Chapter 33

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

---

Imperial City Yami stood at the entrance of the training ground, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter given to her by her mother. As she moved swiftly, slashing through the scarecrows along her path, Yami, at the age of nine, displayed a genius-level sword technique. Her figure was as beautiful as a star shining in the darkness.

"Continuous Slash"

The sword was imbued with mana, and the speed at which Yami wielded it far exceeded human limits. It was like a fleeting sparkle, and the sword strikes were so beautiful that they were hard to see clearly.

"Excellent, Lady Yami. Even a simple 'Continuous Slash' is difficult to perform as beautifully and quickly as you do."

"Thank you, Instructor."

With a click, Yami sheathed her sword, released her stance, and smiled. A maid brought a cold towel, and Yami gently wiped her face and lifted her ponytail.

The place where Yami was now was the training ground of the Imperial City family. It was a well-maintained open space, and the walls surrounding the training ground were fortified with a powerful barrier spell to minimize the risk of stray projectiles flying outside.

At the age of nine, Yami was already undergoing training that rivaled that of adults. She was already a skilled swordsman, capable of defeating an average warrior.

"Miss Yami, if I may, aren't you overtraining? It would be better to play with Miss Mii?"

Recently, the instructor had been concerned about Yami's excessive focus on training and suggested that she play more. Play is essential for children, as it helps develop social skills and communication abilities, which are crucial for high-ranking nobles. Many things, such as adapting to different play styles and conversation, cannot be learned through studies alone. Especially in tea parties and evening gatherings, the ability to network and prepare for such events is vital.

A cool and aloof attitude is only suitable for those who possess overwhelming power and do not need to care about others. Moreover, such an attitude brings no benefits. Therefore, everyone was worried about Yami's recent behavior.

"I understand, but I want the power to protect Mii-sama."

Yami understood the concerns, but she was only nine years old, an age when children should be playing.

However, during the battle with the Stone Golem, she was almost useless. She managed to land one hit, and Mii-sama thanked her with the cutest smile, which made her happy, but it was just one hit. It was pitiful.

Therefore, Yami wanted the power to defeat the Stone Golem if the same situation arose again. So, she reluctantly declined playing with Mii-sama and continued her training.

"Yami, you're too narrow-minded."

As the instructors struggled to persuade the stubborn Yami, a dignified and heavy voice called out from behind. Recognizing the familiar voice, Yami turned around to see her father, as expected, walking slowly in his kimono.

"Father. What do you mean by that?"

Feeling that her actions were being criticized, Yami pouted childishly.

Seeing this, her father, Ouga, chuckled and decided to share a simple solution to the current situation with his daughter.

"Your weapon. The one you're using is the mass-produced 'Magic Armor Kotetsu Type 22,' right?"

"Yes, it's the latest model. A custom model would be too expensive and wasteful, considering I'm still growing."

Yami looked at her Magic Armor Kotetsu Type 22, which had been modified to fit her size. Indeed, it was the right choice. A custom model would be too expensive for a nine-year-old, at least until she was twelve.

However, this applied only to the Magic Armor.

"Your weapon is not a problem. Use this."

With a nod, the secretary handed Yami a long paulownia box. The box was sealed with several protective talismans, and a strong dark power emanated from within.

"Father, what is this?"

Feeling a powerful force within the box, Yami looked puzzled, but her father encouraged her to open it.

Peeling off the talismans and untying the string, Yami gently opened the box to reveal a sword in a black lacquered scabbard. The sword exuded an overwhelming power.

"The name of this sword is 'Yaten.' It is one of the magical artifacts that have been passed down in our family for generations."

"Yaten... What a beautiful blade."

Drawing the sword, the blade shimmered like starlight in the darkness. A dark aura enveloped the sword, and Yami could sense its immense power.

The moment she drew the sword, her skin tingled, and she felt her mana being drained. Indeed, her mana was being absorbed.

"Ugh. Father, what is this?"

"It's proof of your immaturity. This sword absorbs mana. The only way to prevent it is to control your mana completely and prevent it from being absorbed."

Yami's head spun, and she almost fell to her knees. Clenching her teeth, she tried to endure, but her mana would soon be depleted.

Seeing this, Ouga remained calm, as he had expected it. Of course, Yaten was a powerful sword, one of the family treasures that only a skilled wielder could handle.

"Given your current mana capacity, you should be able to fight for a few minutes. You should be able to sever a few limbs of a Stone Golem."

"...That's wonderful. Thank you, Father."

Yami immediately saw several advantages of the sword. It could be used in emergencies, and training with it would help her practice mana control. Additionally, it would allow her to return to her normal training routine and play with Mii-sama.

However, her father had more to say.

"The House of Marquis has wealth, power, and military strength. I gave you this family treasure as a quick way to gain power, but you should understand that there is more to it, right?"

Feeling a kindness in her father's stern eyes, Yami nodded. Despite his strictness, he was still kind.

"A single sword can only protect a limited area. What can be protected by military strength is minimal. You need to network in politics, hire strong guards, and build alliances to increase your influence. Right?"

"Exactly. I don't want you to mistakenly believe that the heir of the Marquis can protect everything just by wielding a sword."

Indeed, Yami had been focusing her efforts in the wrong direction. For someone of her background, this was acceptable, but she was the heir of the Marquis. She needed to employ various means and take necessary actions.

"Ugh... That's a harsh lesson. I'll follow your advice and make time to play with Mii-sama from tomorrow."

Yami answered calmly but was inwardly overjoyed. She would bring Mii-sama's favorite snacks tomorrow. Chocolate would be good, wouldn't it?

Her father, who seemed to see through her thoughts, chuckled and indicated that he had more to say. Yami stopped her training and followed her father.

---

Back in the living room, they sat across from each other at the table. Sensing the importance of the conversation, Yami straightened her back.

After the maid placed coffee on the table and bowed out, Ouga lifted his coffee cup and took a sip. Yami's cup contained cold milk from a horn rabbit cow with honey from a honey bee, providing a soothing sweetness.

"Actually, the decision has been made to grant the title of Viscount to Takanobu Yoshitsune."

"Viscount? Has Mii-sama's father finally made up his mind?"

Yami had heard about this. It was necessary to protect Mii-sama, and even a nine-year-old could understand that a commoner could not protect a healer like Mii-sama.

"No, he has been granted the title of Count. I petitioned the Emperor, and it was approved."

"Count? Is there a reason for this?"

Surprised by the unexpected news, Yami could not hide her shock. There were many barons, and the title was mostly honorary. As a noble, they could not be treated too harshly by other nobles.

However, counts were different. They were often referred to as the true nobility, and many were company presidents with significant wealth. Unlike the medieval era, they did not have territories, but they received tax benefits.

The more money they earned, the more benefits they received, which contributed to the wealth gap between nobles and commoners.

Becoming a count was difficult, with only about a hundred families holding the title. Even as a second son of a former marquis, Mii-sama's father, who was a commoner and had little wealth, seemed unlikely to become a count.

There must have been a reason, and it had to be related to Mii-sama.

"Actually, Mii-chan has cured 'Magic Power Syndrome.'"

Those words made Yami understand. She had been desperately researching the current state of healers to protect Mii-sama. Mii could have done the same, but her game knowledge had hindered her, so she had not.

"There are only ten healers who can cure 'Magic Power Syndrome,' right?"

"Yes."

"I see. Mii-sama is nine years old now. If she can cure 'Magic Power Syndrome' at this stage, she will be able to heal even physical damage in the future."

Mii-sama is a genius. She will definitely be able to cure it. This is a forward investment. I need to be by her side and protect her even more.

"Once a count, it will be easier to advance in rank and form alliances with high-ranking nobles."

"Excuse me?"

"Ahem, for now, that's the plan. You need to protect her. She has low combat ability and is a typical healer."

I thought I heard something strange, but it must have been my imagination. I'm glad. Why did Father cough? Is he catching a cold? We need to be careful with the rainy season approaching.

"Indeed. I understand. I swear to protect her for life."

I swear on this 'Yaten.'

Mii-sama is a healer. I, with my combat ability, wealth, and power, must protect her.

Yami made a strong resolve and raised 'Yaten' high.

The current Yami is quite different from the Yami in the novel. How this will affect the original story is unknown, even to the gods.

However, Yami has grown one step further for her best friend.

At the very least, no insects will be able to get close to Mii-sama.