28 – 8. Good news (1)
‘Shin. I have something to tell you.’
‘Listening to the situation, the Witchbeast appears to be Kellot. They live in groups, so they know how to attack the opponent’s group.’
‘If you kill the leader of the group, the group will disintegrate.’
‘One group will stay away from the pack. And I will definitely aim for Shien-nim.’
‘While the others draw their attention, that fallen group will be after them.’
‘I’ll take care of them.’
Disposing of the remaining kelots, Shien recalled what Adele had just said.
The certainty that he will definitely aim for Shien and hit him from behind.
And even going so far as to single-handedly clear out those in the ambush.
At first, Shien tried to stop Adele.
It’s too dangerous to move alone.
No matter what happens, you can’t get support!
But he remembered what he had been up to a while ago.
3rd grade monsters that even family knights have to fight with all their might.
He slaughtered those terrifying monsters by himself.
When I thought about it, I kept my mouth shut.
It is absurd that the weak try to stop the strong.
I just don’t want to depend on him.
I want to present only a quiet and serene life.
After all, Adele was constantly pushing her into a fight.
‘… I’m sorry, Adele. Then I’ll ask you a favor.’
Sending Adele away, Shien bit her lip.
‘Are you okay? It will be fine. A third-class demon is also a person who catches it alone.’
He will be ok, it has to be ok.
Rather, it is the first thing to worry about from this side.
Thinking so, Shien concentrated on swinging the sword.
However, once the situation is sorted out, the worry rises again.
‘Kellot is said to be specialized in moving in groups and aiming for one prey.’
‘It’s true that Adele is strong, but what if there’s a problem?’
‘Unlike here, there is no one by his side to help him?’
Even strong knights lose their lives in an instant.
Because of bad luck, because of carelessness, or because something unexpected happened.
Things can go awry for any reason.
As soon as I thought about it, my nervousness suddenly reached its peak.
I should have attached a few knights to assist Adele.
I regretted sending him alone, relying only on his power.
At any rate, if something really goes wrong.
Could it have been that I had let my person go into limb?
I wonder if I will lose it again while trying to rely on it, my heart is pounding.
“My lord! This side is all over!”
“No one escaped alive. Perfect!”
“If so, quickly go to the other side… .”
Shien was busy getting on her horse and going to where Adele was heading.
But soon I could see someone coming this way.
“Adele!”
Shien rushed over and immediately looked at Adele.
Could it be that you keep giving him burdensome tasks?
After that man just had a hard and miserable time.
I just wanted to find time to take care of myself.
From the duel with Fiore to the fight with the monsters.
Now he is a pitiful person who would have been sick of fighting.
However, Adele continues to see blood in Lichtenau.
I said it wouldn’t be a good trip.
I can’t even give you that good trip.
I felt sorry, guilty, and ashamed.
I’m almost tempted to tell him to leave Liechtenauer.
“Shin-nim.”
But, in Adele’s voice like that.
There was no tiredness, no disgust, nothing that Shien was worried about.
However, in that usual calm voice, he gives out a short word.
“I’m home.”
* * *
Conference room located inside the Lichtenau Castle.
Laughter was blooming there for the first time in a while.
“Isn’t this really good news? It’s good news that the guild will help, but I didn’t expect it to be a blow to the Fiore family.”
“That is what I mean. Even if it wasn’t so, Fiore’s nose was getting higher day by day, and it was very annoying. Apparently, they went around saying that they were the best swordsmanship in the empire.”
“If you hear the news that it was the attendant who defeated their knights, they will bite their foam.”
“ha ha ha! Oh, I had to see that scene myself, what a pity!”
The most pressing problem was to solve the financial problem.
However, the vassals were more delighted with the fact that Fiore was suppressed than that.
Seeing that, Shien realizes that he and the people here are no different.
I knew that I had a bad heart for Fiore, who was bumping into everything.
Thanks to that, I have one more reason to become stronger.
“My lord. Thank you very much for your hard work.”
“If the transaction with the Leggram Chamber goes well, the financial difficulty will be resolved soon.”
In case the vassals feel burdened, for now, he said ‘deal’.
If I said it was an investment, my retainers would be worried or doubtful.
Shien decided to tell the truth later.
“If so, I can put out an urgent fire with this. I was very worried about what to do because the war horses and weapons were damaged a lot right away. Expansion of facilities was also urgent.”
“I need to deal with that part quickly. And you must have made sure to compensate the bereaved families, right?”
“Is it possible? The funeral was held with respect, and a reasonable reward was given. You will probably be able to live without much difficulty, so the head of the family can relax.”
At the words of the vassals, Shien nodded.
The owner of the house could have checked it again, but he didn’t.
All of them have long been rooted in Lichtenau.
I know that shaking people’s hearts with useless greed is strangling me.
You can’t survive alone in a still chaotic world.
For those reasons, I wouldn’t do anything weird, and I’d have handled it well.
Shien chose to trust those who still remained in Lichtenau.
“Those who were injured in today’s battle must be getting well, right?”
“yes. There are no serious injuries, so everyone will be back in a few days.”
“I heard that the witch beast that jumped out was Kellot, but I was surprised by how little damage it did.”
“It is natural. Didn’t the head of the family go directly? The knights and soldiers would have been able to recharge their morale and push the monsters to that extent.”
The trust of the retainers in Shien was absolute.
It is because there are piles of wonderful images shown by previous family heads.
Even if the current family head is a mixed race demon or a woman, he doesn’t care.
Like all family heads so far, I will show a great figure.
They had no doubts about the new head of household, Shien.
“Come on, let’s all do this. Shouldn’t the head of the household take a break too?”
Rascal, who had been listening silently until now, opens his mouth.
I’ve just returned from Liechtenau for a month.
As soon as he returned, he even engaged in a battle with the witches.
Of course, the fatigue would be considerable, and Rascal’s opinion was valid.
“Ah, that’s right. I’m sorry, my lord.”
“See you again tomorrow. Please rest in peace.”
The vassals stand up, bow, and then withdraw.
They left one by one, and the last one left was Guard Captain Rascal.
“You don’t look good. Where did you get hurt… .”
“no. no. I’m fine, don’t worry.”
“That’s why you can see the shadow on your face.”
Rascal has been by the side of the previous head of household, Shien, since his father.
Of course, Shien knew it from before, so he quickly noticed her change of heart.
“… I’m sorry.”
“Are you sorry?”
“I mean Adele. Not a knight who swore allegiance to Lichtenau, not a person who used to live here. I just caught someone who passed by for a while. Maybe I’m giving him too much work. I wondered if I was relying too much on it.”
“… .”
“It’s just that it was a bit complicated. Do not worry.”
When Shien stood up, Rascal followed suit.
The moment she just left the conference room.
“If you feel uncomfortable.”
Rascal cautiously opened his mouth.
“Why don’t you go and ask yourself?”
“Are you going to ask me directly?”
“That young man would have roughly predicted the current situation. To be a servant is to become a knight of Lichtenau. Surely there won’t be a single fight in the meantime? It seems to me that he accepted the request of the head of the household knowingly. Honey, wouldn’t it be better to go in person and show the discomfort inside, and ask if it will be okay in the future, rather than worrying about it alone?”
Shien stood there holding the doorknob without saying a word.
Certainly, there is no point in rotting inside like this alone.
If you’re sorry, you can go and apologize, and if you feel sorry for yourself, just tell them.
I know now that nothing can be done by hesitating.
“The former head of the family said this. It is said that the regret of not acting is deeper than the regret of acting. If it’s not the right thing to do, it’s better to try it first.”
“… .”
After hearing that, Shien slowly turned his head.
And I look at the knight whom I have seen since I was a child, now an old man.
“Thank you, Guard Captain. That’s great advice.”
Xian opened the door and left the conference room.
Where she is going and who she is going to meet.
Rascal, who knew him well, only smiled.
* * *
Whoop, whoop-.
All the other knights went in to rest.
Adele was still alone in the gymnasium.
Place one hand on your back, supporting your body with only your thumb and forefinger.
One-handed push-ups that make you groan just by looking at them.
That hard workout, Adele was doing it peacefully.
Tadat, tadadat!-
I hear someone approaching in the distance.
In response, Adele stood up and put on her top.
Judging by the sound of footsteps and signs, it was clear that it was a woman.
And there is only one woman here who will come to see him.
“Adele.”
“Shin-nim.”
Shien’s face was red as if he had rushed.
I wonder if something is going on, the moment I try to open my mouth.
“Are you really okay?”
“… yes?”
“Really, are you okay?”
Suddenly, I have no idea what this question is all about.
So I kept silent, and Shien continued.
“You’ve been fighting all along. I’m about to quit now, but we’re fighting again. That would not be the trip I told you about. It would be such a quiet and serene life. So I want to ask. Are you okay?”
Worrying only for Adele, not for anyone else.
It’s a bit strange, but it wasn’t too bad.
At Sean’s question, Adele was silent for a moment before removing her lips.
“it’s okay.”
“… Are you okay?”
“yes.”
“why? It was hard. But again you… .”
“I would like to see.”
Staring straight at Xian, Adele said.
“By your side, you. I want to watch. Shien.”