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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Cyno
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I was sparring with Shura in the outdoor training ground. We were using real swords, but it wasn’t particularly dangerous. There was no way I’d get hit by Shura’s sword, and even if we made a mistake, we were both wearing armor made of Freyaker hide, so as long as we were careful, there was no reason to get seriously injured.
Clang. Cha-clang. Clang.
Amidst the exchange of numerous sword strikes, Shura’s Dalrahan traced a peculiar curve and sharply thrust towards my chest. I could have easily dodged it, but I thought it was a decent move, so I met it with Yōjo and deflected the attack to the side.
Swordsmanship isn’t a mathematical formula or an academic subject. No matter how much you explain it verbally, the opponent won’t understand. So, letting a good move succeed and letting a bad move taste failure, teaching through physical experience, is a hundred times better educational method.
“Good.”
I parried the Dalrahan and created some distance.
Shura once again held her Dalrahan horizontally at mid-level and began circling around me.
She seemed to be looking for an opening, but that was a groundless misconception.
Shura was moving, but I was just turning to face her. In this situation, Shura was more likely to show an opening first. Why? Because she was the one doing most of the moving.
Mistakes tend to increase the more you do something.
‘Then I should scold her.’
I kept turning and then pretended to shift my stance, deliberately showing an opening. Shura, predictably taking the bait, charged in. I effortlessly dodged the Dalrahan’s attack and swung Yōjo towards her.
But Shura’s expression was strange. Even on the verge of receiving an unavoidable strike, she wasn’t tense at all and was wearing a faint smile. Soon, her shout reached my ears.
“Flash Bang!”
Instantly, a massive storm of brilliant light erupted towards me. ‘Flash Bang’ was a first-level magic of the Dalrahan that sprayed intense light to temporarily blind the opponent. It seemed Shura’s true aim was actually the reverse trap.
It was a good attempt, but ultimately meaningless. By the time the light from the Flash Bang faded, I already had the blade of Yōjo pressed firmly against Shura’s neck.
I lowered the forearm I’d used to shield my eyes and stared at Shura. She looked utterly bewildered that her strategy had failed.
“What did you just do?”
“It’s the Dalrahan’s magic.”
“I could see that. But I wasn’t asking about the Dalrahan’s magic. I was asking why you let your guard down at the end. Did you think the match was over just because I fell into your trap?”
“W-well…”
“Never let your guard down until the very end. In a real fight, that one moment of carelessness could cost you your life. It’s never too late to smile in victory after you’ve confirmed the kill. Understood?”
“Y-yes…”
Shura hung her head deeply, unable to offer any excuse. I gently moved Yōjo away from her neck.
“But still, the process was good. If your opponent wasn’t me, you would have won. It was quite impressive.”
“Thank you.”
I finished with praise. Even though she failed in the end, I really liked the cunning she showed in trying to trick me.
Honestly, I was a little surprised. The swordsmanship Shura displayed now was nothing like the clumsy grappling I’d seen before. Her attacks had become quite sharp, and her tactical operation had deepened enough to set a reverse trap.
Overall, Shura seemed like a typical genius-type swordsman. It seemed she had some innate talent. I really wonder who her parents are.
I glanced at the Dalrahan.
“By the way, did you learn healing magic too?”
“Not wide-area yet, but I’ve learned single-target healing magic.”
“Good job. Healing magic is quite useful, so study hard. You’ll definitely need it later.”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s end today’s sparring here. You can do whatever you want with the remaining time.”
I left all of Shura’s subsequent schedule to her and headed inside the building. All I can give Shura is the ‘technique’. The ‘way’ is something she must realize for herself in her heart.
“Umm…”
The office was plastered with all sorts of clothes and bags. A gorgeous crimson dress sat on the reception table. A black women’s suit adorned with gold thread lay on the desk, and various other clothes and bags were strewn about everywhere. I’d given Sister Armida 300 leaf gold as payment not long ago, and the office had looked like this ever since.
Sister Armida, who had been standing in front of a full-length mirror trying on a newly bought bag this way and that, rushed over to me when she saw me.
“Little brother. How’s this bag?”
“It’s nice.”
“Right, right? I mustered up my courage and bought it to carry around during the upcoming Saint Euroa Day.”
She looked utterly delighted. I headed towards the fridge to get a drink.
“But aren’t things from the sky city, Chronos, better?”
“Not at all~. Chronos stuff has an ugly style. Clothes and bags made by humans are still the best.”
“Is that so?”
When I opened the fridge door, I saw its barren interior. We’d gone grocery shopping just a few days ago, but it seemed we’d already run out. Well, with two gluttons around, the fridge never stood a chance.
“Sister. The fridge is empty?”
“……”
Sister Armida gave no answer. Probably afraid I’d send her on an errand, she must have teleported away using instant movement magic.
I truly don’t understand her psychology. Buying ingredients is ‘going shopping,’ and buying clothes and bags is also ‘going shopping.’ I don’t get why she finds one bothersome and the other enjoyable.
I picked up a shopping basket. I enjoy grocery shopping. Whenever I see nicely browned bread and thickly sliced meat, I feel the joy of life.
I stopped by the usual local butcher shop first. I often visited this shop because the owner’s daughter, who sometimes minded the store, was pretty. Unfortunately, she wasn’t there today.
“Beef is 85 copper leaf, and mutton is 52 copper leaf.”
I was very surprised by the price the butcher quoted. Just the last time I went shopping, the same amount of beef was 82 copper leaf and mutton was 49 copper leaf. How could each have gone up by 3 leaf after just a few days? This has happened before; I don’t understand why meat prices keep skyrocketing.
“Butcher, why do meat prices keep rising?”
The butcher made a troubled face.
“Tell me about it. The suppliers keep raising prices, so I’m in quite a bind myself.”
“Has there been a livestock epidemic lately or something?”
“Not that. It’s said the jerky workshops are buying up all the meat.”
That was strange. Jerky is a foodstuff occasionally enjoyed as a snack with alcohol, but here in Kara, it’s mostly consumed as emergency rations by merchants trading in the Great Desert. Unless trade has recently boomed, there’s no reason to suddenly greatly increase jerky production.
I scanned the display case again. Talking about jerky made me want some. Well, there aren’t many snacks better than jerky for satisfying a bored palate.
But I couldn’t see any jerky. I thought I’d seen some before, but there was none now.
“Butcher, don’t you stock jerky anymore?”
The butcher waved his hand as if telling me not to even dream of it.
“Don’t even mention jerky. They say there’s none at the suppliers either, so we can’t get any.”
“What? Why? You said they’re making so much jerky it’s causing meat prices to soar? Then it should be overflowing in the market.”
“No. It’s because there’s no jerky on the market that they’re making so much it’s driving meat prices up.”
“Umm. Now that you mention it, that makes sense… W-wait, could it be?”
Suddenly, something occurred to me, and my eyes sharpened. They’re making loads of jerky, but for no particular reason, jerky has vanished from the market? It’s clearly hoarding.
I quickly paid for the meat and headed to a weapon shop in the nearby artisan district. It was a store that sold various weapons to mercenaries and also handled arrows.
“Arrows? I haven’t seen those in quite a while. Arrow prices have been weirdly skyrocketing lately.”
“As I thought…”
“But why do you ask?”
“It’s nothing. I just wanted to buy a few, but if you don’t have them, never mind.”
Leaving the weapon shop, I let out a short laugh.
If you had to name the most important supplies in war, it’s food. Soldiers need to eat to fight. So when war breaks out, food prices soar, and among them, the items that rise the most are processed meats with long shelf lives, like jerky.
And then there’s the supply that is always shortest during war: arrows. Having been through countless battlefields, I know this well—arrows are always missing exactly when you need them.
And now, prices for these very supplies are skyrocketing. This couldn’t happen unless someone was hoarding war supplies.
‘Who on earth is hoarding them?’
One thing’s for sure: it’s not Kara. If someone in Kara sensed war was coming, rumors would spread and signs would show somewhere, but there’s no sign of that. Besides, according to my memories from my past life, Kara doesn’t learn about the war with the Roblos Kingdom until later in the summer.
Anyway, damn it. I should have been the one hoarding. Tch.
‘Who’s that?’
On my way home, I stopped in my tracks in a quiet alley.
A simply dressed man with blond hair was collapsed on the ground, looking utterly emaciated. But he was too thin. His blankly staring eyes were sunken without a hint of vitality, and his skin was dry beyond belief, almost flaky. He looked like a starved corpse, so to speak.
At first, I thought he might be a beggar from somewhere, but no. A rather expensive-looking magic sword with an engraved skull pattern was sheathed at his waist, and the aura emanating from him was extraordinary. It was a strong, sharp aura, like a upright standing sword.
‘Seems like a pretty strong guy…?’
I recalled a conversation I’d had with Old Man Zenbe before. The fact that there was another Master Swordsman in Kara besides us. I was curious who it was, and it seemed like it was probably this guy.
‘Idiot. What kind of state is this for someone who’s a Master to be in, all the way here in Kara? If you don’t have money for food, go do some mercenary work or something. Tsk tsk tsk.’
Shaking my head, I walked past the blond man and flicked a single silver coin onto the ground in front of his face.
Soon after, a dry voice called out to me as I walked away.
“I’m… not a beggar.”
I snorted and stopped again. Quite the pride for someone in his state. Well, with a personality like that, it’s no wonder a Master ended up like this.
“I wasn’t donating charity. I never, ever do charity.”
“Why?”
“I’ve killed people with charity before.”
The blond man picked up the silver coin I had tossed.
“Then what exactly is the nature of this money?”
“Condolence money. Someone who wields a sword would inevitably become a bandit or a mercenary before reaching that state, but look at you. That means your damn personality will eventually lead you to starve to death. I should at least pay my condolences. If a vicious ghost like you latches on, it brings bad luck for life. I already have plenty of vicious ghosts clinging to me. So please, take that money and don’t latch onto me.”
Instantly, a spark of life returned to the man’s dull, dazed eyes. He let out a soft chuckle.
“Quite an ambiguous fellow, aren’t you?”
“Right. Everything in the world is originally ambiguous.”
The man staggered to his feet. He did a few light jumps in place and then twisted his whole body as if stretching.
“By the way, how long was I lying there?”
“How should I know? Your belly button clock might know.”
The man held his hand up to the midday sun filtering through the alley.
“Hmm, I remember coming out in the morning, so it couldn’t have been more than a few hours.”
“Hey, are you sick or something?”
“Well. Should I say yes? Or no? Let’s just say I had it, but now I don’t.”
He was a man who only spouted incomprehensible things. I snorted.
“Lucky you. You went crazy nicely.”
The man walked over and alternated his gaze between the white mask covering the lower half of my face and my dyed red hair.
“White Mask? Are you by any chance the rumored Kaoyan of the White Mask?”
“Yeah, there are rumors like that. And you?”
“Callen.”
I tilted my head. Strangely, I’d never heard of a Master by that name.
“Your family name?”
“Don’t have one.”
“Are you a slave or a commoner?”
“No.”
“Then why no family name?”
“It’s a fake name anyway, why bother making up a surname too?”
I narrowed my eyes.
“You’re a bit suspicious.”
“I think I’m less suspicious than you, though?”
“Ah, is that so?”
Well, there aren’t many people as suspicious as me. Fake name, fake hair color, plus a mask. It’s the same for both of us; no reason to argue about who’s more suspicious. I immediately turned to leave.
“Well then, I’m off.”
“Here, take it.”
Callen flicked the silver coin back with his thumb. I swatted it back with the back of my hand.
“Keep it. I’d rather not take back a donation. Getting money like that back brings a lifetime of bad luck.”
“I’m not a beggar.”
“I told you, I didn’t give it because you’re a beggar.”
“Ah, I see. You said condolence money. Well, I guess it’s a bit late for that.”
Saying this, Callen carefully tucked the silver coin away inside his clothes.
“Late?”
“I almost died and came back to life not long ago. Thanks to that, I’m in this state.”
“Hmph. Did you meet a quack doctor or something?”
“Ah. My benefactor isn’t from that field, you see.”
I stared intently at Callen. From what Old Man Zenbe said, I thought he was an honorable but troublesome old fogy, but he was unexpectedly frivolous. His tone of voice was low and heavy, but his overall manner of speaking was light.
“But you’re different from the rumors I heard.”
“You know me?”
“Yeah. I heard from Old Man Zenbe.”
“Ah, that orc food stall owner~? He’s the famous Zenbe of Sainyu, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I see. What did he say about me?”
“He said you were an honorable… something like that, just a bland person.”
Callen looked up at the narrow strip of sky visible between the alley buildings.
“Honor? I knew it once upon a time.”
“And now?”
“I’m too busy following a greater cause. An absolute and flawless greater cause.”
I blinked rapidly.
“That’s strange. I thought no such greater cause existed?”
“Hmm. I thought so too, but living my life, I found there is one.”
“What greater cause?”
“A massive greater cause that no being can shoulder.”
I waved my hand dismissively.
“I don’t know what it is, but don’t tell me. Just hearing the preamble makes me feel stifled.”
“Quite perceptive. Honestly, I sometimes wonder if I heard it for nothing. Because of it, the weight of my life became as heavy as Mount Tai.”
“Then put it down. That’s all just baggage.”
Callen made a heavy expression.
“Once you hear it, you can never let it go.”
“There’s no such thing as ‘never.'”
“But it seems there are exceptions in this world. Exceptions that even escape the absolute value that ‘there are no absolute values.'”
If I had to name a greater cause of that magnitude, there’s only one category. I grinned a wry smile and wiggled my middle finger slightly.
“Is it this? Then I acknowledge it too.”
Callen seemed to think deeply for a considerable while before speaking.
“Hmm, seems slightly insufficient.”
“Whoa. That level?”
I was utterly astonished. I couldn’t understand what greater cause could possibly surpass the level of nighttime activities (procreation). Nighttime activities are one of the few absolute values for the continuation of humankind. If humanity condemns that act and stops, it will self-destruct in that instant.
Callen dusted off his dirty clothes.
“Anyway, I have business to attend to, so I should be going now. If we meet again someday, we’ll see each other then.”
“As you wish.”
“Then.”
Callen gave a short farewell and disappeared into the complex maze of alleys. Callen. No matter how I looked at him, he was a strange man. The entire conversation was strange, and his appearance was even stranger. Callen’s appearance was closer to a zombie than a human.
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