The Things That Matter

"This is the body-enhancing magic talisman you asked for."

It was around five days after the duel.

In my room, Sebas placed a single talisman on the desk.

A small but high-quality gemstone was set in its center.

It was well-worn, and anyone with a discerning eye would recognize it as a valuable item. However, the small gemstone in its center had faded.

Magic talismans of this kind were disposable. Once the mana in the gemstone at the center was exhausted, it became nothing more than a scrap of paper.

To use up a gemstone of such quality after a single use was unthinkable in this day and age.

It was from the heyday of ancient magic, when magic was more advanced than it was now and gemstones were plentiful.

"Sorry for putting you to all this trouble."

"Not at all. I merely used up one from His Majesty Gustav's room. His Majesty was quite angry that I had used up part of his valuable collection, though."

"It's fine. To make it look as though I'd used this, I had to deplete it. Besides, Grandpa can't use it even if he stores it. Tools are meant to be used. The creator would probably be happier if someone put it to use."

"You should tell His Majesty Gustav that directly."

"Spare me the lecture."

I reached for the magic talisman with a grimace.

However, I missed it on my first attempt. Clicking my tongue, I reached a little farther and managed to grasp it this time.

"It seems your senses are still misaligned."

"Last time, it lasted a week. I wonder how long it will last this time..."

"That was a painful expense."

"No kidding. To rein in a young noble's rampage, I spent money, revealed my trump card of switching places, and suffered troublesome aftereffects. The Holtzvaert ducal house really did a number on me."

"It seems we both took our share of the damage this time. They intended to use this incident to rack up favors with many nobles, but if anything, they made more enemies."

"We made enemies too. If someone loses a son or relative, we can't expect a favorable response. And it would be a pain if they interfered while I was fighting Erik. Eliminating them here was the right call, but... whenever people die, resentment is born."

"We did everything we could. Since they were the ones who went on a rampage, there was nothing more we could do. Besides, many nobles will reassess their opinion of Leonart-sama because of this incident. In that respect, it wasn't all bad."

I nodded several times at Sebas's words.

That's right. It wasn't all bad. But, to be blunt, it took far too much effort to take down a lesser opponent.

"The problems are piling up. Leo aside, Erna will probably grow suspicious of me because of this incident, while Father is moving forward with some sort of plan involving the Adventurer's Guild. The fact that all information is being kept completely under wraps means there's no doubt that some bigwigs from headquarters are involved."

"The VIP guarded by the Second Imperial Guard at the hot springs may have been connected to that as well."

"Maybe. The Adventurer's Guild only acts in matters involving monsters. If they were planning some major move, they would probably try to mobilize an SS-rank adventurer, and it's strange that they haven't contacted Silver within the Empire."

"I sense trouble on the horizon."

"As usual."

I sighed, but Sebas continued smiling.

I glared at him, wondering what he found so amusing, but his smile did not falter.

"Do you enjoy other people's misfortune that much?"

"Heaven forbid. I merely thought you were growing, Arnold-sama."

"Growing? Me?"

"Yes. You dislike trouble. You never saw any point in competing with anyone, and few things mattered enough to you that you would compete to protect them. Yet this time, you chose to compete despite knowing the trouble it would cause. I thought you might say afterward that you shouldn't have done it, but you never did. That is because you recognize that being by Fiene-sama's side is more important than avoiding trouble. I think that is a good thing. Having more things that matter is a sign of growth."

Having fewer things that matter makes it easier to act.

It's easier when you have no attachments.

That was how I had lived. Even when people mocked me, I ignored them as long as they caused me no actual harm. Competing over things like pride was too much trouble.

I could have let this one slide, too. Why couldn't I?

Because I didn't want to leave Fiene's side. And because it would shatter Fiene's peaceful life.

"...Is gaining more things that matter really a sign of growth?"

"It is. Acting alone is easy, but more things that matter enrich your life and help you grow as a person. That was true for me as well."

"Am I growing more as the Dull Prince's butler than I did while living as the Grim Reaper?"

"Yes, I can say so with confidence. People grow by taking on trouble. So I hope you'll take the initiative and charge into troublesome situations, Arnold-sama."

"No. Spare me a life like that."

I have no interest in a colorful life.

A monotonous, unchanging life suits me.

For now, this is the only exception in my life.

"Well, let's get going. Leo and the others will be back soon. We'll meet them and switch places in the carriage."

"Understood. Zeke has already told them about the switch, so there shouldn't be any problems."

"I hope so..."

With that, I stood up.

Because my senses were out of sync, even such a small movement felt strange, but I had no choice but to endure it.

■■■

"Well, you've brought along an unexpected person."

I went to meet them at the Imperial Capital's main gate. When I boarded the carriage Leo and the others had been riding in, I found Erna and Leo inside, along with a short boy with a fierce look in his eyes.

Winfried Trales.

He was Leo's childhood friend, a brilliant student. I had known him as well, but we were not close enough to call each other childhood friends.

Vin folded his arms and fixed me with a hostile stare.

"Still the same, Vin?"

"You haven't changed either, Al."

It had been a long time since we'd seen each other. A handshake would probably have been the polite thing to do, but we weren't that close.

In my eyes, Vin was always the troublesome fellow who did nothing but study, while in Vin's eyes, I was probably an irresponsible layabout who did nothing but play.

However, Vin was a man whose future had been full of promise as a younger-brother figure to the Crown Prince. He must have traveled through foreign countries so that he could one day serve as the Crown Prince's capable vassal.

But Vin vanished in the wake of the Crown Prince's death.

"You managed to find him?"

"Because we're childhood friends."

"Your thoughts are being read, you know. How is that supposed to work for a strategist?"

"I could have escaped if I'd wanted to. I let myself be caught because we're childhood friends."

Vin gave me that sore-loser excuse.

I glanced at Erna. No matter what schemes Vin might devise, he wouldn't stand a chance against her.

"You had a way to escape from a Hero?"

"Getting away from a flat-chested woman is easier than taking candy from a baby."

"Who are you calling flat-chested?! You little runt!"

"All I have to do is rile her up like this and make her lose her composure."

"I see."

It was effective, in a sense, but I suspected it would only end with Vin being chased by an enraged Erna...

I wouldn't dare use it myself; it was too frightening. Still, I'll remember it in case I ever need it.

"Also, Al. I haven't agreed to become Leo's strategist yet."

"And you came back to the Imperial Capital despite that?"

"Vin says he'll decide after seeing what you can do, Al."

"Mine? What is he looking for?"

"Your performance in this mess with the nobles. If you pass, I'll take on the role of Leo's strategist."

With that, Vin announced it in a haughty tone.

He was still as condescending as ever. He had also always been a troublesome man with a low opinion of himself, and that didn't seem to have changed either.

The fact that the Crown Prince had singled Vin out as a talent was proof enough of Vin's ability.

After all, the Crown Prince hadn't been short of capable people at the time. He had no need to search for talent, yet he had gone to great lengths to arrange for Vin to study.

He may have taken a liking to Vin, but that was surely tied to Vin's talent as well.

Would I meet Vin's standards?

"What will you do if I get less than a passing grade?"

"I'll just hide somewhere again."

"I see. That would be a problem."

"Are you lacking confidence?"

"I did what I could, but it was nowhere near a perfect score. Anyway, ask Sebas for the details."

The three of them had only just arrived in the Imperial Capital, so they probably didn't know the details of the incident.

I could explain it myself, but Sebas would be able to give a more objective account.

"I've heard a little. You pretended to be Leo and fought a duel?"

"You hear things quickly."

"Some merchants were talking about it. They said Marquis Weitling challenged Leo to a duel, and Leo won with ease."

"That's not wrong. Though it was a little more complicated than that."

"...I heard Imperial Poison Wine was involved?"

"That's true as well. I suggested it amid all the twists and turns. Sorry, Leo. Everything is being credited to you."

"That's fine. You didn't do it for no reason, did you?"

"Well, yes, but..."

I glanced at Vin.

I had no idea how Vin would judge it. I didn't know what he expected of me, and now that it had happened, there was nothing I could do to change it.

"I have a lot I want to say, but are you really all right after fighting a duel?"

"Not really. I used a magic talisman, so my body is in terrible shape."

Erna's eyebrow twitched for an instant at my words.

It wasn't unusual for a magic talisman to put a strain on the body. However, there was generally a limit to how much a talisman could enhance someone.

Even with a very high-quality talisman, it would be impossible for me to move like Leo. Erna had probably figured that out.

I planned to explain it away as an old talisman based on ancient magic, but I doubted how much of that Erna would believe.

However, the fact that she wasn't pressing me now suggested that she had no intention of investigating too deeply.

That was a relief, but there was no doubt she suspected me.

There was a world of difference between announcing it myself and having it exposed.

I remembered something Sebas had told me once.

Perhaps the time was drawing near.

As I thought that, I was rocked by the carriage.