051: Invitation to the Party

The fallen snow is starting to melt, and the days seem a bit less cold recently. My mother, Elna, said “It’s getting warmer” yesterday, but I’m cold-natured and can’t necessarily agree. Silvio might have similar thoughts, as he spends most of the day with me in my room, that I keep warm with magic. He’s a considerate visitor, spending the day reading books or studying. My sister isn’t as considerate, she’ll barge in when she isn’t practicing the sword.

The other warm room is the living room, since it has a big fireplace. Normally, I’m the one that entertains Eleanora, and it’s extremely annoying since I can’t make new sweets or try certain magic. Recently, she’s been trying to drag me along to her sword training. I feel like she’s been training more since that snowball fight, am I in danger?

It seems like she’s finally accepted that the ice sculpture with the unflattering proportions were modified by mischievous village children, not Asmo, Thor, and I. Perhaps her extra training is for a rematch? Well, I’ll just avoid it next time by running away.

Can I get some peace today? I’ve been trying to make that bastion of winter comfort, the kotatsu. I’ve already acquired the table portion from the village carpenter Herman. He seemed to be tired from repairing village houses recently. Has the winter weather been hard on the village houses this year? I’ll let Nord deal with any issues there.

I’ve put a blanket over the table to continue the kotatsu creation process, but I need a heat source now. I could put a fireball in the center using magic, but that has problems. If I fall asleep, the fireball could do all sorts of bad things, far too unsafe. I could surround the fireball with metal, but that would cause the metal to get way too hot. Kotatsu’s are supposed to be comfortable, not dangerous. I have to have a safe and comfortable retreat.

How can I solve the heater problem?

I’ve already run through all the different magic I know of, but I can’t find one that would work. I’ve been reading and re-reading magic books for anything I’ve missed, but I haven’t stumbled onto anything. Beginner magic is too easy for the current me. In one book, I saw a mention about magic tools. It said that magic tools were convenient items that are activated by putting in magic energy. All I would have to do is to make a constant small fireball magic tool.

I looked all over the study for a book on magic tools, but I couldn’t find one. There are plenty of magic books, but none are about magic tools. I might want to ask Mom if she knew about a book on magic tools. Failing that, I’d have to ask Dad to order one. For that purpose, I went to the living room to ask Nord.

“Dear Father?” Al

“No” Nord

“I haven’t asked for anything yet?” Al

Why is Nord so hasty to shoot down my request? This conversation is unlikely to be short, so I sit down across from him.

“You want a book on magic tools, right?” Elna

Ah, my mother has figured out my goal. That’s why Nord could reject my request. What’s the problem with the request though? The Slowlette family’s budget should be fattened by our partnership with the merchant Triela selling Reversi and Spaghetti. Why shouldn’t I be able to ask for education books, even if they’re expensive?

“What’s the problem?” Al

“Advanced magic books like the ones on the creation of magic tools are expensive books. Thanks to Al, Bartolo, and Triela, we should be able to purchase some.” Nord

“So?” Al

“Where do you think those books are sold?” Nord

“Probably the royal capital, the city with a magic academy?” Al

After I answered, Dad nodded his head in agreement. This gives me a bad feeling.

“Yes, you’d have to purchase them from the royal capital, which is far from here. Since Triela’s merchant caravan recently arrived, they won’t be able to deliver anything for a while.” Nord

“But if their valued business partner, the Slowlette family, contacted them about materials for possible new products, couldn’t they send those materials quickly as a special service?” Al

My creative answer seems to have impressed my parents.

“Al, that’s still not going to work” Elna

“Is it because Spring hasn’t come that we can’t send a messenger to Triela?” Al

Elna puts her hand to her cheek as if she’s considering the question. Perhaps she’s calculating the schedule needed for such an attempt. Even so, spring is quite near at this point, we’re past the depths of winter. We’re about to welcome the colorful season of spring.

“Well, it can’t be helped it would be too long of a journey in time and distance. It won’t kill you to wait.” Elna

“By the way, there’s a letter that concerns you” Nord

What is this letter? I open the letter and start to read.

“Well, hmm? A party invitation? Hmm, I’m invited to a party with Nord.” Al

It’s clear from my parent’s expression I need to keep reading.

“You are cordially invited to attend the party held in the royal capital with your son Alfred… That’s a long way away… why are you grabbing me?” Al

My arms were firmly held by my parents, both seem to have a good grip.

“If Al sits down to hear this out, I’ll let you go after.” Nord says with a forced smile.

It seems I was expected to run away from the conversation. Well it can’t be helped. I guess I’ll be sitting down now?

“So, you have to attend the aristocratic party in the royal capital.” Nord

“Well, I don’t want to attend” Al

My immediate answer conjures a sign from my Dad and a disapproving look from my Mother. But seriously, what child wants to go to a stuffy party where no one they know will attend.

“When a noble child is born and grows to a certain age, they will attend a party in the royal capital to be introduced to society. If I was a higher-ranking aristocrat, you would have been invited at the age of four.” Nord

“That’s so early, what do children do at that age?” Al

“Well, to introduce successors and deepen relationships between important aristocrats.” Nord

“So things like betrothals?” Al

So the noble child grows up, visits the royal capital, the home of the country at least once. That sounds like the case.

“Did Silvio and Eleanora also attend?” Al

It seems like that question has dredged up some unpleasant memories from Nord.

“Oh, they attended. It was difficult.” Nord

“Both of them had a hard time when talking about marriage.” Elna

I see, from my sibling’s appearances, it seems like that marriage talks would be difficult. Does that mean I’ll be expected to live up to their standard? I really don’t want to go now. I’ll just disappoint anyone who expects the third child to resemble the other two.

“Really don’t want to go…” Al

“Your father feels the same…” Nord

I don’t get why father is dreading the party as much as I am. He has looks while I’m average at best.

“He’s very popular in the royal capital” Elna mentions with a smirk.

Ah, is this the curse of the Dragon Slayer. If Nord, who is handsome and has a good personality, attended a party, he would be surrounded by enraptured ladies. It’s easy to imagine Nord’s figure attempting to be personable while internally detesting the attention. If I go to the capital, I should try to attend the play about Nord’s dragon incident. Now I would like to visit the royal capital.

“I’ve tried not to stand out too much, but there are already some people who consider me an enemy.” Nord

Certainly, Nord is a former adventurer, a real upstart aristocrat who leveraged his achievements to become a noble. It seems the aristocrats who have existed for generations might not be so enamored of us. Perhaps they’re worried that the upstart Slowlette’s will leverage their rough-and-tumble origins into an even higher rank? Perhaps a bit of jealousy as well?

For someone like me, who wants to spend their life in the countryside in peace, I’d prefer to skip that kind of maneuvering.

“Even if we ordered a book on magic tools, you would need to visit the royal capital before it could arrive. Because of that, it’s quicker and cheaper to go shopping personally, and you can get some sightseeing done as well.” Elna

Elna provides a voice of reason, she seems to be emphasizing the price factor.

“Anyway, you’re definitely going to visit the royal capital this spring, ok?” Nord

“Well, I understand” Al

After I reluctantly approve, my parents share a look of relief. Did they think I would seriously fight against the visit? I’m not that rebellious.

Hmm, the royal capital…

It’s the center of the Misfilt Kingdom and one of the largest cities in the world. A place where many aristocrats, merchants, adventurers, merchants, and other people live, and home of the royal family. I should be able to find all sorts of useful things like seasonings, ingredients, and magic tools that aren’t available in the countryside. In order to Transfer there in the future, I’ll need to visit the slow way.

When I visit, I have to watch the play about Nord.

Translation

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Do Better!

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