Ch.3434. Siabel Sianella (1)

Thanks to embracing my wretched master and rolling on the ground, there wasn’t a spot on my body that didn’t ache.

Even now, a burning pain rose from my arms and back, but I heard the knight’s murmur as she looked down at me.

Her whisper cooled my nearly overheated mind, much like my body’s condition.

‘She definitely said magic.’

It seemed Siabel had seen me using spirit magic.

…I tried my best to hide it without showing any signs.

As expected of spirit magic, it causes winds to surge whenever it’s used.

From the movement of mana to the wind, it seems I couldn’t escape the insight of an expert knight.

‘She seems half-convinced.’

The emotion I felt in Siabel’s gaze wasn’t large, but it was certain.

I could tell her interest in my existence had deepened.

It’s obvious just by looking at how she’s quietly staring down at me instead of immediately tending to her sister.

Even with that calm expression, she must find it hard to believe that I, a man, used magic.

Men in this world might be able to create tiny flames at most.

But casting magic like mine, creating wind and enhancing movement, is virtually impossible.

‘This is troublesome.’

It’s troublesome. Very much so.

At most, a man using magic won’t cause the world to end.

But if it’s the world surrounding me, that’s a different story.

This moment when I’ve just acquired spirit magic is different from when I impulsively used magic in front of Sione because I was annoyed by her discussing the limitations of bows.

Unlike then, now there are numerous people around me.

And I’ve realized just how pathetically limited men’s talent for mana is in this world.

With only Sione as my reliable backup, who’s barely undergone emergency repairs.

I can’t imagine how troublesome things will get if Siabel confronts me about the magic.

“Ugh…”

Sione, who had been in my arms, stirred.

Since there was no need to keep holding her, I relaxed my arms that had been embracing her.

As the quiet situation broke with a strange tension, Siabel came to her senses and began to tend to her sister.

“Sione, are you hurt anywhere?”

“Umm… thanks to Ray protecting me, I’m not badly injured.”

“Stay still for a moment.”

Only after Siabel thoroughly examined Sione’s condition could she breathe a sigh of relief.

Watching them, they seemed more like sisters who cared for each other rather than having an awkward relationship.

With Siabel showing so much concern for Sione, I thought the quest named “Reconciliation with Siabel” might be completed by now.

But apparently something was still lacking, as no status window appeared indicating the quest was cleared.

I looked at Sione with curiosity and found the answer in her face.

Unlike her thoughtful sister who was concerned about her, Sione seemed uncomfortable with her sister’s worry, showing obvious signs of awkwardness.

No wonder the quest wasn’t completed.

Is it you again, Sione?

Regardless, Siabel continued with a worried attitude.

“Haa, fortunately, you don’t seem badly injured. I was so worried.”

Swish.

Siabel suddenly turned her head to look at me.

“If your attendant had been even a little late, it could have been dangerous.”

Siabel examined me once more.

As I calmly met her gaze, she adjusted her grip on her sword and said:

“Sione, stay back with your attendant. Let’s discuss this after we’ve dealt with all the orcs.”

“…Understood.”

Since the battle was still ongoing.

Having confirmed her sister’s safety, Siabel headed toward the orcs without hesitation.

Sione and I watched her back for a moment before getting up.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, thanks to you. But are you okay, Ray?”

“What else could I say?”

At my words, Sione’s expression mixed with guilt and concern.

…Who’s worrying about whom, when she nearly got crushed by an orc’s fist?

“…Next time, please at least shout. It was really close.”

“I’m sorry for always being a burden. I’m ashamed.”

Sione said that while looking down at the ground dejectedly as she walked.

I walked silently beside her until we reached a distance I deemed safe from the orcs.

Meanwhile.

Sione’s small hand firmly gripped my collar.

“…Once again, you saved someone like me who’s just a burden. So.”

Sione, who had been looking down, raised her head to meet my eyes.

“Next time, I’ll protect you.”

Since she looked very much like a knight affirming her resolve.

I could only quietly nod.

* * *

The sun had set, and the moon had risen.

The end of the second day since we entered the Beltrin Mountains and began hunting monsters was approaching.

We were scheduled to return on the morning of the fourth day, so this ordeal would end tomorrow.

Today, I was extremely tired, perhaps because I had used so much mental energy on various matters.

It was time to sleep now.

Thinking it was time to return to my tent, I bid Sione farewell for the day.

“I’ll be heading back to my tent now.”

“Alright, good work. Rest well, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yes, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

After a brief farewell with Sione, I left the tent.

Whoosh—

A somewhat cool breeze blew.

It’s a bit chilly today, so I should be able to sleep comfortably.

Just as I was feeling excited about finally getting some proper rest.

An unexpected voice came from behind me.

“Wait.”

I turned around at the sound of that voice.

“Don’t we have something to discuss?”

My ears weren’t deceiving me.

As I thought, Siabel Sianella was standing there with her arms crossed, staring at me.

It seemed to be about my spirit magic from earlier.

Just when I desperately needed rest, I was about to get involved in the most troublesome matter.

“A discussion?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. Follow me.”

With those words, Siabel began walking ahead.

I followed behind, matching her leisurely but disciplined pace.

When a superior tells you to follow, you follow. There was no choice.

In a forest a little distance from the camp.

When we reached a place where no one else seemed to be around, Siabel stopped walking.

“I’ll ask you directly. That magic from earlier. How could you, a man, use it?”

“Magic? You mean when I threw myself to save Sione?”

“Yes. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“…Don’t they say people can exert superhuman strength when desperate?”

It was a flimsy excuse.

As expected, Siabel snorted as if she had anticipated such an excuse.

“It seems you have no intention of telling the truth willingly.”

“Me, a man, using magic? That’s impossible.”

“If that’s the case.”

Siabel pressured me with her characteristically cold gaze.

“Are you saying the mana movement I felt was false, and everything I saw with my own eyes was my hallucination?”

“……”

“Don’t try to evade. It won’t work with me.”

It was clear that Siabel had completely figured out that I could use magic.

If I continued to brazenly deny it, I feared the consequences.

Since she already knew completely, there was no reason to keep hiding it.

I gave up on concealing my magic any further.

“…Please keep this secret from others.”

At my words, Siabel’s cold gaze softened.

Deep curiosity and interest seeped into her colorless expression.

Siabel nodded with sparkling eyes.

“I promise on the name of Sianella. I will keep your ability to use magic as a secret.”

Even from her well-known reputation, I knew Siabel wasn’t someone who would break promises.

If she’s promising on her family name.

I suppose it’s safe to trust her.

Besides, even if Siabel told someone that I could use magic.

It would be hard for anyone to believe that a man could use magic.

I could only nod at Siabel’s words with a small sigh.

“Can you show me your magic?”

Since everything was already revealed, there was nothing more to hide.

“Of course.”

I agreed to Siabel’s request and began gathering mana.

Since I had unpacked and had neither sword nor bow, there wasn’t anything special I could show.

Whoosh!

I created a flame in my hand.

Then I created a wind path to guide the flame.

The flame, burning mana and shining brightly, bloomed magnificently along the wind path I created.

“Wow.”

Siabel’s gaze fixed on my magic, which looked beautiful in harmony with the soft moonlight.

The response seemed good, making it enjoyable to show, but since I was using two types of mana simultaneously.

If I continued like this, I might suffer from mana exhaustion due to the rapid depletion.

I slowly withdrew the magic.

As the magic that began in my hand ended in my hand again.

Siabel raised the corner of her mouth in a smile.

When I looked at Siabel Sianella after withdrawing my magic.

A status window had appeared before my eyes.

[Siabel Sianella has begun to find you ‘interesting’.]

[Your mana efficiency has slightly improved due to her interest.]