Volume 2 Chapter 12 Possibilities Only Appear When You Take the First Step
After finishing my report to His Excellency Duke Hoffman, I dragged a completely dazed Belle out of the mansion.
From the Duke, I got a firm assurance that he would handle matters regarding the village, and I also received the rest of the fee.
That should clear up any issues with the aftermath in Cattle Village.
"...Huh!? Wait, where am I?!"
"You're sitting on a bench in front of the central square in Sartzstadt. Your talk with His Excellency Duke has long since ended."
While Belle was finally coming to her senses and looking around, I handed her the water I bought from a stall.
She was probably parched from all the tension.
"Oh, thanks... gulp... ahhh."
Belle exhaled dramatically, as if she had been revived.
Well, considering she had looked like her soul was about to leave her body just moments ago, it might not be too much of an exaggeration.
"It seems the military is preparing to move regarding Cattle Village. Since there was some connection to the Evil God, that village won't be ignored."
"...I see..."
I took a seat beside her and calmly explained what I had just discussed with His Excellency Duke Hoffman, but Belle looked clearly downcast.
Well, despite the oppression she had faced, it seems she felt a sense of gratitude for how they had taken care of her.
"So, what are you going to do from here, Belle?"
"Well... I suppose it's back to being rootless for me... I left my bow in the village... but even if I had it, I couldn't use it since my shoulder is still messed up."
Belle said with a self-deprecating chuckle, "Heh, heh."
Dealing with the aftereffects of an injury and having abandoned her assets, it's an undeniably tough situation.
You could say she's been cornered.
"From what I've heard before, you were a hunter, but couldn't return to it after your injury, and you're not good at household chores either, right?"
"Yeah, that's right... I couldn't really apply the skills I learned in the village."
Hm, is that so?
But if she were a hunter, she should at least be able to maintain a bow...
Upon hearing that, she replied, "Of course I can handle bow maintenance!"
I've studied the mechanics of bows before, but a hunter's bow isn't something an amateur could take apart and maintain.
Maybe the village's expectations for Belle were too high, or it's not that kind of place, is it?
"Hey, Belle, I was thinking we should talk. How about working here?"
"Huh? What do you mean...? Like chores or something?"
Belle tilted her head, a question mark floating above it.
I'm not looking for someone to do odd jobs.
No, having you around would be nice, but you're not the person I need right now.
"No, it's cutting magic stones. In simple terms, it's the job of a gemcutter──polishing raw gemstones to make them shine."
As I explained, Belle's mouth fell open, and she was momentarily speechless.
Soon, her face showed a mix of anxiety, surprise, and confusion.
She's quite skillful.
But she said she was clumsy.
"Eh, ehhhhhhh!? No way! I said I was clumsy, didn't I!?"
"Don't worry, Belle, you can do it."
"Wha, what are you basing that on!?"
Belle tries to argue, but I'm confident that she can do it.
Although her self-esteem is low right now, I remember the tenacious attitude she showed at the merchant guild.
"Just because she can take care of a bow doesn't mean I think Belle is clumsy. Cutting requires not just skill, but also strength and the ability to wield Magic Power effectively."
"Well, that's because I'm used to it... And! I've injured my shoulder, so I can't handle any strength-based tasks or use Magic Power!"
"I can teach you how to use Magic Power. Your shoulder injury will probably heal with Lene's medicine. If it doesn't, we can use the <Magic Stone of Powerful Arms> to boost your physical ability."
I keep shutting down all of Belle's escape routes as she desperately tries to find them.
What she really needs right now is to build her confidence.
If I push her forward, the tenacious Belle should become an excellent craftsman.
"Listen, Belle. You might be scared of new things because you've been unable to do anything until now, but the first step is having the will to try."
"...the will to try."
With no escape routes left, Belle repeated my words like a mantra.
She's on the verge of a breakthrough in her mindset.
"If you want to take on a challenge, I won't hold back in helping you. After all, you'd be my first apprentice. I was also looking to reevaluate my magic stone production methods. It'd be great if you could lend me your strength in that."
"You want me to lend my strength... Can I really do that?"
"I told you. The will to try is what's important. Without that, nothing is possible."
Unless you take that first step, there's no telling what possibilities lie ahead.
That's something my old self, when I had lost all confidence, was told by 'Sensei.'
Belle had been looking down for a while, but a moment later, she looked up at me as if she'd made up her mind.
In her eyes, a tiny spark, something I hadn't seen before, flickered.
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