Chapter 29

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On a warm afternoon with the sun shining down.

I was strolling through the duchy with the baroness.

The reason was that today was the day of Amantha Baron's sword training with Demian.

"It's a great honor to be able to assist in the young master's training."

The baroness said with a smile, but I couldn't believe it.

Of all people, training with the baron?

At first, I thought it was a joke.

"Really, Lady Eli. I'll swear on Lady Eli's cheeks."

"Azel, why would you swear on Lady Eli's cheeks?"

"It means I'm not lying!"

Azel's bright eyes seemed to indicate that he wasn't lying.

It seemed that the hint I gave the baron back then was a big help.

'But there's something that bothers me.'

The first time I met the baroness, the baron, who had shown a sharp attitude towards me, had called Demian a bad person and spewed insults.

'Of course, the baron didn't even blink, but...'

If Demian refused the baron, it would be a complete disaster.

Therefore, I intended to take precautions to prevent anything bad from happening.

I pushed open the massive training ground door and entered forcefully.

I saw Demian sitting alone in the middle of the training ground.

Could he have fallen over? I widened my eyes and ran towards Demian.

"Demian!"

"Eli?"

He seemed surprised to see me, his eyes widening.

"Why are you sitting like this? Did you get hurt?"

I grabbed Demian's face and examined it from all angles.

His cheeks were a bit red, as if he had been running, but there were no visible injuries.

"No, I'm not hurt. I just sat down because I was a bit tired."

Demian mumbled, his lips forming a pout as I held his cheeks.

"Really?"

"Yeah, really. I'm not hurt."

"Thank goodness..."

I let go of Demian's cheeks and sighed in relief.

Anyone watching might think I was overprotective, but I couldn't help it.

Demian had worked as a slave and fought against monsters.

A child who didn't even flinch when beaten.

To see him sitting there, looking so exhausted, naturally made me worry.

It was just a bit intense training, I guess. I relaxed and looked around.

The duchy's knights were rubbing their wrists, looking a bit flustered.

"Hello, young master."

At that moment, the baroness approached us.

"My, the knights look quite exhausted. It must have been a tough training session."

The baroness looked at the knights with a voice tinged with admiration.

'How tough could it have been to make even grown men struggle?'

No matter how much Demian is supposed to become a future Swordmaster, he's still just a child.

'Could they have been a bit gentler?'

I glanced at the knights with a disapproving look. They avoided my gaze, looking awkward.

'I was too focused on my own thoughts.'

Demian is indeed the lost son of the Clider Duke.

But to everyone else, he's just a newcomer.

'Besides, he's so young.'

Perhaps there were more people who might target Demian than me.

I should have paid more attention to Demian... I was too careless.

"Demian, you must have been tired."

"I'm fine. This is nothing..."

"I'll come to see you more often."

To make sure no one does anything bad to you, I'll keep a close eye on things.

Demian hesitated, then blinked.

"R-Really?"

"Yeah, I'll come often."

Suddenly, Demian clamped his mouth shut. His eyes, looking up at me, showed clear hesitation.

"Um... Or do you not want me to come?"

"No, no!"

Demian immediately shouted in a loud voice.

"The training is a bit tough, but... with Eli here, it doesn't feel hard at all. So... I'd like Eli to come more often..."

Demian's voice grew quieter. He even avoided my gaze.

His appearance reminded me of the awkward lies little Paul used to tell at the orphanage.

'But Demian wouldn't lie, right?'

I nodded, trying to hide my surprise.

"Alright. I'll come more often."

I patted Demian's head.

"Good job, Demian. Oh, you're so sweet."

I showered Demian with generous praise.

Children grow with praise.

Instead of scolding them for what they can't do, it's better to find what they do well and give them plenty of praise to help them grow bright and strong.

Demian in front of me was proof of that theory.

"Mm-hmm..."

Demian closed his eyes and accepted my touch.

The expressionless child who had endured all the violence was nowhere to be seen.

"How sweet. How could he be so adorable?"

The baroness looked at us with affectionate eyes.

Just then, the training ground door opened, and someone entered.

It was Baron Amantha.

"Hello, young master. Lady Eli. ...Viera, you're here too."

"Hello, Baron."

I greeted him and glanced at his face.

His usually stern face was a bit softer today.

'It seems the mine project is going well...'

But I couldn't be sure, so it was frustrating.

"I didn't expect you to be here together."

"Yes. I came here because the Baron said he would be lenient."

I answered as politely as possible.

Otherwise, that picky old man might find something to criticize.

"Ah, no, that's fine."

To my surprise, he responded a bit more gently.

"I... I don't know how much help I've received from Lady Eli."

The baron's expression of gratitude was quite awkward.

I had noticed from the beginning, when he dealt with the baroness and Sir Jerit, that he was very awkward with people.

I smiled broadly, hiding my indifferent feelings. It was proof that the mine project was going well.

If I could just help Demian make the sword he needs for the war, everything would go smoothly.

Just as I was feeling pleased, the baron suddenly handed me something.

"Um, this is...?"

"This is a gift for Lady Eli."

"Me, me?"

Not for Demian, but for me? I looked at what the baron offered, feeling a bit surprised.

"Yes. I made it myself, hoping Lady Eli would use it."

The baron waved his hand, inviting me to take it. I hesitantly picked up the arrow.

The black shaft of the arrow faintly glowed blue, as if it contained a bit of mana.

"Lady Eli should be able to use it easily. The arrowhead is dangerous, so try not to touch it."

"Um... T-Thank you."

I accepted the gift awkwardly, feeling a bit dazed.

Of course, I had given a hint, but I didn't expect the result to be like this.

The gift was bigger than I thought, leaving me a bit perplexed.

"But... wouldn't a sword be more efficient than this? After all, swords are used more often in war than bows."

"You know well. That's true, but..."

The baron hesitated a bit.

"Unfortunately, our skills have their limits when it comes to making swords."

Limits?

I had given the hint to speed up the project.

'It seems the baron's skills haven't reached that level yet.'

Just as I was about to sigh quietly,

"Unless it's Veborg..."

The baron stroked his chin, muttering to himself.

"Veborg?"

"He's the blacksmith who works at the duchy. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that all the knights' swords are made by him."

"Then why not ask him to make it?"

"That's the thing..."

The baron's face darkened at my question.

"Veborg's condition is not good right now."

"Not good? Is he very sick?"

Tilting my head, I asked. Baron Amantha's expression darkened.

"Yes. Currently, Veborg is blind in one eye."

"Blind?"

I opened my eyes wide, surprised by the unexpected news.

"The doctor said the other eye might also go blind."

"Is it a disease that even doctors can't cure?"

I asked anxiously, and the baron's expression darkened.

"...No. If he had wanted to, he would have been cured long ago."

"Then why...?"

"Because Veborg refused treatment himself."

Refused treatment? What does that mean?