Are you the magician they say you are?　You are very young.

　That was the first voice.

　I'm sure you're not going to be able to find a way to make your life easier, but I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make your life easier.
　The fact that Aldis still looks to be in his mid-teens adds to this.

　So he was used to being called "younger than I thought".
　However, it did not sit well with Aldis to be told that, even by someone who looked younger than he was.

''If you don't want to be instructed by a younger person, then feel free to ask them to leave you out of it.

　Aldis decides that it is more expedient, and dares to be blunt.
　When you arrive at the duke's house and are shown into the guest room, if the first words of the young lady who arrived were rude, the words of the guest were no less rude in response.

''No, it was a gaffe. If you have the ability to do this, and you're willing to point me in the right direction, age is a trivial matter. I've heard a lot about your abilities from Captain Greystar, so I don't doubt it.

　In fact, it seems that his heart's call to be relieved of his duties did not reach the young lady.

　The Greystar Battalion Commander is Moore.
　In this way, Aldis is able to shout out to the good-natured battalion commander, who is not here, saying, "Don't say unnecessary things.

'It's Aldis. That battalion commander asked me to take over as an instructor.

　When Aldis, in contemplation, said his name, the young lady also lightly pinched the hem of her skirt and lifted it up, letting her body sink down slightly.

''Duke Larvest of Nilesteria is the one woman, Minerva. It is an honor to meet the Honorable 'Magician of a Thousand Swords' lord.

　The young lady has a supple smile on her face, which is still young.

　From what Moore had told me, she'll be twelve this year. She's the same age as Filia and Liana.
　Her long iris-colored hair, carefully groomed like a young lady's, stands out in a loose, blue-blue dress with a white base.
　Her slightly slender face gives the impression of being fragile, but it was not thin in the sickly sense of the word.
　Although she looks like a quiet young lady, she is certainly the one who asked to be taught sword magic this time.

''First of all, I want to say that sword magic is not something you can learn to use just because you learned it. I'll teach you what you need to know as long as I've taken on the role of instructor. But I won't know if you'll be able to use it until you try it.

　Someone interrupted Aldis from the side as he said what he wanted to say.
　It was the elderly servant who had greeted Aldis and guided her to this point.

''Magician-dono. The young lady is not only the daughter of a duke and a duchess, she is also a person who has drawn the blood of the brutal. Even though she is an instructor, I would like you to change the way you speak to her,

　Perhaps he also served as a chaperone.
　The man, who has a mostly white head of hair, turned a polite but accusatory gaze on Ardis.

'I'm sorry, but I'm just a mercenary with no real ties to politeness. I have no idea what part of that is rude, so I don't want to be asked to change my ways.

　Of course it's a lie.

If you don't like this mouth, you can find another tutor. If you have contacts in the duke's family, can you find any number of sorcerers who are of solid identity and can behave in a polite manner?

　This is fortunate, but Aldis is indisciplined (reluctant).
　Since there is a need to make a face at Moore, it is impossible for Aldis to refuse this story, but if the duke family's side of the family is going to give him a no-no, he would rather welcome it.

　A slight irritation appeared on the servant's face.

''It's fine, Holger. It would be difficult for the person instructing you to have any reservations about the person asking you to teach him or her. Of course that's not possible in an official setting, but this is my dukes' residence. We don't need to worry about what's on the outside.

　But if this duchess doesn't mind, as a servant, I have no choice but to withdraw.

'Please feel free to call me Minerva. ...... What should I be called?

Ardis, that's fine.

　Aldis replied appropriately, as if it didn't matter.

'Yes, sir. So, Master Aldis,''

You don't have to put a sama on it.

It's not very commendable for a lady to call someone who is neither family nor a vassal by their name without respect.

　That being said, how is it ladylike to want to learn sword magic as a fighting technique?
　Questioning that mismatched value system, Ardis inwardly twisted her head.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. I would like you to begin your instructions today. Is the first one a classroom lecture?　Or is this an outdoor course?　If you're going outdoors, I'll go change.

　Aldis replies in a resigned tone to the strangely eager duchess.

'It's not something you can learn by sitting down. If you have a bigger place, let me use it.'

Holger, show me the way.

　The servant who had replied to Minerva's instructions, "Very well, sir," turned to Ardis.

'Then I will show you around,'

　The servant, called Holger, gestures towards Aldis, urging him to follow her after the warlord has left the room.

'Speaking of which, where is Rona?'

　As expected, there's no way to let a golden-colored four-legged beast that exceeds one meter in length into the mansion, so Rona is being taken to another place.
　Of course, I don't think she's being treated with impunity because she's Ardis' companion, but that tomboy doesn't have much time to stay quiet and still.
　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing.

''I hear the messenger is going to be quietly on his way from now on.

　Slightly reassured by the servant's words, Aldis only uttered a "I see" and continued to follow him.

　Aldis was led to an open place a little away from the mansion.
　According to the servants, it was called a training ground.

　Originally, the duke's mansion itself has a site so large that a small village could be completely contained.
　The space that was called the training ground was also large enough, and it looked like it could be used by about a hundred or two hundred people at a time.
　Although the distance between the buildings in the mansion wasn't open enough to obscure them, they seemed to be far enough away that the sound of swords being struck together couldn't reach them.

''Yo, you've kept me waiting.''

　Aldis called out to Rona, who was lying down.

　Aldis was ushered into the forge and had to wait for a while until the duchess came in after she had finished dressing.
　The servant who showed her around went away as it was, and the other humans refrained from keeping an extreme distance from Rona, as if she was afraid of them.
　If no one is within earshot of the voice, Aldis can talk to Rona without hesitation.

'You're late, Al. I've been bored to death, you know. And even though it's this big, we can't just run around.'

　To a normal person, Rona is a carnivore that is over a meter long.
　Although she is treated politely because she is Ardis' companion, the servants probably don't want to approach her aggressively.
　It seems that Rona understands that, too, and she seems to be crouched down in the middle of the large training grounds and stays put so as not to frighten the people around her.

''That's why I told you that you didn't have to follow me, right?

Moo.

　Approaching the puffy Rona, Aldis lies back down, his body pillowed.

'Are we done talking?'

No, I'm waiting for your daughter to change.

Long?

Long, I suppose. Maybe.

　As Aldis had predicted, it took about an hour for Minerva to finish changing and come to the forge.
　In the meantime, it goes without saying that Aldis enjoyed a brief nap.

'Here I am, Al,'

Yeah, I know.

　Ardis' eyes, which raised her body from the golden natural pillow, caught a group of people coming from the direction of the mansion.

　At the center of the group is Minerva, dressed in the robes of a female magician.
　The robe she wears, but the staff she holds in her hand is clearly a masterpiece made by a top-notch craftsman, and she would look like an expert sorcerer if she only looked like one.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most of your time in the city.

"Aldis-sama. I'm ready to go, and I would appreciate your advice.

　Minerva, who had come, smiled at me while being surrounded by several squires.

　In contrast, the squires around her, with the exception of one, didn't even try to hide their sullen expressions.
　Resisting the urge to sigh grandly, Aldis begins to cut the conversation short.

'Let me check first. You - no, er, ......, Miss Minerva wants to learn sword magic, and you're sure you want me to instruct her on it, right?

Yes. I'm sure of it.

''Like I said before, I can teach you how to do it, but I can't guarantee that Miss Minerva will be able to master the sword magic. I'm assuming you're convinced of that as well, and that you want to be instructed?

　Rather than addressing Minerva, Aldis dared to speak the same story, intending for the followers around her to hear it.

'No problem.'

　As expected, a few of the followers were trying to talk things over. But as long as the actual Minerva herself has not expressed any dissatisfaction, it is only an exit for her to object.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. You don't have to follow my methods if you don't agree with them, but in that case, that's as far as the instructors go. You're not going to be able to do that.

　If anything, it would save us a lot of trouble and give us a good excuse for Moore.
　I'd really like to see that happen. And Aldis is secretly hoping that he will.

'Of course I will follow Aldis-sama's instructions. Of course I will follow Master Aldis's instructions, for I am the one who has to be taught.

　Ardis nodded in satisfaction after taking a pledge.

'May I ask you one question?

　This time Minerva asks Ardis the opposite.

'What?'

'I have been wondering for some time now, but what is that thing that lies at the feet of Lady Aldis?

　That and the word she used to indicate it was Rona.

　A golden-colored four-legged beast that was over a meter in length. It is abnormal for such a thing to have entered the duke family's mansion in the first place.
　It's natural for Minerva to be concerned about it.

''This is Rona. He's my buddy.''

'I didn't see you earlier, but I did see you at ......

'They had to wait for me here because they weren't allowed inside the compound.

　While listening to Ardis' answer, Minerva's eyes were glued to Rona.
　There is an unconcealable curiosity floating in her iris-colored eyes, which are the same color as her hair.
　It's not the same as the resolute expression she had shown as a duchess, but Ardis felt that she had caught a glimpse of a young girl's character appropriate for her age.

You're a fox ......, right?

Woof!

　To Minerva, who was confused by her appearance, Rona starts to mimic a poorly made squeak, as usual.

'Huh?　Dogs?

　At the unexpected squeal, Minerva returned the promised response.

'Um, ......, Lady Ardis.'

　Minerva hesitantly asks Aldis for help.

'I don't mind later, ......, can I pet you?'

...... I don't mind if Rona doesn't mind.

Thank you!

　With Ardis' permission, Minerva's face beamed with happiness.
　It was the first time she showed a natural expression that wasn't a made-up smile.

''Don't make up your mind on your own,''

　Rona's whispered protests sounded only to Aldis.

'Well, that said, let me make a couple of checks.

　Ignoring Rona's voice, Aldis begins to check the current situation.

'Can Miss Minerva use magic?'

No, this is the first time I've learned that?

'You've never used it and never learned to use it, have you?

　As if they took those words as an accusation, the squires turned hostile glances at Ardis.
　The actual Minerva also looks a little awkward.

''Is ...... something bad?''

No, it's more like a good thing.

　It's not that I'm not a fan of the idea.
　It's a good thing that you have no knowledge of magic, rather than a person who is steeped in the stereotype that you can't create a single fireball without chanting like a textbook.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time in the future.

''Now look at these two hands.

Both hands?

Do you feel any difference between my right hand and my left?

　Clothed in magic power, it doesn't change its appearance.
　At first glance, it would seem that there is no difference between the two.
　But if you don't understand this difference, there's no way to talk about it in the first place.

''The difference, is it ......?''

　Without knowing what it meant, Minerva stared at Aldis' hands and compared them.
　The followers around her were also exchanging glances at each other, while shaking and tilting their heads in small ways from side to side.

　It's natural. If you can easily determine the presence or absence of magic power, no one will have any trouble.
　That Kirill and I have only just begun to feel the difference.
　If you don't understand this, sword magic would be a dream come true.

　But Ardis, who had not been expecting much, was surprised by the words that came out of Minerva's mouth the next moment.

'The right hand ...... is a little heavier ...... than the right hand. No, it's not hard to see, or ......, it's farther away.

　While the followers around them were puzzled by that expression, which was not to the point, only Aldis and Rona rolled their eyes in surprise.
　If Minerva could really sense the presence or absence of magic power, it was not impossible for her to master sword magic depending on her training.

　It was only then that Aldis became curious about this Minerva girl.