Reincarnated Dragon Goes to the Academy!

Chapter 152 : Nella's Secret Friend.

Nella's steps were hurried, excited for an outing by herself for the first time in a while.

'I wonder if any new items have come in?'

A small, simple hobby she had developed since being adopted into the Count's family.

-Tinkle.

A cheerful bell rang, and as Nella entered, the white-haired owner greeted her.

"Oh! It's Nella."

"Hello."

Although she was now strictly a young lady of a count's family, the old man treated her informally, and Nella, too, seemed accustomed to his attitude.

"Is it vacation?"

"Yes."

The old man smiled amiably and rose from his seat.

"I've brought in a lot of things you might like."

"Really?"

"Of course."

The old man's gaze, as if looking at his own granddaughter, was warm and full of affection.

Approaching the display case, the old man began to take out and lay out the items himself.

"Here, this is an item from Divanos. It's made by pressing the wildflowers that grow in Divanos."

Her new hobby was collecting postcards.

In fact, it was a hobby she had forced herself to create at first, due to the worried gazes of the Count and Countess who saw a Nella who didn't like anything.

She had chosen it because it didn't cost as much as other hobbies, but perhaps thanks to the owner who was like a grandfather, it had become something she quite enjoyed, enough to visit first thing when vacation started.

"It's really pretty."

"Isn't it? And look at this too."

What the owner took out was a small stamp used to seal envelopes by melting wax.

"I brought it in thinking you would like it."

Looking at the bottom of the stamp, a small bird was engraved.

"It would be pretty if you used this wax to melt it."

Then he took out a few beads of gold and green wax from a small box and set them down.

"It's so pretty."

Nella, who was carefully examining them, smiled brightly.

"Hoho. I'm glad to hear that."

The old man, seeing Nella's smile, smiled along with her.

"Ah, and."

As if he had remembered something, the old man moved his steps again and returned to the counter.

"Here. Take this."

In the old man's hand was a small envelope.

"What is this?"

Nella, who took it, opened the envelope with expectant eyes.

"Wow!"

Inside the envelope were small cookies.

"This is what you like, right? The cookies with fig jam on top."

Nella, who nodded her head vigorously, quickly picked up a cookie and brought it to her mouth.

"Did you know I was coming?"

"Of course."

In fact, the owner had been baking the same cookies and bringing them to the shop for several days.

He knew the academy's vacation started around this time, but he didn't know the exact date, so the old man prepared fresh cookies every day and waited for Nella.

"Grandpa, you're the best!"

Nella, with cookie crumbs all over her mouth, gave a thumbs-up.

"Oh dear. You'll choke."

As the old man took out a bottle of milk that was placed below and held it out, Nella took it and gulped it down.

"Hoho. Do you like it that much?"

"Yes! I love it. It's so delicious."

Nella loved this place so much. She liked the smell of paper that wafted from the small shop, and she liked the sound of her grandfather's laughter.

The best thing among them was that here, at least, she was not the young lady of the Rodrigo family.

"Now, then, let's hear your story."

As the awkward air from meeting after a long time was instantly dispelled, the old man brought tea to a small table.

"Okay. Do you know what happened this time?"

Nella, chattering in front of the old man, was a completely different person from how she was outside.

She didn't spare or hide her words, nor did she hide her expressions or get through situations with an awkward laugh.

"It was so funny! Why did it have to happen then of all times?"

"Hoho! Indeed."

Nella chattered nonstop, and the old man laughed nonstop as he watched her.

-Tinkle.

Just then, the shop door opened, and Nella quickly erased her smile and got up from her seat.

"Welcome."

The old man, as if it were a familiar occurrence, greeted the customer without showing any change.

"I'd like to buy some wax and letter paper."

"Yes. This way, please."

The man who entered the shop had a sturdy and well-built physique. His hair was turning white here and there, but his hands were full of calluses, as if he had used a sword.

"I don't think I've seen you before. Are you just passing through?"

As the old man asked kindly, the man also smiled and replied.

"No. I've moved here. In fact, today is my first day."

"Oh. I see. Sitata is a good place."

"Yes. It seems to be a good place."

"But to be writing a letter on your first day here. You seem to be a very diligent person."

The old man and the man exchanged a few more trivial words after that.

"Here you are."

The man paid the price, and the old man packed the items well and handed them over.

"Please come again."

The man's eyes, as he was leaving the shop, lingered on Nella for a moment.

"Thank you. I will come again."

And then he gave Nella a brief nod.

"Ah."

Nella, who had bowed back in a daze, glanced at the old man.

"Does he know me?"

"How many people would not know that you are the young lady of the Rodrigo family?"

Hearing those words, Nella slowly nodded her head as if in agreement.

"He doesn't seem like a bad person. His hands were those of someone who has trained for a long time. And I heard earlier that he got a house near the forest path."

"The forest path?"

In fact, Nella had been thinking about something else since their conversation had started and hadn't heard everything.

"And no matter how much he has trained, how could a swordsman possibly defeat you, a mage? Hoho!"

"Grandpa, really. Swordsmen are so cool and strong too. I heard Sword Masters are really amazing."

"Hohoho! Still, our Nella is the best, right?"

Nella smiled shyly at the old man's words.

***

Nella, who had chattered with the old man for a long time, finally left the shop as it was getting dark.

'Why did that man come to Sitata?'

The customer she had seen at the shop kept lingering in her mind.

'I feel like I've seen him somewhere.'

The man's appearance was strangely familiar.

'Where was it.'

What she could remember, at least, was the letter paper and envelope he had bought.

'What's with the flower pattern.'

The letter paper he had delicately chosen with his large, thick hands was covered in flowers.

Moreover, the wax he had chosen was gold and pink.

'What an unfitting taste.'

He was a strange man, but Nella didn't dislike the feeling he gave off.

As her grandfather had said, he didn't seem like a bad person.

"What is it?"

Just then, a Naiad that had been circling her spoke to her.

-Let's go over there.

The Naiad pointed towards the forest path and circled around Nella.

"Why there?"

-It hurts. That human man from before.

"Huh? What does that mean?"

-The human man. It hurts. He's bleeding a lot.

A human man? Nella furrowed her brow.

"Alright."

In any case, since he was bleeding, it was right to go and see.

Besides, if a Naiad was leading the way, it meant it wasn't dangerous right now.

Nella practically ran into the forest path.

-Over there.

-Hurry.

The Naiads' wing beats quickened.

"Heok... heok..."

Her breath came up to her chin from running after a long time.

-There! Over there!

How long had she run? A small house appeared before her eyes.

"Blood..."

Seeing the trail of blood leading up to it, Nella's palms became sweaty.

Nella, who had crossed the small yard, threw open the wooden door.

"Who goes there."

At the same time, a cold sensation on her neck.

"S-someone is hurt..."

Startled by the metal at her throat, Nella said in a trembling voice.

"...You are?"

At the same time, Nella summoned the intermediate water spirit, Undine.

-Grrr!

The summoned Undine, before its form was even fully formed, blocked Nella's path.

"...!"

Cursis, who quickly stepped back.

"It's okay, Undine. I came because someone was hurt. I didn't mean to harm the man."

As the life-threatening metal disappeared, Nella, who had become much calmer, soothed Undine and spoke clearly.

"How did you know that?"

As Undine stepped back, Cursis also sheathed his sword and spoke.

"A Naiad told me."

"A Naiad spoke? You mean you can talk to spirits?"

At that, Nella nodded her head.

"What an amazing ability."

Cursis exclaimed in admiration.

"But..."

Nella's eyes scanned Cursis's body. There were clearly bloodstains, and the Naiad had also led her as if it were an urgent matter.

But Cursis didn't look like his life was in danger.

"This is... embarrassing."

Cursis, who had noticed Nella's meaning, scratched his head as if embarrassed.

"It's true I'm hurt, but it's not that serious, little girl."

"I'm not a little girl. I'm old enough to attend a debutante ball now."

Nella, who had taken offense at the word 'little girl', furrowed her brow sharply.

"Is that so, my lady."

At that, Cursis bowed with the etiquette of a knight and a sly grin, and Nella stomped her foot.

Cursis, who had smiled faintly at Nella's reaction, limped over to a chair and plopped down.

"Ah. You must have hurt your leg."

At that, Nella's eyes stopped at Cursis's leg.

She hadn't noticed because the house was dark, but what was wrapped around one of his legs was not pants but a bandage, and it was all soaked in blood, looking like purple pants.

"Yes."

"How did that happen?"

Perhaps because of Cursis's strangely familiar face, Nella easily let down her guard.

'I have Undine with me.'

And then she glanced back at Undine.

"How did it happen? I was trying to chop some firewood and got hurt."

Nella tilted her head at Cursis's answer and asked.

"Weren't you a swordsman? Grandpa said you were a swordsman who had trained for a long time."

"Haha. It feels like I've been completely found out."

"No, but how can you get hurt that much just from chopping firewood?"

Blood was still seeping from the bandage wrapped around Cursis's leg.

"Let's just say I couldn't control my strength. Otherwise, the person who sold me the axe today would become a swindler."

"..."

"It was my first time doing it. I brought the axe down on the firewood, and the handle broke, and the axe head flew at me."

The floor was becoming soaked from the constantly seeping blood.

"Ehyu."

Nella, who was watching him, approached Undine.

"Heal that man a little."

-Understood.

As the large, wolf-shaped Undine strode forward, Cursis flinched.

"It's okay. Undine will heal you."

As Undine lowered its body and licked Cursis's leg once, a small light shone.

As Undine stepped back, Cursis unwrapped the bandage that was wrapped around his leg.

"Is this the healing ability of a water spirit..."

And he marveled at his leg, which was completely healed as if it had never been hurt.

"Chopping firewood is hard. You can use a sword but not an axe?"

Nella taunted, as if to get revenge for the teasing she had just received.

"Haha. Right. I can use a sword but not an axe. Why, are you going to call me an idiot now?"

But Cursis did not fall for Nella's teasing so easily.

"Tsk."

"Thank you. If it weren't for you, I might have died from excessive bleeding on my first night after moving in."

Cursis, who had shot up from his seat, jumped in place a few times and then smiled brightly.

"It's truly amazing. It doesn't hurt at all."

Nella, who had become a little proud at Cursis's compliment, puffed out her chest.

"Now, if there is anything you want, tell me. Even though I may look like this, I am capable enough to repay you."

Nella, who was about to shake her head, saying it was fine, had her eyes sparkle for an instant.

"Can I really say anything?"

"Of course. As long as it's something I can grant."

Nella looked at Cursis with a determined expression.

"Then please teach me how to use a sword."

"Eh? A sword? What would a young lady of a count's family do with knowing how to use a sword? Besides, you use spirit arts and magic."

Cursis had an expression of not being able to understand.

"Just because. It's cool."

It was something she had wanted to learn for some time.

"Haha! Let's do that. Well, if you run out of mana, you should at least know how to swing a sword. Yes! Of course."

Cursis, who had laughed heartily, nodded his head as if he liked the idea.

"Really?!"

In fact, she had thought he would refuse.

Asking him, who knew she was the young lady of a count's family, to teach her the sword was an unreasonable request from the start.

But for him to say he would teach her!

"Of course. I don't lie."

The excited Nella jumped in place.

"I may not be able to teach you as well as an imperial knight, but I'll teach you enough to protect your own body!"

"This is exciting!"

And so, Nella gained a new secret friend.

[End of Chapter]