The three years of guarding within the Magic Academy.
That was the request Elena made to me, an Adventurer.
The detailed terms of the contract still need to be worked out with Dolton and the others, but the general content of the request is as follows:
-
Guarding the Princess within the academy for three years, from Elena’s enrollment one year from now until her graduation.
Although it’s said to be three years, it will be shortened if the major issues within the royal family are resolved. Elena believes that most problems can be avoided once the Crown Prince graduates.
It will be a long-term commitment, but special leave will be granted if I need to operate as an Adventurer. -
Since I will be guarding her during classes, I will enroll as a classmate rather than a servant or maid.
How am I supposed to enroll in an academy for nobles? Sera seems to have a plan for that, and she said she would discuss it with Dolton to decide. -
Eliminating any dangers related to the royal family within the academy.
For the safety of the royal family, including not only Elena but also the Crown Prince, I will be granted the authority to use my power if necessary. Specifically, this includes apprehending nobles who have been confirmed to have committed crimes and eliminating threats by force.
Are there even plans for other members of the royal family to enroll besides the two of them? I was told that it was just a possibility. -
Viro will also be infiltrated into the academy for activities within the academy.
This is not something I can interfere with, but it seems that Viro, who is slated for the Shadow Unit, will be responsible for gathering information within the academy and supporting me. As a result, this request became a request to the Rainbow Sword, not just to me personally.
Viro is competent as a scout, but he’s a terrible adult from a child’s perspective. I wonder if he’ll be okay within the academy…
There seem to be various problems, but the biggest one is the possibility of getting involved with my mother’s “noble family.”
Melrose… that name will probably be my stumbling block. Even if there is a noble with that name, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are blood-related, but it is certain that they are descendants of those who were given names by the Spirits.
But I’m thinking of accepting this request. I won’t run away anymore. I decided that before. I won’t run away from “nobles” or “fate.” I believe I have obtained the minimum power to resist fate for that purpose.
If a noble claiming to be family tries to put me in a ridiculous role like the “Heroine of the Otome Game,” I will crush that noble family entirely.
Even if it means antagonizing the “nation” as a result.
I will protect Elena to fulfill my “promise” with her. And one more thing… Carla, to settle things with you in a proper arena.
“Aria!!”
While grabbing and stopping the face of the tanned boy who jumped at me as if breaking down the door, I turned a half-lidded gaze towards Sera.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing in particular. In discussions with Dolton-sama, we determined that this would be the most efficient. And as a minor point, please refrain from killing my child.”
“Aria, it’s cracking! My head, it’s going to crack!”
In preparation for the guard duty a year from now, I was taking over the scout duties from Viro and proceeding with the preparations.
I briefly showed my face to my master to explain the situation, and then went to Galbas and Gelf to ask them to strengthen my equipment, and was scolded by everyone. I tried to explain that fighting Rank 5 and 6 Monsters was unavoidable, but apparently my perception is different from that of ordinary people.
As a final preparation, I visited Sera’s Leighton family’s villa in the Royal Capital, where Sera told me something unexpected.
To Sera’s words, who said such things with a straight face, I turned my eyes to the boy who was desperately trying to shake off my hand while being grabbed by the face.
“…Theo?”
“That’s right, I wanted to see you! And let go already! It’s really going to crack!”
Remembering that the Cruz boy was Sera’s son whom I had met long ago, I released my hand. Theo, with a slightly tearful face, happily spread his arms with my handprint on his face.
“I wanted to see you, Aria!!”
“I heard you.”
[Theo Leighton] [Race: Human Male] [Rank 3]
[Mana Capacity: 125/130] [HP: 141/180]
[Overall Combat Strength: 299 (During Body Enhancement: 355)]
Since it’s been more than three years since we last met, his strength and appearance have changed considerably.
When I met him, Theo was 6 years old, one year younger than me, but because of his high Mana, he looked 8-9 years old. Now that he’s 10, he’s grown to look about 13 years old.
I understand that it’s been a long time, but Theo’s movements, who was somehow trying to hug me again, suddenly stopped, and he suddenly knelt on the floor.
“Aria… you’re taller than me.”
“It’s not something to worry about, is it?”
“It’s no good, I wanted to become taller and stronger than Aria… Aria, you’ve become so strong!”
“It’s the result of training. More importantly, Sera, let’s get back to the topic.”
“More importantly, you say…”
“Indeed. For the time being, Theo is irrelevant.”
“Mother…”
Leaving Theo, who was drooping his shoulders, I faced Sera again.
“What do you mean, I’m becoming Sera’s adopted child?”
“I understand that you don’t have a very good impression of nobles, but let me explain in order.”
According to Sera’s explanation, only children of nobles are allowed to enter the Magic Academy. However, there are cases where their attendants are not nobles, and as a trick, they become adopted children of lower nobles to obtain noble status and enter the academy. If there is a problem with the attendant, the adoption is terminated after graduation, but if the attendant is excellent, the adoption is continued as is.
I thought there was Dolton, who is a noble, but Dolton is a noble for life only, so his children are not recognized as nobles.
Therefore, as a result of discussions between Sera and Dolton, they thought that it would be the least problematic to obtain the position of Sera’s adopted daughter, Lady Leighton.
“I didn’t hear about this!?”
Theo shouted as if jumping up.
“I didn’t tell you because you’re noisy. From now on, Aria will be your “sister.” Please treat her as such within the academy.”
“Sister!? If we become siblings, I… I need to check the laws later…!”
“I don’t have any plans to make Aria the next head of the family.”
“That’s not what I’m saying. No, maybe Aria as the head of the family and me as her assistant…”
Leaving aside Theo, who was muttering incomprehensible things, there was something in Sera’s words that bothered me a little.
“Theo is also going to the academy? He’s not old enough to enroll, is he?”
The target age is children who will be 13 years old in the year when the new semester starts in January.
“Theo will infiltrate the academy as a guard and butler for a certain Viscount’s daughter on a mission for the Shadow Unit, but he will officially enroll the following year.”
As we were talking about such things, Theo looked at us with a subtle expression.
“That person I’m guarding… I talked to her once when we met, but she was a strange young lady. She was strangely familiar even though it was our first meeting, and her sense of distance was too close… Honestly, I’m not very good with her.”
“You’re being too harsh, Theo. She’s in a delicate position, so please protect her to the best of your ability, even if it’s not your true feelings.”
“Okay…”
So he’s going to be on a guard duty like me. If Theo has as much ability as he does now, he could be assigned to guard the royal family in the future, but who is that “Viscount’s daughter”?
More than that, I understood what Sera was saying. As she said, I don’t have a very good impression of nobles, but I can’t be too selfish. Besides, if I’m going to guard Elena, it certainly seemed more “efficient” to be a noble myself.
I have a feeling that she’s taking advantage of the fact that I like to think efficiently, but Sera’s family is much better than other noble families.
“I agree to the adoption. I’ve also lost a lot of the etiquette of a noble, so Sera will train me again, including combat, right?”
“I’m glad that the persuasion didn’t take as long as I thought it would. Viro is troublesome when it comes to compensation… Honestly, I doubt there’s anything I can still teach you in terms of combat, but from now on, I’ll be cramming you with the “common sense” and “etiquette” of a noble lady in the remaining six months, so be prepared.”
And so, for the six months leading up to enrollment, I would be training at Sera’s mansion to “imitate” a noble lady.
I thought, “Isn’t it okay to not be near Elena?” but the Royal Castle is in turmoil over the matter of the other “Divine Protection holders,” and it seems that it’s better for me not to be seen by other members of the royal family yet.
Sera also has work at the Royal Palace, so she can’t come back here very often, but she said that being called “Young Lady” and being taken care of by the maids of this mansion is also part of the training.
Theo left for the southern part of the kingdom to prepare to work as a butler for the young lady he was guarding, so the next time I see him will be at the academy.
I also have things to do besides training. I’m also having meetings with Viro, who will be infiltrating the same academy, and taking over his information sources at the same time.
Besides combat training, I needed someone to spar with. Viro or Sera would be good opponents for a Rank 4 like me, but to test the 【Iron Rose】, I needed a Rank 5 opponent.
“My Lady, Feld of the Rainbow Sword is here to see you.”
“Please show him in.”
My Lady training wasn’t just about deportment; it also corrected my speech. Dressed in a simple but aristocratic dress, I greeted him. Feld’s eyes widened slightly when he saw me.
“…You really do look like a proper lady.”
“Do I?”
Tilting my head as I said that, I noticed Feld’s gaze waver slightly. Perhaps he wasn’t used to seeing me with the light makeup applied by the older maids.
Feld was to be my sparring partner. Without someone of his caliber, I couldn’t properly test the abilities granted by the 【Iron Rose】. After exchanging pleasantries and recent news over tea in the drawing room, Feld and I headed to the training grounds.
“Are you going to do it in that frilly thing?”
“Since we can’t wear armor inside the academy, I have to consider fighting in a dress. Feld… if you hold back, you’ll ‘die’, you know?”
When I replied seriously, not as a joke, Feld grinned, baring his teeth.
“Bring it on.”
“――【Iron Rose】――”
With the activation of the Combat Art, my hair changed from pink to an ashen gray, like burnt ash. My Status doubled—I shot forward with roughly 【Body Enhancement】 Level 10 speed, leaping past Feld and attacking with a Hidden Weapon from my 【Shadow Storage】.
Clang!!
“Aria! Stop fluttering around!”
“I don’t mind.”
“I mind!!”
Feld, equipped with light leather armor and a light longsword for speed, kept up with my pace. Even though I should have overwhelmed him with speed, I couldn’t break through. He was matching me with skill, experience, and “instinct.”
He also knew my techniques, but even among Rank 5s, fighting a “human” who relies on wit and skill, unlike Mana Particle-driven Monsters, was a different beast.
I switched between using the 【Iron Rose】 and my normal state, continuing the mock battle. After a short time, we both felt fatigued and exhaled.
“Haa… let’s stop here. Aria, you’re probably at your Mana limit.”
“Probably.”
The biggest problem with the 【Iron Rose】 was its duration. Since it consumed Mana, there was a definite time limit. I had tried using Mana Potions that gradually restored Mana, but I found that using them while Mana was being generated in my body caused the flow of Mana Particles to go slightly haywire.
There might be a use for it, but in combat, the imbalance was too great, and it was too dangerous to use properly.
Looking at Feld’s broad back as he walked ahead, I naturally reached out and placed my hand on his shoulder, hoisting myself up so my upper body rested on his shoulder. Feld’s steps faltered slightly.
“Aria… don’t act like a child.”
“Is it bad?”
As I asked that, he adjusted his posture to make it easier to carry me, letting out a small sigh.
“…You’re still a ‘child’.”
Ever since Feld carried me in that Dungeon, I had liked the wide view. I knew it was childish, but I had developed a habit of occasionally riding on Feld’s shoulders like this.
It wasn’t like anyone tall would do… why was it only Feld that I was okay with?
Time passed, and autumn arrived. I turned 12, and winter was approaching, the time for Elena and me to enter the Magic Academy.
Next time, Aria heads to Gelf’s shop to pick up the equipment she ordered.
What will the new equipment be?
Thank you as always.
Regarding the update frequency, thanks to everyone’s support, we have successfully reached 【Part 2】. There were some parts where I was pushing myself too hard, so I plan to revert the frequency I had increased at the end of 【Part 1】 and make some adjustments.
I apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your understanding.
I have explained it in detail in the activity report.
The next update is scheduled for Sunday.