I’m The Only Granddaughter Of The Strongest Duke [Novel] Chapter 41

Chapter 41

[I can resonate with my master. I can feel the mana flowing through your body, if I know how much pure mana has accumulated in your immature mana hole, in emergencies I can even draw out and use the mana from your body directly. Little one, though humans may not know…….]
X twisted its body.
Then my still chubby-cheeked face, with baby fat yet to disappear, was reflected on the brightly blue-glowing blade.

[I know the depth of your mana hole. I know how boundless the potential you possess is. You were born with talent. If you swing a sword you will become a Sword Master, and if you learn magic you will become a mage.]
He spoke to me in a low, ominous voice as if delivering a prophecy.

[Your sensory perception has already begun to develop. Once you start proper swordsmanship lessons you will progress at an astonishing speed. Within a year there will be a child that no one in your age can catch up to.]
X fell silent after that.

I listened to X’s words without giving any reply and quietly gazed at my face reflected on the sword.
I was born with the talent of a Sword Master?

Making swords was Dad’s job, holding them was the heroes’ role, and swinging them was the knights’.
I had never once imagined that I would get involved in that process, that I would hold and swing a sword Dad made.
Having sprawled out on the floor the entire time I was talking with X, I slowly sat up, and sunlight poured in through the window.
I hugged my legs and buried my face between my knees while taking the pouring sunlight fully.

All these things felt tremendously unfamiliar, yet at the same time,

If I had known all these things from long ago, if I had known everything would turn out this way…
then a very familiar and accustomed feeling arose.
Grandfather and X who told me I had talent, and Mom’s portrait hanging in the secret chamber.
When I recalled all these things in order, a warm and strange feeling softly blossomed in my chest.
If I carefully pressed my ear to my heart and listened, it seemed I might hear the sound of a young child running somewhere while gripping a sword.
Or the sound of someone gently calling that young child.

“……”

It was a very warm afternoon with the sunlight.
If I fell asleep like this it seemed I could take a very warm and happy nap.

I was Suddenly made to change clothes and summoned to the training grounds, I bitterly regretted not having fallen asleep right then.
If I’d been asleep they wouldn’t have called me!

[They would’ve woken you.]

Led by the maids’ hands, I changed into a more comfortable shirt and pants, held X, and was driven out to the training grounds.
And in front of me, who had been summoned to the training grounds, Grandfather stood tall with the sun at his back.

Grandfather looked at me and said.
“So we’ve decided to start the lessons right away.”

Like this? This quickly?
“Greet her, Eve. This is the teacher who will instruct you for the time being.”

I denied reality.
There’s no way all this is real. I must have fallen asleep again and be dreaming right now.

I stood there blankly for a moment, then despaired at the fact that this entire situation was not a ‘dream.’
What on earth is this situation?

It was already absurd that Grandfather had suddenly summoned me at the time when the sun was setting and was introducing a ‘teacher.’

“Ah, hello, Lady Eve……”

“H-huh? Si-sister!”

The identity of the teacher Grandfather introduced was even more absurd.
I had seen the person standing in front of me before.
My swordsmanship lesson ‘teacher’ was none other than…
I met her on the day I first came to this mansion.

The expert who had slipped away without leaving a trace while I was exchanging just two words with a maid!

“My name is Idis. I serve as the vice-captain of the Blue Dragon Knight Order……”
She smiled shyly with cheeks flushed hot as if embarrassed to be standing in front of me.

“Idis is a skilled swordsman. She will make a good master for you.”
Grandfather said in a proud voice. Idis twisted her body repeatedly as if embarrassed by such praise.

“Y-you’re too kind. Lady Eve, I’m happy to meet you…… You really resemble Lady Astrit a lot.”

“……Am I really learning swordsmanship? I’ve only ever swung a kitchen knife for real? This sword is decorative! I’ve never even properly swung this thing!”

[Hey, you brat! Calling this body decorative!]

“D-don’t worry, young lady…… In a week you’ll be able to swing that sword very skillfully.”
It was then.
A sword flew at me too fast to react.

The tip of the sword brushed right past my ear. It was so close that if it had come any nearer my ear would have been cut.

And……
“……Huh?”
When I came to my senses, the tips of Excalibur and Idis’s sword were touching.

“Lady Eve…… said she knew nothing of swordsmanship, but you’re already as excellent as the knights here……”

I stood blankly for a moment unable to grasp the situation, then soon realized what had happened.
X had blocked it!
X had moved on its own to block Idis’s sword that had flown in an instant, and my arm had simply been stuck to X’s hilt.
But Idis seemed to think that the one who had just received her sword was ‘my’ skill, and looked at me with sparkling eyes as she said.

“L-Lady Eve…… I will make Lady Eve into the empire’s strongest swordsman……”

“Ah, no. Lady Idis! No, Teacher! This is!”
I tried somehow to make excuses and explain this situation, but.

“I’ll make you one.”
I was not given any timing to make excuses.
Idis smiled sweetly and sheathed her sword in the blink of an eye.
Grandfather stood between the two of us and watched it all with a proud face.

The training grounds of Ferdinand where a cold wind raised sand dust.
There, Idis smiling brightly and Grandfather letting out a proud snicker.

[Kwahahaha!]

And X laughing as if delighted at having blocked Idis’s sword.

Everyone was laughing for their own reasons, and only I alone could not laugh among them.
With those words, Idis trained me harshly.
But that training was somehow strange.

“L-Lady Eve…… You’re doing well……!! Just a little more fighting……!”

“Hek, L-Lady Idis, no…… M-Master. Is this right? Huck, huff……”
I rubbed my eyes that stung from the sand dust repeatedly and ran full tilt around the grounds.

Idis shouted ‘That’s right!’ and kept running after me.

It was already the tenth lap, yet she showed not a single change in complexion as if not tired at all.
In the end the only one suffering was me……