#4 Guest (1)
A week after the harvest festival, the temperature that had begun to drop before I knew it had reached the level of causing chills.
The fast-approaching winter has begun to color the world gray.
The frost obscured the scenery outside the window, and the clothes grew thicker.
In one corner of the office, a fireplace crackled firewood.
Even though the change of the seasons was about to stand out, there was something that did not change.
“Move on to the next one.”
“Okay.”
It was the distance from Tyria.
Ever since the accident at the harvest festival, there has been an awkwardness that is difficult to describe between the two.
For some reason, it is difficult to make eye contact and it feels difficult to have long conversations.
Whenever my fingertips brushed against it, the area felt hot as if it had been burned.
It reminds me of the embarrassing feelings of that day.
Today, too, I was in the middle of working together, trembling with such awkwardness.
Elric did not enjoy this awkwardness by nature, so he was looking for a way to pass away, and it just happened to be over.
Tyria was reading the newspaper.
It was not just a newspaper, but a monthly magazine containing news from the battlefields of the West.
“It’s a western newspaper.”
Elric’s voice contained a small hint of joy.
Other than just an excuse to start a conversation, news from the West was of the kind that piqued Elric’s curiosity.
Tyria nodded.
“Yes, the western battlefield is a big deal.”
“Well, there is no other place that needs food supplies as much as that place.”
War requires a lot of food. Wouldn’t it be shocking to have to gather tens of thousands of adult men and be responsible for their meals?
Its own food production does not meet its quota.
Since supply is as important as that, Western battlefields often circulate food from outside.
When he was living as a mercenary during the war, Elric also knew this because he had been escorted in a supply train.
While I was lost in nostalgia thinking about the past, Tyria suddenly asked.
“… Have you ever been to the West?”
Elric was startled.
It was an excuse that came out of nowhere.
“haha… Isn’t it 10 years? I must have never been anywhere on the continent.”
I didn’t mean to say that I was a war mercenary, so I was evasive.
Fortunately, Tyria didn’t look too suspicious.
“okay.”
She turned her gaze to the newspaper again.
Elric checked the front page of the newspaper she was reading.
『One month after the disappearance of the sword demon Kasha, the kingdom of Chebor fell.』
A bitter smile formed on Elric’s lips.
‘It ended up being gone.’
It was not surprising since Chebor was the weakest among the participating countries in the Western War that lasted for 20 years.
The only thing that bothers me is that Elric isn’t completely unrelated to their demise. This is because the country he visited most often was Chebor.
The last battle he participated in before retiring from an injury was the defense of Chebor’s capital, so it must be shocking.
Unlike other countries, Chebor is a country that has not produced the top 7 continent.
In the end, there was no choice but to fill the lack of armed forces with outsiders, and since Elric, who was the core force, was injured, it must have reached its downfall.
Of course, Elric did not feel sorry or guilty.
Because they and I were strangers bound by a transaction to the end.
“Chebor has been captured.”
Tyria said.
“One has collapsed in 20 years, so I don’t know how much longer the war will be in the future.”
Are you raising a topic?
Elric nodded and replied.
“It could be the other way around.”
“Why?”
“The balance is not broken. Doesn’t the speed at which a tower starts to shake once it collapses quickly?”
“… .”
Elric chuckled at Tyria’s disapproval.
This time, it was because he was sure he was right.
“Actually, the Fallen Kingdom should have come out five years ago. Do you know why the balance has been maintained until now?”
“What is?”
“Because there was a sword demon, Kasha.”
It was quite embarrassing because it was a situation where he was lacquering his mouth, but that was the fact that he couldn’t help it.
The only reason why the weak countries that had participated in the war did not perish was because of the existence of the Sword Demon Kasha.
The seven rivers that can be moved with money, no matter how expensive the ransom is, is it more expensive than life?
As Elric remembers, the four countries that did not produce the top 7 hired themselves by raising prices as if competing with each other.
‘I actually paid for it.’
The number of times he saved the country from the brink of destruction is enough to count on ten fingers.
Now that their existence has disappeared, it is only natural that their balance has collapsed.
So you can be sure.
In this situation where he left the battlefield, at least the three kingdoms that did not produce the top 7 would perish.
From noble mtl dot com
“… If the family head is right, a nation will perish in the next war.”
Tyria pushed the next page of the newspaper.
The big title was like that.
『Bildion’s flamed Ygret, expressed intention to participate.』
Elric replied straight away.
“If she does, it will take less than three days.”
Ygret Hwahwa was a battle mage who reached the top 7.
Even as Elric, what she faced on the battlefield was a woman who did not put much thought into participating in the war to the extent that it would end twice, but if she did, the advance would not end unless the same 7th round appeared.
She was the most terrible siege weapon Elric ever knew.
“Um… .”
Tyria’s eyebrows narrowed.
“hmm? Why?”
“There has been a movement in the West to buy in bulk this year’s wheat harvest. I thought it was just a reason for the intensifying war, but shouldn’t we change our policy when this happens? You will have to choose the countries you will sell to.”
Did the thought flow all at once?
Elric let out a small exclamation.
It may be rude to say this, but she had a calculation speed that reminded me of her father.
This was especially true of the accident of picking out only the necessary points from outside information.
“Anyway, you’ll need to be prepared for that.”
“Is there anything I can help with?”
Tyria’s gaze was directed right at Elric.
At that moment, Elric felt his body tremble with another subtle awkwardness.
I thought we had a good conversation until just before, but when our eyes suddenly met, for some reason, my insides got hot.
Meanwhile, Tyria said.
“Maybe, can you have a guest?”
“Uh, hmm?”
Suddenly a guest, what does that mean?
It was a moment when I tilted my head in wonder.
“Someone is coming from the west.”
Elric felt his heart skip a beat.
*
To sum up Tyria’s words, it was.
-Originally, there were no officers who came to Yubin to purchase wheat. Transactions were only done through the top. However, this year, the officers in charge expressed their intention to sign a deal with Yubin directly.
Quartermasters from the Western battlefield are coming.
Even in three places.
“Okay… .”
It was a major accident.
If there are any among them who recognize Elric, their identity will be revealed at once.
If they brought news to the battlefield, this peaceful Yubin could be confused with military greetings.
Considering the time he was serving as a war mercenary, he was close to a definite result.
I had to find a way out.
‘Should I vacate my seat?’
Unnatural. Leaving the seat in time for the day the vendors arrived on the subject of having nothing to do could easily plant seeds of doubt.
‘Then disguise… ?’
What is, that is more suspicious.
Elric, who was tearing his hair out and thinking about it, soon came up with an idea.
‘rather… .’
Why don’t you visit the supply center in advance and silence those who find out?
I didn’t have my own
Because I have memories of doing similar things many times while living in the battlefield.
‘Those who visit are the Empire, Armin, and Disha, respectively.’
Fortunately, they are powerhouses that do not have many points of contact.
As long as I was careful about the unexpected situation, I was able to pass this task quietly.
Elric immediately left the room.
“Aldio.”
“yes?”
“Can you tell me when the guests from the West will arrive?”
“Yes, I was notified in advance, but… .”
“Good. Take me up to my room.”
After completing the order, the place Elric found this time was Tyria’s office again.
“Anything you left behind?”
said Tyria, Elric replied.
“Welcome, I will go alone.”
“… Are you alone?”
“exactly. alone.”
“It’s not possible.”
was flatly rejected.
Elric’s eyes widened.
“why… ?”
“How could I not properly greet people from far away? I intend to write at least ten people.”
It was a theory.
However, it was the worst news for Elric.
There is urgency.
Maybe that’s why.
chin-!
Elric unknowingly grabbed Tyria’s hand tightly.
Her body trembled, but Elric wasn’t in the mood to care.
“Please. I have reasons to do so.”
I can’t tell you why, of course.
In the midst of the brief confrontation, Elric felt embarrassment in Tyria’s eyes, and an unknown sense of stiffness.
It didn’t matter.
“… If so.”
In the end, only the fact that she agreed was significant in this situation.
“Thank you!”
Elric thanked him and went back to his room.
I took out the longsword I had hidden under the bed.
‘Let’s do it.’
just in case
Just in case, it’s really preparing for the unforeseen situation.
‘If they really recognize me… .’
At that time, I should go back to the Sword Demon Kasha.
seuleung-
Elric’s eyes shone coolly.
Bruh, that’s really a simple way.