Chapter 15: Reunion with Faruno

Early in the morning, I dashed at full speed.

It was a genuine full speed sprint. In other words, I used both my skill and mana. It means that I drew out all of my ability to its utmost limit.

Shadowing my full dash is Faruno’s butler, Volg.

As usual, he never fails to wear his butler suit while training me. He’s holding a short sword, jumping from one tree branch to the next.

“Ha!”

Then, he kicks the tree branch to roll over here, making a leap easily.

In order to disrupt his movement, I stop my leg and thrust out my trusted buddy, Ginsen. However, he has predicted my movement and spun his body in mid-air, reaching out towards my chest.

Without panicking, I pick Ginsen up and swing it. It’s a counter against Volg’s attack towards my chest. He parries with his short sword, then jumps behind in that state, redirecting all the recoil resulting from the counter attack.

He creates some distance in that state, then I lost his shadow.

I close my eyes and concentrate with my senses.

This is the middle of the forest. There are many covers for his tracks.

I heard the leaves rustling. When I focus my senses in that direction, I found nothing. A rock must have hit something there.

In that case, Volg must have been in the direct opposite of that direction. I turn that way, keeping a low posture. Volg has been crawling on the ground undetected.

It’s the second counter attack.

This time, Volg closes in while stopping Ginsen and parrying the attack. Keeping the initiative on his side, he makes a two-point attack.  I receive the attack using Ginsen’s belly.

Before the pursuit, I’ve been kicked in the stomach, so it’s a follow up of that kick.

Volg, cutting with his short sword.

With this, the sounds of clashing of weapons keeps resounding in the forest.

☘

“Volg, thank you. I can move my body more properly thanks to you.”

After the morning intensive training ended, I express my gratitude to Volg while drinking some water.

“Not at all, my physical ability is also growing thanks to you. Indeed, you’re going through a terrifying growth rate. I might have narrowly won today, but if I am the man I was when we first met, I definitely would have lost. ……At this rate, I’ll probably lose against you in the near future.” Volg smiles thinly.

I don’t deny his words. When it comes to it, it’ll come to understanding. Both to me and Volg.

“I’ll work hard so I can make that day come, a day quicker than before.”
“I shall put my best effort so that day won’t come as well. Losing makes me feel miserable, indeed.”

I bump my fist with Volg.

I’ve gained a lot of things from interacting with this man. He is my mentor as well as my rival.

“By the way, Faruno is scheduled to arrive today, isn’t she?”
“Finally she is. Today I’m welcoming the young lady. I’m able to do my main occupation at last. I’ve been doing so much carpenter work that I’m starting to forget I’m a butler.”

Finally, the mansion is completed and Faruno is coming. Oh, well, even though there seems to be one problem or the other brewing, I’d say I’m looking forward to it.

“I can only leave my young lady to someone stronger than me; I said that as a joke, but it was no longer a joke now.”
“I’m only betrothed to her. I don’t know how it’ll turn out later on.”

I smile bitterly while saying so.

My promise with Faruno states that if she can make me come around to her in a year, we’ll be married. If not, the engagement will be dissolved. No one knows what will happen from now on.

☘

Receiving carriages with the Fernandes crest in my village has become a daily occurrence. They usually contain materials for the mansion, or daily necessities for the carpenters. However, now that the building is completed, the carpenters have all returned home, leaving Faruno and her attendants, the frequency should drop sharply.

Tina and I were preparing to go out and welcome Faruno. The other party is her, but proper preparation is still necessary.

According to the schedule, she should have arrived about this time…

And so, it arrived.

The carriage carved with Marquis Fernandes’ crest appears from the highway, halts in front of our house as its door is vigorously opened. Faruno shows up from inside.

“I’m finally able to come here. I’ve been wishing to see you, Kurt-sama!”

Faruno jumps out vigorously. I’m the one who receives her.

“That’s, how to say, it’s improper, Faruno.”

Let’s rebuke her this time. She’s not yet a girl sent off to her new family after being married.

“Even if you say so, I cannot help it, because we’ve always been separated in our ways.”

Faruno removes herself from me while puffing her cheeks.

“……That’s, how to say it? I’ll be under your care from now on.”

I offer my right hand out. Faruno instantly grabs it with her own.

“Likewise, I will be under your care, Kurt-sama!”

So she said.

☘

We’re touring around the village with Faruno, in order to let her know what kind of life she’ll be living here. If she doesn’t know about our lowest living standard, it’ll be harsh for her.

Going around the village while talking back and forth, Faruno looks engrossed in her conversation with me. After a round of chatter, I cut the chase to the important part.

“To tell you the truth, I’ve prepared to make some sweets for your sake, Faruno.”

I think that only some pastries will be proper to welcome her, so I’ve prepared special sweets.

“It’s the best news! Let’s head over to Kurt-sama’s house immediately!”
“We can do that, but I have a single request. If you allow it, the sweets won’t be just to celebrate your presence, Faruno, but also all of the new comrades in my village. I wish to entertain all the children in your mansion. Is it okay? My house is too small, after all.”

Girls like to be special. More than making new comrades happy, she’ll want to celebrate herself. Still, I daringly made that request. If it’s Faruno, who expressed her concern for those children, surely… Right?

“Oh, my… Isn’t it all the better? Good food tastes better when being shared with everyone! Moreover, I’ve been thinking about those children too. It’ll be wonderful if I can start talking with them while eating your pastry!”
“Thank you. Then, I’ll make it with the best of my ability. You’ve all come to be a part of my village. For Faruno’s and all those children’s sake, this pastry will celebrate our new future.”

The main ingredient this time is raspberry. Right when the season changed, I got those red fruits. I got those children to harvest them. If they can eat what they raise on their own from now on, it will surely add to their spirit.

Let’s make the pastry with the best of my ability.