Episode 3
It’s often said that consistency is crucial when building stamina. However, despite sweating for several days, there was no visible improvement.
As an example, a week had passed, and yet running the same distance and lifting the same weight still made my body scream.
Even though it was time to get used to it, it remained challenging.
“Huuk!”
Ahead, Jericho was running at a much faster pace than me. We exchanged greetings only on the first day, and since then, even if our faces happened to meet, he ignored me and walked past.
Jericho turned back, glanced at me, and then accelerated as if to show off. Already a fast runner, he now dashed past me as if he were flying.
He had suddenly disappeared in front of me and then circled around the training ground to overtake me again. Watching him pass by with a snicker and a fart, he seemed to be unaffected by the lack of breath. Yeah, impressive. But you’re you, and I’m me.
Clapping silently in my mind, I stopped and caught my breath. Jericho, with a hint of competitiveness, looked at me and chuckled. His expression of victory seemed somewhat amusing.
Ignoring him, I left the training ground.
After a few days of exercising, I had a sense of how far I could push myself without causing any problems the next day.
Today was the limit. I headed back home to wash up.
“What’s gotten into you? Working hard, huh? Looks good.”
“Yeah, right.”
“It would have been nice if you had started earlier. Anyway, keep it up from now on. Promise.”
Laughing while mimicking a determined stance, Koromang looked amusing.
**Koromang was the deceased Raphael’s stepmother and a maid to Demone. She entered the Isaac family as a maid, but her talents were recognized, eventually rising to the position of the family’s housekeeper.**
Truly a capable individual.
Despite her petite stature, Koromang exhibited a sharp charisma that surpassed any maids working here. Even maids with years of experience blinked and died at a single gesture from Koromang.
“Wash up and come out for dinner right away. You must be hungry.”
“I might take a bit longer to wash, so take your time with the preparations. I’ll eat something simple.”
“I’m hungry, so is that okay with you?”
“Yeah, it’s fine.”
“No, it’s not okay. It’s a principle to gain strength as much as you eat.”
Koromang cherished everything left by Demone, not only her children but also the family, the mansion, and everyone and everything remaining there.
On the surface, she seemed like a reliable ally, supporting me and the family, but later, her plan was to betray Raphael and align herself with the younger brother.
In a way, betrayal might have been in her nature, but I didn’t harbor strong negative feelings towards her.
She betrayed because there was a reason to betray. With Raphael being the way he was, what else could she do?
The Raphael in the original work I read was petty, bad-tempered, and lacking in the leadership skills needed to lead the family.
No, he should have just stayed quiet, but he unnecessarily stepped forward and actively messed up the family.
“I’ll prepare a simple menu, but there will be plenty of food. Eat to your heart’s content. By the way, did you wash up in the early morning, or was it part of your training?”
“No, why? What’s the matter?”
“Except when you’re washing up, you never take off your ring, do you?”
“Ah.”
As Koromang suggested, I had indeed stashed away the jingling accessories in my pockets.
I opened my pocket to reveal the abundance of accessories inside.
Raphael, not only wearing rings but also brooches, pendants, necklaces, and whatnot, seemed to have joints that were getting stiff to the point of discomfort.
“Just, these have become uncomfortable, so I want to take them off now.”
As I spoke, I glanced at Koromang to gauge her reaction. She stared at the worn ring in my pocket, which I had barely managed to put on, and her eyes froze on the small blue center stone. It wasn’t a sapphire, and it looked like a cheap cubic zirconia. The lake was too small, and the ring, worn uncomfortably, looked like a cheap trinket.
“Oh, you also took off the ring?”
“Yeah? Why?”
“It’s nothing.”
Koromang quickly averted her gaze and expression, but it seemed like she was bothered. Her gaze on the ring was persistent, and her eyes gleamed brightly.
“Do you want this? If you want it, just say so. I’ll give it to you.”
As soon as she heard my words, Koromang bit her lower lip and sniffed through her nose. She held her breath for a moment before speaking.
“Can I really accept this?”
“Yeah. It won’t fit anymore, so it’s better to find a new owner than just leave it somewhere. Is there anything else you want? I have things I don’t need anymore. Oh, how about this? I can give you everything. It’s okay.”
“No, just one ring is enough. Just one ring.”
Koromang lowered her head so I couldn’t see her face, then spoke in a lowered voice.
“Thank you for the gift. I’ll treasure it.”
I didn’t know the details of the circumstances within the mansion, but Koromang’s salary would not be small. Even if she stayed here without going elsewhere, she would still receive a decent amount. Despite whatever sense of duty she had, I probably settled the financial side of things first.
She might be able to buy several cheap rings like this with her salary, but I genuinely thanked her, although I found it strange.
When you receive a gift, it’s polite to show joy. Since Koromang had good social skills, this could be considered an extension of her duties.
* * *
After Koromang left the room, I quickly washed up and returned. Since I had told her to take her time with the meal preparations, I had some extra time.
“Shall we give it a try then?”
I closed my eyes and threw the magic stone.
Although there had been minimal improvement in physical fitness, my skill in finding magic stones with closed eyes had significantly advanced. If I were to return to the modern world now, I could probably be considered a master at blindfolded stone searching.
The most sensitive part for magic detection was the hands. So, what would be the least sensitive part? That would be the feet. By now, my skills had improved enough to find magic stones even with the tips of my toes.
Moving my feet around, I touched each magic stone scattered on the ground one by one.
Now, I increased the difficulty of finding magic stones. The larger the stone, the more mana it emitted, and I found the stones in that order.
Except for one thing, it was a satisfactory growth.
“Normally, at this point, I should be manifesting mana.”
Surprisingly, I could find magic stones skillfully, but I couldn’t use mana. This was simply due to insufficient practice.
My cognitive abilities and the amount of mana were both exceptional, but because this talent was too outstanding, my body couldn’t keep up.
In other words, it was a case of being too talented for one’s own good.
To properly manifest this enormous mana, extensive training was required.
Even I, knowing the training methods, found it irritating. How would Raphael feel?
After finding two more magic stones, I headed to the dining area.
“I’ll enjoy the meal. It looks delicious.”
“Yes.”
“Did Koromang already eat?”
“Yes, in the morning.”
Koromang seemed preoccupied with something elsewhere, but I assumed there might be some circumstances, so I didn’t pay much attention.
After quickly finishing my meal, I vowed to go back and find more magic stones.
—
When Koromang was in her teens, she was a completely different mischievous character compared to now.
Had it not been for Dimone, she might have been seen as a servant by any young lord, as her temperament was so lively. Her inner world was so active that she would get angry, cry, and shout at the slightest provocation.
Whenever she recalled those days, Koromang still burst into laughter. Did I seem like a younger sibling to Dimone? Sometimes I wondered why she embraced and turned around such a child.
“She was a person I’m grateful for.”
If it hadn’t been for Dimone, I wouldn’t have grown so well. Now, even in her own eyes, she was an excellent adult. It was all thanks to Dimone.
Koromang, wanting to repay this kindness, took care of Dimone with fervor when she fell ill due to a curse from a dark sorcerer, regretting that she couldn’t do more. Even if Dimone was already dead, it was clear that she had received kindness. Koromang made efforts to raise the family, trying to preserve many things left by Dimone as much as possible.
Interference with the family was one of them.
It had been almost a year since Raphael, as the eldest son of the Isaac family, succeeded to the title, but there was hardly anything he had done properly during that time. Instead, it seemed faster to list the accidents he had caused. Raphael was merely blinded by women, trailing behind them with his tail wagging.
Rumors spread within the Isaac family. Wasn’t it likely that the family would decline if things continued like this?
Koromang was the closest person who heard such talk, and she had to seriously consider it for the sake of the family.
Wasn’t it time to dismiss Raphael?
Although it was too hasty to come to a conclusion immediately, as long as Raphael remained the same, she had no choice but to turn her back.
“Nevertheless, he seems to have some awareness.”
Koromang looked down at the ring that Raphael had handed over.
The band was rusted, the silver was bent, but the small gem glowed with a subtle blue light, unscathed and flawless. The emitted light was faint, and at first glance, it seemed like a toy, but anyone with a discerning eye would recognize it as blue fluorite.
A ring with blue fluorite.
It was an item that Raphael, who was deeply attached to the legacy left by Dimone, had cherished greatly.
Raphael casually gave me the ring he had cherished for a long time. But why would Raphael want to give up the ring?
Raphael sensed that the atmosphere towards him within the family was not favorable.
How?
Koromang tilted her head in confusion.
If it was information within the family, there was nothing that didn’t reach her ears. Then who attached themselves to Raphael?
“I unconsciously created my own person, it seems.”
By presenting the cherished ring as a gift, Raphael demonstrated his information prowess and showed his determination to improve the situation.
Koromang sighed, feeling a little relieved. And that evening, she sought out Evelyn Isaac. Evelyn was one of Raphael’s two younger siblings and had been fervently arguing recently that Raphael needed to be replaced.
Evelyn resembled Raphael and had a fondness for accessories. If there were any accessories that could enhance her appearance further, she would try them on without hesitation.
Starting with hairpins, she adorned herself with necklaces, wrapped a scarf around her, and wore many rings, enough to worry if her fingers would feel heavy.
Despite her extravagant appearance, Evelyn was the most sensible among the three siblings of the Isaac family. Koromang regretted that if Evelyn had been born a man, she might have supported her more.
“What’s going on?”
Koromang took out the ring she received from Raphael. Although it was a gift from Raphael, it was an item that she felt burdened to possess.
“How did you get that?”
Evelyn blinked her eyes and rose from her chair.
“I received it from Lord Raphael. It seems like you noticed it.”
“That scoundrel?”
“He doesn’t seem to be a complete scoundrel.”
