After finishing the day’s work and returning, I checked Airi’s condition and prepared for the next day.
For the past two months, I’ve followed this routine, but there were tis when I had to stay long-term in a distant place.
The reason I could be sowhat free from the resulting anxiety was that a reliable helper stayed by her side in my absence.
“So, you an you’ll be on a subjugation mission for the next six months?”
“Yes, so I won’t be able to return to the capital for a while.”
In the workshop located in the basent of the mansion.
There, Tashian, who was in the middle of making equipnt, began to touch the sword she had just finished.
The surface was gradually carved with grooves by the mana in her fingernail, and the inscriptions made by her delicate touch were a type of magical script called ‘runes’.
Were these concepts that existed in this world since humans created writing?
Once engraved, they possess power and were mainly used in equipnt crafting, but it was said that humans couldn’t easily interpret or acquire the sense needed to engrave them.
“If you’re going on an expedition for half a year, you need to prepare a lot.”
Tashian not only handled such absurd skills skillfully but also handed the results as if they were nothing special.
She always said she was sorry for not doing better, but I’d seen many weapons since my days as a porter.
I understood the great value of the weapons she made, but now I was too tired to be surprised, so I just gathered mana into the sword in my hand.
-Fwoosh!
As soon as I gathered the mana, the sword ignited.
When I swung the flaming sword at the target, the tal surface was scarred and scorched.
As expected, even though it had declined, it was a weapon made by a dragon. If put on the market, it would definitely fetch a high price.
“But by then, it will be ti for the baby to be born. Can you co back at that ti?”
“Well, I’m a bit worried about that too. Subjugations can sotis take longer than expected.”
After testing the sword’s performance, I put it down and focused power into my hand.
*Buzz. *
The sound of mana was gathering and then rging with the sword.
When I felt the remnants of the spirit within the mana morizing the shape of the sword and naturally gathering to , I reached into the air to manifest the weapon.
“…Still, I should try to co back by then.”
-Fwoosh!
A fierce fla rose from the sword made of mana in my hand.
That wasn’t the result of using mana to perform magic but because I perfectly replicated the rune engraved on the sword Tashian made.
Actually, runes exert their effect only when the letters are ticulously carved, but using the spirit’s fine control abilities, so of those difficulties can be mitigated.
As a replica, it might be less powerful than the original, but in terms of versatility, it’s much better since it can be manifested and used without carrying it.
“I should make more careful equipnt.”
As if agreeing, Tashian started working again to prepare equipnt that I could replicate and use.
As I got used to handling the weapons she handed , soone quietly approached as I sat down to rest.
The one who approached, holding a water bottle, was a cluster of spirits with a translucent body.
“Ah, thank you.”
-Woooong.
The cluster of spirits responded imdiately to my thanks and then started tidying up the training equipnt scattered nearby.
Even without specific instructions from , they started doing what I needed.
Considering they initially only mimicked my actions, the current cluster had grown remarkably.
Although I couldn’t handle perfect clones like Crown Prince Seis yet… We’d co this far in just two months, so there was still much room for growth.
-Wooong.
When I was satisfied with such growth, the cluster of spirits approached and made a crying sound.
The reason they often showed this behavior after work was that they had developed not only their judgnt but also emotional aspects like desire and reward psychology.
And once I noticed that, what I had to do was clear.
“Yes, you did well.”
-Wooooong~
When I patted its head, the blue form trembled.
Its appearance was similar to a human, but it followed so faithfully that it looked cute, like a pet showing affection.
Actually, rather than a clone, it was more of a separate entity that projected , so I should consider it a partner… Wait a minute.
Why is its body like this? It should be projecting , so why is the chest area…?
“You seem to have gotten quite used to handling spirits.”
As I was concerned about that, Tashian approached and spoke to while I was resting.
At that mont, I was startled and lost concentration, causing the spirit’s body, which had been staring at , to scatter and disappear.
When concentration is broken, the connection is also broken, so it was a natural result.
“Oh my, did I disturb you?”
“Haha, no. It’s okay. It will co out again if I call.”
Yes, unlike ordinary people, the cluster I handled forms the sa as before.
I could think about the questions later. I decided to brush it off for now and looked down at my hand that patted the spirit, speaking bitterly.
“Still, I’m far from it. Compared to the person who passed this power to …”
She just didn’t have the opportunity to grow, but if Tacchia were alive, she would surely have achieved more remarkable results than I have.
That was what I knew best, having inherited her mories.
Still, Tashian didn’t take my words seriously and smiled softly in front of .
“Well, I think you’re growing faster than she did.”
“…Do you really think so?”
“Hehe, of course. Not only handling spirits, but with a bit more physical training, you’ll catch up to her.”
Even if she had declined, wasn’t she a dragon who had lived for ten thousand years?
I truly realized how amazing it was that such a dragon genuinely acknowledged , not just out of pretense.
Still, I couldn’t be completely comforted by her words because I felt that reality demanded more from to be satisfied.
“Feeling inadequate despite that ans it’s not because you’re worse than her, but because you feel that this isn’t enough.”
Yes, just as she pointed out.
Since eting the Crown Prince, I’ve felt strongly that this wasn’t enough.
So, I must beco strong enough to face whatever cos next.
“…Can I do it?”
As I felt thirst in the unsatisfying reality, Tashian gently embraced and whispered.
“I can’t say for sure that you can, but rember one thing. Everyone around you, including , is supporting you.”
The warmth from her embrace, along with the gradually fading burden.
It ant that I relied on her a lot.
Realizing this, I smiled bitterly and buried my head deeper into her embrace.
“Thank you, Mom…”
A word reflexively uttered by the warmth.
“Mom?”
Tashian lifted her body and stared at with wide-open eyes.
“…Uh.”
“Quickly, tell . What cos after ‘Mom’?”
My throat got stuck at her wide-open eyes.
Mumbling sothing, I finally turned my gaze away from her and spoke with a strained voice.
“Uh, Mom… uh, beautiful goddess…”
“…”
“…Uh, hmm. I guess it was too much?”
-Slap!
“…It’s unfair.”
After leaving the workshop, I couldn’t help but complain about Tashian while rubbing my aching back.
Sure, it was partly my fault for unconsciously raising expectations, but wouldn’t anyone feel pressured if they were stared at like that with such intensity?
“I should hope to say it properly next ti.”
Next ti would be six months later, but if that much ti passes, I should have the chance to say it properly, I thought, walking through the mansion’s hallway.
“What are you hoping to say properly?”
Startled by the voice, I stopped and slowly turned my gaze to the side.
There, through a crack in the door, was rilyn staring at .
“…rilyn?”
“Hyo-sung.”
Right, the mansion was so large that I hadn’t realized it sooner—this was the area where rilyn’s room was located.
Realizing this, I tried to face her imdiately, but rilyn only peeked her head through the door crack and glared at .
“Is there sothing you need to tell ?”
“Sothing to tell you?”
“I feel like there’s sothing very important…”
Sothing important… Oh, right.
Since the expedition was coming up soon, I had to let her know that we’d be apart for a while.
“Actually, there’s an expedition coming up, and I wanted to talk about it…”
-Thud!
“…Um, rilyn?”
“I don’t know.”
A sharp voice.
The disappointnt in her voice imdiately made realize I had misspoken.
“I don’t know soone like Hyo-sung. You only take care of Airi all the ti, and neglect .”
“No, no. Neglect? I would never think of that…”
“Oh really~ The only important thing to you is Airi, right? I’m just a sideshow, a concubine, a toy to play with for a while, right? Thank you~ For treating like this after I left my hotown to co to you~!”
“I’m sorry. It’s just that Airi needs a lot of care right now…”
“Then keep taking care of her! Leave neglected as you’ve been doing!”
Her voice gradually grew louder, while mine shrank in response.
I admit I neglected rilyn for the past two months, but it couldn’t be helped.
It was impossible to give everyone limited ti, and with Airi’s condition, I had no choice but to ask others to understand.
…I’m also fully aware that I beca a jerk the mont I started juggling two relationships.
[Read this when you’re in trouble because of rilyn.]
Fortunately, the current situation was sowhat anticipated.
I took out the note I received from Airi earlier and recited the words written on it.
“rilyn.”
“What?”
“Let’s go on a date.”
-Creak.
“…A date?”
“Yes, yes. Let’s walk around the city together today.”
I had no plans until the expedition, so I had plenty of ti.
Until then, I could take care of not only Airi but also rilyn, so there was no hesitation.
Moreover, Airi instructed to take rilyn on a date to cheer her up, so if she gave her permission, it should be fine.
“Have you eaten?”
Fortunately, rilyn didn’t close the door again and seed willing to talk to .
Feeling relieved that things were going according to the note, I responded to her.
“Oh, yes. We should eat together too. Is there sothing you’d like to eat?”
“Then let’s go eat eel.”
“Eel?”
“Yes, they say eel is good for stamina.”
“…Um, rilyn.”
“I have a lot to catch up on from the past two months. And I overheard earlier that you’ll be gone for six months again…”
Hehehe, a faint laugh was coming from behind the door.
As a chill ran down my spine from the sound, I carefully recalled the contents of the note I had read earlier.
[If you go along with the date, she will be satisfied. For als, focus on foods that are good for stamina…]
Ah, yes. Since Airi allowed it, it should be fine.
…It’s really okay, right?
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