Vol 2: Chapter 9
「Looking for me…?」
「You aren’t allowed to carry weapons to today’s banquet. What do you plan to do?」
I was unable to understand the intention of Maxim-san’s question.
「I don’t usually carry a weapon in the first place, though.」
「Is that so!? I see… you are mainly focused on magic and close combat.」
I can do more than just magic and close combat, but if I also used weapons in addition to those, people would get suspicious of the number of skills I have, so I’m keeping a low profile.
「There will be many escorts other than me, right? I don’t think there will be an attack.」
The 12-year-olds can attend with only one escort by their side at the banquet. The escorts aren’t allowed to carry weapons, but if you can use magic, there will be no problem. And there are still many other ways you can fight without weapons.
「No, that’s not the problem. What I’m worried about is the treasured sword of the noble sons.」
「Isn’t that all the better? They will be given a skill orb after the banquet, right?」
The nobles of this country attend the evening party hosted by the Holy King at the age of 12. They are then recognized to be “adults” and are given a skill orb.
I don’t know the detailed system, but it seems that the rare skill orbs produced from the First Altar are almost monopolized by the nobles. The ones that the nobles don’t use are passed down to the guilds and citizens.
The young lady should receive a skill orb from Earl Sillys after today’s banquet. Neither I nor the young lady herself know what the skill orb is.
Conversely, that would mean today’s 12-year-old sons, holding a treasured sword, are skill-less. If so, isn’t that less reason to be worried?
「No, no! The magic applied to their swords is quite considerable.」
「Magic?」
「You don’t know? My large sword also has magic that increases its power.」
「Really!?」
I then asked Maxim-san to explain in more detail. It seems that when Maxim-san and I had our match, he was using a fake sword, so magic wasn’t applied on it. In a real battle, he wields a much more powerful sword, it seems. Though, he wasn’t carrying it right now. Carrying a big sword inside the mansion would indeed be too much.
「What kind of magic can you apply?」
「Let’s see… Not only can you increase the sharpness and impact, but you can also extend the length of the sword to some extent. Or you can also increase the physical strength or stamina of the wielder. But of course, there are limits to it. The effects should be about the same as a 1-star skill.」
「Huh…」
「And it can also be applied to armor, but it must be metal.」
「Does that mean your armor is also magic enhanced?」
「That’s right… is what I’d like to say, but armor is impossible.」
「Impossible?」
「It costs too much.」
「Hou.」
I was impressed.
I honestly thought that it was strange that the chief military officer of the Earl of Kruvan Holy Kingdom was weaker than Dante-san, who was in a half-petrified state.
So, there is an assistance from magic, huh. Does that mean Maxim-san’s fighting style relies on the premise of using that assistance?
No, he was quite a powerful fighter even with a fake sword… What if he had the magic assistance on top of that?
(…I guess I shouldn’t try to stop his attack with my bare-hands in that case.)
I remembered the time when I defended Maxim-san’s punch with my hand.
What would’ve happened if Maxim-san had the magic assistance at that time?
「It can only be afforded by the nobles or the knights. Though, I have heard that first-rate adventurers equip armor with magical properties.」
「I suppose it would cost a ridiculous amount if you wish to apply magic to full-body equipment.」
「I think it would easily exceed 100 holy gold coins. Still, compared to your life, that price is cheap. Surely people with such a philosophy use them.」
Equipment worth over 500 million yen(5million usd), huh… I think it would be better to just display it at home.
「Anyway, it is not unlikely that a noble son, who got his hand on a treasured sword for the first time – and in a restless state – wouldn’t try to brandish it. Be careful.」
「Okay. Thank you for your advice.」
「We will also be on standby outside the venue.」
Maxim-san then raised one hand, and left.
Armor magic, huh… I’ll keep that in mind.
The young lady was taking a really long time to get ready. When dusk approached, and I was stifling a yawn, the door finally opened.
The maid chief cast a sharp look at me.
「Reiji-san, please don’t say anything rude.」
「Do I really look like a thoughtless man?」
「I’m afraid of boys because they are unmindful of what they say.」
From the perspective of the chief maid (30’s), I’m a child.
「Compliment the young lady properly. You will be the first man to see the young lady dressed up for the first time.」
「I understand.」
「That said, you shouldn’t give indirect compliments, and straight compliments aren’t good either.」
「………」
…Aren’t there too many orders?
「Reiji-san. Today is a very important day for the young lady. I would appreciate your cooperation.」
「……Yes.」
The maid chief reached her hand and fixed the emblem on my polar tie that was slanted.
「You are also a handsome man, when you keep quiet. Don’t say anything extra at the banquet.」
「Understood.」
That’s the first time I was called a handsome man, isn’t it?
When I entered the room after the chief maid, I saw the young lady sitting on a chair in the center of the room.
「—Reiji?」
When the young lady turned around, I lost my breath.
Her blonde hair, which was combed more carefully than usual, shot off a lustre. It flowed down smoothly without getting caught in the lamé dress, which brings out the blonde hair’s beauty. [1. TL Note: “Lamé” is fabric made from gold and silver threads.]
Because she was wearing a strapless dress, the young lady’s delicate shoulders were exposed and you can see the fine skin texture of her smooth, white skin.
The young lady’s face, which gave an aura of strong-will, was applied with light makeup, and her lips were applied with lipstick matching her light red dress.
The young lady’s pupils which were highlighted by eyeliner – her magic eyes which even I am always wary of – enchanted me.
「M-My lady…」
The young lady, who was growing from a girl into a woman, shot off a seductive aura.
…Aah, I am getting dizzy.
There is a word called「Peerless Beauty」.
It is derived from what is called「Peerless Isolation」, and this comes from a passage in a Chinese book.
「Peerless Isolation」— a lonely existence (beauty) that is unparalleled in the world.
After that, it continues like this.
「One-side a castle」— When she looks over one-side, a castle goes to ruin.
「Other-side a country」— When she looks over the other-side, a country goes to ruin.
If the young lady continues to grow like this, the country might even start fighting for her and go into ruins. The thought sent chills down my spine.
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