Hell Mode: Volume 1, page 27
That same Rodin now had tears streaming down his face.
There’s no way I can say no to that face, is there? It’s outright impossible.
“It...It would be an honor, my lord.”
And in this way, Allen became a manservant of House Granvelle.
＊ ＊ ＊
It was already dusk by the time the audience with Lord Granvelle ended. Allen was informed that he would be accompanying the baron when he returned to Granvelle City tomorrow afternoon, and that he would not have any serving duties that night. He returned home with his father, where Rodin told Theresia about how Allen had become their feudal lord’s manservant. Theresia congratulated her son, her expression sorrowful.
The night passed, and morning broke. Allen, who had not slept very well, offered to draw water for the family, then headed out. When he met the serfs at the well, their eyes were warm. These were all faces that he had seen many, many times over the past eight years.
Over a single night, news of the feudal lord granting commoner status to all twenty members of the original hunting party and their families had spread throughout the entire village. Quite a few of the hunters had already decided to accept the offer.
“Hey there, Allen! I heard you’ll be working at a noble’s house! Good for you!”
“Thank you very much.”
The serfs at the well all wished Allen the best, and he thanked them one by one. When he got home and finished refilling the family jar, he found Mash still sulking from the night before. He complained that he’d be lonely with Allen gone. For his part, Allen had also wanted to be there for Mash, especially when he would undergo his Appraisal Ceremony next year.
Allen ate his breakfast and cleaned himself up, then tied his well-used wooden sword to his waist.
“Here, take this with you,” Rodin said, thrusting a small jute bag at his son.
“I already said last night, I don’t need it,” Allen returned.
Inside the bag they were pushing back and forth was the more than three hundred silver Allen had earned hunting albaherons. Allen expected to receive a salary while working at Lord Granvelle’s mansion, so he wanted Rodin to keep the money for an emergency.
“Doesn’t matter! Take it!” Rodin insisted gruffly.
In the end, Allen folded. He reluctantly counted out a hundred silver and stashed it in his luggage. “Luggage” might have been an overstatement, as he had few belongings to bring with him. In fact, everything he owned fit inside a single small jute bag. It had taken almost no time at all for him to pack.
“Ah, we managed to catch you!”
Just as Allen was about to leave, Gerda arrived, with Mathilda, Krena, and Lily in tow. Allen had planned on dropping by their house on his way to the residential area, but they had come to see him off instead.
Krena, having heard about Allen’s departure from her father, looked absolutely heartbroken. “Do you really have to go?”
Allen nodded. “Mm-hm. You take care of yourself, okay?”
The girl looked down at the ground, at a loss for words. Allen noticed she was clutching her wooden sword as usual.
“All right, let’s play knight,” Allen offered.
“Huh? Play knight?”
“Yup. You up for a round?”
“Always!”
Good, I got her on board. I want her to see me off with a smile.
The moment Allen mentioned “playing knight,” Krena perked back up. However, they could not play in the garden, as it was currently packed with twenty albaheron carcasses. So they stepped outside the garden wall, their families watching on.
Krena took up position a distance away from Allen, then declared, “I am Krena the knight! Let us fight with honor!”
A hot sensation welled up in Allen’s chest upon hearing this line—the same line that he had heard so many times over the past five years. He tightened his grip on his weapon and replied, “I am Allen, manservant of House Granvelle. Sword Lord Krena, come at me!”
A look of surprise came over Krena’s face. Allen’s line was different from usual. This time he had called her “Sword Lord.”
Allen’s new identity was the fruit of Rodin’s efforts after risking his life hunting great boars for thirteen years. Allen had purposely taken up this new title out of respect for his father.
“What’s the matter? Are you not coming at me?”
“Here I go!”
So began their final session of playing knight. Both eight-year-olds swung their wooden swords with incredible power and speed far beyond what other children their age could achieve. Allen’s and Krena’s parents had watched this scene countless times before.
“One final bout to say goodbye, huh,” Rodin murmured.
“Sounds just like something they’d do,” Gerda responded, chuckling slightly.
However, the spectators quickly noticed something was off. All these years, Krena had always been on the offensive and Allen on the defensive. Krena overpowered Allen in every one of their sessions. Today, however, Allen was the one with the upper hand.
“Huh?!” Krena had noticed as well.
“What’s wrong, Sword Lord Krena?! Is that all you’ve got?!”
Krena answered his provocation with a heavier swing, but Allen dodged it and returned a counterattack. Krena was the one on the ropes now.
As soon as he knew he would have to leave everyone, Allen had decided that his farewell to Krena would be playing knights. He had also made up his mind to win this last match.
“What?! How?!” Krena was completely bewildered. She had never lost, not even once. Now, however, she found herself overwhelmed. Allen’s movements had changed from those she had grown used to seeing over the past five years. He was faster than he had ever been before. Even the four adults’ eyes were wide with surprise.
To make a long story short, Allen had Synthesized a whole bunch of Bird E cards ahead of their match. Thanks to this, he had given his Agility a massive boost.
* * *
Name: Allen
Age: 8
Class: Summoner
Level: 7
HP: 152 (190)
MP: 208 (260) + 200
Attack: 75 (94)
Endurance: 75 (94)
Agility: 144 (181) + 200
Intelligence: 216 (270) + 200
Luck: 144 (181) + 200
Skills: Summoning {4}, Creation {4}, Synthesis {4}, Strengthening {4}, Expansion {3}, Storage, Deletion, Sword Mastery {3}, Throwing {3}
XP: 0/7,000
Skill Levels
Summoning: 4
Creation: 4
Synthesis: 4
Strengthening: 4
Skill Experience
Creation: 47,946/1,000,000
Synthesis: 47,900/1,000,000
Strengthening: 47,640/1,000,000
Creatable Summons
Insect: E, F, G, H
Beast: E, F, G, H
Bird: E, F, G
Grass: E, F
Stone: E
Holder
Insect:
Beast:
Bird: E x 20
Grass: E x 20
Stone:
* * *
As a Summoner, Allen’s Agility was ranked A. In other words, his class was itself designed with an emphasis on Agility. Now that he was Lvl. 7 and had twenty Bird E cards, his total Agility was over three hundred. There was no way for Krena, who was still only Lvl. 1, to keep up. It was not long before the tip of Allen’s wooden sword was at Krena’s throat. The match was decided.
“I lost,” Krena mumbled, looking stunned.
“Looks like it is a draw between us, Sword Lord Krena,” Allen declared. I’m glad that worked out. I used up almost all the magic stones I had, but it was worth it.
“Huh?”
The way Krena saw it, she had lost completely. All four of the adults thought the same.
“This is a draw. There’s no doubt about it,” Allen repeated.
“A...draw?”
“That’s right. A draw, a tie. Sword Lord Krena, it looks like we will have to wait until we meet again to determine the winner.”
“Huh?”
“Our match remains unfinished. The outcome will have to be deferred.” Allen reverted to his normal tone. “When we meet again. Okay, Krena?”
When they were both older, they would see each other again. It was a promise.
A smile blossomed on Krena’s face. “Of course! Next time we meet, I’ll be waaay stronger than you!”
There’s the face I wanted to see.
Allen, however, was more worldly-wise. He knew that once Krena turned twelve, she would leave for Academy City. After she graduated, she would then likely go on to serve the royal family. Their stations in life and social statuses would be vastly different. He might never see her again—in fact, that was the more probable outcome. Still, he wanted to part ways with her through this undecided match. He had even used up almost his entire stock of magic stones to ensure this result.
After having said his goodbyes with Krena, Allen turned to do the same with everyone else. Theresia hugged him tight and told him, “Be well, my son.” Allen fought back his tears.
He then went over to Mash, who was bawling his eyes out. “Mash, grow up strong and protect Myulla, okay?”
“Mm!”
Allen hugged his family tightly but did not cry. He had to uphold his pride as a big brother in front of his young siblings.
Allen then set off for the village gate with Rodin. The two did not speak along the way, but that was all right. When they reached the village square, they found two familiar faces waiting for them. The first was Dogora, the boy with a bumpkin face, and the other was Pelomas. They both approached Allen.
Dogora thrust a long object forward. “Hey, Allen. Take this.” He had quit calling Allen “Black Hair” a while ago.
“You sure I can have this?” Allen asked, accepting what he recognized to be a short sword.
This is the same one that I asked for the price of two years ago. It cost fifty silvers, if I remember right. I guess I never did get around to buying it.
Allen had really wanted this sword back when he spotted it in the weapons merchant’s shop. However, he had stopped himself, deciding to save the money for his family’s sake instead. The weapons merchant had told his son, Dogora, who had then accosted Allen as he was on his way back home. Apparently Dogora had still remembered from back then.
“Thank you, Dogora. I’ll take good care of it.”
“Well, that’s yours now. See ya!” Dogora said gruffly before dashing off as if to hide his embarrassment. Although he and Allen had only known each other for two years, there was no doubting their friendship. Allen slid the short sword into his belt, right next to his wooden sword.
Next, Pelomas and the other villagers also said their parting words. Apparently everyone in the residential area had heard about Allen leaving to serve the feudal lord. All their well-wishes filled Allen’s heart.
Rodin and Allen resumed walking. When the village gate came into view, Rodin, who had been silent this whole time, simply said, “Allen, this village is your home.”
“Yes, father.”
“I’m sure you’ll go on to do much greater things than simply being a manservant. Make sure you fulfill your obligations. Don’t worry about getting in contact with us until you do.”
In other words, Rodin was telling Allen not to worry about his family and to focus only on making the most out of this opportunity—after all, a former serf getting to serve a baron’s family right after becoming a commoner was unheard of.
“I’ll give it my all.”
After leaving those words behind, Allen parted ways with Rodin before the village gate. It was already time to set off, and so he boarded the carriage that someone pointed him toward. He looked out the window at the village where he had grown up. The familiar sight gradually receded as the carriage began its journey. Soon, Rodin’s figure was too small to make out. And eventually, the village itself faded from view. The tears Allen had been holding back burst forth, like water gushing from a broken dam.
In this way, Allen left behind Krena Village to start a new life in Granvelle City. After eight years as a serf, he had become a commoner and was accepted as a manservant in the service of Baron Granvelle, lord of the realm of Granvelle.
Side Story: Lakeside
Three days had passed since Baron Granvelle’s procession—the one Allen was a part of—left Krena Village for Granvelle City.
A wrinkled old man bowed reverentially toward Captain Zenof. “Thank you so much for taking care of it right away, sir.”
“Think nothing of it. Resolving the people’s worries is part of our duties as knights of the realm.”
Allen watched the exchange from a distance away. Aww, I guess I don’t get to meet my grandparents after all.
They had stopped at the village where the founding settlers of Krena Village had originally come from. In other words, this was Rodin and Theresia’s home village; their parents ought to still be living here. However, like all serfs, Allen’s grandparents would be greatly limited in where they could go, and there was no reason for them to be at the village chief’s house. Consequently, Allen had no chance to come across them.
Rodin had once told Allen that, because serfs almost never received permission to step outside their village, it was very common for those who moved to another village to never see their parents again.
I’ll come back again someday when I can travel more freely, Allen thought to himself as he looked around for his own carriage. Of the many coaches in the procession heading back to Granvelle City, he had been riding in one that had been assigned specifically to the servants.
“You, the manservant over there. Come over.”
Huh? Me?
Suddenly, a voice called out from above. When Allen looked up, he saw Cecil’s face peeking through the window of a carriage adorned with House Granvelle colors.
“What can I do for you, Lady Cecil?”
“I need a conversational partner. Climb into my carriage.”
Huh? I have nothing to talk with her about, though. Is she messing with me again?
“Of course, my lady. Right away.”
Allen had already taken up service, despite having yet to reach the mansion; he felt uncomfortable doing nothing while on the road. Cecil, in turn, had started involving herself with his duties, both for better and for worse. She seemed to feel no qualms about it given how close they were in age.
While he was not eager to do so, Allen had no choice but to comply with a direct order from the daughter of a noble. Although there was little difference between commoners and serfs, he very much felt the distance in social status between nobility and himself.
Hm? Oh, this is a women-only carriage. Everyone inside is female...except for Vice-Captain Leibrand.
As it turned out, this carriage was for Cecil and the female servants who had come along on this trip. Aside from them, however, there was also Vice-Captain Leibrand in the seat in front. In all likelihood, he was here to protect Cecil should anything happen.
When Cecil gestured toward the seat across from hers, Allen took it wordlessly, wondering what he had done to deserve this torture. Riding in these carriages was itself draining, as they shook and rattled terribly. Allen could have done without the mental pressure of his current situation adding to the physical ordeal, but all he could do was sigh inside his mind.
Before long, the carriages of the procession started moving out. A sizable crowd saw them off.
Wow, did the entire village show up? Or is this just a portion, and their population is just that much bigger than Krena Village’s?
“What do you think? Pretty big send-off, right?” Cecil asked suddenly, her eyes still directed outside the window at the receding crowd.
“As befits House Granvelle, the family who administers this land. This is surely a reflection of just how much the people appreciate everything you do for them.”
“I know, right? Heh heh!”
I complimented you, so can you give me a cushion please?
Cecil, who was currently sitting on top of a stack of multiple cushions, smirked happily. Allen’s praise of her family seemed to be exactly what she had been actually after.
“I thought this before at the great boar hunt, but you really are levelheaded, Allen. I can scarcely believe you were a serf before,” Leibrand interjected, looking impressed with the answer that Allen had given. “I think you will do well in your new station as a manservant at the mansion, regardless of your origins.”
“Your praise honors me, sir.”
“See? That answer’s plenty impressive too. How old are you now?”
“I turned eight this year.”
Cecil started. “Huh? That’s the same as me!”
“It appears so, my lady,” Allen replied. I thought we were close—so we’re the exact same age?
The fact did not really change much, but Cecil dove into her own thoughts, muttering, “So we’re the same age” to herself, among other things.
The carriages then continued down the path lined sparsely with trees for several hours. The procession stopped for breaks every once in a while—Allen was ignorant of carriage travel and had no way to tell if the breaks were for young Cecil or for the horses. At each stop, Allen tried to move to a different carriage, but Cecil kept him chained to his seat with random stories about her family.
Okay, look, I’m not going to make notes about your “Oh, this always happens at home!” anecdotes in my grimoire!
As Allen continued to pretend he was listening with the occasional “Mm-hm,” “I see,” and “Ahh” in response to the girl’s utterly mundane ramblings, Cecil noticed something outside the window.
“Hold on, this area is... I think we’re close to the lake my mother told me about.”
“Lady Cecil, we will not be stopping there,” Vice-Captain Leibrand said bluntly.
“I didn’t say anything yet! And why not?!”
Hm? What’s this? We’re coming up on a lake?
Cecil tried to make her case. She had really wanted to watch the great boar hunt too, but her father refused because it was dangerous. Since she had so magnanimously backed down and had been such a good girl, she argued, this time her wish ought to be granted.
