[EN] Episode 16 - A special summer lesson 2

Berett was the one who showed the most interest in Haixian's herbalism.


He began following her out night after night to gather herbs, and soon they were clinking cauldrons together, immersed in making potions.


“That's surprising. I never would have guessed Berett was interested in herbalism...”
“I've always been interested in things like landscaping.”


Watching her giggle happily, Wingester thought it was a pleasant sight and focused on his concentrator work.


At least now, the unfortunate situation of creating something that didn't function wasn't happening.
The only problem was that it wasn't achieving the desired performance.


“Hmm...”


He turned the circuit diagram he'd drawn on the magic stone this way and that, pondering it again.
Even with the recently improved structure, it wasn't yielding satisfactory results.
He really needed a more groundbreaking method.


“So that's how you make a concentrator. No wonder it's so expensive.”


Romulus, who had just finished his magic practice and entered, watched Wingester's work and shook his head in amazement. Wingester chuckled softly.


“Of course. The mana concentrator is cutting-edge technology, the very essence of Magitech.”
“It was that advanced?”
"Yeah. Honestly, I'm only just reaching the level where I can make things that barely function.“


After a moment's thought, Romulus snapped his fingers and asked,


”But you have several of those in your shop, right? Who made all those?“
”...My father.“
”Ah."


Romulus nodded in understanding.


“Wait a minute, so you're saying your father is a craftsman skilled enough to mass-produce that advanced equipment?”
“Yeah. Believe it or not, it's been passed down as a family business for over five generations. Even before he came of age, Father grew up learning all sorts of things from Grandfather at the shop.”
“...That's similar to me.”


When Wingester looked up, wondering what he meant, he saw Romulus shrugging his shoulders, his expression somehow sad.


“I also started early combat magic training not long after I learned to walk, unable to resist my mother's nagging.”
“…….”


He could imagine how harsh that training must have been.
No need to look further—Romulus's wavering eyes now spoke volumes about how difficult that time had been.


“...Being from a prestigious family isn't all it's cracked up to be.”
“Of course not. To live up to the name, you have to earn the qualifications.”
“......”


Realizing they each carried their own burdens, the two soon became engrossed in their respective tasks.


*


“Gasp…! Gasp…!”
“Huff…!”


Two steps behind, Romulus gritted his teeth, picked up his pace, and finally began running alongside Wingester.
With four days left until the end of the special training, he had finally caught up to Wingester.


“......!”


Wingester, who had believed he held the advantage outside of magical aptitude, felt his mind grow complicated.
This guy... he can't possibly have exceptional athletic ability too, can he?


“Huff...! Huff...!”
“Hmph...! Haah...!”


After running head-to-head for about 30 minutes, Romulus finally began to fall behind again with just the last half lap remaining.


“Hah…!”
“K…ugh!”


After stumbling briefly, he gritted his teeth and closed the gap to two strides behind.
His pace must have broken, yet he recovered in that short time.


“Not bad...?”
“Like I'd lose...! Just a little more...!”


Both men raced to the stone in front of the cabin, their destination, and collapsed onto the porch, gasping for breath.


“Phew...! Honestly, I can't relax either...”
“Grr... Infuriating! It was just a little further...!”
“Ha ha...! Like it'd be that easy...!”
“Guh...!”


That night.
The special training was racing towards its conclusion.


Gathered together at berett's suggestion, the group was discussing their plans for the rest of the vacation.


“What are you planning to do for the rest of the break, Senior?”
“......”


Even if asked, he didn't really have any plans in mind.
At best, he'd probably focus on building a new concentrator, utilizing the know-how he'd gained here.
And maybe help out at his parents' shop while he was at it.


Hearing this, berett's expression inexplicably grew gloomy.


Romulus, listening nearby, nudged Wingester's side with his elbow and shook his head.


“Why?”
“...You're something else...”
“And what about you? Got any plans?”
“My eldest brother's coming home on leave, so I'll be training in destructive magic with him.”
“......”


His eldest brother, who serves in the Imperial Guard Mage Corps alongside their father, was apparently coming home on leave.


“What about Haixian?”
“I plan to go to the Maritime Kingdom.”
“The Maritime Kingdom?”
“Yeah.”


When he looked at him questioningly, wondering if there was some reason,


“...I need to procure medicinal herbs coming in from the Eastern Continent.”
“Ah.”
“By the way, Zessler is coming with me too.”
“...Zessler too?”
“I sent a letter earlier this year to visit a famous carriage manufacturer. I plan to apply the internal structure, materials, and manufacturing methods to my airship construction.”


Even during vacation, they weren't playing around but moving toward their own goals. If that was typical of them, then it was just them being themselves.


“Everyone's on vacation, yet you don't seem to have any plans to play at all.”


Finally, berett puffed out her cheeks in complaint.


“Didn't you have something to do too, berett?”


When Haixian tilted her head,


“Well, I don't really have anything...”


Berett stammered, avoiding eye contact. Finding her adorable, Haixian giggled, hugged her, and stroked her hair.


“...Wingester.”
“......?”
“Take proper care of her, okay?”
“What?”
“Your cute junior.”


Haixian promptly shoves Berett towards him with both hands, almost as if pushing her off.


Wingester finally seemed to catch on, scratching the back of his head and looking embarrassed.


“Ugh... I know. Looks like everyone's busy except me....”
“Well, if you're busy too, senior....”


Haixian watched the two of them, her mouth moving silently to mutter ‘idiot couple’.


*


The special training period ended.


Romulus, who had somehow managed to gain stamina comparable to Wingester's in that short time, declared he must continue his physical training and returned to his family.


Zessler and Haixian secured a carriage bound for the Maritime Kingdom as planned and departed.
Berett and Wingester met every few days, spending time discussing their respective research.


One late summer morning, as the vacation was nearing its end and the lingering heat was still intense.
While Wingester was organizing the magic tools on the display shelf, someone poked him in the back.


“……?”


Turning around, he found his mother standing there, wearing a slightly mischievous smile.


“Mother…?”
“Today's Saturday, isn't it? You don't have to tidy up.”
“But the morning opening hours….”
“We're taking the day off.”
“Huh?”


His mother chuckled and pointed toward the entrance….
The bell on the door jingled, signaling someone's arrival.
Surely it wasn't even opening time yet…?


“Excuse me-.”
“……!”


It was the berett family who entered.
Caught completely off guard, Wingester stood frozen in place, dazed, while his mother greeted them with a smile, as if she had known all along.


Wingester's parents had arranged for berett's family to join them for a meal.
Eventually, they gathered around the spacious table in the shop's backyard to have lunch together, abandoning the morning business.


Wingester protested fiercely with his eyes, demanding why he hadn't been told beforehand, but his mother just laughed it off nonchalantly.


“So you're Wingester?”


A middle-aged man, who appeared to be berett's father, promptly extended his hand for a handshake.
Wingester reflexively took it with both hands, but flinched momentarily.


His hands were covered in scars—burned and torn in places.
No doubt the glorious marks earned from years of metalwork.


“…….”
“You have a good look in your eyes. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to thank you for saving berett.”
“Ah, no need. It was the right thing to do.”


Seeing her blush, he chuckled and released her hand.


“I hope you'll continue to get along well with our berett.”
“Of course. Even though I'm her junior, I have much to learn from her in many ways.”
“You?”
“Her craftsmanship is extraordinary.”


Berett fidgeted with her fingers, embarrassed by Wingester's honest praise, while her father cleared his throat stiffly.


“Well, she's been learning my trade at home since she was old enough to understand.”


Wingester nodded, feeling a strange kinship with her, having lived a similar life.


“Come to think of it, young Wingester, you also helped out at the shop from around the time you came of age, didn't you?”
“Yes. I learned how to make simple magical tools, so I often help out.”
“Is that how you ended up helping berett?”


Wingester nodded.
Although it was an inheritance from his grandfather, the current Barrett Staff had advanced to the point where it could be considered Wingester's own research.


“So that's why Professor Koch took notice.”


A short while later.
Over their meal, the two families were bonding at an alarming speed.
Perhaps it was because they shared similar professions, making conversation flow easily.


Eventually, the two fathers, fueled by alcohol in broad daylight, were completely carried away.


“Wingester!”
“Ah, yes!”
“...Go play outside with berett.”
“Huh?”
“Come on! Adults have their own things to talk about. Berett's father gave permission, so go play!”


Wingester gazed at the sky where the sunset was fading for a moment, then let out a groan. But his tipsy father showed no sign of retracting his order.


“...Should I go?”
“......”


Berett followed him out silently, feeling embarrassed.
Now that they were out, she had no clue where to go or what to do at this hour.


The usual Wingester would have suggested heading to the library without a second thought, but...


“......”
“......”


The current atmosphere made that choice impossible.
Something inside him sounded an alarm, warning that if he suggested the library, she would surely be disappointed.


“...Want to... take a walk?”
“...Yes. That sounds good.”


Berett chuckled softly, nodded, and silently began walking alongside Wingester.


-To be continued-