Chapter 229.5: Interlude: Everyday Life Without Will

(Note: This time is from a third-person perspective.)

About a month has passed since Will enrolled in the Royal Academy and began living in the Royal Capital.

In Northernford, the capital of the Fairchild Ducal territory, the markets are bustling with many people, and it seems no different from usual. However…

“Phew, it’s somehow quiet, isn’t it.”

“Right. We’re living our usual lives, but still.”

Two girls were exuding an air of ennui in a cafe.

This is the cafe of the Will & Fellows workshop.

The ones talking while eating pasta were Sophie and Mabel.

The two usually eat lunch separately, but today they had arranged to meet up and eat together.

“Because whenever William-san is around, unimaginable incidents always happen, after all.”

Mabel let out a soft chuckle.

“It’s true. Just in this past year alone, we developed the undeveloped lands, a delegation came from the Empire in the north, and we were attacked by a massive swarm of monsters. Ah, I’m sorry, Mabel. I made you remember painful things.”

“No, it’s okay, Sophie. It was definitely tough, but William-san and everyone else saved us so the capital was safe, and my family was promoted to a Viscount house.”

“The promotion was certainly something to celebrate.”

“Ahaha, my father says we were lucky to be promoted alongside the Fairchild and Cardiff families.”

“That’s not true. Standing up against a massive monster swarm you had no chance of beating in order to protect the people was admirable, I think.”

“It seems the development of the undeveloped lands has progressed quite a bit too. This delicious green pasta sauce is also from the undeveloped lands, right?”

“Yeah, sweet basil has a great fragrance. It has a strong visual impact, too.”

“I was also surprised that a town was built in the undeveloped lands in the blink of an eye, though.”

“Right. The Production Skill is truly amazing. I wish I had the same Production Skill as my brother. I’m jealous of you, Mabel.”

“What are you saying? You’re a genius Tri-Magia girl mage famous throughout the Kingdom now. Everyone is jealous of you.”

“I would have preferred the Production Skill. Well, it is useful when fighting monsters, though.”

When the two finished eating their pasta, they cleared their empty plates and returned to the table with black tea.

Since the workshop’s cafe is short-staffed, the craftsmen go get their own plates and clean up after themselves.

Because they are Sophie, the sister of the workshop’s representative, and Mabel, a workshop division head, the cafe staff would bring and clear their plates for them if they just stayed seated.

But the two of them acted just like the other craftsmen.

By the way, Will had also tried to do the same, but he gave up after Baker-san told him, “You’re the representative and you’re always busy, so please just take a seat and relax.”

“Well, a normal, quiet life is nice too, though.”

“Right.”

“Is your work at the workshop going well?”

“Yeah. The plastic glasses are selling very well. They don’t break, they’re light, and it’s a truly good product.”

“Yeah, I hear they have a good reputation.”

“Everyone among the craftsmen has gotten used to making the glasses, and there’s less for me to do, so lately I’ve been showing my face at the transparent soap department again. Coming up with new designs is fun.”

“You’re living a fulfilling life, Mabel.”

“What about you, Sophie?”

“Hmm. My studies on territory management are progressing somewhat, and I think my magic is improving under the guidance of the Elf Elder.”

“Eh? You’re still getting stronger?”

“Yeah. According to the Elder, it seems a tremendous number of monsters surged forward during the previous offensive of the darkness. Plus, I know there are monsters out there like the Demon Tiger.”

“That’s true. Our territory was nearly destroyed, so I do think monsters are scary. But Northernford is prospering more and more, and life is becoming more convenient, so being here, it doesn’t really feel like an offensive of the darkness is happening.”

“Ahaha, that’s true. I suppose that is also thanks to my brother.”

“William-san really is amazing. Come to think of it, is he doing well at the academy? Well, since both of his fiancées are with him, I’m sure he’s fine.”

“Apparently, he joined a club with a suspicious-sounding name like the ‘Southern Development Research Society‘ and even made some friends. It seems one of them, Elva-san, has recently been receiving magic instruction from Luna-san.”

“Oh, is that so.”

“It seems my brother brings her to the Elf Forest on weekends using Teleportation Magic. Maybe I should ask the Elder to instruct me at the same time.”

Despite saying that a normal, everyday life is nice, the fact that she was trying to arrange things to be near Will made Mabel think that she must be bored.