Chapter 62: Dinner at the Frederia Residence

Since I will be staying at the house of Erna’s parents, I decided to do some information gathering in the city for the time being. Of course, Erna is with me.

“Shinichi, let’s go back to the mansion …”

“What are we going to do if we go back there now? The sun is still high up in the sky, besides it will be useful if I investigate the current state of affair in this kingdom.”

Erna is hiding behind me. It seems like she is afraid to meet an acquaintance. Well, it’s not that I don’t understand that feeling. I too was afraid to encounter an acquaintance during that time when I became a homeless. The sight of “that” Shinichi Tanaka reduced to poverty and being laughed at flashed through my mind. However, reality is often different from what you imagine. Nobody cares about me and what happens to me doesn’t matter to them at all. That is the reality. And that is how the society is.

However, that’s where me and Erna differ from each other. In her case, it is not a downfall. She returned to her hometown with a strength to prove herself superior. All she has to do is wave her hand and grandly inform them of her return.

“Be more imposing. Are you not a special-ranked mage? Or, is it that you are not going to be a great mage anymore?”

“I’ll become one! I’m going to be a great mage!”

Erna jumps out in front of me and replied in a loud voice. As a result, the people around us saw Erna and they started talking about her.

“Isn’t that the failure child of the Frederia family? If I’m not mistaken, I heard that she can only use a beginner magic but…”

“For being a failure she dared to come back huh. But, why is she dressed as a special-ranked mage?”

“Well, although she’s a failure child of a distinguished family, she comes back often. She can’t hold a candle to Melissa-sama and Clara-sama though.”

I can hear the noisily gossiping voices in the city. Somehow I figured out why Erna left this kingdom.

“A…uh-…”

Erna, who has a good hearing, can also hear all those voices. No, the citizens of this city are deliberately having a conversation about her. Born into a well-known mage’s family, Erna may have been expected to be a talented one by the people of this kingdom. However she couldn’t live up to that expectation. So gradually, the people turned that pity into anger and contempt, and then they attacked her as if Erna’s lack of talent was a sin. So in the end, Erna left this kingdom. Thus it was only natural for her to stay away from her hometown.

I felt anger towards the citizens of this kingdom. I want to show those who are talking to each other how strong Erna is as a mage. I want them to feel guilty and offer her an apology. I talk to Erna in a voice that could be heard all over the city.

“Erna defeated more than a hundred dragoneuts of the empire! And the extraordinary magic you casted on Bezel, one of the Empire’s royalty was awesome! Perhaps even in the next hundred years, the empire will never forget Erna Frederia of Sanargia Great Forest Kingdom! Ah-, I really envy Sanargia for that!”

“S-Shinichi?”

Erna was perplexed by my sudden remark. The residents of the city who heard that story noisily talked to each other. It is now different from before, it appears that they were dumbfounded hearing that Erna has defeated more than a hundred dragoneuts.

I spoke a little exaggeratedly but the outcome of the battle was not a lie. Well, I also used my dictatorship skill. Dictatorship is about catching people’s hearts. My words would move the hearts of many. And yeah, the effect was immediate.

“Erna-sama! You really were a wonderful person! Let me apologize for what I said so far!”

“Erna-sama is indeed a promising lady of Sanargia! I apologize for the misunderstanding all this time!”

“As expected of Erna-sama of the Frederia family! I’ve always believed that you are a great person!”

The citizens gather around Erna. They praised her and offered her an apology. I borrowed the power of the skill but I am satisfied that it all came back to the proper place.

“That’s a lie!”

There came an angry voice that I and the citizens turned to look at it. The source of that voice was a group of five women.

“Erna is a failure mage who can only use beginner magic! We, as her classmates know that well!”

One out of the five of them, a woman with short brown hair in a natural perm, was pointing at Erna with unconcealed anger on her face. I can tell that she is an advanced ranked mage as she’s wearing a red robe. The other four also wore either red or orange mage robes.

“I’m already a special-ranked mage! I can use a special-grade magic properly!”

Erna came forward and then she replied back to the five women. The five of them instantaneously jeered at her as if they were waiting for it.

“Then try using magic! What? Is that get-up all a bluff!? Bah! It appears that it’s not possible for you to do it, just lick Feria-sama’s shoes!”

“I’ll show it as you wish! Witness how good my current abilit― h-hey, Shinichi!”

I stopped Erna and I whispered to her to calm down. This is because it seemed like she’s going to use flare zone in the city as it is.

“Calm down. Do you want to use your magic to destroy your hometown?”

“But they are saying that I can’t use magic…”

“Don’t use special magic for the time being. There may be a smarter way than that.”

“Smarter way…? Oh-, that’s what you are saying huh. Understood.”

Erna moves forward again and then she raises her staff and activates magic. Spheres of fire, water, wind, earth, darkness and light appeared around her. They circle and float around Erna. Not only the five women but also the citizens had their mouths in agape as they stared fixedly at the scene.

“I-Impossible… manipulating the six attributes… t-there’s clearly something wrong here!”

“Then, will you try receiving an advanced magic of all six attributes? Will you believe it by then?”

Erna freely manipulates her magic and a fearless smile was shown on her face. I who knew her status know that it wouldn’t be possible. However, those five women didn’t know that so they believed that it was true. They screamed and run away.

When Erna erased the magic, the citizens of the city gave her a round of applause. Well it’s as expected. Because other than Erna, there are no other six-attribute possessor in this Sanargia Great Forest Kingdom. In other words, being one is an extremely rare existence. On top of that, she is also a special-ranked mage. Even if she is not a resident of Sanargia, they would have praised her.

“I… I’m glad I came back …”

“Right?  You don’t have to run away you know.”

I put my hand on Erna’s shoulder and she nodded in assent. Right, there is nothing she needs to be afraid of. She can dignifiedly call herself a mage. If someone stands her way, she can just beat them down.

“Shall we go on then?”

“Yup!”

We walked to the center of the city to gather information.

◇

“It’s such a waste to feed a human but today, I still prepared a special high-quality meat. Think of it as your last supper and savour it well.”

Erna’s father, Lord Frederia, said that with a smirk on his face and a glass of wine in one hand. We are currently eating at the dining room. If possible, I didn’t want to share the same table as her father but I can’t avoid it since I was invited as a guest.

“Thanks to Lord Frederia for his kindness. Then I’d like to have a taste of that fine meat.”

After we ate the appetizer, the next thing that was brought in was a big steak. There’s a sizzling and thick meat dripping a large amount of juice on the iron plate. When I cut it with the knife and put it in my mouth, I can’t help but groan at its softness. It is as delicious as A5 rank beef.

“How is it? It’s delicious right? It’s the beef of the phantom sweet cattle that Sanargia Great Forest Kingdom is proud of. When you put it in your mouth, the fat melts on your tongue and the sweetness and umami enhance the deliciousness of the meat many times. It’s a high-class meat that ordinary people like you can’t even dream of eating in your whole life.”

Lord Frederia persistently tries to mock me. On the contrary, Lady Frederia is having a meal while having a pleasant conversation with Erna. Erna’s two other sisters also came to this place so a total of six people, including me and her father, surround the table.

“I’m surprised that Erna brought a man with her. She’s usually very timid so I thought she’ll be a late bloomer in that aspect.”

It was Melissa, the eldest daughter, who chuckled after saying that. She had her long blonde hair tied back and she is wearing a pink dress that emphasizes her cleavage. As expected, she is very beautiful like her mother.

“Still, the man that Erna-oneechan brought is so cool. He is not an elf but he is much more handsome compared to an elf, right?”

It was Clara, the third daughter, who talks while glancing at me. She had her blonde hair styled in a ponytail and she is wearing a yellow dress. It’s best to say that her appearance looks cute. She has this impression that she is yet to be a grown-up.

I obliquely opened the eye on my forehead. This is paradise. Those well-shaped breasts are irresistible. Mufufu.

“Hey, are you listening!? Quickly drink the soup!”

“…Hn? Oh right, it won’t taste good if it gets cold.”

I drink the soup. Lord Frederia grinned when he saw that.

“I got you! That soup is filled with numbness medicine! With that, I’ll win by default in tomorrow’s duel! It’s my win haha!”

Her father looks happy, saying, “Ye―s, ye―s! You fall for it―! Se―rves you r―ight!”. I ignored him and I proceed to savour the soup instead. Aside from that numbness medicine, the soup is quite delicious. Erna sighs as if she was fed up seeing the situation between her father and me.

“Father, poison doesn’t work on Shinichi. He is that composed because he was once poisoned by a mother wrapping spider before. I don’t think that the numbness medicine will do anything to him.”

“Whaaat!? He should have died from the poison of a mother wrapping spider! That’s impossible! That is a deadly poison that can kill a person in just a few minutes!”

“That’s why I’m saying that it won’t work on him!”

Her father makes a fuss as he loudly complains. This house seems to be quite lively. I feel like I somehow understand why Erna is honest and cheerful. However, I cannot overlook that he added that numbness medicine. I’ll pay him back for this numbness.

I paralyzed Lord Frederia with the paralyzing eye.

“Abababa …”

“Father!?”

Erna immediately tend to him as he falls over. It’s just paralysis so he will be able to move in a few minutes or so. If it had a lethal dose of a poison, it wouldn’t have ended with just that.

“Please pardon my husband. He has always hated humans you see.”

The Lady apologetically talked to me. I laughed it off and then I replied to her,

“I don’t mind. Or rather, I can’t trust a person who is unconditionally friendly towards me.”

“Fufu, maybe that’s right.”

She is laughing but her eyes are clearly observing me. Rather than her being cautious, it feels like she is deciding what to do to me. Perhaps she is checking if I’m suitable to be her daughter’s comrade.

After finishing the meal, I decided to return to the room designated to me.

◇

Next morning.

Me and Lord Frederia faced each other at the training ground on their premises. Erna and Lady Frederia are standing nearby and they are watching us. I asked Erna to be the referee and I also asked Lady Frederia to serve as a rescuer. I can’t say that there is no possibility that I will inadvertently kill him.

“Since it’s going to be like this, you can do it seriously you know?”

“Such needless concern is unnecessary. I judged that this will be enough.”

The rules are simple.

The only weapon I’m allowed to use is a wooden sword and there are no restrictions on the magic that Lord Frederia can use. The stage is limited to the training ground that is about 20 square metres. The winner is the one who makes the opponent incapable of fighting or the one who went outside of the training ground first.

“It’s a little boring if you give me such preferential treatment so I’ll give you one offer. If you beat me, I’ll grant you one request no matter what that is.”

“That’s alright with me. Then, if I lose, I’ll listen to a request that you like.”

Lord Frederia grins when he hears my reply. It seems that he is thinking about something that is not good again. I don’t know what the request is, but it’s foolish for him to assume that he will win.

“Well then, both of you, please go to your position.”

In response to the referee’s call, we move to the predetermined position. The distance between me and Lord Frederia is 5m. It’s too far to fight with a sword and it’s too close to fight with magic. As the start of the duel is approaching, the tension also increased.

Erna raises her hand and she paused for a few seconds. And then she swings down her hand at once.

“Start!!”

The duel begins.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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