NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8
[Quest completed.]
[Shione Shianella’s affection for you has increased.]
As soon as my words fell, the quest was completed.
An increase in affection just popped up, huh?
I was about to casually check and move on, but this time there was another reward besides affection.
[You have reached a certain level of intimacy with Shione Shianella.]
[Through your resonance with her, a small portion of your original power has been unlocked.]
‘This is…!’
As that tiny bit of mana recovered, the whole amount, which had been pitifully little, increased slightly.
While it’s undoubtedly good to have more mana, that’s not what’s important right now.
‘I thought I’d have no more connection to spirit magic…’
Although it felt extremely weak compared to the past, the sensation of being able to use spirit magic washed over me.
The attribute was wind… Even if used weakly, it consumes quite a bit of mana for being spirit magic.
With the mana I just increased, I could barely use it twice before it runs dry.
‘Still, this is something.’
When shooting arrows, this simple spirit magic, if it’s of the wind attribute, would be a huge help.
I wasn’t displeased with receiving such an unexpected gift. In fact, I was quite happy.
…Even though I ignored that affection increase thinking there wouldn’t be any sharing of sweets, it came back around to repay me.
Now, since Shione would likely look at me like a crazy person if I suddenly burst out in happiness, I settled my joy and said.
“I’ll make sure to wake you up at this same time from now on.”
Shione gently nodded at my words.
She was probably trying to raise her bow again, but her arms only went halfway up before they came back down.
Wondering why she suddenly acted like that, I glanced to sense the mood.
Why was she suddenly staring at me so intensely?
It appeared she wanted to ask me something as her gaze lingered on me.
Her persistent attempt to make eye contact was remarkable.
Would she keep staring at me until I made eye contact and asked her about it?
Ignoring it felt impossible with such an intense gaze, leaving me with no choice but to react.
“Do you… have something you wish to ask me?”
Then, as if she had been waiting, Shione opened her mouth.
“Now that I’ve shot once, I’m more curious. How did you reach that level in archery? Can you tell me?”
“Lady Ainel Shianella said I could surely handle myself as long as I didn’t run into a group of ruffians.”
“Why is that coming up now?”
“My level of archery is merely a means for you, Shione, to practice. It’s nothing significant that you would bother to listen to.”
As I said this, I was almost ready to bury my head in the ground out of embarrassment.
But if I started talking about my past, like being reborn or whatever, I’d be regarded as a lunatic for sure.
To simply call it talent would overlook the years of finesse ingrained in all my movements with the bow.
Whichever way I might answer, it would raise suspicion, so it felt better just to hang my head and zip it.
This odd slave showing decent archery skills…
Great, maybe I’d seem like someone with a unique past.
If I kept quiet, perhaps Shione would create an intriguing backstory for my past and we could avoid the trouble.
“Has your mother ever seen you handle a bow?”
“Lady Ainel Shianella has only seen me wielding a short sword.”
“Hmm, a short sword, huh…”
Why did she seem so fascinated by that?
I hoped this questioning atmosphere would die down, so I made sure to straighten my posture more respectfully.
“I won’t pry into it. I’ll expect you to share everything in due time. Just make sure your blade isn’t aimed at me.”
“I’ll do my utmost to serve you.”
Seemingly pleased with that response, Shione radiated a satisfied aura.
Meanwhile, looking at the bow in her hand, she spoke.
“But a bow, my fate is truly bizarre.”
“…May I ask what you mean?”
“The high-level knight would break arrows before being pierced by one, and a wizard wouldn’t evade every arrow. It can also be viewed as a limitation of weapons.”
Having only just shot a few arrows was a sorry sight.
I simply pulled an arrow from the quiver as she spoke.
“Then, wouldn’t it be sufficient for a knight or a wizard to shoot arrows quickly enough that they couldn’t catch them?”
“That means…”
“If you don’t believe me, why not see with your own eyes?”
“Alright, I’d like to witness that for myself.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
You definitely granted permission. No turning back after this!
I nocked the arrow immediately.
I aimed at the target before me.
Shione Shianella.
She was right in the center of my sight, perfectly positioned as my target.
Drawing back the bow with a smooth sliding release, I gathered my strength.
Focusing my mana, I imbued my arrow with spirit magic.
As the magic activated, a gentle whirlwind began to spread out from me.
“Oh—”
That was the extent of Shione’s surprised reaction as the arrow flew.
Thwack.
Shione plopped down on the spot.
The arrow that zipped past her head seemed to leave her paralyzed out of fright.
I lowered my bow and approached her, crouching to meet her gaze.
Shione’s pupils continued to shake as if they couldn’t settle.
“Now that I’ve killed a former Sword User, I’m sure you can shoot arrows that could threaten even a Sword Expert, Shione.”
“……”
“Don’t box yourself in with the limits you’ve set. A bow is a far more threatening weapon than you think.”
“I… understand—”
“Huh…?”
My body tilted forward, ending up leaning against Shione.
“Why are you suddenly doing this?”
“…I think it’s mana exhaustion.”
“U-Um, could you please move back a bit?”
I desperately tried to distance myself, but…
Using too much mana on spirit magic left me feeling completely drained.
I should have spaced out my usage…
Suddenly exhausting all my mana must have startled my body.
At this rate, I wouldn’t be able to move until my mana recovered a bit.
“…I’m sorry. My body won’t cooperate.”
“Then… I’ll step back…”
“Ugh.”
As Shione stepped back, my body tilted forward even further, completely leaning into her.
“W-What now…?”
“Please calm yourself and help me sit down.”
“Okay, I’ll do that…!”
Quickly, Shione made sure I was seated properly on the ground before standing up.
Given how awkward that whole series of events was, her face was flushed bright red.
With such a reaction, I couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty.
I attempted to get back up multiple times, but…
Ugh… This wasn’t working as I intended.
I guess it’s just my weak body with terrible mana affinity.
It seemed mana exhaustion affected me even more severely than girls.
“Um… can you stand?”
With things as they were, it seemed difficult to rise immediately.
Also, with time passing, someone might come looking for us; I had no option left.
I spread my arms and said.
“…I think you’ll need to carry me to my room.”
“Uh…?”
“Or, if not, could you lend me your back?”
“Uh…um…”
She couldn’t just leave me here.
Surely, she wouldn’t abandon me, would she?
Leave behind a servant? Your archery tutor?
I looked up at her as brightly as I could, and a flustered Shione finally whispered.
“…I understand…”
Thus, I found myself on Shione’s back, and she carried me to my room.
*
“Rehabilitation”
“Your master, Shione, has been displaying the most positive and vibrant attitude in recent times. More so, her hidden talent in archery has begun to sprout, just setting down a delicate root in the soil. Please transform her plump physique into that of a robust woman so that her talents may blossom more splendidly.”
“Reward: Increased speed of talent blossoming for Shione Shianella, Increased bond with Shione Shianella.”
“Failure: Slowed speed of talent blossoming for Shione Shianella.”
It hadn’t been long since I cleared a quest this morning.
Now, at lunchtime, another quest appeared after shooting my bow for the first time today.
How was my master so useless that she would give me quests, expecting me to improve her as well?
Though having rewards like affection, bond, and speeding up Shione’s talent blossoming made me thankful that she was indeed quite the troublemaker.
I filled the empty water bottle in Shione’s room.
Thanks to her help, I was able to relax on a chair in her room.
Because of that, I could finally walk around properly.
I glanced at her bed.
Heck, they say when a person changes drastically, they tend to die, but Shione would never face that fate…
After all, she shot quite a few arrows this morning, but there was no attempt to change that visible as she sprawled out on her bed as usual.
So, if she could only shoot arrows, that could be the end of it, right? In this state?
Having increased her affection level by clearing the quest, I bravely approached her.
“Shione, the sun is high in the sky now, so let’s start our exercises.”
Peeking out from her blanket, she stared at me with a dazed expression.
“From the moment you suddenly pointed your bow at me, then leaned into me… I’ve been suspicious… have you finally gone mad…?”
“…Rest assured, I’m not mad at all.”
“Whew, that’s a relief. Then hurry and bring me some snacks.”
Shione gestured towards the empty plate on the table.
“A full plate. Oh, and you can grab a few for yourself as well.”
“…Hmph.”
What should I even do with this lady?