We were held up a bit due to Cloud, but we managed to avoid some trouble. Still, this situation felt a little odd to me.
Right, Cloud got rolled up in all that, but neither a busybody like Letina nor the friendly Michelle reacted to it at all. After seeing their friend getting involved in trouble, there was no way these two wouldâve stayed silent.
âWait, now that I think about it, where are those two?â âLook over there.â
Cloud answered my question by pointing outside the Guild.
There, on the opposite side of the road, Michelle was securing her position next to a spit-roasting stall, with grilled bird skewers in each hand. Next to her was Letina doing exactly the same.
âThose twoâ¦â âWell, Michelle is like a demon glutton, so it canât be helped. Still, itâs rare to see Letina imitate her.â âWell, she is a noble lady, so itâs rare for her to eat warm food, you know?â âHuh, really?â
You wouldnât believe it based on how she behaved on a daily basis, but she was still the Marquisâ daughter. She had to be careful of getting food-poisoned, or attempts to kill her by poisoning.
Before a meal made it to her mouth, it went through numerous taste and poison checks, so the food was already cold by the time it reached her.
For that reason, the times she adventured with us were few chances for her to have proper warm food.
âHey, you two, time to go!â
I called out to the two ahead, took Cloudâs hand, and hurried ahead.
Due to all thatâs happened, the sun was already starting to set. We had to return by dark, so I wanted to head out as fast as possible.
âAh, sorry.â âIt looked so appetizing I was lured before I noticed.â âHahaha, could I take it as you indirectly praising my skill? âIt was not a bad taste. I shall visit you again.â âOf course, do come again!â
It was pleasant to see Letina who was a little standoffish and the energetic stall owner hitting it off so well.
But we had no time left now. I already revealed my Thread Manipulation Gift to Michelle, so I wanted to try out a few things using that ability while cooperating with them.
But with the herb gathering added to the calculations, it barely left enough time. In a way, this was also good training.
âIt seems today will be a nice exercise to see how we can move under limited time. Also, Iâm going to try coordination with my new ability.â âA new ability?â âItâs one of my abilities, I explained it to Michelle and Cloud before⦠Iâd like to try fighting with my threads.â âThreads⦠Thatâs quite an unusual ability. No, could it be⦠The same ability that Lord Reid had!?â âWell, I guess?â âHow enviable!â âI canât do anything about itâ¦ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Thread Manipulation sounded quite plain. When you first heard of it, you wouldnât know how you could even use it. However, Letina being the Six Hero nerd she was, was quick to link it to Reidâs ability.
Only Letina would find the connection to the least outstanding member of the Six Heroes so fast.
âAs you know, I also have the Gift of Interference Magic. In other words, I hold two Gifts. You do realize what would happen if this were to be known, right?â âIt⦠Would lead to an uproar. Holders of several Gifts are only one in ten thousand.â âAnd not just that, even my background would add more fuel to it.â âThe daughter of the Six Heroes who each holds two Gifts also holds multiple Gifts. That would become shocking news.â âRight. If that became known⦠It would lead to a serious matter. Even for Elliot.â âHis Highness seems to have found a new sweetheart. But still, someone with such influence could have a concubine or two aside from queen consort. If that happens, even you wouldâ¦â âAnd thatâs why Iâm staying quiet. So, no telling anyone, okay? That includes my parents.â âSo thatâs how it was⦠But you are keeping it a secret from Lord Lyell too?â
She was coaxed by my excuse and understood the point at first, but then found the part about Lyell odd. But for me, Lyell and the rest of my former comrades were the main people I didnât want to learn of it.
Still, Letina was not aware of my circumstances. It was natural for her to question why I would keep it a secret from my own father. If I didnât settle her doubts now, this information could one day reach Lyell and others.
âHmm, well, you can talk to Maxwell about it.â âBut not to Lord Lyell and Lady Maria? Or teacher Cortina?â âUhh, well⦠My parents, well, they are sensitive about Lord Reid. So if they find out that their daughter holds the same Gift, it would get complicated.â âIt would?â âI donât want to see their comrade in their eyes every time they look at me.â âThatâs⦠True.â
See their old comrade my a?s?s?, I was that old comrade. That said, the plea of âI want them to see me as their daughterâ seemed to have pulled on Letinaâs heartstrings quite a bit.
Despite being a noble, she had been raised with love, so she ended up developing a very upright nature. It was cute to see her tremble at the thought of imagining me not being looked at as their daughter.
âBut Maxwell was the only one who wasnât there during the incident, so heâs the most rational about it among the Six Heroes. So I only talk to him. Let him decide whether to tell my parents or not.â âThatâs true⦠It could be problematic if we ignore his will and reveal it ourselves.â âRight? So letâs discuss it with Maxwell first and wait for his decision.â âUnderstood.â
I felt like I once again pushed all the responsibility to Maxwell. Still, he only had himself to blame for exposing my secret.
I revealed a mean smile, thinking that this would be a nice little revenge against him, and then we set off outside the city.