Etude of the Sacred Treasured Sword | Chapter 4

[healingbonds]

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The next day, Riquet and I head towards Granvelle Castle with Cain leading the way.
Hearing Cain’s story made me nervous, but the people at the castle welcome us.

Castle person: Sir Sage! Welcome to Granvelle Castle!

Castle person: General Cain, Sir Riquet. It’s an honor to meet you two!

Riquet and I exchange a glance and smile at each other, our nervousness abating.

Akira: Everyone is kinder than I thought!

Riquet: Yes! I think our discussion will go well.
It’ll definitely work out...... All humans possess pure and good hearts within them. I will awaken their hearts and guide them to the light.

Cock Robin: Oh! Sir Sage, Mister Riquet!

(Footsteps)

I look up, hearing a familiar voice. Mister Cock Robin runs towards us while holding something in his hand.

Cock Robin: Perfect timing! We’ve just finished the samples for the commemorative medals of the Sage’s wizards!

Akira: Commemorative medals?

Cain: It’s one of Prince Arthur’s initiatives: so the people feel closer to the Sage’s wizards. ......Wow, these turned out great!

Cock Robin: Don’t you think so? Here, this is a commemorative medal with you on it, Mister Cain. You look like such a fine man!

Cain: You’re right! Thanks. My parents back home will be pleased.

Riquet: Where’s mine? Is there a commemorative medal of the Sage’s wizard Riquet?

Cock Robin: Of course! Here’s yours, Mister Riquet!



I peer at the medal along with Riquet: it shows his profile astride his broom, holding aloft the lantern that is his magic tool.
Riquet looks delighted, a blush spreading across his cheeks. He exclaims, his voice as sweet as melted sugar.

Riquet: Woah......! How wonderful...... I look like the legendary wizard......

Cock Robin: Ehehe! I’m glad that you like it!

Riquet: Where’s Prince Arthur’s? Please show me Mitile’s, too! And also......

Cain: Haha, you can take your time to look at them later. Cock Robin, where’s Marco? I want to introduce these two to him before the meeting.

Cock Robin: You’re talking about Mister Marco from the Holy Church of Faust, right? He already arrived. I’ll show him here.

(Footsteps)

After Mister Cock Robin departs, a young nobleman approaches us. He calls out to us, beaming widely.

Nobleman: Hey, Cain. It’s me, Henry; you were my guard once in the past. Would you introduce the Sage to me?

Cain: Ah, from back then. Of course, I’d be glad to!

Cain shouldn’t be able to see him, but he skillfully introduces us as naturally as if he could.

Akira: I’m Akira, the Sage.

Riquet: I’m the Sage’s wizard, Riquet.

Nobleman: It’s my honour to meet you two. The Umbra Volans incident was a handful, wasn’t it? I wish I could have witnessed your prowess in battle for myself!
It’s a shame that I wasn’t in the capital that day. In any case, I’m still grateful to the Sage and the Sage’s wizards from the bottom of my heart.

Riquet: Not at all. It’s only natural for those who have been bestowed with mysterious powers to work for to the people.

Nobleman: Splendid! I think the same way too. Wizards can easily accomplish things that would be a huge undertaking for humans, right?
That’s why you guys should really be putting yourselves out there. If we had you guys around, our national defense and everyday life would be so much easier!

Faced with his cheerful smile, Riquet and I both tilt our heads with a "Hmm?"

Akira: (I don’t think he means to be offensive, but somehow, I feel like.... He’s taking our work for granted.....)

Nobleman: Cain, I have high expectations for you too. The things that those annoying old geezers say? You don’t need to listen to them.
Your sword skills are exceptional, and you can use magic. You have nothing to be scared of, right? You’re such a lucky guy.

Cain: Well...... Things haven’t really been going that smoothly. Prince Arthur is also running up against a lot of difficulties.

Nobleman: I don’t believe it! The Prince wouldn’t know anything about hardship! He’s the prince of Central Country, and he was raised by Oz. There’s no human or wizard out there who can match up to that.
As the son of Central nobility, that is my pride! It keeps those Western nouveau-riche upstarts from parading around.
Just as the holy wizard Sir Faust protected our country, please ensure our prosperity and peace as a nation.

(Rustle)

The young nobleman pats Riquet’s shoulders, and then disappears in dashing whirl.
Riquet looks like he’s about to say something, but then falls silent. In the end, he gazes up sharply at Cain.

Riquet: ......Don’t you think his manner of thinking is degenerate?

Cain: Hm~. Well, you could say that.

Riquet: He may trust us, but I also think he is a lazy man who leaves all the work to others. Sloth is a sin.

Cain: Because of the influence of Saint Faust, Central Country holds the ideology that wizards who are friends of humans have a duty to serve them.
You said so too, didn’t you, Riquet? That wizards should serve humans.

Riquet: I did, but......

Riquet looks conflicted. I feel uneasy. Cain, too, has a harsh light in his gaze.

Akira: (Was Cain really a lucky guy? Has Arthur never experienced hardship? Is it Riquet’s duty to serve humans?)
(Really......?)

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