Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: Big Sisters, Not Your Average Women
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128―――――
The day after enjoying their final rest in Hispanya.
Sion's group entered the territory of the northern barbarian tribes at a moderate pace—not too slow, not too fast.
"Deputy Commander Schumacher."
"Yes, Young Lord Sion."
"You said your hometown is in the northern territories, right?"
"Do you know anything more about the barbarian tribes?"
"There's one thing I can say for sure, even if I don't know much else."
"They're fierce yet bold, value honor highly, but narrow-minded in subtle ways."
Sion let out a chuckle at the unfiltered assessment.
It was almost exactly like the descriptions of the northern barbarian tribes in the novels.
Having spent his childhood in the north clearly helped; he fielded questions from an approaching group of barbarians without missing a beat.
Afterward, Deputy Commander Schumacher advised that going further would only provoke their hostility, so it was better to stop and wait.
It felt odd to halt the carriages in the middle of a barren plain and just stand around doing nothing, but Sion decided to follow the advice.
"Ugh, this place feels awful."
Inside the carriage, Lily grumbled as she fiddled with her gadgets.
Rishikida responded with a drawn-out "Eeeh," while subtly keeping an eye on Trisha sitting next to her.
From her perspective, this Trisha woman seemed more unnerving than the northern barbarians.
Trisha, however, acted like nothing mattered except staring at Sion.
Thanks to that, Sion had to pretend to ponder something with his eyes closed, desperately trying to escape her gaze.
...But why does it feel so bad?
Something seemed off, so Sion spoke up.
"Lily."
"What do you mean by 'feels awful'?"
"The mana here's total crap."
"It's cold and sharp."
"Makes it a real pain to use."
Sion nodded with an "Ah."
The north was indeed harsh in living conditions and unstable in mana distribution, leaving it short on powerhouses compared to the kingdom.
The environment was poor, and the people were so rough that early deaths or assassinations were commonplace.
In that light, the Daughter of Winter and the Khan sisters were nothing short of mutants.
At just over thirty, they'd grown into transcendent figures among the barbarians, each commanding massive forces.
'Well, Eos, called the Daughter of Winter, was a woman a lot like Kim Yu-hyun in many ways. And Khan was the iron-fisted villainess big sis who could go toe-to-toe with him.'
Before leaving the capital, watching Kim Yu-hyun spar evenly with Lily had let Sion gauge that his power was over half-restored.
He could now handle senior knights without issue and, following the original story, wage a fierce battle against Khan.
'Still gotta be cautious.'
Sion glanced back, picturing Kim Yu-hyun on the opposite coachman's seat.
The man's initial icy demeanor had softened considerably after traveling together.
His distrust stemmed from endless hardships in the martial world and constant betrayals.
Yet now, he even sought Sion's input first—a fine growth.
A positive change, highly desirable.
Sion could only hope Kim Yu-hyun wouldn't hit puberty until everything was over.
"...Young Lord Sion."
Ah, shit.
That startled me.
Kim Yu-hyun's sudden voice from outside nearly made Sion's heart leap out; he grabbed it and tucked it back in.
He'd just been thinking of the guy, and there he was—impeccable timing.
Peeking out the window, he saw a black-haired man leaning back from the coachman's seat, peering in.
"Someone's approaching."
"Approaching?"
"More like a group, to be precise."
Soon after Kim Yu-hyun's words, Deputy Commander Schumacher and Rishikida tensed slightly.
Lily peered out the window with her usual nonchalance.
Moments later, the stationary carriages began to shake faintly.
...Thud thud thud thud―.
'...Looks like they've finally arrived.'
Only barbarian cavalry could make the ground tremble like this, even faintly.
As a guest, Sion figured it wouldn't look good to stay inside when the hosts had come personally, so he stepped out.
"Master!"
"It's fine, Rishi."
"If you're that worried, just stand in front of me."
Rishikida nodded and hopped out first to scout the situation.
Trisha, looking pouty and displeased, quickly took position on Rishikida's opposite side and mimicked her.
It was a far cry from the woman once called the Witch of Hispanya who burned it to the ground.
"Not bad," Sion muttered, glancing back.
There, Lily grumbled, "Ugh, what a tiring bunch of women," while swapping her hood for a hat.
Hoods could look suspicious, so he'd fitted her with a proper mage's hat—an essential accessory.
"Young Lord Sion."
"Yes, Deputy Commander."
"Looks like the hosts have arrived in person."
A group of riders now clearly visible to Sion.
Unlike kingdom horses, these were small, with short, patchy manes—thoroughly unimpressive.
More pony than warhorse.
Some capital garrison soldiers stifled laughs in disbelief, but Sion and Schumacher kept straight faces.
'That's one reason the northern barbarians can't be casually subjugated.'
Looks deceiving, those pint-sized horses were far tougher than most kingdom warhorses.
Warhorses don't just graze and go; like humans eating rice instead of raw grain, they need strictly managed feed.
Left to wild grass, they'd spend all day digesting before regaining speed.
That's why only heavily armored knights on equally armored mounts held key battlefield roles—horse care and stamina were far trickier than for humans.
'But the barbarians' horses are different.'
They look like they'd sip rice-wash only, yet they're tougher than any warhorse.
Small but strong, speeds rivaling kingdom steeds.
No fussing over feed; if none provided, they'll dig up roots themselves.
Hardened by barren lands, their hunger tolerance is genetic—iron men, iron horses that run for days without eating.
Smart too: on raids, no bit needed; they stay silent.
Perfect for the nomadic barbarians who never settle.
'From the kingdom's view, as troublesome as the people themselves.'
Knowing mobility loss on these vast plains meant getting trounced, the kingdom built forts on arable land and hunkered down—pure stonewalling.
"Hya!"
"Hya!"
Thud thud thud!―.
The northern barbarian cavalry closed in swiftly.
Then the lead split off with a sharp crack, a slightly larger, hardier horse charging straight at Sion.
Before anyone could react, the gap shrank; Rishikida gripped her sword hilt and stepped beside Sion.
"Rishi."
At Sion's restraint, she bowed and retreated.
Trisha, who'd geared up to join, sighed inwardly in relief and followed, guarding his rear.
By then, the riders were nearly upon them.
As tension peaked—fearing a trampling—their speed dropped in unison at a single rein pull.
The leader leaped from his still-moving mount.
Even slowed, a botched landing could've split his bones in two, far beyond tumbling.
Yet the rider mocked their worry, landing feather-soft—like a painting come alive—flawless.
"Hmm."
He flipped back his hat, revealing his identity.
Glossy dark gray hair, violet eyes brimming with ferocity.
Her exotic look—unlike kingdom women—yet undeniably beautiful, left the royal knights flustered.
The charging menace was a woman in her prime, beauty enough to knock out noble ladies.
It shone brighter up close, when faces were clear.
Thick clothes for cold couldn't hide her lithe limbs or superior figure.
Beauty enhanced by unflattering garb.
Sion finally got why Kim Yu-hyun had fallen hard for her.
"...Look away and you're dead."
Lily sidled up, issuing a preemptive warning shot.
Sion cleared his throat lightly—"Ahem!"—and stepped forward.
"Impressive skill."
"Beiler."
She startled, halting.
Her trailing warriors looked equally shocked.
No wonder—a kingdom noble called her by a familiar title.
"...Sounds like you know me well."
"Claussen."
"Claussen's the family name."
"I've got my own given name."
"So do I."
"I know this land calls you by your title over your name, Beiler."
With that, Sion advanced.
Leaving Rishikida, Trisha, Schumacher, and Kim Yu-hyun behind—alone.
Eos mirrored him, signaling her riders back; they met dead center.
'...Her build's almost like mine?'
Accounting for his own decent height, hers was enviably perfect.
The author fixing Sion Claussen at exactly 180 cm irked him today.
Shrink Eos Beiler's a bit!
...
Relief washed over him as she gazed up ever so slightly.
A 2-3 cm difference eased his mind.
(For reference, poor Kim Yu-hyun clocked in at 179 cm.)
"Sion."
He extended his hand first.
In the north, giving your name bare-handed was the basics of courtesy—and crucial.
Eos smiled faintly.
Good—he wasn't clueless about barbarian ways.
"Eos."
Their clasp confirmed no weapons drawn.
Her warriors lowered arms; all dismounted, taking reins.
Clear sign: no fight intended.
"...Everyone, lower weapons. Don't look so guarded."
"For them, dismounting screams no attack planned. Suspicion just twists things."
Deputy Commander Schumacher, well-versed in northern ways, ordered; royal knights and garrison troops sheathed their blades.
"...That woman's annoying."
"You too, huh?"
"Like minds."
Trisha and Lily whispered, eyeing the stunning beauty before Sion.
Both hypersensitive to his knack for attracting women—like pheromones—they bristled.
Meanwhile, Rishikida noticed Kim Yu-hyun's breathing hush beside her.
"Sir Kim Yu-hyun?"
...
He was off—stunned or lost, staring blankly.
His gaze fixed on the woman chatting with Sion.
After a dazed moment at Eos, he sighed "Ah," coughed, and snapped back to normal.
His whole body screamed, "I have zero interest or attraction to that woman!"
Obvious heart-pounding cover-up.
Rishikida watched the man struggle, then spoke slowly.
"...Rest easy."
"She won't harm Master Sion."
Sadly, Rishikida lacked Lily's sharp instincts.
―――――――Author's Note―――――――
Rishi, that's not it...
Ah, but the recommendation's spot on.