Chapter 226: 226 Planning to return to the capital?
The second return felt no different from the first.
It was like having dreamed a life previously unknown, and upon opening one’s eyes, one couldn’t tell whether this moment belonged to reality or was another dream.
Gazing at the somewhat familiar ceiling and the somewhat familiar room, Reiger lay quietly for a long time before finally speaking.
"Back again..."
The sense of reality gradually returned, and the dreamlike feeling also slowly subsided, ceased to churn in his mind, and vanished like a calm, transparent cube.
It was then that Reiger silently sat up and dispelled the magic that had been active on his body.
Thin Veil Breath—the forest garment that could fend off all attacks from enemies. Reiger had used this magic on himself before undergoing Dimensional Travel to ensure his protection, so he wouldn’t be completely defenseless during his travels between dimensions.
Now that Reiger was back, the magic was still active, as if to tell him that no one had tampered with his body while he slept.
But his body had not remained entirely unchanged.
Whether it was the strength that had clearly become much more powerful than before, or the breath that felt as obscure and burning as solar fluctuations, both were telling others that Reiger had undergone another dramatic transformation compared to what he had been before.
And such changes had occurred in just one day in this world.
In one day, Reiger returned to this world with new strength and a new bearing.
"Not bad."
Reiger checked again the hermit quietly lying in the Dimensional Magic Cube Storage Space, regarding the blade known as the divine sword from another world, and smiled faintly.
Then, Reiger got out of bed.
Having been through another Dimensional Travel, there were things Reiger had come to understand.
So, Reiger wanted to have a good talk with Yuri.
......
One day’s time felt like an eternity to Reiger, who had experienced Dimensional Travel, but it was extremely brief in this world.
At this time, the people at the Fransel household were still dealing with the aftermath of the festival of battle.
For Reiger, the festival of battle was an event from half a year ago, but for the Fransel family and the people of this world, it had happened just two days ago.
At this moment, the Fransel family was still tidying up after the festival of battle that had just ended, and the people of Wendiny were still excitedly discussing every duel that occurred during the festival. The topic of Reiger himself was very much a hot seller, with countless people discussing him and marveling at his accomplishments and power as both a true Swordsman and a Tactical Level Magician.
The Marquis Philippe Charlero from the capital had just been here yesterday, urging Reiger to return to the capital to accept a noble title from the kingdom.
The Demon Swordsman Gil Datis had been annihilated by Reiger on the spot with disintegration magic days ago, leaving no trace behind.
The missteps at the festival of battle, as well as the events caused by the Demon Swordsman, had resulted in Eredman, the former family head and Yuri’s father, suffering a great loss. He was still in seclusion, not coming out of his room.
Under such circumstances, after Reiger had already notified Yuri beforehand, him emerging from his room after a day’s time naturally did not bring any particularly notable changes. As he walked through the Fransel family’s mansion, no one found his appearance peculiar.
"Lord Reiger."
"Lord Brilliant."
The passing Knights and servants were still as respectful as ever, immediately saluting him upon seeing him.
Finally accustomed to this, Reiger no longer felt unnatural or uncomfortable as he had before.
It couldn’t be helped; in the Demon Slayer World for half a year, as the grand teaching master of the Demon Killing Corps and a distinguished guest of the Ubuyashiki family, he was treated with deep respect wherever he went.
Over time, Reiger had gotten used to it and no longer felt inexplicably sentimental about it.
He nodded to those saluting him, then made his way to Yuri’s office.
"Knock, knock, knock..."
The sound of knocking arose as Reiger had reached the office door and tapped on it.
"Come in."
Yuri’s voice immediately came from inside without even asking who it was.
That tone probably suggested she assumed the visitor was a subordinate coming to report on work.
Reiger smiled wryly, pushed open the door, and walked into the office.
There, Yuri was sitting at a fairly luxurious desk, holding a piece of parchment paper, seemingly reviewing some document without even looking up.
However, seeing Reiger enter, Marilyn, who stood by Yuri’s side, mentioned his name.
"Lord Brilliant."
At this, Yuri looked up.
"Oh, it’s you?" Yuri then put down the parchment, her indifferent expression melting like snow into a beautiful smile, blooming like a flower, "I thought it was someone from downstairs coming to report on the final stages of the festival of battle."
"Then it seems I’m interrupting you." Reiger glanced at the pile of parchments on the desk, pondered for a moment, and said, "Perhaps I should come back later."
Having said this, Reiger prepared to turn and leave.
However, Yuri stopped him.
"It’s okay, I was about to take a break anyway."
There seemed to be nothing wrong with Yuri’s words to Reiger, only Marilyn beside her slightly raised her eyebrows.
A break?
Miss, when did you ever say you were taking a break?
It wasn’t since this man entered the room and stopped going out that you’ve just been dealing with work with a cold face, have you ever considered resting aside from taking a nap?
Marilyn didn’t dare to say or ask these things, she could only stay silently by the side, quietly being a statue.
Unfortunately, Yuri didn’t seem to plan on letting her off.
"Marilyn, bring the tea."
Yuri ordered without even turning her head.
"...Yes."
Marilyn complied, and as usual, she shot Reiger a glance without leaving a trace, a glance that left Reiger somewhat baffled.
What did I do?
"Take a seat."
Yuri pushed the documents on the desk aside and smiled at Reiger, motioning for him to sit down.
Seeing this, Reiger felt it would be inappropriate to refuse, so he sat down in front of Yuri.
Soon, Marilyn wheeled in a cart from the tea room next to the office and brewed a cup of black tea for both of them.
The steaming black tea was placed in front of Reiger and Yuri, its aroma wafting about, altering the expressions on their faces.
Yuri revealed an expression of enjoyment and relaxation.
Reiger... Reiger’s expression looked as if he was staring at some fierce flood beast.
This tea, it isn’t so sweet it could melt one’s tongue off, is it?
While Reiger pondered on this, Yuri had already picked up the tea and taken a sip before she finally spoke to Reiger.
"How is it? Are the injuries feeling better?"
Before undergoing the Dimensional Travel, Reiger had told Yuri that he would stay in his room for a day without needing food or water.
Yuri thought Reiger was recuperating.
At the Battle Festival, to protect Yuri from the hands of the Demon Swordsman Gil, Reiger’s hand was cut.
However, that wound had long been healed by Diya Flatel, a fact unknown to Yuri who thought Reiger secluded himself in his room to recuperate and had advised him to rest well.
Thus, upon seeing Reiger emerge, Yuri questioned him.
"It’s healed, no serious harm."
Reiger brushed past the topic in just a few words.
"That’s good," Yuri’s expression relaxed even more and she joked, "If something had happened to you, I’d have felt guilty for a lifetime."
"It was just a cut by a sword, it didn’t get severed," Reiger cracked a small smile and said, "Besides, my life was originally saved by you. If something did happen, it would be like repaying the favor. I would accept that."
Hearing this, Yuri glared at Reiger, apparently not fond of that notion.
"As long as you’re okay, that’s good." Yuri took another sip of her black tea, then casually asked, "What are you planning on doing today? Going to practice swordsmanship in the courtyard as before?"
"Not today," Reiger shook his head and replied, "For now, let’s set aside sword matters."
He had already mastered the evolved version of Sun Breathing’s Total Concentration·Constant, meaning he was always training and no longer needed to practice with the sword to increase his abilities.
From now on, Reiger didn’t need to train as desperately as before. Any future sword practice would likely be for refining his swordsmanship or improving the forms of breathing techniques he had mastered.
In this regard, not long ago, Reiger had learned quite a bit from Sword Saints of the Demon Slayer World, so sword skills were not something to worry about for now.
Given this, even if Reiger continued to train, it wouldn’t be with the sword but perhaps the magic he had barely used in the Demon Slayer World.
But that matter could also be postponed.
He had just risen to Lv.6, and his abilities at this stage were only beginning to adapt; there was no need to rush into refining magical skills.
"Is that so?" Yuri put down her teacup and smiled, "In that case, why don’t you check out the library?"
Upon hearing this, Reiger felt a stir in his heart, and even Marilyn seemed eager to speak.
Yuri’s reference to the library was certainly not an ordinary one.
She meant the Fransel family’s special library housing books on swordsmanship and magic.
Moreover, this time it wasn’t just any library, but the one in the main house of the Fransel family, containing all the swordsmanship and magic books collected since the family’s establishment.
Such a precious library was casually offered by Yuri as if suggesting a visit to the library after school to browse through books, so easygoing in tone and manner.
Reiger knew that Yuri meant this for him.
After all, from Yuri’s perspective, yesterday he had declared his intent to become a Sword Saint and sever the considerations of the kingdom.
Seeing that Reiger’s "injuries" were healed, Yuri took this matter to heart, planning to open the library for him, to support him.
Reiger was well aware of this, and his gaze towards Yuri softened significantly.
However, Reiger wasn’t here for the Fransel family’s library, nor to discuss with Yuri how to become a Sword Saint.
He only wanted to say one thing.
"I’m planning to return to the capital."
Yes.
Reiger was ready to return to the capital.