Chapter 11: Moving around the place (Part 2)

Three days later after the announcement of prince Rinbell's engagement remnants of the sixth prince, who cursed Rinbell, were found in burned down villa belonging to Marquis Varon. The corpse of the prince was burned and only way to make sure it was him were clothes next to the bed which had royal family emblem on them (and some jewlery he stole).

What was more alarming, was that there was a woman body found lying next to him.

"So marquis Varon was charged with treason for helping him hide?" I asked while I was drinking tea with the king and prime minister.

"Yes, that woman who was found with that fool was apparently marquis Varon's daughter. Aaaaah... those fools..." the king had sad look on his face.

"Prince Barto was... warned about what will his actions cause... but he was not someone listening to reason, sadly," the prime minister sighed and gave the king a paper with information about the destroyed villa.

"All lands belonging to marquis Varon will be divided to new owners. There were some enslaved elves found there and we found out they were illegal slaves like those from the incident two years ago so we released them. Anyway let's talk about something else. Marchioness Bella Berita send us a letter, in said letter she said that she's looking forward to this years competition. Additionaly, and this is the most importat part, she will come to personally watch the magic tournament. And, she will be be coming to see your teaching too," the king smiled.

"I understand, I will prepare my absolute best. If you excuse me now, I'm going on shopping trip with princess Gloriosa today," I bowed and left the room.

"One more thing Leo. You were the one right? The one who did it."

"I'm not sure. Only thing I did was analyze the curse on Rinbell and when I found out that I can't do anything except for destroying the core of the curse, I went ahead and did it. But the thing I destroyed was not organic, that I'm sure of."

"I see," the king looked a little more at ease as he sliped me a paper file.

When I opened it I found a picture of an orb shreded to pieces by my spells. I could see that while it had a glass-like structure, it had an engravings in it.

"I don't really know what this is... but it seems familiar," I looked at the king for confirmation.

"It was a skill orb that was forcefully engraved with cursed symbols from Ghost magic system."

"If I remember correctly, the ghost magic manipulates the life strenght of the body."

Actually it's SP what is used for activation of Ghost magic. It works like my King of Greed skill, albeit reversely. And it can also summon undead, which I didn't tried out yet.

"You are correct, the curse engraved was called Soul extract. It's extraction of strenght and skills from a body. That orb was sucking away Rin's skills before he could even aquire them and they returns now."

"Wait, they returns?"

"Just this morning Rin accidentaly broke table in half becouse he used too much strenght on his knife. It's too dangerous to let him go to school like this. So!" the king stand up walked around the table and placed his hand on my shoulder as he sit on the table, "You will train Rin so he can control his strenght!" The king smiled.

"I... I understand," I nodded weakly.

"Good," the king smiled and walked back to his seat.

"We didn't tell either Rin or miss Shizuko that you destroyed the curse so please keep that in mind," the prime minister, Grand duke Gram Rin Ostinius, stroke his mustache.

"Hm? But why?" I got a little surprised.

"It's simple really. Now that Rin's curse is disspelled, there will be many who will want to propose a marriage between them and royal family. We will use the fact that little Shizuko 'Broke' the curse as a pretext for their engagement. In the future, even if Rin had to take another wife, even if she was from higher standing then Shizuko's, she won't be able to take the place of the first wife."

"Shizuko will have first wife position guaranteed by the royal family, in a sence, right?"

"That's correct, Leo," the king nodded and slipped me another file, "This is something I want you to look at when you have time."

"Um... Hero's festival?"

"As you know there will be several activities during which the school will decide who to scout for the two tournaments at the end of second semester. Hero's festival is swordsmanship tournament and no magic is allowed. Well, usually. This year there is allowed Sword magic for semi-finals and finals. I as a king usualy can't recomend someone for the tournament, but this year, I decided to recommend you."

"So I don't need to participate?"

"You don't, but I would like you to hold a exhibition match."

"Ho, with Lulu?" I smiled at the king and he smiled with same fiendish grin back at me.

"Well, that would definitely be something iteresting to watch, but I would rather for that to happen in finals of the tournament, don't you think?"

"Hehe, that seems really interesting. So who are we picking?"

The king threw a file with a picture of a girl on table. One moment please, where the heck is he taking it out from? I don't see any... oh, that space magic I thought Victina last time, seems like he already place it on his ring. You work fast your majesty, but can you keep up?

"Well, if it's this one, then I guess I won't need to hold back as much as I thought," I smiled at the king. He smiled back and after I said my good byes, I returned home. From there, I went stright to princess' villa and picking up her and Goli.

***

"I've expected we would spend much more time together, given you are my Guardian knight, but I quess you have much more work then I expected?" princess asked me as I helped her up to the carriage for our third shopping trip in a week.

"Yes, I've started a shop here in the capital and I still have to attend to meetings of Disciplinary comitee," I nodded keeping my trip to royal castle few days ago a secret from the princess.

"Yes, I've heard. You cultivated some new crops that helped your home domain, the Netrose duchy, rise in power among the duchies here."

"It's not something that impressive. I just wanted some good food," I smiled.

But it seems like the word is traveling fast.

"Well, I think I would like to try it, then, that good food of yours," the princess looked out of the window where my 'Guards' were training.

"Alright, Rikedo-san take us to the shop!"

"Yes, my lord!"

We headed to the shop I build, which was a general store type with a café on a terrace, where we were selling our pasteries on ground and first floors, magic items and many various things on second floor. And finally on third floor we had Arcade where people could try out games for little fee and if they liked the game they could buy it as well. My plan was to hold a tournament in a future where the main prize would be the more intricatly crafted item, that's usually only for nobles.

"Welcome dear guests! Oh! It's master!" Lani's cheerful voice welcomed us in the shop.

"Welcome back master!" the girls in maid outfits welcomed us with a bow.

"It's good to be back, everyone," I smiled at the big variety of demihuman and human girls working in the shop. Most of them were Sea dragonfolk girls who went through training with our group in the Grubera dungeon so they also woked as security.

"Master, miss Kiira is in development center right now, should I let her be informed about your presence?"

"Hm, no let her work, if she's successful, we will get a new product."

"Understood, sir. Would you like a drink?" Lani said with a face of profesional salesman.

"Coffee, please. Lady Gloriosa, would you like a drink too?"

"I would like a tea, but I must say, I'm curious about that coffee you speak about I had it once but I am interested if you have more varieties."

"It's a bitter drink, but add a little milk or cream and it will turn into the most heavenly drink there is," Goli smiled lovingly as she ordered her usual Black coffee with Blade cow cream.

We moved through the shop I made a remark, "I must say, there is really a lot of people here."

"Yes sir, from what I withness here, most people come here for the sweets and drinks in the begining and as they stay here, they get interested in the magic items," Lani suplemented what she learned in the last few days from what she saw in the shop and what she read in the account books.

"And what kind of magic items tend to sell the most?"

"The [Lighter] and the [Thermos flask] comes to mind first becouse they are popular with the adventurers. As for nobles... the [Hairdryer] is the most selled one, oh and the Ant mead you told us about was sold out just three hours after we opened."

"Ant mead?" Gloriosa got surprised.

"Most of our items are made from monster materials. Nobles tend to look down on such items but we came to realize their potential. The Ant mead is made from Ant nectar usually found inside the Grubera dungeon, there was an outbread of Ant monsters recently and we helped to wiped them out."

"And the nectar came from their nest... who would've thought there would be even a boss class among the ants though," Goli slumpered a little.

"Says the person who destroyed most of the ants with single hit."

"Well, they certainly were weak but the boss was keep summoning new ones over and over again!" Goli pouted, "I had hard time defending the newbies."

"I know thanks for your hard work," I patted her head with a smile and she gave me the cutest "hehee~" I've ever seen.

We went to a small parlor and sit there, talking about many pointless things.

"If you would excuse me for a moment," princess' guard excused herself for toilets and we got a moment alone.

"I... never thought Rin's curse would be broken so easily..." princess suddenly started talking, looking down on the cup in her hands, which looked too big for her little hands.

I should not speak about what I did, no chance.

"It was quite the surprise. I never thought that Shizuko would gather enough courage in her to confess her feelings," I sipped my coffee with Goli next to me stuffing her cheeks with cookies Lani made. She looks like a chipmunk.

"I though, if I ever got the chance... I would help him, but... I was too weak. I couldn't go against the nobles back home... even with fathers help... all for nothing..."

Gloriosa seems like she had a lot on her in those last few years.

"Rin's freeing from the curse was shock for everyone, sure, but you should look infront of you from now on. You may have been bethroed to each other in the past, but that doesn't mean you can't be friends going forward," I smiled at her.

"Yes... looking forward... thank you sir Leo." Gloriosa smiled warmly looking at her cup.

"I'm back... is something the matter, princess? You look little red," the guard looked at princess and then glared at me.

"It's nothing, Maira. I think the coffee was a little too strong for me. But mark me impressed, sir Leo. Just by drinking this, I feel like I could go on many shopping trips in one day now. Is it possible to buy this drink?"

"I will send the best beans to your villa in the afternoon. Just please remember that best time to drink it is in late morning."

"Thank you, I'll keep that in mind. So what is the next place to visit?"

"Actually, I have training with princess Victina and sword saintess Lulu, I would like to invite you too, but it seems inappropriate to do so," as I said, I noticed the guard nodding vigoriously.

"I see, let me come too, then."

"What?! Princess, let me remind you that—"

"— not neccessary. I decided to look at sir Leo and Tina's training I have space magic skill too, but am only able to use the tree spells, I'm interested in spells sir Leo can teach me. This can be also good for you too, given you call yourself the sharpest blade of the Sorcery kingdom," Gloriosa shot her guard a cold glare.

"Understood, milady," she give a stiff bow, looking all but not happy.

I paid for the drinks and cookies and we left the shop.

In the carriage, princess gave me an interesting question, "I heard that there will be a lot of festivals this year. Will you participate in the Hero's festival's swordmanship tournament?"

"No, I and sword saintess Lulu will not participate in the tournament, but I will hold the opening exhibition match."

"Isn't that usually held by students from graduating year?" the guard asked.

"Yes, but this was wish from the school body, approved by his highness, the king."

They just want to see me fight again.

"Oh, such a great honor for you, isn't it?" the guard snickered.

"Of course it is. And for the participation in the exhibition match I'm allowed to participate in the Heroic knight tournament in the second semester on special recomendation," I smiled back.

"From what I could see, you are master of magic, why would you also participate in knights festival?"

"Good question Lady Gloriosa, it's becouse I'm a swordsman too."

"On top of all you showed us up until now, you are a swordsman too? You seem like an all powerful being at this point," the guard snickered again.

"Well, if it's to protect those I care about, I will do anything in my power. But I'm not omnipotent, there are things I can't do and for those…" I smiled to myself, pausing for a while, "if I can't do something, then I always try to find someone who can help out."

I would be screwed without Setto and Tina. They are the true MVP's behind the scenes.

"Sir Dragonrose, marchioness Bella Berita came to withness yout teachning today," butler who was always walking me to the training field said with a grave look.

"Is that right? I thought Lady Berita would come here later then this though..."

"She seems to be eager to see your training techniques."

"I understand. We will start with the theory like always."

"Understood. We already prepared enough seats for your usual group, but Lady Gloriosa will have to wait a little, we didn't knew she will be comming today," the butler bowed in apology.

"Oh, there's no need for apology, we did came unannounced after all," princess smiled magnanimously and took out a notepad, "This may be helpful for me for better understanding of higher ranked magics as well."

"Oh, you're interested in Advanced level magics?"

"Yes, after all I can use Summoning magic which is, I dare say, as strong as Crimson magic!" princess puffed up her cheeks.

Truth is that Summoning magic is the only properly studied Advanced magic. Void and Space magics are usually downplayed as useless magics becouse there isn't that much spells, Nature magic is only usable by monsters and elves (and me), Ghost magic and Psychic magic are hated magics becouse they are commonly used by demons. Last two magics are scarecly used, one is Holy magic which is only usable when you have high leveled blessing and you can be called a saint (though Taru can use it and she's not really a saintess anymore), second one is Sound magic and this is one I created myself from combining wind, lightning and psychic spells I've seen Nina use.

"I would really love to see it one day. I actually sign in for summoning magic lessons in the academy to learn about it."

"Well, then we will see each other there as well," Princess smiled and continued ahead of me.

Soon, we came to the training field and I instantly noticed an older woman with silverish white hairs and black hair streak on the right side of her head. She wore a triangular shaped glasses on golder chain and looked like a strict teacher or librarian.

"So you are Dragonrose, my little Tina's always bragging about?"

What? Victina's bragging about me? I looked at her and saw her blushing a little.

"I'm not sure if I deserve such a praise but I am Leonard Hirano Dragonrose. A pleasure to meet you Marchioness Bella Berita," I bowed to the old lady.

"Well, you do have good manners. Now show me how you teach."

"With pleasure."

After this brisk exchange I finaly got to say hi to Victina and Lulu.

"Okay, let's start with a review of last time. Victina, what do you need for successful casting of Short distance teleportation?"

"A good grasp on the surroundings and movement of my oponent."

"Correct. And what do you need to overcome such oponent Lulu?"

"Ah, Yes! Um, I need to… um, to have good sense of disruption in natural mana, right?"

"Correct—"

"Sir Dragonrose, do you really think I will belive such a nonsence as sencing disruption in natural mana? Seems like you still have a lot to lear yourself," marchioness pushed up her glasses dismissively.

"I know this may seem weird to you, but let me ask you first. What do you see when you look inwards to your core?"

"Like when begginer mages unlocks their magics? Hmm… Light blue, Yellowish red, White, Black and Silver, mixing all together."

"Yes, good answear. Now, what if I tell you that what you just saw is actually your mana?"

"That's an interesting idea, but you can't prove it right?"

"Actually I can," I smiled at the old lady and smiled, "«Stone pillars» If you don't mind, could you shot five different elemental magics at the five targets I prepared? Oh, and while you cast them, try looking inward."

"I don't see why not…"

Marchioness shot five spells, one after another in rapid succession.

"Oh…"

"You realized it, correct? When you use magic of different elements, your mana color changes accordingly."

"It's interesting. So you mean to say that you can see the mana in the nature too?"

"Yes. Actually I found out that this skill is one of the evil eye circle. The Evil eye of Magic sight. Now, who will tell me what Evil eyes are?"

Gloriosa's hand shot up.

"Lady Gloriosa," I pointed at her.

"Yes! So, Evil eyes are a skills that were originaly belived to only appear with monsters and demons, but some humans were also able to acquire them. The skills are all sight altering but it's imposible to get more then two I heard."

"Correct. My mother is one of those people. I myself tried to acquire the skill she posses, but was unable to do so for a long time."

"Did that change?" Victina's eyes sparkled with interest.

"Yes it did. I acquired the Evil eye of Magic sight after five years of training. I've already gave Lulu the basics for acquiring it, as it is good for combat," I smiled and turned my eye red which was the color of this Evil eye.

Lulu blushed a little, "I will do my best to acquire it quickly."

"I need to be useful quickly," she whispered as she clenched her fists afterwards.

"Alright. Now that we repeated the basics, I prepared two spells that I want you Victina to study yourself."

"Huh? Myself?"

"Yes, the thing is that both [Quick change] and [Full clean] I told you before, are hard to master. If you fail, you could ended up naked so please try them in your room alone."

"Oh, I see," Victina's eyes darkened for a second before turning back with even greater light.

Oh no, she's planning something.

"For today I decided to show you different type of spells. First will be Skywalk and the second one will be Implosion."

"Skywalk?"

"Do you know the skill called Air walk? It's a skill that allows you to walk on platforms made from wind. Skywalk is spell created on same principle but it uses space magic instead of the wind."

"Oh, I see so I will be able to walk in the air? How amazing."

"First, let me show you how it's done, «Skywalk»" I activated the spell and jumped high into the air, making footholds as I went up. Soon I was in hight of the throne room, where the king was just talking with some ministers. When he noticed me, I gave him a wave and went back down.

"This spell can be useful to get away quickly and safely. To be safe though, for today let's just hover slightly above ground."

"The magic circle is nice and easy to understand, «Skywalk»" Victina created footholds and step to my eyesight, "hehe, this is really nice."

"«Skywalk»!" suddenly Gloriosa jumped up to us, but becouse her Space magic level was too low, her foothold crumbled under her foot after climbing two steps.

"«Space pillar»!" I quickly made a pillar under Gloriosa so she didn't fall.

"Lady Gloriosa, if you want to participate I would like it, if you say it beforehand," I scolded her lightly.

"Yes Risa, this can get dangerous. Do you want to hurt yourself before even going to school?"

"You two just look little too happy, don't you think?" Gloriosa looked up at us.

Without me noticing, I and Victina were holding our hands dearly. As we looked at each other, we simultaniously blushed.

In that same moment, someone jumped from behind Gloriosa and landed around my neck.

"Wh–what are you doing Lulu?!"

"You said you created it after Air walk skill right? I trained that skill before so I can use it now!" Lulu said with a cute blush.

I checked her status and found that she really did just acquired it.

"Wow… you're right. Good work, Lulu. This is amazing," I gave her a head pat as I held her close to me.

"Me too!" Victina suddenly charged in with a hug, making me loose my balance and fell on my back…

"«Airbag»!" I quickly chanted a spell to break the fall.

'Condition has been met. Subjects [Lulu] and [Victina] have maxed out their loyalty. Establishing Soul binding have succeeded.'

""Huh?"" Lulu and Victina looked at me and smiled.

"Oh, crap..." Coincidenaly, my hand that previously was around the girls back was now much lower and maybe this stimulation caused this... at least that's what I hope it is, otherwise it would be becouse we lay on each other and I don't want to know how I would explain that to Kiira and Lani who are already binded.

"Soul binding? That sounds interesting, will you tell me more about it, Leo?" Victina smiled mischievously as she hugged me tightly.

"Fufufu, binded to Leo," Lulu on the other hand started looking like a puppy, rubbing her head against my chest.

"Ahem!" marchioness looked at us from above, "Does your training always look like this?"

"Even I'm surprised by this development, lady Berita," I said a little sheepishly.

"That's not fair, having fun by yourself," Gloriosa jumped down using [Skywalk] to descend slowly.

"Fufufuu," Victina jumped up, walked to Gloriosa and whispered something to her ear.

"WHAT?!" Gloriosa's surprised exclamation was like cut out from manga.

"Well, if everyone is alright, then let's continue with our training. Lulu, Tina please attack me with all you have. I'm not letting you take a break until you land a hit."

From that moment onward I started dodging their onslaught and knocking them down with my wooden sword.

"Tina I showed you five spells you can use for attack, if you don't start using them I will!"

"Yess! «Dimensional slash»!"

"Weak! Next Lulu! Your attack lacks pattern! You protect Tina splendidly, but you lack strenght to defeat oponent!"

"I'll get better soon!"

"Soon is late! Get better now!"

***

As I was training the girls, Marchioness Berita, princess Gloriosa, her guardian and Goli were drinking tea in the nearby gazebo.

"Is this really training? It's almost like Knightly kingdoms special training camp..." Maira, the guard was speachless seeing the training before her.

"Is it really that hard?" Marchioness sipped her tea and rested her head on the armchairs backrest.

"My lord is actually going pretty easy on them," Goli informed the ladies as she picked up cookies baked by Leo from the basket and ate it with delighted smile.

"This is going easy?"

"Lord Leo and miss Lulu were training together for quite some time, but lord Leo never recieved a clean hit from her before. Miss Lulu is true warrior at heart and knight too. Just like me she's willing to sacrifice everything for the one she loves and her master."

"Oh, is miss Lulu in love with the princess?" Maira looked interested in Goli's eyes.

"Heh, is that what you think? You clearly lack a discerning eye," Goli sneered at Maira and had a look of superiority on her face.

The two woman shot lightnings at each other as if they were mortal enemies and completly missed arrival of next two people who arrived at the gazebo.

The two were the seventh prince Rinbell and the first queen, mother of Victina.

"Princess Gloriosa, it's good to see you again," Rinbell made a little polite bow.

"Ah! Um, yes, it's good to see you too, prince Rinbell. Your majesty too," Gloriosa bowed to the pair, completly ignoring the bickering pair behind them.

"Oh my, what a hard training. Tina will be really exhausted again," the queen said after greeting everyone, "Anyway mother, what do you think about the boy?"

"He's interesting. He thought of so many spells for Space magic that previously had just three. I would like him to experience the training camp I prepared for him," marchioness smiled.

"You know that it won't be allowed. Last time you held it, five students went missing."

"Those jerks run back home on their first day. Plus I have that location broadcast device this time."

"Oh, yes. Leo is actually the one who made it."

"What?!"

"He said we can use them on criminals, so we put them on some of our noble prisoners."

"What is that kid? His physical and magical powers are of the charts even compared to me and he even can make magic items?!"

"And he's also researcher of many other fields..."

The adults were continuing their talk and Rin with Gloriosa were also talking alone.

"So... um... I don't know from where I should start so... congratulation... on your recovery..." Gloriosa stummered a lot as the words were leaving her mouth.

"It's fine Risa, it's not like you could go against your nobles back then. I was weak too... but, I met Shizuko thanks to it, so I'm not complaining. I wish you to also find someone you could relax next to."

"Rin..." Gloriosa looked like she would start sobbing, but was taken aback by two heavy thuds.

"Damn, you two. At least say you are low on energy..." Leo grumbled and placed his hands on the two collapsed girls foreheads. In that moment they both jumped up with renewed energy.

"Okay let's end it here. Tina, I wish to see you pull out at least three spells from the four I showed you. Lulu you keep practicing the Angel flash technique."

"They are..."

"Completly drenched..."

"Oh, your majesty, it's good to see you again," I bowed to the queen as I moved from the training field.

"Good to see you too, sir Dragonrose. Is your training finished?"

"For now yes. Both Victina and Lulu have no energy left in them. But I feel like they may learn the Increased Mana and Stamina recovery skills in next three to four weeks, which I would call a growth, for sure."

"That's good to hear," the queen smiled and ordered the maids behind her to help Victina and Lulu, who were coming after me, to their rooms. "Also, sir Dragonrose, are you learning how to fly now?"

"Oh, that was just an easy spell I showed to Victina today. If she masters it, I will show her some intermediate spells," I smiled at her and she smiled back at me.

Did I went a little over board witht that one?

Anyway, we continued our little tea party and I found out that Gloriosa and Rin make up and now seemed like a good old friends reminiscing of the old times.