Chapter 11, Renovation!

Translator: Lizz

 

The livestock stayed in place, continuing their work of grazing on grass and pecking at insects.

 

There was also a water source, so they could rest if needed.

 

Edward carried Sylvia and entered the building. Gina followed behind.

 

As they approached the door, it automatically opened, and the magical lighting fixtures in the hallway lit up.

 

“…This isn’t you using magic, is it?”

 

“The fortress is doing it for us.”

 

“The fortress is completely obedient.”

 

Gina said in amazement.

 

Following Sylvia’s instructions, they arrived at a certain room.

 

“This is the lord’s room.”

 

Sylvia murmured, and the door opened.

 

Edward, still carrying Sylvia, entered the room and muttered,

 

“Well, yeah, that makes sense.”

 

The inside had turned into ruins.

 

Edward was pondering what to do, while Gina secretly decided to clean.

 

“<To the room that welcomes the Lord… — [Renovation]>.”

 

Sylvia chanted.

 

“Hey! Stop! If you do that without any magic power…”

 

Edward hurriedly tried to stop her, but it was already too late. The room shook as if there was an earthquake, and in an instant, the dust was removed, and the floor, wallpaper, windows, ceiling, and furniture all became brand new.

 

“”……””

 

While Edward and Gina looked around in amazement, Sylvia, having completely exhausted her magic power, fainted with a satisfied expression.

 

When Sylvia woke up, she was lying in bed.

 

She realized why she had woken up – it was because of the smell of food.

 

As she sat up, Gina noticed.

 

“Ah! You’re awake!”

 

Gina rushed over.

 

“I can smell Edward’s cooking.”

 

“Yes, that’s right. We found the kitchen, and after I cleaned it up enough to use, Edward cooked for us. The water runs without issues, and we could use the magical tools. So… I’m sorry for using it without permission, but since I got dirty, I also used the bath attached to this room. Edward is in there now.”

 

“It’s fine to use it without asking.”

 

Edward emerged from the bathroom door.

 

He had a sword at his waist.

 

“You’re awake”, he said with a sigh of relief.

 

“Sorry. I borrowed the bath without asking because I got dirty. Also, this too.”

 

He pointed at the sword.

 

“You said no one is here, but just in case something happens, I’m borrowing this sword that was here. In return, I’ll make sure to protect you.”

 

“It’s fine to use it without asking”, Sylvia repeated.

 

After Sylvia ate, her complexion quickly improved, and she smiled.

 

Seeing her smile, Gina also smiled.

 

“I’m so glad. You got better and even smiled.”

 

Sylvia looked puzzled for a moment, then said seriously.

 

“Edward is a genius.”

 

Edward smiled wryly and asked.

 

Can you recover your magic power by eating?”

 

Sylvia nodded.

 

“I can recover it by killing or eating something.”

 

Edward was stunned.

 

“…Does that mean anything will do?”

 

“Anything with magic power. It seems to work when those following me do it too, but it’s less than if I do it myself.”

 

Edward was amazed that Sylvia’s parents had cast her out.

 

What were they thinking, with such an incredible skill like ‘Magic Power Absorption’?

 

After dinner, Sylvia looked visibly sleepy, so the two put her to bed.

 

“Gina, you should sleep with her. I’ll borrow the sofa for now.”

 

Edward said as he tried to leave, but Sylvia grabbed the hem of his clothes and wouldn’t let go.

 

“…Sylvia?”

 

“It’s a big bed, so the three of us can sleep together…”

 

“No, that’s not a good idea.”

 

Although he had no intention of doing anything, sharing a bed with two single women could harm their reputations.

 

“We can sleep together.”

 

Gina’s smile was strained.

 

“Edward, it’s fine. I don’t mind.”

 

“Alright~… Well, if the three of us keep quiet about it… But I’m supposed to be on guard duty.”

 

Gina shook her head.

 

“Let’s just rest. We’re all tired. We can talk about tomorrow’s plans tomorrow.”

 

Realizing that Gina had thought about it, Edward smiled wryly and lay down, giving in.

 

*

 

Edward had been more shaken than he expected to see Sylvia collapse, and he inwardly clicked his tongue at reverting to his old way of speaking to his master.

 

He was afraid of returning to his old self, and he hated who he was back then.

 

An overly serious guy who judged people solely by their appearance and trusted them completely. He must have been very easy to take advantage of.

 

Looking back, he had been used by many people. He was doing things that the son of a marquis shouldn’t be doing, things even lower-ranking knights wouldn’t do, and he did it all with a smile, not realizing it.

 

Now, he had such thoughts like ‘Was I an idiot?’, and if his current self saw his past self, he would think, ‘I don’t like him, but I’ll make the most of him’.

 

That was why I didn’t want to remember the feelings from back then.

 

However…

 

There was no one around Sylvia who would try to set him up. In fact, he didn’t have anything worth being set up for.

 

“…I will protect you. But that doesn’t mean I completely trust you or have opened my heart to you.”

 

Borrowing the lord’s sword without permission was a serious offense that could get one beheaded.

 

That was why he had tested her.

 

Absent-minded Sylvia, as usual, gave an absent-minded response.

 

‘No, you should scold me’, Edward thought, but he was certain that she hadn’t been raised that way.

 

A child who had been neglected and sent alone to a place where an ordinary child would never reach.

 

Edward felt an overwhelming sense of pity and gently stroked Sylvia’s hair.