Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: You Know It's the Dead of Winter?
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It had already been three days since entering Karta's ger.
If anyone had expected something grand from the term "training," Sion could confidently say no.
For these people, simply breaking camp and moving was their mobile training, and riding horses was their maneuver training.
The few activities that could be considered actual training were the heightened vigilance compared to peacetime or all-night watches to prepare for night raids.
"Master, Master."
"What, what is it."
"D-Do you really have to go out again today?"
Two days ago, and yesterday.
Sion went out at dawn each time, chatted lightly with the warriors on guard duty, and returned to the tent.
Even when she offered to escort him, they waved him off, forcing Risikida to fret anxiously until Sion safely returned.
Of course, once Sion was back, she could snuggle into the same sleeping bag, feel her master's warmth, and finally sleep soundly—which was definitely nice—but she thought anything more was truly too much.
"I've heard that today you have to stay up all night, no exceptions.
And since it's training to counter a night raid by striking back preemptively, you can't even light a fire."
"Yeah.
That's why they call it an all-nighter."
"The North is different from Klauzen territory or the royal castle.
I'm so worried you'll ruin your health."
"This is the last one anyway.
After the all-nighter ends at dawn tomorrow, we'll rest, and while the warriors practice mobile tactics, I plan to finish my talk with Temujin."
For a nomadic people whose daily life was war, they couldn't stay in such harsh lands for long.
Even if they were fine, if the horses got sick, that was the end—nothing more could be done.
Their horsemanship was so superb they could fight monsters from horseback, and even the kingdom's knights dreaded them charging while making strange noises.
"More importantly, Rishi, what do you think?"
"You mean the warriors' reactions?"
"Yeah.
You must've overheard the warriors whispering about us while pretending to check the horses."
"At first, they were clearly wary.
But after you mingled with them without hesitation, that somehow lessened."
Sion chuckled as if he'd expected Risikida's words.
Convincing one person was worse than doing nothing, and even two would lose power if they joined a group.
But humans were real starting from three, and pulling those three to your side unleashed true destructive force.
Over the past few days, three warriors who'd grown close to Sion were sharing stories of him with others bit by bit. Despite still being Temujin's guest, Sion didn't treat the warriors carelessly.
He gave them the impression that he genuinely enjoyed and was comfortable being with them.
They must have been skeptical at first.
Wasn't this pretty boy just acting for a day? Was he trying to deceive them and plant illusions about the kingdom?
'Had I strutted around all stern like "ahem," I'd have been suspected immediately.
But I didn't, right?
Warriors preparing for battle are the same in any world.
They naturally warm to those who understand their hardships and share them.'
Why else would soldiers see officers as their worst enemies?
Officers who knew nothing of reality, just emphasizing their superiority without effort to win hearts—it was the perfect way to breed resentment, a truly idiotic move.
So Sion showed none of that.
On his first day as a guest, did he act arrogant as Temujin's guest, make endless requests of the warriors, or put on a pompous show?
No, none of it.
Instead, he spoke and acted like an utterly ordinary person—like one of the warriors.
He focused on erasing the wariness or rejection outsiders from the kingdom or northern tribes might face.
'Image, first impressions—if you nail those, they embellish the rest beautifully on their own.
No extra effort needed from me.
Word spreads naturally.'
In a place with vast living space, maybe not, but here you saw the same guy rubbing sleep from his eyes upon waking, at meals, on horseback, even heading to relieve yourself.
Even if they didn't talk much with other tribes, a few connections bridged everyone eventually.
The hottest topic was naturally Temujin's guest, and the seeds he'd sown sprouted, spreading everywhere.
That kingdom noble who came in—he oddly fit right in with the warriors.
'And on top of that, they said the jerky they were sick of wasn't half bad.'
He didn't know whose idiot idea it was, but back then he'd wanted to stuff anchovy shit into the head of whoever put anchovies in rice balls.
Dried baby anchovies, maybe—but who thought to pair large anchovies with rice balls?
"Master.
Then can I come with—"
"You promised to stay in the tent always."
"I'm your knight who serves you, and your bodyguard who must stay by your side!
If you just explain the reason in detail, I could accept it, but if you keep telling me to wait in the tent, for me..."
"I hate the idea of weirdos peeking at my woman."
Without a second's hesitation, Sion unleashed his cherished trump card.
Caught off guard by the blow straight to the heart, Risikida let out an "Uh-uh-uh" before her face flushed bright red.
As if steam might whoosh from her ears with a "Psssh!" any second.
'But honestly, that's the truth.'
When Risikida first entered the ger, Sion had noticed the warriors stealing glances at her, knowingly or not.
Jan Temujin was a stunning beauty too, but there's a difference between the familiar and the sudden.
Plus, Nudians looked a bit different from northerners, drawing the warriors' eyes.
Whether out of curiosity or darker interest, it was definitely unpleasant from a man's perspective.
'Better to hide her and avoid trouble.'
Whether it was their fault or Karta's, it'd inevitably reflect badly on him.
Most warriors would leave camp for maneuvers after tomorrow anyway, so then she could travel with him safely.
"Got what I mean, Rishi?"
"My woman, my woman..."
"...Rishi?"
He'd apparently pulled the trigger on the wrong part.
Excluding superhumans, she held the top title for ordinary humans: upper knight, able to cross blades evenly with Kim Yu-hyun.
Yet beneath that, she had a delicate heart and a somewhat severe dependency on relying on someone.
Considering he'd been slightly neglectful lately, her reaction showed she'd reached a dangerous level.
'...She might go dark too at this rate.
No, Rishi.
Please stay my reliable bodyguard knight.
Trisha and Jan Temujin are enough headache for me.'
Judging words wouldn't calm her, so he gently embraced the still-muttering knight.
No, the woman, and softly stroked her shimmering golden hair.
"You've had it rough.
Always ending up with a master who drags you into hardships."
"Ah?
N-No, absolutely not!
I-I never once thought that..."
"No.
You hid it well, but I wasn't at ease either about putting you through something nasty with Trisha.
Fortunately, she doesn't seem to hold a grudge, but it still didn't sit right."
"...T-Truth is."
Normally she'd listen quietly, but Risikida spoke up.
A slightly anxious look, unsure where to put her eyes, fidgety posture.
Anyone could see it: the kid who broke Dad's expensive fishing rod, watching as Dad—who'd yelled big but now apologized—reacted.
'Why's she getting anxious again?'
Surely she hadn't caused trouble or planned to.
Sion waited without pressing.
Like waiting for a guilty child to confess on their own.
Pushing only made it worse, especially for the sensitive.
"Somehow... it felt real.
I felt pathetic and s-scared."
"...What's that suddenly, Rishi?"
"When you told me to pressure that woman Trisha, I saw you two talking.
Suddenly, rage boiled inside, it was so infuriating, so from then on I pushed her harder than you said."
"Uh..."
No wonder she'd gone so dark—Risikida had been hounding her like mad, knowingly or not.
Even good-natured people snap under relentless nagging and bullying, and Trisha—the Black Flame Dragon's master—taking it meant things veered oddly, naturally.
"I-I meant to tell you sooner...
Sorry.
I was afraid of punishment or being cast out, so I had thoughts unbecoming a knight."
"..."
He'd braced for something horrific like her trying to kill Trisha.
Muttering that inwardly, Sion let out a relieved sigh.
Honestly, for a woman like Risikida, even stronger jealousy would've left him speechless.
"Relax.
I told you, right?
As long as you don't abandon me, I won't abandon you."
"You did say that."
"Then we're good.
If you'd really tried to harm one of mine, it'd be different, but since it ended well, I won't pursue it.
Just don't let personal feelings push someone too far next time.
Unless they're after my life, that is.
Understood, Risikida Amstel?"
"Y-Yes, I'll keep it in mind."
Patting her back, she leaned her forehead on his shoulder, seemingly much relieved.
Watching, Sion thought he needed to properly soothe this knight soon.
"Hm, but you know, Rishi."
"Y-Yes.
Master."
"Other things I might let slide once, but shouldn't you have 'reported' something like that to me right away?
As your bodyguard knight, neglecting duty like that."
"Sorry, sorry!
If you punish me, I'll accept anything."
Punishment, huh.
He'd have to think of one on the way back to the kingdom.
Since it was joint responsibility, should he hold the knight Risikida Amstel accountable to the woman Rishi too?
Smiling, Sion gently patted her back to say not to worry.
Her trembling eased, and she leaned into him, savoring the comfort as if wanting to stay like this a while.
—
"Are you sure you'll be okay?"
"About what."
"Even the warriors hate this training."
"I'm not worried."
"No fires, so it's freezing, your body stiffens, limbs ache and go numb."
"I said I'm not worried."
Ignoring Tas's concerns, Sion checked his cold-weather gear and settled perfectly into the trench the warriors had dug beforehand.
It was definitely cold, but this gear was far warmer and better insulated than his old fur coat.
A bit smelly, but better than freezing to death.
"Just what are you, Sion?
Do all kingdom nobles live like this?"
At Husl's question, Sion turned with an "Huh?"
Husl stared at him, utterly baffled, and continued.
"We hate waking at dawn too, but you do it casually for days, shoveled this trench better than most warriors, and now look as comfy as in your own sleeping bag."
"Husl's right.
Look here, Sion.
I can't figure you out either.
Aren't war heroes supposed to be strong and cool like Temujin, always noble-looking?"
The middle-aged warrior Yung also struggled to adapt to Sion's demeanor.
It wasn't just two hours on watch; it was an all-nighter.
Yet this pretty kingdom noble fearlessly joined in.
"Shut up. Everyone got plenty of fun stories ready?
Doze off even a bit here, and you'll freeze solid. Stay sharp."
"...Listen to that mouth.
Is he really a noble?
Outdoes any warrior."
"Pretty words get you extras if they work, or not if they don't."
Saying so, Sion peeked into his boots.
His 'blockade ship' buddy once smeared boot polish in his combat boots and lit it because of the cold—did nothing but warm up, so he just put it out.
Why hadn't he thought of such creative genius? Regretting with a chuckle.
This unscheduled harsh winter aside, thinking of the rewards to come, maybe one more day?
Yeah, no more, no less—just one day.
―――――――Author's Note―――――――
I want recommendations!