Chapter 74: Bad News

Two weeks have passed since coming to the territorial capital. We are scheduled to stay here for one month during midsummer, so about half the time has passed. Hot days continue as usual, but we are spending time comfortably thanks to the air-conditioned stores. I also shared ice cream with everyone working at the lord’s castle. I think it served as a way to beat the heat somewhat. Amidst that, I put a black lump made by the Head Chef into my mouth and tasted it—mogumogu.

“Yeah, I think it’s getting pretty close.”

Bitterness and sweetness coexist in a good balance. The texture is still not quite right, but it has improved significantly. What I put in my mouth was chocolate. Not the ones summoned by [Store Summoning]. It’s one made using only ingredients available in this world. Using cacao found at the market, based on information heard from my senior, I tried making faux-chocolate. After fermenting and drying, carefully roasting, taking out cacao nibs (endosperm), thoroughly grinding finely without applying heat, adding heaps of sugar and butter, kneading kneading kneading kneading kneading, tempering, tempering, putting into molds and cooling! I heard the method from my senior, but I didn’t think it would be this troublesome. Well anyway, it’s hard work! The first one completed was bitter and somewhat gritty, an object that could hardly be called chocolate. I made it myself at first, taught the process to the Head Chef, and threw it all to him from there. Using the candy store’s chocolate and ‘La Vie en Rose’s’ chocolate cake as samples, days of hardship aiming for the completed form began. …For the Head Chef. No well, it’s better to leave such things to professionals, right? I have neither cooking skills nor knowledge. I think tasting occasionally and stating impressions is just right. The Head Chef is also motivated. The chocolate made by the Head Chef, whose skills improved rapidly, has become quite edible. I think it’s sufficient personally, but the Head Chef doesn’t seem satisfied, saying it still can’t match Earth’s chocolate. If chocolate similar to Earth’s can be made, I am convinced we can undoubtedly make a big profit. After all, high-ranking noble wives and daughters have already been captivated by it through Mother’s tea parties. Cacao itself isn’t produced in our Empire but imported from Tifa‘s Minuet Queendom. If a manufacturing method for chocolate is established, it could also be used as a diplomatic card. It would be nice if this country became famous for chocolate like Belgium. That said, eating too much causes various problems… Stroking my tummy which became a little mochi-mochi, I leaked a small voice, “Crap”. It’s the result of eating and sleeping since coming to the territory. Well, that happens… Thinking ‘This is bad’, I put on the jersey bought at ‘Imamura’ and headed to the courtyard to exercise, where Jean and Bianca were engaging in a mock battle as usual.

“[Trio]!”

Bianca splits into three. The ability of Bianca‘s Magic Sword, ‘Ensemble’. The three Biancas surround Jean. Jean managed to dodge the concentrated attacks from three directions at first, but gradually couldn’t handle it, and before he knew it, ‘Ensemble’ was thrust at his neck.

“That’s it. Bianca-san wins.” “Yes!”

Bianca raises a voice of joy at the words of Estelle who was refereeing.

“Damn…! As I thought, isn’t that Magic Sword unfair!?” “What are you saying. If I took your Magic Sword head-on, there’s a possibility my sword would break in two, you know? Well, I know that so I don’t take it though.”

Gradually, Bianca has become able to beat Jean too. Although the win rate is still low in battles without Magic Swords, I think she can win four out of ten times. She really became incomparably stronger than the Bianca in the game.

“Ah! Lady Sakuraile!”

Estelle runs up to me who appeared wearing a jersey. Estelle was also wearing the same jersey as me. Bianca too. Recently, everyone wears this when exercising. Because it’s easy to move in and changing is easy.

“Lady Sakuraile also for practice?” “Yeah, my waist area is… ah, no, I’ve been a little busy recently so I haven’t held a sword.”

Unable to say it’s for dieting, I glossed over Estelle‘s question like that. To such me, Jean speaks.

“Sakuraile doing it too? Ah, show me that ‘Holy Sword Mode’ or whatever again. I want to test how strong it is.” “Are you stupid? No, Jean was stupid. Drawing out the [Holy Sword]’s power puts a burden on Lady Sakuraile’s body, you know? It’s not something to do so casually.”

Bianca disparages Jean with an exasperated sigh. Well yeah, doing that causes terrible muscle pain the next day.

“It’s okay. Shall we do it?” “Eh!? Lady Sakuraile!?”

But I readily agreed to Jean‘s proposal. I’ve been somewhat trained by daily training, and the day after cutting Ritsu‘s curse, there was hardly any pain. I think I can use it without burden for maybe ten or twenty seconds. Facing Jean who is already motivated, I call the Holy Sword into my hand. Clad in platinum light, hair color changes to pure white. Nn, I’m okay. From here further────.

“Alright, here I go!”

I dodge Jean‘s slashing sword stepping sideways. And just like that, I go around behind Jean who swung at empty air, and place the Holy Sword perfectly against his neck with instant speed.

“Okay, finished.” “Eh…?”

Less than three seconds. In a real battle, Jean‘s head would have fallen with that. Jean who was fighting and everyone around are dumbfounded with mouths agape. Well yeah, I feel the same though. Oops, have to release Holy Sword Mode. With this duration, there should be no hindrance for tomorrow.

“W-What was that just now!? Just when I thought Lady Sakuraile disappeared for an instant, she had already won!” “I’ve seen Lady Sakuraile’s movements with the Holy Sword drawn before, but was it this fast…!”

Estelle and Bianca raise surprised voices. Was it that fast? By my own senses, it still feels slow. That was the second stage Holy Sword Mode. Let’s call it Holy Sword Mode Level 2. The Holy Sword’s physical enhancement has stages like car gears, and raising it by just one demonstrates abilities on a different level, as the name implies. Of course, the burden increases too, but for that short time, I think there’s no problem.

“Seriously… If you use the Holy Sword, aren’t you stronger than my old man…” “Probably. But I can’t use it for long, and if they come in numbers I think I’d lose. I have neither technique nor stamina. That’s why I train though.”

Just because I can use the Holy Sword doesn’t mean I’m invincible. This Holy Sword is a God’s sword to defeat demons and banish evil. It’s not that strong for anti-personnel use. Even if a child holds a sword that cuts incredibly well, a master with a knife is stronger. Ultimately, it’s meaningless if I, who wield it, am not strong. Whether a Duke’s daughter needs such strength is a no, but being a noble, one must possess strength at least enough to protect oneself. Because allies might come to help while protecting myself.

“So with that said, let’s practice together, Estelle.” “Yes! Please!”

Dismissing the Holy Sword, I take a wooden sword leaning against a tree in the courtyard. Since Estelle started swordsmanship at the same time as me, she’s just right in terms of ability. Objectively looking, Estelle is superior in stamina and power, and I am superior in speed and technique. Well, even if I say superior, it’s comparing acorns height. Estelle, whose parents were adventurers, grew up in the countryside, so she has reasonable stamina. As for me, having grown up in the slums with hardly any food, I don’t have that much stamina. I was more of an indoor type making medicines. So like this… if Estelle goes on the defensive, I get exhausted immediately.

“Hah!” “Ah!?”

Estelle‘s swung-through wooden sword sent my wooden sword flying into the air. Spinning round and round, the wooden sword falls to the ground.

“That’s it. Winner Estelle.”

When Bianca acting as referee announced that, I sat down on the spot. Ah, it’s tough after all. Need to build more stamina.

“A-Are you okay, Lady Sakuraile?” “Ah, fine fine. Just a little tired.”

I answer with a smile to Estelle who is worrying. Fortunately, everyone thinks I was recuperating from illness, so they don’t find it strange that I have this little stamina. Maybe run a little more… Should I do muscle training too? Though being a young lady with too much muscle feels bad too.

“Oi oi, Sakuraile who beat me, don’t lose to Estelle…” “This is training, you know. No problem even if I lose. When I absolutely cannot lose, I’ll win using any means though.”

I replied to Jean who was grumbling. Can’t rely on the Holy Sword’s power for everything. Have to train my own power more. Of course not just swordsmanship, but knowledge, wisdom, social skills, negotiation skills too. Because I will eventually become the lord of this le Philharmonie territory. Unless I get disinherited by exile or something…

“Lady Sakuraile!”

While I was renewing my determination, Ritsu in a maid outfit ran from the mansion looking flustered. Huh? Ritsu’s schedule today should have been Arisa-san’s manner course. Did something happen?

“Just now, Ji (Gramps)… no, Gen came to deliver this.”

Saying that, Ritsu held out a piece of paper to me. Gen is Ritsu‘s foster grandfather and currently the vice-head leading the Nanane Clan. Since the head Ritsu cannot move due to being my attendant, basically Gen-jiya is leading the Nanane Clan. A letter from that Gen. Probably related to that matter I asked about. Fearfully opening the letter. There, only the conclusion was written in concise words.

‘Many Infected’

At those characters, I managed to endure my vision almost blacking out swaying…