First, I want to apologize for such an extended break. But, things should be getting back on track. I have a new schedule: I will alternate 1 release of NHAD and Violant of the Silver per week. That means if NHAD is uploaded on week one, then Violant will most likely be uploaded on week two, and so forth. Villain Days will be released sporadically until its completion.
I want to clear up something from chapter 1.2. I accidentally called the “dutchess’ power of attorney” the “lady’s authorization.” I’ve changed that for both that chapter and this one.
I also changed all instances of “Violant-sama” to “Mr. Violant,” if only to keep things consistent.
To those who have read ahead in the raws, is Legion’s speech patterns more rough or proper? Although he studied under a lord for years as a knight, he had grown up in a merchant’s home. I don’t wish to write him out of character.
As always, if you enjoyed this chapter, please leave a like or a comment below. Please rate/review this novel on NU if you’re feeling generous! Thanks!
Chapter 2: Part 2
“Hey, child of the beast race…”
“It is Lil!”
As Legion calls out to her, Lil looks over her shoulder with a frightening face. He scratches his cheeks with his fingertips.
“That’s quite a glare. What, are you perhaps lacking in sleep or something?”
“You are my enemy. Due to your status as a guest, I must see to your needs no matter how reluctant I am. If you do not have any business here, please hurry home!”
The pet.i.te and lovely maid scowls in a truly nerve-wracking manner. Legion, who was told to his face that he is a foe, feels his emotions swirl in his chest like a storm rather than surrender to anger.
“It’s refreshing to be hated.” (清々しい嫌われぶりだな)
“Of course. Whether humans or beast folk, I hate the people who frighten Mr. Vio! If you understand, then leave! I have work to do! Do not disturb me!”
“Your…formal manner of speaking¹…If you think that would make your words more polite, then you’re sadly mistaken.”
“Be quiet! Meanwhile, I am disgusted by how different your speech and att.i.tude is in Mr. Vio’s presence compared to when he is not around.”
“This one is simple. It’s unfortunate, but I am the type that rolls up long things².”
To be honest, her glare is excessive. Without a doubt, it would be suspicious to look at her. Carrying the laundry basket, Lil about-faces and walks toward the corridor.
Legion rushes after her.
“Why are you following me? You are in the way and it is irritating. Stay obedient in your room. The sight of you is unpleasant!”
“You have quite a potty mouth, surprisingly. Your rude words and your cat disguise aren’t mutually exclusive.”
“I am a rabbit!”
She replies out of reflex. Legion misses his chance to respond. At the same time, Lil darts off and he hurries to speak his business.
“Give me work!”
“No.”
“Well, then I will help you with what you are doing.”
“Are you trying to s.n.a.t.c.h away my job? Such malicious hands are the worst!”
“Do you have to go that far?”
Although Legion holds no soft spot for the maid, he does not let his emotions get the best of him. If a knight is useless, then he must prove his worth until he is hired by the estate of his liking.
“First of all, you are asking the wrong person. It is the job of the butler to supervise the servants. The same is true for any estate. You have stayed at a castle before, correct? The name you are called by is only changed by the grand chamberlain.” (呼び名が侍従長に変わるだけで)
“Oh, that’s right.”
Lil has plenty of complaints.
“Thank you for your advice. Then I will ask the butler.”
“I did not give any advice! Please hurry on home!”
After speaking to Legion with indignation, she resumes walking at once.
“Do you want me to help?”
At Legion’s request, she tilts her head back slightly and shakes it.
“I cannot allow a guest to do such things. Additionally, we have enough hands. Young master is not the one saying an unreasonable demand.”
“However, a s.p.a.cious residence like this is tough to keep clean. Currently, I have a knight’s status, but I’m capable with any ch.o.r.e. I can sew well enough to mend things. I am also adept at carpentry. I can repair fences and smith simple things, too. My forte is horse grooming.”
He tries to sell himself. (ここぞとばかりに売り込んでみる)
When he used to serve a n.o.ble as a subordinate knight, he had been accustomed to staying in a small room. As such, Legion is an excellent servant. It does not bother him due to his obliging nature. Instead, he finds running around and fulfilling tasks for the master enjoyable.
“No, cleaning, sewing, repairing fences, caring for horses, and smithing are all accounted for. Lil is exemplary at cleaning, cooking, and sewing, and the fence is already fixed by gardener Ed. He is also great at taking care of horses and smithing.”
Jill’s answer is disappointing. All of the servants are talented.
Taking in the slumping shoulders of the knight, the butler breaks into a wry smile.
“The frontier is unusual for you. How is it, strolling through town?”
“Strolling?”
“Yes. If you are willing, it will be helpful if you retrieve the goods from the tailor.”
“Butler…!”
Legion is deeply moved.
Jill, who a.s.sists him secretly one way or another, is a savior in his eyes.
“Do not forget the following. The tailor drops by casually and takes orders by chance. Good luck on the rest.” (たまたま仕立屋に寄って、偶然頼まれるんです)
“Yes!”
Once he returns from the room, Legion grabs his cloak. He retrieves the payment for the goods from Jill, leaving for town promptly.
Then, he disperses rumors about a new knight in the estate wherever he goes, surveying the perimeters to check the state of affairs. Legion helps out if necessary and plants a good impression of himself to the townsfolk.
It is a strategy to win over the castle one step at a time. (外堀)
When he returns to the mansion in the evening, after finishing his duties quietly, he hears from Jill that Vio has summoned him.
°•°•°
After being informed of the gossip about Legion from the other two inspectors, Vio feels the urge to hit himself, glaring shrewdly at the knight.
(Putting to use such clever hands, huh. They said he strutted around claiming he was my knight, laying his hands on the outer moat!**) (僕の騎士だと言い歩いて、外堀を埋めてくる手に出るとはね！)
Nevertheless, Legion’s aim is Vio’s perspective.
At his return, Legion asks with a nonchalant face “do you require anything,” listening attentively.
“You seem to have spread rumors throughout town of a new knight at my side. Informing others of a fake position is the same as fraud.”
Legion takes clear precaution, masking his thoughts as he replies.
“It’s the truth that I am the new knight, so it was not fake.”
“But I have refused your services.”
“And I said I will not give up.”
To that response, Vio draws his mouth into a taut line, seething.
Legion reveals a letter from his breast pocket.
“Here is the power of attorney from the dutchess. Although you have refused me, I am now employed by the dutchess’ authorization and have come here as the new knight under these circ.u.mstances.”
Huh, is this a joke?
Legion smiled as he spoke.
(How impudent.)
He has the itch to clutch Legion’s nape and shake it, but sucks in a deep breath in an attempt to calm down.
With a cool face, Legion puts away the correspondence.
“Anyway, I do not need a knight. If you are not going to do it yourself, then I will toss you out right now.”
“Then, how about a servant?”
“What?”
Vio is taken aback.
Military men often have a lot of pride. The majority of servants’ work does not overlap with that of knights.
Vio, who has seen these knights in Nada town, finds Legion’s proposal strange.
“I am excellent as an employee. I can do every ch.o.r.e. For things I don’t know, I can study and learn if taught. I’m literate so I can a.s.sist you with paperwork. How about that, an aide? Since I can also be used as a guard, I believe I am convenient.”
“Paperwork…”
He had not thought of that. Vio is inadvertently charmed by Legion’s smooth sales pitch.
Because he sorts official doc.u.ments and investigates matters by himself, occasionally summoning the help of Jill, reducing the amount of complicated work seems attractive.
However, the image of Legion smiling with hope irritates him.
“No, it is not necessary.”
He refuses decisively.
(Dangerous. How dangerous getting swept up in his pace.)
He dislikes knights. He does not want to keep something that reminds him of Erik in his personal s.p.a.ce.
“Anyhow, do not act such at your own convenience. That is all I have to say.”
Before the knight can start his serenade again, Vio breaks away at once.
He takes the spellbook from the row table in front, rising from the chair.
“Well, this is Mr. Bram’s book on the structural formulas of light magic. You read such a difficult topic?”
“What are you talking about? The book is for intermediate-level magic pract.i.tioners. It is not that hard.”
If it’s his elder brother Rupheus, that man would make a fool out of whether he can comprehend a book of that standard. (兄ルフェウスなら、その程度の本も頭に入ってないのかと馬鹿にするだろう)
Vio recalls Rupheus’ tendency to disparage others and the wrinkling of his brother’s brow. Legion blinks as if his ears caught something wondrous.
“In the chivalric order, this was taught to magic pract.i.tioners in the advanced level.”
“It’s written in Rakan’s (ラーカン) introductory spellbook.”
“Rakan? Your tutor recommended such a difficult text?”
“No, he only taught the foundation of spirit magic when I was still in the lord’s estate. After I was brought here, I studied in depth and read more books in my spare time. Do you think there are teachers a remote region like this in the first place?”
Thinking that he’s strange, Vio heads for the door.
Immediately after, Legion calls out his name.
“Mr. Violant!”
“What, so persistent…”
Turning his face in reluctance, Vio catches the sight of Legion’s shimmering eyes, pulls his own cheeks back with an “ugh.”
“I won’t give up after all! To say that Bram’s text is at an intermediate level speaks of incredible talent! I definitely want to serve you!”
“I see, I see, denied. Now, as I have said multiple times, return obediently.”
The troubled Vio puts back the throwing spears. (投槍に返した)
Ending notes:
Legi is very persuasive XD. I’m liking the interactions.
1) formal manner of speaking¹ : Legion literally says “desu” in quotation marks. I changed it to “formal manner of speaking,” since I didn’t keep the “desu” in English.
2) It’s unfortunate, but I am the type that rolls up long things²” : This is probably slang? The raws say 悪いが、私は長い物に巻かれるタイプなんだ.