The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies - Chapter 119



118 – Reunion (10)

119.

“Grandpa says he misses you a lot.”

“My teacher?”

“Yeah. And your sister too.”

“Lady Celina?”

“She was sad that the master she finally found disappeared.”

“…”

Inside the carriage returning to Dranus.

Sleeping in an inn away from home, and for weeks instead of just a few days, can be tiring.

A familiar and comfortable place to sleep is important for anyone, and some people might not even be able to fall asleep at all.

But that didn’t seem to apply to Synath.

From the Ecclesia-exclusive inn to the return to Dranus, she hasn’t stopped talking.

It might be annoying if it weren’t for Kallen, who’s already used to Synath’s antics.

It’s for reasons like that, that Kallen and Sinath are the best match for each other.

Sinath could talk with Kallen all day and be happy.

And Kallen is good at listening.

So, until the moment they returned to their household, Kallen and Sinath talked non-stop.

“Little brat’s back.”

“Yes, Master.”

“It’s regrettable, but I can’t exactly welcome you warmly this time either.”

The first person to greet them upon returning to the Dranus manor was Blamia.

Always with that grumpy expression, but both Kallen and Sinath knew it was his way of expressing that he was happy to see them.

“Plache. Little brat, you did this, didn’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“Tsk tsk…you crazy little brat… Now you’ve gone and messed with Flaber, who’s got the backing of five great houses.”

“…Do you know Flaber, Master?”

“Why wouldn’t I? That guy’s a notorious madman.”

If even Blamia knew, then Flaber’s infamy must have been exceptionally high.

And Blamia had said Flaber had the backing of five great houses.

Even if he didn’t know the specifics, it meant that Blamia knew a fair amount about Flaber’s misdeeds.

“A crazy old man got bitten by a crazy little brat. But good. That guy wasn’t crazy in a gentle way. He got what he deserved.”

“…Am *I* crazy in a gentle way?”

Blamia chuckled at that.

The way he stroked his white beard, he almost seemed pleased.

“Fine. I’ll count you as gently crazy, for now.”

“…Thank you.”

“So, was that Daim guy strong?”

“The Head was out of his mind. We didn’t even get to fight.”

“Agh. Then there’s nothing much to hear, is there.”

Clicking his tongue, Blamia leaned back haphazardly in his chair and looked at Kallen.

“5th rank. You broke through it.”

“Yes.”

Kalen broke through the 5th Circle at a young age, his talent so exceptional he might even pierce a higher one.

That doesn’t diminish Blamia’s own circle.

The old man, once wielding magic like a 6th Circle calamity, wasn’t easily deceived.

The time they’d spent together wasn’t something to ignore either.

“So, that’s why you went ahead with it. Got too excited about breaking the 5th Circle, didn’t you?”

“…I’ll be more restrained.”

“Enough. There’s no turning back now anyway.”

“What do you mean…”

“The Empire will react. High society will be in an uproar, nobles will sneer… but what can those fools do? Four of the five Great Families will be on your side, kid.”

Blamia grinned, looking at Kalen.

“You came back healthy, that’s all that matters, kid.”

“Grandpa! I was! Separated from my granddaughter for weeks…!”

“…Yes. Shinat. I’m sorry.”

A place to return to.

Not a bad feeling.

The problem that’s bothering Kalen most right now is definitely the secret tied to his Inner World.

He’s certain that going to the Spirit Realm will reveal the secret, but accepting it is another matter entirely.

An Inner World that’s been there since the beginning.

A peculiar constitution that allows him to use magic without mana.

Magic circles that skyrocket in power, even if it means risking his life.

Could he live more or less carefree now, even after learning what’s behind all that?

It’s not something he knows well, but Kalen looked ahead.

Shinat and Blamia bickering.

It was a sight he’d grown tired of seeing, but it brought a kind of stability to Kalen.

Somehow it felt like even if he went to the Spirit Realm, that sight wouldn’t change.

Kalen slowly moved his body.

“I’m a little tired, I’ll head up first.”

“Alright. Take my granddaughter with you while you’re at it.”

“Hngg… Kal…!”

Shinat, trying to climb on his back, felt strangely light.

“It’s a relief you’ve returned safely, Master.”

“Ah, Lady Celina.”

Welcoming Kalen back to his room were Celina and the other maids.

Apprentice maids, including Orti and Putre.

Their numbers had thinned since he last saw them before leaving, but it was still a considerable crowd.

“Would you like to wash up first?”

Kalen had dropped Shinat off in his room on the way back.

Perhaps Shinat would come in when it was time to sleep, but he also wanted to rest now.

Kalen nodded, and Celina dismissed the apprentice maids, saying she would prepare.

But since Celina hadn’t left, Kalen stared at her quietly.

“…I’m about to take my clothes off, you know.”

“I am aware, Master.”

“…”

Shouldn’t she at least turn her head away?

As Kalen looked at Celina, she closed her eyes.

“It is my responsibility to manage your condition, Master. Today, being the first day, I will close my eyes, but from tomorrow, I will at least check your upper body.”

“…Yes.”

Perhaps she still felt sorry for having seen his scars when they first met.

Kalen pondered over that responsibility as he took off his clothes and went into the bathroom.

The warm water that had been prepared beforehand made him feel as though his weariness was melting away.

*

Another week had passed.

It wasn’t a long time, but it was enough to become accustomed to the events that unfolded every morning and evening.

“…”

“Master. Please don’t move your mouth. It’ll smudge.”

In the morning, Celina, who he didn’t know when she woke up, would knock on his door.

When Kalen opened the door, the apprentice maids would enter carrying the toiletries.

Kalen had never experienced the life of a noble, so he didn’t know if all nobles lived like this, but if there was such a thing as a ‘noble life,’ he thought this might be it.

After Kalen finished his morning wash, Celina would invariably remove his shirt and apply medicine to his scars.

The medicine wouldn’t get rid of the scars, but she applied it to only the few scars that had any chance of fading.

At first, it felt a little awkward, surrendering his body shirtless like this, but now, Kallen had pretty much adjusted.

He didn’t refuse, partly out of gratitude for her applying the medicine.

“I told you not to move your mouth, Master.”

“…”

In the evenings, she applies some unidentified liquid to his face.

She says it’s a mix of things good for the skin, but its scentless, slick texture rubbed Kallen the wrong way.

He found it far more repulsive than stripping his top and submitting, so Kallen initially refused this service.

But Celina pleaded, saying it was absolutely necessary, and when he asked why, she spoke of Kallen’s looks.

She said that seeing him made her want to constantly dress him up.

She couldn’t forget the thrill she felt when choosing his gala attire.

Her stubbornness won him over in the end.

That service, which had continued for a week now, had become routine for Kallen.

Though, one thing he still couldn’t get used to was,

“Master?”

“…”

Even if it was acceptable in the morning, in the evenings, he inevitably had to meet her gaze.

When she applied the medicine to his scars, he could sit with his back to her, but when she applied something to his face, he had nowhere to look.

Even if he just stared at the ceiling, Celina would somehow climb on top of him to make sure she hadn’t missed a spot.

The soft-scented hair, constantly cascading down.

Her gaze, sweeping across his face but always meeting his.

The pretty smile she sometimes showed.

These were things that normally wouldn’t even cross his mind.

If anything, thinking of Elliana, Kallen was usually confident about making eye contact.

But maybe because he was lying in bed, unable to do anything.

The atmosphere always became awkward whenever Celina climbed onto the bed.

Not for Celina, of course, but that was the case for Kallen, at least.

“All done. You were very patient, Master?”

“…”

Plus, her tone was subtly like she was taking care of a younger sibling.

But knowing that saying anything would surely earn him a lecture from Celina, Kallen had no choice but to close his eyes.

“Are you bored, Master?”

Kalen, eyes closed, thought for a moment, then opened them slightly, blinking a few times.

Unable to move his mouth, he answered with his eyes, and Selina chuckled softly before clearing her throat.

“It seems a big game parlor has opened near the territory. The owner takes less of a cut, and the games are so varied that many people go there.”

“…”

“Really… losing everything is just a moment away. But they say that even if you just go near it, they’ll try to pull you inside, so you shouldn’t go near it, okay, Master?”

A game parlor is a type of gambling den.

Where large sums of money change hands, a place rampant with bets and gambling disguised as games.

“…”

It’s not illegal.

The imperial law prohibits gambling, but there are always those who exploit loopholes in the law.

Listening to Selina, Kalen hesitated for a moment before nodding, as if to say not to worry.

In Kalen’s mind.

A heavy pouch of gold coins, which he had taken but had nowhere to use, came to mind.