Chapter 19: The Young Miss Turns Ten

Chapter 19: The Young Miss Turns Ten

Part 1

A year has passed by.

Eris's education is progressing smoothly.

Her talent for the sword seems to be pretty good, before she was 10 she had already reached the standards of the intermediate rank.

The intermediate rank can be said to be able to contend with an average knight.

Ghyslaine says she can reach the advanced rank in a few years time.

She's only 9 years old and yet... Is our Ojou-sama a prodigy?

What about me? If you ask me, I'll turn away my eyes.

Eris in regards to language, well you can say it's going fine.

Particularly because Ghyslaine talked about her terrible past ordeals because she couldn't read.

She was unable to do anything because of that, got deceived by all sorts of bad people, and in the end ended up as a slave for sale.

That's why Eris desperately tried to learn by heart.

The improvement in math isn't very apparent. I'm not sure what sort of things will happen to Eris in the future, but this world doesn't seem to need the usage of advanced math, so I feel that it's best to take things slowly.

In 5 years to be familiar with the 4 basic arithmetic operations, I'll make this my goal.

The magic lessons are progressing smoothly too, but there's a feeling that we're reaching the bottleneck soon.

She can basically use all the elementary ranked magic, and she's familiar with all the magic systems other than earth magic, and in comparison Ghyslaine only learned fire magic.

They both attended the same classes, but why is there such a difference?

Is water, wind and earth magic something that Ghyslaine isn't familiar with?

In any case, there are some things in the magic textbook that cannot be used even if you chant it.

Regarding this part, I also did not work hard in memorizing it, so I don't really understand.

Also, I tried to let them learn voiceless incantations, but the return is meagre.

Sylphy immediately caught on to it, perhaps this is an issue of age.

Or perhaps Sylphy has that sort of talent.

I don't really know, maybe I have taught them something useless.

It's about time to go into the intermediate ranked magic, but Ghyslaine and Eris are both sword fighters.

It should be enough to learn the elementary ranked magic to clear some unimportant miscellaneous stuff.

I think this is fine if it's done this way.

I believe one day it will be of use.

Although I feel that in regards to every subject, it's progressing smoothly, but it seems that Etiquette classes has run into a problem.

Part 2

Eris' 10 years old birthday is fast approaching.

The age of 10 years old is special, and according to noble customs, the 5 years old, 10 years old, 15 years old birthdays will be done with a grand party to celebrate the birthday.

The mansion's courtyard will be open, and receive the citizens' gifts, and will also invite the nobles from the city to participate.

Because Sauros is a boorish officer, the earlier plan was to have a self-help buffet style party with plenty of wine.

But Philip intercepts the idea, and changes it to a dance party, reasoning that it's easier to allow the nobles to attend it.

When it comes to the party, the one with the biggest headache is Eris.

At any rate, she's unable to dance. She can't even do the easiest dance steps.

"This is too big of a problem if the main actress is unable to dance."

Edona says this during the staff meeting day held at the beginning of the month.

I asked about Eris when she was 5 years old, and received the reply that dance classes are only necessary after the Asuran nobles are reaching 10 years old. This means there was no need to learn dancing.

The sword and magic schedules are all suspended to hold an emergency training session for Etiquette classes.

The sword training in the morning still doesn't change, and after having lunch, a little bit of magic is practiced to allow the food to digest, and after that every class is practicing dancing.

The more I see Eris' appearance, the more I feel that she's under a cheerless and irritated mood.

"Pardon me for asking, does Rudeus-sama know how to dance?"

Edona who just turned up after the magic training ends, asks me.

"No, I can't do it."

"Then if you can't, please join in the practice. Rudeus will also attend the dance party also right?"

"A, ah-. I will, participate?"

I look at Eris, and she nods in a matter-of-fact manner.

"Of course Rudeus will attend." (Polite)

Is this due to the Etiquette classes? Eris's used some strange words.

No, it's not something important.

"I seem to be required to attend."

"Then if you need to attend, it wouldn't be too good if you don't know how to dance."

"No, it will be okay if I stay in a corner and act as a young child."

Edona doesn't even show a strained smile.

She always has a gentle smile on her face that doesn't break.

I notice that other than this expression, this person doesn't show any other expressions.

In other words, a poker face.

"If one is attending a party for the first time, that person might feel more nervous than the usual self. There might be a moment where one steps on the dance partner's toes, furthermore the guests might feel discouraged looking at Ojou-sama's tender age. To resolve the tension, if it's possible, I wish you will become..."

Edona looks at me several times, but she still has a smile on her face.

After beating around the bush, you just want my help right?

Eris' dance lessons are progressing with such difficulty.

There's no helping it, even though I don't want to lend help in something that I'm not familiar in, but since she already puts it that way I can't refuse right.

No matter what I'm still the head teacher.

"I see, alright I understand. But I won't pay for the fees okay?"

"Of course, but in reverse I will be troubling Rudeus-sama."

Because of this dialogue, I also join the dance lessons.

Part 3

Edona's teaching methods are really too lousy, no, as a teacher it's roughly like that.

You must do this, that's how you do that, in any case you should remember it. Something like this.

What's important, what's the crux, and points to take note of, all of that aren't taught.

I also met a teacher like that during my middle school, whatever, I'll just think of my own if I don't understand, since I'm not a child anymore.

"I got it."

After 3 days, I have grasped a few different dances.

The so called dance is only to match the rhythm and do the fixed footsteps.

You don't even need to practice for the simplest dance.

Maybe it's because I actively used the experience when I played dance dance revolution during my middle school, there's not much of a problem.

"That's magnificent, Rudeus-sama really is a genius."

Eris frowns when she sees Edona praising me.

Something that she is unable to do for months has been easily done by someone else, her heart cannot remain calm for sure.

But I haven't been slacking for the past 3 days learning the dance steps, I have been observing Eris's problems.

And I finally understood clearly, her dancing is too fast and rigid.

Even though dancing is very compatible with the Sword-God style, but things are contrary to expectations, one is supposed to do a graceful step according to the rhythm, but she does it in the fastest speed possible, completely disrupting the dance partner's rhythm.

Eris' base instincts feel repressed by the rhythm that is disrupting her. No matter what it is she will insist on her own steps, without being affected by others. This is a talent in combat, but it might disrupt one's self during dancing.

After all you need to match your dance partner's actions.

Edona has secretly told me, that she has never met such a talentless student, but the truth isn't like this.

If she's capable of moving at high speeds, it means that she's able to dance, it's just the method of teaching her isn't very good.

Even though correcting it is a little troublesome, but I have a card up my sleeve.

"Eris, close your eyes, let your own rhythm control your body movements."

"... What are you thinking of, when you're asking me to close my eyes!"

"... Rudeus-sama?"

Edona's poker face crumbles slightly.

No, it's not like that. These people are so rude, you're actually suspecting a gentleman like myself.

"I'm going to use a magic trick to let Eris dance."

"Eh! Is there a magic like that?"

"No, it's a magic trick, not magic. It's a miraculous phenomenon."

Eris tilts her head in question, but she listens to me and closes her eyes.

During the sword lessons, she has seen countless rhythms, high speed, finely tuned, sharp, but there's no orderly rhythm.

Since you can't make an accurate prediction, it's easy to disrupt the opponent's rhythm, and I definitely can't do that sort of whimsical natural rhythms.

"I'll clap my hands now, please use your dance steps in place of evading an attack, and follow my lead."

With that I clap with an orderly, pan~, pan~, pan~.

Eris matches me step by step by moving her body.

This continues for a while, and I added a noise in a random interval.

"Haii! Haii!"

The timing is before the clapping, and Eris slows down for a slight moment, and only reacts to the claps.

"T, this is!"

Edona raises her voice in surprise.

Eris continues to do the dance steps, even though it's still a little fast, but it's not at a pace that cannot be followed.

"You did it, you did it Ojou-sama!"

"Really!?"

Edona grasps her hands and expresses a rarely seen excited smile, shouting. nove(l)bi(n.)com

Eris opens her eyes in delight and replies with a large smile plastered on her face.

"You're not done yet, don't open your eyes, you need to remember that feeling okay?"

"Remember what, it's just seeing through the false actions and avoiding the attacks!!"

That's right, this is also taught in the sword lessons.

In Ghyslaine's evading the attacks lesson, she will demonstrate a false movement with a noise, and we need to avoid the real attack without getting confused by the false movements.

Compared to reacting Ghyslaine's false movements that's full of bloodlust, following my simple sound is much easier compared to that.

Just to add on, on this topic my results are better than Eris.

She's too honest and easy to fool with false movements.

"Eris, the things you learn on a lesson, can be applied to other lessons. Sometimes if there are things that you can't do well, try thinking if other lessons have something similar, please think about this okay?"

Eris opens her eyes wide, an unusual thing, but she doesn't argue and nods.

Well, returning to the topic.

"This is my shishou's custom of giving disciples a magic wand. But since I didn't know how to make it and I didn't have the money to buy the materials, so I'm a bit late with that. If it's acceptable please take it."

Ghyslaine stops after hearing that, stands up and kneels down on one knee with respect.

Ah, I know this, this is the pose of Sword-God style for showing respect to the teacher.

"Yes! Rudeus-shishou. I receive this with much gratitude."

"Umu, there's no need to be so formal."

Ghyslaine accepts it with humble respect and looks at the magic wand, seemingly happy.

"I can call myself a magician now."

Ah, is that it, you can call yourself that now?

I didn't hear Roxy talking about it, no, in any case you're still elementary ranked, you're not counted right.

Or can you call yourself a magician if you start practicing magic?

My shishou has never explained it to me in detail.

"Erm, Eris do you want this?"

I half jokingly bring the 1/10 Sylphy's figurine to my hand, but I see Eris shakes her head.

"No! I want, that magic wand! I want that magic wand!"

"Okay, here."

Eris stretches her hand to take it, but perhaps because she saw Ghyslaine's attitude, she immediately corrects her posture, and receives the magic wand with both hands respectfully.

"T, thank you very much, Rudeus-shishou."

"Umu, please take good care of it.]"

Eris glances at Ghyslaine next, and after Ghyslaine notice her glance she pauses for a few second blankly, then shakes her head.

"I'm sorry, my race doesn't have a custom like that, and I didn't prepare anything."

I was thinking of what it was, it's actually asking for presents. Come to think of it, this was happening when I was moving the food back.

Ah, Eris sits back at the sofa with disappointment.

The servant giving the owner presents, even though there's no custom like that, but receiving nothing from her favorite Ghyslaine-oneechan, she's indeed a little pitiable.

Let me correct the situation a little.

"Ghyslaine, there's no need to prepare something special, if there's anything on you, or a lucky charm that can be used as a present too."

"Hmm."

Ghyslaine thinks for a while and then removes a ring from her finger.

A ring carved out from wood, with the signs of age on it, I'm not sure if there's any magic added to it or the material itself, there's a green light slightly emitting from it.

"This is a charm that my tribe passed down, if you wear this it's said that you won't be attacked by evil wolves at night."

"Are you really giving me that?"

"Yes, it's just a superstition."

Eris carefully receives it, wears it on her finger and hugs her hands tightly to her chest.

"I, I'll take good care of it."

She's even happier compared to receiving the magic wand from me, well, since it's a ring, girls, probably will like it more.

At this time a question rises from me.

"Superstition, huh? That means Ghyslaine has been attacked by evil wolves at night?"

"Yes, that was a difficult night to fall into sleep, Paul invited me to swim..."

"Aaah, it's best not to say anything else, I can guess what happens next."

Not good, if this topic continues, my stock valuation will fall, damn this Paul, that wanker is always in my way.

"Is that so, well, you probably won't want to listen about the things that your father did."

"Isn't that right, here, go right ahead and eat. Even though it's already cold, enjoy the food. You're my students so there's no need to restrain yourself.]"

Eris's memorable birthday passes by without incident.

Part 6

The second day I find Eris lying beside me.

Wooah, I have become an adult, nooo (shy).

... How's that possible.

Thinking back about it a little.

She suddenly wanted to sleep, and collapsed in my bed in exhaustion.

Seeing that, Ghyslaine said she should also go back, and in the end left Eris behind and returned to her own room.

You're not a man if there's food in front of you and you still don't take it.

Gehehehe, it's time to be a baaaad boy.

I licked my lips in an evil manner and approached the edge of the bed.

Then I saw Ghyslaine's ring being worn on her finger, and she's hugging the magic wand tightly that I gave; Eris' figure with a satisfied smile, sleeping away.

The Big Bad Wolf with the despicable face had been drawn away.

"That charm is really useful..."

I mumbled without touching Eris one bit, and slept quietly on the edge of the bed.

It's still quite early now, looking out of the window, the day is just about to break, but it's still very dark.

I went outside to walk for a bit. Even though it's not bad to look at Eris's sleeping face, once she wakes up I'd get punched.

I don't want to get beaten.

I walked silently outside the room to the slightly cold corridor, pondering on where to go next.

The mansion's main gate will not open until a certain time, so I can't go out and there are very few choices.

I have basically searched everywhere for the past year, but there are some areas that I still don't know, for example, there's a tower isolated from the mansion.

Even though I was told not to approach there, I'm still interested in it.

Or perhaps, I might be able to receive something good, for example I might get someone's panties that has been dried by the wind.

Thinking about the good stuff, I climbed up to the top of the mansion, after searching around at the top, I finally find a spiral staircase that pleased me.

That's probably the entrance to the tower.

As I climb up I hear something enticing like nyan, nyan voices, so I climb up without trying to make any sound.

Sauros is at the highest level, in a room that I'm not sure can be entered, doing something very naughty with a Nekomimi maid.

I see, so that's the reason why you don't allow people to come here...

I wanted to enjoy things till the end, but Sauros discovers me.

The maid has already discovered me from early on, after the maid finishes the business, she immediately passes by me and climbs down the staircase.

"... Is that Rudeus?"

He's different from the usual voice, small and stable, sage mode?

"Yes, Sauros-sama. Good morning."

I just wanted to greet him with the noble's formalities, but Sauros's hand stops me.

"No need, what are you doing here?"

"Because I saw a ladder, so I wanted to climb up."

"Do you like high places?"

"Yes."

Even though I say that, if I look out from the window, I'll tremble in my legs.

Like and satisfaction is different, even if I conquer the world and make the highest tower, my room will be built on the first floor.

"Come to think of it, what is Sauros-sama doing here?"

"I'm praying to that gem."

Ahh? This mansion's praying culture is quite decadent, I think to myself but I really don't mind that.

He's usually so strict but he's also a Greyrat's member, birds of the same feather.

"Gem?"

I look outside the window, and there's a red gem floating in the air. It's pulsing with a faint light, and I can see some changes from inside.

What's that, amazing. Is that floating in the air by magic?

"May I know what is that?"

"I'm not sure"

Sauros shakes his head.

"That was discovered 3 years ago, but, it's not something bad."

"How can you be so certain?"

"It's better to think that way."

I see. That's true, since you can't grab a hold of it. If you think it's something bad, it's bad for the health. Why not think that it's something good and pray towards that, maybe gem-san's mood might turn for the better.

Let me pray too, please drop a pretty girl from the skies.

"Rudeus, I'm going to ride horse to travel for a while, do you want to come?"

"I'll go too."

Sauros's jii-san just did it once, but he seems quite spirited. Today's a free day, it seems I'm permitted to play for a while.

Oh yeah! ...... Sounds like it will be very tiring.

"Come to think of it."

"What?"

"Is Sauros-sama's wife not here?"

I hear a gritting sound, and discover that Sauros is grinding his teeth, and I feel cold sweat on my back.

"She's dead."

"I see, I am very sorry for asking something like that."

I apologize earnestly, he just did the birds and the bees with the Nekomimi maid, I might have made him remember something unhappy.

Looks like it's best not to ask why Eris doesn't have any siblings.

"Then, let's go."

"Yes."

Today will be a rest day, and I'll let Eris work hard from tomorrow onwards.

–Status–

Name: Eris Boreas Greyrat

Profession: Granddaughter of the lord of Fedoa

Personality: A little violent

Talking to her: She will listen with attention

Language: Able to read things almost perfectly

Math: Remembers the multiplication tables up to 9*9

Magic: Roughly knows the elementary rank

Sword: Intermediate ranked in the Sword-God style

Etiquette: Will not be embarrassed at a party

The people she likes: Grandfather, Ghyslaine