21

Kansas noticed that Ains was struggling with dishes he had never seen before, and he smiled.

“Please don’t worry about manners.”

“That’s a relief. I was born and raised in the countryside. This is my first time seeing such lavish food, and I honestly don’t know how I’m supposed to eat it.”

Ains gave a wry smile and thanked Kansas.

“Then why not bring out that right arm? It would make eating easier.”

“It’s sorcery, you know? Using it just to hold a knife and fork would be way too much.”

“But I think it would make things easier. Well, if you’re fine with taking so long that the food goes completely cold, then I guess it’s fine.”

With a mischievous expression, Laika openly provoked Ains.

“Grrr… Fine. With a feast like this in front of me, I can’t exactly refuse! Limited Release—Miracle Right Arm.”

It was the third use of sorcery today.

Ains felt a little pathetic for using sorcery for something like this.

He put on the glove fastened to his jacket shoulder and gripped the knife. Using both hands, he was able to cut the meat and eat with ease.

That alone moved Ains so much that his earlier embarrassment vanished in an instant.

“…So this is… the world.”

As Ains murmured in heartfelt awe, Laika laughed with obvious amusement.

“…What was that just now?”

Kansas, who had been seated beside them and was about to begin his meal as well, stared wide-eyed from just next to their lively exchange.

“Sophia-dono. That right arm of Ains-dono… surely it isn’t—”

“Yes. It is Ains-sama’s sorcery.”

“A real… sorcerer.”

Kansas knew that in the Santia Kingdom, those who called themselves sorcerers did not necessarily mean they truly were.

Because he had seen sorcery before.

A power that could not be understood on the level of magic—an otherworldly exercise of force. He remembered trembling when he witnessed “sorcery” with his own eyes.

“…I recognize that. I could never forget it.”

“Limited Release.”

Kansas had heard that phrase before. The woman who wielded that spine-chilling sorcery had also spoken “Limited Release” just before the phenomenon manifested.

“…The Eternal Witch.”

They said she was the most skilled in sorcery after the Ains of Silver Snow. And with Ains now missing—presumed dead—she was the greatest sorcerer of the current era.

Second only to the demon god.

That was the Eternal Witch.

“Have you met the Eternal Witch, Kansas-sama?”

“Yes. Only once.”

“I see.”

Sophia replied without much interest.

Kansas also knew, at least as rumor, that the Eternal Witch supposedly disliked the Ains of Silver Snow. From Sophia’s perspective as a member of the Silver Snow Knights, it would be only natural not to favor someone who disliked the sorcerer she revered.

“Ains-dono, forgive me.”

Kansas addressed Ains, who was enjoying his meal and chatting pleasantly with Laika.

“What is it?”

“Do you have any idea who the Eternal Witch might be?”

“No, none at all. If she’s called a witch, does that mean she’s a woman?”

“Yes. She appears to be around Sophia-dono’s age, but her true age is unknown.”

Ains put a piece of meat in his mouth, chewed and swallowed with a blissful expression, then—

“No, I still don’t recognize her. The only women I know are Sophia, Silica, and Laika. Did something happen with this witch?”

“No. It’s just that she used sorcery as well. I wondered if she might be someone you know.”

“Oh, sorcery? That’s interesting. Is it possible to meet her?”

Ains set his knife and fork down on the plate and looked at Kansas.

“I’m afraid not. She isn’t someone even I can introduce so easily. What would you do if you met her?”

Ains’s journey was for the sake of pursuing sorcery, Laika explained.

“Sorcery?”

“Yes. If possible, I’d like to see other people’s sorcery. Or, if we could, I’d like to exchange knowledge and discuss it together.”

Ains wiped the sauce at the corner of his mouth with a napkin as he spoke.

“I see. So that’s why.”

“And that’s why you set out for the royal capital, Kirk, in the first place.”

“Yes. I heard from Sophia here that Kirk has a Sorcery Academy. I wanted to study there, so I came this way.”

From there, Laika took the lead in the conversation and explained to Kansas how she had met Ains, and how he had helped during the battle with Corbelli.

Because Laika was still in the middle of studying magic, her description of the battle was filled with sound effects and wasn’t especially clear, but Ains supplemented her explanation here and there, allowing Kansas to understand.

“Goodness gracious. To think Ains-dono is so young, yet so skilled in magic and sorcery! First and foremost, I offer my heartfelt thanks for capturing Corbelli, a member of the Next-Era Luminaries. Tomorrow, I would like you to go to the castle at once and explain everything at an audience!”

“I’m not very familiar with etiquette. I might end up being rude.”

Ains scratched his head and gave a wry smile.

Seated beside him, Sophia received a glance from Ains and quietly nodded, as if to say she would simply follow his lead.

“Then, Riste, after dinner, guide the two of them to the guest rooms.”

At Kansas’s words, Riste, who had been standing behind them, dipped her head lightly.

“Father, I think you should send them to the baths first. Their bodies are dirty from dust and sweat.”

“You’re right. Then while the two of you are soaking, we’ll have the guest rooms prepared. Rest well and recover from your fatigue.”

“Thank you very much.”

Ains replied with gratitude, and Sophia gave a short acknowledgement as well.

After that, the four of them continued chatting.

From Ains’s perspective, the lavish meal had thoroughly delighted his palate. For Kansas and Laika, however, it was simply what they normally ate, nothing particularly special.

“Wait—that was your normal meal!?”

“Yes. That’s what Laika-sama said.”

After washing away dirt and fatigue in the baths, Ains and Sophia walked behind a maid who guided them to the guest rooms.

There was even a bath prepared for guests, and it was properly separated by gender, so neither bath was especially large.

But Ains, unused to luxury, found an overly spacious bath unsettling, so the smaller guest bath was more than enough to put him at ease.

They climbed the grand staircase Ains had seen in the entrance hall, then proceeded deeper into the corridor.

The Brandy town residence used the first floor as living space, including the dining room and baths. On the second floor were Kansas’s study and reception room, the private rooms of Kansas and Laika, and the guest rooms. Because it was a town residence in the royal capital, it was not meant to host many overnight visitors, so there were few guest rooms. With one room given to Ains and one to Sophia, only a single guest room remained.

Even so, Ains thought, it was still spacious for something called a “town residence.”

“This way, Sophia-sama.”

A maid opened a door and presented the room to Sophia.

“Then, Ains-sama. Please excuse me for the night.”

“Yeah, good night, Sophia.”

“Good night.”

Sophia disappeared into the room.

Only Ains and the guiding maid remained.

As they walked down the corridor, the maid showed considerate attentiveness.

“Ains-sama, shall I bring wine to your room?”

“I am thirsty, but I’m not old enough to drink alcohol yet. Is there water in the room?”

“Yes. We have room-temperature water prepared.”

“That’s fine. I appreciate the thought.”

The maid stopped ahead, opened the door, and bowed.

“Then, Ains-sama, thank you again for everything today. Please rest well.”

“Thank you as well. Could you tell Kansas-san that I’m grateful for the lodging?”

“Understood.”

The door closed, leaving Ains alone in the guest room.

The room was about the size of the hut he had lived in within the forest. But without bookshelves enclosing the space, it felt clean and open.

It felt plain compared to the entrance hall and dining room, but it was only meant for rest. Even so, it was too refined. The room was spotless, and the bed had not a single wrinkle.

Ains poured water from the pitcher on the table into a glass and drank slowly.

The water seeped gradually into his parched body.

After setting the empty glass on the table, Ains lay down on a bed that was far too large for one person.

“Today was a whirlwind. I’m tired from being surprised all day.”

Staring up at the pure white ceiling, Ains murmured to himself.

More than half of his surprises had been about food, and he chuckled softly.

Even so, the greatest shock to Ains had been the sight of Tas Village, changed into something he had never seen before.

As he recalled it hazily and closed his eyes, sleepiness washed over him, and he drifted off.