Overlimit Skill Holder
Book 2: Chapter 34

* Eva Sillys *

Since it was Eva’s first time to enter the Holy Royal Palace, she was overwhelmed by the completely different atmosphere. The number of buildings were extremely few, and there was a lot of greenery between each one. She felt as though lost in a forest.

Eva saw several streams of spring water flowing here and there. And highly coloured stone bridges were built to cross them.

The waiting area for the 12-year-olds who will be receiving skill orbs was a square gazebo surrounded by all kinds of trees.

「Miss Eva!」

It was Louis who first noticed Eva, who was guided by a priest working at the Holy Royal Palace. Louis was dressed similar to Eva, except that the fabric used was bright yellow and a treasured sword hung from his waist. Men are allowed to bring in treasured swords, which are also used in rituals.

Although it was called a gazebo, it was fairly wide, with many sofas. Boys and girls who seemed to know each other gathered and were having a conversation.

「Good morning, Louis-sama.」

「Good morning. U-Uhmm, you look good no matter what you wear.」

「Thank you.」Eva gracefully bowed.

Louis, who had an extremely rude attitude when he met her for the first time, has had a polite attitude since their second meeting onwards.

「What is that bracelet…? It seems a little rugged for an accessory.」

As for the jewels on the bracelet, 2 of the 5 emerald jewels had turned blue. It had 3 more mana absorption capacity still.

「I received special permission to wear it. By the way, what about everyone else…?」

「Hey, why don’t we talk a little before that?」

Ethan and Charlotte had already arrived, but they were keeping Holy Prince Kluvshrat company. As Kluvshrat will also be receiving a skill orb, he was in the same waiting area.

Many children other than Ethan and Charlotte were also gathered around Kluvshrat. When Kluvshrat noticed that Eva had arrived, an “Ah,” escaped his mouth, but she was immediately taken by Louis to the corner of the gazebo.

「Louis-sama, I have to greet Kluvshrat-sama…」

「Isn’t it okay to do it later?」

Due to the unusually strong tone—she remembered his overbearingness on the first meeting—Eva reluctantly obeyed and sat down next to Louis.

(If Reiji was here, I’m sure he would have interfered.)

Unfortunately he wasn’t there, and she was not in good shape.

「Miss Eva, I’m going to start practicing the sword under the direct guidance of Captain Arthur. I’m sure I’ll become stronger.」

「…That’s good.」

「Nobles need knowledge, but they also need fighting strength. If the nobles themselves do not swing a sword, no strong warrior will follow. In fact, His Majesty the Holy King seems to be a master of spears.」

The philosophy didn’t really resonate with Eva because it was just a second-hand opinion of Arthur. Eva herself doesn’t think that a noble must be physically strong in the first place, and her father, Earl Sillys, isn’t that strong either. However, it is difficult to deny that when the name of the Holy King is brought up. So she kept silent.

「I will become stronger, so you should study harder too.」

「Yes, I’m doing my best.」

「I shall make up for the fighting strength you lack.」

「?」

Eva tilted her head, with a question mark. But that was only natural, as Louis was just talking about the theory he concluded on his own.

Eva looks so beautiful with her head inclined, Louis thought to himself.

「Hmm? …Miss Eva, you don’t look so good.」

For the first time, Louis seemed to consider Eva’s complexion.

「…I’m feeling a little sick.」

「That’s not good. Here, take this.」

Louis removed the treasured sword that hung from the strap on his waist, along with the sheath, and presented it to Eva.

「It feels nice to carry this. It’s a sword with a lot of armor magic, and I don’t seem to get too tired when carrying it around.」

「But, it’s such an important thing–」

「I- I don’t mind if it’s you.」

The treasured sword that was half-pushed onto her, seemed to gently warm her hands—her cold hands. Eva felt a pleasant sensation.

She didn’t want to carry it, but…

(It’s warm, and I’m somewhat sleepy…)

Since Eva was sitting on a chair alongside a wall, and her back was on the wall, she felt a sudden surge of drowsiness. Right about then, Mira arrived where the two were.

「…Eva-sama?」

「Shh… she doesn’t seem to be feeling well. Let her rest for a while.」Louis said.

The two left Eva, who had started nodding off before long, quietly. Both Louis and Mira had a kind heart.

After a while, when the sound of a small bell approached, the children waiting in the gazebo became noisy.

「It’s a rabbit.」

「Oh, it’s true. There’s a rabbit here.」

「Hey, that’s the high priest, El-sama.」

Looking like a rabbit, El, wearing a sky blue cloak, came accompanied by many priests.

「Eh, everyone. Thank you for your patience. We will guide you to the venue of the award ceremony, but please take off all your shoes here. Eh, thank you for your cooperation.」

Of course, El himself who said to take off the shoes was barefoot – although he was a rabbit in the first place – and all the priests accompanying El were also barefoot.

The noble children showed disappointment, but when Kluvshrat took off his shoes first, they began to take off their shoes one after another.

「Eh, please put this crown on your head. It’s a blue holly leaf that protects you from evil.」

Sky blue leaves that looked a lot like El’s cloak—the noble childrens, except for the halfling Ethan, did not know that there were leaves of this color in nature. The leaves were knitted into a crown.

「Eva-sama, wake up! It’s time to go.」

When Eva opened her eyes, she saw Mira’s smiling face.

「Ah… I, I–」

「It looks like we have to take off our shoes. I’ve already taken mine off.」

「Oh–」

Urged by Mira, Eva took off her shoes. When her feet touched the ground. she felt a cool feeling. She heard the lively voices of boys and girls walking ahead in the forest.

「Are you feeling better, Miss Eva?」

「Yes, much better than before. Here, I’ll return it.」

Eva returned the treasured sword to Louis. And what she said to him was true. She then started walking at a steady pace.

「I see, that’s good–wait, don’t leave me!」

Louis chased after Mira and Eva who had already started walking.

At that time, Louis noticed a very small sound. A sound as if something had cracked.

「…Is it just my imagination?」

Louis didn’t know about all of the armor magic cast on his treasured sword. One of them was “mana recovery”.

A piece of blue jewel laid at his feet when he left.