Chapter 59
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Choco
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Choco
“Hehe… Is this the brown one you were talking about?!”
The weasel, prostrated like a general reporting to his king after a victorious war, let out a vile laugh.
“Is he brown enough?! A bit dark, maybe? Ahem! If I wipe him like this…”
I coughed drily at the sight of the weasel spitting on his palm and wiping Bermunt’s neck.
‘No matter how bad a shape Bermunt was in… he’s still Bermunt.’
Seeing that vile laugh of his, the back of my head felt strangely uneasy.
In any case, a promise was a promise, so I handed him 20 silver.
“…You’re really giving this to me?”
The weasel took the money, his expression still dubious as he glanced back and forth between my face and my fist.
“Whatever. Get him upstairs. With the others.”
I gestured to the trio of pushovers watching from a distance.
“Aron! Which room?!”
Hana suddenly shouted.
“Just put him in any empty room. He’s Choco, and he’ll be guarding this place from now on.”
“…Choco? What does that mean?”
Too lazy to explain, I just waved my hand.
With a somewhat skeptical look, Hana called over the trio of pushovers, and they carried the unconscious man upstairs.
The weasel eyed me suspiciously before backing away and disappearing.
The hall grew quiet again, and the washing machine carefully placed a meat pie in front of me.
“I like women.”
The damn washing machine muttered with a serious face as he cast a cleaning spell on me.
“I like women, too.”
My answer seemed to put him at ease.
I found that inexplicably annoying, but I put up with it because he was a top-of-the-line washing machine.
The refrigerator, his eyes half-closed, let out a long yawn and sat across from me, chilling my beer mug. He kept nodding off but stayed put in front of me.
Because of him, I couldn’t drink much and had to get up from my seat.
I grabbed the slumped-over refrigerator by the scruff of his neck, tucked him inside, and went upstairs.
I lay down on the bed, but sleep wouldn't come.
The memories I had suppressed since facing Bermunt kept resurfacing, cluttering my mind.
As my thoughts drifted, I suddenly heard footsteps near the door.
I instinctively grabbed the hilt of my sword.
The door opened quietly, and Hana peeked her head in.
“…What is it?”
“You’re still awake?! Just checking on the well-being of our guests, as the owner should!”
Hana studied me with sharp eyes, then exclaimed, “Good night, Aron!” and closed the door.
‘What’s with her?’
I closed my eyes again.
But my chaotic mind showed no signs of calming down.
For a long while after, the sound of footsteps paced back and forth in front of my door, as if someone were standing guard.
From the lightness of the steps, it was clearly Hana.
***
*Knock, knock.*
The moment I opened my eyes, I reached for my sword.
Reassured by the cool touch of the hilt, I got out of bed.
Standing before the door, as usual, was the abbot. I gave him a slight nod, then suddenly realized with a shiver that I was starting to take his presence for granted.
‘This meticulous son of a bitch.’
“A fine dawn for prayer. Verily, prayer is most refreshing when offered as the dew forms…”
I walked past the abbot, who was still spouting his usual nonsense, and headed for Bermunt’s room.
*Thump, thump!*
I knocked on the door, but there was no response.
‘Ah, right. He was a heavy sleeper.’
With that, I opened the door and went in.
I saw him sprawled halfway off the bed.
He was even snoring; he seemed to be sleeping quite comfortably.
Seeing the broadsword to his right, I drew my own sword. Then, with the tip, I tapped his temple. *Pok.*
He shot up and swung his broadsword at me.
I was ready for it, so I blocked it with ease.
“Morning.”
“…Killer of Stars.”
He glared at me with the same sharp eyes he had on the battlefield, still not fully awake.
Covered in a cold sweat and breathing heavily, it seemed he hadn't had a pleasant dream either.
“Eyes down, Choco.”
“…Choco? What does that mean?”
“Ahem.”
He scowled for a moment, then let out a long sigh and lowered his head slightly.
Remembering what he put me through in the desert back then, the sight was quite satisfying. He had tormented me endlessly in the desert under the pretext of training.
‘Though it did help.’
This time, I was the one helping with his rehabilitation, so it was my chance to pay him back for all that grief.
While I was at it, I thought about telling him, “Choco, paw,” but I decided to save that for later.
“Let’s go for a walk, Choco.”
He followed me without a word.
The abbot bowed his head and greeted him.
“A fine dawn for prayer.”
“Prayer… Do you also pray with blood and sweat?”
“…What are you talking about?”
“No, you’re so thin, praying with blood and sweat would be disastrous for you.”
“Prayer is not of blood and sweat, but of the heart… Ah, but in a way, it is of blood and sweat. When one prays on a hot summer day, one sweats…”
I ignored the conversation behind me and headed for the backyard.
I did a short warm-up and started running, and Choco ran after me. He seemed to be trying hard, but he collapsed before he was even halfway done.
“Pathetic.”
“…Give me a month. I’ll be pulling my weight by then.”
I nodded at his reply.
He was a man who always kept his word.
Next, I began to swing my sword. He was the first to collapse this time, too, while I continued for a little longer.
“I noticed it yesterday, but you’ve improved a lot.”
“A lot has happened.”
I beckoned with my finger.
He struggled to his feet and faced me. His once-dull eyes had become a little clearer.
“Choco!”
When I clapped, Choco charged at me like he’d seen a dog treat.
His broadsword was dull, while my sword, sharpened daily, was keen. Soon, the backyard was filled with the clash of steel and the sound of meat being tenderized.
The pommel of my sword slammed into Bermunt’s abdomen, and he fell backward.
‘Good.’
His body might have grown dull, but his combat skills were etched into his very being. The movements he showed in flashes were still sharp.
He was a bit lacking, but more than usable.
“Ughhh…”
“Honorary Friar Aron. Is this truly training? If you are perhaps tormenting this man…”
With Choco foaming at the mouth and crying out in pain, the abbot asked me with a serious expression.
“Could you heal him first, please?”
“…Violence is never the answer.”
The abbot gave me a dubious look as he healed Choco. Regaining his senses, Choco wiped the foam from his mouth and shot to his feet.
“Damn! I must have dozed off for a second! Again!”
No matter how worn down he was, his true nature hadn't changed. He was a warrior born to fight, one who drank blood instead of water.
The look on the abbot’s face as he backed away from the charging Choco was a sight to behold.
Choco came at me two more times before our morning workout was over.
“You’re much stronger than when we last met!”
“Enunciate.”
“Got it.”
After the abbot departed, muttering a much longer prayer than usual, the refrigerator and the washing machine approached.
The refrigerator gave me a beer mug but glared at Choco.
In response, Choco raised an eyebrow, making a strange face.
“Do you have a daughter?”
“Nonsense.”
“She seems to resemble you. But on closer look, not really.”
At that, the refrigerator’s lips curled into a smile, and he promptly fetched another beer mug from inside himself.
“Oh, thank you. Daughter of Aron.”
“Hmph.”
Choco reached out to pat the refrigerator’s head and got his hand bitten.
“Her personality is a perfect match, too.”
Choco muttered under his breath, rubbing his reddened fingers.
Choco went to wash up, and I sat at a table, eating the meat pie Hana had brought me.
“Aron.”
“Hm?”
“That’s not the right expression. Relax your eyes a little more, and your lips…”
Hana narrowed her eyes, critiquing my expression.
I made a playful face in response, and Hana pouted.
“I’m thinking of stopping the lodging side of the business. The rooms are full, and… I saw the potential of ice-cold beer during the festival, so I want to specialize in cooking or beer…”
I took a large bite of the meat pie. The gamey smell of the meat and the awkwardly added spices created a spectacular synergy.
‘Cooking is not a good choice.’
I seriously contemplated whether I should try to stop her.
“I’m going to learn how to cook from Delmuto! Don’t look at me like that!”
“…Delmont?”
I scratched my cheek at the unfamiliar name.
“Delmuto! It’s the name of the mage you brought here, Aron.”
“Ah, the washing machine.”
After that, Hana talked for a long time. I just nodded along, forcing the meat pie into my mouth.
“Oh! That smells delicious!”
Choco approached, dripping wet.
Thankfully, he was covered from the waist down. He sat at the next table and shook his head, flinging water from his hair.
“Why are you sitting over there?”
“Hm? Oh, we don’t share a table with another man’s wife.”
Hana’s eyes widened at Choco’s reply, and her face suddenly turned red.
“Ah… It’s not quite at that stage yet…”
Hana muttered softly, then shot up from her seat and went to the back.
When she returned, she was carrying a heaping pile of meat pies.
Choco, true to his desert origins, devoured Hana’s meat pies with relish.
I saw the refrigerator standing on a table with his hands behind his back, lecturing the trio of pushovers who were lined up in a corner.
‘It’s gotten pretty crowded here.’
I looked around the hall for a moment and murmured to myself.
My throat suddenly felt itchy, so I cleared it with my hand and stood up.
I took Choco with me to work.
“…Two squad leaders?”
When we arrived at the headquarters, Brick shouted in surprise.
“A pleasure to meet you! Are you Aron’s subordinate? I am Bermunt, Aron’s slave!”
Brick’s eyes grew even wider at Choco’s explanation.
“Squad Leader. The Empire strictly forbids slavery… Since we haven’t taken Casedic Castle yet, perhaps it’s best to climb the ladder one step at a time…”
Brick rambled on with a serious face.
“He’s just an old friend.”
“Hahaha! An old friend. You speak the truth!”
Choco laughed heartily at my words.
I went in to report to the Captain, and Choco slyly followed me.
“Oh—a brown Aron?”
“…An old friend.”
“Ooh! I was just thinking it would be great if all the squad leaders were Arons! I never imagined there would be a different-colored Aron!”
The Captain, thoroughly excited, jumped up and circled Choco. Choco scowled, but when I said, “Stay,” he just twitched his nose.
“Ah, the 5th Squad Leader position is conveniently vacant. What do you think?”
I mulled over the Captain’s offer.
It wasn’t a bad proposal. The 5th Squad’s shifts were the complete opposite of my 4th Squad’s, so we would never overlap.
Besides, it was a waste to stick him in a crowded inn.
‘He should at least earn his own keep.’
I nodded my head.
“Then I’ll put his name down for the 5th Squad Leader selection match tomorrow. What’s his name?”
“I am the glorious fifth star.”
“What a long name. Alright, let’s call you Chan-Star. It’s pretty and cute, I like it.”
“That sounds fine.”
If I left them to it, he would end up with a cheerful name that didn't suit him at all, so I quickly intervened.
“This friend’s name is Bermunt. But what’s this about a selection match?”
“Ah, Bermunt. A needlessly cool name. The selection match? We have a lot of guys who applied for the 5th Squad Leader position this time. It’s a hassle, so we decided the winner takes the spot.”
I nodded, looking at the Captain’s twitching cheek as he shamelessly admitted it was a hassle. He was truly the perfect superior to have.
“Hahaha! A selection match! I, Bermunt, the glorious fifth star, shall rip out the throat of any opponent and drink their blood! Do not worry!”
However, it seemed he had misunderstood the meaning of a selection match.
I offered a silent prayer of condolence for whomever he would face.
***
Nova stared at the pile of papers in front of her and scratched her head in frustration.
‘Why is this good? Why is it so neat? Why?!’
Nova had ended up pulling an all-nighter, first improving upon what Aron had left behind to better suit her needs, and then reviewing it.
Looking down at the stack of papers, Nova felt a sense of anxiety.
‘It’s brilliant! It’s clean! Why?’
Aron wasn’t supposed to be like this. Aron wasn’t supposed to be smart. This was an invasion of her territory… Nova muttered continuously as she paced the room.
It was then.
*Knock, knock.*
“Lady Nova. Someone from Bolt Castle has arrived.”
‘Ah, that’s right, it’s today.’
Nova quickly fixed her hair and straightened her clothes.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and a short man entered.
It was Pururan, the vice-secretary of Bolt Castle.
He was a man who always showed up with a greasy expression.
‘…So annoying, first thing in the morning.’
Contrary to her inner thoughts, Nova smiled gently.
“Ah, Lady Nova, you look as fresh as the morning dew.”
Pururan began to make trivial small talk unrelated to work, and Nova played along while her mind wandered elsewhere.
Pururan sat down without being invited. Nova suppressed her rising irritation and sat across from him.
“Oh—what are these? I’ve never seen diagrams like these before.”
After murmuring for a moment, Pururan seemed to grasp what the diagrams meant. He frowned in concentration.
Nova cracked a walnut she had beside her and popped it into her mouth. *Crunch.* The distinct bitter taste made her stick her tongue out slightly before she chewed again.
‘But is this even working? I’ve eaten quite a lot.’
By the time she had eaten about five walnuts, Pururan looked up.
“To think such an organizational method existed…”
The admiration in his eyes made Nova vaguely uncomfortable.
Pururan explained, spittle flying, just how revolutionary this organizational method was, and how genius.
The papers she had left out were the least efficient ones from Aron’s scribbles. And yet, Pururan was marveling at them.
‘Aron is a genius? Why?’
*Crunch.*
Nova now started putting two walnuts in her mouth at a time.
After that, it was a repeat of their previous conversations.
How to proceed with the marriage between the eldest son and the young lady.
Things like that.
Nova listened, her mind racing.
The situation had changed rapidly. Casedic Castle was expanding at an explosive rate, while Bolt Castle, despite having many knights, was in decline.
*Crunch.*
She savored the unique bitterness of the walnut and continued her train of thought.
‘The level of the black mage who recently targeted Vivian was…’
A skull that plunged anyone who saw it into a nightmare, countless other skeletons, and a demon that was difficult for a single knight to handle. Even to Nova, who was a layman, their level was far from ordinary.
‘The high caliber of those targeting her means… Vivian has a value to match.’
She didn’t know the reason, but they were after Vivian.
If they sent Vivian to House Fener, could they protect her there?
Nova shook her head slightly.
Rumors were circulating that knights of Bolt Castle were fighting amongst themselves; the situation was not good.
‘And Vivian didn’t seem to like her prospective partner very much.’
It was beyond her authority, but she could at least drop a subtle hint. After that, it was a matter for Baron Pulpuchu to consider.
‘Either find a new place, or strengthen Casedic Castle.’
It was one of the two.
But how to go about it was the tricky part.
“Now that the young lady’s first year of adulthood is almost over, the wedding should be around the time the weather cools…”
Nova’s eyes widened slightly at Pururan’s muttering.
The young lady’s birthday was just around the corner, too.
“Haha—I heard it’s been over two years since you came of age, Lady Nova… It’s about time…”
As he said, it was ‘about time’ for a crisis. Her hands itched to rip his hair out, but just then, he stood up.
“Ah, there’s still so much to discuss, but look at the time. I’m not familiar with the restaurants in Casedic Castle, so perhaps…”
“I’m fasting at the moment.”
Nova replied to his obvious ploy with a genuine smile.
“You’re already beautiful enough, how much more…”
More nonsense followed, and Nova’s lips just twitched.
“I shall visit again soon. The days are hot lately, but the thought of seeing you makes the distance seem short…”
He grabbed the doorknob and opened his mouth.
Just then, the door opened first.
Pururan, struck by the forcefully opened door, tumbled backward.
“Hmm… must have been a pull door.”
Aron scratched his cheek.
Nova let out a small laugh.
***
After finishing my ‘Honorary Scribe’ duties in Nova’s room, I rejoined Brick and Choco to complete our patrol.
Nothing particularly noteworthy happened.
Except for the people who shouted, “Two Arons?!” wherever we went.
The patrol ended without incident, and Brick left, saying he had to meet Charlotte.
“A good castle.”
I nodded at Choco’s murmur.
Being on the frontier, the castle was full of naive people. Even the difficult ones could be straightened out with a few punches.
“I won’t ask why you did it. Because you are Aron.”
Choco suddenly set a serious mood.
‘It wouldn’t matter if you asked.’
Still, it wasn’t a story to be told lightly, so I just nodded.
“You are a man who holds a promise as dear as his life. I believe you had a good reason.”
He rattled on with such embarrassing words that I had to turn my head away. But I could still feel his piercing gaze.
“But the fledgling… no, the First Star is different from me. He will not forgive you. Whatever the reason. He will chew you up, make clothes from the skin of those around you, and dance while wearing them.”
Choco’s voice was so serious that I couldn’t just brush it off.
“The First Star… no, Edan has gone to serve under Duke Decartortor.”
His next words were unexpected.
“Under Decartortor?”
“Yes, Duke Decartortor, the second man responsible for the fall of our kingdom. He has gone to serve under him.”
A grinding sound came from Choco’s clenched teeth.
‘This changes things a bit.’
My throat felt scratchy, and I rubbed it with my hand.
Bermunt’s eyes darted as if to gauge my reaction, then he closed them.
“…He is not the same stubborn child he once was. Be careful. Children who lose their parents grow up fast.”
I nodded at his warning.
After a moment of silence, I asked what I was curious about.
“But if Decartortor is the second… who’s the first?”
My question made his eyes go wide.
“Just kidding.”
The corners of Choco’s eyes shot up.
***
The Flower of the East.
Lady Vivian took out the handkerchiefs from her bosom and compared them.
Four handkerchiefs in total.
They were all identical.
Vivian, who had always been a vivid dreamer, thought it must have been another dream.
A truly embarrassing dream.
But the handkerchiefs laid out before her denied it.
‘…I must be crazy.’
Vivian, who had been thinking about the dream, jumped to her feet in surprise.
It was no use moping around here by herself.
She had to talk to the person involved!
Vivian took out a simple hood for moving about unnoticed and put it on.
‘Perfect!’
Looking in the mirror, Vivian’s lips curled into a smile.
She stretched her ankles and then headed for the window.
It was a dizzying height, but Vivian didn't hesitate to stick her bare white foot out.
She lightly stepped on the protrusions on the wall, gradually slowing her descent, and landed gracefully on the ground.
It was a feat made possible by the incredible agility she had gained one day.
Vivian thought it was because her body had become lighter from cutting her food intake by half.
Warily scanning her surroundings, she left the inner castle. Going through the gate would have gotten her caught, so she climbed over the inner wall.
Her movements were on par with a knight’s, but Vivian still dismissed it as something possible simply because she was slender.
Soon, she was over the wall and in the bustling outer castle. Vivian often snuck out of the inner castle alone, so she found her way with ease.
‘He said he was an Outer Wall Guard Squad Leader.’
Recalling her first encounter with him, she tried to guess where he might be.
But, before that—
‘Wow! What a delicious smell.’
Vivian was drawn into the crowd as if mesmerized.
As she followed the scent here and there, a pale-faced man suddenly blocked her path.
It was Swallowitz of the White Magic Tower, the one whose bracelet Aron had taken.
Unusually sensitive to mana, his eyes narrowed as he looked at the brilliantly glowing mass of mana before him.
‘One beloved by mana. So it was true.’
Faced with the radiant mass of mana, the beauty of the so-called Flower of the East didn't even register in Swallowitz’s eyes.
‘With this much mana, she will surely break through the wall.’
The foolish ones would clamor to eat her heart, but that would surely bring about a regression in the history of magic.
A heart shines brightest when it is in its original place.
The one beloved by mana was not her heart, but—
‘This woman herself.’
Meeting her eyes, which seemed to have been crafted from all the jewels in the world, Swallowitz swallowed hard.
Despite the pressure from the White Magic Tower, in his life of over fifty years, he had never once considered taking a disciple.
But before this seed, which was destined to become a legend, his resolve crumbled.
Just as he was about to reveal who he was and ask if she wanted to learn magic—
A calloused fist drew near.
Unable to comprehend the situation, Swallowitz couldn't react—
*WHACK!!*
His vision flickered out.
Even as he lost consciousness, Swallowitz couldn't understand what was happening.
*Slap!*
“Hey, wake up. What do you think you’re doing, sleeping on the ground like this?”
When he opened his eyes, he couldn't understand why the man who took his bracelet was right in front of him, either.
***
*Hoo… hoo…*
The weasel held his sword and glared ahead.
Finally, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had arrived.
“The 5th Squad Leader position. It’s mine. I’ll take them all down.”
A sharp smile spread across the weasel’s lips.