Ch.44. Sione Sianella (4)

“What?”

Sione growled fiercely, just as she had when calling Sion’s name.

Even so, rather than resembling a predator like a lion or tiger, it felt more like a bulldog rumbling its throat, so it didn’t seem particularly threatening.

Threats from someone who has never been a predator stir no emotion in me.

Of course, perhaps due to her overwhelmingly high status, my heart seems to be racing a bit more than usual.

But I had absolutely no intention of abandoning this quest just because of a slightly accelerated heartbeat.

It might be quite a stimulating challenge, but the key point of this quest isn’t the trivial reward of gaining her favor.

It’s the acceleration of Sione’s collapse if I fail.

Her collapse, as seen in the quest description, would likely mean being consumed by self-loathing and becoming even more of a recluse than she is now.

Since both this world’s fate and my return to Earth depend on her transformation.

At the very least, she mustn’t crumble under something like self-loathing.

Since I’ve already started with provocative words, it would be best to keep pushing forward.

I spoke boldly, with thick skin on my face.

“There’s no need for you to insist on using the same sword as Lady Siabel.”

“How absurd. I heard you were born lowly, but are you so ignorant that you don’t even know what the Sianella family is?”

I’m well aware that the Sianella family is a prestigious martial house that has consistently produced outstanding knights from its beginning until now.

Even if they have no other talents, those who inherit that bloodline are said to handle swords remarkably well.

That’s why Sianella has the image of being a family of swords and knights.

At least until the previous generation.

“I’ve heard that even Sion Sianella has taken the path of a priest rather than the sword and is achieving excellent results. Lady Sione, you don’t need to be bound by your bloodline and insist only on swords.”

Sion, one of the Sianellas of this generation, has talent as a priest.

Moreover, though I’m not sure if it’s accurate, I’ve heard that Sion is only proficient in Divine Power and doesn’t possess particularly outstanding talent with the sword.

With Sion being like this, it’s not right to assume that Sione doesn’t have other talents.

From my position, the notion that she has no choice but to use a sword simply because of history sounds like nonsense.

I’m quite displeased with Sione’s obsession with swords.

“No one is born without talent. Lady Sione, you simply haven’t found the talent given to you yet.”

“……”

“Have you ever tried training in something other than swords, Lady Sione?”

Sione looked up at me for a while, then drank the water I had poured into her cup.

Gulp, gulp.

Clack.

The cup, emptied in one go, was placed rather forcefully on the table.

She put the cup on the table and said irritably.

“After giving up on the sword, I tried taking up the spear. Again, just like with the sword, the day when the spear blade would move smoothly in my hands never came.”

“After putting down the spear, I also tried to learn magic. But unlike Sion, I found that I was completely incompatible with Divine Power, and ultimately with magic as well.”

“Still, I thought it was too early to give up. Realizing I wasn’t suited for dynamic things, I went to the library to accumulate static knowledge by reading books.”

But—

Sione’s shoulders trembled slightly.

Her pupils rippled.

In her wavering gaze, I could tell that Sione was recalling past memories.

Sione took a moment to catch her breath, suppressing her intensified emotions as much as possible.

“I didn’t even expect encouragement. I just wanted them to understand and wait until I found my own path. But when I went to the library to read books, everyone was busy comparing and belittling me.”

“That’s fortunate.”

“…Did I hear you wrong?”

Suddenly, Sione’s gaze changed as if she wanted to tear me apart.

Her reaction was understandable.

As I said, even I thought such words didn’t fit this atmosphere at all.

However, as they say, one should listen to a person’s words until the end.

For me, the important meaning wasn’t in those words that only poked at Sione’s painful spots, but in what would follow.

I maintained my composure as much as possible under the fierce gaze of the bulldog and spoke.

“It’s fortunate that I still have something I can teach you.”

At my continued words, she now had a dumbfounded expression as if she didn’t even feel the need to be angry anymore. Sione just stared blankly, as if she didn’t understand what I was saying.

“Have you ever drawn a bowstring?”

“What on earth are you getting at? If you’re trying to shake me up for no reason… haven’t you done enough by now?”

Sione’s voice began to tremble.

“I think it would be good for you to try it a little bit each day starting tomorrow. What do you think?”

“Me, going outside this room to shoot a bow? Ha, I can almost hear the knights’ mockery from here.”

Sione gave a bitter, self-deprecating laugh.

“What do you mean by teaching me, and even if I follow you out, it’s obvious I’ll just become a laughingstock again. Why should I go out of my way to suffer such humiliation?”

“Though I was born with the lowly status of a slave, I am a man with Mana. Since it was determined from birth that I would be sold as a toy to noble houses under the pretext of being a male knight, I learned some basic swordsmanship and archery.”

“……”

“I learned only superficially to fit the appearance of a male knight… but at least I can teach you how to hold and shoot a bow with the correct posture.”

Who am I?

I’m Park Shinwoo, one of Korea’s top-tier Hunters who was on the verge of reaching S-rank with a bow as my main weapon.

As such, I can confidently say that I’m the person who can teach about bows most sincerely and effectively in this domain.

Additionally, the original owner of this body also received various forms of education to be sold as a slave fitting the nobles’ taste for male knights.

Among those, he definitely received archery training, so I can use this as a pretext to teach her.

With all the right conditions in place to entice Sione.

Now it’s time to drive the final wedge.

“If you’re worried about others’ mockery, don’t be. If it’s too dark to see the target clearly, we can go out when dawn breaks and return before others arrive. I’ll wake you up when it’s time.”

“Really, haha.”

Sione laughed as if in disbelief.

I simply waited silently as Sione chuckled weakly.

“You, teaching me archery. Can you even take responsibility for those words?”

“Of course.”

“Well, I wonder where that confidence comes from. It’s been a while since I heard something so amusing. Now, stop talking nonsense and leave.”

Thud, thud.

Sione got up from her seat and headed back to her bed.

I turned toward her.

The wedge I had wasn’t strong enough.

If not now, I might never get such an opportunity again.

Should I take a gamble and close my eyes…?

As soon as I had the thought, my impatient mouth couldn’t hold back and spoke up.

“Would you believe me if I bet everything I have?”

Her footsteps stopped right in front of the bed.

Sione half-turned to look back at me.

Again, she had an expression of utter disbelief.

“It’s obvious that all you have is a meager salary and your body, yet you’d bet it all on a pig like me?”

The unexpected blunt expression felt like a blow to the head.

Of all things, she called herself a pig.

If I hastily agreed with her words, it would be like openly agreeing that I see her as a pig.

I hesitated for a moment before answering.

“…Yes, that’s right.”

“Why are you so determined to cling to me?”

Clinging to her—

At her words, I recalled the self-blaming Sione from just now, and the image of her quietly suppressing her anger after hearing Sion’s words during the day.

Hearing her complaints now, I found myself quite displeased with the image of Sione being openly ignored and helpless back then.

While I was afraid of failing the quest, I also wanted to use my only skill to help improve her helpless state, even if just a little.

With her shoulders trembling unnecessarily while saying such things.

On the first day, she was so eager to devour me.

It’s funny how she’s now trying to portray herself as a villain with a backstory.

I don’t want to see her lamenting alone in her room like this anymore.

I’m reluctant to just ignore it, so it’s beyond my control.

“No servant enjoys seeing their master disrespected. If any exist… they would only be those who have already turned their hearts toward others.”

“……”

“I won’t mock you.”

Without any response, Sione moved her feet again.

Waddling.

Thump.

Sione sat down on her bed.

For a while, unlike usual, she didn’t immediately lie down but sat there deep in thought.

I could tell from her constantly changing expression that she was deliberating dozens of times over.

Knowing she needed time to organize her thoughts, I quietly waited for her answer.

After a moment, the deep shadow disappeared, and Sione raised her head.

“I need to prepare to go out too, so wake me before dawn breaks.”

“Does that mean…”

“It means I accept your bet.”

As I quietly looked at Sione, she added in a low voice.

“…Know that this is the first and last time I’ll grant your request.”

After showing all that vulnerability, is she feeling embarrassed now?

Sione really is unexpectedly multifaceted.

“Thank you.”

For now, I simply express my gratitude quietly.