51 - Their Respective Worries
――Aria Lockword was troubled.
She had become an adventurer and formed a party, but she wondered... was she actually contributing anything?
Borrowing the garden of the Sarcly estate, she swung her spear, but due to her impatience, the tip did not land where she intended.
Her sweaty hands slipped on the grip, and she took a break to steady her breathing.
"Haa, haa... I'm the only one being left behind."
The party members consisted of Lyell and Novem, who were one year younger, and the automaton Poyopoyo, who had no official name, making them four people? (T/N: including the automaton)
Now, if she asked, Clara and Miranda, whom she had met in Alamsars, would likely lend a hand as well.
Amidst all this, Aria alone was feeling impatient.
She believed she was fulfilling her duties as a vanguard, but it felt as though she was the only one being left behind.
Lyell often had clumsy endings to his actions, but he still had results.
She could tell by watching him up close.
He used several skills simultaneously and mastered them.
Even though she possessed the same red orb, she couldn't use it as skillfully as Lyell.
Support-type skills and vanguard-type skills were different.
However, even in terms of mastery, Aria was clearly inferior to Lyell.
She could use magic, but she couldn't use high-difficulty magic like Novem.
It was a long time ago when the Lockword family still held the title of Viscount.
To survive, she had spent more time worrying about how to manage daily life than practicing magic.
Even if she took on side jobs to make a living, her father spent all the money, leaving nothing for the household.
In the end, she had even seriously considered selling her body.
No matter what I do, it's useless――.
She remembered her father's favorite phrase.
Her father, who possessed nothing but pride, hated the idea of her becoming an adventurer.
He would fly into a rage just at the mention of it, and she had always struggled with him.
"...What am I even doing?"
Feeling frustrated, Aria knew her own true strength.
Whether as a vanguard or using magic in the rear, she couldn't beat Lyell, let alone Novem.
Unlike the two of them, who had polished their martial arts and magic with everything they had, a wide gap had opened between them.
Aria gripped the red orb hanging from her neck.
There were four skills stored in the orb in total.
Adding Aria's own skill――[Quick], that made five.
Quick, which allowed her to move in succession, put a great strain on her body.
Since it was a skill she had devised herself, using it was not a burden. However, that was only on the premise of comparing it to other skills.
Strengthening the physical body, hardening the weapon, unleashing a powerful strike, and sending out slashing attacks.
Looking at the other skills, they were a lineup that any vanguard adventurer would surely envy.
An adventurer she had met in Darion had once said so.
"A combination of skills, huh."
For better or worse, the orb merely remembered skills, and making it remember a specific skill was very tedious.
In that case, it would be better to use magic tools with skills imbued in them.
The necessary combination――two skills, such as one to increase attack power and one to lower the enemy's defense, would allow one to defeat enemies effectively.
While increasing one's own attack power, the enemy's defense is lowered.
The difference only continues to grow.
However, the orb had a major flaw.
"I can't use magic tools, and I can't afford them as I am... In the end, I just have to master this."
Aria sighed as she looked at the red orb.
Her clothes clung to her body with sweat, and she felt the heat recede slightly after resting.
But now, the clinging clothes began to feel unpleasant.
Since the walls were high and no one could peek in from the outside, Aria took off her outer garment.
"Even my underwear is sticky."
Her clothes had absorbed so much sweat they could be wrung out.
Aria picked up her spear and tried to enter the room.
As she headed toward the door leading from the garden into the mansion, Poyopoyo emerged from there carrying a basket.
"Oh, were you training? Oops, please don't come closer, as sweat will fly. I have my precious Master's laundry here."
Poyopoyo, the foul-mouthed automaton, treated Lyell as Master, but maintained a certain standard of treatment for all other humans.
Novem was the only exception.
"...You have a different attitude toward Lyell than everyone else, don't you?"
When Aria said that, Poyopoyo replied with a straight face.
"And what of it? I was activated to serve my Master. I'm sorry, but are you and the others just extras, Aria-san? Ah, but... if Master tells me to serve you with everything I've got, I intend to do so with that level of resolve. However, my loyalty is directed only toward that chicken coward――"
Exasperated by Poyopoyo's long-windedness, Aria looked at it with dead eyes and spoke.
"I'm fine. Still, why does Lyell always have so many girls around him...?"
She remembered events from before they came to Alamsars.
Recalling Lyell, who had made an indirect confession on a night with a beautiful moon by saying "The moon is shining," Aria's face turned red.
To such an Aria, Poyopoyo said――.
"Could you move? You're in the way. It'll shorten the time I have to hang the laundry. Or rather, you smell like sweat, so why don't you just go take a bath?"
Aria looked at Poyopoyo.
"...I hate you."
Poyopoyo shot back.
"What a coincidence. I have no interest in anyone other than that chicken coward. Oops, except for that woman!"
It wasn't a coincidence, and having been told it had no interest in her, Aria let Poyopoyo pass first and entered the mansion afterward.
It was a strange automaton, but it handled all the housework of the mansion perfectly.
For Aria, if she were told to do that much, it would be at a level of impossibility.
"Seriously, why did he wake up such a weird thing... idiot."
Watching Poyopoyo hang the laundry outside, Aria muttered――.
I was in the library, reading a book about adventurers.
Specifically, I was checking on party composition.
"...To make six people fight, support of the same or greater scale is necessary, huh."
I was thinking of a way to conquer the Alamsars labyrinth without relying on skills.
The first thing that came to mind was the simple method closest to a model answer: gathering numbers.
However, to do that, I needed to recruit trustworthy people as comrades.
I had come to Alamsars to find comrades in the first place.
Since that hadn't been going well, I judged that this method would take too much time.
"It's fine if it takes time, but the problem is――"
――that I wouldn't be able to use skills in the meantime.
If I didn't have skills to begin with, I would just move accordingly.
However, if I can't use the things I've relied on until now, I have to acquire new power.
Training myself is a given, but I also need to acquire the skills necessary when acting in a party.
"Confirming our position within the labyrinth――. Plus scouting, discovering and disarming traps, and ensuring safety... the skills of the fifth and sixth generations are way too convenient."
Once the skills that had supplemented those things were gone, I suddenly felt how inconvenient it was.
The second generation spoke.
'Using those guys' skills as a set is exceptional. They're convenient individually, but they really manifested quite well.'
The skills that manifest differ depending on the individual.
For example, even if there are twins, it's not guaranteed that similar skills will manifest.
The books said that things like the person's growth and desires are involved.
It is extremely difficult to make them manifest intentionally.
"To compensate for that, I need specialists... it's impossible for me to learn them."
Learning them in itself wasn't the problem.
I believe I can do it if I try, and I actually can... but the time it takes to learn, and the years it takes to learn other necessary techniques, is too much.
If possible, I don't want to spend that much time.
Once the party was solidified in Alamsars, I intended to go to the Free City Beim, known as the capital of adventurers.
Because of my sister Celes――who the first generation called a monster, I believe it's dangerous to stay for long.
(I wonder when the whimsical Celes will take an interest in this side... no, I feel like she might have forgotten about me.)
I couldn't imagine what the free-spirited Celes would do next.
Back when I was still on good terms with my parents...
(Wait, what kind of child was Celes?)
My memories start from age ten.
I had interacted with my younger sister Celes as an older brother. That's how it should be. I have no memory of doing anything that would make her hate me.
Then suddenly, the mansion began to revolve around Celes――.
I shook my head and stopped thinking.
(Is it Celes's skill? Or something else... no, let's stop for now.)
Turning my gaze back to the book, I decided to think about a new party form that didn't rely on skills.
――Novem was checking the area after Shannon had cleaned the room.
"I see, it's true that her eyes are good. It's been cleaned beautifully. I must praise her later."
Thinking that she would probably dislike it, Novem was about to leave the room when a voice called out.
Novem wasn't surprised, as he knew she had approached while erasing her presence.
――It was Miranda.
"Oh, where's Shannon?"
"She's in the garden with Poyopoyo-san right now. They're bringing in the laundry. Welcome back, Miranda-san."
Looking at the smiling Novem, Miranda smiled back.
"I see. I came to see if she was working hard, what a shame."
Novem sensed that Miranda had intentionally erased her presence. He also knew she wasn't trying to surprise Shannon.
She had approached knowing he was here.
"...Did you have business with me?"
When Novem tried to get to the main point, Miranda's expression changed.
She had a serious expression. Although she seemed to be hiding them under her academy uniform, there were two short swords behind her waist――.
While thinking that she was quite wary of him, Novem treated her as usual.
"There was something I wanted to ask."
"Something you wanted to ask? I had something as well."
A tense atmosphere developed between the two, but neither seemed to mind. It felt as though a battle could break out in Shannon's room at any moment if either of them made a move.
What Miranda wanted to ask was about Novem himself.
"Shannon mentioned it. That you don't seem to be human... but that's strange, isn't it? You don't seem to be an automaton either. That one was just a topic of conversation after my professor activated it. And you seem to have been with Lyell for a long time..."
Novem was happy about Miranda's change from calling him Lyell-kun to just Lyell.
In order to seriously let Lyell build a harem, he absolutely wanted to keep Miranda in the mix.
"I am Novem of the Foxuz family. Nothing more, nothing less. As for being feared... it's been that way since a long time ago, so I haven't paid much attention to it."
Looking at the tilting head of Novem, Miranda, who stood leaning against the edge of the door, only muttered, "I see."
(She's still wary.)
Then, Novem asked what he wanted to know.
"My family home, the Foxuz family, has a long relationship with House Walt. Because of that relationship, I knew... but the Sarcly family has connections with House Walt, right? You must have met members of House Walt several times in Central?"
A member of House Walt――Celes.
As far as Novem knew, from around the time Lyell passed ten, Celes had been treated almost like the next head of the family.
There were even rumors in social circles about a beautiful woman of House Walt.
House Walt now possessed great power.
They were sometimes invited to parties in Central, so it wouldn't be strange for related families to have contact.
"Even though you already know... yes, I knew about Lyell too. I was surprised he was with Aria, but it's true I was a bit interested."
Novem highly valued Miranda, a person who had interacted with Celes without being captivated.
"I see. You could have informed your family home, so why didn't you?"
Miranda raised both hands in a gesture of surrender.
"I thought if I moved like that, both you and I would be killed by Shannon."
Thinking it was a terrible misunderstanding, Novem corrected her.
"I wouldn't go that far. I would just leave this place. Even so, despite everything that was done, you still cherish your younger sister."
Miranda lowered her gaze slightly.
"The blind Shannon received quite harsh treatment... as a relative who knows, I want to protect her. I know she hated me, but that's just because I was recognized by that woman."
Novem muttered, thinking that "that woman" was undoubtedly Celes.
"You are kind."
"We're sisters, after all. Well, I don't get along well with the second and third daughters."
It seemed Miranda's sisters had complicated circumstances. Novem had vaguely understood this from the fact that Miranda, the eldest daughter, was in a place like this.
"...As long as you don't lay a hand on Lyell-sama, I won't do anything. Ah, but... I won't stop you from becoming romantically involved. I heard it was love at first sight."
Hearing that, Miranda burst out laughing.
"Y-you, you were awake!"
As Novem smiled, Miranda's face turned red and she left the spot. Whether she was angry or not, her strides were larger than usual, and she seemed to be walking loudly on purpose.
She was showing more human emotions than before.
Novem liked the current Miranda more than the Miranda who had only the impression of being a good person.
"I'm a little envious."
Saying that, Novem also left Shannon's room――.
*
After reading the materials in the library, I was walking through the streets of Alamsars.
I had come up with several ideas for strengthening the party, so I planned to go home and consult with Novem and the others, as well as my ancestors, to see if they could be put into practice.
Since my head felt heavy from thinking too much, I was walking home for a change of pace.
There were many academy students, and the general people walking the streets also gave a different impression from others.
As it's called an academic city, they probably have a good education because they value knowledge.
Though it was also true that there was a trend of mocking those who lacked education.
On the street――.
"You don't even know that? Even children know it."
"W-what did you say!"
Most of the arguments were of this nature. There were many people boasting about their knowledge and belittling others for being less learned than themselves.
It was true that it was an interesting place, but if asked if I wanted to live here forever, I had my doubts.
The city itself was cluttered, and for me, if possible, I wanted to build a house and live in a quiet, leisurely place.
With a wife, and children――.
(Wait, I can't somehow imagine that.)
Speaking of happy endings in stories, the protagonist is either hailed as a hero or lives quietly with a partner.
I long for the latter, but I can't imagine it at all.
(Well, for now, I'll just think about breaking through the thirtieth underground floor.)
Thinking that I'll eventually be able to imagine such things, I switched my mindset and walked down the street.
The good thing about Alamsars was probably that there were few rough people. Conversely, there were extremely few places to have fun.
There were no places to gamble, and while bookstores, private schools, and dojos were plentiful, there was an impression that entertainment was lacking.
Performers were forbidden from showing their arts on the street, so there were few such pleasures outside of festivals.
I heard that drinking alcohol while listening to songs at a tavern at night was the entertainment in this city. Such places existed in Darion too.
To put it bluntly, even if the scale of the city was large, there were few fun places.
"No wonder adventurers leave one after another. Well, I hear there are adventurers who like this kind of place... but there's nowhere to spend money."
It would be great for those who want to polish themselves, but to adventurers with a certain level of skill, it seems like a boring city.
That was the academic city of Alamsars.
But at the same time, I thought...
"Now that I think about it, I don't really have any hobbies."
Both swordsmanship and magic, I polished those techniques because they were necessary.
Books were for gaining knowledge. No, I do like reading books... but I realized that other than that, I didn't have something called a hobby.
I read in a book that hobbies are necessary in life.
On a street with few people, I muttered.
"Maybe I should find a hobby too."
Then, the fourth generation spoke――.
'From the outside, it'll probably look like playing around with women is your hobby. Well, having a hobby is a good thing. I loved counting the gold coins I put in my safe.'
Is that a hobby? While I was thinking that, the fifth generation spoke.
'...I used up all of the fourth generation's money to take in concubines.'
For some reason, the fifth generation said it as if saying, "I did it!" The fifth generation, who rarely showed emotion, was doing so――.
'WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO, YOU BASTARD!!'
The fourth generation, who loved money, flew into a rage.
(Before, I would have worried about my magic power even with this much, but lately, it doesn't bother me at all.)
Recalling how I used to collapse immediately, I felt that I didn't want to realize my growth through something like this.
A voice came from the jewel.
'SHUT UP!! It was probably necessary to solve the problems you left behind! We fought plenty when I became the head too!'
The sixth generation stepped in to restrain the fifth generation, who was talking back.
The sixth generation gave a wild impression, but was somehow weak against the fifth generation.
'Fifth generation, please calm down. If you explain slowly, he'll understand.'
The seventh generation spoke.
'Ah, that matter. It certainly was a problem caused by the fourth generation. The third generation was involved too, but there's no point in telling the third generation who died in battle.'
The third generation also spoke.
'...Did I do something?'
Then, the fifth generation said in a low voice.
'You didn't. It became a huge problem because you didn't. Because of that, I...'
Apparently, there were various problems between generations in House Walt as well.
(I wonder what happened.)
Since it was a topic that piqued my interest, I decided to ask them when I got home.