Chapter 87

That night.

Under the moonlight in the courtyard of the mansion, Valleta was drying her wet hair with a towel after bathing. She was already wearing a tunic for changing, but she hadn't put on any pants and her feet were bare. The wooden board she used for bathing was laid out at her feet, so her feet wouldn't get dirty from the garden soil. After sweating profusely on the way to and from the mountain, her body had become quite salty, but thanks to the thorough washing with soap, she was now completely clean. The leather cord that had tied her hair was undone, and her beautiful golden hair, which reached her shoulders, shimmered in the moonlight.

Occasionally, a cool breeze blew through the garden, feeling pleasant on her skin, and the insects in the surrounding grass were making beautiful music.

*(Since I found the iron ore, the next step is to actually smelt it and master the technique. I also need to try more civil engineering projects, and I want to make at least one of each agricultural and industrial machine...)*

Valleta intended to do everything she could in the village, from metal refining to machine manufacturing. Even if she memorized all the contents of the books that Ichirou brought, she would still feel uneasy until she tried them out in practice. First, she needed to apply as much as possible of the civil engineering and refining knowledge she gained from the books in the village and make it her own. Next, she needed to understand the mechanisms of the machines and tools she could make through the manufacturing process and, if possible, explore efficient mass production methods. While making a few machines and tools for the village didn't require mass production, Valleta planned to visit Ichirou in Isteria with the skills and knowledge she had acquired.

If she acquired as much technology as possible and mastered practical application methods, Ichirou would surely need her. She wouldn't have to hear something like, "Go back and wait," as she did when they parted in Isteria.

At that time, Valleta felt a terrifying sense of loss, as if Ichirou was going to a place she couldn't reach. She didn't understand why her heart was so crushed, but she never wanted to feel that way again. Valleta was determined to become someone Ichirou absolutely needed.

*(And I need to do basic training every day... When will Isaac come next?)*

Yesterday and the day before, Valleta had learned the basics of military-style training from Isaac.

Usually, when new recruits join the army, their initial training involves improving their basic physical strength through activities like marathons and push-ups, and getting used to living in a group to develop discipline. However, in Valleta's case, her physical abilities were at a divine soldier level, so the training for improving basic physical strength was limited to learning the methods.

She had learned how to hold and swing a sword and shield and the basic posture, and on the second day of training, Isaac had already given her a passing grade. Previously, Valleta had reluctantly learned how to use weapons from Barin, so that experience helped. Moreover, she was now eager for training, so her attitude was completely different.

The training she was told to do next involved using a wooden sword and shield, which were much heavier than the real ones, to practice cutting down a log about 1.8 meters high, which would be used as a target. For Valleta, this wasn't much of a problem. She had learned the forms of attacks like cutting and thrusting from Isaac, so now she needed to practice them repeatedly to make them second nature.

After getting used to these, she was told she would also practice throwing spears, archery, and riding. Since Valleta's goal was to be able to protect Ichirou, she had suggested to Isaac that she only needed to focus on close combat, but he immediately rejected it, saying, "You need to be able to do everything."

It was unclear how long it would take, but Isaac said he would include mock battles at various points based on Valleta's progress. Ideally, he wanted to continue eating Japanese food to be on the same level as Valleta for sparring, but he couldn't reveal the secret on his own. There were several former soldiers in the village, so she could ask them to be her sparring partners. They were definitely stronger than Valleta, so they would be excellent training partners.

After putting the towel she had been using to dry her hair into a basket, Valleta put on a thin waist wrap, then her pants, and slipped on her sandals. She leaned the board she had been standing on against the wall of the mansion. There was a mountain of things she needed to do from tomorrow. There was no time to be lazy.

If it was for being with Ichirou, she was confident she could work as hard as needed. She was determined to do whatever it took. She wouldn't let herself feel that way again.

*...But maybe I'll build a bath first.*

Holding her hair to her nose and relaxing a bit, Valleta muttered. Her hair still had the gentle scent of lavender from the aromatherapy pendant she had given Ichirou the night before.

Meanwhile, at that time.

In front of a crackling campfire, Ichirou was chatting with Isaac and Haber. Marie was also sitting on a long chair next to Ichirou, holding a copper cup with a handle filled with the herbal tea Ichirou had just brewed. She looked a bit nervous and kept glancing at Ichirou's face.

Around them, the soldiers and servants of the unit were relaxing in various spots, and the campsite, with its many tents, was enveloped in a peaceful atmosphere. The clear night sky was filled with twinkling stars, creating a beautiful scene of a starry night.

*Now that you mention it, Marie does look a bit like Haber. But I never thought they were siblings... You should have told me earlier.*

*It was my fault for not mentioning it. I didn't think it was necessary information for my duties...*

Ichirou had just learned that Marie was Haber's sister. He had thought Marie was just a young servant and was very surprised to learn they were siblings.

*But it must be tough for you to live away from your parents and stay at the Nelson mansion. It's not too late to reduce your working hours to the afternoon and go home together, right?*

*Thank you for your concern. But we are fine as we are, and we would like to continue serving you, Kazura-sama. We will do our best to be of service to you.*

Haber answered with a smile in response to Ichirou's concerned words. Isaac watched the two of them with an indescribable expression.

*But, you're a noble's daughter, working as a maid?*

When Ichirou voiced a sudden question, Haber made a slightly sad expression. In his heart, he was clenching his fist and thinking, "Yes, this is it!"

*...Actually, Marie is a child my father had with a slave, so she is my half-sister.*

*What?*

Haber said this almost as if muttering, and Ichirou's eyes widened in surprise.

*Slaves are born into slavery, so Marie was treated as a slave in the house, not as family. Her ownership belongs to my father, so I couldn't do anything about it, and I felt helpless seeing her suffer every day. But since she started serving you, Kazura-sama, she doesn't have to go home, and you have been very kind to her. I am truly grateful. Right, Marie?*

When the conversation was directed to her, Marie, who looked nervous, shrank back but nodded several times.

*Y-Yes. Kazura-sama has always been very kind to me...*

*No, no, Marie-san always works very hard, and I am the one who should be grateful. Thank you always.*

*No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, 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