Ch.111111. Confirmation (2)

I had barely met Sion after just one day, and was dragged around by Aria and Ainel experiencing all sorts of unusual things.

It was a day as densely packed as any I’d spent at the royal palace.

Thanks to that, yesterday’s fatigue hadn’t completely disappeared overnight and was still tormenting me bit by bit.

Taking yesterday off had been the exception.

With the new day’s arrival, I was once again following Sione to the shooting range.

As I quietly watched from behind, no longer having anything to criticize about Sione’s form, boredom and drowsiness began to creep in.

But that all became ancient history when Sion arrived.

If he’s a priest who awakened Divine Power, he should be visiting a church to offer prayers like a proper priest.

What was he thinking, coming to a place where people swing swords and draw bowstrings?

And of all places, why would he drag his heavy feet all the way to the shooting range where Sione, with whom he has such a poor relationship, was practicing?

‘Yesterday, Sione clearly…’

During dinner, she had complained that Sion had been staring at her too intensely.

The meal had been much more delicious than usual, but she couldn’t properly enjoy the taste because his gaze was too burdensome, or something like that.

Thanks to that, I had to put up with her whining for quite some time. And in the midst of that, she briefly mentioned to me that there had been some discussion about her archery skills during the meal.

Since Sion had also joined Sione for dinner last night…

He seems to have come curious about Sione’s archery skills that he heard about yesterday—

“Unlike the swordsmanship and magic you so disparaged yourself for lacking talent in, archery was different. You practiced every day, and improved every day. Quite remarkable, isn’t it?”

The problem was that thanks to his appearance, the atmosphere at the shooting range was rapidly deteriorating.

“Well? Have you seen everything you came to see with your own eyes? Or… I could easily show you more, like hitting the center of the target. Would you like to stay and watch?”

The subtle tension flowing between the two made the entire shooting range rigid.

The soldiers who had been granted training at the spacious and well-equipped training grounds and shooting range within the Count’s residence—facilities highly regarded within the County—

Unlike others, they had been coming and going to the Count’s residence for many years.

It would be no exaggeration to say that all the soldiers standing here now knew exactly how bad the relationship between Sione and Sion was.

‘Really…’

Why did Sion have to come all the way here and bother the soldiers?

Sione wore a faint smile, maintaining a dignified appearance. She was adjusting the quiver I had given her and nocking a new arrow to her bowstring.

Sion was quietly facing Sione with slightly furrowed brows—this was the current standoff between them.

The subtle tension was precariously maintained.

This tension spread to everyone at the shooting range, making them focus on the conversation between the two while pretending not to.

And at least—

The instructor over there, and Flora along with the other archers.

Some of those who had shot arrows with Sione here and witnessed her dedication, despite never having much conversation with her.

After seeing her every day, they slightly raised the corners of their mouths at Sione’s words, as if they had developed some affection for her.

Sion, who had been maintaining silence while watching Sione for a while, finally spoke.

“…I’ll stay and watch a bit longer.”

“Very well, if that’s your choice, take your time.”

Sione was confident. Yet also restrained.

She turned her body with a pointed glance at Sion, and then began shooting arrows again.

Sion and I, no, everyone here silently watched as Sione methodically shot her arrows.

She seemed to have successfully broken in the bow she received from Ainel, as she now drew the bowstring smoothly with a remarkably stable posture.

I could also see her alternating between the techniques I had taught her, gathering mana at the arrowhead noticeably faster than before.

And among all her improvements, the most noticeable growth was definitely in her mana.

‘It’s becoming more refined at an increasingly rapid pace.’

Having glimpsed the level she needed to reach while lying on her bedroom bed,

And having recently experienced piercing not only Kobolds but even Orc hides multiple times,

Sione’s recent growth was becoming alarming.

It’s true that I awakened her talent through quests and increased her growth rate,

But that speed was still abnormal.

And now especially, with Sion’s presence serving as additional motivation, she was showing an even more polished performance than usual.

At this moment, even Sione herself didn’t seem to have noticed yet.

At least I and—

“Ah.”

Judging by the soft exclamation that escaped from Sion’s lips,

It was clearly visible to his eyes.

The mana enveloping the sharpest tip of the arrowhead was now beyond what could simply be described as flowing. It was endlessly concentrated and compressed at a single point, hardened.

Even the other mana surrounding the arrowhead no longer undulated like the movement of a gelatinous slime, but was slowly yet surely solidifying into a form resembling an arrow.

Sione’s mana was becoming more concentrated.

Like a user steadily progressing toward becoming a Sword Expert.

Yes, it would have been better if he had just kept watching quietly.

But for some reason, Sion suddenly turned his head to look at me.

Sion, reminiscing about the past while looking at me.

He walked over to me with firm steps and asked with distorted eyes.

“You… were my sister’s personal attendant when she awakened her mana, weren’t you?”

“…Yes, I was Lady Sione’s personal attendant at that time.”

“At that time? Ah….”

Sion’s gaze swept over me.

“…Your clothes have changed.”

He seemed to have many questions.

Well, the position of an attendant is not just about menial tasks.

It’s closer to that of an advisor who guides their master on the right path through counsel and admonition.

So it would be rather strange for even someone as notoriously incompetent as Sione to appoint a commoner like me as her personal attendant.

He said he had heard rumors about Sione that had spread in the capital. If they had spread, then he would obviously have heard rumors about me as well.

It’s inevitable that he would have many questions.

“Since when did my sister start shooting arrows like that?”

But he set aside all his questions about me and demanded answers about Sione’s archery.

After briefly collecting my thoughts, I answered slowly.

“She first shot a bow last winter.”

“Winter? When I was still at the Count’s residence, I never once heard news of my sister visiting the shooting range.”

“Until the weather began to warm, Lady Sione practiced archery alone at dawn.”

“……”

A shadow deepened on Sion’s face.

He looked like someone deep in thought.

“After the weather warmed, she finally began visiting the shooting range after sunrise.”

It wasn’t just Sion.

Look at how everyone’s ears perked up.

Everyone at the shooting range was focused on my story.

The only person not paying attention to my words was just one person here.

Only Sione, who was immersed in shooting her bow.

She was in a state of complete absorption. Her immersion wouldn’t end until she had shot all her arrows.

“When she first came, everyone was puzzled. No one knew why Lady Sione had come here.”

“……”

“But Lady Sione paid no mind and shot her bow. After that, it was just as she said. Whenever time and circumstances allowed, she came to the shooting range every day to shoot and improved every day.”

“……”

“It’s been just one year now.”

“One year…?”

“That’s the time that has passed since Lady Sione first shot a bow.”

Twang!

A powerful sound of a bowstring echoed alone through the shooting range.

Woooong!!!

Sione’s arrowhead resonated with powerful mana. A clear ringing sound filled the shooting range.

When I first taught Sione about archery, I told her:

An arrow draws its most satisfying trajectory when its owner believes in herself without wavering.

That was Sione right now.

“Haha……”

Sione laughed weakly after seeing the last arrow she had shot.

Sweat was pouring down her slender jawline.

As if she no longer had the strength to draw the bowstring, her arms hung limply,

And her legs began to tremble slightly as if she might collapse at any moment.

But Sione laughed. With immense relief.

Coincidentally, that reckless determination had succeeded at this very moment.

She had finally managed to imbue her arrow with a powerful aura capable of piercing solid armor and taking a knight’s heart.

Crack!

The scarecrow she had been using as a target.

The arrow not only pierced the scarecrow’s heart but continued to fly for quite some distance, tearing through the air before finally falling to the ground.

They say a servant’s pride comes from the glory of their master.

At this moment, Sione was shining most brilliantly.

So I spoke without a hint of doubt, with complete confidence:

“This is what she has accomplished in just one year. She has succeeded in finding her talent. And one that shines more brilliantly than anyone else’s.”

“……”

“Lady Sione will become an archer more excellent than anyone else.”

“……”

“I too believe without doubt that Lady Sione will become a divine archer in the future and rightfully claim a page in the history books.”

With those words, I bowed my head and immediately went to Sione.

Hurrying to support her, Sione released all her strength and clung to me.

Sione’s body was light. But the achievement she had just demonstrated was loftier and weightier than anything else.

She smiled slightly and whispered:

“In novels, they say that enlightenment is important. I never thought it would be true.”

After catching her breath, she smiled broadly again and patted me.

Following her cue, I supported her and turned so she could face Sion.

With Sion in her sight, Sione asked confidently:

“Well, have you finished your confirmation now?”