Chapter 12: Training Reward

One month has passed since master started training me.

My master always wore that evil smile of his thats so similar to old man Razatonias.you couldnt even believe he was a mere son-in-law welcomed into the family.I was truly undergoing some Spartan training.

Namely,

Studying is easy. You just have to memorize.like everything.

Just now, you were about to die, werent you? Thats because you neglected your defense. Start over again!

..Nooo, only by remembering it my stomach started to shrink..

And then, if I were to decide for an answer, his reply would always be the same.

Its not about being able or not being able to do it. You just have to do it!

Studying from morning until noon

In the evening, manners practice.

I always casted a magical barrier before falling asleep

Thats because, at random times during the night, my master would burst into my room to check my strength and reflexes.

You will die if you dont start applying treatment soon.

It was my masters line after he had opened a hole in my belly, while I was sound asleep.

Theres too much strictness in this expressing of your love.

After a very dark month has passed, my master finally came to a consent.

Were going to advance to the next step.

Well, you really have improved this past month. Therefore, I will reward you!

Such a pleasant line spoken with a smile, but.

my masters smile was the Frontier Counts smile. Are you sure youre not blood-related? I bet you are!

Yes! Thank you very much, master!

From today on, youll become the Knights Commanders adopted son. Youll receive a new name, and youll join the knight division and magic division soldiers in training. You must be happy, right? Very soon, the Knights Commander will come to meet you. Look forward to it and wait!

So, that plan is already starting?

First, I become the adopted son of the Knights Commander and from that position I make my debut to the nobles and the army.

Then, I save the young lady from an unexpected attack and we have our happy ending..

But its not actually an ending.After that, theyll make a pass at the neighboring country, huh?

MasterIm not happy at all and I cant look forward to it.

Yes! Thank you. I am very happy, master!

I felt miserable for not having the choice to answer differently.

But, the young lady is really cute.

My life right now doesnt imply that much working for a living as in Japan, and I would say its not that bad.

While I was making these comparisons, the dearly missed finger-cutting knight showed up.

Oh! I havent seen him in a long time! I wonder how hes been, this finger-cutting knight.

Did I make you wait?

No. Thank you for the trouble of coming here and meeting us, Knights Commander-dono!

What? The finger-cutting knight was the Knights Commander! ?

Come on! You have to let me know from the start if youre a VIP

Thanks God I havent done anything rude just yet.

Under that helmet was an old skinhead with a very grim face.

Such a man would definitely not look ordinary in Japan.

He has a dark skin tone and countless small scars on his face.

He looks more like the boss of a bandit group rather than the Knights Division Commander.

And I will be that mansadopted son, huh?hahaha, I feel I got salt in my eyes.

Its been a long time. So, you sir, are the Knights Division Commander? I am very sorry for not knowing this earlier.

Ohh! Compared to that time, youve become much better at controlling your magical power, it seems. And leave aside the Knights Division Commander! Youre going to be my adopted son, you can call me father.

With a brutal smile on his face, he crushed my shoulders.

If I wouldnt have strengthened my body with magical power, I wouldve become minced meat for sure.

Yes, father. I will be in your care!

Good. Sorry if its sudden, but I will guide you to my mansion now. My wife is really looking forward to meeting you. Come now, lets go! Ah, Sonia, see you later!

So my masters name is Sonia, huh?

Its the first time Ive heard his nameOr? Did I hear it before? Once againmy memory is failing me.

Yes. Excuse me, master.

My foster father was in much hurry to leave master Sonia and his sarcastic smile behind.

Youre wearing a full-plate armor and you can walk this fast!?

Look! The maids are dropping the laundry from shock

We got into the carriage that was stationed in front of the Counts mansion.

Since it was quite spacious inside, even when I was riding it together with the full-plate guy, it didnt seem that tight.

Again, starting from today, I am your foster father, the Knights Division Commander Galef. We will talk more about it once we get to our house, but from now on you will be called Zest.

My father Galef said that and started laughing loudly.

Zest, huh?I am already an inhabitant of this world, it seems.

I was planning to keep pretending Im living inside a dream, though

Im not even using my Japanese name anymore, and I will have to live on as Zest from now on, right?

This too cant be helped..

I have no idea whether I can return to my world or not, but either way, it wont be easy.

Until then, I have no other choice but to continue living as Zest.

First, I must acquire wisdom and power, and continue to survive in this world!

If I cant do that, going back is nothing more than a dream within a dream.

Oh, right! Young lady Beatrice entrusted me with a letter for youthis is it. It wouldbe wise to read it right now.

I thanked him and took the letter, and while opening the beautiful white mailer, I was welcomed by the fragrance of flowers.

Oh! Arent we stylish!! The young lady is a girl too, after all.

I looked over the letter while thinking that.

The full-plate kept on saying stuff like Youre so popular! You lady-killer!Gahahahaha! but I ignored him.

My dear fiance

Should I write this, should I write that too?.my mind is filled with thoughts, but somehow the words dont come out.

Its such a mystery!

Hmm? It seems the young lady can actually be honest if its a letter..I feel so relieved.

I was concerned I might have had to decipher even her characters.

Every day I kept on worrying about my fiance not being able to spend his entire life together with me, but every time I would remember those unbelievably enjoyable moments weve spent.

I was very,

Very happy!

Shes adorable.Youve been through a lot of hardships until now, young lady.

No.youve fallen for me, in fact!Gehehehe

However.Its been a month.

You havent visited me at all during this month

Did you forget me? Do you already..hate me?

Wow! .because of her tears this part has become blurry, it seems.

This piece of paper here is worn-out too.

The young lady sure feels lonely.I must answer this properly.

Hmm? Is there a second sheet? different from the first one, there are actually two more pieces of black paper in this letter.

I turned the first page over and kept on reading.

Please, dont hate me!

The paper, that I thought to be black, was in fact white.

The surface of the paper was completely filled in with very small characters, crowded closely, translating into Please, dont hate me!..

I might actually die.

Translation: Nana

Jack-of-almost-all-trades: Mockii