Volume 1: Chapter 015: Duke of Beigrates Cold Sweating in His Carriage
Author: かっぱ同盟／友麻碧
Link: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n3862be/
Translated by Zzonkedd
Edited by Gumihou and Pill Bug
I am Robert Beigrates.
Many address me as Duke of Beigrates or the Hawk of Margilia.
Well, I just had a very strange experience.
Even though I had just spoken to an 11-year-old girl, I felt as though I had just failed a business negotiation [1] with an experienced merchant.
Melvis Carored, a young female knight, is waiting for me within the carriage that has stopped just outside Count Odelle’s house. Her hair is as short as a man’s. When I open the carriage door, I find her with her eyes closed and a deep wrinkle between her brows. However, when she heard me, her eyes open and she greets me, [3] “Welcome back, Your Grace.”
“… Melvis, I’m a little exhausted.”
“That’s a bit rare for Your Grace, isn’t it?”
“Look at this hand, it’s covered with sweat,” [3] I laugh helplessly as I show my hand to Melvis.
After that, I [1] step properly into the carriage, set the hawk head cane aside and settle down in the seat opposite my knight. A short while later, the carriage begins to move.
“Your Grace, I sensed a great deal of magic from the Odelle mansion. [1] To investigate, I’d explored the grounds and climbed a tree to find out if I could see into the room where Your Grace is having your discussion.”
“…well, I suppose the fault is mine for asking you to investigate the place, but you wild child, must you really climb a tree? A tree, really… Can you even see anything?”
This woman had served the Beigrates ever since she was a child. While she acted wilful and masculine at times, she was really the pure and natural type. [3] She is the only one who was unaware of her own pureness.
“I have also looked into the identity of Makia Odelle and Tooru Sagaram. Both seem to check out. Though I cannot tell how much magic they possess, I can instinctively tell that it is a lot.”
“…hoo, is that why I felt so intimidated in their presence?”
I have had a few glimpses of Young Lady Makia and Tooru Sagaram several times in the past.
[1] She is one of my daughter’s friends after all and is naturally present at most playgroups that Smirda was in. During Smirda’s birthday party, as per proper etiquette, Young Lady Makia came into the hall while Tooru Sagaram stood at ready in the waiting room. That was when Melvis first sensed a mysterious power surrounding them.
A power known as magic.
Naturally, [2] I am interested in this power. It is a power that does not limit itself to the nobility, even ordinary people could manifest this power.
As a descendent of magic users, Melvis has the ability to use magic which makes her something like a female magic knight. It is said there was once a witch who could tell a person’s fate just by knowing their name. It would be useful to consult this so-called witch but not even Melvis could find someone if we know neither their faces nor names.
“Unfortunately, there are too many unknown factors. Unexpectedly, while I can feel a great deal of power from them, every other information appears to be locked away…”
“Hoo, is that actually possible?”
“For this to happen, the other side’s magic has to be far more powerful than mine.”
“You mean to say, Lady Makia and Tooru…”
“That’s right.”
Melvis took off the jewel she wore around her neck and showed it to me. [3] The gem appears to be some sort of magical tool.
“See the brilliance? This is a magic sensing tool passed down in my family. This pulsating light is something I’ve never seen before.”
“…….hoo, what is the meaning of the light?”
“Who knows? All I know is that my grandmother often says that people with too much power will influence the world in some way. I think, no matter what, we must keep an eye on those two.”
“Sounds right. We should get them on our side at all costs. They would be too troublesome as enemies.”
I have always been good at toying with others and having them dance on the palm of my hand. [3] I am proud to be the opposite of Elric, [1] that lovable fool.
And yet, the one who ended up losing in a conversation with an 11-year-old is me.
“As expected, seeing is believing. After meeting them… Well, I must say it’s a good thing that you noticed their magical power back then. Otherwise, I would never have thought of making a trip here.”
“Not at all. However, this is something that other magic users would notice eventually. As mentioned, a person with too much power will influence the world. That is to say, they would not be able to live out a peaceful countryside life for long.”
“Hmm,”
Well, well, looks like it’s my luck for noticing their existence this early.
The battle for the next generation of rulers at the Royal Palace is unfolding, [1] and as close to the Royal Family as the Beigrates are, this will have a major impact on us. Aside from sending Smirda into the imperial harem, I’d like to have more trusted and dependable people inside the Royal Palace.
Perhaps it is their fate. If so, then I’ll have to apologize to Elric in advance. However, I don’t plan on letting them rot away quietly at Delia Fields.
[1] As the carriage rolled across the land, the dusk light gave the fields a beautiful, quiet glow. Everything about it was vast and tranquil, a gorgeous countryside populated by very few people.“Melvis, what should I do… I feel like I have two monsters living right next to my house.”
“The decision is yours, Your Grace. Whether you choose to leave these monsters alone or attempt to tame them.”
“What about you? Do you think you can take them on?”
“No, never. They are at the level where going against them would mean instant death. That is the kind of existence they are.”
“…”
I sigh loudly at the naive and honest female knight in front of me.
That’s right. If my best source of information on magic says so, [1] this must be as close to the truth as it gets.
What kind of situation is this? Looks like I’ll have to do a lot of tightrope walking in the future.
The one who would be king could alter the course of this continent’s future. When the Southern Continent makes its moves, the shape of this world would change.
Right now, I am seeing quite a few forks on the road, each with its own costs and benefits.
[Gumihou: Well, I don’t hate this kind of calculative person]
[1] Filling in the ‘Unspoken’. Often, when it comes to Japanese novels, the translation might be a bit lacking since the author deliberately chooses to use fewer words and let the reader fill in the blanks through a preset cultural understanding.
If the missing info looks too sparse, Gumi will fill in some of the blanks. This is not to imply that the writer’s craft is lacking, but we do have a cultural gap. Gumi will try to fill in these gaps unobtrusively.
[2] Adjust paragraphs, for aesthetic purposes. Also, considering the style of writing, the author would inevitably repeat information. Gumi will at least adjust the delivery of the information so that it’s not verbatim to what had appeared before. [3] Connect short paragraphs to make one reasonable paragraph
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