episode_0067

* * *

After leaving Jinor’s mansion, I went straight home.

There is only one reason why I asked for a week’s time.

It was because of something that happened during a ‘regular meeting’ just recently.

“Auspicious energy can be felt in the territory of Balharat. I don’t think it would be a bad idea to explore the inside of the castle and territory.”

‘My brain with 100% intelligence said that that opinion was the most reasonable one.’

The person who gave that opinion was Jinor.

However, Yuuri, the monarch, sided with Emma, not Jinor.

They’re probably busy preparing for war right now.

then?

Since I didn’t have any missions, all I had to do was quickly search the territory.

Perhaps discovering talent or discovering treasure. It’s probably one of two things.

What I was after was treasure.

Although there were treasures that were not that useful, there were also treasures that were definitely helpful.

If a talented person was found, it could have been the result that he personally took the initiative to do something good for Atious-kun, but-

Considering that not only S-level generals, but also B and C-level generals were treated as ‘talented’ because they were buried in the world, it was not that disappointing.

I’ll be leaving this place someday, so it’s just a matter of doing a few good things before I leave.

So, for the first time since Zeeland Castle, we conducted a search of the surrounding area.

And what I realized shortly after implementing it was-

“Heo-eok, heo-eok… … .”

My power was ridiculously low.

okay. The first mission I took on at Zeeland Castle was exploration.

At that time, I didn’t walk around much and was panting because it was difficult.

‘There is no progress… … .’

I sat down somewhere suitable, quenched my thirst and thought.

If there was a silver lining, it wouldn’t have been that I could walk around a little longer than before.

Although it is not visible to the eye, it seems that his physical strength has improved compared to before.

Come to think of it, when I first met Luna, she carried me on her back.

I remembered that she was quite strong, contrary to her appearance.

No matter how weak I was, if he were an adult man, he would carry me on his back and cover that long distance without a care in the world.

To me, those days already felt like a distant memory.

‘I hope you are doing well.’

That time when I was taking a break and thinking about the past.

The image of a crying girl came into my eyes.

‘huh… … ?’

If a child is crying, wouldn’t it be the adult’s duty to go and ask about the situation?

I got up from the rock I was sitting on and approached the child.

and… … .

*

“Thank you so much, Swen… … Thank you so, so much.”

“No. I just did what I had to do.”

I said to the woman who kept thanking me, making a gesture with my hand that I was okay.

A girl crying.

The story of how the child came alone from the village where he lived to this far-off Balharat Castle.

The plot of a band of thieves lurking around here, and the girl’s father who set out alone to destroy the plot.

A girl who followed alone because she was worried about her father, and her mother who was finally found through keywords obtained in the process of helping the girl… … .

‘It couldn’t have been more epic than it could have been.’

It was such an epic story that it was a shame that I couldn’t describe it in its entirety.

“Oppa, thank you so much… … !”

I said, stroking the head of the child who thanked me.

“I’m glad I found my mom before it got dark. From now on, don’t go out of your way to do something dangerous like this. Got it?”

“Yes!”

“… … We will send the child’s father back to the village as soon as his wounds heal. In the case of thieves, I will personally make a suggestion to the monarch so that they can be eradicated, so you don’t have to worry too much.”

“Thank you so much. I will never forget the grace of Swen and Acious.”

With this, Acious’s reputation will improve.

Whatever the reason, I have to repay them for accepting me and Irene, so this will be okay.

“Oh, that’s right. this… … .”

I accepted the item my child’s mother handed me.

“This… … ?”

“This is a treasured sword that has been passed down in our family for generations. Originally, I was going to give it to the child’s father, but as I said, I thought it would be better to return to the village… … I think Swen will be able to utilize it better than us.”

I accepted it.

There was something long and heavy wrapped in something that looked like a cloth.

‘Is this what Jinor predicted?’

As I expected, I somehow succeeded in obtaining the item.

In the game, you just press the ‘Search’ button to find the item, and the same thing comes out.

I didn’t know how it worked, but I guess it felt like this.

“Thank you very much.”

“Yes, then we will leave first. I will never forget that you showed me grace and thought of my husband today. thank you… … !”

“See you again, oppa!”

After breaking up with them.

Only then did I unwrap the wrapping cloth and check the item.

‘This… … !’

A thin rapier with a distinctive green handle.

It’s definitely true.

This was definitely one of the treasures, the ‘Green Forest Rapier’.

Although its abilities were not that good, it was a treasured sword with an additional explanation that it was very cool to look at.

It was closer to a treasure than a sword, so I remembered that when I got this item in the game, I just used it as a gift to gain favor.

If it was a good sword, I would have given it to Irene as a gift… … Even at first glance, it didn’t seem like it would be very useful in an actual battle.

nevertheless.

‘stylish.’

I didn’t think much of it when I saw it as an icon, but when I saw it as an actual item, it couldn’t be more cool.

I grabbed the sword and lightly stabbed it forward a few times.

Even though I don’t have much strength, I was able to handle it without much difficulty.

Taking this into consideration, it would probably be a meaningless attack in actual combat, but there was still nothing like it for wearing on your belt as a decoration.

‘okay. After all, if you’re a tactician, you have to carry at least one decent weapon.’

After putting the rapier around my waist, I really liked how it felt like something happened.

It may sound a little funny, but isn’t it the most powerful weapon of all for someone who can only predict ‘how I will appear to the outside world?’

The only way to keep my life safe is to know how good I look.

‘good. Should I go back now?’

Let’s go home and have tea with Irene, who is returning from her mission.

Just having someone at home can give people a sense of belonging.

I thought about that again.

*

Time goes by.

The first day of training with Reika.

“Now. Concentrate and feel the sounds of nature. Shake off your worries, get to the point where you feel like you are not yourself… … Slowly, not in a hurry… … Good.”

We meditated all day.

After meditating, I spent some quality time lying down looking at the sky and trying to figure out where the clouds were flowing.

And the next day.

“Is it okay if I tap on this…? … ?”

“That’s right. By making a sound, the mana floating in the air gathers. It may not be effective now, but if you continue practicing, you will definitely notice the effects.”

We beat the drum together.

Since there was nothing else to do, beating the drum was quite helpful in killing time.

After that, the two did a light Buffett test together.

At the same time as she stretched it out a few times… … I also exhausted all my stamina and stretched out.

When I did a search not long ago, I thought I had gained some stamina, so I did the exercise to do something that would be helpful to me, even though it was a meaningless exercise anyway, but it was so hard that I couldn’t bear it.

It might help if I persevered and continued, but the exercise was so difficult that my extremely weak body could not endure it.

The next day, and the day after that, were similar.

We were doing something together that looked really good to those around us, but was very useless.

“Now! Push your fist forward strongly! You are thinking, ‘I am splitting mana!’”

“Yes, four!”

She thrust her fist forward.

“Now, follow along! Me!”

“I!”

“Mana!”

“Ma, mana!”

“It’s splitting!”

” is splitting… … !”

What is increasing is not her ability to detect mana, but her physical strength.

Well, there’s nothing bad about increasing your physical strength, right?

I’m not saying I’m shameless, but I really am.

After today’s training ended safely.

“Thank you for your hard work today.”

“Oh, no… … ! Thank you, Swen, for your hard work.”

There was no need to add Nim, but since it doesn’t sound bad, I’ll just leave it as is.

At that time, Reika asked me in a very cautious tone.

“I… … Is this really okay? Something, that… … I feel like I can’t feel the fruits of my practice… … Well, I’m not blaming Swen, it’s just… … Well, so… … My talent, that… … So, I-I’m saying it’s my fault… … Well, that… … .”

“Mr. Reika. You don’t have to worry.”

As time passes, she will definitely become stronger.

I said with confidence.

“It took me about 5 years to see the effects of my practice. Reika seems to be much more talented than me, so you will see results sooner. Moreover, when you practice… … You will have a chance to go out, so it’s okay not to be too impatient.”

“Yes? Can I go outside?!”

Reika became excited by my words and suddenly leaned closer to me.

I felt her soft flesh brush against my forearm.

This is quite big… … It’s just that I don’t feel it because I encounter sizes that are slightly outside the standard every day.

Soon, she blushed and leaned back, as if she realized she had done something embarrassing.

“Ah, that… … Sorry, sorry. That, that… … That, that.”

“I know. You want to go outside, right? I will try to persuade Jinor.”

“… … Well, but… … Because of me… … .”

“No. True practice must be done in nature. This yard is very large and there is a decent amount of mana, but compared to the vast amount of mana that flows in nature, it is nothing more than a child’s play. It’s right to go out in order to quickly maximize Reika’s abilities, so it’s okay not to feel too burdened.”

“That… … Is that so? If you do, then… … Okay, thank you… … .”

I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t even get the words out properly, as if I hadn’t forgotten what I had just been excited about.

Seeing it like this made me feel kind of cute.

Should I say it feels like seeing a younger sister who follows me well?

“Thank you for your continued support.”

“Yes? ah… … yes yes… … ! I will work hard!”

Did he become motivated by being told he could go out?

She said that and smiled slightly at me.

It was the first natural smile I had seen since coming to this mansion and taking charge of her.

*

In that way, I spent time doing useless things with Reika.

How many days has passed like that?

Just as I was resting on my first day off, Irene, who had been on a mission, returned home a little early.

“Iren? Are you finished already?”

I looked at Irene’s complexion.

She had a much more serious expression than usual.

“Swen. Our lord called us. I think you should go to the castle with me right away.”

“Did something happen?”

“… … It’s an invasion.”

“… !”

And when I heard her backstory.

I think the first thought that came to mind was, ‘What’s coming is here.’

“The Brans army is advancing to the fortress located west of Balharat Castle, with about 50,000 soldiers.”