Chapter 148: 148. The Man

"Are you sure? We will be travelling through various lands, some dry and some wet. This big carriage can easily get stuck in the mud." Sylvester pointed out.

But, as he walked closer to check the carriage up close, he noticed a few strange lines all over the wheels and hull. In no time, he realised that it was full of runes. "Forget it. Let's just go."

'So one can use runes this way as well? It must have cost a fortune.'

He had noticed runes that should be able to make the carriage wheels resist water and inflict pressure on a larger surface area for a better grip. It was a strange use of very complex runes, and the fact that it was used on such a thing made him realise he could learn so much more from Lady Aurora than just fighting.

They didn't waste time anymore and got onto the carriage. Lady Aurora went into the cabin behind and took a seat near the large window, from where she could also look out and talk with reinsmen.

Sylvester just wanted to see the cabin before he moved out. And it seemed Lady Aurora was proud of her creation as she moved around and showcased everything.

"Look at the interior, polished and made of fine rosewood. There are runes placed to make the interior cool on warm days and warm in winter. There is also a storage box for keeping food fresh and also space for mattresses. Everything here has been hand-crafted by me alone. What do you think?"

Sylvester looked around, impressed by it, of course. There was a table in the middle as well that could be flattened to the floor. Then on the sides were cushioned benches that could be pulled forward and turned into a bed.

"Let me check something," Sylvester said and jumped heavily in the carriage. He shook his head in disappointment. "So you have not implemented the spring suspension?"

"What's that?"

"It's a technology I created to make the carriages more comfortable on uneven roads. It's in the inventor's registry of the church with my name on it." He revealed. He was honestly expecting that more people would have started to use the springs by now, but it seemed nobody looked into the inventor's registry that much.

She seemed amused enough by that, even excited. It appeared that her hobby was making carriages or customising them. "Really? I will have a look at it when we return. Now, let's move on."

Of course, she was not going to hold the reins. She was a Cardinal-ranked person and a Guardian out of all things. There were only 15 people with more authority than her in the clergy. As for strength, it was unknown to Sylvester.

"I will help you, Lord Bard." Sir Dolorem moved out towards the reinsman seat with Sylvester.

But then Lady Aurora caught his arm and dragged him along. "You're an old man, Sir Dolorem. Come, sit with me and drink some herbal water... while you tell me stories about my father. You've been with him for decades, right?"

In the end, Felix and Sylvester were steering the carriage, while Gabriel was turned into the maid, tasked to prepare tea and food. He was doing it on his own accord, though, as he was too religious.

Outside, Sylvester and Felix just talked about this and that. Sylvester usually liked spending time with Sir Dolorem because both were old mentally. But with Felix, he sometimes found himself talking about something extremely inappropriate.

"So, what are your thoughts about Henry Rockwell?" Felix asked.

"The kid from school? I remember him. He was slightly above average in magic. So I invited him to become a part of my Inspector unit for the crusade."

Felix started coughing suddenly as if he choked on his saliva. "You don't know? He was found with another clergyman... sword-fighting."

"Well, even if he's a wizard, it's okay if he practises swo-" Sylvester's eyes fell on Felix's face, and he noticed the disapproval. "Ah! That kind of sword fighting? Hmm, so he's gay. He did seem that type even back then, not really surprised."

"And you asked him to join us?" Felix exclaimed.

Sylvester sighed tiredly. "Seriously? There are pedo clergymen, and it's the gay one which bothers you? It's even secretly allowed in the clergy, bud. Not everyone has an option to leave the clergy and find a wife like you."

Felix seemed discomforted. "I'm not against it... I just imagined myself and... I don't like it."

Sylvester nodded in agreement. "For a straight man or woman, it would obviously seem strange. Just don't think about him, Felix. You don't have to give special treatment to him or anyone. Just be frank as we were in school."

"Haha, yeah... I remember him putting burning glue on Bishop Norman's chair because he scolded him for no reason. I guess he did have balls of steel—what a mad lad." Felix remembered the good old days.

[A/N: Bishop Norman was the mentor Sylvester got killed.]

Like that, they travelled smoothly towards the Green City. Since the roads were wide and smooth until there, they had no problem moving fast. But after the Green city, they had to slow down.

Still, they were thankful for the quest Sylvester had taken, the one about beating Baron Strongarm in wrestling. This ensured they got to at least sleep in a well-walled place.

The Barony lay near the end of the Colorwood Forest.

So, a few hours after the sun had set, they arrived at the Barony and were subsequently welcomed into the small castle of Baron Strongarm.

From the first look, Sylvester felt the man's name was true to what he looked like. A six-and-a-half-foot tall, burly man, looking more like a caveman with a long black beard and hair. But he didn't appear to be overly proud.

"Who would have thought that the Lord's Bard himself would come to wrestle with me? And Lady Tenth... It is my utmost pleasure to meet you. Please, enter my little home and share supper with the family. This is my wife, by the way... my little wildflower."

Sylvester nodded at that description of the woman. She was probably just five foot five, had a chubby build, and appeared beautiful from the face with her brown eyes and hair. Both looked so mismatched in size that he pitied the woman's bed life.

Soon they were led inside the castle to the dining hall, where a long table was set. There were few people, just the Baron, his wife, two sons, and the Archpriest of the local Monastery. The slaves were present to cook and serve, however.

Obviously, the Baron was not a dumb man and gave Lady Aurora the well-deserved respect by letting her sit in his main seat while he sat on one side, and on the other sat Sylvester, being an Archpriest.

"Baron, how is everything going on in your backyard?" Sylvester asked as the food was being served. He was also smelling the various scents to learn about the newcomers. The Archpriest seemed nervous due to Lady Aurora; the baroness was staring at him with worship and lust; the two sons didn't care, while the Baron gave scents of worship, hope, and excitement.

"Lord Bard, what can I say? Count Jartel is illegally chopping the great Colorwood forest to make guard keeps. Both brothers have gone senile and refuse to listen to their Dukes as well."

Sylvester rubbed his shin and wondered. "Did you notice any abduction or such cases happening nearby lately? Or perhaps murder of women and...r*pe?"

Baron shook his head firmly. "R*pes happens every month, and I give punishment for those. As for murder, the last one took place ten months back. And abductions, I have not reported any such crimes. But, of course, this is just my land, Lord Bard. I do not know about my neighbours."

'Half truth? What is he hiding?' Sylvester instantly smelled lies. But the scent was so little that he couldn't be sure.

"Lady tenth, will you be stopping the two Counts?" Baron asked Aurora.

She silently ate her dinner, not talking since it was not her place. She was explicitly warned by the Inquisitor High Lord not to bother Sylvester in his work, and in fact, learn from it. However, she was yet to see what she was supposed to learn from a kid.

"No, I am merely the Archpriest's mentor for the year." She replied and got back to eating her fill.

There was no more talk, however, as they were just staying for the night and wrestling. Sylvester agreed to get the fight done with the Baron early in the morning at the first sign of light.

After supper, they all retreated to the assigned room and slept well. Sylvester, too, as he had learned to cherish calm nights, for he never knows when thunder strikes.

...

Sylvester woke up before the sun smiled on the land. It was especially cold as the winter was at its peak. He took a bath and prepared to fight the Baron. He was yet to know why the man even wanted this, as he reckoned there must be enough people who could fight him.

He went to Felix's room and kicked on his sleeping ass. "Get up! It's time to leave. We must end our work in Pitfall town and reach Count Jartel before nightfall."

After that, he went to Gabriel's room. "Chonky, wake him up."

Miraj jumped to the bed and licked Gabriel's ears. Sylvester chuckled, thinking Gabriel would wake up. But what came next was the opposite.

"Hehe... more... keep doing it... harder!"

Miraj, depressed, looked at Sylvester in defeat. "Maxy, he giggles."

Sylvester just picked up the cat and left the room. "It was a mistake to enter. Let's go."

He arrived at the little training field in the castle's backyard and found Sir Dolorem speaking with the baroness. Lady Aurora, meanwhile, sat on the side on a chair.

"What happened? Where is the Baron?" He inquired.

Baroness seemed panicked. "I-I apologise, Archpriest... my husband has a habit of going into the forest every morning to chop wood. He..."

"Why does he even want to wrestle?" He asked her out of interest.

She quickly answered. "Uh... You see, when my husband was merely six, he was abducted by a plundering party of Mountain Tribes from Pentapeak Mountain Range. Everyone thought he died or was eaten... but then ten years later he returned, tall and strong, sixteen years old with skills commoners would envy."

'That's one hell of a story.' Sylvester thought.

But he still didn't get his answer. "How strong is he that he can't find opponents to fight?"

She nervously looked down and hesitantly answered. "I... It's not that he can't find someone... it's just that most people consider him a heathen now as he lived ten years with them. But, I swear, Lord Bard, my husband's mind and soul belong to Solis."

Sylvester honestly couldn't care about the man's faith. But at least he felt at peace now, finally knowing why the Baron smelled of lies the previous night at dinner.

Paaa!

"Open the gates! Baron has returned!" The guards played the bugle, and the gate to the castle was opened.

Sylvester went forward to fight and end the task quickly. However, he was not prepared to see the peak of manliness today.

As the gates opened, the Baron walked in. Mighty tall, broad, and strong... he was naked from the top, while his bottoms were covered in animal hide. In one hand, he held an axe, while with the other, he held the nape of a Great Wolf, as big as a one-story house.

In Sylvester's eyes, the man appeared manly—enormously; as the Baron dragged the dead beast into the castle grounds while his own head appeared to bleed profusely.

He then left the beast and the axe before walking to Sylvester. "I apologise for the delay, Lord Bard. A little inconvenience had held me back. Let's wrestle now!"

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APE TOGETHER STRONG!