Jack of All Trades, Party of None

“Already winter, huh.”

In December, when the sun’s appearance was much shorter compared to summer, I was waiting for someone in a private room of a certain restaurant. Looking out the window, I watched the first snow of the season just beginning to fall, and once again felt the arrival of winter.

“Orun got here first, huh? Sorry to keep you waiting.”

While killing time pondering the improved techniques for the magic I’ve been developing recently and my expanded interpretation of my supernatural ability, Ms. Selma entered the private room.

“No, I just got here myself, so I haven’t been waiting at all... Huh, isn’t Sophie with you?”

I had assumed Sophie came along, but looking around Ms. Selma, I didn’t see her anywhere nearby.

“Ah. Of course, I couldn’t bring her to a meeting with our sponsor. Besides, she said there was a place she wanted to visit, so we decided to split up after arriving in the Royal Capital.”

Just as Ms. Selma said, we were currently in the Royal Capital of the Nohitant Kingdom.

Within the silver rabbits of the night sky, near the end of the year, the executives make it a point to visit the sponsors who have particularly supported the clan that year for meetings that double as thanks.

We came to the Royal Capital because it was our responsibility—mine and Ms. Selma’s—to greet the big sponsors of the silver rabbits of the night sky.

“I see.”

“...Looks like she’s on her way here. Please wait just a little longer, sorry about that.”

Ms. Selma updated me on Sophie’s situation.

She had probably communicated with Sophie via telepathy.

That ability really is convenient.

“No need to apologize. Today’s star is Sophie after all.”

The reason Sophie came to the Royal Capital, even though she had nothing to do with the sponsor meeting, was to celebrate her coming of age.

She turned fifteen this month.

In this country, fifteen is the age of adulthood.

While there is no tradition of celebrating birthdays by month, many do celebrate the fifteenth birthday marking adulthood.

Usually, such celebrations are family affairs.

It felt out of place for me to be there, but thankfully Sophie invited me, so Ms. Selma and I joined the celebration.

“I appreciate that. By the way, before Sophia arrives, I want to ask—have you learned anything about the Central Army?”

Ms. Selma asked seriously.

Count Bowell, whom I met for the meeting today, was deeply connected to the Central Army.

Ms. Selma probably wanted to know the information I had gained as soon as possible.

For reference, the Central Army is the army directly controlled by the royal family.

It’s different from the territorial lords’ private armies.

“I was able to confirm some of the info I wanted. I’ll explain the details once we return, but as expected, the Central Army seems quite tense.”

News of the Sobel Empire’s invasion of the Nohitant Kingdom about two months ago quickly spread across the continent.

However, some neighboring countries and distant nations seem to perceive it as “just a minor skirmish exaggerated by the Nohitant Kingdom,” and don’t see the incident as serious.

True, the battle lasted only about a day and was confined to an area around a single city.

It’s understandable other nations would think that way, but the recent invasion involved that hero.

A hero who could easily annihilate an entire division single-handedly.

My victory over Hero (Felix) was just good luck.

It was just that my supernatural ability happened to be well suited against his.

Otherwise, I would have been no obstacle at all to Felix.

Until I realized my gravity manipulation, I couldn’t even hold my own against Felix.

I might sound arrogant saying this, but if I hadn’t been there or had lost to Felix, the empire’s invasion might well still be ongoing.

So personally, I think that incident should never be taken lightly.

“...I see.”

“Also, it seems that the ‘thing we talked about’ is true.”

The “thing” meant the upcoming meetings between the kingdom and empire, where the respective leaders will attend.