Chapter 7: Absolute Promise

                                    

                                          
After all of that, I finally turned ten. I dedicated most of the last two years to language studies. Besides the Beast God tongue and the Demon God tongue, I also learned the Fighting God tongue. It was extremely close to the Human tongue, so it was easy. Somewhat like the similarity between the German and English languages. The basics of grammar were the same as the Human tongue; the only differences were expressions and vocabulary.
The languages in this world weren't that difficult. Once you learned one, you could use it as a basis for learning the others. Probably a side-effect of all the warring between the races. However, there was no literature in either the Sky God tongue or the Sea God tongue, nor any people who used those languages around here, so I was unable to learn them. Oh well, speaking four languages was more than enough for me.
As for swordplay, my skills were approaching the Intermediate tier. In just two years Eris had gone from Intermediate-tier to Advanced-tier, so I was no longer any match for her. You could really feel the gap in our abilities. Ah well, I thought. It seems she spent her days off training really hard, so that's how it goes. While I spent my free time learning languages, she spent hers with the sword. The gap between us was only natural.
As for magic, I only practiced through making figurines. I was able to make them more and more detailed, which probably meant I was improving. It was true that I had hit a wall though. Of course, that would be solved once I began learning at the Magic University. There was no use in being impatient.
Ten years had passed since I came into this world, huh? The thought made me a bit emotional.
***
As my birthday was about a month away, the people in the manor began growing restless, Eris especially so. What is it, I wondered. Was someone important supposed to be coming? Like someone else from the Greyrat family, or perhaps Eris's fiancée? No way, it couldn't be. Eris with a fiancée? I felt like a fit of strange laughter might burst out of me. But the restlessness made me anxious, so I decided to investigate.
After doing a magnificent job of tailing Eris, I spotted her chatting happily with a maid in the kitchen. Ghislaine was there too, but she hadn't noticed me. The brawny, animal-eared swordswoman was distracted by the meat that had been set out for our next meal.
"I can't wait to see the look of surprise on Rudeus's face! He might even weep with joy!"
"I'm not certain about that. It is Lord Rudeus we're talking about. Even if he felt surprised, he might not let it show."
"But you do think he'll be happy, right?" Eris asked.
"Yes, of course. As part of the branch family, I'm sure he's had a rough time of it."
I hadn't really had a rough time of anything. But what exactly were they talking about? Were people gossiping about me? I was fairly confident I had done a fine job of being good, but perhaps I was the only one who thought so and the other people of this house actually found me unpleasant. If that were the case, I was confident I would weep. Specifically, confident I would create more work for the maids by using my pillow as a tissue to soak up all my tears.
"l have to make sure it's ready in time!" Eris said.
"If I can't make it well, you think he won't eat it?"
"No, Lord Rudeus would eat anything you made for him," the maid responded.
"Really?"
"Yes, as long as Lord Sauros is present."
Ah. I knew what this had to be. Preparations for a surprise party, huh? If only Rudeus hadn't been born to that house. There was pity in Eris's voice as she said that. Now that I knew what the conversation was about, I decided to take my leave.