LMOFSF 07

Episode 7 – Change

“The young master has changed!”

This was the most common thing heard around the annex these days.

“He gets up at dawn every day and runs around the training yard!”

“Lately, he’s even been running while carrying heavy armor or logs!”

“I heard he beat Captain Hector in a sword fight! Other knights saw it too.”

“He talks with the young lady often now.”

“He comes to the dining hall for every meal!”

“He doesn’t get angry or irritated anymore.”

“They say the Sword Master even cured him of the mana curse.”

Whenever the servants of Tindalos gathered, they eagerly shared stories of Houn’s actions, like priests talking about a miracle they had witnessed.

“He seems more reliable now, doesn’t he?”

“Maybe it’s because the way he talks has changed? Before, he wouldn’t even answer properly.”

“He sounds a bit rougher, but that makes him seem more confident and bold.”

“It’s like seeing the young master’s father in his youth. I guess blood really doesn’t lie.”

The Tindalos family always treated their servants like family, so the servants loved them like family too.
Tindalos’ joy was their joy.

“Finally, the young lady can relax a little.”

For the past five years, Lady Sigrá had only thought about protecting the family and taking back what was lost. She had carried the burden alone.
They thought she had forgotten how to smile—
but now she was smiling again.

“It’s been so long since I last saw her smile like that.”

“Master Nian and Miss Niv are also smiling more these days. They say they really enjoy training with Young Master Houn.”

The reason they were all smiling again—
Houn de Tindalos.

The heir of Tindalos, the master they would serve.

He was born with the curse of mana, the eldest son of a swordmaster family.
It had hurt them deeply to hear outsiders call him the disgrace of the family.

But ever since the day he got out of bed, he had completely changed.

“At first I was surprised to hear that the Sword Master was teaching him, but after seeing him now, I can believe it.”

“When the lord and lady passed away, I didn’t know what would happen to us…”

“It’s such a relief. Right, Emma?”

And the main person spreading news of Houn’s changes—

Emma, the woman who had been closest to the Houn siblings for the past ten years.

Today, as always, Emma shared the latest stories in a small gathering, then stood up with a bright face.

“I always believed in the young master! I knew he could do it when the time came!”

With a proud heart, she went to see her master—
who was, as usual, running in the training yard before sunrise.

“Young master! Please drink some water!”

“Phew…”

[Your stamina has improved quite a bit.]

‘You’re right. Things are going smoothly.’

It had been half a month since he started training.
In the day, he focused on stamina and swordsmanship.
At night, he learned sorcery from Aris and trained his mana, even giving up sleep.

‘Too smoothly, actually.’

He had been watching Barus closely since that day, but there was no sign of action.

The festival was about a month away.
Since travel to the capital would take time, they should start moving soon.

‘Maybe I should set the bait first.’

He was still far from his past life’s strength—
but now, at least, he could wield a sword again.

[Heh.]

“What are you laughing at?”

“Hm?”

“Never mind. Thanks for the drink. Nian, Niv! Let’s stop here for today.”

Since taking over the twins’ training, he had also been teaching them swordsmanship.

‘They learn quickly. It’s fun to teach them.’

They reminded him of Yug from the first time they met—full of talent.

‘Soon I’ll need to correct their skills in a sparring match.’

He wondered how far they could climb when they hit a wall.

“Huff… yes, sir!”

“Ahh… Emma, water for me too…”

“Here you go. Just a moment.”

As Emma handed water to the twins, Houn reached for a towel—

‘Hm?’

[You’ve noticed too?]

‘Yeah. We have visitors.’

Nine people were approaching the annex.
Seven were mages, two were aura users.

A strange mix.
There was no reason that many mages should be wandering in such a remote place.

‘People from the branch family?’

There had been no message about their arrival.
No sign of basic courtesy.

“Well, Hector and the other knights are here, so…”

“Emma, is my sister in her office?”

“Yes? Oh—yes, she should be.”

“Thought so.”

Except for mealtimes, she stayed in her office from morning till evening.

‘Officially, we’re here to guard the border.

That means handling reports on monster activity, supplies, and guards in nearby towns.

Plus, as acting lord, she’s stuck with endless paperwork, teaching the younger siblings, and managing our poor territory.’

‘These are things I should be doing.’

If they didn’t restore the family soon, her already weak health wouldn’t hold out.

“Hector! Stop the morning training. Watch over Emma and the twins.”

“Yes, my lord!”

“Nian, Niv. Stay with Hector until I come back, alright?”

“Yes, brother.”

“Okay.”

The training yard was on the opposite side of the annex from the main gate—
meaning the visitors would only meet them if they came here on purpose.

“Barus, arm yourself and go to the front gate. If they seem suspicious, stop them until I arrive.”

“Yes, understood.”

If they were from the branch family, he would probably let them pass.

Houn quickly wiped away his sweat and headed upstairs to his sister’s office.

“We need more hands… maybe we should hire mercenaries…”

[Instead of bringing in outsiders, wouldn’t it be better to make your own for now?]

“Make? Oh… golems.”

[Yes. I can give you the knowledge right now if you want.]

He knew the “give” meant the second sorcery—Creation.
Indeed, golems would be safer than unreliable people.

‘At least they can’t betray me.’

He had no desire to experience betrayal from an ally again.

“Not yet. But it’s a good idea. Tell me more later.”

[Heh, fine.]

Soon, he reached the office.

Outside stood Aiden, the dignified head butler with neatly combed gray hair.
Together with the head maid, he oversaw the household.
He had served the family since Houn’s father was a boy.

He didn’t seem to know about the visitors yet.

“Aiden.”

The butler smiled warmly.
“Good morning, young master. Did your training go well?”

“Yes. Is my sister inside?”

“Yes. Please wait a moment.”

He knocked politely.
“Young lady, the young lord is here.”

A gentle voice answered, “The young lord? Let him in.”

When Houn entered, the familiar scent of evening-star tea greeted him.
His sister looked at him with slight curiosity.

“What is it, young lord?”

Seeing her face eased his mind.

“Sister, are you expecting guests today?”

“Guests? No, not at all.”

So they definitely weren’t her guests.

“Then I can think of them as unwanted visitors.”

“What do you mean—?”

Before she could finish, the office door opened.

“‘Unwanted visitors’ is a rude way to put it, young man.”

A group entered, pushing Aiden aside.

At the front was a middle-aged man in fancy clothes.
The others seemed to be his guards.

“Baron Upton, arriving without notice is very disrespectful,” his sister said firmly.

Houn remembered—Upton was from one of the branch families. This was his first time meeting him.

“Disrespectful? That hurts. I only came to check on the young lord after hearing he recovered.”

Nonsense.

“With armed knights and mages? And more than two weeks after it happened?”

The baron looked surprised that Houn had spoken, but quickly smiled.

“This is the borderlands, young man. Monsters and beasts often come down from the mountains. One must protect oneself.”

It was a poor excuse.

“Hah! With a force strong enough to hunt trolls? This area isn’t even near the mountains, and there are no such beasts here.”

“Is that so? I’m not well-informed about border matters.”

“A noble should not wander around so carelessly. What if someone mistakes you for an enemy and attacks? Blades have no eyes.”

“…Ha ha, I’ll remember that.”

Houn purposely let his mana rise in an unstable way, as if he couldn’t control his emotions.

The baron’s face twisted slightly.

He was probably a 3rd-circle mage at best.
Among his men, there was one more 3rd-circle, some 2nd-circles, and two low-ranked expert knights.

If he wanted, Houn could kill them—
but this was the wrong place.

And… there were others hiding near the mansion walls.
Six… no, seven. Not aura users or mages.

[That man carries the aura of suggestion magic.]

‘Really?’

[Yes. He must be the one who planted it on you before.]

So the branch family was behind that incident.

The baron spoke again, “Anyway, I’m glad to see you well.”

“Where do you get the nerve—”

“Baron Upton.”

His sister stood.

“He is not ‘young lord.’ He is the young duke. Even if you are of the branch family, you must address him properly.”

The baron smirked.
“Are you sure you want to threaten me like that, young lady?”

She smiled coldly.
“It’s not a threat. I’m only concerned you might be called a fool who doesn’t know proper rank.”

He tried to argue about succession, but she cut him off—
reminding him that questioning the heir was defying the Emperor’s will.

Then she added casually, “In fact, the border duke will be visiting soon. We can ask his opinion.”

The baron paled. “The… border duke?”

“Yes.”

Houn almost laughed. She had just told him earlier there were no guests today. She was lying with a straight face.

“If you can say the same thing in front of him, we’ll overlook today’s rudeness.”

The baron backed down instantly.

“…My apologies. I was careless.”

She smiled without warmth.
“I knew you could correct yourself.”

Grinding his teeth, the baron said, “Then I’ll take my leave.”

“Please do. And next time, arrange your visit in advance. Even in our poor state, we can still serve tea to our guests.”

“…Of course.”

He left, slamming the door.

Houn’s sister collapsed into a chair, breathing out.
“I’m fine… sorry for cutting you off earlier.”

“Not at all. I enjoyed watching that.”

Her hand was trembling slightly.

“Wasn’t it too much, lying like that?”

“You’re working so hard. I can at least do this much.”

“Who would dare say that to you? I’ll deal with them.”

“Just hearing you say that is comforting. Thank you.”

She then admitted the border duke would visit—but only during the festival, as usual.

The Chepelli Border Duke—
ally of Tindalos and the strongest swordsman in the empire.

Houn was curious to meet him.

[The intruders have left the forest, but the ones hiding near the annex remain.]

‘They’ll come back once they learn the truth.’

Better to deal with them now.

“Sister, I have a small request.”

“What is it?”

‘I’ll lure them away from my family.’

“I’d like to go buy a sword.”