episode_0012

It may sound repetitive, but compared to others of her age, Licia is undeniably adorable.

This is proven by the reactions of the church boys.

And this is the wild medieval era. A time where fists are closer than the law.

Living among those who have completed the application to reside in the lower body, there weren’t many ways to protect oneself. Preemptive attack was the best defense.

But I had a lifelong companion, a humble syringe. Seeing it strapped to my waist, even the innkeeper shuffled away.

While there are restrictions on openly wearing armor on the streets, it was enough to have the black sheath tucked neatly into the belt and pointing downwards, attracting attention.

Furthermore, in this world, there is a deep-rooted tradition of private sanctions. Such is the depth of tradition that revenge is not considered a sin, even enshrined in the imperial law to the extent of becoming a culture.

And remember this. Knights are individuals who have honed their skills in warfare to become war machines for life.

Keeping in mind the innkeeper’s movements, I led the girl up to the room.

That brat just finished eating as if unsatisfied. I saw it with my own eyes.

“Licia.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t leave without saying anything.”

“…What?!”

Licia had a look as if she didn’t understand English. Keep growing up so innocently……

Instead of starting a family education, I chose to remain silent. It was almost time to fall asleep anyway.

The medieval night quickly descends.

In a world where you can’t browse the internet while lying in bed, and yet there’s nothing to watch or do at night, it’s a boring time.

Of course, among the clergy, there are those who use magic to create light for other tasks, but from the perspective of ordinary people, it was better to just fall asleep quickly.

You can light a candle, but wouldn’t it be more cost-effective to wake up early the next day?

So, what I want to say is.

“…Is it still night?”

For once, I woke up in the middle of the night.

Even though I would deeply regret not being able to fall asleep a few hours later, there was a feeling of not being sleepy. That was my current state.

Although it was usually fine, there were times when insomnia crept in like this.

Habits are formed by accumulating memories. And I received an update on my memory.

Unfortunately, the junk memory from the 21st century included smartphone addiction, disrupted sleep patterns, and even insomnia. That’s why I often woke up late at night like this.

Modern memories really didn’t help at all. Except for hygiene-related issues.

In a half-awake state, I absentmindedly waved my hand towards the table next to me, but nothing was there to grab. Normally, my smartphone should be there.

I coolly withdrew my hand and glanced towards Licia. Seeing her still, it seemed that I didn’t wake up when she did.

It seemed too late to fall back asleep now, and yet it wasn’t right to just lie there dazed.

-Yawn.

“…It’s a bit cold.”

Grabbing my sword, I opened the inn door and stepped outside.

It was something I often did in situations like this. It was also a good way to cool down a cluttered mind.

Upon arriving at the inn, I headed to a secluded area near the stable that I had previously scoped out, aiming my sword towards an imaginary target under the faint moonlight.

I had been cautious ever since encountering other insomniacs out for a walk, fearing they might mistake me for a murderer and set off a bio-siren. I didn’t want to get caught up in unnecessary trouble, so I had been careful since seeing a few cases like that.

-Whoosh!

-Shing!

Fantasy world, but nothing special. Just hold on tight and draw it carefully so you don’t miss it.

You can’t split the sea with a sword or contain the incomprehensible mysteries of martial arts in swordsmanship.

It was a world without such irrational power, but precisely because it was such a world, knights could reign as masters of the battlefield in a world where magic existed.

Horses are for speed, and speed is weight. And my horse… it really… really cost a lot.

– Blue.

I noticed that I was nearby and looked up at the horse, who had a bright ear.

Usually, eating would rot my stomach, but on the battlefield, there was nothing more reliable. Running out with a speed that humans couldn’t match, leaping through the enemy ranks at the front. It was something even the church’s magicians or holy water droplets found difficult to do.

Only knights could do it! I’m quite good at it.

Of course, it is said that if a saint or a holy woman blesses a weapon, they can also draw something like a sword, but I’ve only heard rumors and don’t know much about it.

How much more successful should one be to make that possible? At least you should have your own territory, but the dream of a real estate mogul is still far away.

My strength is enough to think for myself. Learning swordsmanship from my master was slow, but I could mostly make up for it with brute force.

I even had a nickname in the vicinity of Volle, so my reputation was somewhat known for my skills. Of course, it was far from vibrating throughout the empire, but it was lacking.

Furthermore, the northern lords, who were backward and had looting as a fixed event, were somewhat stingy.

Even if you rampage on the battlefield for a hundred days, what comes back is not the eternal land-grabbing, but the temporary solution of gold coins.

“Sir Viscount, I was greatly impressed by your performance! Your contribution to driving away those savages was truly great. Is there anything else you desire?”

“Thank you. Then, how about granting me a territory?”

“However, it’s difficult. Even if I want to reward you, there are no suitable items in the city.”

“Please grant me a territory!”

“Alright, then empty my treasury and give me gold coins!”

So I headed south, to the Holy See.

Because they were high-ranking figures entangled with the emperors, popes, and emperors, I thought they wouldn’t spare anything good. And to fulfill my dream of becoming a real estate mogul that I couldn’t achieve in my past life.

So I had to work endlessly.

What if I had responded like this to the enemies in the north when I went to fight, or if I had done that, would it have been easier – I swung my sword in various ways, like a student who would regret not choosing the fourth answer.

And who would know. If I really work this hard, will good things happen?

– Swish!

“…Huh?”

I was thinking about wanting to succeed, just about that.

In an instant, the sword shone, and a branch that was out of reach of the trajectory I swung was cut off.

Picking up the fallen branch, the cut was not rough like when it was broken by a sword, but clean. It was as if the sword had passed through that spot as gently as a tofu.

A shock struck me as if lightning had struck my head. I knew what to call this phenomenon.

“No way.”

This is… I mean, it’s definitely that.

An awakening event that happens to second-life individuals. It’s clear that this is a belatedly patched thing that God pitied me for. Or a cliché development of awakening hidden power. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be explained.

Indeed, modern common sense was correct. I always believed in it.

I wasn’t wrong!

“…Status window.”

“….”

“Status window!”

“Why, the sun hasn’t even risen yet, and you’re already acting crazy!”

Strange.

Why isn’t it working.

*****

In the end, morning came without any income.

The remaining arm was dry from mumbling about reproducing it and checking the status window, causing my throat to dry up and crack.

Was it just a hallucination from lack of sleep? If it’s a mental issue, things get a bit more complicated.

There’s no healthy psychological treatment available. The medicine of this era treated physical injuries with magic, but mental issues were patched up with a club. So, it’s not something you can talk about anywhere.

Out of curiosity, I rummaged through my pocket. Luckily, I found a twig of courtesy in my hand.

Since there’s physical evidence, it wasn’t just a hallucination. Maybe there are specific conditions required to use this power. Yesterday, I just happened to fulfill those conditions.

As I pondered on how to fulfill my awakening event, I heard a voice.

“Are you awake?”

“Oh, Licia. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, haaah.”

It wasn’t until dawn that I stopped my futile efforts and sat at the dining table on the first floor of the inn, when Licia came down.

With disheveled hair and tears forming in her eyes due to yawning, she still looked sleepy.

The girl approached me and sat beside me. Shortly after, a child working at the inn brought out the pre-prepared meal.

It was stew that had been boiled for who knows how long, with hard bread, but that was the norm here. If you wanted something better, the price would skyrocket.

“Um…”

“What’s wrong?”

Seems like pondering takes up a lot of calories, as Licia hesitated to speak while trying to soften the bread in the stew.

Could there be something difficult for her to say? From what I’ve seen of Licia so far, she wouldn’t have done something like accidentally breaking something.

“About last night.”

“Yes?”

“Did you happen to go out for a while?”

I froze for a moment. Did she see me shouting about the status window?

I tried to casually respond first. Maybe she woke up briefly at the sound of me opening the door and then fell back asleep.

And the window of the room we stayed in at the inn was in the opposite direction of the stable. Unless Licia opened the window and listened, she wouldn’t have heard anything.

“Sometimes I wake up like that. And after waking up, I don’t feel sleepy anymore, so I go out for a walk.”

“Th-then… did anything happen at that time…?”

Ah. I’ve been caught.