Chapter 109: Battered Girl part 4
Translator: Soafp
It was decided to teach Lewis and Nero the Space Kick technique.
Compared to teaching El and Ashera, I explained in much more detail to Lewis and Nero. However, they still couldn’t perform the Space Kick. It seemed they couldn’t imagine the concept of magical footing.
Their disappointment, especially since there were high expectations, made me feel uneasy just watching them.
I decided to try a different approach. Perhaps I could create a magical tool that would generate magical footing when infused with mana… Could such a magical tool be made?
“Lewis, Nero, wait a moment.”
I hurried to Rosa’s place for some reason, with Ashera tagging along, which was a bit mysterious.
We arrived at Rosa’s room and I called out through the door.
“It’s Aldo. I need to talk to you for a moment.”
There were some sounds from inside the room, and then the door slowly opened.
“nobleman Nii-sama, please come in.”
With Ashera behind me, Sarah let us into the room.
“Hello, Aldo.”
“Ah, today’s not about studying magic circles. I need you to tell me if it’s possible to create a certain magical tool.”
“Wait a moment. First, won’t you introduce me to the lady over there?”
I skipped some details. First, I introduced Ashera, then Rosa and Sara.
“I apologize. This is Ashera. She’s an apprentice to the Ice Witch and an excellent magician. She’s also my fiancée.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Rosa. This is my daughter, Sara. She’s the slave you bought for me.”
My tone was more humble than usual when speaking to Ashera.
“I’m Ashera. You can talk to me like you talk to Aldo.”
Rosa looked at me with a bit of uncertainty, as if asking for my judgment.
“Rosa, Ashera doesn’t like formalities as much as I do. You can talk to her in your usual manner.”
“Understood.”
Next was the introduction of Rosa and Sarah to Ashera.
“Ashera, this is Rosa. She may be a sl*ve, but she’s also my mentor in making magical tools.”
“Aldo asks me to do a few things, but I enjoy researching magical tools.”
“If he asks for something unreasonable, just refuse him. If you leave him alone, he’ll go overboard.”
Introduction aside, I needed to ask the main question: “Is it possible to create a magical tool for Space Kick?”
“Rosa, can you create a magical tool that generates footing anywhere in the air when infused with mana?”
“Footing? I’m sorry, but I don’t quite understand what you mean…”
“Let me show you. It’s like this.”
I used Space Kick to create footing in the air and stood on it. To others, it would look like I was standing in mid-air.
Rosa and Sara widened their eyes, covering their mouths with their hands in surprise.
As using mana was quite taxing, I descended to the ground and asked Rosa the same question again.
“Well? Can you create footing in the air when mana is infused?”
Her surprised expression turned into a craftsman’s face.
“In the air… footing…”
I mentioned footing, but my Space Kick was actually a repelling force. In reality, achieving static suspension by balancing gravity and repulsion equally was difficult. I mentioned creating footing in the air to Rosa because I thought understanding and implementing repulsion would be difficult.
Understanding repulsion requires fundamental knowledge of magnetism, physics, and chemistry. I had no intention of teaching these subjects in this world, nor did I possess enough knowledge to do so.
While my thoughts were drifting, it seemed that Rosa had come up with an answer. She began to speak slowly.
“What Aldo is saying about creating footing in mid-air… I think it’s possible… Once activated, a spell cannot be moved from its location until it’s fully formed… If we use that to our advantage and delay the activation to its limit… then perhaps…”
“Rosa, can you write a spell circle that delays activation until the limit you mentioned?”
“…I can, but what kind of spell are you activating?”
“Right… Wind. Wind would be good. It leaves no traces.”
“Wind… a wind strong enough for a person to ride… I understand. Aldo, please help me.”
“Sure.”
I let go of everything: keeping Lewis and Nero waiting, Ashera’s presence in the room, and engaged in a discussion with Rosa to create the magic circle.
It must have been about two hours. Finally, a simple prototype was completed.
This prototype had a magic circle embedded in the sole of the shoe, and when mana was channeled through it, it could generate a mass of wind for just one second.
A precisely one-second foothold created through mana. It was a magical tool that required considerable skill.
I took only one foot of “it” and headed to the backyard where Lewis and Nero would be. For some reason, Ashera remained in Rosa’s room…
In the backyard, Lewis and Nero were receiving training from El on mana manipulation and transformation.
I approached the two with a smile.
“Lewis, Nero, the prototype for the Space Kick magical tool is ready.”
Not only Lewis and Nero, but even El looked at me with a skeptical gaze… Ugh!
“It’s not a lie. Here it is!”
I explained the effect and usage of the magical tool, its current state with only one foot, that it was a genuine prototype, and it would take a considerable amount of time to complete, without hiding anything.
“As for how to use it… like this. Let me demonstrate.”
I tried it out myself. It occurred to me that this was actually my first time using it. Normally, one would test it with mana to ensure there were no problems…
Although it was unlikely to explode, I couldn’t help but feel a slight unease about using it without confirming its safety, but it was too late now.
The prototype was for the right foot. While my left foot used Space Kick, my right foot simply timed the mana transmission. However, to an observer, it would appear that I was using Space Kick as usual.
Of course, compared to my own Space Kick, there was a significant difference in ease of use…
Watching me soar through the air, Lewis and Nero couldn’t wait any longer and yelled from below, “Come down already!”
I had no intention of being mean; I just wanted to ensure safety… it was incomprehensible.
When I landed on the ground, Lewis and Nero grabbed my sandal from my right foot like children who had received the toy they wanted.
Both Lewis and Nero were testing the effect in turns. They discussed the tips on how to use it with each other, wanting to test the prototype for as long as possible.
This shoe was purely a prototype focused solely on function. Efficiency and other considerations would come later.
Lewis and Nero had less mana than I did. If they used the prototype seriously, their mana would be depleted in about fifteen minutes.
This shoe would be good for practicing the feeling of Space Kick. By experimenting with various things using this magical tool, they might eventually be able to do the same thing without the shoes.
In magic, just like in mana manipulation and transformation, imagination is just as important.
“What do you think we should do with this prototype, Lewis, Nero?”
When I asked, the two looked at each other and smiled wryly.
Was I a little mean? I spoke to the two again.
“If we’re talking about this performance, I could probably make a pair in just an hour. Do you want to take them home?”
“Really?!”
Lewis’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
“However, promise me. If your mana runs out in mid-air, it could be fatal. Never go higher than your own height.”
Lewis and Nero nodded seriously at my words.
“Understood. Lead the way.”
Lewis, Nero, and El all headed to Rosa’s room together.
Though it seemed a bit inappropriate to bring so many men into a woman’s room, Rosa had difficulty moving around. It was even a hassle to call her out.
Reluctantly, we all arrived at Rosa’s room, where Ashera was relaxing and having tea.
Standing behind Ashera was Stella, the maid who had shown us to Rosa’s room some time ago.
For some reason, I couldn’t help but admire Ashera’s composure.
“Rosa, sorry to bother you, but could you make two sets of the prototype shoes we discussed earlier as soon as possible?”
“Two sets… understood. What shoes will you be using?”
It was too early to incorporate them into Wyvern Leather Armor. Since we hadn’t optimized them yet.
At this stage, ordinary sandals would be sufficient for practice.
“Stella, could you please prepare sandals that fit these two?”
Stella seemed taken aback by the sudden request, but after nervously asking for Lewis and Nero’s shoe sizes, she rushed off.
“She doesn’t need to rush that much…” was the consensus among all of us present.
After a while, Stella returned, panting heavily despite it being winter.
“Ah, thank you. Please have a seat and rest.”
I prepared a chair for Stella, who looked exhausted, and then received the two pairs of sandals.
I handed the sandals to Rosa and she immediately began inscribing the magic circles. I acted as her assistant… well, more like a handyman.
After about an hour, the first set was completed. It seemed to be for Nero.
Nero eagerly took it and turned to me.
“Aldo, thank you so much. Can I try out this magical tool now?”
He looked like an impatient dog. Well, Nero was a cat beastman, but still…
“Yeah. Just don’t push yourself too hard. And I can’t stress this enough, never go higher than your height.”
“Got it. I’ll go try it out then!”
With a joyful expression, he hugged the magical tool and ran out to the garden.
Lewis watched him with a subtle expression.
Another hour passed, and Lewis’s pair was also finished. If Lewis had a tail, it would’ve been wagging furiously.
“Rosa, thank you. You’ve been a great help.”
We bid farewell to Rosa’s room, where we had stayed longer than expected.
For some reason, it seemed like Ashera was staying behind. And if she stayed, then Stella had no choice but to stay as well.
When we moved to the garden, Nero was leaning against the wall looking exhausted.
I immediately considered the effects of the magical tool and rushed over to Nero. First, I cast a sonar spell to check his condition.
No issues… no external injuries… could this be…? I remembered this symptom—it was mana exhaustion.
“It’s mana exhaustion. How much did you push yourself, Nero?”
My murmured words slipped out involuntarily, prompting a reaction from Lewis.
“You were just so happy, weren’t you? Feeling like you were getting closer to him even just a bit…”
When I turned around, Lewis had already turned his back and put on the magical tool. As Lewis practiced walking with it several times, he suddenly squatted down, placing his hands on the ground.
I couldn’t believe it! I cast a sonar spell, but there was nothing unusual… It was mana exhaustion. Both of them… seriously. Despite feeling a bit exasperated, I felt a bit warm thinking, “They must have been really happy.”
I asked Seirie, the butler, to send the two of them back in a carriage. Surprisingly, Seirie knew not only Lewis’s Sandra Mansion but also Nero’s church. Whether Seirie was exceptionally skilled or had checked our backgrounds as my friends… well, it was probably both.
In the carriage, I chuckled at the two exhausted figures.
“See you tomorrow.”
The two of them weakly raised their right hands in response, still clutching the magical tools tightly with their left hands.
After seeing them off with El, I headed to Rosa’s room. El and I parted ways here.
Upon arriving at Rosa’s room, I was allowed in.
Ashera was still drinking tea. It was strange for Ashera to be so fixated on a single person.
I decided to casually inquire about it.
“Ashera, do you like Rosa?”
Ashera glanced at me and Rosa before responding.
“Just curious about something.”
“I see. I thought you might be interested in magical tools.”
“Magical tools. I’m somewhat interested, but…”
“Do you want to learn together?”
Ashera shook her head slowly.
“I’ll take my leave soon. Thank you for everything.”
With that, Ashera left Rosa’s room. I asked Stella to take care of the cleanup.
As we walked the short distance back to the mansion, Ashera spoke up.
“Aldo, was there something going on with that person?”
That person, of course, referred to Rosa. Ultimately, nothing had happened, but it had been attempted.
I didn’t have the confidence to hide it… so I spilled everything about the situation.
Ashera listened silently to my explanation. Despite several interruptions in the conversation, she didn’t say a word.
It was as if she were silently demanding that I speak everything from my own mouth.
Staring at me intently after I finished speaking, she uttered just one word softly, “Understood.”
Had I been forgiven? Or perhaps not? It would have been wise to consult with Marl or El and casually ask, but foolishly, I asked Ashera directly.
“Ashera… do you, um, forgive me?”
Ashera turned to me slowly, and I could see flames of anger in her eyes.
“Do you want forgiveness?”
“Of course.”
“Then I’ll forgive you with one punch.”
“One punch?”
“You’ll be forgiven after taking one punch from me.”
What did she just say?! Wasn’t that like asking me to die? But perhaps, when Ashera found out about the infidelity, this was inevitable.
“O-Okay.”
I stood up straight, clenched my teeth, and crossed my arms behind my back. I closed my eyes out of fear. It was expected of me to close them, right?
I could tell from the sound that Ashera had stepped in front of me.
After a moment of waiting, I felt a soft sensation on my lips. When I opened my eyes in surprise, Ashera was pulling away. With her cheeks slightly flushed, she muttered.
“This should do…”
I was so shocked that I couldn’t respond properly.
“Uhm…”
The moment I thought, “If this is the punishment, I’d gladly accept it,” a strong killing intent struck me.
“Because what Rosa and Aldo said matched, I believed it. If you were lying…”
Ashera’s fist gathered activated mana. Being able to see mana meant that Ashera was intentionally showing it. My legs were trembling like a newborn deer.
As the mana in her fist dispersed, Ashera slowly embraced me.
“Aldo, don’t cheat. If you can’t resist… I-I’ll…”
Is this okay?! Is it okay to fly off into the horizon?! Are we adults now?!
We’re engaged to each other. There shouldn’t be any problem! If Halva seriously attacks me, I’ll ask Ashera to protect me.
I took Ashera’s hand and hugged her slowly. I was drawn into Ashera’s eyes… I could only see Ashera…
It started with a light kiss. Just as I was about to slowly use my tongue…
“Ah, you done?”
I heard Grandpa’s voice. Ashera and I jumped away from each other, putting a distance of 5 meters between us.
When I looked towards the voice, Grandpa, Dad, and El were going to the bath together.
“Al, I don’t really want to say this, but I’d appreciate it if you could do that somewhere with fewer people around.”
Dad’s slightly exasperated words made Ashera cover her face with her hands and flee.
“N-Nii-sama… A-as expected…”
I didn’t understand what was so admirable, but El seemed to have a mysterious respect for me. Where was the admirable action in all of this… it’s a mystery.
Come to think of it, we were on our way from Rosa’s staff dormitory to the mansion.
It’s natural for people to pass through here. If this were someone else’s business, even I would say, “Do it in your room.”
However. However, when I look into Ashera’s eyes, I can’t think of anyone else…
“I’m seriously in bad shape,” I thought as I gazed at the winter sky alone.
Diana Kurosawa
May 8, 2024 at 7:37 amAshera did a sneak attack on him~
He’s now completely lovestruck~