other members of the group, except for Mr. Becker, were no longer looking at us.　It seems like a lot of work.

"Raise your head, please. You thanked me well last night, and that's all I need to know."

"No, from what Sara told me, you didn't even thank me last night. Sara was in more danger than I had imagined. Not only did she lose Gunter and the others, and almost her life ......, but she also gave me enough food and knowledge and equipment to be a genie magician. Sara is very grateful for Yuta's deep love."

I guess Sara gave me a lot of compliments. But for some reason, I don't feel like she was talking about me, even though I have an idea of what Mr. Viktor is talking about. Probably because my light-heartedness is not balanced by Mr. Victor's heavy gratitude.

Now I care for Sara, Marco, and Kikka very much, but at first I was ready to take advantage of them, so when he really thanks me, it stimulates my guilt. Just because you can afford it, you shouldn't pick up people like you pick up dogs or cats.

"No, no, Sara helped me a lot. It's a reward for that, so don't worry about it.

I shudder to think what would have happened if Sarah had not actually been there. Before Gina became my apprentice, I relied on Sara to take care of Marco and Kikka.

Well, I'm sure they've invested a lot of money in their equipment, but that's thanks to Sylphy and the others. .......

"And, if it's not enough to thank you for protecting Sara, please accept this."

Mr. Viktor put a leather bag in front of me. I checked inside and found gold and silver coins.　The mixture of gold and silver coins made me feel like I was scraping up a lot of coins.

Yeah, they must have scrambled to get it all because I showed up unexpectedly. ...... because of my surprise, Mr. Viktor swallowed his ale and I had to scramble to gather up the money.

I know it's a little late for that, but it's the most annoying thing a member of society can do. I'd like to apologize, but it seems strange to do so here and now. I'll apologize later.

I'll be sure to repay your kindness when the Steele family is restored.

I'm so sorry. In the letter to Sara, it seems that they can't afford to spend that much money, and they must have been very hard pressed for this money.

Well, I'll take the money since you said last night that you need to receive it, but I'll have to remember to make up the difference by helping you on your adventures.

"As I said before, Sara helped me a lot. It pains me to accept this reward as well, but I'll take it gratefully and I don't need any additional money."

Mr. Viktor is having difficulty with my words. I guess it's the pride of a former nobleman, but since he is a former nobleman, I don't think he has to be so particular about it. Viscount Galli wouldn't even pay me what I deserve.

"Really, the reward is enough. But more importantly, what do you think about Sara's future, Mr. Victor?

"Sarah's future?"

"Yes. I would like her to continue her apprenticeship because she is a gifted spiritist. Of course, Sara's feelings come first, and I'm sure Mr. Victor has his own ideas as well. I would like to discuss this with you. ......"

The best thing would be for her to stay with us, but at the very least, she should be allowed to come and see Sara on her own. I would also like permission to take her to paradise once in a while.

"Isn't Sara back?　Sara, how are you doing?"

I don't think Sara and Mr. Viktor had discussed these issues. Mr. Viktor seemed to think that she would live here, of course.

"I promised the master that I would help him to improve the reputation of the necromancer. I thought it was only a temporary return home?"

Sara was meant to be temporary at Sara's. Yeah. A complete lack of communication, if you ask me. What do you mean, Mr. Viktor and Mr. Becker?　I'm looking at you.

I can't be an adult and say that I'm taking Sara with me because I promised her here. I'll explain and negotiate a better outcome.

"Yuta-dono. Unlike other countries, the Kingdom of Lozophia does not discriminate against the spiritists. Rather, they are respected as beings who pray to the spirits and appease the wrath of nature. Why don't you all come and live here?"

After listening to my explanation, Mr. Becker gave me a very honest opinion. However, I had some doubts about it.

"Is it to appease the wrath of nature?　What about fighting?"

"The use of spirits in battle is rare in this country. They are used to pray and to ask for protection from natural threats."

...... not what I expected. Praying is the role of priests and religious officials. Oh, in a country where the belief in spirits is very popular, it would not be wrong if the role of a spiritist is that of a priest or a priestess.

Because they are surrounded by forests and mountains and the threat of nature is close at hand, people believe in spirits who are closely related to nature. If the prayers of the genie-sorcerer are uttered, the contracted spirits will lend their power to control the damage of nature, right?　I don't see how that could go wrong.

At least the spirits will understand if we pray seriously rather than chanting long and difficult words. But that's not what I'm trying to do.

"For my part, I want to correct the perception of the Adventurers' Guild, which looks down on the spiritists."

"But aren't the genie practitioners actually good at fighting?　I understand that you are a rank-A adventurer and a great spiritualist, but there are only a handful of people who can be that way. Even if Sara has the talent, it will be difficult for her to reach such a level with ordinary efforts. As her brother, I hope that Sara will have a peaceful life in this country.

I understand what you're saying, Victo, but here's something that also makes me a bit skeptical: .......

"Um, Sarah hasn't told Mr. Viktor what she's capable of?"

I am all for a peaceful life, but it is strange that Mr. Victor, the adventurer, seems to have no intention of taking Sarah on an adventure. Fuchu's wind magic and Puru's recovery magic will be of great use in our adventures, won't they?

"Master's spirit art is unusual and I didn't know what to tell you and how much to tell you, so I didn't tell you much about the battle."

...... I told him to keep secret the training methods and sanctuaries of the spiritualists. There are a lot of other things I can't talk about, so I guess Sara chose not to tell you from the beginning. She's a big girl.

How can we get it all together?　Maybe we should have a mock battle?