5 03. attribute







I've been an apprentice gardener for a few weeks now, and the Duke comes in with a rose on his back.
No, I'm serious.
I was tending the rose garden with my father, and the Duke came from where the early roses were just blooming.
He looked so happy with a big smile on his face. So much so that I thought the Duke had made the roses bloom, even though I knew he hadn't.
I was so startled by the scene that I lost my chance to say hello, but the Duke opened his arms and hugged me.

"Thank you, Isak!

"What? "Oh, wait, Duke, you're dirty!

I was more concerned about the fact that my expensive clothes would surely get dirty than the fact that a man was hugging me. A commoner can't pay for that.
Whether he hears my advice or not, he hugs me tightly. I'm not in pain, but I'm completely immobile.
I can't help myself, so I look to my father for help, but he's also in work clothes, so he's in no condition to touch the Duke. He seems to have given up on the idea that his words can't reach the Duke in his current state, and is just watching him. You're too quick to give up! My son is in trouble.
Oh, the butler's here too. When did that happen? But he won't help, will he? I'm sure he's going to get you a change of clothes and follow up later.
I don't remember being thanked by my boss with a hug in the first place.

"My Lord, what did I do?

I'm sure I didn't do anything. Sometimes I'm in a hurry to reach the quota by the time and my father gets mad at me for my rough work.

You're so cute!

"Is she? Huh, I bet she is.

I'm sure you're right." Even if you say such a fact to me when we're far enough apart to see each other's faces... A child born of beautiful parents is naturally cute, and even more so if it's your child.

That's not true! No, Dia was always pretty, but lately she's been even prettier.

"Good for you.

What is this, a parent's love story? You're probably busy with work, but you've come all this way to flirt with an apprentice gardener? I can't help but wonder what he's doing.

"Thanks to you, man!

And he hugs me again. I don't know what that means.

I don't understand. "What does ...... the fact that your daughter ...... has become pretty have to do with me?

I don't want you to involve me in this.
But the duke says there's a connection. What do you mean?

Since the day you warned me. "Since the day you warned me about, Dia has been getting up early to see me off every day, and Via says she's been coming to see Flora more often. Recently, we have been eating one meal a day together as a family. Thanks to this, I'm able to work harder and finish earlier.

I'm sure it's true, but I don't want to be the one to tell you that everything is fine. I'm sure it's true, but I can't help but feel a little delirious.
I'm sure you're not the only one.

It's not just your daughter ...... who did her best.

No, it was you, Isak, who gave me the opportunity. And you've been consulting with Dia since then. I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to you.

Is that the one that somehow comes in every few days and reports that he made up with Katrin the maid and that his sister is small and cute? I'm just listening and talking to her while I work, so there's nothing to discuss. I know from my sister in a previous life that women usually complain because they want you to listen to their frustrations and worries, even though they already know the answers. So, just listen to them for now.
I don't know what to do, but she's thanking me for something I didn't do.

He said, "Thanks to having a friend close to my age, I guess Dia has become more honest. Please continue to be good friends.

"That's a good idea.

I couldn't resist the bright smile and the words of my boss, so I became a yes-man. Duke, you can't shake hands so tightly with a military hand, you'll get your hands dirty.
The Duke, having finished his business, gallantly scattered the petals and left. It was just the wind blowing the petals around, but the timing was perfect.
After he was out of sight, he clasped his hands together and said he was sorry for making the butler who followed the duke follow him.
I heard the sound of grass being stepped on, and turned around to see my father turning on his heel and grabbing a handful of fertilizer.

Let's keep going.

Yes, sir.

I returned to the work that I had stopped before the Duke's presence. When I'm working, I try to use respectful language because I'm an apprentice.
It's still spring, and there are few flowers blooming in the rose garden. Even so, my father has adjusted the flowers so that they contrast well with the greenery, so they are beautiful, though not showy. The best time to see them will be in early summer, so I'll have to check the growth of the ones that are already there and prepare where to add new ones.
In my opinion, the best part of being a gardener is this preparation work. It's true that there are times when you have to place plants that have already bloomed, but it's more exciting to imagine the landscape as it changes from bud to bloom. It's also interesting to know that not everything will turn out the way we expect because we are dealing with nature. The gardener only has to guide the direction a little. It will be a long time before I'm in charge myself, but I'm glad to see what my dad is trying to create.
I'm still only allowed to do a few chores, but it's fun just to be in this prime position.


When I was much younger, my father showed me a job he had been asked to do outside. It was to build a promenade leading to a fountain in the city for a festival. I was amazed at the magic of the flowers blooming on a street I knew so well because it was in my neighborhood, just in time for the festival.
There was a time when I believed that my father was a wizard who did not use magic.
Incidentally, there is magic in this world.
Therefore, the term "wizard" here refers to a person who is qualified and has a certain level of magical power. The official name is "mage," but "wizard" is more commonly used by the common people.
The common people can hardly use magic. It was announced at an academic conference a long time ago that the amount of magic power is not hereditary, but in this country, status is generally proportional to the amount of magic power.
My father can use a little bit of earth magic, and he is a good gardener because he can understand the condition of the earth. But my father doesn't use magic. But he doesn't use magic, not because he doesn't have enough magic, but because in order to maintain this garden for a long time to come, he needs to pass on his skills, not his magic.
That's why I'm holding back from watering the garden with my water magic. I really want to do it because it's easier.
I thought I would be more excited to use magic if I had memories of my previous life. I used to read shonen manga, and I played some of the most famous video games.
But I couldn't be surprised by something that has been common since I was born. The magic that pervades this world is like the radio waves of my previous life. You can't see it, but it's there, and it's useful to use.

I wonder what attribute she has.

Because of the nature of magic, people always specialize in one of the attributes. People who specialize in all or more than one attribute are very rare.
At the age of five or so, you should be able to develop magic with attributes, so you should be able to find out what attributes you are suited for.

You seem to be very strong.

She always wears a dress with strong, almost primary colors, so she seems to be very aggressive.

It's not so easy on the eyes.

Her fluffy light golden hair and pale blue eyes could be more gentle. Is she worried about her cat eyes?
Her pale blue eyes may look like ice when you see her expressionless face around her glazed eyes, but she is very expressive.

"Isak!

The girl I was just thinking about came over.
Judging from the slant of the sun, she was probably on a walk after her afternoon tea.

"Oh. What's up today, girl?

She was wearing a dark pink dress with a lot of big ribbons, not easy on my eyes.
Back to removing thorns from the roses, the pink disappears from my sight.

She was wearing the same dress as your mother!

"What?

The magic.

I knew something good had happened to her because she looked so happy, but she had just found out the results of her magical aptitude test.

"Oh, good for you. What's your attribute?

"Lightning.

I could tell by his voice that he was proud of himself.
So you've become a girl who can strike real lightning. I'll try not to make her angry.
Oh, I'm water, so that's my weakness.

But it's not very useful. And unlike your mother, my hair would be too full.

Her mother's hair is smooth and straight. She once said she was jealous.

"You can run machines, that's convenient. You can be very useful in factories.

Even though magic is the mainstream, it doesn't mean that there are no machines. In factories, lightning and fire are very useful.

I'm not going to work in a factory for the rest of my life. ......

Why don't you store electricity and make batteries?

"Isak, do you really want me to work in a factory?

I feel a pang of anger and immediately apologize. Weaknesses are scary. Oh, I think I felt a little static.

I said I'm sorry. I was just saying what I could think of to use it for.

Why do you get so upset with me when I say normal things, girl?
If I apologize, she'll forgive me. When I was asked how I could fix the way I treated the maids, I told her that she would be fine if she just said hello and thank you and sorry.
After that, she started to report to me about the happy things that had happened recently. It seems that I have become a donkey's ear for the king. Well, I don't plan to grow reeds, so I won't leak the information. Oh, I thought humans were reeds that think. Well, first of all, the neighbors won't believe that I know the duchess.
Apparently, she comes to see me when she's alone. Her relationship with the maids has improved, but she can't say everything. So she comes to me for attention. In my previous life, I was a tofu maker and my parents both worked, so when I was little, my sister used to attack me for attention. I guess it's the same.

"Well, why are you so flamboyant, young lady?

I suddenly asked her during our conversation. I wondered why she had such taste.

What's fancy?

Dresses. It's always some kind of strong color with a lot of ribbons and stuff.



This is so that you won't be licked.

The duke's family is a higher class of nobility, so they choose colors and designs that have a strong presence so that even their younger selves won't be licked.
In other words, because it looks strong. What are you, a school boy? I used to wear red in my previous life because I looked strong and cool.
Wait a minute. Something's bugging me.

"......, does that mean you're not really what I think you are?

When I looked back at her to see her reaction, she looked away a little awkwardly.

I'm not sure what I like about it.

I stare at him so that he can't make excuses.

I'm not sure I'd like to wear the light-colored one your mother wears, ......, but it doesn't suit me.

"Why not? I'm sure you'll agree.

It's a good idea to take a look at the website and see if you can find anything you like.
You'll find a few seconds of stupefaction, and then your cheeks will turn rosy.

I'm sure you'll agree.

I'm glad it's easier on the eyes, at least for me.

No, I wouldn't change it for Isak!

Yeah, it's a makeover by a girl for a girl.

What's that ......?

She slumps her shoulders tiredly. I wonder if she raced here like before.

And dignity? I'm sure you've been wondering about the dignity of it, but you can wear whatever you want.

How can you be so sure? ......

Because she's beautiful.

What?

Oh, you're blushing again.

Is that a gesture? You can't fault her because her posture is always so straight and cool.

I guess it's the result of practicing. Your back is always straight and your gestures are beautiful no matter how emotional you are. She must have worked hard until she became able to do that naturally. I simply admire her for being so small.
There is no way that someone who works so hard to be a duchess can be underestimated.

I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it: "Isak, you, you, you, you, you, you, you... ......

I'm sure you're not the only one.
You're used to being complimented, but how can you be shy? You must be honest at heart.

"What's wrong with telling the truth?

"Enough with the .......

After struggling with something for a few seconds, the lady turned her head away from me.

I'm looking forward to it. Your makeover.

"I'm not doing it for you, Isak!

A few days later, the duchess in the cherry blossom-colored dress went to see him, unbeknownst to him that the first person she went to see was an apprentice gardener.