NOVEL NEXT Chapter 33
And so, the outing began.
It was the first outing with the Lady, but honestly, it didn’t feel like much of a special occasion.
Well…
“Oh, look, there’s Garrett’s Blacksmith Shop.”
“I see it.”
“That sword you have at home, you bought it there, right? How did you get it?”
Rather than the Lady, it was Terra who kept chattering away beside me.
At Terra’s comment about the sword made by Garrett, Darren and Kaiden looked over in shock, but soon returned to scanning the surroundings, focusing on their guard duties.
While the two of them were busy glaring around, Terra kept talking to me…
“Lowell, where are we?”
“According to the map, we’re here, Lady.”
Lowell skillfully guided the Lady.
Come to think of it, the Lady doesn’t seem to know her way around here either.
She often takes the lead, but since she doesn’t know the way, Lowell is practically acting as a GPS, explaining everything around her.
“Look, a dog! They said there’s a blacksmith shop over there!”
“Ah, yes…”
“Wow… it’s crowded, huh? Should we go check it out?”
“Huh?”
“Let’s go!”
To the blacksmith shop?
The Lady, who had already suggested it, started walking briskly toward the shop.
“Uh…”
“Yeah.”
The unusual group following the Lady caused a stir among the people waiting in line.
Lowell, of course, looked every bit the noble family’s butler.
Darren and Kaiden, being guards, were lightly but visibly armed.
And Terra? She looked like a mage at first glance.
And then there was me…
“That person…”
“Is that a slave? Why is he wearing a collar?”
I was fully dressed but had a collar around my neck.
Naturally, all eyes were on me.
Quite the audience, huh?
Well, I’ve endured worse stares back in the Coliseum, so it’s no big deal.
“Huh… so this is where they sell weapons?”
“It’s the most popular spot in the capital.”
“Do they sell mage weapons?”
“They sell small accessories, but for proper gear, you’ll need to go to the Magic Tower.”
“Then that’s fine!”
The Lady glanced around the blacksmith shop for a moment before losing interest and turning away.
She’s in a curious mood today, so I guess we’ll be sightseeing all over the place.
Well, we’ve got plenty of guards, so it’s fine to explore the capital while we’re at it.
Anyway, like that…
“Let’s go over there!”
“Huh… what’s that?”
“Wow… should we check it out?”
The Lady spent the entire morning shopping in the high-end commercial district, buying all sorts of items.
She bought all kinds of things.
Watching Lowell pay without a change in expression really drove home the fact that the Lady is a noble’s daughter.
Is this just pocket money for her?
Anyway…
“Pup, wear this!”
With all the shopping, I ended up being dressed up in various things.
From accessories to hats and coats.
The only saving grace is that the Lady, being a teenage girl, has a good sense of style, so the outfits actually look decent.
In fact, dressed in high-end clothes from the commercial district, I ended up looking like some young master.
“Look over there…”
“Wow…”
Of course, the collar was still on, which made people stare even more.
But since our group clearly looked like nobles, most people just glanced and moved on. Still, I wonder what rumors will spread in the capital tomorrow.
Well, whatever rumors come out, Lowell must have approved it, so it’s fine.
From the reactions of the people who saw me at the mansion, my situation is rare but not completely outside the norm.
So, like that…
“Whew, should we head back now?”
After leaving in the morning and shopping until the sun was high in the sky, the Lady finally decided she was satisfied and headed back.
Later, we had lunch at the mansion.
“Aria, it’s time for your supplementary lessons.”
“Huh?”
“That’s why we came here.”
Terra, finally showing her true colors, took the Lady upstairs to the second floor of the mansion.
…So, she didn’t just come to visit. She came to give lessons.
Well, it’s clear that Terra cares for the Lady, so she probably wants to teach her something whenever she gets the chance.
“Let’s go too.”
So, while the Lady stayed in the mansion, I headed straight to the training ground.
“Right now?”
“I’ve been waiting for this.”
It wasn’t anyone else—Darren and Kaiden were with me.
Since the Lady was in class and didn’t need guarding, we decided to spar in the meantime.
I hadn’t sparred since the Lady went to magic school, so I’d been looking forward to this.
Sparring with aura users is definitely helpful.
Once we arrived at the training ground, we each picked up wooden swords.
“Who’s going first?”
Seeing the two of them, full of energy after not being able to train properly at magic school, I twirled the wooden sword.
“Both of you, come at me at the same time.”
“Huh?”
“You think you can handle that?”
Given the number of life-threatening situations I’ve been through, I’m sure my senses have sharpened compared to before.
So…
“I’ll beat you both.”
I confidently declared to the two of them, who were looking at me as if I was crazy.
A 2v1? Sure, why not.
**
“Pup, why do you look so beat up?”
The result of the 2v1 sparring match?
I got thoroughly beaten by the two aura users.
…I’m still not at their level.
It wasn’t just two people—it was two techniques.
Two Rushes, two Fleets.
And on top of that, they’re both incredibly skilled.
It was like getting beaten up on a dog’s day.
“I trained a bit too hard.”
“Huh, you’re not seriously hurt, are you?”
“I’m fine…”
Later, while resting in the doghouse…
The Lady, who had been in class until late evening, came to visit, so I kept her company.
“Ugh, I’m so tired!”
“Lady, it’s cramped in here.”
The Lady squeezed herself into the doghouse where I was and lay down.
White Pup, who had been sleeping there, got startled and went back to his own house.
“We used to lie down here all the time before!”
“It’s a bit different now.”
Two years ago, there was enough space.
But haven’t we both grown since then?
Plus, there’s more clutter now, so it’s even more cramped.
“I don’t care!”
But ignoring that, the Lady squeezed in deeper and made herself comfortable.
“Ugh… I just want to stay at the mansion forever.”
It seems like she’s trying to escape reality because she doesn’t want to go to magic school.
“How’s school life?”
“Huh? It’s just… okay.”
“Tell me about it.”
I was curious, so I asked about her school life.
Seeing her hesitate, it seems there’s a reason she doesn’t want to go.
She’s always been open with me, so I thought I’d ask.
You know how people complain to their dolls or pets? The Lady has always vented her frustrations to me like that.
“Come on, tell me.”
As I kept pressing her…
“Well, the thing is…”
She finally gave in and started talking.
“Yes, yes, what’s the matter?”
“It’s just… it’s hard to make friends.”
But…
Surprisingly, she brought up a very cute concern.
“Friends?”
“Y-yeah… I don’t know how to approach them first. Everyone seems so intimidating.”
Well… given her family background, it’s understandable that others would find her intimidating.
“So I just attend classes… but I’m worried I’ll end up alone.”
It’s such a teenage worry.
I didn’t expect her to be thinking about this.
“Why do you need to approach them first?”
“Huh?”
But is that really necessary?
The Lady is still young, so she might not realize it yet.
“You’re in a position to be approached.”
Being the daughter of the Void Family, she doesn’t need to be so anxious about it.
“To be approached?”
“Yes, didn’t you receive education on this?”
She must have been taught something like this.
You know, like how to handle people.
Ah, do nobles learn something different?
Well, anyway, she must have been taught how to deal with people.
“I did learn, but… is that really okay?”
“That’s why you were taught.”
“I even learned how to command people.”
“Because you’re in a position to command.”
When you have power, it’s better to wield it.
Even I beat up and command mercenaries weaker than me.
“Just hold your ground, and people will naturally come to you.”
“Really?”
“Yes, you don’t need to rush it.”
Besides, this isn’t just any world—it’s a fantasy world.
It’s better to be seen as someone with weight rather than someone who hesitates to approach others at magic school.
Our Lady is no pushover.
Her looks, talent, and family background are all far superior to the other students.
“Y-yeah…”
At my words, the Lady nodded as if she understood.
Well, she still looked a bit unsure.
But once she gets past her teenage years and her mind matures, she’ll understand this world better.
“And if anyone dares to ignore you…”
Anyway, that night, I gave the Lady some advice—or rather, non-advice.
“Okay, I get it…!”
The Lady nodded innocently.
“Then why don’t you go back to the mansion and rest?”
“No, I don’t want to!”
Looking back, I think this was the turning point.
“Hmm, I’m special, right? So it’s fine if I sleep here.”
The Lady gradually started acting more like the daughter of the Kingdom’s top family.