Chapter 10: The Saint is Desperate to be Useful to Cain
[Servia’s Perspective]
Two Weeks Later──
“Brother Cain! I did it! Just as you taught me, I learned the advanced skill [High-Speed Chant Level 1] in only two weeks!”
Overcome with joy, I hugged Brother Cain in the hallway.
I wanted to report this to him as soon as possible and receive his praise.
“Eh, already!? I see, you’re amazing, Servia.”
“Ehehe.”
Brother Cain gently patted my head.
It felt so good. Truly a moment of bliss.
“Yes! I can’t believe all I had to do was cast [Petit Fire] fifty times every day. It’s amazing! Even a magic beginner like me can do it.”
“With the [High-Speed Chant] skill, you gain proficiency by activating magic in under three seconds. So, repeatedly casting simple, elementary magic is the most efficient way to learn it.”
“Wow, to think there’s such a secret technique! Does anyone else know about this!?”
“…You’re right. Mages in this world seem to make it a status symbol to learn powerful, high-level magic. Because of that mindset, I think those with the [High-Speed Chant] skill are extremely rare.”
As expected of Brother Cain.
The wisdom of a hero is truly bottomless.
“In a mage battle, the one who lands their magic first has the absolute advantage. If you get hit while chanting, the chant gets canceled. Accuracy and speed are what determine a mage’s quality. Flashiness isn’t necessary.”
“I see, that’s very enlightening!”
To think he would share the wisdom of a hero with me…
I believe I’d become a much greater mage by studying under Brother Cain than by attending a magic academy.
“But the reason you learned [High-Speed Chant] so quickly is because you diligently kept up your efforts, Servia. That’s amazing. I said thirty times a day would be fine, but to think you’d do fifty!”
“Yes, seeing you, Brother Cain, so earnestly dedicated to your swordsmanship made me think I had to work hard too. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to proudly call myself your fiancée.”
“Uoh… That makes me happy. But please, don’t overdo it.”
“Brother Cain, are you really one to talk? You’re doing an absurd 3,000 practice swings every day, aren’t you? Please take care of your body a little.”
I took out a recovery potion and handed it to Brother Cain.
At first glance, it looked like an ordinary recovery potion.
“Here, please. It’s an [Enhanced Recovery Potion]—an Ex-Potion—made by adding ingredients from the magical plant [Mandrake] to a recovery potion, multiplying its medicinal effects. Drinking it will instantly relieve your fatigue.”
It was obvious from Brother Cain’s face that he was exhausted from pushing himself too hard. There was even a bruise on his handsome face, perhaps from being struck by a practice sword.
I had been thinking about how I could use my power as the [World Tree Saint] to heal Brother Cain without anyone around us noticing.
This [Enhanced Recovery Potion] (Ex-Potion) was the result of repeated ingenuity and effort.
Since I have the [Apothecary Level 1] skill, I can concoct medicines as long as I have the materials.
Ehehe. Managing my beloved husband’s health is my duty as his wife, after all.
“Really? It just looks like a normal recovery potion…”
Brother Cain took a sip, and his eyes widened.
“Oohh!? The fatigue from training vanished in an instant!?”
“Really? I’m so glad! With this, I was able to be of help to you, Brother Cain.”
“Aah, this helps a ton.”
Brother Cain was overjoyed and patted my head even more.
I was so happy, I proudly explained further.
“Ehem. This [Enhanced Recovery Potion] is also extremely effective for treating injuries. Ah, but please try not to get injured, okay?”
“Servia, you’re truly amazing. I’ll gratefully make use of this.”
“Yes!”
Being praised by Brother Cain, my spirits were at their peak.
I have to work even harder to be more useful to Brother Cain…
“Brother Cain, you said you’d guide me so I can become the strongest. What should I do next? Should I train my [High-Speed Chant] skill further?”
“Right. That’s necessary too, but… continue to avoid using any magic other than fire-attribute, just as before. And then, next, in the forest…”
It was just as Brother Cain began to ponder. Father’s angry shout echoed from a nearby drawing-room.
“Subjugating a Magical Beast? That’s the job of the Adventurers’ Guild! The forces of the glorious Schwartz Earldom, the shield of the kingdom, are not meant for exterminating lowly Magical Beasts!”
“B-But, Lord Count! The Magical Beast Blood Bear that appeared in the forest is a Rank A threat! It’s a Magical Beast so ferocious that even the Adventurers’ Guild says they can’t handle it…!”
“Please, won’t you dispatch your soldiers!?”
“Enough! Can’t you understand that I cannot spare precious troops for something like Magical Beast extermination!?”
It seemed Father was arguing with village chiefs who had come to petition him.
Protecting the domain’s people is the duty of a lord, but currently, the Schwartz Earldom’s soldiers were dispatched to annihilate the monsters within the Mithril Mine.
Apparently, a considerably vicious horde of monsters had nested there, and there were no spare troops to send elsewhere.
“A Magical Beast Blood Bear, you say? Perfect timing!”
Brother Cain suddenly threw open the drawing-room door and declared.
“Father, in that case, I will take on the extermination of that Magical Beast!”
“Eh!?”
“What!?”
“You are… surely not the Young Master!?”
Startled by the sudden development, I entered the drawing-room to find everyone there looking dumbfounded.
After all, Brother Cain’s level was supposed to be only 5. He had only just begun his swordsmanship training as well…
I-Isn’t this like sending him to his death?
“Is there a problem…?”
“M-My apologies! We were just a little surprised by such an unexpected offer.”
The village chiefs hurriedly rubbed their hands together, fawning over Brother Cain.
Surprisingly, Brother Cain’s reputation among the domain’s people seemed to be poor.
He was widely rumored to be the lazy and arrogant son of the lord.
I don’t understand it.
My Brother Cain is kind, noble, and the coolest person in the world.
…If that’s the case, then this Magical Beast subjugation is a chance to let the people of the domain know how wonderful Brother Cain is.
The enemy is a Rank A Magical Beast. Normally, I should stop him, telling him it’s reckless, but I believe Brother Cain, with his hero’s wisdom, must surely have a plan to win.
“Brother Cain, of course, I will accompany you!”
However, it was a fact that it would be dangerous. I must support him with my power as the [World Tree Saint].
“…Ah, could that person be the much-talked-about false saint-dono?”
“The one who was exiled as a criminal for deceiving the royal family?”
The village chiefs directed blatant looks of contempt at me.
Ugh…
Even though I reaped what I sowed, being scorned by others is still painful.
“Hey, don’t call Servia a false saint! Servia never claimed to be a saint herself. The church just arbitrarily certified her as one, and they were simply mistaken.”
“Hah! …M-My deepest apologies!”
Then, Brother Cain stepped in to protect me.
“I won’t forgive mere peasants like you for speaking ill of Servia, who belongs to me. Relay that message to every village!”
“W-We will take it to heart!”
The domain’s people recoiled from Brother Cain’s imposing presence.
“I-I’m so happy, Brother Cain…”
A warmth spread through my heart.
His seemingly arrogant behavior was likely because it’s easier to make people obey orders by leveraging a bad reputation.
As expected, Brother Cain is the greatest man in the world.
“Cain, are you serious…? Unfortunately, I don’t have the leeway to provide you with troops. The most I can lend you is Lancelot.”
“Father, I don’t need Lancelot either. Servia and I alone will defeat the Magical Beast and show you.”
“Whaaaat!?”
Father was genuinely astonished.
“Hmph, Milord, there is no need for concern. The current Young Master Cain will not be outdone by a mere Blood Bear. I, Lancelot, guarantee it.”
Lancelot, who stood behind Father as a guard, gave a meaningful smile.
“Because Young Master Cain reached [Swordsmanship Level 3] in a mere two weeks! The combination of this and his Unique Skill [Black Moon Sword] is… Kukuku, faced with such terrifying talent, one can only laugh.”
“What!? [Swordsmanship Level 3]… isn’t that already the realm of a first-class swordsman!?”
Father and the village chiefs were speechless.
I was surprised too.
“N-No way. As of yesterday, I heard that Brother Cain was at [Swordsmanship Level 2]…?”
“Thanks to this morning’s mock battle with Lancelot, I was able to raise my skill level even further. Thank you, Lancelot.”
“Not at all. There’s no need for thanks. Teaching Young Master Cain swordsmanship is my very purpose in life.”
S-Such unbelievable growth speed.
It can’t be dismissed with just the word ‘talent’.
Just how much effort is Brother Cain putting in?
I need to work harder too, or I feel like I’ll be left behind.
“So, rest assured and leave it to me.”
Brother Cain gently patted my head.
“Besides, the forest in the Schwartz Territory is perfect. With this, all the pieces to raise Servia to be the strongest are in place.”