Ch.4747. Teachings and Promises (2)

The next day, just like when Sione used to secretly practice archery in the past.

I woke up early in the morning and went to her room.

I’m not sure what came over me.

Sione had already woken up and was waiting for me today as well.

“Good morning, Lady Sione.”

“Yes, did you sleep well?”

“Of course.”

We exchanged simple morning greetings as I checked her appearance.

She had changed out of her nightwear long ago, and today again, there wasn’t a single trace of sleep-dishevelment.

For some reason, she was even wearing a hairpin.

I looked more closely, wondering why she would wear a hairpin so early in the morning.

Sure enough, it was the hairpin I had bought for her on my own accord.

‘Even though she said it was fine, next time I should buy her something better.’

Since I’d be buying it with Sione’s money when we go out anyway, price isn’t an issue.

Sione might have said it was fine before, but my mind was already made up.

That modest hairpin probably wouldn’t last long anyway.

If she’s going to wear it, it’s better to buy something good that will last, even if it costs more.

“You’re wearing a hairpin.”

“Yes… I was tidying up my appearance and saw the hairpin, so I decided to try it on.”

“It suits you well.”

“Hehe, thank you.”

The atmosphere brightened noticeably, as if my compliment had pleased her.

Sione and I soon left the room without further conversation and headed to the shooting range.

Going to the shooting range with Sione at this hour again brings back memories.

Unlike the plump Sione of the past, the current Sione has lost weight and won the lottery.

Her archery skills have also improved remarkably.

Comparing her past appearance with how she’s changed now is quite entertaining in its own way.

After walking in silence for a while:

“By the way, Ray. What exactly are you planning to teach me that made you suggest going to the shooting range at this hour?”

“Are you curious?”

“Of course I am. Yesterday, no matter how much I asked, you gave me no answer, not even a hint. Naturally, I can’t help but be curious.”

“Well, you’ve been patient for a day, so please be patient a little longer. The shooting range is right ahead.”

“…It better be as impressive as you’re making it out to be.”

With heavy steps, Sione widened her stride and hurried into the shooting range.

Unlike her, I entered leisurely to find Sione already having selected her bow and arrows, waiting for me.

“Hmm, well then, shall we hear what you have to say?”

Seeing Sione snorting as she spoke like that,

If I delayed any longer, she might ungratefully aim her bow at me.

I shrugged and picked up an arrow from the pile at one side of the shooting range.

As I held the sharp arrowhead before my eyes, I felt my mood cooling down.

“Arrows are weak. The sharpness and power that a small arrowhead can hold are limited. In fact, when facing monsters with thick, tough leather or hard shells, these small arrowheads might not be able to fulfill their role.”

“That sounds… like you’re only discussing the limitations of bows.”

“Not at all. Wasn’t I the one who told you not to limit yourself, Lady Sione?”

I answered with a shrug.

“That’s why I called you here separately to show you the solution.”

Sione’s gaze deepened as she began to calmly assess my intentions.

As I met her eyes, I felt as if I was sinking into the depths of her clear, lake-like eyes.

“Knights add aura to their swords to face enemies that blades can’t easily cut through. What about archers?”

“Putting… aura into arrows?”

“Exactly. Let me demonstrate simply.”

I began manipulating mana.

My mana is deeply infused with elemental energy, specifically wind energy.

As I gathered mana at the arrowhead, a small whirlwind formed, and the arrowhead was coated with deep green mana.

This technique requires quite a deep level of mastery.

Even for me, with my mana greatly increased after defeating the Arachne, it consumes a burdensome amount.

Since I’ve only faced enemies that could be pierced without needing to reinforce arrowheads,

I hadn’t used this since arriving here.

I’m just glad that this skill I haven’t used in a long time is working as intended.

“If you want to break a knight’s sword and pierce armor, you simply need to make the arrowhead sharper and harder than the knight’s polearm and armor.”

As I said this and shook the arrow, Sione’s head followed the movement, her gaze showing no sign of wavering.

Not wanting to waste more mana, I withdrew the green energy I had created on the arrowhead.

“Today, I’ll teach you the technique.”

“Really?”

“If I were lying, I wouldn’t have called you here. Take your arrow. I’ll show you how.”

At my words, Sione hurriedly gripped her arrow tightly.

I approached her, who was waiting for my words with visible excitement, and placed my hand on her shoulder.

Sione’s expression, which had been noticeably excited, suddenly turned to bewilderment.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

“W-why are you suddenly putting your hand on my shoulder…!”

“I’m just showing you the technique, so please forgive my rudeness. Now, try circulating your mana and drawing it to your shoulder.”

She’s making such a fuss just because I put my hand on her shoulder.

I waited without reaction until she drew up her mana, and Sione eventually began following my instructions without saying anything.

“Once you’ve gathered mana around your shoulder, then move it down like this—”

My hand on her shoulder moved down along her arm.

My hand came to rest on the back of her hand.

“Let the mana flow this way.”

I pointed to the tip of the arrowhead.

“Think of concentrating and solidifying the fluid mana only at the cold edge of the arrowhead.”

Whoosh.

Although I had only given a rough explanation, perhaps because she was already somewhat familiar with mana,

Sione followed my instructions quite well.

“Ah!”

A blue energy began to rise like a heat haze from Sione’s arrowhead.

Even though it was just a faint trace of mana, she was so happy to have successfully gathered mana just at that small arrowhead.

The corners of her mouth rose endlessly.

I wondered if they might reach her ears at this rate.

However, before long, Sione calmed her excitement and asked:

“…Ray, how do you know all this knowledge about archery and magic? Isn’t it about time you told me, at least?”

“That is……”

I fell into deep thought for a moment.

But my thoughts leaned one way.

No matter how much I’ve built a relationship with Sione and shown her various secrets,

To people of this world, it would sound like nothing more than a madman’s delusion.

I wanted to assert it with skill when I was sure Sione could handle it.

“It would be a long story. I’ll tell you when I think the time is right. Can you wait until then?”

“…Don’t make me wait too long.”

We quietly exchanged glances.

Fortunately, Sione agreed with what I said.

I handed her what appeared to be the bow with the strongest draw in the shooting range.

“Try drawing it using mana and shoot at that scarecrow.”

“It’s hard enough to focus on one arrow, and now you want me to control mana for strength too?”

“It might be difficult, but you’ll be quite pleased with the result.”

“Hmm… if you insist so much, I’ll give it a try.”

Stretch!

The tough bowstring was drawn back with her arm.

Holding her posture with the string drawn, Sione stared at the scarecrow’s chest, falling into deep concentration.

Woong…

The moment mana gathered at the arrowhead,

She released her hand without hesitation.

Whoosh!

The arrow, propelled by the strong draw, shot at twice its usual speed.

Crack!!

It pierced through the scarecrow’s chest, which was made of thickly layered straw bundles.

Sione’s arrow only stopped after penetrating through the scarecrow’s back.

“Ray, did you see—”

As the delighted Sione turned around,

“…!”

Her feet got tangled with mine as I was watching right behind her, and she fell.

***

The problem was that I forgot Ray was watching me from right behind and excitedly turned around.

I wanted to ask him if this was real—shooting an arrow strong enough to pierce that thick scarecrow—but the distance was closer than expected, and our feet got tangled, causing us to fall.

“Ugh……”

My knees hurt from hitting the ground.

My wrist ached from bracing myself, thinking I might crush Ray.

Having closed my eyes in surprise while falling, everything was pitch black.

Is Ray alright?

Worried about him falling because of me, I hurriedly opened my eyes.

“Gasp…!”

Looking at the situation unfolding,

I found myself looking down at Ray as if I had pounced on him.

Thump thump.

Looking down at his face so close to mine, my heart began to beat violently.

Perhaps because my posture would clearly look like I was on top of him if anyone saw,

Or because I was too flustered, my body stiffened and wouldn’t move properly.

I examined Ray’s face in this breathtaking situation.

“Urgh……”

Ray too seemed quite flustered by the sudden entanglement and fall, as his usually calm expression was distorted.

Though not very noticeable since he took the impact directly on his back, his eyes were clearly scrunched up,

And small sounds of pain escaped between his lips.

Thinking that his usually expressionless face, which often teased me, had become so vulnerable because of me,

A strange feeling began to rise, and as I continued to look down at him without moving away,

Soon, Ray, looking up at me in a defenseless posture, said:

“…Lady Sione, would you mind getting off me?”

Normally, I should have hurried to move away as he said…

But somehow, this dreamlike feeling prevented me from moving easily.

So despite his struggling, I remained frozen, looking down at him,

Immersed in the strange sensation that only he and I existed in the entire world, when:

His slightly flustered words pierced my ears.

“…Could it be that you like me, Lady Sione?”

His words brought me back to my senses.

If he asks if I like him, I do like him a lot.

But how could I say I like him when I’m so embarrassed?

Normally, I should have hurriedly shaken my head and denied it, like when he asked about the meaning of poppies before.

I recalled what Sister Siabel had said to me earlier.

-If you continue to show indecisiveness with half-hearted resolve, you might risk losing him again—

‘…She said I might lose him.’

I don’t know why my sister’s words came to mind in this situation,

But they brought a flood of worries.

What if I’m indecisive again and fail to confess my feelings, and he gives his heart to someone else?

No, that won’t happen.

Just yesterday, he said I was more important than anything else.

Deep down, Ray probably likes me too.

But still…

After a series of questions, I made up my mind.

Right here, right now, I would make my intentions clear.

My heart began to race as if it would burst.

After opening and closing my mouth repeatedly, I finally spoke with firm resolve:

“…My heart races whenever I think of you, and my eyes are often drawn to you.”

“And now, this situation is making my heart so confused.”

“What do you think this feeling is?”

He looked at me quietly.

“…Perhaps you’re just caught up in the moment?”

My heart seemed to tighten under his gaze.

I shook my head at his words.

“…I am merely a servant. What reason would you have to like me?”

“…Yesterday, here.”

My head was spinning.

“Didn’t you say it yourself? That you are my knight.”

“…Even so, I am nothing but a lowly slave. I cannot accept such deep feelings from Lady Sione.”

“…If necessary, I can tear up the slave documents anytime. Moreover—”

Should I say this?

In an instant, dozens, hundreds of worries tormented me,

But finally, I held back and opened my mouth.

“If you’re a slave… shouldn’t you follow your master’s will?”

At my words, deep bewilderment spread across Ray’s face, which had been maintaining composure somehow.

Looking at his trembling eyes, it seems I’ve managed to shake his heart somehow.

“…My official master is Lady Ainel Sianella.”

“Didn’t I tell you?”

“Tell me what—”

“I received your slave certificate from mother in my name long ago.”

“Ah.”

Ray bit his lip.

After briefly making a distorted expression, he slowly began:

“…Are you sure you won’t regret this?”

I quietly nodded.

The atmosphere heated up.

Perhaps caught up in the mood, I felt the desire to press my lips against his.

Meanwhile, Ray slowly extended his right hand, caressing my cheek as he said:

“If you desire a kiss… I will give you my lips.”

My face reddened at his bold words, so unlike a man.

Having received permission, I tried to bring my face closer, but:

“But… not now—”

He gently pushed my face away with his right hand.

“When you can infuse mana into arrowheads like a Sword Expert knight. Then I will personally… offer it to you, Lady Sione…”

Thump thump thump.

My heart began to race as if it would burst at his words.

“…Would you mind getting up for now?”

I could only nod involuntarily at his irrefusible proposal.