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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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“…….”
How had things come to this?
There’s an old saying, hoist with one’s own petard.
Put simply, it means to be undone by one’s own cleverness.
I was experiencing the truth of that adage firsthand.
“……So, just a little further, and we’ll be leaving Feiler territory. After that, this kind of road will continue.”
“Ah, yes……”
I nodded at the young man’s kind explanation.
He sat across from me in the carriage.
This pleasant young man was Müller Brenner, a knight-in-training of the Feiler family.
Apparently, he was the youngest knight participating in this expedition.
He had spread out a map and meticulously explained the entire journey, from start to finish, for the sake of a blind swordsman.
The very picture of kindness.
Kindness that I didn’t particularly need, however.
The story of how I ended up sharing a carriage with him was a bit long…
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“Come to think of it, wouldn’t it be difficult for you to walk, Mr. Iyerpol?”
Sir Müller had posed the question out of the blue.
I had been about to wave him off with a smile, but I paused, my hand hovering mid-air.
Wait a minute.
This felt… opportune.
Like a chance to employ a little strategy.
My hand, meant to decline, instead moved to the back of my head, scratching my scalp.
“Well, it’s true that walking long distances can be tiring. It takes a lot of mental energy.”
“I’ve heard you can’t ride a horse either.”
“Yes, so I usually hire a carriage when traveling. It is a bit inconvenient to have to rely on someone for transportation.”
The bait was cast.
Now it was this kind young man’s turn.
The comfort of my journey depended on whether or not Sir Müller would take the bait.
He didn’t disappoint.
“Then how about you travel in a carriage at the front of the column?”
“Would that be alright?”
“We can certainly arrange a seat for you, Mr. Iyerpol.”
Yes, that’s it. Perfect manipulation.
A wide smile spread across my face at Sir Müller’s readily offered solution.
Inwardly, of course.
Outwardly, I feigned contemplation, stroking my chin and scratching my head as if troubled by the unexpected offer.
Seeing my hesitation, Belle tugged at my sleeve.
“If you’re worried about us, it’s alright, Senior!”
“Belle……”
“Ah, but then what about Zeta…?”
Belle turned to Zeta, who, with an impassive expression, replied,
“I don’t need one.”
Then she turned and walked away.
I was getting used to Zeta’s unique brand of aloofness.
Belle, watching Zeta depart, gave me an awkward smile.
“So she says. But you should at least travel comfortably, Senior. Don’t worry about us!”
Belle… this kind soul…
Her innocent smile made me ashamed of the cunning thoughts I had just entertained.
I reached out and ruffled her hair, and she shook her head, telling me to stop.
Chuckling at Belle’s endearing reaction, I turned to Sir Müller.
“Well, it would be rude to refuse such a kind offer…”
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And that was how I ended up in the carriage at the front of the column…
However, I had overlooked one crucial detail.
I wasn’t the only one in the carriage.
Sir Müller and Lady Nikolai took turns riding with me.
Being constantly in the company of two people I had just met, especially knights who were practically minor nobility… was quite the ordeal.
Furthermore, this kind young man, Sir Müller, had brought out a map and was explaining the entire journey to me, all because I couldn’t see.
I couldn’t very well ignore his kindness, so I diligently nodded along, which was, in itself, quite tiring.
I would have been better off walking at the back, chatting with the others…
Sulking, I lowered my head.
Sir Müller… was still kindly explaining the route.
“……By the way, Sir Müller, you don’t have to be so formal with me.”
“Ahaha, it’s alright. I may have a title, but I’m still in training.”
Sir Müller let out a good-natured laugh.
I was certain this young man was popular.
“And besides, I’m happy to do it. I’m a fan of the Blind Swordsman, Iyerpol.”
“A fan…?”
“Yes. You may not know this, Mr. Iyerpol, but I’ve been indebted to you for the past year.”
Sir Müller indebted to me?
I had met him for the first time when we arrived for this expedition.
No matter how hard I searched my memory, I couldn’t recall meeting him before.
“Is there, perhaps, an elderly woman who asks you to escort her to Tillasden Forest every month?”
“Ah, yes. There is. She requests an escort to her late husband’s grave.”
The elderly woman who requested my escort every first of the month.
I had been taking that request for almost a year.
But how did Sir Müller know about her?
Sir Müller smiled.
“That’s my grandmother.”
“……What?”
“I’ve heard a lot about you from her, Mr. Iyerpol. She says you’re a very upstanding young man.”
What a coincidence.
They say fate works in mysterious ways, but I never expected to meet this young man in such an unexpected place.
To think that he was the grandson of that elderly woman…
“My grandmother is getting on in years, so she mostly stays at home. Her monthly visit to my grandfather’s grave is something she looks forward to, but our family can’t accompany her until late in the afternoon.”
“I see……”
“She used to go alone, but she stopped because of the wild animals. Then you started escorting her. Our family is incredibly grateful that you’ve given her back her joy.”
It was just a coincidence that I had taken the request, since its destination was Tillasden Forest.
It was embarrassing to receive such heartfelt thanks.
I hid my embarrassment and simply nodded.
“Since my grandmother is indebted to you, I’m happy to help you in any way I can. Please, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“……Your words are reassuring, Sir Müller.”
I couldn’t bear to look at the earnest face of this naive knight-in-training any longer, so I turned away.
It really pays to be a good person…
As I chatted with Sir Müller, the carriage came to a stop.
The door clicked open, and a tall knight entered.
“Müller, we’re taking a short break, even though it’s a bit early.”
“Understood.”
The carriage wasn’t very large, so with me, Sir Müller, and Lady Nikolai inside, it felt rather cramped.
Lady Nikolai, sitting next to Sir Müller, gave me a rather intense stare.
“We’ll be leaving Feiler territory soon. Beyond this point, the Feiler family doesn’t have direct oversight, so there may be unforeseen dangers.”
“Understood.”
“……Well, even so, this area is relatively safe. It’s a well-traveled road.”
With that, Lady Nikolai fell silent.
Sir Müller seemed to have run out of things to say.
And I was uncomfortable with the silence.
A heavy quiet settled over the three of us.
The atmosphere was so awkward that time seemed to slow down.
I needed to make a decision.
If I didn’t escape now, while the march was halted, I wouldn’t get another chance.
I abruptly stood up.
“Excuse me.”
Both of them turned to look at me.
Under their scrutinizing gazes, I awkwardly averted my eyes.
“I think I’ll head to the back for a while.”
“To the back? Why?”
Lady Nikolai. Please don’t ask me why. I just wanted to escape.
I didn’t even have a good excuse.
Because I was worried about Belle and Zeta?
I had come here because they told me to.
Because I suddenly felt like walking?
She would probably tell me to walk for a bit and then come back.
After a moment of frantic internal debate…
“I have a bad feeling.”
I blurted out the nonsensical excuse.
A bad feeling… Even if I were Lady Nikolai, I would be wondering what this guy was talking about.
As expected, her brow furrowed.
“Now, now. We’ll do as Mr. Iyerpol wishes. Rear support is important too, after all.”
“…….”
Thanks to Sir Müller’s excellent assist, Lady Nikolai, who had been frowning, finally nodded.
“Do as you please.”
Thank you.
I immediately got out of the carriage and headed towards the back, where Belle and Zeta were.
Escaping the suffocating atmosphere of the carriage felt like a breath of fresh air.
Belle, Zeta, I’m sorry for leaving you.
I’ll be back soon.
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“……What is that man thinking?”
Lady Nikolai muttered, her brow still furrowed.
Iyerpol was very different from what she had imagined.
He seemed constantly preoccupied, lost in his own thoughts.
He had answered her questions with monosyllabic replies, clearly not paying attention.
And now he wanted to go to the back of the column.
“Don’t frown so much. I’m sure Mr. Iyerpol has his reasons.”
“Does he?”
“He’s one of the most skilled adventurers in Tillasden. He wouldn’t do anything without a reason.”
Müller seemed a bit too lenient towards Iyerpol.
But his words weren’t entirely wrong, so Nikolai sighed and nodded.
“He’s so different from what I expected……”
She muttered under her breath.
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There’s nothing like a comfortable spot.
No matter how plush the carriage cushions, if the atmosphere is stifling, it’s pointless.
Utterly pointless.
So what if the ride was a little bumpy in the back of a supply wagon?
The atmosphere was peaceful.
“You seem to be in a good mood, Senior.”
“Indeed I am.”
Belle, if you spent a day in that carriage, you would understand.
You would understand how comfortable this supply wagon truly was.
Plucking a blade of grass, I placed it between my teeth and lay back on a sack of supplies.
“Yes, this is where I belong…”
The musty scent of the old wagon.
The slightly stiff sack of supplies beneath me.
The clear blue sky above.
And the strange-looking birds flying overhead.
“……?”
Strange-looking birds?
I sat up abruptly.
What were those?
Birds with beaks like sharp horns and enormous wings.
They circled slowly above us, then…
Suddenly swooped down.
No, not swooped.
They were diving.
Hunting.
“Monsters!”
Someone’s panicked cry echoed through the ranks.
The shouts of soldiers preparing for battle rang out from all directions.
“……You’re kidding, right?”
I had just started to relax, thinking I could finally rest.
With a groan, I reached behind me and grabbed my bow.
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[Are the onsters hawks? and…. are there two of them????? could it be HAWK TUAH?]
