A Former Child Soldier Who Uses a Magic Sword Wants to Live with an Older Sister of a Former Enemy Executive - Chapter 111

• Chapter 111 : Adams’ granddaughter comes home.

Lately, both Seto and Satis had been busy with work, leaving them with little time to spend together.

When she returned from investigating the Silver City, Satis was caught up in writing reports and conducting magical research, often working through the night.

Even so, she tried her best to return to their room to spend time with Seto, but most of the time, it was so late at night that all she could do was gaze at his sleeping face.

Seto, too, often spent several days away from the mansion, going out with Adam’s group. Though it was for work, he quietly grew more lonely, wishing he could spend more time with Satis.

On the rare occasions when their days off overlapped, those moments felt like heaven for the two of them.

Well, it can’t be helped. It’s work, after all… (Seto)

One afternoon, after returning from a trip far away, Seto sighed quietly to himself as he waited for Adams to finish changing.

Seto wasn’t the type to abandon his work halfway through.

Besides, he believed this busy period wouldn’t last forever.

—Once things settled down, he thought perhaps arranging a picnic like the one they enjoyed back at the village would be a good idea.

As he mulled over this thought, he heard faint footsteps from Adams on the other side of the dressing room door.

Straightening his posture, he stood ready at a certain distance from the door, prepared for any eventuality as Adams entered.

It wasn’t as though he always remained completely still. Occasionally, he would engage in lighthearted conversations with Adams, but today felt different.

Sitting in a chair, Adams seemed restless, a stark contrast to his usual boisterous, warrior-like demeanor.

[Um, Lord Adams?] (Seto)

[Hmm? What is it?] (Adams)

[Well… you seem uneasy about something. Did something happen?] -Seto)

[…Hmm, well, actually—] (Adams)

Just as Adams began to reply, a knock echoed on the door.

With permission granted, the door opened quietly, revealing the elderly butler. Though dignified, his smile never faltered as he delivered good news to Adams.

[My lord, I am pleased to inform you that Lady Nashia has returned from her academy’s intensive training camp.] (Butler)

[Oh!! Is that so?!] (Adams)

Adams stood up with such vigor that Set couldn’t help but be inwardly surprised.

Set hadn’t seen so much joy in Adams’ expression since his reunion with Raness.

It made him curious about the person capable of eliciting such an expression from him.

An “academy”…? I think Satis told me what it was before. A place where they teach magic… was it? I wonder what kind of person this “Nashia” is? (Seto)

As Seto waited, a young girl entered the room, accompanied by several maids.

She looked to be about the same age as Seto, perhaps slightly older. Her neatly arranged obsidian-black hair was cut in a clean semi-short style.

Her uniform, typical of the magic academy, had a bright color palette yet exuded a certain majesty, resembling military attire in its design.

[I have returned, Grandfather!] (Nashia)

[Ah, Nashia! You must’ve worked hard at the academy’s intensive training camp. How was it?] (Adams)

[Well, the camp focused on improving both magical precision and physical ability, and—] (Nashia)

[No, no. What I’m asking is whether you enjoyed it.] (Adams)

[Eh? —Fufu, yes! It was filled with rigorous challenges, but I also made plenty of wonderful memories!] (Nashia)

[Gahahahaha! All is well, then.] (Adams)

The laughter shared between a grandfather and granddaughter was a scene Set was witnessing for the first time — a warm glimpse into a family bond.

The familial bond that connected people despite vast differences in age and generations.

Watching them from the sidelines, Seto felt a strange sensation.

He thought he had long since experienced the sort of relationships people apart in age shared, yet seeing the expressions of Adams and Nashia gave him a strangely fresh perspective.

[…Oh? Who’s this boy?] (Nashia)

Nashia suddenly noticed Seto’s presence and turned her gaze towards him.

As a pubescent girl, she approached Seto with a face still retaining traces of childlike innocence, and peered into his face.

[Erm…] (Seto)

[He’s my new bodyguard. That said, he’s not actually a servant. We met through various circumstances, and while staying here, I’ve been putting him to work without restraint. Seto, just do as you normally do. Feel free to talk to Nassia just as you would to me.] (Adams)

After a brief glance at Adams, Seto nodded. 

The man had given him a light introduction and permission to converse freely with Nashia.

[So, I’m Seto. Lord Adams has been taking care of me.] (Seto)

[Seto-kun, huh? I’m Nashia. Hmm… Seto-kun, could it be that you’re about the same age as me?] (Nashia)

[I think I’m supposed to be 12…] (Seto)

[Ahaha, then that makes me just a little bit older than you!] (Nashia)

Nashia directed a carefree smile at Seto.

Perhaps it was in her nature to treat everyone equally regardless of who they were, but that demeanor gave Seto a certain sense of ease.

[Nashia, would you like to rest for a while? Then perhaps you could share some stories about your training camp with me.] (Adams)

[Ah, Grandfather, I’m terribly sorry. Actually, I have student council work after this, so I’ll need to leave right away. I returned to the mansion because I wanted to see you first.] (Nashia)

[I see… Well, if you have work, then there’s no helping it.] (Adams)

Though his face didn’t show it, a faint air of disappointment radiated from him.

That wasn’t hard to understand — he had hoped to spend time with his granddaughter, only for her to leave again so soon.

[Aww, Grandfather. I’ll be back by the evening, so please wait until then.] (Nashia)

[Very well, I understand. When you return, Nashia, there’s something I must discuss with you. It pertains to someone connected to the Cryfano family.] (Adams)

Though puzzled by her grandfather’s unusually serious tone, Nashia tilted her head slightly and nodded obediently.

He was probably referring to Raness, who was rescued from the Silver City.

The woman who was Adams’ wife before Nashia’s grandmother.

It would likely turn into a rather complex discussion, but Seto thought it might all end up being unnecessary worry.

Based on his first impression of Nashia, he thought that perhaps she would be surprised but then accept the situation easily.

[Well then, Grandfather, I’m off.] (Nashia)

[Right. …No, wait up a moment.] (Adams)

[Grandfather?] (Adams)

[Seto, why don’t you serve as Nashia’s bodyguard this afternoon?] (Adams)

[…Huh?!] (Seto)

Seto couldn’t help but shout in surprise at Adams’ sudden proposal.

For children of noble families, it was actually quite common to bring a bodyguard along to school as a precaution against potential emergencies. 

Nashia already had an assigned bodyguard, but now, Seto had been unexpectedly selected as a substitute.

Although the decision surprised him, he had no particular reason to decline.

[I don’t mind, but… why so suddenly? I mean, we just met.] (Seto)

[Is that an objection? Do you have any complaints about my granddaughter, boy?] (Adams)

[No, that’s not what I meant—] (Seto)

[Hahaha! I’m just teasing you. Listen, having you guard an old man like me all the time isn’t exactly stimulating, is it? The young grow and thrive when exposed to new challenges. So this is a perfect opportunity. You and Nashia are close in age. By speaking with each other from your distinct backgrounds, you may find inspiration and motivation in unexpected ways.] (Adams)

[I’m just a bodyguard, so it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to get too involved…] (Seto)

[Bah, you’re so stiff, Seto! So incredibly stiff — just like my old geezer of a grandfather was back when I was young.] (Adams)

[I’m just stating the obvious…] (Seto)

[Um, Grandfather? Seto-kun?] (Nashia)

[Ah, Nashia. What say you? This is merely a suggestion, not an order. If you’re against it, we can forget the whole conversation.] (Adams)

Nashia thought for a moment, but quickly smiled and accepted Adams’ proposal.

[I’m fine with it! I rarely ever spend time with someone my age, so it sounds exciting!] (Nashia)

[Good, good. And you, Seto?] (Adams)

Caught in a mood that left little room for refusal, Seto sighed in resignation and agreed.

But it wasn’t such a bad idea.

He had always been curious about the concept of school.

While simply being able to read was already remarkable for him, anything beyond that — such as academic learning — was far out of his reach.

The idea of stepping into a place where young boys and girls tackled such advanced studies stirred a renewed sense of curiosity within him.

[Alright. I’ll go to the academy. I will take full responsibility for protecting Lady Nashia.] (Seto)

[Well said! Then, off you go!] (Adams)

And so, Seto accompanied Nashia to the magic academy established within the royal capital.

It was a building that resembled a grand palace located only a little over ten minutes on foot from the Cryfano family estate.

Next stop, the Royal Magic Academy of Falthuheim, which was arguably the world’s most prestigious institution for learning magic.