Ch.3030. Bronte (2)
by fnovelpia
I couldn’t just sit there and take it anymore.
Before releasing Bronte’s handshake, I applied some pressure.
Squeeze.
My physical abilities, enhanced by my awakened mana, are superior to other men who lack such power.
This applies to grip strength as well, and Bronte’s expression crumpled satisfyingly.
Bastard, now I’m finally feeling better.
Seeing those intense eyebrows of his droop, the frustration that had been building in my chest finally subsided.
“…What exactly are you doing?”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“You’re squeezing my hand.”
“Ah, about that…”
I deliberately put on an “oops” expression while covering my mouth with my right hand.
With exaggerated gestures and facial expressions, I watched as Bronte’s face soured in response.
“Since I’ve awakened my mana… I sometimes forget my improved physical abilities…”
“…I’ve heard that even women who have just awakened their mana don’t make such trivial mistakes.”
“Well, that’s about women, not men like myself, isn’t it?”
“What nonsense—”
“Have you ever seen any male awakened besides me?”
Bronte gritted his teeth.
He wasn’t even making that nasal sound anymore, which meant he’d properly taken my bait.
“…No, I haven’t.”
“Exactly. Bronte, male awakened ones are less adept at controlling their bodies than females, so we sometimes forget our own strength.”
As I explained with a smile, proving the saying that one can’t spit on a smiling face,
Bronte pressed his lips together and swallowed his anger.
Making such a fuss over a little squeeze.
Siabel is known as a responsible and well-respected knight, yet why is her personal attendant so petty?
This is all karma for Bronte starting it with me first.
As I was grinning, quite pleased with how openly Bronte was showing his dislike, he conceded and spoke first.
“I’ve told you my name… please tell me yours.”
“My name? You can call me Ray.”
“Hmm…”
Well, names are just names.
I casually told him, and Bronte muttered my name to himself several times.
He seemed to be trying to memorize it, but hearing him say my name with that distinctive nasal tone was rather unpleasant.
“By the way, why are you and Lady Sione here?”
“Do sisters need a reason to talk to each other?”
“Ugh. That’s not what I meant.”
“Hmm… if you insist on a reason, there is one…”
As I deliberately dragged things out to waste time, Bronte’s expression began to grow stern.
I figured I’d vented enough of my frustration by now.
It might be good to move on to something more productive.
“Lady Sione will be joining the monster subjugation at the Beltrin Mountains. She’ll be heading to the mountains with Lady Siabel.”
“…Lady Sione will?”
But my thoughts were immediately shattered by his words.
This guy was an incompetent attendant, completely at odds with his master’s reputation.
I couldn’t understand how someone like him could serve the well-respected Siabel.
I considered observing him a bit longer, but it seemed his attitude wouldn’t change unless I got angry.
Just telling him to be careful wouldn’t work with someone who couldn’t take a hint.
It was troublesome, but I needed to knock some sense into him before I died of frustration.
“Bronte.”
I completely wiped the expression from my face and took a step toward him.
The cold voice that flowed from my mouth reached Bronte’s ears.
Looking down at him with the changed atmosphere, he took a step back.
“You should be more careful with your words. Are you some grand duke of the kingdom?”
“W-what are you saying…!”
“How dare a mere attendant subordinate to the Sianella family so easily speak disrespectfully about Lady Sione, a noble lady of Sianella.”
“…”
“Bronte, do you want your disrespectful behavior to reach the ears of Lady Siabel and Lady Sione?”
“…No.”
“Then repeat after me.”
Bronte began to tremble.
Partly because he was completely caught up in the atmosphere.
And partly because of my warning words infused with mana.
It was a small amount of mana, not enough for Siabel and Sione to notice beyond the door.
But my words, carrying the tiny power of pressure and killing intent, were enough to shake Bronte.
Besides, I wasn’t saying anything untrue.
If he made a fuss, I could simply report it to Sione or Siabel.
I don’t understand why this guy keeps making the same mistake even after I warned him once before in front of the restaurant.
This is Bronte’s last chance.
“An attendant should act like one.”
“An attendant… should act like one…”
“Your voice is too quiet.”
“…An attendant should act like one.”
“Good.”
Only then did I relax my expression and step back.
Bronte looked at me with an expression of disgust.
Well, what are you going to do about it?
If you didn’t like it, you shouldn’t have tangled with me in the first place.
When I maintained eye contact with a bright expression, he was the first to lower his gaze.
Now that we seemed to be in a position to talk, I started asking what I wanted to know.
“So, Bronte. Do you know what kind of monsters typically appear in the Beltrin Mountains?”
“…The Beltrin Mountains have orcs, goblins, and—”
“Bronte, your expression and tone… aren’t they a bit too dark?”
Anyone watching would think I’m the bad guy here.
“Ah…”
“Smile. You look much more natural and pleasant when you smile rather than with that dark expression.”
“Ahaha.”
“Good.”
Bronte forced a smile and looked at me.
What the hell is this guy’s deal? I could clearly read the meaning behind his gaze, but that much I could overlook.
“Would you continue with your explanation?”
Bronte quietly nodded.
“The Beltrin Mountains are mainly home to goblins, orcs, and ash wolves.”
“Not as threatening as I expected.”
Goblins go without saying.
Even orcs and ash wolves aren’t particularly difficult monsters.
When you think of orcs, you might imagine giant muscular pigs, but the reality is somewhat different.
They’re incredibly stupid, often falling into pre-set traps on their own.
Far from being muscular, they’re just fat creatures whose only strength comes from their large bodies.
As for ash wolves, if you take out the alpha with magic or arrows, the pack falls apart quickly.
Taking down the leader of ash wolves would be easy for a knight of Siabel’s caliber.
“They’re not threatening… but their reproduction rate is monstrous. If they’re not regularly culled, they can come down near the territory.”
“I see, that makes sense.”
Their main problem lies in their reproduction rate.
It seems this is the season when their numbers increase significantly, hence the subjugation mission.
Orcs and ash wolves are right at the limit of what I can handle while covering for Sione.
If that’s all, it should be fine for Sione to join the subjugation to practice her archery.
“Are there any other monsters?”
“Occasionally ogres or arachne appear… but those monsters only live deep in the mountains, so unless you specifically go looking for them, you won’t encounter them.”
“Hmm.”
I nodded at Bronte’s words.
Both would be tricky opponents for me right now, but well.
If we don’t go looking for them, we won’t see them.
I just need to focus on taking down orcs and wolves.
This will be a good opportunity to give Sione plenty of practical archery experience.
While thinking about this, my attention returned to Bronte, who was watching me cautiously.
“Will you also be climbing the Beltrin Mountains with Lady Siabel?”
“…Of course. I need to attend to Lady Siabel.”
“Even though the mountain with monsters would be dangerous. She’s not sending other servants instead?”
“Lady Siabel doesn’t particularly like unfamiliar servants… She said it would be better to have me by her side since it’s not that dangerous.”
“Then… it seems we’ll be seeing a lot of each other. I’ll be climbing the mountains with Lady Sione as well.”
Saying that, I extended my hand to Bronte.
“I look forward to working with you.”
As I extended my hand for a handshake.
Flinch.
Bronte trembled.
“Looking… forward to it…”
Bronte and I shook hands again.
He seemed quite hesitant, probably thinking I would squeeze his hand again.
Just then, Siabel’s door opened, and Siabel and Sione began to come out of the room.
Seeing Bronte’s expression too stiff, I applied pressure to his hand.
“Ah…!”
Bronte looked at my face in surprise at my sudden action.
I smiled at him and mouthed words.
Smile. Or else—
Before I could finish, he understood my meaning and lifted the corners of his mouth.
Only then did I release the pressure.
Sione came out of the room first, followed by Siabel, who saw Bronte and me shaking hands.
After noticing Bronte’s faint smile, Siabel Sianella smiled at me and said:
“It seems Bronte has made a new friend. I’ll be counting on you.”
“Of course. Right, Bronte?”
Squeeze.
I applied pressure to his hand.
Feeling the gradually increasing force, Bronte hurriedly replied:
“O-of course, Ray.”
Yes, isn’t it nice when we all get along?
Now the world is finally turning properly.
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