episode_0004

“Does the lady like the tea?”

The woman with silver hair, elegantly sipping her tea, set down her teacup.

“Yes, it’s delicious.”

“If it suits the lady’s taste, then that’s enough. However, Miss Lena.”

“Why do you say that?”

The servant, hesitating to answer her question, finally spoke up.

“No matter how strong you may be, Miss, you are undeniably the daughter of the prestigious Iris family in the Empire. I think it’s dangerous for you to be alone like this.”

“Another unnecessary worry. If I am to attend the academy and live alone with Sarah, I should get used to this level of independence, shouldn’t I?”

“But…”

Lena gave a gentle smile to the worried maid.

“Don’t worry too much.”

“If the lady says so…I understand.”

Lena raised her teacup again and took a sip.

The scent lingering in her nose made the corners of her mouth involuntarily lift.

“I would like to have tea here with Sarah again next time.”

“I will remember that.”

“Thank you.”

As Lena set down her teacup on the table.

Suddenly.

Someone opened the door to the restaurant and walked in.

“Ha…Steven.”

“Yes.”

The man who entered the restaurant looked like a nobleman of my age.

But Lena, upon closer inspection of his face, felt something strange.

He was a man she had never seen at any ball before.

‘I always thought I was good at remembering faces since I was young…’

She thought again, but still couldn’t recall his name.

However, she was puzzled.

His pitch-black appearance that allowed no light and his eyes that revealed nothing about what he was thinking.

‘How could I not remember such a distinctive person…’

“Since we’re in the capital, I think it would be better to go to a nicer place.”

“Miss Rose personally made the reservation…I apologize.”

“…Is this the last supper?”

The man grumbled as he took his seat.

“Lady.”

“Why are you like this, Sarah?”

“It might be better not to stare at him so intently.”

“Why?”

“Huh? Well, isn’t he…Lord Logz Avant?”

“…Logz? That scoundrel?”

“Yes.”

Could it be that the rumored scoundrel is really going to take the academy exam?

Is the word of the servant who was sent to the Avant family last week not a lie?

“You really can’t trust rumors.”

Lena muttered softly as she took another sip of tea.

***

“Steven.”

“What’s the matter?”

“Is that woman over there acquainted with me?”

The butler shifted his gaze to where I pointed discreetly.

“Hmm…Miss Lena Iris, is it? I would say we only crossed paths in passing when we were young. It would be accurate to say we don’t know each other at all.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, after the young master was disciplined for striking Lord Ad Riovent of the Marquis family in the past, he was forbidden from attending any social events, so naturally, there was no contact.”

“Ah…right, I see.”

Oh…this scoundrel, even if he’s from a lower Marquis family than himself, to strike him so easily…

“By any chance…will that Ad…whatever also be taking the entrance exam this time?”

“Given his age, it’s possible for him to be eligible.”

“Oh…”

This is really bad.

“Uh, the food is here.”

Fortunately, the food arrived before my worries escalated.

The waiter slowly placed the ordered dishes on the table. Is he nervous?

Feeling uneasy about the constant trembling of my hands, I didn’t pay much attention, thinking it’s nothing to worry about.

And then.

“Here, even the last pasta…oh!?”

Crash!

“…”

“…Are you alright, young master?”

The floor was scattered with small and large glass shards, and my clothes were covered in pasta sauce and noodles instead of being in the bowl.

“I-I’m sorry!”

“…”

It’s not a good idea to get angry here. Well, I wasn’t angry to begin with.

Luckily, it’s a problem that can be easily resolved by changing into clean clothes and wiping off the sauce and shaving cream.

As I reached out my hand to the employee lying on the floor and tried to say, “It’s okay,” a loud noise interrupted me.

Thud!

The silver-haired girl who had been watching me earlier stood up from her seat.

In an instant, the atmosphere in the quiet shop quieted down as everyone turned to look at her.

“Uh… I-I’m sorry.”

She covered her flushed cheeks and sat back down. What?

No, that’s not the issue.

Why isn’t she getting up to clear up the misunderstanding?

I said to the employee still lying on the floor, “Get up quickly.”

“Yes, yes! I understand.”

I sighed as I looked at the employee, who was politely bowing with his hands together and staring at the floor.

“Steven.”

“Yes.”

“Order new food and compensate for this dish. I’ll change clothes and be back.”

Thud.

“No! C-compensate! I’ll pay for it all.”

A man who seemed to be the owner rushed over to us.

“Our son made a big mistake. I apologize.”

“Are you the owner?”

“Y-yes.”

“Do you know who I am?”

“How could I not recognize the eldest son of the Avantche family, Lord Logz?”

“Then listen. I said I’ll compensate. So don’t bother me and come have some delicious food with me.”

Leaving the cleanup to the butler, I left the restaurant.

It wasn’t a big restaurant, and it was inconvenient without a restroom, but I didn’t mind having some time alone.

The restroom wasn’t far away.

I went in and opened my bag that was slung over my shoulder.

“This bag is always fascinating to look at.”

This ordinary backpack was actually a magic bag that could hold all items regardless of size.

Thanks to it, I could easily carry my sword. It’s hard to carry two swords around, to be honest.

Well, as long as I’m not on the brink of death or in a losing situation, I didn’t plan on using them.

I didn’t know at first, but after practicing a few times with the sword, I realized that the swords were absorbing all of my mana.

For some reason, each time I used them, my stamina disappeared faster than I expected.

Probably the reason why I got tired quickly when fighting with thugs.

“I don’t have much mana left right now.”

Using the sword involved too much risk.

Sighing with regret, I put the dirty clothes in the bag, and something fell out of my pocket.

It was the cross that the butler had given me as a gift from the siblings.

Honestly, I was touched when I didn’t know what the gift was.

Even if they were teasing me, I thought they were getting a little closer to me because of my efforts.

A cross? Isn’t this something to argue about?

I didn’t wear a cross around my neck when I was first born into this body. But a cross?

The vanished feeling of gratitude didn’t seem to come back. Ugh…

I sighed and picked up the fallen cross, putting it back in my pocket.

But a gift is a gift.

It’s the first proper gift I’ve received from my family. It would be a lie to say I’m not grateful.

And if there’s even a slight chance that this could lead to me having a normal family… well, it doesn’t seem likely, but…

I changed into clean clothes and left the restroom.

Looking at my watch, I realized that not much time had passed. Should I stay a little longer alone?

Just as I was thinking that, I heard a woman’s scream not far away.

Glancing around, I saw a middle-aged woman pointing at something while lying on the ground.

“Pickpocket!!”

“…A sound that can raise suspicions!”

I didn’t miss this opportunity and ran straight towards him.

Thanks to my training so far, I was able to easily catch up with him, who seemed quite far away. As we got closer and closer.

Just before my fingertips touched his cloak.

The pickpocket who suddenly turned around increased his speed. No, isn’t it cheating to speed up here?

For me, who was already running at full speed, it was difficult to keep up with his increased pace.

After a few minutes of pursuit, we entered a dark alley.

It was clear that the pickpocket’s speed had slowed down.

Was that a skill he used a while ago?

I’m sorry, but I have confidence in my stamina now.

Of course, when it comes to facing ordinary people.

And at the moment when the pickpocket’s speed had slowed down completely.

I leaped forward and caught him.

“Ugh! Let go of me!”

“?”

I couldn’t tell because of the cloak, but I could tell the moment I caught him. This guy.

“You little brat?”

“Shut up, you noble brat! Let go of me!”

“Oh, where did a little brat like you come from?”

“What do you mean, who are you to call me a little brat!”

Without giving him a chance to speak, I grabbed the kid’s shoulder firmly.

“Do you know who I am?”

I lowered my voice as much as possible. I didn’t know when to say this line twice a day, but he was indeed a rascal.

In this situation, instilling fear in someone by pointing them down was instinctively easy.

“Ugh!”

In an instant, the kid who showed a face full of fear became obedient. It makes me feel sorry to see him so scared.

I let go of his hands.

“Where is the stolen item?”

“…In my pocket.”

“Hand it over.”

Following my command, the boy trembling all over handed me a wallet that looked expensive.

Every time I see someone so scared after saying a rascal-like line once, I am reminded once again why I am a rascal.

Perhaps the reason why every commoner I meet trembles might be because of this fear? With this question in mind, I gave the kid a gold coin.

“It seems like your hand got hurt because of me, so use this to treat it.”

“… ”

“Whether you were stealing or doing something else, it doesn’t matter, but if you’re going to do it, do it properly.”

“… ”

Without saying anything, he ran away with the gold coin I gave him. That rascal…

Sigh… Well, I won’t meet him again in the future, so let it go.

Suddenly, I felt a useless curiosity.

The item in my hand right now is a wallet.

Honestly, no one would know if I stole it here.

Of course, I have no intention of stealing. I have a position to uphold, so why bother with this.

But I’m curious. Should I call it the instinct of a human being or something else.

Just a little.

Since I have to find the owner anyway…

Is it okay to just check a little?

Bam!

“?”

[The defense barrier of the sacred cross has been activated.]

[The sacred cross has automatically disappeared.]

“W-Who are you.”

Along with the bright sunlight, a woman’s voice echoed into the alley.

“I don’t know who you are, but it seems like that wallet should be returned to its original owner.”

“Ah…”

She was Lina Iris.

Whether it was because of the beautiful silver hair reflecting the sunlight or the emerald-like eyes shining even in the darkness, it was easy to tell despite the distance.

A sword hilt was visible in her right hand. But surely, magic…

No way…!

Thud!

She once again sent a large fireball towards me.

I reflexively took out the only weapon in my bag and blocked the attack.

“You’re attacking me twice!? No, ahem. Please use nice words.”

This isn’t good.

I learned one fact while studying history.

There are two professions here, the swordsman and the sage.

Professions that have the same level of power as the two words that are respected by all just by their names.

A sword mage.

It was an opportunity to raise my reputation… but I can’t die because of that.

If she comes any closer, there’s a risk of revealing this sword.

It’s so unique that I could get caught easily.

And there will definitely be rumors circulating about the ‘Marquis scoundrel who stole from the wallets of ordinary nobles.’ Just the thought of it made my head ache.

“Hurry up and give it to me…! Ah!”

I quickly put the sword back into the bag and threw the wallet to her.

Taking advantage of the few seconds it took for Lena to catch the wallet, I left the spot.

Fortunately, she didn’t seem to have a reason to chase after me, as she didn’t follow.

“Wow… I almost died for real.”

If I had fought her in my current exhausted state… I don’t even want to think about it.

Gasping for breath, I looked at the status window that appeared before my eyes.

But.

‘Why isn’t there any mana consumption?’