Ch.100100. Small Reward (1)

The chaotic path was quickly cleared, and I, along with the ladies of the County of Sianella, boarded the Marquis’s carriage.

I thought I would ride in a different carriage with the other soldiers, unlike Sione and Siabel.

Aria Allenar readily allowed me to board her carriage. Thanks to that, I was now the only commoner in a carriage filled with nobles on all sides.

‘Well, I don’t even feel excited about it anymore.’

An elf, a princess, and even a noble lady like Eunice Kallia from the Marquisate. Perhaps because I’ve already had too many encounters beyond my station as a commoner. By now, I wasn’t as intimidated by noble status as when I first arrived here.

I just kept my mouth shut quietly. I was simply erasing my presence calmly so as not to upset them.

I listened to Aria and Siabel’s conversation while holding my breath.

“Oh? So you were clearing out Orcs that came down to your territory. Strange. Where did so many Orcs come from to sweep through the territory all at once?”

“That’s the question. Orcs aren’t like bears in your territory, they’re Orcs. I’ve sent a search party to the western mountains, but there’s still no news.”

“…You really milk that bear story for all it’s worth.”

Aria’s conversation proceeded smoothly. Sometimes they provoked each other, and occasionally they revealed slight smiles.

They discussed the current situation of the County of Sianella.

As their conversation dragged on, I checked my quest. The condition was to protect Sione against the Orcs that came through the blizzard. Since the condition was met with her sitting beside me, the quest was cleared, and I received the promised reward.

‘Acceleration of Sione’s growth rate. Just what I needed, that’s good.’

Recently, Sione had succeeded in finding a way to imbue her arrowheads with aura. If her growth accelerates, she’ll be able to reach her full potential faster.

Since she’ll need to aim her arrows not just at Orcs but also at demons in the future, her rapid growth is absolutely essential.

‘The only issue is the promise I made with Sione.’

I turned my head to look at Sione.

When I turned, Sione, who like me had been erasing her presence while blankly listening to Siabel and Aria’s conversation, met my gaze. Her half-drooping pupils began to sparkle, and the way she tilted her head seemed quite adorable.

Well, if it had been that brat from a year ago, I would have slit his throat to avoid him. But now, as he said, after cutting off that messy hair, hasn’t he reformed?

A kiss as promised? I can do it if he just brushes his teeth properly.

Poke.

Sione’s eyes widened.

“…!”

I secretly poked the back of her hand, then looked forward again.

Another noble who had been occupying a seat in the carriage came into my view.

A woman with striking dark red hair.

-Hello. I am Lavi Cournel, a mage affiliated with the Marquisate of Allenar.

A mage with a rank above viscount. Lavi Cournel was looking at Sione and me.

“Hmm…”

Lavi Cournel, making a small sound, took something out of her inner pocket.

‘A notebook… and a pen?’

It seems she wants to record the current situation that Siabel and Aria are discussing.

Lavi Cournel begins to write on the blank page, the pen scratching across the paper. As expected of a mage who explores knowledge and creates miracles, she too seemed to enjoy recording and organizing things.

Poke. Poke. Poke.

‘……’

Sione, perhaps wanting revenge for earlier, kept poking the back of my hand with her finger while pretending not to. Annoyed by the sensation, I placed my hand on top of hers and pressed down, signaling her to stop.

Finally, some peace.

After suppressing Sione’s mischief that had been subtly irritating me, I checked the reward for the one remaining quest.

I closed my eyes briefly and observed my condition. What I checked was the vessel containing my mana, my heart.

‘At this rate—’

It was significant growth.

My absolute mana quantity had noticeably increased. Until now, it had only increased slightly each time. But this time, I could feel a substantial amount of mana concentrated in my heart.

Mana pulsing more strongly with each heartbeat. Enough that I could shoot several of those enemy-shredding vortices without much issue.

That’s when it hit me.

‘Wait, a mage?’

As my thoughts moved from magic to mages, I realized Lavi was right there.

Surely she didn’t see me using magic. There must have been traces of magic on the Orcs’ corpses…

This happened because I never imagined a mage would intervene. If the Marquisate’s mage senses something strange, I should prepare a suitable excuse.

While thinking this, Siabel’s voice reached my ears.

“Sione and Ray should return to the inner castle.”

“The inner castle, you say?”

“Yes. With so many Orcs appearing, I can’t leave my sister in such a dangerous place.”

“Then… what will you do, sister?”

“I’m planning to return to the inner castle too. After reporting the situation, I’ll either lead more troops to the west or clear the north again.”

After saying this, Siabel looked past Sione and at me.

“And—”

Meeting my eyes, Siabel slightly raised the corner of her mouth. The playfulness that had been in her smile to Aria was nowhere to be found. For some reason, her gentle smile conveyed comfort and softness instead of amusement.

“I also need to give Ray his promised reward.”

At Siabel’s words, all the nobles in the carriage turned their attention to me.

Scratch, scratch.

In this suddenly quiet atmosphere, only the sound of Lavi’s writing could be heard.

Meanwhile, Siabel, once again showing a mischievous expression, said to her friend:

“And we’ll have our duel after you’ve fully recovered from your travel fatigue. Your skills haven’t deteriorated, have they?”

Aria looked down at Siabel as if finding the question ridiculous.

“Far from rusting, they’ve only grown sharper, so look forward to it.”

* * *

Pitter-patter!

Perhaps because she had removed the heavy armor that had been weighing her down, Sione darted forward nimbly like a small animal.

Whoosh!

Sione flew.

“Wow.”

Sione jumped up indoors with such vigor that I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. Unfortunately, without wings, she began to fall back down.

Plop!

Landing on the soft bed, Sione showed an expression of pure contentment.

“Now I feel like I can live again.”

Sione habitually rolled up the blanket to hide her body. Then, with just her head peeking out, she buried her face in the pillow.

Then, suddenly sitting up on the bed like a roly-poly toy, she looked at me.

“Um…”

“Do you have something to say?”

Nod, nod.

“Oppa, I want some snacks…”

Sione pulled the blanket up to cover everything below her eyes.

“Will you bring me some?”

“…I’ll bring them.”

I returned to her room with some snacks and tea.

Sione, as if she had been waiting, jumped out of bed and sat at the table.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her resemblance to a dog waiting for its owner to feed it.

Munch. Munch.

While leisurely drinking my tea and watching Sione devour the cookies, she gulped down her tea with a satisfied smile and spoke.

“Um, o-oppa…?”

Calling me oppa when we’re alone. Sione still seemed awkward using the term, and after hesitating a bit, she continued.

“There’s going to be a festival in the territory soon. Did you know?”

“A festival, you say?”

Was there a festival around this time?

I hadn’t seen any festivals last year.

‘Did it happen before I was released from the prison bars?’

Seeing my puzzled expression, Sione quickly explained.

“Yes, yes, the day of the first head’s victory at the Beltrin Mountains is approaching. The territory holds a festival around this time to commemorate the ancestor’s achievements.”

“But… with the territory in such disarray, I wonder if the festival can be properly held.”

“It’s a festival held inside the castle walls anyway. And it doesn’t last long, so it should be fine. So…”

Sione hesitated for a moment.

Sione, whose emotional state was always evident on her face.

Judging by her reddening cheeks, she was about to bring up something quite embarrassing.

“…I’d like to go see the festival together. What do you think?”

“Are you asking me on a date?”

My master nodded slowly.

From her red face about to burst to her jerky movements.

I smiled and answered.

“I’ll look forward to it.”

At those words, Sione’s expression brightened considerably.

As I sat enjoying my tea for a while, someone knocked on the door.

“I’ll go check.”

I got up to identify the unexpected visitor and saw a familiar face.

Kid, it’s been a really long time.

A well-groomed mustache. A manly, hearty impression—

“…Lady Siabel is calling for you.”

My friend Bronte, who had finally abandoned that unpleasant nasal voice after being influenced by me.

It seems that now, without further delay, Siabel wants to give me the promised reward.

* * *

I followed Bronte to Siabel’s room.

Bronte, who was her personal attendant, was made to wait outside the room. This naturally led to me entering her room alone.

Siabel, dressed in neat formal attire, was sitting on the bed with her legs crossed.

Upon seeing me enter, she leisurely rose from her seat.

“Just handing over what I promised might seem too impersonal—”

Click. Click.

Two leather chairs facing each other with a table between them.

Siabel, sitting in one of them and crossing her legs seductively again, said:

“The opposite chair.”

“……”

“Please sit comfortably.”

I could see it.

The small smile beginning to spread across Siabel’s face.