Chapter 105

North of the mountain range (2)

"Stop and let's eat; the food will get cold."

"Oh, that would be a waste."

"Eat quickly."

Isiel, who organized the twins, finally sat down. Kleio, who came late, noticed that everyone appeared to be uninjured. Arthur, eating his own lamb meatballs, stopped laughing.

"You don't have to worry too much about being late, Lei. It's snowed too much, so it's said that the carriage won't be able to enter the duke's residence until today."

"Tomorrow, when escorts come down from the duke's residence at noon, they will gather transport for food and daily necessities. Residents try to move together in winter because the roads are rougher and mountain animals appear."

"If you act alone, they won't lend a carriage."

"They know we were dispatched from the Defense Force school."

"It's too remote here, so it's the first time they're receiving trainees."

"Ah..."

Kleio glanced at the students around the table. There were the Angellium twins, who weren't children anymore but not too far from it, Cel and Isiel, who were slight in stature, the blonde prince, and the ill male student, so any sane adult would think it too dangerous for them to travel the mountain paths alone.

'But if you combine these kids' levels, they are already double digits. It's hard to imagine.'

Cel, eating the fried potatoes with her hands, grunted.

"Really. It's not an easy winter town. It's difficult to raise supplies, and it's difficult to move about. Why are we in such a place?"

In the meantime, Isiel, who was eating neatly sliced meatballs, responded.

"The duchy of Tristein was rebuilt in the reign of His Majesty Leonid the first, like the King's Hall. The first duke, who was his knight, built the residence in the place he defeated the beast Moralt."

"Isiel! Nice description! But why didn't the duke move, saying he had killed him somewhere nicer?"

"The first duke was ordered to defend the northern territory, and the citadel was already blessed by Queen Isolt. In remembrance of that oath, he held this place a thousand years ago."

"And with that, they're also running this unique system of knights. Few from the Defense Forces are here. They usually pick talents from among the commoners and take their time to grow them into knights in a very traditional way."

Arthur added a rather keen analysis, which would've felt more serious if it weren't for the beer froth on his face.

"That... Unlike the school, it must be quite exclusive?"

"What can we do? We already came! Sir Tristein gave us permission so that he won't drive us out."

In the last manuscript, Tristein's knights had been cold and hostile to Arthur and his party. They were people carrying resentment towards the central nobles who neglected this province.

'But they're influenced by Arthur's power and became friendly. It would've been better if not for Melchior, but... that seems like it won't change unless they convince Tasserton Tristein.'

Even now, Tasserton seemed to be dedicating his fervent and blind loyalty to Melchior.

'Although Arthur's power may not be known in public, there are those who will securely protect the north in the future, so they have to get along.'

The grilled beef was served following the meatballs, followed by a whole roast piglet two kitchen assistants carried out.

"Here's your order!"

"Yeah!"

"Oh, that's amazing!"

"The skin looks so crunchy."

"Delicious!"

Sizzling oil was still boiling on the surface of the baked-brown pig, letting off a savory odor.

"But didn't you say that the whole roast takes over an hour?"

"Did it come out so quickly?"

Wham-

It was then that the door to the pub opened, letting in cold air and snow from the night blizzard to the warmed room. A man wearing an old and dirty robe approached their table. Under the robe, it could be seen he had mottled black and white hair, with a square chin. Even though he was tall and had a built physique, he made no sounds as he moved, and his robes hid a sword. Kleio was nervously poised to open a circle at the drop of a hat.

'This guy is strong.'

The snow was melting on the man's robe as he stood before the fire and spoke in a low voice.

"Students over there, that whole roast pork is one I ordered earlier. I wonder if there was an issue while I was on my way."

Kleio's mouth dropped.

'No, you appeared so meaningfully... but you're talking about the grilled pork? What?'

"Ah, is that so?"

As Cel tried to call an employee to ask what was happening, Arthur dropped his fork as he looked the man over. The boy was surprised, his eyes widening, and the robed man flipped his hood back as he regarded Arthur. Their eyes met.

"What?"

"Uh?"

"Arthur?"

"Yeah..."

The two men were now shouting back and forth, both obviously shocked. One beat later, Arthur shouted loudly.

"No, you disappeared without a word. Why the hell are you here?!"

"So, why are you here? Don't you have school?"

"What? I'm here for practice."

"They're driving these kids into rough terrain with demons? That's the Defense Force's school!"

Kleio was confused as he glanced between them.

'So, who the hell is that?'

The twins intervened as things grew stranger.

"Hey, the training site assignment was completed before the demons came out. The Defense Force's would never cancel the academic calendar even if a natural disaster occurred."

"Besides, it would be nice if we could help catch the beast!"

After listening to Lippi and Leticia, the man's expression became incredibly scary as he clenched his fists and pounded his chest.

"Is that school still like that? Oh, my goodness. They say that these babies can catch some demon with their small hands? Eat something delicious at home and go to bed!"

The twins stood up immediately.

"We're not babies."

"Our hands aren't small."

"Arthur, who is this uncle? Do you know him?"

"...Everyone, calm down. So... this is my swordsmanship master, Mietsu. These are my friends, and these two are also classmates. This is Lippi and Leticia Angellium, as I mentioned earlier."

"You were those twins? I thought you would be bigger kids. Arthur, you write so little."

"I wrote it all down. It was master who didn't read it properly!"

Isiel, who had been quiet so far, suddenly approached the man named Mietsu and bowed her head.

"It's been a while, master."

Isiel's posture, her right hand on her heart and her left on her sword, was impeccably elegant. She was paying respect to this person. Mietsu, who scratched his head, hurriedly stopped Isiel.

"Hey, hey, you're doing it again. Why are you so awkward, Isiel?!"

At this point, Kleio realized an important fact.

'Arthur's tone came from this teacher.'

.

.

.

The table now held only the remnants of what used to be two piglets and several cups.

"So, you wandered the continent leaving only one note behind? It's been half a year?"

"Huh, hey. How does a disciple cultivate under a teacher who's too suffocating?"

"Arthur was so worried about you, and I also had a lot of worries. I'm glad you look healthy..."

"Now you're both intermediate swordsmen. If you go to school, there must be a better teacher than me, so why are you acting like this?"

Mietsu was the swordsman invited by Viscount Kision to teach Isiel.

'Viscount Kision was an excellent lord, but as a knight, he had to find a different teacher for his daughter, who was skilled with the sword.'

Mietsu's history hadn't been described at all in the manuscript.

'No, this is the first time I even heard the name. He was just called master before.'

The teacher had taken young Arthur as a disciple because he had been too pitiful. In the manuscript, the two servants who remembered him couldn't believe he was such a person.

'It's like he's a local bully just by looking at him.'

He still didn't know what the author might've had in store for this man named Mietsu, so Kleio had to remain vigilant.

'Those who try to look strong are a lot of things, but those who don't want to reveal themselves despite their strength often have complicated reasons.'

Understanding only allowed him to grasp the level of those who raised their ether, so Mietsu was still unknown. However, even without an accurate message, his spirit wasn't surprising.

'He's a teacher who raised two of the best knights of this era.'

"Father is still waiting for you, master. Your hut is still kept clean; you can come back anytime."

"Hey, it's been ten years; why would I crawl back again? I'm old, too, so I have to prepare for old age. I came for a drink, but I met you guys."

"...As expected, my father always worried about whether your payment was too small when you stayed at our estate."

Isiel lowered her head somberly, several strands of red hair draped over her head. Arthur, who was looking at her, emptied his glass.

"What are you talking about now? Isiel's father gave him money, land, an orchard, and master refused to accept it."

"My child, I know that the Viscount lives wearing old armor and tidy clothing."

"Then, is there a corner of this mountain valley where the money comes from?"

"A demon is hunting here."

"Mietsu also came out from the south. Why are you here? No, it's nice to see you. You went to visit Duke Cruel."

Mietsu emptied his own glass and squeezed Arthur's head with a lightning-fast movement.

"This kid is speaking nonsense. No matter how much I like money, would you work for such a guy? Besides, the Cruel's knights receive tremendous support; why would they need a mercenary?"

"Then they need one here?"

"Yes, Sir Tristein declared he was recruiting unaffiliated soldiers. I heard the news the day I returned from Krater. In a few days, the square in front of the station will be crowded."

"Where does the money for hiring these people come from? The central government would never assist."

"Arthur, I thought you were all grown up, but you still don't have enough thoughts. This is a wealthy manor. There is no need for central support."

Mietsu's way of speaking was sloppy, but his insights weren't light. Kleio's gaze turned to him without him realizing it.

'...Yes. There was no way Arthur's teacher could be an ordinary person.'