On his way back after receiving the Artifact from his mother, Leo thought.
'To think she doesn't know how to use it.'
Aria had said that when she received the Token of House Rayner as a child, she was only told that it could be used when her life was in danger.
But to think she doesn't know exactly how to use it......
'If Mother had known how to use it in my previous life...... she might have lived longer.'
Leo shook his head and cast off the gloomy thought.
Now was the time to look ahead and run forward rather than look back.
'If I can only learn how to use it...... this will surely be a great help.'
Since he had been told to use it when his life was in danger, that meant it could serve as a lifeline through most dangers.
'It's as though I've gained another life.'
That was how it felt.
When Leo returned to his room after seeing his mother, Exile was waiting outside.
"Have you returned, Young Master?"
Exile's smile held even greater goodwill than before, and his eyes were filled with trust.
"Let's go inside."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Oh, what about the sword?"
At Leo's question, Exile shifted what he was holding against his chest into view and smiled.
"I did not even show this one to the Count. It is the finest sword I possess."
Exile smiled proudly.
As soon as they entered the room, Exile drew out the sword he had been holding against his chest and set it down.
'Hmm......'
The scabbard was black as pitch and looked sturdy even at a glance, making it particularly striking.
"It looks like this could kill someone even if you hit them with the scabbard."
"As expected, your discerning eye is extraordinary. This is Black Steel, the hardest of all steels."
Its Mana Conductivity was poor, but no other iron could compare to its strength.
Iron that shatters iron—no description suited it better.
"But Black Steel's Mana Conductivity......"
"Naturally, the blade is made from a different material. More importantly......"
As Exile spoke, Leo picked up the sword and drew it with practiced ease.
The grip in his hand felt as familiar as that of a sword he had wielded for years.
SHING.
The beautiful, keen sound rang through the room.
"It contains a very small amount of Mithril. It is in the runes on the blade."
Leo studied the blade closely.
Runes he had only ever seen in spellbooks glowed faintly with an emerald light.
"Of all the swords I have made, I quenched this one the most. Its cutting power is second to none."
Leo nodded.
He could tell it was an extraordinary Famed Sword without hearing any further explanation.
HUMMMMM.
Leo immediately infused it with mana.
He felt the mana rippling in the Mana Circle below his navel rush along the Mana Road and be sucked straight into the sword.
Before long, vivid blue mana shimmered across the blade.
"Not bad."
There was almost none of the subtle sense of discord that usually came when channeling mana into a sword.
It fell a little short of Zenix, but it earned a passing grade as a partner.
"I will put it to good use."
"Yes, Young Master. I will never forget the help you gave me this time."
Leo smoothly slid the sword into its scabbard as he answered Exile.
"Good. Make sure you never forget it."
At Leo's answer, Exile hesitated, his lips moving as though he had something to say.
Leo set the sword on the table, watched him for a moment, and slowly spoke.
"What is it? Do you still have something to say?"
"I felt this while we were speaking earlier...... The Count seemed extremely proud of you, Young Master."
"Father?"
"Ah...... Of course, he did not say so directly...... That was simply how it felt to me. Haha......"
Leo could only laugh at Exile's awkward smile.
"In any case, thanks to you, Young Master, we were able to conclude our business safely and successfully. If you ever need help, please tell me. I will assist you to the best of my ability."
Those were the words Leo had wanted so desperately to hear from Exile in his previous life.
"All right. I was grateful too."
Thanks to Exile, he had finished arming himself with decent weapons.
A dagger, a sword, and even the Gray Troll Leather Armor.
"We will have another chance to meet, will we not?"
Leo gave Exile a small smile as he answered.
"Of course. Were you planning not to see me?"
"Of course not. Haha."
"Oh, right...... And Exile."
"Yes, Young Master."
"I feel as though I've only taken things from you...... This time, I'll really pay. Can you show me another good sword?"
Exile's eyes narrowed at Leo's words.
"Truly?"
"You can give it to me for free if you want."
"No. Haha. But do you need another sword?"
"It's not for me. There's someone I want to give it to as a gift."
***
The next day, Leo greeted a morning more refreshing than any before.
KNOCK, KNOCK.
"Young Master, Young Master!! Wake up!"
The voice that opened Leo's morning belonged to Hans, who sounded a little different than usual.
"What is it?"
"The Head of House wishes to have breakfast with you."
"Father does?"
"Yes, yes! Please get ready quickly. I will prepare the water for you to wash first."
"All right. Calm down. I'll leave it to you."
At Leo's words, Hans immediately closed the door and went outside.
'It seems like we've been eating together quite often lately.'
Meals with his father.
In his previous life, merely hearing that his father wanted to eat with him had made his stomach clench shut, but now he felt nothing in particular.
'If we eat, we eat. If we don't, we don't.'
That was all.
After washing with the water Hans had prepared, Leo dressed and left his room.
"Young Master...... Today is the last day."
"The last day? Why? Do you think I won't return?"
"No. That is not what I meant...... But how long will you be gone?"
"A week. It might be longer."
Hans answered Leo's dry response with a miserable expression.
"I will miss you."
"Not really......"
"What? Why? You see me every day. If I'm gone, won't my face keep hovering before your eyes? Isn't that right?"
"No. It won't."
Leo answered and glanced sideways at Hans.
Hans was glaring at him with sharp eyes like an angry cat.
"I'll be a little disappointed that I can't tease you."
"Oh, Young Master."
Leo let out a quiet chuckle at the sight of Hans pouting.
"Make sure you eat properly and stay healthy."
"I will be fine, but I am worried about you, Young Master...... Um, Young Master. I packed some luggage for you, just in case."
"Luggage?"
"I loaded it onto a carriage in front of the Valantes Inner Castle......"
"A carriage?"
"Yes. I packed all kinds of emergency medicines and one Potion. There is also a tent and......"
"Hans."
"Yes, Young Master."
Leo was grateful for the thought, but he was not leaving to have fun.
"I'm leaving to train. I'm sorry, but all of that is unnecessary baggage. Oh, except the Potion. But where did you get it?"
"I just...... Well......"
Leo narrowed his eyes at the stammering Hans.
"Did you buy it, by any chance?"
"What? No. Where would I have the money for that?"
Potions were made by magically processing the blood of monsters with regenerative abilities. They were divided into High, Mid, and Low Grades depending on which monster's blood was used.
"What Grade is it?"
"Uh...... It is a Mid-Grade Potion."
A Mid-Grade Potion cost as much as three months of a knight's salary.
Roughly 1 Klude.
"I will buy that Potion from you."
"N-No, Young Master. I truly did not buy it......"
At Hans's words, Leo immediately took two gold coins stamped with the number 1 from his pouch and handed them to Hans.
"Keep them. And thank you for packing everything."
A mere attendant could never obtain a Mid-Grade Potion.
Hans must have paid a premium for it.
Considering an attendant's wages, Hans had probably spent everything he had earned over nearly twenty years on the Potion.
That was how significant it was to Hans for Leo to venture outside the castle.
"Bring me the Potion separately. I'll take care of the rest."
"Young Master......"
Hans's eyes reddened as he looked at the gold coins in his hand.
"As expected, I am in the palm of your hand, Young Master."
Leo gave him a small smile and continued.
"And my brother's confinement won't end before I return. So don't worry too much."
Hans flinched in surprise at Leo's words and answered.
"Young Master! Do you truly use mind reading?"
Leo brought his mouth close to Hans's ear and whispered.
"You're like a brother to me, so I'll tell you. I can read minds. So don't curse me in your head. Got it?"
Hans nodded vigorously.
Leo reached the dining room while chatting with Hans about one thing after another.
"I apologize for being late."
As usual, his parents were already seated at the table.
His mother gave Leo a benevolent smile as he entered with his head bowed, while his father tossed out a curt remark with a dry expression.
"Forget it. It is hardly the first or second time."
The meal began in silence.
"Leo. Your father specially prepared this meal because you are leaving today."
Once the atmosphere around the meal had ripened, Aria spoke.
"Thank you."
Leo bowed his head, but Magenta showed no reaction and silently focused only on his meal.
'Hmm......'
In the past, he would have rebuked Mother for saying something unnecessary.
"Have you finished preparing?"
Leo nodded at Aria's question.
"Yes. Since I am going to train, there was not much luggage to prepare. A sword, a sleeping bag, and some light provisions......"
Before Leo could finish answering, Magenta set down his utensils and wiped around his mouth.
Then he slowly spoke.
"I prepared a horse in the stable. I also packed a few things you may need, so take them with you."
After saying what he wished to say, Magenta rose and walked out of the dining room without looking back.
It happened so quickly that Leo could not say a word.
Aria smiled at the dumbfounded Leo and spoke.
"It is from the same stock as your father's horse. Take it with you this time so you can get acquainted."
Leo nodded at his mother's words.
"Yes...... I will do that."
It was a gift he had never expected.
He had planned to take any horse from the stable and simply set out, but his father had personally prepared one for him.
"Mother."
"Yes?"
"Did my brother receive one?"
Aria spoke with a deeply moved expression at Leo's question.
"As expected of my kind son...... You are worried about your brother. Do not worry. He already received one."
"I see."
"Did you eat enough?"
"Yes. I finished everything. Shall we get up?"
His mother nodded with a loving smile at Leo's words.
After finishing breakfast with his family, Leo returned to his room and immediately began preparing to leave.
Once he had packed everything, he considered stopping by his brother's room on the way to the Valantes Inner Castle's stable, but soon abandoned the thought.
'When I return, I hope you'll have changed a little too.'
Leo muttered inwardly as he looked at the distant window of Jamie's room.
When he reached the stable, Leo received the horse his father had given him, strapped his luggage to the saddle, and finished preparing to depart.
"Have a safe journey, Young Master. I will miss you."
Leo nodded at Hans, who had come to see him off.
"All right. Keep exercising diligently."
"Yes. Understood."
"Our Leo, who makes us so proud. Take good care of yourself. I hope you return as an even finer man."
Leo gave his mother a small smile and bowed his head at her words.
"Yes. I will return, Mother. Please stay healthy."
After saying farewell to several retainers, Leo guided his horse and slowly rode out of the Valantes Inner Castle.
He passed through the Valantes South Gate and began crossing the broad plains.
'This is certainly a fine horse.'
It was still young, but its speed was beyond comparison with ordinary horses.
And because it was young, it still had room to improve.
However, Leo did not intend to ride it the entire way.
"Minatos."
After crossing the plains for quite some time, Leo entered a secluded forest and called Minatos.
-Leo. It's been a long time since we've been outside, hasn't it?
Leo immediately pulled out the map at his waist and showed it to Minatos.
'I'm planning to go here. It would take two days on horseback.'
-Ah. I see.
'I'd like to use the power of wind.'
-Of course. It's possible. But can you handle it?
'I don't mind using all my mana.'
His mana would recover anyway the moment he consumed the Elven Leaf there.
-All right, then. Let's use the power of wind.
At Minatos's words, Leo grasped the horse's reins.
"Let's go."
At Leo's words, Minatos stirred the power of wind.
The horse carrying Leo gently floated into the air.
The horse twisted its body this way and that in panic. Leo pressed himself close to it, stroked the back of its neck, and spoke.
"We're going to fly so you won't get tired. So stay calm."
Leo shot into the air in an instant.