Chapter 41

After a while, soldiers gathered from the castle, and the enemies were all apprehended. I thought that was the end of it for now. But,

(I can't just relax though...)

I wonder if I got a bit carried away with my old habits. I understand that it was bad for the princess to be kidnapped, and even I can see that it would be a serious issue for the country's prestige. The Orion family would also suffer as a result. So, wasn't this the best I could do? I can't help but think.

There were no casualties among my father's knights or the guards. But even taking advantage of the confusion, there is a clear difference in physical ability between the beastmen and the regular soldiers. We outnumbered them, but many of our soldiers were injured. Well, since about ten of the bandits died, I think we got a pretty good result overall.

(Absolutely no complacency!!)

I suppress the urge to get carried away, recalling past failures and putting a brake on my heart.

The royal guards came from the castle, took the princess, and immediately returned. We were ordered to appear the next day.

I suppress the urge to click my tongue and return home, escorted by ten of my father's knights.

As we approach the house, I use my Divine Eye and see that my mother is standing at the gate. Her presence is like that of Musashibou Benkei, who is said to have died standing.

"Um, I just remembered something I have to do..."

One of the knights says,

"I'm sorry, but Father's orders are to bring you back even if we have to force you."

"Wait, that's a bit too rough, isn't it?"

"..."

His eyes say, "Reflect on your actions."

I walk home like a condemned prisoner awaiting execution.

After a while, the house comes into clear view, and I can see my mother. She notices me and runs over at a speed that doesn't seem possible in a dress.

"I... Mother, I was worried!!!"

My mother says as she hugs me.

"I was so worried!

How much more do you have to worry me?!"

"Um, well..."

I can't believe what I'm seeing. It's a scene that shatters the values of my previous life. The sight of my mother hugging me with tears in her eyes.

"When your maid told me you weren't in your room, I thought my heart would stop!"

"Um, well, um..."

"When I heard that you and your group had captured the bandits who kidnapped the princess, I nearly fainted."

"I'm sorry..."

I never thought she would worry so much. I always thought that if I disappeared, no one would care, no one would be hurt.

"No, you don't understand! Rain!

You don't understand how much I and Lond love you and think about you!"

"You are more important to us than anything in this world!

To see you come back in such a state..."

My clothes are indeed tattered and worn from all the movement.

"I'm not hurt, though..."

It's not much of an excuse, but I wanted to convey that I'm okay. I didn't want her to cry for a guy like me.

"Whether you're hurt or not is not the issue!

Saving the princess means you were in mortal danger! That's what I'm saying!!"

"I'm sorry..."

Honestly, I was a bit flustered at the end. But the success of the operation was a big factor.

I probably wouldn't have died, but there was still a minimum level of danger.

"Rain! Promise me!

You won't do such a foolish thing again!

You won't do such dangerous things again!"

I can't. I can't make that promise. I will be doing things that involve this level of danger regularly. I'm a scumbag. In my previous life, I broke promises all the time. Now I think, there's no one as untrustworthy as me. That's why when I came to this world, I decided that even if I lie, I won't break my promises...

"Rain! Promise me! And let me feel at ease!!"

My mother's eyes look deeply into mine.

If I say, "Yes, I promise," how much easier would it be? But,

"I can't..."

I manage to say those words and, as usual, avoid her gaze.

"Why... Why, Rain..."

My mother steps back, swaying. The maid standing next to her rushes to support her.

"Rain-sama is tired, and Lady is exhausted. Let's leave it at this for today and talk again later."

"That's right...

Rain, you should rest today and we'll talk tomorrow."

With that, my mother returns to the house.

"Come, Rain-sama."

I am urged to return home as well.

Without saying a word, I change clothes, eat dinner, and return to my room.

There, a maid is waiting.

"Um..."

I look at the maid.

"Why didn't you come with me?"

"I would have stopped you..."

"Absolutely, I would have stopped you."

"I am determined to protect Rain-sama from any danger, even if it means sacrificing myself. That is my duty and the mission I was saved for."

She takes a deep breath and continues.

"If you had come back with even a scratch, I would have taken responsibility and committed suicide."

!!??

"Why!? Why would you do that!?"

"I would have fulfilled my duty as a royal maid by ensuring your safety. But I can't accept it. How can I, a commoner, be entrusted with the protection of Rain-sama, the next head of a duchy, while I stay safe in the background?"

"But, but that's..."

"It doesn't matter!!"

She suddenly raises her voice.

"I apologize for raising my voice.

But it doesn't matter.

Wherever Rain-sama goes, I must be by your side and protect you, even if it means being a shield in an emergency. So, it's only natural to try to stop you from going to a dangerous place, isn't it?"

"You're right..."

"Most of all, I don't want to worry Lady.

I tell her everything about Rain-sama. If something happened to you, we wouldn't be able to do anything, as per Lady's orders. I couldn't do anything this time."

That's not true.

"You're wrong.

Training Sukuna and Aina was a great help."

"My job is to be a shield and a sword.

Would a general command from the back while the commander fights at the front?"

If the commander is defeated, the battle is lost. The person who should be at the front is left behind. It's a different matter whether the person can accept it just because they won.

"Even though Sukuna and Aina have magical talent, magic is not omnipotent. They are far from being warriors. Please don't forget that..."

...

I was crushed. I acted lightly, but I caused so much worry, and I almost lost a maid over a single scratch.

"...

I acted rashly.

I'm sorry for causing you worry."

I bow my head. The words came out naturally. I never thought I would be told this much.

"Please be more careful in the future."

She bows her head as well.

Then, as a fighter, she became interested and asked me,

"May I ask you one question?"

"Yes, go ahead."

"Thank you.

Sukuna and Aina were a bit over level 10, I believe. I heard you defeated four bandits. I don't know their levels, but the strongest was probably around level 30. Rain-sama, you were supposed to be around level 5...

How did you defeat them?"

I'm actually level 50, but I can't say that.

(What should I do?

The maid definitely knows about my Skill of the Magic King...

I've caused her a lot of trouble, so I need to show some sincerity...)

It's not like she was just acting to deceive me.

I take a deep breath.

"Um, actually, I can use magic."

"Huh?"

She looks at me like I'm saying something ridiculous.

"So, I learned magic by secretly watching Sukuna read the magic book and practiced in secret. I'm sorry!"

"Um, Rain-sama... that's a lie, right?"

The maid, regaining her composure, says.

"Huh? Why?"

(?

What?

Is she pretending not to have heard that?)

I think, and the maid says,

"Because..."

She hesitates a bit.

"Because? Maybe you don't have any magical talent?"

Suddenly, the maid

tenses up and looks at me as if she's seen something unbelievable.

"You knew?"

Of course I did.

If you show me a magic book, I'll naturally try to cast a spell, right?

"Yes."

The maid takes a breath and says,

"If that's the case, there's nothing I can do.

Rain-sama has no magical talent. Not in fire, water, earth, wind, light, or darkness."

"I know, but..."

Does that even matter?

"Listen carefully.

If you have no magical talent, you absolutely cannot use magic. Magical talent is entirely innate. And Rain-sama, you will never be able to use magic in your lifetime."

She says this with the utmost seriousness.

"Hahaha!! No, no, that doesn't matter! Because I have the Skill of the Magic King!"

...

The room falls silent.

"Huh? What's wrong?"

The maid opens her mouth.

"What is the Skill of the Magic King?"

"Eh?"

Didn't Father and Mother tell her?

(No, no, I remember!! On the day I was born, she was definitely behind Father.

Then she should have seen my skills with the Magic Eye stone!

What, did she forget?)

"No, the Skill of the Magic King, Father or Mother must have told you...

Ah, or did you not know about the ability?

If so, I have no choice...

I'll tell you part of it.

It is..."

"Wait! Wait, Rain-sama!

I don't understand what you're saying!

I've never seen or heard of the Skill of the Magic King!!"

"Huh?"

What? Are you lying here? I know you saw it.

"Did you forget?

Or is it something like...

You're pretending not to have heard it and want to never talk about it again?

If so, I'm sorry, but I'm not good at that. Can you clearly tell me? I guarantee no one is eavesdropping."

I activate my Divine Eye and look around the room, the attic, and the closet. Of course, no one is hiding.

I was trying to have a serious conversation, but I was brushed off. I got a bit annoyed. She must have sensed my anger.

"No, no, that's not it.

I really don't know about the Skill of the Magic King."

"Huh?

You didn't hear about it?

The Skill of the Magic King, rarity 9?

That's impossible."

The maid, regaining her composure, says,

"The highest rarity of skills in this world is 7."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

I suddenly felt a chill down my spine. I felt like there was some absolute mistake.

"The highest rarity of skills in this world is 7."

She says clearly.

My heart is pounding more than ever. My hands are shaking, and I feel cold despite being in a room kept at a comfortable temperature.

"No, but..."

(Something... something to counter!! Something! Ah, right!)

"I heard this country has a tradition of the Magic Eye ceremony!

You must have been there! Then..."

I say anxiously, and the maid replies,

"Yes, I was there when Rain-sama was born.

Of course, I saw Rain-sama's status with the Magic Eye stone."

"Then..."

"The skills listed at that time were:

Rarity 4 - High MP Increase

Rarity 5 - Divine Speed

Rarity 6 - My Spear is the Weakest, My Shield is the Strongest

Rarity 7 - Full Magic Absorption

Rarity 7 - No Incantation

...That's all."

"What are you saying... What are you saying? What are you saying?!

Don't lie!

The Skill of the Magic King, rarity 9, was supposed to be there!

Right?!"

I saw it clearly at the time. My voice becomes rough.

"No... the space below was indeed blank."

"What...?

But I... in the magic artifact book..."

I saw it clearly in the magic artifact book. It said I could see all skills.

"Rain-sama, the magic artifact book's description of the Magic Eye stone is different from what the Magic Eye stone actually shows."

"What...?"

Then she says the decisive words.

"The text when using the Magic Eye... is 'A person within a certain distance can see skills of rarity 7 or lower.'

Even if there were a skill of rarity 9, we wouldn't be able to see it."

She says.

"A... a..."

(It all makes sense. I understand everything.

Father and Mother's attitude at the time...

If they couldn't see it... if they didn't know, their attitude makes sense.

Then, what?

Did I just misunderstand?

Is it just that I misunderstood?

No...

Did I betray someone again? Someone who loved me so much...?

No... no, then I am...)

"A... aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh