LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 81
Siabel clicked her tongue, as if struck by a surprise.
“Tch.”
Perhaps it was Aria’s remark about preparing to get struck by her own hand that did the trick.
“…Coming from a spear-wielder who swings a long stick behind me.”
Siabel wore a cold smile.
As she started to emanate her displeasure, which mirrored Ainel’s icy demeanor, I could feel the weight of the situation increasing.
Sure, it’s nice to exchange friendly banter among friends, but…
Just why are they sharing such emotional exchanges with me sandwiched in between?
I wish they would consider the feelings of someone like me, a lowly servant caught in the middle.
After a while of keeping my mouth shut and gauging her mood, Siabel finally murmured her concerns to Aria.
Her long hair softly swayed as she composed herself.
“Get ready to get whacked, Rani. Aria said it straightforwardly.”
“…It appears you and Aria share quite a special bond.”
“Special bond, huh… Sure, if you call it that. I’m Aria’s only friend after all.”
“Only friend, you say?”
“Would you really not get it if you saw her? I bet at gatherings, she’d just sip wine alone, too shy to mingle. She tends to shy away from people, you know.”
“…That’s true.”
Well, as Siabel pointed out, during parties, Aria hardly engaged in conversation except for the occasional clink of wine glasses with the people who approached her.
Out of everyone, I was indeed the one she spoke to most comfortably.
So perhaps Siabel had a point, or perhaps not.
Nodding in response to Siabel’s friend comment, she playfully asked me.
“So, Ray. Who do you think would win if I faced off against Aria?”
“I…”
It felt wrong to say she’d lose in front of Siabel.
If we were to judge purely on a swordsman against a spearman of equal skill, I’d lean towards the spearman, but according to Siabel’s previous statement…
It seemed Siabel had reached expert level while Aria had yet to catch up.
Thus, I simply answered her question.
“Well, considering the prowess of an expert knight, her skills would be extraordinarily formidable… it might be challenging for even spear techniques to cope with that. I believe you would win, Siabel.”
Siabel seemed pleased with my answer, radiating a softer aura.
After a while discussing, she skillfully guided the conversation towards its conclusion.
As the smooth conversation wrapped up, just as I inclined my head to leave—
“Oh, right.”
Her short remark halted my steps.
What could she still want to say?
Upon meeting her gaze, I felt a wave of deep emotions wash over me.
A thick anticipation lingered there, sparking in her azure eyes as if she had been holding back her expectations to the extreme.
“You mentioned you possess sword skills capable of taking down a lone wolf. Remember, we promised to cross swords once.”
It was during the hunt against the ashen wolf, which had been corrupted by mana, in the Beltlin Mountains when I’d made that boast to Siabel. She hadn’t forgotten my words since then.
“At first, your arm was injured against the Arachne, so we couldn’t. Then my arm got hurt, delaying things until now.”
With those words, Siabel made a fist with her left hand and patted her right arm.
“Well, since my right arm is fully healed now, I figured it might be the right time to share some dueling practice.”
Contrary to Siabel’s wishes, my left arm had suffered a large gash while rescuing Shione previously, and it would take some time to heal completely.
On the other hand, when my arm healed, Siabel had been dispatched into the Beltlin Mountains and suffered a severe injury to her right arm from a demon’s attack.
All her long-anticipated duels with me had been indefinitely postponed.
“How about a week from now, once your fatigue has cleared up, to try swordplay together?”
Her tone felt almost like a gentle insistence, as if she wouldn’t take no for an answer, and her determined eyes shone with an intense focus on wanting to duel with me.
While she was embroiled in various affairs at the royal castle, it seemed she had been yearning for this spar all along.
“…Would you coordinate the schedule with Shione?”
As Siabel nodded to my request—
[A quest has been formed.]
What on earth—a day hadn’t even passed since returning to the Count’s House, and a new quest appeared before me.
「Swordsmanship Proof」
「Siabel Shianella finds your presence highly entertaining. While she cannot dismiss the significance of mana and magic, if asked about something that grips her deepest interest, it would naturally be your swordsmanship. To further win her favor, prove to her that your skills surpass her expectations.」
「Reward: Awakening of Siabel Shianella’s Powers, Improved Mana Efficiency」
The requirement is clear: don’t just fool around with swordplay against Siabel. Show her swordsmanship capable of genuinely surprising her.
The reward is nothing less than the awakening of Siabel Shianella’s powers.
It meant I could benefit from the anti-demon powers handed down through her lineage, along with a boost in my mana efficiency.
In the past, when I succeeded in clearing quests related to Siabel or managed to amuse her, my mana efficiency improved, suggesting that this time, too, I would receive a reward related to mana efficiency by accepting the quest.
Mana efficiency—it’s an excellent reward to support my deficient mana reserves.
However, right now, the enticing reward of the newly appeared quest caught my eye over the one previously mentioned.
‘Awakening of the Anti-Demon Powers…’
It probably means reviving the diminished powers as time passed by.
Not too shabby.
No, not just ‘not too shabby,’ it’s definitely something to look forward to.
Taking into account the cultists who’d made their move on the royal castle during the princess’s coming-of-age ceremony, the sight of Siabel’s family, ready to fight demons with fire in their eyes, and the demons and demon worshippers brazenly showcasing themselves nearby…
These connections to demonic forces are still rampant even now. I can only wonder how much more catastrophe would unfold as time went on.
When it comes to battling against anything linked to magic, the anti-demon powers will shine.
When the real demons, stronger than the minions, breach our dimension, it would do well for a promising knight like me to awaken Siabel’s powers.
As I thought this through and bowed my head—
“Sounds good. Can I count on that?”
Siabel said, naturally ruffling my hair.
“It may be humble swordsmanship, but I will do my utmost to ensure you are satisfied, Siabel.”
*
After finishing my conversation with Siabel, I stepped into Shione’s room.
Indeed, it had been a while since I entered Shione’s domain.
While I’d been away at the castle, it seemed the other servants had come by periodically to clean, for the room was immaculate with not a speck of dust settling.
And there she was, having washed up and changed into comfortable attire, looking displeased as she was bundled up in a blanket on the bed, her gaze piercing through me as I arrived.
“…You’re late.”
It seemed she was unhappy about my unexpectedly tardy arrival.
“Did something happen on your way?”
I relayed the happenings I’d encountered in the corridor to Shione.
“I ran into Siabel Shianella and had a brief chat. I’m sorry for being late.”
“Oh. If you met with my sister, then there’s no need to bow your head. But…”
Thump.
Shione tapped the edge of her bed with her palm.
“Just sit here… and… maybe pat my head?”
Her constancy never failed to amuse.
I perched on the edge of her bed and began to stroke her hair slowly.
Lately, her increasingly affectionate nature felt endearing, almost like a cute little sister.
Getting comfortable with the act of gently patting her soft hair, suddenly, Shione asked.
“So… how’s Siabel, is she alright?”
“She has fully healed from her previously injured right arm, and she looked to be in good spirits. She mentioned wanting to share swordplay after shaking off her travel fatigue, so you needn’t worry.”
“…That’s a relief. And yes… she did mention wanting to duel with you a few times before we headed to the capital.”
As she reminisced for a moment, Shione glanced up at me with a subtle expression.
“What do you think?”
“What do I think about what, specifically? You’re talking about dueling with Siabel, right?”
“Yeah. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to. I’ll have a word with her.”
I shook my head at Shione’s words.
This was a perfect opportunity to unlock Siabel’s powers through a simple duel.
Of course, I’d need to display sword skills charming enough to impress her to successfully complete the quest.
But considering I had already defended a princess and cut down a demon, what would hiding inferior swordsmanship really accomplish?
Furthermore, I had already been revealed to have superior magic.
Upon conveying my intent to Shione, she spoke to me with a worried tone.
“Just be careful not to get hurt.”
What? We’re not engaging in a life-and-death duel, just a spar!
I shrugged lightly and replied.
“It’s merely a spar, isn’t it? Please don’t worry.”
Shione looked at me with an uneasy expression and nodded.
Yeah, it’s merely a spar.
It’s definitely shallower than the blades of the demons that once sought my life, and I’m sure there’s no risk of being harmed.