Big shoutout to Kokopuff for the translation!
“Where the heck were you this entire time!?”
Seeing Ignis wearing a very elegant outfit with a scent of perfume, Bard leaks a little ‘oops’.
“Don’t ‘I forgot’ me! Hurry up and get changed! Jeez...You’re the main host tonight!”
Bard completely forgot about the party since morning training proceeded as usual.
She would most likely say, ‘that’s an injury of honor, just get out to the party like that!’
Although it was completely Ignis’ fault for falling in love with a woman like her, Bard could not help but feel a little pity towards him.
As Bard returned to his room, he found Seirun with a very dark, expression on her face.
“mmm...I’m sorry...”
Bard lowered his head while feeling as if an ice pillar were stabbed in his back.
As if to say, ‘curse you’ Seirun looked down on Bard as he could only lower his head and apologize.
Bard finally realizes at this point that he was being too reliant on Seirun.
Bard may not have been able to live with his multiple personality disorder without Seirun’s help.
“---I’m very sorry. I will explain things to you from now on.”
So it would be a much smarter idea to let her know about the deal, and then get her to help things out.
“You promise to never do these kinds of things again? Then, please, get changed quickly.”
Reconfirming that she is very soft towards Bard, Seirun pulls his hands to help him get changed for the outfits for the party.
Normally, the debut of the first son would be done at the age of five.
Whether one likes it or not, the potential of the next leader of the Cornelius Family was very important to other nobles.
Although the peace treaty has been agreed, Count Cornelius still has a huge part for dealing with the defense army.
For that reason, there were very few invites for the party tonight considering the family’s fortune.
“I’m glad you haven’t changed a bit, Matisse.”
For the very much unpopular Ignis, Matisse Bloodford were one of the few friends, who Ignis has known since the war times as a war buddy.
Although not as great, the Bloodford family was well known as a family with strong militarism, and its strengths are not to be underestimated. Ignis turns his attention towards the little girl who seemed to have been looking up towards him.
“I’m glad you seem to be doing fine sir. Anyways, do you know where Bard is? I haven’t seen him in a while so I want to greet him.”
The crimson-haired Lady Theresa laughs, her looks gives aways a somewhat boyish impression.
As to say, ‘what is going on?’ Ignis looks towards Matisse, of whom shakes his head with an expression of capitulation.
Knowing how beautiful she looks, Matisse could only feel sad for such reality.
From Matisse’s perspective, he is hoping for Bard to completely break her warrior spirit by defeating her, then possibly take her as Bard’s wife in the future.
But such hope became slim from the day Theresa saw Bard who was younger than her go through a harsh training every day from Magotte.
Not knowing why, Theresa had a strong will to not want to lose against Bard.
For the appearance of a very happy man, Ignis and Matisse immediately stood straight and then bowed.
Although he did not stand on a high social rank, he won the greatest war honor that no existing man had reached, and he was also a Matisse's former direct leader back in his active days.
His white hair seemed to show his becoming of age, but his glare and the tanned skin showed clearly that he was still working as a warrior.
“I am not worthy of your honor sir. ”
As a normal civilian, Ramillies is purposely speaking in a formal manner, but he was once known as a demon-like leader.
Knowing how Ramillies-- ‘The Demon God’ fought in the war times, like Matisse, Ignis could not stand against him.
“Hey! Old man! I guess you haven’t died yet!”
“Hey, I’ve been acting quite calmly today. But I shouldn’t worry about social etiquette at this point with you.”
“For that, I completely agree with you.”
“What are you doing? Show this old man around the place.”
Ignis knew that Magotte, from the days that she was a mercenary, knew Ramillies in some way.
That may sound like a foolish story, considering Ramillies did not accept titles and stayed as a civilian, which should indicate that he would not have any power.
Maybe such an important person as this guy would be enough to make the king stand.
“If this came from a different person, I would definitely think you are drunk in love.”
As far as he knew, there were only a few people who could be strong enough to equal Magotte’s level, such as Ignis or Matisse.
For someone to be as strong as Magotte, is something cannot be ignored on many different perspectives.
“I would be more than happy to.”
Although it is not publicly known, the Kingdom of Haurelia has not yet ceased their advancement towards the Kingdom of Mauricia
Even with the huge forest area within the domain of Count Cornelius that can be effectively used as a defending area, they have always targeted aggressively.
It is not expected to have an immediate problem however, depending on the circumstances, the king may interpose with the direct heir of the Cornelius family.
Needless to say, if Bard has sufficient ability to take over the domain, then there would not be any problems.
Magotte seemed to be satisfied from surprising the old Ramillies, she turned her elegant crimson dress, then walked back towards Ignis.
Ignis noticed her and assumed Bard had finished getting changed.
Bard nervously looks at himself in the mirror, wearing a white tuxedo-like dress.
Sanai, as a samurai preferred more Basara-like clothing, but that was only in the battlefield. Normally, even Sanai preferred plain-looking clothes.
For an ordinary high school student Masaharu, a ‘formal dress’ would be a blazer.
After a huge sigh, Bard walks up towards the stage where everyone turned their attention to.
Ignis signals Bard as he walks up the stairs to the second-floor balcony.
Bard noticed Ignis looking at him with his mouth still half open.
Bard saw Magotte laughing her face off while pointing her finger towards him.
“Hmph, sounds pretty insolent for Bard.”
“I won’t tell you to be like him, but that is how a noble should act, Theresa.”
Theresa’s first show was when she was 6 years old.
Looking at Theresa with her cheeks blown like a balloon, Matisse, at the same time that he thought she was cute, had to admit that in terms of educating the child, Ignis took the upper hand.
However, the majority of the invitees suspected his speech was a script, prepared beforehand.
“That was a well-grounded speech.”
“The Cornelius Family should be at ease now.”
Although some people still could not wipe away their prejudice towards this family, the majority of the invitees’ first impression of Bard were positive.
Especially for Ramillies, who felt a great astonishment towards the one moment when Bard showed a great presence.
To make such a young child go through it would be so cruel.
No matter how childish he may act, and present himself to be the same as usual when one murders another, there is no avoiding having some sort of internal change.
He does not seem like the type of person to murder for fun but, there must be a deep wound inside his heart that will never disappear.
Any skilled warrior would be deemed useless without the ability to overcome such an obstacle.
With that being said, making an 11-year-old child do that is absolutely unheard of.
Magotte, noticing Ramillies’ glare, laughs in mischief.
Magotte assumes that during that time, Sanai’s personality must have taken over when there was a huge life-threatening problem.
“You are the mother, you should know when and how your son lost his virginity.”
In what world would a mother disregard a deal about her child’s murder.
Depending on circumstances, in order to avoid the trauma, one may become a true hunter, devoted to the battlefield, looking for blood.
Magotte laughs without a blink of misery.
Magotte knew that Bard’s murder was out of his own reasoning and justice; and that Bard has not drowned in to the darkness by his own ability.
What do you know, Magotte who seemed to practice laissez-faire was actually a son-loving tsundere.
“(and such a waste of potential. )” Thinks Ramillies.
It was quite a known family in the eastern area however, they were ranked 40th in the kingdom.
Only if Bard were the second child, Ramillies would immediately bring him to the knights, and make him go through loads of education.
Now that people noticed the rumor about his ‘frail body’ is false, they would want to make a connection with Bard.
“We have a very precious spear we received from our merchant, I would like you to take a look...”
Even at the 40th rank, for the lower-class nobles it was a very valuable opportunity. Furthermore, Cornelius family seemed to not worry too much on family ranks since they welcomed Magotte---a mercenary.
Surrounded by many people, Bard seemed to be having trouble, but a beautiful girl appeared laughing as she was enjoying the situation.
“I’m sorry but, could you all please move over?”
“I haven’t talked to my best friend in a while, could you please?”
Unable to stand against a lady from a viscount family, the lower-class nobles reluctantly moved over.
“You seemed to have become so grand so quickly.”
The first time Theresa and Bard met was when Bard still had a multiple personality disorder, back when he was only six.
She knew that the Cornelius family had a child younger than her, but hearing that ‘he has a very difficult personality, so I would like you to take care of him’ made her feel disappointed.
However, such disappointment only lasted until she saw the training with Magotte and Bard.
“...damn it. What kinda mother is she?”
An instance of negligence leads to death--the Silver Flash’s attacks were not to be underestimated.
How skilled would Bard have to be in order to dodge such attacks?
“This is such a shitty game! Give me cheat codes!”
As he finally reaches a close enough distance in order to give a strike, Magotte who was only thrusting her spear, suddenly changed her motion and swung the spear sideways, blowing Bard’s body away.
Bard sticks up his thumb while almost having a convulsion towards Magotte, who seemed satisfied.
At the same time, it felt as if she, who were told to be stronger and more skillful than men, were struck down by reality.
For someone around the same age with an exceptional fighting skill to appear was her first time.
From that point on, Bard became her one and only upper-class noble friend.
Due to---.
“Your words mean great honor to me, Lady Theresa. However, I will always be Young-Master Bard’s maid.”
“Such playful words...”
Even though Bard was just used as a shield, this was the one thing where Bard had to be on Seirun’s side.
“Cute---!?”
Theresa charmed by Seirun, opened her arms wide.
Bluntly put, Theresa showed a very lesbian-like behavior.
A nonsensical engagement began, with Bard sandwiched in the middle.
“hue...Young-Master Bard! Please help me!”
This was the obvious result of Theresa’s sexual harassment in the past towards Seirun which had caused her to be traumatized.
“Can your son just take her?”
As Matisse makes a difficult expression looking at the kids, Ignis attempts to comfort him while laughing.
Even without that, if Theresa is not sexually attracted to Bard, then putting them together by force would be hard for the parents.
Now, is it really correct to say that he grew up without problems?
~~
Magotte, showing an expression of mischief as to say ‘I got you’ was so bright, it almost made Bard cry.
(He looks like he is about to kill someone...hello? Is this a prank?)”
“I will do my best! Mother!
“You have to fight me first, Bard!”
A very finely made black colored training outfit fit Theresa with her crimson hair beautifully.
“Theresa, you’re going to use that wooden sword?”
“Alright then, I guess I will also use a wooden sword.”
On the battlefield, spears were the main weapon but only very few nobles fought on the front line.
Needless to say, Bard was exceptional with sword wielding skills as well as spear skills.
“Are you both ready? Alright, begin!”
A very powerful rush using the full body weight as a slant, in order to cover the disadvantage of a female body that lacks in power.
---but it is too beautiful.
If one were to strike without any tricks, they must realize that they would have nothing left if the opponent were to dodge, so they must strike with their absolute full force.
Thus, for Bard who survives through the hellish training everyday from Magotte, the strike was too easy to deal with.
“Guffh!”
Even then, Theresa did not lose her spirit, and quickly makes enough space between her and Bard.
“...sorry”
At the same time, she had to admit that any easy strikes would not even make a scratch on Bard.
Theresa was not stupid enough to still believe that she was still on the same level.
Then how could one close up the skill gap?
Forget about combinations.
Give a strike without thinking about what would happen after!
“(How sharp!)”
It must be due to the skill level Theresa had since birth.
There was no way Bard would receive such attacks.
“Wha--?”
At the moment of the strike, Bard caught Theresa by her hand, who was holding her sword, and used the momentum to throw her behind his back.
Her lungs got pressured, and the few air that she had left squeezed out of her throat.
“That’s enough!”
Bard helps out Theresa get up, as she gives a regretful bite on her lips.
“I will win next time.”
Her abilities really have grown so much, that Bard would give a praise; it seems she has met a very splendid master.
“...insolent”
It was a sure fact that Bard was going easy on her, but used to not be able to tell even that.
But she did not want to admit such truth, possibly because she once met Bard when he had an unstable mental state, Theresa thought of herself as a sister for him.
“I would not be able to believe this without looking at it myself.”
Compared to Theresa, who used a physical enhancement magic, Bard won using only his own pure strength.
A small chuckle leaked out of Ramillies.
Ramillies felt blood rushing through his body, closely resembling the feelings he felt during his old days.
“Please go easy on me...”
“(Man...this old man isn’t a joke.)”
Even at the age of 60, his steel muscles did not seem to know what ‘abate’ meant.
The two faced each other, pointing their swords to each other's eyes, in order to prevent the opponent from easily grasping the distance between them and the sword.
“Hmph!”
---The moment Bard noticed the difference, the sword was already up close to his face.
“Hmph, you dodged this without using any magic”
Whether using swords or spears, there are many methods to which one may use in order prevent the opponent from catching distance.
To begin with, intuition is not done through a thought process, but with a simple reflection in which one’s experience brings out the answer without conscience.
“For such a young child, how cruel must Silver Flash be.”
Needless to say, most of the ‘experience’ was gained through Sanai’s memory.
“Please, no more. I’m kind of serious.”
As he spoke, Ramillies stepped in for a strike.
Multiple strikes, too swift to see attacks Bard.
Bard instantly closes the gap, yet Ramillies felt no panic as for a small statured body, a close range combat was not disadvantageous.
For Bard who thought there could only be a chance of winning through close ranged battle, Ramillies’ reaction caught him off guard.
At this point, Bard’s evasion was mostly dependent on his intuition.
He focused on trying to figure out a way out of the disadvantageous situation.
Since there are too much difference in both stamina and power, it would be over when he starts using magic.)”
That was the only possible way to survive this hellish training that Magotte has prepared.
To be able to dodge attacks that would be fatal in one hit, made her think that Bard was completely out of her league.
“My son has lived much longer than you think...sorry to say, but it would be meaningless if Lady Theresa could catch up to him that easily.”
90% of normal adults would either lose their mentality or their physical strength by this point.
However Theresa, makes a grin on her face.
Theresa was the only one outside of the Cornelius Family who knew about Bard’s real identity.
Although he never shows this side now, back when his identities still were unstable, he acted as if he felt fear towards the entire world.
“Damn it!”
The unrelenting strikes quickly took an unestimated amount of stamina from Bard.
“(God damn it...I’m not even allowed to take my time?)”
Bard finally makes up his mind and runs magic throughout his body.
Magotte used to specialize with the fighting style using this enhancement ability, for which she earned the alias of ‘Silver Flash’.
Ramillies still had enough to measure Bard’s skill level without negligence.
However, if Bard were to reach the speed of Magotte’s strikes, even Ramillies would have to use the enhancement.
“(Let’s see how my son is going to struggle)”
Bard was Magotte’s proudful son, but not her successor.
It could only be called the ‘Bard Style’
Magotte joyfully looks at her son, with flowing sweat like a waterfall, but with an expression of a fully grown man.
Bard roared.
Sanai’s memory knew more than anybody else its effectiveness.
The roar definitely came from a person who knew the sense of the battlefield.
Skill level aside, Ramillies knew that those who could unleash such a roar were not to be underestimated.
Bard lowered his body, close to a four-legged animal, about to leap onto its prey.
Towards Ramillies who quickly put himself into position, Bard used his charged force to strike at an explosive speed.
That is why near the end of the Edo era, a style called the Ryu-gou-ryu which aimed its strike towards the enemy’s shin, were very effective.
“(I guess it is a fine attack but...well, should I say it is quite frightful that an 11-year-old has learned this technique? )”
Considering the growth potential, it is not modest to say Bard’s skill level is quite frightening.
With less than 1% of disappointment in his mind, Ramillies bent his elbows to strike down Bard’s attack.
Suddenly, Ramillies felt an instance of panic when his dominant right foot sunk into the ground.
Bard was actually casting a ground-type magic during his strike, instead of the enhancement.
That is precisely why Bard cast magic on the ground and transmitted through the sword.
Ramillies quickly tried to gain balance by using his left foot, but Bard had already reached in using his momentum gained after getting the sword struck away.
With the body weight fully on the left foot, it was also impossible to dodge the attack.
A close range combat technique---Hiza-karame. A technique developed during the Sengoku era used to pin down the enemy during a close ranged combat, in order to take the enemy’s head.
Ramillies may have been able to come back if he used his enhancement ability, but he felt it would be shameful to do so at this point.
“Woah! You really got me! I did not think you were this strong!”
The two exchange words after the fight.
And during the last strike, if Ramillies had not underestimated Bard’s move, it never would have worked in the first place.
“I did not think you could use a ground-type magic like that. I’m the immature one.”
Even though magic is useful, the era when casters used fireballs and ice pillars to become the star of the battlefield ended long ago.
Needless to say, such existence were very rare.
The canceling magic required a very low amount of power to cast, and were able to destroy spells up to 5 times its power cost.
For such reasons, the beautiful spotlight of the battlefield dimmed its brightness.
All human beings hold some magic power inside them, and it is used to deflect spells from outside and to protect the body.
Even within the knights from the kingdom, it is essential to learn the physical enhancement ability, and they use the majority of their time training the strength and location to cast this magic.
Using a sense-type enhancement, however, required much more sensitive skill level.
And thus, the majority of the soldiers only use their ability on physical enhancements to increase their strength and stamina.
Bard’s unique usage of magic, however, may eventually bring back the shooting-type magic’s popularity.
However, it would require an exceptional skill sense like Bard.
“He saved your life there, Bard.”
(I’m finally saved...in two ways.)”
Since he was able to prevent showing a shameful self, Bard was allowed survive another day.
For Ramillies, who knew Magritte well, to not be able to tell such difference, would most likely be due to her regular behaviors.
….It had to be due to her regular behaviors.
Even for Magotte’s son, there are too many unexplainable things about Bard.
For Bard to have already experienced murder is already astonishing enough, but to have been placed in a war is unbelievable.
And that magic...most definitely not even close to the acceleration magic that Magotte knows.
During the current unstable, yet peaceful time this would not be a huge problem, but if a war were to happen in the near future, Bard would be crucial enough to determine the destiny of not only the Cornelius family, but the entire kingdom.
He also felt extremely jealous for Magotte who is allowed to train this amazing raw material daily.
For a warrior, to be able to find a talented pupil, would be as exciting as finding a life-long rival.