Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Date
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Indeed, compared to the place we'd visited before, this village was much larger, offering a wide variety of sights to behold.
I grabbed Nameless's hand and pointed to a food stall.
"Ooh, Nameless! They've got fried fish slathered in strawberry jam!"
Nameless stared at the stall I'd indicated, his face a picture of bewilderment.
"...Pardon? Why would anyone make something like that?"
"What do you mean?"
Why did he have to say it like that? It was downright hurtful.
Feeling a bit miffed, I pouted my lips, and Nameless wiped his face before telling me to wait here a moment and ducked into the shop.
Though he'd said that, was he curious about it himself?
Well, fried fish with strawberry jam—who wouldn't be intrigued by something so bizarre?
Tsk, my mouth was watering already.
I rubbed my lips with the back of my hand and watched as Nameless emerged from the shop.
In his hand was a small pouch, from which wafted the scent of strawberries mingled with a faint fishy tang. It had to be the strawberry jam fried fish.
But why had he only bought that one thing?
No way.
Was he planning to eat it all by himself?
I'd always put Nameless first, but it seemed I'd raised a faulty disciple after all.
Irritated at the thought of him hogging something so tasty, I furrowed my brows.
As I lamented my failed disciple-training for a good while, Nameless approached and quietly held out the pouch.
"What's this?"
"I bought it for you, Master."
Looked like I'd have to retract all those thoughts from moments ago.
My disciple-training was impeccable, as expected.
"Really?!"
"Would I ever lie to you?"
"Thank you!"
I took the pouch from him and held it triumphantly aloft.
"Ooh, I'll have to save it for when we get back to the inn!"
"...Yes."
Nameless's expression turned a bit odd for some reason, but I knew why.
"Heh heh, I'll save some for you, so don't look so glum!"
"Pardon? What do you mean? I'm fine, really."
"Now, now! No need to hold back!"
Nameless's face paled.
We left the bustling food district and strolled across to the other side, where a little girl and her mother—clearly so—were bickering in the street.
Curiosity piqued, I listened in on their conversation.
"You little rascal! We have tons of the same thing at home!"
"No! That one's different from the ones we have!"
Were all kids like this, no matter the era?
The familiar exchange brought a chuckle and a smile to my face.
"How adorable."
"Do you like children, Master?"
Hmm, who in the world disliked kids?
Sure, maybe some people did, but not me.
If I'd hated children, I never would have taken Nameless under my wing back then.
I nodded emphatically.
"Of course I do. What about you—do you dislike them?"
"I like them too."
Hmm, why had he even asked?
The question sparked a brief moment of doubt, but it wasn't enough to hold my interest, so I let it go.
I glanced back at the mother and daughter, still locked in their squabble.
"Waaah, buy it for me!"
"Why are you throwing such a fit today...?"
What was she so desperate to have?
Wondering, I peered at the shop behind the girl, which was filled with all sorts of cute stuffed dolls on display.
"She wants a doll, huh."
It was such a childlike desire that a warm smile spread across my face.
For a fleeting moment, I considered buying one for her, but I quickly dismissed the idea.
She might learn that tantrums got her what she wanted, and besides, a stranger meddling in family matters would look downright odd.
With a fond smile, I started to walk past the child when the doll shop suddenly caught my eye.
"That one..."
I had no idea why, but there was even a strawberry-shaped plush toy.
Hmm, would anyone actually want that?
A strawberry you couldn't eat? Total disqualification.
As I stared intently at the doll with those thoughts running through my head, Nameless jingled the pouch of money.
"Do you want it?"
"? Want what?"
I was over three hundred years old—not some child. Why would he offer to buy me a doll?
He scratched his head awkwardly under my displeased gaze.
"Tch, what kind of person does he think his master is?"
The world had gone mad, truly mad.
I clicked my tongue and kept walking, when suddenly something I'd forgotten came to mind.
A disciple's sword was something bestowed by their master—that was the way of things.
He might nitpick, but to me, that was style, romance.
Until now, I hadn't had a sword myself, and since we never left the mountain, there was nothing but wooden practice blades to give. But this was the perfect chance to gift Nameless a real sword.
It was embarrassing to have overlooked something so important, but seeing him try to buy me a doll had jogged my memory.
And conveniently, this area we were strolling through was full of weapons shops.
Now that we'd publicly sided with the Demon King, who knew what dangers lay ahead? Nameless couldn't swing a wooden sword forever.
"Nameless, it seems about time you had a real sword."
Had I said something wrong?
Nameless's eyes widened in genuine surprise at my words.
"Aren't I still too lacking to wield a real blade?"
Hmm, why would he think that?
Lily, whom we'd seen before coming to the village, was weak enough for Nameless to cut down with ease, and the adventurers at the guild before that lacked any real presence. Anyone halfway competent couldn't hold a candle to him.
He wasn't overwhelmingly strong, but he was more than ready for a real sword.
"Hmm? Why do you think that? You're plenty ready."
"You've never bestowed a sword upon me before, so I assumed my training was insufficient."
"What?"
Was there a culture here where masters gifted swords to disciples?
A pang of guilt hit me for not having given him one yet, and I bit my lip.
"Hmm, I've never left the mountain, so I couldn't procure a proper one."
I fidgeted with my fingers.
"You're not just sufficient—you're an exemplary disciple. Sorry for letting you misunderstand."
"No, Master."
Nameless shook his head with a smile.
"Knowing now that you acknowledged me long ago only makes me happy."
"Hmm."
He seemed so pleased, gripping my hand tightly and beaming from ear to ear.
If I'd known he'd be this thrilled, I would've said it sooner.
Hand in hand, we wandered through the weapons shops.
Nameless scanned the neatly arrayed swords, then shook our clasped hands.
Was he calling me? I looked up, and he gave me a puzzled look.
"But what about a sword for you, Master? Don't you need one?"
"A sword, huh..."
I pressed a finger to my lips, pondering.
'How do I even explain this?'
To be honest, I was afraid of cutting people, so I deliberately used a bladeless wooden sword.
The idea of me killing someone? Unthinkable.
A sword-user terrified of slicing down a foe? How utterly uncool.
As I tilted my head, searching for the right words, this fool misunderstood again and nodded with shining eyes.
"I see. As expected of you, Master."
I let out a sigh and rubbed my face.
"...What are you thinking now?"
"Your opponents are so weak that you're holding back to spare them, right?"
What was that supposed to mean...?
'That's kinda cool, though?'
I turned my head away with a wistful expression, as if my secret had been uncovered.
"You really can't be fooled, can you?"
One corner of my mouth twitched.
I glanced at him sidelong; he'd stopped browsing the swords and was bowing his head in profound admiration.
"As expected of you, Master. As your disciple, I'd love to honor your will and use a wooden sword too, but my skills fall short... It's truly shameful."
I clamped down on my still-trembling lips and feigned nonchalance, as if it were no big deal.
"Yes, strive harder from now on."
"Yes, Master."
My conscience prickled a bit, but I'd preserved my dignity as a master.
I nodded solemnly, holding back tears.
Yes, this would do.
We checked out several weapons shops together, but Nameless still hadn't found a sword to his liking.
I poked his side, where he wore a dejected expression.
"Nothing catching your eye?"
"Yes... Nothing really appeals to me."
"I didn't expect you'd find one so quickly anyway. It's a blade you'll wield for years to come."
I patted his back reassuringly and eyed the displayed swords.
Indeed.
Even to my untrained eye, none of them looked worthwhile.
Hmm, no helping it, then.
"Looks like we'll have to commission one custom-made."
Nameless's eyes sparkled, then quickly dimmed.
"...Will that be alright? Finding a smith, gathering materials—the whole process sounds quite troublesome."
He knew so much about it; he must have really wanted his own weapon.
It almost reminded me of the kid begging for a doll earlier, and I chuckled with a smile.
"What do you mean? It's for my disciple—doing this much is the least I can do."