138 CHAPTER III EXAMINATION 2 (2/2)

Looking at them, I felt like I was going to be happy.

I'm glad that I had the courage to try that time. I got to be the knight I dreamed of being, and I saw Belle again.

I think so, too.

If you weren't that good out there, I was going to recruit Alma.

It's not every day that a young girl can challenge someone in that room without anyone else raising their hand.

Besides, even if she was weak, I could have trained her up and forced her to be strong.

I know. And Alma's strong again, isn't she?

Yeah. I've been working my ass off for two years. You can't even beat Belle now, can you?

No, no, no, no, no. ......

No, you don't. Do you know how many times I've had Master Leo teach me martial arts every day?

'Oh, I have a feeling that's not going to happen: ......

Alma looked at me and nodded her head in agreement with me, all by herself .

''Well, Belle is stronger than Hermann.

Probably because I'm usually the strongest people around me .

''Shh, Master ......?''

Oh, I mean, it was like a voice in my head. Not.

I heard Hermann's sad voice from behind me, and when I tried to cover it up in a hurry, I said more gibberish .

''Is that so . I thought I was my master's best pupil, but I wasn't. ....... You're right. I guess I shouldn't have gotten this arrogance right. Now I have to go back to the drawing board and practice like hell every day. ......

When I heard such a voice, I turned my face back and saw a ...... negative dreadful aura of depression, and Hermann was mumbling to himself.

I'm not going to be the only one who can do that.　There's a reason for this: ......

”Remember the first time Master taught me. You were training so hard back then. That's right.

Hey!　Listen to me!

He was still mumbling to himself, so I grabbed Hermann by the shoulders.

Finally, Hermann stopped talking to himself.

”Yes, sir.

You're still on level one, right?

Yes. You're not allowed to raise the bar in school.

Are you banned from leveling up?

'What?　Really?　Well, okay. Hermann is level one, but Bell is over level 30. Normally, there's a thirty-fold difference between them. It's just that no matter how hard you try, you can't win by that much, right?

'Ta, sure: ......'

'Do we understand each other?　You're strong enough.

Yes, ...... I get it.

He replied, but Hermann seemed somewhat unconvinced and his voice was very low .

Taku...... can't be helped .

''Well, I'll go with you on your next vacation to help you level up, so don't be so depressed .

A couple of days in the dungeon should be enough to make you strong enough.

Oh, really?

Hermann's face lit up.

d*mn cashmere.

Yeah. That'll fix your mood, huh?

Of course!

I don't know where the negative aura I had earlier went: .......

'Is Frank coming too?'

'No, okay ....... For all intents and purposes, there's no way I'm going to be able to keep up with you guys in your fight.

I don't think so. Frank has some very powerful magic. I'll build you an upgrade later.

It's all for fun and games.

It'll definitely be more fun with the three of us.

Is that so?　So long. ......

Okey-dokey. So Alma and Bernold will see you tomorrow. I have some work to do, so I'll say goodbye to you today. Belle will give you a tour of the castle. And you, Frank and Hermann, if you want to come with me, take a tour of the castle.

Okay.

'Yes!　I'll come around.

Yes, sir.

Okay, I'll see you later. So I'll see you later.

I heard their replies, and then I said it and went to my room.

”Elsie, I'm sorry to keep you waiting.

When I came back into the room, I found Miss Elsie sitting on the couch in her room reading some papers .

'No, I'm not waiting for you. Rather, isn't it too early?　What happened to the Knights' exam?

It's over.

'What?　It's over!　What decision did you make?

Who wants to take the test?　But when I asked, there were only three people who came forward. It went faster than I thought it would.

'Oh, really? ......

Miss Elsie nodded with a difficult look on her face, wondering if she knew what I was saying or not.

'Well, that's not the point, but let me hear about your progress while I was away.

I understand. But it's only been about ten days, so we're not that far along.

Yeah, I guess so. Nice to meet you.

I hope it's nothing out of the ordinary.

I understand. Since Leo's return, the training of artisans and the construction of the magic tool factory have been progressing well. And I've also started looking for that general commercial space Leo asked me to build. We've received many applications for this one right away, so it looks like it will be filled with no problems.

That's good to hear. It looks like we'll be able to start developing it in earnest in six months, as planned.

Yes.

Oh, and how's Lou doing, unrelated to work, but how's he doing?

It's not work-related, but it's more important than work.

Stress is very dangerous for Lou.

'Is that you, Lou?　Lou would miss Leo and the others so much that he would stick with me all the time, except when I'm at work.

Really? ......

I knew Lou had become a bit lonely since the last time he went crazy.

I'll have to get Sherry over here often.

That helps me feel a little less lonely, though.

I see. I knew you'd miss her, Elsie.

I'm sorry. I'll try to stay here from now on.

Don't worry about it. Oh, but if you can show up at least once in a while: ......

I told her it was okay, but I'd be in trouble if she really stopped coming . I could hear that thought in Elsie-san's voice and expression.

Yeah, I'll try to be here as much as possible.

Anyway, he should be able to come tomorrow.