17

Once it was over, the clash between the Brandy family knights led by Laika and the bandits, along with Corbelli, had ended in an overwhelming victory for the Brandy family. This was largely because Corbelli had been subdued by Ains’s potions and Ains’s sorcery.

On the bandits’ side, those executed by the knights and those who lost their lives to Ains’s sorcery alike all ended up as corpses.

As for Corbelli, since he was a member of the magical cabal known as the Next-Era Luminaries, he had been put to sleep by Ains’s magic for the time being, and his body was placed inside a carriage under knightly guard.

In the second carriage from the front of the convoy of multiple wagons, Laika, Ains, and Sophia were seated together.

“But really, was it okay? We could have walked on our own.”

As the carriage traveled along the country road, Ains asked Laika, feeling slightly nauseous from the swaying of the wagon.

“It’s fine. We’re heading to the royal capital anyway. And you helped us with everything—you’re our benefactor. If I’d just left you behind, I don’t even want to imagine what the knights would have said.”

It wasn’t only Laika. The Brandy family knights also felt indebted to Ains for defeating Corbelli. More than anything else, they had directly used the potions made by Ains. Without them, some would have lost their lives, and others would have been left with injuries that would make future work and daily life difficult.

Even if Laika, their liege, had not invited their benefactor into the carriage, the knights themselves would have reached out a hand.

And that would have led to distrust toward Laika.

‘Well, there’s no chance I’d ever repay that kind of debt with ingratitude anyway.’

Understanding the knights’ feelings as well, Laika gave a wry smile.

“That honestly helps a lot. I was thinking about staying in some village along the way, but all the trouble slowed us down. I was prepared to camp out in the open.”

While saying this, Ains gripped his empty right sleeve with his left hand.

“See, I’ve got this kind of arm, right? So I’m not very good at cooking. …And you don’t look like you are either, Sophia.”

“Ains-sama? Why do you assume so naturally that I can’t cook?”

“Because you’re a hopeless single woman, right??”

“…W-what. Th-that’s why, I—”

In an instant, Sophia’s face flushed bright red.

Seeing this unexpected side of Sophia—who usually had cool eyes and a dignified air—Laika couldn’t help but smile, thinking that even a knight of the Silver Snow Knights was still human.

“…Laika-sama, you’re being rude as well. You don’t even know my cooking skills.”

“Then are you good at it?”

“Well… I’ve lived my entire life for the sword, so I’ve never actually cooked…”

As the words went on, Sophia’s voice grew quieter.

“For the record, I can cook at least reasonably well.”

“W-what!? Laika-sama, why would you say that like you’re looking down on me? If I learned even a little, I could master it easily. A sword and a kitchen knife are both blades. When it comes to handling blades, I won’t lose to you.”

With a huff, Sophia puffed out her chest.

“I don’t know… you don’t seem great at multitasking. And I feel like you wouldn’t be able to control your strength either.”

“What kind of evaluation do you even have of me, Ains-sama…?”

Sophia slumped her shoulders in discouragement.

Laika couldn’t help but laugh out loud at that.

“Still, Ains, you’re an incredible sorcerer! I don’t really understand the difference between magic and sorcery yet, but watching the way you fought earlier was honestly terrifying!”

“Really? That level of magic is something any skilled mage could do. Well, I suppose I’m a little confident.”

Perhaps unused to being praised, Ains looked slightly embarrassed.

“So the binding sorcery Corbelli talked about was actually what you call ‘magic,’ right?”

“Yeah. That one was magic.”

“And sorcery is… using techniques that deviate from the laws of nature to interfere with the world, right? So that means magic is—”

“It’s manifesting natural phenomena or laws by releasing one’s own magical power. The ‘Prohibited Clause’ I used on Corbelli was magic too.”

Laika gradually began to understand how Ains distinguished between magic and sorcery.

“But your magic is basically unbeatable! Completely controlling someone’s movements like that—it’s unfair!”

Corbelli’s magic worked by amplifying a sense of gain and loss. In contrast, Ains’s magic imposed a complete prohibition on action.

“No, it’s not that efficient either. The origin of ‘Prohibited Clause’ lies in religion—the relationship between a religious leader and fanatic believers who feel awe and reverence toward that leader and believe unquestioningly.”

While gazing at the scenery flowing past the window, Ains continued.

“So the target has to feel awe and reverence. Making a complete stranger feel those two emotions isn’t easy, right? In Corbelli’s case, the key was that I nullified his fire spear and binding magic with spells he didn’t know.”

There was no such thing as a truly omnipotent spell, Ains concluded.

“I see. I’m still studying magic myself, but I had no idea. I really need to study more.”

“Huh? I thought you were a swordswoman, Laika.”

“No. I carry a sword because I’m in command, but I’m aiming to become a mage. I’ve got the Sorcery Academy entrance exam coming up soon.”

“Oh, that’s why you said you could pull some strings with the academy.”

“Exactly. I am a marquess’s daughter, after all. If I’m attending, I think they’ll manage something.”

“As expected of a noble. With connections and authority like that, a country bumpkin like me can’t possibly compete!”

“…You make me sound like some kind of corrupt noble, and that bothers me.”

“No, I’m praising you! You’ve got things I can’t obtain!”

“That still doesn’t quite sit right with me.”

In contrast to Ains’s warm, genuine smile as he praised her, Laika frowned slightly and tilted her head.

“Whoa!”

The carriage jolted violently as a wheel rolled over a fairly large stone, and Ains leaned against Sophia, who was seated beside him.

Sophia placed a hand on Ains’s shoulder and guided him back upright.

“By the way, Ains-sama. What became of the boy who was carrying that young girl? Before you rejoined us, it seemed you were doing something with him. …Was the girl saved?”