第１８２９堀：彼女の思いのあり所 (Part1)
Chapter 1829: Where Her Heart Lies
Side: Ria
"Hup."
I swung my sword as I spoke.
She instinctively tried to parry, but realizing her mistake, she immediately shifted into a flowing defensive stance.
*Thud!*
Her judgment was sound; my blade sank deep into the earth, nearly to the hilt.
It felt less like a clean cut and more like I’d driven a stake into the ground.
Either way, pulling a blade out of this requires a fair amount of time and raw strength.
In my case, thanks to my profession as a Hero, the level-grinding with Yuki-san and the others, and my accumulated experience, I could manage it without issue, but...
"Got you!"
Canaria, who had shouted that as she lunged at me, had desperately orchestrated this very opening.
As her instructor, I felt obligated to reward my student’s hard work, so without letting that opening go to waste...
"Oops."
"Eh!?"
I released my sword without pulling it out, dodged Canaria’s strike, and delivered a kick.
"Ugh!"
Since I’d put a fair amount of force into it, the distance between us widened. I used the reset to casually pluck my sword from the ground.
"Eh? You pulled it out that easily?"
The moment she saw that, the fighting spirit drained from Canaria.
I suppose this is the start of our chat time.
"Well, of course. You know how capable we are, don't you, Canaria?"
I sheathed my sword and began to speak.
Canaria sheathed hers as well and stepped closer to continue the conversation in detail, so I used magic to conjure a simple earthen chair and sat down.
"Hmm. Indeed, for someone like you, such a feat is hardly surprising. Deryu-sama, for instance, would have simply collapsed the entire ground beneath her."
"Yep, yep. Deryu really does love fighting by destroying her footing, doesn't she? Though, I suppose that’s an effective tactic when you’re primarily using your fists."
"Is that so?"
"Unlike martial arts, other weapons have weight, you see? If your footing isn't solid, you can't generate the necessary power."
"Ah, that makes sense."
"Of course, you can swing them with just arm strength, but the impact drops significantly."
That said, even with just arm strength, we still pack quite a punch. But for Canaria, it’s important to teach her the fundamentals of combat.
"So, how is it? I was surprised when you said you wanted to move your body and train your combat skills."
Yes, the reason I’m teaching Canaria how to fight instead of, say, how to make a bento, is because it was her own request.
By the way, the bento shop is currently being handled by our part-timers.
Ah, of course, they are people dispatched by Kirue, and since the top management is technically handled by full-time staff, the financial side is perfectly fine.
They had been working non-stop, so I thought it was fine since they said they were taking a break, but when I opened the lid, I found this combat training.
What exactly is her goal?
Perhaps sensing my question, Canaria began to explain.
"I am well aware that Ria-sama is looking after me out of concern, and I am deeply grateful. However, I worry that you have your own duties to attend to."
"Ah—well, I do, I suppose."
As Canaria said, my primary duty is to act as Yuki-san’s guard.
But guarding Canaria is also part of my job.
We were the ones who brought her out of the old Vinosia for our own purposes, after all.
I’ve been sticking by her side so that she might eventually learn a trade.
So, in a sense, this is indeed my "original job."
"Therefore, I thought that perhaps it is time for me to stand on my own two feet, or at the very least, be of some help to Ria-sama in your professional duties. That is why I requested this training."
"I see~."
Now I understood her motive.
Canaria was being considerate of me.
It is true that the time I spend with Yuki-san has decreased lately.
But with people like Prol and Orelia around Yuki-san, things are better than they used to be.
Of course, if I were to join them, it would be even more reassuring, but the problem is...
"Have you grown tired of the bento shop, Canaria? Or, no—did you feel that it wasn't something you should do forever?"
Yes, the reason I stayed by Canaria’s side was partly for protection, but teaching her a trade was also a factor.
The core of it was ensuring Canaria could survive on her own.
She was a princess, after all, and we were the ones who got her involved with the dark guilds.
Besides, if we took her under our protection only for her to end up miserable, it would reflect poorly on Weed.
And, of course, letting her die would be absolutely out of the question.
As for Canaria’s answer...
"How should I put it? I find working at the bento shop to be quite enjoyable. I know that much."
"Yeah. You’ve started to smile naturally, and you’ve even started giving out freebies."
"Yes. It makes me very happy when the children tell me that not only the bentos but the side dishes are delicious, and I’ve become able to offer extras as well."
Canaria answered with a smile.
I wonder if Yuki-san and the others would be surprised to see this.
Raised as a perfect princess, she had been unable to express her own emotions.
Well, that might be fine for politics, but as a "cute princess," it was a failing grade.
That said, with her naturally refined face and figure, she played the role of a princess well enough, but now that she’s closer to being an "ordinary person," that lack of charm was a bit of a hurdle.
But, putting that aside.
"Is that environment not enough for you after all?"
"It is not so much that it is 'not enough,' but rather, my heart feels heavy. I see the daily lives of the common people much closer than I ever did in the past, and when I recall the tragic state of the old Vinosia royal capital, it weighs on me all the more..."
"I see... I understand."
"You may laugh at me for saying this so late."
"That’s not true at all."
She is finally beginning to realize what it means to be someone who stands above others.
Honestly, Canaria’s situation was simply one of a terrible environment.
It seems she was only ever expected to fulfill the position and capabilities of a mere princess.
"I understand your feelings, Canaria. I think those feelings are important. Now, what’s next?"
"Next?"
"Yes. I’m happy that you’ve come to feel this way. But, you know, if you don’t decide what to do, nothing will change. I understand you want to leave the bento shop to help me or stand on your own, but will that fulfill your wishes? Is there a path laid out for you?"
Yes, Canaria is currently stuck in a "what now" situation. Whether she helps me or stands on her own, what is she aiming to become? Has she clarified that?
"...Honestly, I do not know where to begin. But I believe that taking the first step will lead to finding the answers."
"Well, I suppose that’s true."
By moving, you inevitably find what needs to be done.
But often, that just leads to being busy with the struggle of mere survival.
There aren't many people who can move with a clear purpose.
And that is how one learns the reality of the world.