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Translator: Barnnn
It had been about a month since Asley and Pochi returned to Beilanea.
Fuyu had been leading a busy life.
“This one is for Lady Viola, this one for the Majors, and this one for each squad’s Captain,” she muttered to herself.
Her small frame moved briskly, shuttling back and forth between the east and west wings of the Royal Capital Magic Guardian Brigade headquarters.
She clutched numerous documents to her chest, sweat beading on her forehead.
Since Asley’s departure, the Guardian Brigade had faced increasing hardships.
The reason was simple: a youth not even twenty had outwitted the commander of the brigade and wielded magecraft thought long lost.
Fuyu was amazed, not only by what she saw of Betty’s movements recently but also by the unmatched power of Asley.
Having learned magic and observed warriors up close, she understood what others might miss.
Her eyes shone brightly, captivated by Asley’s aura.
“Fuyu, no running in the hallways.”
The quiet yet sharp tone struck Fuyu’s back.
“L-Lady Viola! My apologies!” she stammered, bowing deeply.
A slightly wrinkled hand rested on Fuyu’s shoulder.
“I understand you’re busy. Keep up the good work.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“I’ll see you later.”
“Ah, Lady Viola!” Fuyu called, suddenly remembering something, stopping Viola in her tracks.
“What is it?”
“Could you please review this? I’ll come by to collect it later.” Fuyu asked, handing over a document.
“A joint training session with the Brave Guardian Brigade? So soon? Has Sir Gaston already made his selections?”
“Yes, it seems there’s an urgent matter, so he’s working at a tremendous pace.”
Viola ran her fingers through her hair as she read the parchment. Her eyes scanning the text made Fuyu tilt her head in curiosity.
[That’s strange. Lady Viola usually doesn’t read documents in a place like this.]
Viola noticed Fuyu’s puzzled gaze and snapped out of her thoughts.
“Sorry, I spotted an unusual name.”
“An unusual name? Wait, I shouldn’t pry. My apologies!”
“It’s fine, Fuyu. It was Jeanne — one of the new regular soldiers.”
“She was the vice president at the Magic University, if I recall correctly…”
As Fuyu remembered, Viola snorted lightly.
“Such titles are useless here.”
“Y-You’re right.”
“But why did Sir Gaston choose Jeanne? And for such a crucial role in the vanguard…”
“Ah,” Fuyu blurted out, her voice uncharacteristically loud, making Viola tilt her head.
“Do you know something?”
“I think Sir Asley mentioned—”
Before Fuyu could finish, Viola’s face darkened.
“Oh, um… I’m sorry…”
“No, it’s fine. It’s not that I dislike him. It’s just…” Viola’s eyes grew distant, lost in thought.
Fuyu understood why Viola had frowned.
When Viola was defeated by Asley, she realized the vast difference in their abilities. She didn’t hate Asley but was ashamed of herself for recognizing her limitations.
She had even considered giving up at one point…
“Asley… Hmm. Fuyu, look at my legs.”
“Huh?”
Fuyu glanced at Viola’s legs and saw them trembling slightly.
“This is bad! You’re cramping! You need to rest immediately—”
As Fuyu spoke, Viola raised her hand to stop her, whispering, “I’m fine.”
“I’ve been the Brigadier of the Royal Capital Magic Guardians for nearly ten years… I never intended to step down from the front lines, but this experience has shown me how vast the world truly is.”
“It’s because of that grueling training regimen…”
No one could keep up with Gaston’s extreme training methods. Not even Viola.
Fuyu looked up at Viola, who laughed despite her trembling legs.
“After seeing this world, I believe there’s even more beyond it. I’ve heard Asley continued such training for over a year.”
“A year…”
“Didn’t know that, did you? It’s too early to subject your untrained body to it, but one day you’ll stand at the forefront. Prepare yourself.”
Fuyu straightened her back at Viola’s strong words.
“Yes, ma’am!”
“Goodbye then,” Viola said, raising the parchment Fuyu had given her and turning back to her quarters.
After delivering documents to the Majors and each squad’s Captains, Fuyu finally took a little break and returned to Gaston’s office.
She knocked on the door.
“Enter,” came the familiar voice from within.
When Fuyu quietly opened the heavy door, a wave of intense heat spilled out.
[This is so intense… It’s almost unbearably hot…!]
“Master, you shouldn’t be dressed like that in front of Fuyu,” Konaha remarked, his voice carrying a surprising lightness despite its weighty tone.
The one his comment was directed at, Gaston, stood nearby.
The elderly man, bare-chested, stood sweating, the floor beneath him wet with perspiration.
He glanced at Fuyu while wiping sweat from his brow with a hand towel.
“Oh, Fuyu, it’s you. I’ll open the window.”
“…Oh, I’m sorry,” Fuyu murmured.
“What’s wrong, Fuyu?” Konaha asked, tilting his head at her dazed expression.
“Ah, uh… nothing…”
Before Fuyu could explain, Konaha clapped his hands and peered at her with half-closed eyes.
“Oh, you were mesmerized by my Master’s well-toned body despite his age?”
“N-No, I wasn’t!”
“Oh-ho… So you had a different impression of my Master, then?”
Unable to refute him, Fuyu quietly lowered her gaze.
“Don’t tease her too much, Konaha. Make better use of your time and get ready instead,” Gaston interjected.
“Understood, Master,” Konaha replied, hopping off the desk and rummaging through the room.
“Get ready?” Fuyu echoed, tilting her head.
“I must leave for the Far East Wasteland. I trust you’ll manage things in my absence.”
“Huh? But I wasn’t told about this!”
“Well, now you know.”
“Then what about tonight’s training session?”
Gaston stopped and turned to face her.
“……Did I have one scheduled?”
“You did! At the end of last week’s session, you said, ‘See you next week.'”
As Fuyu spoke, Gaston recalled the promise, running his hand down his face.
[Oh, right… I did say that…]
“He completely forgot, Fuyu,” Konaha said.
“I can tell… Well, when will you be back?”
Fuyu turned to Konaha for an answer, finding Gaston unresponsive.
“Who knows? A week, a month, maybe even longer…”
“…I’ll try to return as soon as possible,” Gaston finally managed to say.
Fuyu sighed deeply.
“How did you get the rest of the Duodecad Conference to approve such a long trip?”
“…Hmm, I wonder…”
Ignoring Gaston’s non-answer, Fuyu leaned closer to Konaha and whispered in his ear.
“He must have forced it through…”
“You’re probably right,” Konaha chuckled.
Gaston pretended not to hear their exchange. Once Gaston was ready, Fuyu saw him and Konaha off at the eastern gate of Regalia.
Afterward, she walked alone through the commercial district, her shadow growing long in the setting sun.
Her day’s work finished, she headed into a dim alley at the edge of the district, clutching a piece of parchment to her chest and smiling.
At the end of the alley stood a run-down shop.
“Huh? Fuyu?” a boy’s voice called from behind her, not from the shop.
Fuyu turned to see a smiling boy, who lit up at her sight.
“Ah, Laeus!”
Fuyu bent down to meet Laeus’s gaze. She had come to Don’s shop.
“How have you been?”
“Great! Thanks to Betty, I get to eat every day!”
Fuyu smiled back at the beaming Laeus.
“Is your father here?”
“Of course!”
Laeus nodded eagerly and rushed into the shop, shouting,
“Dad! Fuyu is here!”
The quiet shop erupted with noise, reminiscent of the time Asley had been brought here by Laeus.
Following the boy inside, Fuyu found Don panting at the door.
“Hah… hah… Oof… Oh, Fuyu, long time no see.”
“Good to see you, Mister Don,” Fuyu replied, laughing at his breathlessness.
“What brings you here today?”
“Yeah, you’re a mage, Fuyu. Do you need something?” Laeus asked, curious.
With a faint smile, Fuyu placed the parchment on the counter.
Don picked it up and unrolled it.
“This is…?”
“An order from an adventurer in Beilanea. I’ve already received the payment, so you’ll be paid upon completion. Is that acceptable?”
Don froze for a moment, his face showing disbelief, but Fuyu’s unwavering smile reassured him of the truth.
“Of course, of course, I’ll do it!” Don exclaimed, his excitement almost palpable.
“Yay!” Laeus shouted joyfully, jumping up and down with glee.
“Laeus, mind your manners in front of our guest!” Don scolded, but Laeus only continued to celebrate, grabbing Fuyu’s hands and twirling her around.
“Thanks a lot, Fuyu!”
Fuyu couldn’t help but share in their happiness.
Don, with tears welling in his eyes, quickly composed himself and grasped Fuyu’s hands firmly.
“Thank you! I’ll give it my all!”
“…Please do!” Fuyu replied, her response modest despite the overwhelming gratitude.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
After leaving the shop and waving goodbye to Don and Laeus, Fuyu made her way back to the headquarters of the Royal Capital Magic Guardians.
It was already dark, and her stomach growled in protest.
She took a deep breath before opening the door to her room.
[Did I do the right thing?
She was just a messenger, after all.
The real effort came from Betty and her allies.
Fuyu wondered if she truly deserved to witness Don and Laeus’ heartfelt gratitude.
As she opened the door, an unfamiliar scent filled the room.
[Is this… alcohol?)]
Fully opening the door, she saw two figures slumped over her desk.
Recognizing their familiar silhouettes, she covered her mouth in surprise.
The two looked up, their faces flushed.
“Hey there~~ Fuyu~~!” The woman called out, her voice slurring slightly.
“Yo, Fuyu! Come join us!” boomed the loud voice of the man.
“Betty, Bruce!” Fuyu exclaimed, then quickly shut the door behind her and whispered to them, “What are you doing here? We agreed on no unannounced visits…”
“We did get a message,” Betty slurred. “From Sir Gaston.”
“From Sir Gaston?”
“Yeah, he said something like, ‘I broke my promise to Fuyu, so take her training in Beilanea tomorrow.'”
“Something like that,” Bruce confirmed, laughing. “So, we came to pick you up.”
Both Fuyu’s room and Gaston’s office had installed Teleportation Spell Circles.
Asley had taught them how to connect Beilanea and Regalia, largely at Betty’s insistence.
“But tomorrow is my day off–“
“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Betty interrupted with a grin. “Sir Gaston told that Viola lady through a Telepathic Call that you’d have the day off. He didn’t mention the Teleportation, so don’t worry.”
“Tomorrow, Lina is off duty too, so you’ll train with her,” Bruce added.
“I see…” Fuyu replied, though something in her demeanor changed.
Bruce noticed first. “Hey, what’s up? Something happened?”
“Yeah, you seem a bit off,” Betty said, sensing the same.
Growing impatient with Fuyu’s silence, Bruce pulled out a chair.
“Come on, sit down and tell us what’s going on.”
“Talk to me, if not to him,” Betty said, beating her chest.
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean!?”
Fuyu, smiling at their banter, sat down between them.
As she shrank into herself, Bruce began pouring a drink.
“Now then… here, have a cup– ow!”
“You can’t give Fuyu alcohol!” Betty scolded, whacking Bruce on the head.
“C’mon, it’s fine! Just for the mood!” Bruce grumbled, rubbing his head.
Betty proceeded to pull out one of her daggers.
“A-all right, all right, I get it! Sorry, sorry!”
“Now, tell your big sister what’s bothering you,” Betty coaxed, tickling Fuyu’s chin.
“Stop, Betty! That tickles!”
Betty’s teasing smile grew wider at Fuyu’s reaction.
“In just a year, you’ve matured so much… and you cry out with such a lovely voice—ouch!” Betty winced as Bruce’s fist collided with the back of her head.
“You always get like this when you’re drunk. Fuyu can’t get to the point with you babbling on.”
“You didn’t have to hit me!”
“Well, someone had to knock some sense into you!”
As Betty and Bruce bickered, Fuyu couldn’t help but smile.
Their familiar arguing brought a comforting sense of nostalgia, and she found herself softly laughing along.
“Mm-hm — yup, this feels just like old times…”
“Really? I thought she seemed more grown-up before.”
“Hmm? Do I seem more childish now?” Fuyu asked, uncertain.
Betty’s fist found its target on Bruce’s head once again.
“Gah…!”
“This is something only women can understand. Right, Fuyu?”
“Is that so?” Fuyu replied, still puzzled.
“Go on, tell us what’s on your mind. You’ll feel better… probably,” Betty encouraged.
“Just ‘probably’!?” Bruce interjected, making Fuyu laugh lightly. Her face brightened a bit as she began to recount her day with Don and Laeus.
Betty listened quietly, nodding along, while Bruce sipped his drink.
By the time Fuyu finished her story… she felt a weight lift from her shoulders.
Then… she was met with bewildered expressions from both Betty and Bruce.
“Did you get all that, Betty…?”
“No, it was too delicate for me, I think…”
Fuyu, too, stared in surprise, making six wide eyes in total.
“So, you’re feeling uncomfortable because you received gratitude you believe you didn’t earn?” Bruce speculated, scratching his head.
“It’s more like she’s confused by it,” Betty added hastily.
“Did she get that right, Fuyu?”
“Y-yes, exactly. Have you two ever felt that way?”
The two looked out the window, their expressions distant.
“Can’t say I have, no… My life’s been bloody since the day I was born,” Bruce said.
Their faraway gazes left Fuyu speechless.
Above her head, Betty and Bruce exchanged silent communication.
[Say something to comfort her!]
[Don’t expect me to understand such delicate emotions!]
[Yeah, right, I wasn’t expecting you to anyway!]
[Oh c’mon, try believing in me a little bit more than that!]
[Okay, fine, I’ll do it myself!]
[Yeah! Give it your best shot!]
Bruce cleared his throat.
“You did help Don and Laeus in your way, right?”
Fuyu nodded slightly.
“Their joy is the result of many small acts of kindness.”
“Small acts?”
“Think of it like this: Asley, Betty, and the people of Beilanea each contributed in little ways. Don and Laeus’s reaction is to all those efforts, and you happened to be the one there to receive it. So, it’s natural to feel a bit guilty.”
“What does that even mean?” Betty asked.
“In terms we warriors understand: in a fight, it’s the one who delivers the final blow who gets the most praise, even if everyone contributed equally. You’re just the one who delivered the final blow.”
“Ohhh… I get it now,” Betty agreed, taking another sip.
Fuyu pondered this for a moment before asking,
“So, because I received all that gratitude, I feel guilty for benefiting from everyone’s efforts?”
“Exactly!” Bruce pointed at her, nodding.
“But what do I do about it? I can’t shake this feeling,” Fuyu asked, looking troubled.
Betty and Bruce exchanged another glance above her head.
[You answer!]
[You’re the man here! Finish what you started!]
[Nah!]
This time, Betty cleared her throat and leaned against the desk, fixing her gaze on Fuyu.
“It would be easy if it were just like that example…”
“Easy? How?”
“Just easy – nothing more, nothing less. There’s nothing wrong with taking the praise. The important thing is that the one receiving it understands and appreciates the efforts of those around them.”
“I… I see…”
Betty continued, “Of course, some people never get it, but that’s their problem. In this case… Fuyu, why don’t you share those two’ joys with everyone?”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. The overwhelming gratitude you received wasn’t meant for you alone. Share their joy, their happiness, with everyone involved. People rarely resent being thanked.”
Betty shrugged, her words light yet impactful.
“Yes… you’re right!”
Fuyu’s voice, now filled with newfound determination, resonated with a brightness that hadn’t been there moments before.
Betty smiled and noticed Bruce giving a thumbs-up behind Fuyu. She followed suit, mimicking his gesture.
[Nice!]
[Of course!]
Fuyu stood up, her previous gloom completely gone. She now wore the familiar expression they both recognized.
“Betty, Bruce… thank you both so much!”
Fuyu bowed deeply, expressing her gratitude.
“Haha, it’s nothing,” Bruce laughed.
“Conversations like this are a dime a dozen,” Betty added, waving her hand dismissively.
As Fuyu remained bowed, they discreetly high-fived each other.
[It was harder than an S-rank mission…!]
[But we pulled it off!]
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