Ch#58
It was an unwelcome sensation that surged within him from time to time.
Memories of his long years on the battlefield would fade into the recesses of his mind, only to peek out unexpectedly at the most unforeseen moments.
It was likely because he had dreamed of the boy soldier today, of all days.
He was being oversensitive. There was absolutely no need for this.
Beron was not that boy soldier, and his parents—and his grandfather, old man Herman—were they not living well right here?
Above all, this was not a battlefield.
It was Wibin, his peaceful hometown.
A quiet place where the birth of a calf turned the village into a festival.
He tried to focus on these thoughts, but his breath refused to return to normal.
Elric’s hand instinctively sought the dull-edged dagger hidden in his tunic.
Only after fumbling to touch the cool sensation of the steel did his breathing finally begin to steady.
“……Lad, what’s wrong? Are you feeling ill?”
Old man Herman’s worried voice finally reached his ears clearly. Elric shook his head.
“No. I was just so surprised to see Beron.”
He calmed his heart and forced a thin smile.
“He’s grown so much. And yet he still remembers me.”
Elric stood up and patted Beron on the shoulder.
For a fourteen-year-old, he was remarkably tall.
Since the boy was nearly at eye level with him, he might even reach two meters like Herman if he kept growing at this rate.
“Are you helping your grandfather with his work?”
When Elric asked, Beron let out a bashful yet delighted laugh.
“Yes! Mother is always worrying! She says Grandfather is getting on in years but just won’t let go of his work.”
“Heh, I see the old man’s stubbornness is as persistent as ever.”
“As if you’re in any position to lecture me about being stubborn?”
Herman clicked his tongue, and Beron chuckled.
Only then did Beron’s gaze shift toward the Wolyeong members.
“But these people are……”
“Ah, they are the ones who will become the knights of our territory.”
“Oh!”
Beron’s eyes widened.
Those amber eyes, which seemed to hold the embers of the forge, burned with a clear light.
“Our territory is getting knights?!”
Elric was momentarily taken aback by the boy’s exuberant joy, but Herman laughed as if he couldn’t help it.
“This brat has been making a fuss about wanting to be a knight for a while now.”
“G-Grandfather!”
“What, boy! You were going to beg to be a squire once the knight order was established, weren’t you? I’m just trying to help you out!”
“Still……”
As the conversation between grandfather and grandson continued, Elric felt a sudden jolt in his chest.
The mere thought of Beron holding a sword caused it.
Was it a sense of repulsion, or perhaps a sliver of guilt?
While Elric was swallowing his agitation, the attention turned back to him.
“Lad, you’re acting very strange. What on earth is the matter?”
“Elric hyung?”
His fingertips trembled.
Elric tried his best to steady himself. The timing was simply too poor.
If he hadn’t had that dream, he wouldn’t have had a reason to react so hypersensitively.
The lingering, muddy unpleasantness had sprouted a needless emotion that refused to be uprooted, causing him no small amount of trouble.
Finally regaining his composure, Elric spoke.
“I felt a bit pressured because you’re showing so much interest in a knight order that hasn’t even been founded yet. These fellows haven’t quite adjusted enough to take on squires anyway.”
He hoped that would suffice as a rejection.
Elric immediately shifted the subject.
“Regardless, old man, can I entrust you with the production of their armor?”
“Hmm, well, it’s not like there’s anyone else to do it. I’ll do it.”
“Thank you. I have other busy schedules today, so I’ll be taking my leave. I should leave these men here so you can take their measurements, right?”
“Aye, leave those scrawny ones here and go on.”
“Scrawny……”
Danal’s lips twitched into a crooked grimace.
Elric nudged his side with a hint of killing intent.
Only then did Danal’s attitude turn respectful.
“We look forward to working with you, Elder!”
His voice sounded as if he were on the verge of tears.
Elric returned to the manor alone, leaving the Wolyeong behind.
The cold wind helped clear his head significantly.
Passing through the barren wheat fields, he finally reached the manor, where he happened to encounter Tiria.
“Head of the family, why have you returned alone?”
Tiria was wrapped in a worn fur cloak, her breath puffing out in white clouds.
With the quiet manor as her backdrop, Elric felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of stability.
A smile touched his lips.
“……I thought taking the measurements for the armor would take a while, so I came back first. But what brings you out here, wife?”
“Ah, the work has eased up, so I was looking over the flower beds.”
Her gaze turned toward the soil of the manor grounds.
Since it was the middle of winter, the flower beds were nothing but brown earth with no trace of flowers to be found.
That reminded him of something.
“We decided to plant flowers when spring comes.”
“……Yes.”
“Right. We did.”
Elric slowly walked over and stood beside her.
Tiria began to stare intently at Elric.
“……Has something happened?”
“Hmm?”
“Your complexion is not good.”
So saying, Tiria reached out.
Soon, a slender, pale hand touched Elric’s cheek.
Elric flinched in surprise, but she paid no mind and stroked his cheek with her thumb.
“It doesn’t seem to be a cold.”
Her voice was full of concern.
He wondered why his mind went blank at such simple physical contact.
And why he felt a sudden urge to lean into her.
After a moment’s hesitation, Elric placed his hand over hers on his cheek.
Her cold hand eventually began to warm.
“……!”
He could feel her fingertips tense.
It was quite pleasant.
“I suppose I have a bit of a headache from trying to form the knight order.”
It was strange.
Just by looking into her eyes, the heart that couldn’t be settled even by a dagger found complete peace.
It felt as if he had arrived at a lakeshore where not even a breeze stirred.
“I find myself thinking you are quite incredible, wife.”
“Suddenly?”
“You manage the entire estate like this. Even a single knight order gives me a headache.”
“……It is likely because you are not used to it. The beginning of anything is always the hardest.”
Her gaze eventually dropped to the ground.
Her hand fell away from his cheek.
However, Elric’s hand remained clasped around hers.
He felt as though it would be too cold if he let go of this hand.
He squeezed gently, their fingers interlocking.
Elric turned his gaze toward the flower beds.
“……So, what kind of flowers do you plan to plant?”
He shifted the conversation to disperse the focus on their hands, and she spoke as her fingertips fidgeted.
“Herbs.”
“Pardon?”
“Among the herbs used for external wounds, there is one with white and red flowers. It takes firm root and has great vitality, and its blooming period is long, so one can enjoy it for a long time.”
“……I think I know that plant.”
“Yes, it is an herb often found on the back mountain where monsters appear.”
“No wonder.”
“I heard you spent a lot of time roaming that back mountain when you were young?”
“……That was when I was a child.”
“Pfft……”
Elric’s head whipped around.
Was he mistaken, or did he just hear a laugh?
No, she had definitely laughed.
Seeing her expressionless face again felt strangely upsetting, so Elric asked.
“Was that funny?”
“No.”
“I’m sure I heard a laugh.”
“The wind is quite strong.”
“Wife?”
“Let us head inside now. I have work to finish, and since the Head of the family is here, you might as well join me.”
“Wife?”
“There are many documents to process.”
“…….”
She gently led him by the hand.
The stiff fur of her cloak brushed against the back of his hand, tickling him.
Could she not laugh just one more time?
He wanted to see her smile brightly, just once.
His lingering regret was deeper than usual, but this sharp woman seemed to have no intention of indulging him.
“Now, come quickly.”
Elric had to suffer through the task of shaking off his rising disappointment.
“They’re really putting on a damn show.”
Danal, having returned to the manor, watched Kasha and his wife bickering with their hands clasped.
“Hey, guys. Look at that. They’re doing that ‘lovey-dovey’ nonsense right in front of us.”
His face was covered in soot.
His expression was drained with exhaustion, and his shoulders felt heavier than ever.
It was all because of that damn blacksmith.
And also because of the blacksmith’s grandson.
“You rascals! Can’t you straighten your backs?!”
“Sirs! Do you perhaps need a squire? No, more importantly, how does one become a knight? I’ve been practicing mana cultivation lately……”
He couldn’t believe how much he had been hounded.
The other Wolyeong members were in the same boat.
“Leader, is this right?”
“Can’t we just run away now?”
“Are we really the kind of people to be treated like this……”
“Yes, we are.”
Danal laughed hollowly, dismissing their words.
“We’re runaway assassins, aren’t we?”
What did it mean to turn their backs on the Wolyeong and throw themselves at Kasha’s mercy?
It meant they were traitors who had leaked the Wolyeong’s secrets to Kasha.
Run away now and live as wanderers?
There was no way that would succeed.
The main body of the Wolyeong would hunt them down.
And even if they didn’t, Kasha might come after them to silence those who knew his true identity.
Either way was horrific.
It was better to hide behind a tiger’s back.
They could block the Wolyeong and receive Kasha’s protection.
Danal looked at his subordinates, whose wills had weakened, and spoke.
“What could you even do if you ran away?”
“…….”
“I’m asking what you could possibly do.”
“…….”
“We can’t do anything, you idiots.”
As Danal spoke, moisture gathered in the corners of his eyes.
In that moment, his subordinates also shed tears.
Because they were in the same boat, and because they were a community bound by fate.
The former Wolyeong and current prospective knights of the Portman family felt their unity growing once again today.
“We only have each other. You know that, right?”
“It’s always been that way.”
The Wolyeong members embraced one another.
