"We have a lot to talk about." The beautifully dressed little girl said while gesturing me to sit down. Her eyes were shining as she invited me in. How could I have guessed that I would be treated so courteously by the Young Miss of the Swordwick Household?
"Is that so?" I asked in suspicion...
"Of course. Father wanted me to help you reach the Mana Control needed to attain a Skill Root." She replied without minding my paranoid attitude. Only after realising that she was wholeheartedly and sincerely wishing for my benefits did I reluctantly stop my usual formalities and sat down.
To think that the daughter of that sharp and scheming guy would be such a happy-go-lucky type of girl? Just her smile alone seemed to hold boundless optimism towards her future.
"The House Master such a kind individual..." I praised with a meaningful smile. It wasn't hard for me to figure out that Duke Swordswick had nothing to do with this meeting. The one who ACTUALLY wanted to see me was definitely this girl herself.
If it really was him who wanted me to train under her, judging from his personality, he would have personally led me over here instead of allowing the Young Miss to personally invite me to her room.
"I know, right?" She agreed. My smile couldn't help but stiffen as I wasn't able to figure out if she was sincere or just making a joke... I almost felt as if I was unable to see through her mask...
A young noble girl like her wouldn't happened to have lied so blatantly, right? Don't nobles have this inborn pride that stops them from doing that? She seemed completely ignorant to my doubtful eyes and continued to talk as if nothing had happened.
"Father doesn't want to waste your talent. If you are able to gain a Skill Root, then your inborn Magical Talent won't really matter much since you would be able to rely on your new Skills for battle." She spoke while innocently smiling and leaning forward. Her eyes seemed to be full of interest as she gazed at me.
A chill ran down my spine as my instincts screamed that I shouldn't try to get any closer to her than I already am. Why do I feel this? I have no idea, but if I was pick between logic and instinct, there would be only one true winner. However, why is it that I'm feeling a headache whenever I look at her? Strange...
"You don't need you to help me. I can find my own path by myself." I said as an excuse. This girl must be eyed on by an assassin or something. If I try to get any closer to her, she will definitely attract an endless amount of trouble for me in the future... This ominous feeling is so clear that it can't be wrong!
"I WANT to help you out even if you're capable enough to figure out on your own, so stop declining my goodwill already. It's not like you'll lose anything anyway..." The Young Miss frowned in displeasure.
I decided to stop struggling after hearing her heavy words. It would be too troublesome to explain about how I wanted to train my new Secret Art by myself anyway. Since she's kindly offering to help me out for free, then I might as well accept her offer.
How bad of a disaster could socialising with her bring me anyway? I'm sure another kind of trouble will come if I don't try to be on good terms with her and get on the bad side of a nobleman's daughter.
"Although I know a fair bit about Skill Roots through my studies, but how am I supposed to turn my ability into an actual Skill Root? Is there some sort of trick to it?" I asked in concern.
It would be really embarrassing if I lost the bet with her father because of such a shallow reason like 'not knowing' how to form a Skill Root. It would be embarrassing those who put trust in me as well!
"Simple, just mix your most practiced technique with your Mana Flame and a Skill Root will be born if both of them are able to fuse. Try to visualise the foundation of a Skill Root as the colour of your Aura and the Art or Spell you've chosen being what's built upon it. The creation of a Skill Root is still decided by luck so success or failure is up to whether or not you have good fortune. This is what I've learned recently straight from my father's mouth by the way so you can be relieved that it really IS as simple as that." She spoke while pointing at her heart.
"The colour of my Aura?" I couldn't help but ask as I imagined the five different types of Elemental Auras I was able to produce as well of the special colour of my Sun Attribute deep in my foundations.
"Yes, you might think that the only special types of Auras are mimicked ones, but you're wrong. The original Light Aura humans can manifest is actually the best foundation for all ability. Those with mimicked Aura type abilities are usually unable to bring out the true strength of a Skill Holder since they aren't able to have the flexibility of a Light Attribute Skill Holder." She explained generously without holding back even a drop of information.
I never thought the Young Miss could be this sincere... To think she'd actually take her time to explain something like this to one of her insignificant servants. I'm actually grateful for this...
From what I've heard, aren't Nobles supposed to be arrogant like her father? Why is she so kind to me specifically? How does she want me to return her favour once I've formed my Skill Root?
"You really are well informed!" I praised without hiding my surprise.
"Hehe~ You're making me blush! If you praise me more, I might just fall for you~!" She blushed while trying to hide the sharp glint in her eyes. She really is similar to her father in ways I can't articulate.
It looks like the Young Miss is trying to 'test' me...
I wasn't completely dense to the point of not understanding her thoughts. I can understand her intention is to create a closer bond between us than the master-servant relationship we currently have, but not in a romantic way though... She most likely is trying to make me a 'friend' of hers.
However, my instincts are basically pointing at her and saying: 'Getting close to her equal goodbye to your normal everyday life as a Butler!'. Who knows if I'll end up being assassinated after this is over...!
"Then I'll make sure to praise you less." Her face fluctuated a little as she was unable to understand why I retreated. As a cute girl, it seemed she may have taken my words a little offensively. I probably shouldn't have been so blunt with my response...
Her face darkened as she turned uncharacteristically silent for a few moments. I didn't interrupt her and patiently waited for her to continue. Now I'm actually feeling a little guilty for answering her in such a disrespectful way. If only I was more experienced with girls in my past life!
I mean, it's not like I was a virgin in my past life. It's just that the girl's I dated really didn't care about romantic things like love and only approached me due to my high standing as a 'War Hero'. They'd always leave once they have had enough with me...
I was one hell of a boring guy back on Earth despite how much fame I gained... I hope that in future I'm able to change and get a girlfriend who isn't the daughter of the person who employed my parents.
"Am I pretty?" The Young Miss suddenly asked out of the blue. Now contrastingly I'm taken aback by HER bluntness. What is her goal? Why is she asking something like this? Is this some sort of trap?!
"Yes." I replied with one word.
"Is there someone else you like?" Her eyes were just like her overbearing father's as she asked.
She's asking me this now? What was the first question for, anyway? To lighten the mood? (Sarcasm)
"Yeah, I like that short-haired maid of yours." I lied straight through my teeth. Wait, what maid?
Argh! My head is hurting! I have to keep my cool or else she'll figure out I'm talking out of my ass!
Even I don't have the courage to stand up to such a gaze. So my only option is to try to smooth things over with a lie that came out of my mouth as naturally as air. Wait... I think I'm starting to corner myself! She doesn't have a maid like this, right?
"Do you know her name?" She smiled coldly. I think we've strayed off the original topic now. I'm sure we were supposed to be discussing about Skill Roots and other closely related stuff! How did this suddenly turn into gossip about my love life...?
"It's love at first sight." Oh no... I think I'm digging my grave a little too deeply now.
Where I this maid I supposedly fell in love with!
"Hmph, you don't have to lie. It's not like I confessed to you or anything." She said with a frown.
No, even an prepubescent primary schooler would be able to tell how serious you were! It doesn't need to be said in words, but since you want to get some of your dignity back: I won't argue with you.
The mind of this young girl sure is terrifying... She obviously has no romantic feelings for me yet she still wanted me fall for her confession just by her looks alone... Did the fact that I had beaten that arrogant asshole really have this much of an big impact? Even a young girl like the Young Miss wants to have some 'control' me over me using her beauty...
Well... It's not like I'd fall for a young girl like the Young Miss anyway. She's obviously too young for my tastes! I like busty women with curves, not children like her! I.AM.NOT.A LOLICON!
"By the way, what are the practical ways I could use to help speed up the process of creating a Skill Root?" I asked after resolutely deciding to change the subject. You've just activated my face-down trap card: 'Bending Rivers To Save The Nation!'
It doesn't look like she wants to answer my questions anymore. From what I can tell about her energetic personality, she isn't going to just let me off lightly since I basically lied to her face. A servant like me making such a bold move must have upset her!
After hearing my question, she suddenly smiled mysteriously. There was even a faint trace of mischief in her eyes as she looked at me like a Cheshire Cat. What is with that expression?
It looked like she found an opportunity to vent her frustrations... I hope she doesn't turn violent towards me. The difference in status is something even I'm scared of. I don't want to be locked in our household dungeons for something so small...!
"Constant battle helps forming a Skill Root. Let me help you out~!" She advised with 'sincerity'.
Now that's just immature! All I did was tacitly reject you... You should show the the great pride of a noble and look down on a mere servant like myself! There is no need to dirty your hands to beat me up!
Hah... What was I expecting? Although she's definitely hiding some secret. I can feel there are no lies in what she had just spoke. Constant battles seem to mysteriously help form Skill Roots...
"I'll ask Jack for a spar." I didn't want to continue talking with her since I felt incredibly awkward after our last exchange... I really don't want to get involved with such a scheming girl...
"No need. Don't you want to battle with a genius like myself? You don't need to worry, I'll be sure to go easy on you~!" These words may sound arrogant and narcissistic to those who didn't know her strength but she has the power to back up what she said.
"I refuse." I decided to state clearly.
What 'I'll go easy on you~'? A spar with the Young Miss wouldn't be a battle between warriors. Trying to spar with someone so outside my league would just look like a dinosaur slaughtering a chicken!
I definitely don't have any way to resist her power with my current strength. If she's anything like the rumours said about her, then I'm sure I wouldn't be able to touch her considering the fact that she could conjure a myriad of swords that could be used to defend herself from every angle.
From the calculations I made, the only way to even stand a chance against the Young Miss would be by creating more techniques that could counter her many swords. I especially need to find a way to counter Dark Specialist techniques because those ones are especially great at deceiving their foes.
Although I've never seen rogue Dark Specialists in action and only have a rudimentary understanding of them since I am able to imitate the Dark Attribute myself. The knowledge Anna shared about her profession was enough to make me realise the difference between Elemental Specialists and Dark Specialists, which the complexity in their techniques!
The Young Miss might not be able to be considered a Time Specialist like those of the Royal Family, but her high Magical Talent allowed her reach the requirements of a Light Specialist. The exact opposite of a Dark Specialist!
Darkness, Light and Fire... If I was confident in beating such a monstrous young girl who specialises in all three of these Attributes with her B Rank Magical Talent, then I would be insane!
"Don't be so quick to refuse~ Look how Sylphy is watching, I'm sure you wouldn't want her to see you acting cowardly, right?" She seemed to have predicted my answer as casually asked with a 'innocent smile' after pointing towards a little girl her own age who seemed to have entered her personal Training Ground moments ago.
The short-haired maid was still as expressionless as a doll as she heard her Master's words. Her face seemed to not care in the slightest towards the Young Miss' mischievous words.
As expected of the Young Miss' personal servant! To think that I'd be trapped by another's silence.
I couldn't help but stiffly smile while giving up on making a tactical retreat. Who told me to use this quiet girl as my excuse anyway? Wait, she really exis-? I mean I already knew she actually existed!
Looks like I'll have to man up and properly reject her next time or else I'll suffer at her hands again...
Hmmm... Wait... This is our first time meeting, isn't it? Why did I get scared and was I able to accurately describe her appearance to the Young Miss without ever having met her before today? Argh, my headache... It's not something I would usually do...
Urgh, I can feel a migraine coming on again! What was I thinking about...? I can't remember anymore...