episode_0005

“Master!”

“Why are you outside when I told you to come in?”

“I’m sorry. I thought you weren’t coming, so I was going to look for you.”

“Has it been that long? Just wait inside.”

“It’s been 30 minutes since we left the restaurant. It’s only natural as your butler.”

I felt a pang in my heart at the serious look in the butler’s eyes.

“From now on, we’ll go together. Let’s go inside now.”

“Understood. But, Master.”

Just before Steven grabbed the door handle to open it, he suddenly started staring at my clothes as if they were filthy.

“Why.”

“Are even your changed clothes dirty, Master?”

“…”

I knew this would happen, so I tried to brush off all the dust to make it look as new as possible.

His eye for detail is unnecessary.

But it’s not terribly dirty, so if I make a casual excuse, he’ll believe me.

“I tripped on my way here.”

“Is that so? You should be more careful next time.”

“Got it.”

Fortunately, the butler seemed to trust me without any suspicion.

After that, we somehow made our way back to the original seat we were sitting in.

It was well past lunchtime, and I immediately started devouring the food in front of me as soon as I sat down.

And as the food met my tongue.

I felt as if time had stopped.

‘Wow…’

It was a dish that left me speechless except for a sigh of admiration.

At first glance, it was just an ordinary street restaurant.

If you didn’t think about it, it would probably just be a passing place.

Honestly, such places didn’t appeal to me.

I just thought of myself as someone who couldn’t even receive noble treatment from my family anymore.

‘But… I never thought I would have this experience.’

I felt like my slightly restored spirits and tireless efforts had paid off.

Whether it was due to my joy or simply because I was hungry.

The bottom of the plate was visible in no time.

“It seems to suit your taste.”

“Yeah, it’s much tastier than I expected.”

“I’m sure the young lady would be pleased to hear that.”

I stood up, wiping the sauce off my lips.

“That seems like too big of a dream.”

The butler also stood up, following me.

“That’s not true.”

Was he comforting me, or was he just encouraging me to have hope?

Either way, my relationship with them was already over.

Even if I have hope, it’s undoubtedly a tower that will collapse.

These gifts are probably just because they feel some kind of affection towards me, different from the other priests.

‘It’s a kind of ugly affection.’

As these thoughts began to dominate my mind, I, who was enjoying the food, looked pitiful.

A bitter laugh escaped me.

“Master?”

Steven called me with a worried expression. Ah… I made a mistake.

I took a deep breath and replied to him with my usual expression.

“It’s nothing.”

“If you say so, Master, I understand.”

Once again, the butler seemed to trust my words without any suspicion.

Sometimes, his trust in me was comforting.

‘Phew… Pull yourself together.’

I haven’t even experienced a normal school life yet, so I shouldn’t be feeling depressed already.

I’ve experienced despair and hopelessness to death in my past life.

I shouldn’t be feeling down over something so trivial.

At that moment, a carriage appeared in front of us as if it had been waiting.

“What’s this?”

As if he knew, Steven opened the carriage door naturally.

“You will be staying at the main house until you take the entrance exam for Tuaros.”

“The main house?”

“Yes. Madam said she really wants to see you.”

Wasn’t that house the main house? It doesn’t make sense that the duke lives in the countryside in the first place.

I’ll think about this later, for now.

“I don’t want to go.”

There was no reason.

If I had to say, it might be because facing my parents is instinctively uncomfortable for me.

But Madam knew me too well.

“If Madam doesn’t come, she said she will cut off your allowance.”

“…”

“Master?”

“What are you doing? Hurry up and get on.”

“Even if you get on slowly, the carriage won’t leave.”

***

How many minutes had passed in the boring carriage?

Lost in thought, staring out the window, I heard Steven’s voice in my ear.

“Young master, we have arrived.”

As his words ended, my gaze, which had been fixed on the window, fell upon a mansion of immense size, unlike the one I had lived in before.

The carriage gradually slowed down and soon came to a stop.

What would be the first thing they would say to me?

I tightened my grip on my nerves and focused my mind. Let’s not make any mistakes.

I got off the carriage and followed the butler.

“Welcome, Young Master Logz.”

“Welcome, Young Master Logz.”

Numerous servants greeted me on either side of the path from the main gate to the mansion.

Of course, their expressions were far from welcoming.

I passed by them and stood in front of the mansion entrance.

“Young master.”

“What is it?”

“When will you see the mistress?”

“Tell her I’ll see her at dinner.”

“Understood.”

As Steven finished speaking, the front door opened.

A middle-aged woman descended the stairs in front of me.

Dressed in a luxurious dress unlike the other servants, she was unmistakably the mistress of the house and my mother.

“Logz!”

My mother, who had noticed my gaze, quickly descended the stairs and ran towards me.

“You’re finally here! I was worried.”

Avoiding her gaze, I replied.

“Yes.”

I should just act like a fool, right?

As I thought that, I felt myself being pulled into her gentle embrace. Huh…?

“I missed you. It must have been tough, right?”

She comforted me, patting my back.

My brain froze in an unfamiliar situation, but I quickly regained my senses and pushed away from my mother’s embrace.

“It wasn’t… tough.”

“Thank goodness.”

She smiled, looking somewhat disappointed.

“Did you get along well at your grandfather’s house? It’s been three years since you suddenly left saying you wanted to train…”

I couldn’t adapt to her unfamiliar aura. No, I didn’t even try to adapt; I resisted.

The moment I wanted to escape from here as soon as possible.

The butler spoke to my mother on my behalf.

“The young master said he will see you at dinner.”

Is it right to say that now?

Isn’t it too late?

“Oh! Mom was too excited to see her son’s face after so long.”

“No.”

“Well… let’s rest and talk later.”

After bidding farewell to my mother, who was moving away from me, I followed the butler to my room.

If they say I didn’t get tired before coming here, it’s probably a lie.

But these few seconds now were the most difficult thing I experienced today.

A fleeting moment felt like an eternity. But if I endure until dinner, that’s all that matters.

There are about 3 hours until dinner.

After arriving in my room, I dismissed the butler and lay down on the bed without looking back.

“Come to think of it, do ordinary fools not use honorifics with their parents?”

Well, you have to see that happen to know.

Let’s not worry about it… I can’t take it back anyway.

With that thought, without any other distractions, I fell asleep immediately.

– Son, you must become the most respected person after me.

– So from now on, instead of sharpening one sword like an ordinary person, sharpen two swords.

“Damn!! Ugh…”

It’s been a long time since I had that nightmare.

I only had it on the first day and it was fine until now…

Sigh… I didn’t want to come because I thought this would happen.

“Young master.”

“Surprise!”

“It’s time for dinner, young master.”

“I said give me a moment…”

“I woke you up after you fell asleep, young master.”

“No, wake me up and get me up.”

“I’ll do that from now on.”

After dreaming a nightmare, the unexpected conversation I had with my parents didn’t feel so bad.

Suppressing a laugh that was about to come out, I got up from the bed and went out of the room.

I continued to walk following the butler.

When we arrived, there was an extravagant feast set up for the three of us to eat.

I immediately took a seat furthest away from my parents.

“Sit next to Logs’ dad and eat together.”

“Just leave it, always causing trouble and not even coming back to see dad’s face, what’s the point of worrying about a kid like that…”

“Honey!”

“…Logs can’t bring the food over there, so come over here.”

“…Understood.”

As I moved to sit down, the suffocating mealtime began.

No one spoke, only the sound of cutting steak and chewing filled the room.

After a few minutes, my father, who had started to see the bottom of the plates, put down his utensils and spoke.

“Are you really going to take the exam?”

I couldn’t understand the essence of the question, but I answered.

“Yes.”

“…Alright.”

Father looked at me silently for a moment, then instructed the servant next to him to hand something to Steven.

“It’s the academy uniform. I didn’t prepare any weapons because I didn’t know if you were going as a healer or a supporter, but if you tell me now, I can prepare them quickly.”

“What?”

“Why are you acting like that?”

I was more puzzled than my father, who had doubts.

Carefully looking at Steven, he smiled. Wait…no?

To clear up the misunderstanding, I spoke up.

“I’m neither a healer nor a supporter.”

Father hesitated for a moment, then nodded as if he understood.

“Right, I never thought you would go to a normal place. Then I’ll prepare a fancy staff for you.”

This butler really didn’t tell my parents anything.

“I’m not a wizard either. I applied as a knight.”

“…”

Father seemed to be at a loss for words.

He showed a wry smile and looked incredulous.

“Do you know how dangerous being a knight is?”

“I do.”

“…If you’re just jealous of Roberts, give up. I recommend going to a normal healer now.”

“I don’t have those feelings. Then I’ll take my leave.”

“Logs!”

Father urgently got up from his seat and called me back.

“Why are you doing this?”

When I turned around, Father’s eyes met mine. And for a moment, we quietly stared into each other’s eyes.

After a short time, Father sat back down.

“I don’t know why you resemble me so much in stubbornness…do your best. I’ll send you off around noon tomorrow.”

“…Thank you.”

I quickly left the room.

***

The restaurant became quiet after Logs left.

A woman’s voice echoed.

“Honey…”

“…”

“It would have been better if you had just told the truth.”

“I was going to say that I won’t banish you if you repent, but…”

Father slowly turned his head.

“If that expression is anything to go by, it would have been harder to stop you.”

“But if you get hurt…”

“If you’re determined, I’ll support you. So don’t worry and pray hard.”

“Got it.”

Nodding in agreement, she suddenly covered her mouth and started laughing.

“Why are you laughing?”

“That stubbornness definitely seems to resemble you, honey.”

“…When did you hear that?”