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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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“So, shall we have a little chat?”
Iyer settled Belle on a conveniently placed bench and opened the conversation.
Belle, fists clenched, nodded vigorously.
“Of course, Master!”
No, not Master… Iyer thought, exasperated.
What expectations did this girl have of him, a complete stranger?
He cringed, fearing eavesdroppers.
A barely ten-year veteran adventurer being called “Master”?
The embarrassment was palpable.
He cleared his throat, forcing a firm tone.
“First, let’s address that title.”
“Yes, Master!”
“…….”
A spirited reply from the girl.
And a defeated sigh from Iyer.
He ended up having to explain, point by point, why he was so averse to the title.
“Belle, listen. I’m still in my early twenties, a relatively new adventurer. My career spans barely five, six years. Do you really think I deserve to be called ‘Master’?”
“Yes.”
“……Why?”
Her unwavering certainty piqued his curiosity.
Belle, with an audacious expression, replied,
“You’re one of the top adventurers in Tillasden.”
“Well, I suppose that’s true…”
“Isn’t it impressive to achieve such recognition in just five or six years?”
“……I guess you could say that.”
“So what’s the problem with calling such an impressive person ‘Master’?”
…Checkmate.
Iyer was speechless.
He couldn’t refute her logic.
Starting from scratch, building a reputation and gaining recognition in five or six years was no small feat.
He’d be impressed if someone achieved that in another field.
Of course, his own success was due to his unique… abilities.
But someone unaware of those circumstances would naturally be impressed.
He cleared his throat again.
“Even so, I’m not skilled enough to teach anyone. I know my own limitations.”
“…….”
“If you want to learn about adventuring, I can introduce you to someone. A true veteran with over twenty years of experience. He’s mentored adventurers before, so he’d be a much better teacher.”
How about that? he thought.
A tempting offer.
He would even pull some strings.
The veteran wouldn’t refuse unless something came up.
Learning from such an experienced adventurer would be a great opportunity for this spirited girl.
He was confident she’d accept.
But as he often said, life rarely goes as planned.
“No. I want to learn from the Blind Swordsman, Iyerpol.”
“…….”
This girl was stubborn.
Utterly unyielding.
She reminded him of Guinness when they first met.
A more energetic version, perhaps.
“Even if you insist, I have nothing to teach you.”
He wasn’t trying to be dismissive.
It was the truth.
He was a street rat, essentially.
Unlike Wagner, whose father was an adventurer, he hadn’t had any formal training.
He wasn’t a skilled swordsman either.
Aside from his hunting knowledge, he was a brawler, like Guinness.
He could teach her the basics of adventuring, and some hunting techniques, but that was it.
“That’s alright. I don’t want to learn techniques.”
“What do you mean?”
Belle’s cryptic words puzzled him.
She stood up, her face beaming with excitement.
“I want to learn the path you’ve walked, adventurer Iyerpol.”
“The path I’ve walked?”
What was she talking about?
“A strong, kind adventurer who gives people hope… When I heard the people of the city talk about the Blind Swordsman, Iyerpol, I knew. You are the embodiment of my ideal adventurer.”
“I don’t think I’m that impressive…”
“You are! I’m asking to be your disciple so I can learn from your example.”
An adventurer who gives people hope… the embodiment of an ideal adventurer…
The praise was embarrassing, but he couldn’t deny the pleasant warmth it brought.
Belle drew a worn iron sword from her hip, her voice brimming with confidence.
“I’m quite skilled, you know! I was the strongest among my peers in the village. I even beat a village boy five years older than me.”
“That’s impressive.”
“Yes! Even traveling adventurers praised my potential. It’s all thanks to the former adventurer who trained me in the village!”
Her words suggested more than youthful bravado.
He couldn’t gauge her actual skill, but beating someone five years older wasn’t something to scoff at.
Still, it didn’t change the fact that he had little to offer her.
“Please, Master! Take me as your disciple!”
“…….”
Belle bowed deeply, a full ninety degrees.
Iyer stared at the top of her head, lost in thought.
This girl wouldn’t be accepted at the guild.
She looked too young, too fragile for the harsh life of an adventurer.
If he refused, she’d be turned away at the door.
…Alright, I’ve decided.
He’d become her sponsor, guide her until she could stand on her own.
He’d assess her skills, recommend her to the guild.
Once she could work as an adventurer, she’d leave him.
She’d be independent.
Then he could recommend someone else, if needed.
Resigned, he nodded, feigning a weighty decision.
“Alright. I’ll accept.”
“……! R-really, Master?!”
“But on one condition. I’m not taking you as a disciple. I’ll guide you as a fellow adventurer, a junior.”
“A junior…?”
Does that matter?
Her eyes seemed to ask.
It did.
He wasn’t about to call someone his disciple when he had nothing to teach.
And he certainly didn’t want to be called “Master” in public.
He wasn’t about to add another embarrassing chapter to his life story.
“I’ll be your sponsor, on this condition.”
“……If that’s what you prefer.”
“Good. Then it’s settled.”
He stood up and extended his hand.
“It’ll be a short time, but I look forward to working with you.”
Belle stared at his outstretched hand, then grasped it with both of hers, a radiant smile illuminating her face.
“I look forward to working with you, Master… I mean, Senior!”
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The sun was setting when they returned to Tillasden.
Iyer, having finished his guild requests, turned to Belle.
It was time to part ways.
“Let’s meet at the guild before lunch tomorrow.”
“Yes, Senior!”
Belle bowed as Iyer walked away, waving.
By the time she straightened up, he had vanished into the crowd.
Despite his blindness, he moved like the wind.
Belle pressed her fists to her chest.
“……Hee hee.”
Being accepted by Iyer, the embodiment of her ideal adventurer, filled her with joy.
It wasn’t just about becoming an adventurer.
It was a step towards becoming the kind of adventurer she admired.
“Ah, this isn’t the time!”
She shook off her reverie and hurried away.
The sun was setting.
She needed to rest.
She had her morning training, after all.
Belle headed towards the inn district.
Tillasden, being a major city, had a dedicated street lined with inns.
She chose one with a stable and entered.
The innkeeper, spotting her, frowned slightly.
“Innkeeper, is it alright for me to stay again tonight?”
“……Again?”
“Yes!”
Belle’s cheerful nod contrasted with the innkeeper’s reluctant expression.
He sighed and extended his hand.
“Dinner as well, I presume?”
“Yes. The same as yesterday, please.”
Belle counted out a handful of coins from her pouch and placed them in the innkeeper’s hand.
The amount was far too little for a room.
But the innkeeper pocketed the money without comment and returned from the kitchen with a small paper bag.
“It’s freshly baked, so it shouldn’t be too bad.”
“Thank you, Innkeeper!”
“……Take this as well.”
He handed her two small potatoes.
A gift, not included in the meager payment she’d made.
Belle looked from the potatoes to the innkeeper’s face, then beamed.
“Thank you!”
“…….”
The innkeeper retreated to the kitchen without acknowledging her thanks.
Belle didn’t mind.
She knew he wasn’t a bad person.
Clutching the warm paper bag and the potatoes, she left the inn.
Instead of heading to the rooms on the second floor, she went to the small stable next door.
“Not many horses tonight. Good.”
She smiled as she surveyed the stable.
She had the potatoes, a relatively empty stable, and the promise of Iyer’s guidance.
Today was a lucky day.
Belle made her way to a pile of straw in the corner.
This was where she’d sleep tonight.
Or rather, where she’d been sleeping for the past few nights.
“Let’s eat and sleep.”
The paper bag contained cheap bread.
Warm, but hard.
It took considerable effort to chew.
But with the potatoes, it was a feast.
The pungent smell of horse manure.
A cheap loaf of bread and two small potatoes for dinner.
A damp pile of straw for a bed.
Not ideal, but Belle didn’t care.
She finished her meal and lay down on the straw.
Staring at the stable’s ceiling, her eyes sparkled with anticipation, like the night sky.
“Finally… I can become the adventurer I’ve always dreamt of…”
The harsh conditions didn’t matter.
A brighter future awaited.
She closed her eyes on the damp straw, her back soaked.
Belle’s sleeping face was filled with happiness.
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