MFWSP 45

Chapter 45

“Listen carefully and imagine this, Lissian. Depending on your answer, this can become reality or not.”

“……”

“We’re going to build a big house with about 50 rooms in the Aphelemioun Duchy. Big enough for all your younger siblings to live comfortably.”

“What…?”

“You’ll have to do some cleaning yourself, but there will be cooks, doctors, and enough staff to take care of everything. You can’t leave kids alone without adults, you know.”

“……”

“A big garden where everyone can run and play, a beautiful fountain that plays music, a large tree that gives shade in summer, and huge windows designed so you can enjoy the snowy view inside during winter. That’s the house I’m talking about.”

Lissian, Rin, and Kyle’s eyes slowly widened.

Lissian’s pupils trembled slightly, and Rin’s eyes grew a little wet.

“You can study anything you want — academics, swordsmanship. You can even go to an academy far away or apply to the knights.”

“……”

“You each do what you want, and once a year, you gather at that house. Maybe some will become rich, others will be parents. But on that day, you must meet and spend time together. I can make that house for you.”

I continued talking.

“If you want, I can make all of it happen. It’s not a big deal for me now.”

“…Stop it!”

Lissian frowned and shouted.

“Who… who do you think you are to say that?”

He asked roughly. Rin and Kyle’s shoulders shook with emotion.

“How do you know about the dreams the three of us have… How could you know…?”

I stood quietly, watching him.

It seemed like I hit a nerve; his angry eyes were bloodshot.

“I don’t know how you know, but even if it’s unrealistic, it’s a dream we shared!”

He shouted.

“How dare you mock our dream! I know you have no intention of making it come true!”

“…I’m not mocking. I’m offering.”

I said firmly.

And how could I not know?

It was my dream too.

I promised several times that someday, I would make it come true myself.

When we grow up and meet at that house every year, if I ever don’t come, you said you’d come find me to the ends of the world.

“Kyle, really?”

Kyle lifted his head and asked.

“Don’t trust her. No, it’s a lie. Haven’t we been scammed before?”

Lissian shook his head.

“We’ve had similar offers before. There were people who liked my swordsmanship. But when it came to paying money, they complained about taking care of all the kids…”

“Call the deputy steward.”

I pointed to a nearby servant and ordered.

Soon Kent appeared and bowed.

“Yes, my lady.”

“I’ll give you a budget of 50,000 gold. Find accommodations immediately. Bring food, clothes, and a doctor to the abandoned houses in Bennett Alley.”

“Yes!”

“There will be 35 kids there. The deputy steward should personally take care of them until they’re healthy and clean. Bring them to the mansion after ten days. If even one is missing, hurt, or looks unstable, I will hold the deputy steward responsible.”

“Ah, yes!”

Kent left quickly.

“That guy is too soft-hearted.”

I explained again, looking at Lissian.

“If the kids just pretend to cry, he’ll give them whatever they want. So don’t worry about them being abused.”

Lissian’s eyes fixed on me, trembling.

“…What exactly are you?”

He asked.

Morbe tried to say he was a scoundrel, but I stopped him.

“Why do you make such an offer? What do you really want?”

“Good question. I didn’t say there are no conditions.”

“Conditions?”

“Yes. All three of you must cooperate, and since you’re arrogant, Lissian, I’ll give you the hardest task.”

Rin and Kyle tensed up, shrinking their shoulders.

Lissian quietly stared back at me.

“I’ll give Rin a book on weapon research, and Kyle a bestiary of beasts and monsters. Both have to memorize it within ten days.”

“Uh, that I can do…?”

“I really wanted a bestiary!”

Rin and Kyle nodded eagerly.

“And you, Lissian.”

I crossed my arms and looked up at him.

Tall, slim, and agile, he really looked like a leopard.

And like a beast, he didn’t avoid my gaze.

“In ten days, you have to beat Aken.”

“Huh?”

Jurick jumped up and asked.

“No way, Lady, no matter how good that guy is, how can he do that in just ten days…?”

But I didn’t take back what I said.

Morbe and Aken remained silent, deep in thought.

“Can you do it?”

“……”

Lissian bit his lip hard.

It was a ridiculous offer.

He wasn’t a fool; he would understand that.

Still, his eyes shone brightly.

“Do you… think I can do it?”

“Yeah.”

I smiled and nodded at his question.

Whether he could or not wasn’t important. What mattered was that he wanted to try.

For Lissian, who had only ever pretended to be a swordsman all his life, sparring with Aken must have been an ecstatic experience.

Even if he pretended otherwise, deep inside he admired the knights.

After the sparring, he couldn’t take his eyes off Aken. For the first time in his life, he had someone he respected.

“You can do it, Lissian. I believe in you, so you should too.”

I whispered once more.

“I’m not asking you to do this alone. Everyone here will help you. For ten days, you’ll train under the best teachers in the empire.”

“……”

Lissian’s face was complicated as he stared at me.

After a long silence, he slowly nodded.

“Really?”

“You kept pestering me.”

Though his tone was still sharp, a tiny flame began to burn in his eyes.

“You’re serious?”

Aken, standing far away, asked. Lissian nodded again.

“I’m going to beat you soon. But…”

“But?”

“You have to teach me swordsmanship for ten days, just like you promised.”

“What?”

“You, the giant who brought me earlier, and the judge too. All three of you teach me.”

He pointed at Jurick and Morbe.

Though his attitude was arrogant for someone asking for a favor, he didn’t look like he intended to bow.

“You said you wanted to take me as a disciple? You said you’d give me a chance?”

“Scoundrel. You’re arrogant for a loser.”

“Do you know how many knights want to be our disciples?”

Morbe and Jurick grumbled, and Aken chuckled.

But to me, their excited eyes showed everything. All three happily came closer to Lissian and tapped his shoulder.

“Not satisfied with getting hit earlier? Fine, I’ll beat you until you cry your eyes out!”

“Get ready. I’ll make you cry like never before.”

“Hmph. If you behave, I might even teach you the secret technique I used to beat Aken in the past.”

Without hesitation, they started circling the sparring ground, checking weapons and targets.

I didn’t need to say more.

The bond between them was already starting to form.

The sound of chewing filled the sparring ground.

“I want more meat!”

“I want cake!”

“I’ll eat anything.”

Kyle, Rin, and Lissian ate like they were possessed for two days.

The doctor said all three were malnourished.

He said it was strange how Lissian used so much energy.

I let them eat as much as they wanted, and they gladly accepted my kindness.

“Those guys are opening books in the sacred sparring ground?”

Jurick teased after finishing his meal.

As he said, Rin and Kyle never let go of their books even while eating.

Sometimes, Lissian was the same, but mostly he kept his eyes fixed on Morbe and Aken, who were sparring in the center of the ground for an hour.