{AKNK} - {Lucas thompscie}
{You are so dazzling}
🚨 This is not my official language, use of translator🚨
*Warning before reading the butler story*
This story contains spoilers for the "Butler, Training Camp, and Vacation" event story.
We recommend reading up to episode 12 of the event story before reading this.
If you wish to avoid spoilers, please return using the button in the upper left corner.
{Chapter 1}
The day I witnessed Lucas and Bellen's mock battle on the beach...
I continued talking to Lucas.
Once again, thank you for your hard work during training.
Lucas:
Oh my...
Thank you, Aruji-sama.
With just that one word...
All the fatigue from the battle completely vanished.
And again...
Lucas:
Hehe...
Anyway, I'll make sure to get plenty of rest.
Since I fought against someone as skilled as Bellen,
I'll make sure to get some proper rest.
Lucas said this with a cool smile...
He didn't seem like he'd just finished a mock battle at all.
However, numerous footprints were scattered across the beach,
indicating a fierce battle had taken place.
As I was once again struck by Lucas's strength,
a question suddenly popped into my head.
Despite possessing such talent...
Why does Lucas always hide his strength?
Lucas:
Oh...?
Aruji-sama, what's the matter?
Um...
I confided my doubts to Lucas.
Lucas:
I see...
You're asking why I don't show my true abilities...?
...Yes, that's true.
Perhaps this is a good opportunity to discuss it.
The reason I usually hide my strength is...
To the young butlers...
I need them to lead the battle.
Leading the battle...?
Lucas:
Hehe... Yes.
Back in the day, the main force behind the angel hunt was...
Me, Berrien, Miyaji, and Zepal the four of us.
These four each took on a leadership role... and led the butlers in battle.
I don't mean to brag, but...
We were exceptionally strong back then.
Therefore, when it came to devising strategies...
We were always at the center of the battles, too.
However, if this situation continues indefinitely...
It will be difficult to develop young talent...
With so few people taking on leadership roles...
There were inevitably limits to what we could accomplish.
And most importantly, if we were to collapse...
It would become extremely difficult for the organization to recover.
After much thought, in order to overcome this situation...
We withdrew from the front lines...
And shifted the focus of the angel hunt to the younger generation.
Of course...
If necessary, I'll hunt angels seriously anytime.
In the way Lucas speaks...
...one can sense his confidence in his own strength.
But even with him in the mix...
It must have been quite a challenge back then when the butler serving as the key combatant changed.
When asked about it...
Lucas smiled, looking somewhat nostalgic.
Lucas:
Actually...
It turned out we were able to switch over surprisingly smoothly.
When I became convinced that we could compete effectively with just the younger players...
It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
...that I was able to raise them to be strong.
Because I felt truly at ease.
Of course, the reason the younger staff grew so much...
...is simply because they worked hard.
After all, they were training hard, too,
so that the burden wouldn't fall disproportionately on us.
But, just as I was...
I’m sure Berrien and the others were happy, too.
By now, the role of overseeing training is...
...being handled by Haures...
Compared to the past...
It is truly gratifying to see a system in place that offers such a high level of reassurance.
Heh...
Looking back on it all...
It makes me feel nostalgic for the days when I used to mentor younger staff members.
After all, it was over a thousand years ago that I taught Miyaji swordsmanship...
Judging by the way he speaks...
Lucas must have trained quite a few butlers.
But as for Lucas himself... I wonder where he learned to handle weapons?
Who did Lucas learn from?
Lucas:
Me?
In my case...
It’s not as if anyone taught me.
That said...
Berrien did serve as my sparring partner for a lot of special training.
So that's how it was.
Lucas:
yes.
To begin with...
I was just a doctor with no combat experience...
To be able to fight against angels...
...it required the appropriate training.
Back then, Berrien and I were the only demon butlers...
Driven by the sense of crisis that the world would end if we died...
I remember how we threw ourselves into our training.
And so, I honed my swordsmanship...
Eventually, after my circle of companions grew...
By having them teach me and learning alongside them...
...I expanded the range of weapons I could wield.
At that time, I was already in a position to teach swordsmanship to others, but...
Partly to mentor young recruits with no combat experience...
I didn't want to lose that mindset of returning to basics and continuing to learn.
Then again, ever since I stopped teaching swordsmanship...
I've been using a scythe all along, though.
As of now...
There is no other butler besides me who wields this weapon.
The presence of people with diverse fighting styles... likely adds a certain breadth to strategy.
I see...
When I first met Lucas... he was already wielding a scythe...
To reach that point...
Just how much dedicated study and effort must have gone into it?
The sheer volume of effort that must have gone into accumulating... It's both astonishing and awe-inspiring.
Lucas is amazing.
Lucas:
Oh my...
Thank you very much♪
However, if possible...
I would appreciate it if you could keep this matter a secret from the young butlers.
Why?
Lucas:
The time when we were at the forefront, fighting against the angels...
And the time when we were the ones teaching others how to fight... that is all in the past now.
That’s why, for the young ones...
Not us...
I want them to follow the example of Haures and the others who are currently guiding them.
Our past achievements...
I want to avoid overshadowing the people who are working hard right now.
It’s not like I have anything to feel guilty about,
so there’s no need to go out of my way to hide it, either.
Got it, I'll keep it a secret.
Lucas:
Thank you.
I appreciate you saying that.
Heh... And also...
Aruji-sama, I'm glad I could talk to you about the past ♪
I'm glad I got to know Lucas, too.
As he said this, he narrowed his eyes happily.
Lucas:
Oh my... I see.
In that case...
Please keep getting to know me ♪
Heh, I suppose so...
Perhaps I should tell you little by little, rather than all at once.
That way...
I'll have more opportunities to talk with you like this, Aruji-sama ♪
Was it a joke, or was he serious? It was impossible to tell from Lucas's smile.
Even so, it was clear enough
that he looked very happy right now.
{Chapter 2}
A few days after the intensive training ended...
Guided by Lucas, I found myself visiting a quiet beach.
On the sandy beach—where there is no one but us...
A large parasol and two beach chairs have been set up.
It seems...
Lucas had prepared it for advance.
Are you planning to spend a relaxing time here today?
Lucas:
Yes, That is my intention.
Velis is bustling with the food festival right now, after all...
I'm sure sightseeing around town would be fun, too...
If that’s all there is to it...
...you’re bound to get worn out, after all.
For a master as busy as yourself...
I thought it might be necessary to have some time to relax like this.
Thank you for doing this for me.
Lucas:
Heh... Not at all.
Well then, let's get started...
Please have a seat in this chair.
Please fully enjoy the beauty of summer in Wilris.
At his urging...
I leaned back against the beach chair.
And Lucas, too...
He asks my permission and sits down in the chair next to me.
When I turned my gaze back to the distant scenery...
A sparkling sea and a crystal-clear sky stretched out before me.
Lucas:
Hehe...
Summer in Wilris really is wonderful, isn't it?
The blue sky and the sea, too... They are very beautiful.
Sunlight is said to boost feelings of happiness, but...
Just looking at such a cheerful scene...
...makes me feel like my spirits are lifting.
Hehe...
Especially when I'm with you, Aruji-sama♪
Is it the situation that’s making him act this way...?
Lucas’s voice is slightly more animated than usual.
Lucas:
Hmm...
That said, it is admittedly a bit dazzling...
Aruji-sama, we also have sunglasses available, so please feel free to use them if you wish.
Just staring at the water's surface as it reflects the light...
...can actually damage your eyes.
thank you.
Lucas:
Hehe... no...
After all, I am a doctor.
To safeguard your health, Aruji-sama... I never neglect my preparations.
That is what Lucas said, but...
He himself made no move to put on sunglasses.
Lucas won't use it?
Lucas:
Yeah.
I think I'll hold off on using it for now.
Obscured by those dark lenses...
It’s a shame not to be able to see your face clearly.
Lucas smiled... and stared intently at me.
In those eyes...
...one can sense a determination to imprint the scene upon one's memory while there is still time.
As I looked away, trying to escape that gaze...
Lucas laughed, his voice full of amusement.
Some time later...
Lucas and I both put on our sunglasses
and kept chatting.
From the quiet beach...
...only the sound of our voices and the waves can be heard.
As they were enjoying that peaceful moment...
Lucas smiled happily.
Lucas:
Hehe... still, though...
I am relieved to see that you are able to properly relax.
As I mentioned earlier...
You are always so busy, Aruji-sama, so I imagine you need moments like this.
Seeing me relaxing, Lucas wears a somewhat satisfied expression.
His kindness, the way he was always considerate of me...
It made me happy.
But...
Is Lucas himself actually able to relax?
Lucas:
Oh...?
Aruji-sama, is something the matter?
Is Lucas enjoying this time?
Maybe... because spending their time accommodating me...
...he bored.
When I told him that...
Lucas looked slightly surprised, then smiled and denied it.
Lucas:
Hehe... Not at all.
There’s no way I’d get bored.
After all...
I'm here at such a beautiful sea with you, Aruji-sama.
On the sands of Wilris...
Spending time, just the two of us—so utterly peaceful...
I am thoroughly enjoying such a luxurious and wonderful time.
There isn't a moment to be bored.
In fact, even at this very moment...
I’m so busy burning the image of you in those sunglasses into my memory...
In that case, I feel like the location doesn't really matter...
Lucas:
Hmm...
That is certainly true.
When it comes down to it...
It seems I don't mind where we go, as long as you're with me, Aruji-sama♪
Saying that, Lucas chuckled.
From his cheerful smile...
...one can see that he is truly relaxed.
In his current state, there is no trace of the past when he spearheaded the battle...
Nor is there any sign of the way he used to work busily around the mansion.
It makes me happy to see Lucas having a good time right now...
I smiled back at him.
Lucas:
Oh my...
Did something good happen?
Because Lucas looks like he's having fun.
Lucas:
Huh...?
I told Lucas...
...what I had been thinking.
Lucas:
Aruji-sama, I see... is that so?
You were thinking of me... and showed me such a wonderful smile.
Lucas reached up toward his eyes...
...and shifted his sunglasses down just a little.
And then, as the eyes hidden behind the lenses peeked out...
They stared intently at me.
Lucas:
Hehe...
I find myself wanting to burn the image of your face firmly into my memory.
Finding happiness in my happiness...
To think of the smile of such a kind and wonderful person...
Lucas's voice is... infinitely soft and gentle.
Lucas:
Hmm, I see...
Perhaps there was no need to slide my sunglasses down.
Aruji-sama smile...
...is simply too dazzling for me.
Even as he says that...
Lucas never once looks away from me.
That gaze of his clearly spoke of his happiness...
I found myself unable to even look away.
Faced with me like that...
Lucas narrowed his eyes, as if looking at something dazzling.
{The and}