Published: August 25, 2025
Just with a greeting, great-grandfather exited. It seemed his life was not in danger. I comforted myself a little, thinking that if I had compressed my mana, he might have risen far beyond reach, so this was for the best.
...I was surprised. I thought my heart would stop.
After a while following great-grandfather's departure, the commotion finally settled, and the current count reizegang came to greet us.
“Please allow me to offer blessings upon this rare encounter, chosen through the strict selection of the goddess of life avelibe.”
“Granted.”
“I deeply apologize for startling you, grandfather. Before the summon of the supreme deity, I only wished to see Lady Rosemine once. I am also glad to have made your acquaintance, Lady Rosemine.”
The current count reizegang was young. Still, he looked slightly older than Karlstedt Father. I wondered if it was just my imagination, but his eyes seemed to burn with ambition.
Though a relative, I understood why I hadn't been allowed to meet him until now. Perhaps permission was granted because my engagement to Wilfried was decided.
“Then, I will teach you my method of mana compression. But first, please pay the fee and sign the contract magic.”
I said this, indicating with my hand the bureaucrats collecting the fee and my foster father, who manages the contract magic covering the entire country. My foster father watched closely as signatures were placed on the contract magic documents. There are some people whose faces and names I do not personally recognize, and this arrangement also makes it appear as though the mana increases are led by the lordship, not by me individually.
After collecting fees and obtaining signatures from participants, I once again taught the mana compression method, with Darmel as my assistant.
This time, I taught three stages. Demonstrating them made it easier to imagine, and most found compression easier. Many said they had never seen the futon bag compression method before.
“Even adults who have finished growing can increase their mana concentration with some ingenuity... I am impressed. I admire your generosity in sharing knowledge that would be advantageous to keep secret for oneself with other lord candidates for the sake of the territory.”
Gibe Haldenzel said that with a pleased smile and left.
I spotted Wilfried and his attendants walking with serious expressions, likely compressing their mana as they walked. I couldn't help but call out.
“Brother Wilfried.”
“What's the matter, Rosemine?”
“Your guard knights are a step behind those of other lord families. I think they'll work hard to catch up by compressing mana, but please be careful not to let mana sickness or focusing too much on compression interfere with their escort duties.”
I advised that after adjusting their work schedule to facilitate mana compression, they should be ordered not to compress mana while on duty. It would be dangerous for all guards to compress mana while active.
“Indeed, that is so.”
Wilfried nodded, and it seemed the guard knights stopped compressing. I watched them leave and quickly ran to my foster father and the high priest.
“Foster Father, Lord Ferdinand, may I go help Filine?”
“…By the way, one of your attendants hasn't come. But, what do you mean by 'help'?”
My foster father squinted at me, but I was at a loss for how to explain. All I knew was about the Ordonnanz incident this morning.
“I don't know. This morning, Ordonnanz arrived. Behind a woman’s voice saying she was unwell, I heard Filine's voice farther off, pleading for her money to be returned.”
The high priest lightly tapped his temple as he listened, then widened his eyes slightly.
“Unusually, she did not rush out. Has she grown a bit?”
“She was held back by all the attendants. A bit of time cooled her head.”
To be exact, my great-grandfather collapsing before my eyes wiped out all my thoughts.
“How can we help Filine while respecting her position and not causing her trouble? The money is for learning mana compression. Her parents won't provide it, so she earns it herself—collecting information at the noble academy, copying manuscripts, gathering tales from various places. She worked hard to save it. She was happy to be able to learn mana compression with it…”