CH 205

We Returned to the Mansion

“Well, it’s not just magic energy, but the power of will is related too… Or so I’ve heard. But the research on that is insufficient.”

“I see… In any case, it won’t activate on living creatures unless you strongly wish for it. …That’s good…”

“And you need not fear it as a dangerous ability.”

“It’s a good thing you were able to hear all of this. If all we knew was that it could be activated on living creatures, then you might have been isolated as a person with a dangerous ability.”

Sebastian brought up the chilling possibility as I sat there with relief. But he was right. Without the whole truth, I would be judged to be a dangerous person. Someone who no one could ever touch. Someone who was separated from everyone else.

…If this was back on earth and in Japan, I might have become the subject of research.

“Thank you, Ms. Isabelle. I am now much wiser about my own ability.”

“Bah, it was nothing. I enjoy finding out how rare Gifts are used. And finding out about magic tools as well.”

“Well, thank you for everything.”

“Please bring me more magic artifacts if you find any. …You can also come just to have a cup of tea as well.”

We thanked Ms. Isabelle and left the store.

…Judging by the last words that she muttered, she was probably a little lonely, tending to the store all by herself.

Perhaps it was rude of me to assume, but I somehow doubted such a store had many customers…

So it may be a good idea to come and visit her the next time we were in Ractos, if we had some spare time.

“That was more fruitful than expected.”

While we had ended up talking for a long time, it was all very much worth listening to.

The glass sphere, dealing with the wine, my Weed Cultivation ability… There were things that I hadn’t known about, and was able to learn in detail.

“The sun will be setting soon. We should return to the mansion. I’m sure that Lady Claire is impatient for our return.”

“Does Ms. Claire know that we are returning today?”

“I sent a message to the mansion after we arrived in Ractos.”

“I see.”

Sebastian was a very capable butler indeed.

And so we decided that we should not keep Ms. Claire and the others waiting for much longer.

“Now, Good Leo. May I?”

“Wuff!”

After leaving through the east gate, Leo lowered her posture so I could climb onto her back.

Then Sebastian asked for her permission, and then climbed on as well.

From here, Leo should be able to take us back in less than an hour.

…It had been a long time, but we could finally return.

While the duke’s house might not be my official home, it was the place I was most familiar with.

And though Range village had been a relaxing place, I couldn’t help but want to relax in a place that I knew better.

“Thank you, Leo.”

“Wuff-wuff.”

As I thought of such things, we arrived at the mansion, and I thanked Leo for carrying us.

Really, Leo had run so much for us lately, and I was very grateful.

“Welcome back, Mr. Takumi.”

“Welcome back.”

“Mr. Takumi. Leo! You’re back!”

“Kyau-kyau!”

I stepped through the front door with Sebastian.

The servants were waiting for our return inside. As were Ms. Claire, Tilura, and Sherry, who greeted us.

So the servants came out even when it was just me…

“I’ve returned, Ms. Claire, Tilura, and Shery.”

I greeted them all.

Ms. Lyra and Ms. Gelda then stepped forward and took some of my belongings.

…I didn’t let them take all of it, as my pride wouldn’t allow it.

Well, I also just felt modest.

“Mr. Takumi. Was everything alright? I heard that there was a monster attack…”

“You fought monsters!? Mr. Takumi!”

“Well, it was all fine in the end.”

“…By the time that we arrived, he was badly hurt… So I don’t know if I would agree with everything being fine…”

Ms. Claire and Tilura must have heard it from Sebastian. They knew about my battle with the monsters.

As Leo had detected that something was wrong, they must have been quite worried about what had happened.

Though, Tilura seemed more interested in the fact that I had been in a real battle.

Ah, Ms Johanna was here as well.. As she had gone to Ractos with Sebastian when escorting the merchants, she was probably the one who returned to the mansion first with the message.

“Badly hurt…”?

“It was so bad that it was astonishing that he didn’t collapse on the spot.”

“…Good heavens… Then what happened?”

“I was fine. Thanks to some Loe.”

“Loe… Thanks to Weed Cultivation then.”

As I hadn’t looked in a mirror, I didn’t know how deep the cut actually was, but there was a lot of blood, and it was coming from my head.

It would have likely been very bad if I didn’t have any Loe.

And it was just the excitement of battle that dulled the pain at the time.

“Mr. Takumi, Mr. Takumi. What was the battle like?!”

But Tilura was more interested in hearing about fighting monsters than listening to talk about a head wound.

“Tilura, that’s not important now. We’re talking about Mr. Takumi’s wounds!”

“But…”

“Haha. The injury is nothing now, Ms. Claire. Tilura, I’ll talk to you about it later.”

“Okay!”

“Well, I’ll let you put away your belongings and get settled first. Helena. How is dinner?”

“It can be prepared immediately.”

Ms. Claire admonished Tilura for being so inquisitive.

But while I was thankful that she was worried, I really was fine.

I would tell her as much as I could later on… It seemed like a good idea to teach her what a real fight was like.

As Sebastian said, we had only just returned, and so I wanted to put away my things… And perhaps enjoy a cup of tea.

Ms. Helena assured us that dinner could be prepared immediately, and so we decided to all gather at the dining hall.