Ch.88. Talent (3)

[Quest completed.]

[Sione Sianella’s affection for you has increased.]

As soon as I finished speaking, the quest was completed.

I thought only the affection increase notification would appear.

I was about to check it quickly and move on, but this time there was another reward besides affection.

[You have become intimate with Sione Sianella beyond a certain level]

[Through resonance with her, a small portion of your original power is unlocked.]

“This is…!”

As that tiny bit of mana recovered, my previously minuscule total capacity increased slightly.

While having more mana is undoubtedly a good thing, right now the total amount isn’t what matters to me.

‘I thought elemental magic would no longer have any connection to me.’

A sensation swept through my entire body—unlike before, I could now use elemental magic, even if extremely weak.

The element is wind… even when used minimally, being elemental magic, it consumes quite a lot of mana.

With my newly increased mana, I’d probably empty my reserves after using it just twice.

‘Still, it’s better than nothing.’

When shooting a bow, even simple elemental magic of the wind attribute can be a great help.

The feeling of receiving an unexpected gift wasn’t bad. No, it was actually good.

…I had ignored the affection increase since it usually didn’t even give me a piece of candy in return. I never expected it would come back to repay me like this.

Since suddenly laughing and acting happy would obviously make Sione look at me like I was crazy,

I suppressed my joy and said:

“From now on, I will wake you at the same time as today.”

Sione nodded obediently to my words.

She then tried to raise her bow to continue shooting, but her arm stopped halfway and lowered again.

Wondering why she was acting strange again, I observed her carefully.

Why is she suddenly staring at me so intently?

She seemed to have something she wanted to say as she gazed at me.

Her stare was so persistent, as if she would keep looking at me until I made eye contact and asked her what was wrong.

The stare was too intense to simply ignore, so I had no choice but to respond.

“Is there something you wish to ask me?”

Sione then opened her mouth as if she had been waiting for this.

“After shooting once, I’m even more curious. How were you able to reach that level of archery skill? Can you tell me?”

“Ainel Sianella said I would be sufficient as an attendant if I were at least as good as a group of ruffians.”

“Why are you bringing that up now?”

“My level of archery skill is merely a means to serve you, Lady Sione. It’s not significant enough to be worth your attention.”

Saying this, I bowed my head as if I was about to plant my face on the ground.

If I were to tell the truth about past lives and such, I would obviously be treated as a madman.

Yet simply calling it talent wouldn’t explain the seasoned expertise evident in all my movements with the bow.

Rather than being suspected either way, it’s better to just bow my head and keep my mouth shut.

With this unusual slave showing impressive archery skills,

And creating an atmosphere of someone with a story to tell,

Wouldn’t I appear to have some special past?

If I keep my mouth shut, Sione might create her own version of my past and move on.

“Has my mother ever witnessed you handling a bow?”

“Lady Ainel Sianella has only seen me handling a short blade.”

“Hmm, a short blade…”

Why is she looking at me like some interesting animal?

Hoping this interrogative atmosphere would end soon, I straightened my posture even more respectfully.

“I won’t pry further. I expect you to tell me everything when the time comes. However, your blade must never be pointed at me.”

“I will serve you to the best of my ability.”

Sione seemed pleased with that response, exuding an air of satisfaction.

While looking at the bow in her hand, she said:

“But archery… my fate is truly peculiar.”

“May I ask what you mean?”

“A skilled knight breaks arrows before being pierced, and a mage neutralizes all arrows. One could say it’s a weapon with clear limitations in terms of mastery.”

Having just shot a bow a few times, it does seem rather limited.

In response to Sione’s words, I simply drew another arrow.

“Then wouldn’t it be sufficient to shoot so quickly that neither knight nor mage could catch the arrow?”

“That’s…”

“If you find it hard to believe, perhaps you’d like to see for yourself?”

“Yes, I would like to confirm it with my own eyes.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Really.”

You clearly gave permission. No complaining afterward.

I immediately drew the bowstring.

I aimed at my target from the corner of my eye.

Sione Sianella.

She was my target, centered in my field of vision.

Using a sliding release, I pulled the string and gathered my strength.

I collected mana and imbued my arrow with elemental magic.

As the magic manifested, a gentle whirlwind began to spread around me.

“Ah—”

With Sione’s brief reaction, the arrow took flight.

Thud.

Sione collapsed in place.

The arrow that had instantly grazed past her head seemed to have frightened her so much that her legs gave out.

I put down the bow, approached her, and lowered myself to meet her eyes.

Sione’s pupils kept trembling, unable to find their place.

“Even I just killed a former sword user, so you, Lady Sione, could certainly shoot arrows threatening enough for a sword expert.”

“…”

“Don’t confine yourself to the limitations you’ve set. A bow is a far more threatening weapon than you think.”

“I… understand—”

“Huh…?”

My body tilted forward, ending up leaning against Sione.

“Why are you suddenly like this?”

“…I think it’s mana exhaustion.”

“C-could you please move away?”

I tried my best to move away, but…

I used too much mana on elemental magic, and the weakness is no joke.

I should have used it in smaller amounts…

Suddenly using all my mana at once seems to have shocked my body.

At this rate, I won’t be able to move until some mana recovers.

“…I apologize. My body won’t move properly.”

“T-then I’ll move back—”

“Ugh.”

As Sione tried to pull back, my body tilted further forward, completely embracing her.

“W-what should I do now…?”

“Please calm down and help me sit properly.”

“Right, I’ll do that…!”

Sione hurriedly sat me properly on the ground and stood up.

The series of events must have been quite troubling, as her face had turned bright red.

Seeing such an intense reaction makes me feel a bit sorry.

I tried several times to get up from my spot, but…

Ugh… it’s not working.

Maybe it’s because I’m in a weak male body with the worst mana affinity.

The mana exhaustion symptoms seem more severe than they would be for a woman.

“Um… can you stand up?”

Looking like this, it’s going to be difficult to get up right away.

Quite some time has passed, and someone might come looking, so there’s no choice now.

I spread my arms and said:

“…I think you’ll need to carry me back to my room.”

“…Huh?”

“Or could you lend me your back?”

“Ugh…”

She can’t just leave me here and run away.

Would she really abandon me?

Abandon her servant? Her archery teacher?

As I looked up at her with the most innocent eyes I could manage, Sione, with a face now red enough to burst, said in a small voice:

“A-alright…”

And so I was able to return to my room on Sione’s back.

* * *

「Rehabilitation」

「Your master, Sione, has developed the most positive and energetic attitude in recent times. Moreover, her hidden talent for archery has begun to sprout, putting down delicate roots in the soil. Transform her obesity into the body of a robust woman so that your master’s talent can bloom more brilliantly.」

「Reward: Increase in Sione Sianella’s talent development speed, Increase in bond with Sione Sianella」

「Failure: Slowdown in Sione Sianella’s talent development」

It hasn’t been long since I completed the quest this morning.

Yet another quest appeared at lunch today, after trying archery for the first time.

I wonder just how much of a lost cause my master is that I’m even given quests to fix her through my support, but…

With rewards like affection, bonds, and increased talent development speed, I’m starting to think it’s fortunate that Sione is such a lost cause.

I filled the empty water bottle in Sione’s room.

Thanks to her help, I was not only able to come to her room but also sit comfortably in a chair, allowing me to rest easily.

Because of that, I can now walk properly.

I looked at her bed.

They say people die if they change too suddenly, but Sione is definitely in no danger of that…

Despite having shot a bow this morning and learned a lot from it, she’s showing no effort to change, just sprawled on her bed as usual.

So this is it? Just being able to shoot a bow is enough? With that body?

Having cleared the quest and likely increased Sione’s affection quite a bit, I approached her and boldly said:

“Lady Sione, the sun is high in the sky, so let’s start exercising now.”

Peek.

She poked only her face out from under the blanket and looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.

“I was suspicious from the moment you suddenly tried to shoot me with an arrow and then embraced me… Have you finally gone mad…?”

“…I assure you I’m not mad at all.”

“That’s a relief. Then quickly bring me some refreshments.”

Swish, swish.

Sione even gestured toward the empty snack plate on the table.

“Fill it up. Ah, and you may take a few for yourself as well.”

“…Sigh.”

What am I really supposed to do with this person?