Chapter 29 - Running on the Parade Ground Out of Nowhere!
Chapter 29 - Running on the Parade Ground Out of Nowhere!
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"Ha. As expected, home is the best."
Coming back from the plain crawling with goblins to the city where I originally lived, an exclamation naturally bursts out.
Streets full of con artists, punks, and fucking murderers. I love this beautiful medieval city where someone who was a victim just five minutes ago can turn into a murderous robber.
Because I came back carrying a huge sum of 10 silver coins.
"So that's why you marched for two days without even resting."
Unlike me, Karl grumbled.
Of course, it definitely wasn't because she was tired. Because the entire time we marched, she was just watching for a chance to violate me.
The reason she's grumbling now must be because she couldn't violate me since we went without resting.
"I had so much energy that I felt like I could just keep walking."
I made up an excuse like that. It wasn't actually a lie. Because I really did have so much energy that walking day and night wouldn't have been a strain.
I also kind of think it might have been even more exhausting if I had taken breaks in between to have sex with Karl.
"I'm going to rest. It's tough not being able to drink alcohol for two whole days."
"Yes, go ahead and do that. I'm going to stop by the blacksmith's."
Karl coolly turned around and left just like that.
She'll probably drink a few dozen glasses, won't she?
She went to do her work, so it's time for me to do mine.
'It's a good thing the blacksmith's happens to be close.'
Since adventurers visit the inn a lot, the blacksmith's is also in a surprisingly close location.
A bit surprising. To think there's a blacksmith's in the commercial district. Now that I think about it, it seems a bit strange.
"Welcome. Hm? We don't sell kitchen knives."
Is that the first thing you say the moment you see me? It's filled with prejudice that a man can't do adventurer work.
"I came to look at weapons. Plus gauntlets."
"Ah, is that so? Are you running an errand?"
"I'm going to use them! That's why I'm asking. Can I see some weapons that fit my size?"
The blacksmith slightly narrowed his eyes and turned around.
Being a strongly conservative blacksmith, he probably hates a man acting up.
"I wonder if a man can even use this."
The weapon the blacksmith handed out was a long curved saber.
It's something I'm seeing for the first time. What on earth kind of sword is this?
"It's a sword called a falx from the eastern side over there. Its blade is curved, so it shatters wooden shields in a single strike."
"It looks kind of like a sickle..."
"That's right. Because it's an item derived from a sickle."
This item is tempting, though.
I decided not to buy this.
Sword-type weapons are much more useful when used only by experts. Didn't I use only thrusting instead of slashing techniques in the cave too?
When I appealed with this opinion of mine, the blacksmith went back into the shop, showing clear signs of annoyance.
"It seems what you want is probably something like this."
The item handed out by the annoyed blacksmith was indeed a weapon that fit exactly what I wanted.
It's a type of club with sharp spikes embedded in a square iron head, usually called a morning star.
Unlike swords, this is a weapon that even someone lacking in training can use well. In other words, it means it's very suitable for me.
"I'll take this!"
"Good thing. If you had rejected this too, this morning star would have been embedded in your head."
"Haha... Then how much is this and the gauntlets together?"
The blacksmith roughly brought a tape measure, took the measurements of my arm, and went back into the shop while grumbling gushirong-gushirong.
"Pay just 6 silver coins, including the gauntlets."
6 silver coins!
I was so shocked that my breath momentarily choked up to my throat.
"Haaack...!"
"The morning star is 4 silver coins. Attaching these spikes is very difficult. The gauntlets are a special product where even the fingers can move, so they're 2 silver coins."
Saliva gulps down.
Because a huge sum of money that the me from just a few days ago could never have imagined had just flown away in a single transaction!
'Is it right to buy this?'
Wouldn't it be right to buy a cheaper sword and equipment even now?
After spending this, I somehow have to attend the training center with 4 silver coins...
"I'll buy it."
My brain is agonizing over it, but my hands have already pulled out the silver coins before I knew it.
Ah... Damn it! But this heavy sensation held in my hand evokes tremendous pleasure.
"Damn it."
It seems the impulse-buying god has descended upon my body.
A sense of regret hovered around my head, but the happiness soaring from deep inside my chest made my body thrill.
"I somehow have to attend the training center with this money."
"Haa, I wonder if this is the right place..."
Leaving the blacksmith, I went straight to the guild.
There, I received a list of training centers in this city from the receptionist, and now I'm inquiring around.
'Damn it, if this place is messed up too, I'll have to go to one right out in the suburbs.'
I've visited a total of five training centers.
Since it's a city with many adventurers, naturally there were many training centers teaching skills, and quite a few instructors too.
And they were all bogus.
For instance, the first training center I went to.
- We don't take men.
They said they couldn't take them because of the trainees' discipline.
- Why don't you quit being an adventurer and just come under me as my squeeze?
The second place suddenly spewed bullshit like this, so I made a quick escape.
- Hmm... Shall we have a consultation in that room over there first?
At the third and fourth training centers, it was glaringly obvious they were trying to drag me off to some strange place. Naturally, I made up an excuse and ran away.
- If you lick my pussy, I'll teach you for free.
The last place I went to... was the worst. Some bitch shaped like a lump of hamburger patties saying shit like this made me feel like vomiting to death.
And the place I'm going to now... I wonder if it's actually a proper place.
[Adventures' futures start here.]
...It's a somewhat familiar sign. I'd seen a phrase like that back when I was just about to enlist.
Back then too, it had yellow text on a red background like that.
"Let's go inside for now."
The scale of the training center was the largest among the places I'd been to so far.
...But the appearance is a bit familiar. A parade ground laid out in front of a school-like building.
"Guaaaak..."
A groan naturally came out of my mouth. This looks exactly like a boot camp!
"...Are you a trainee's family member?"
As I was lingering at the entrance, some tall woman approached me.
Her height was slightly shorter than Karl's. Still, she's much taller than me.
She must be at least 180cm.
Her skin color is tanned brown. It's an appearance that adventurers all chronically carry.
Her body was heavily engraved with scars here and there. Aside from that, she was quite a looker.
"Must be a younger brother, after all."
"Uhm, that's not it. I'm an applicant for enrollment...?"
"What?"
The woman had a startled expression. It was a face that seemed to say, 'Someone like you?'
Actually, I'm not offended. I've seen that kind of face at the five training centers I've been to so far.
"Hm."
The woman looked over my body here and there. Her face looked as if she were appraising me.
"You don't seem to have a single muscle. Are you confident in your stamina?"
"Yes!"
When it comes to stamina, of course I'm confident.
I'd always received top grades in stamina tests during my military service, and there was some kind of competition called Blue Dragon Warrior, where I even won runner-up.
Whenever I went on a march, it was always with full combat gear. I had even completed a thousand-li march without difficulty.
Perhaps because of that experience, I was able to carry out the porter role in this world very easily.
And my stamina got even better while working as a porter for those two years.
"I am Edel Baz, who runs this training center."
Edel Baz.
It sounds like a name I've heard somewhere before.
Like I heard it over someone's shoulder while working as a porter... Hm, I don't remember well.
"I don't teach people who lack qualifications. Because maggot-like loaches are bound to muddy the water."
"How do I fulfill those qualifications?"
"Take the test, pass, and then offer me 1 silver coin every week. Then your qualifications are fulfilled."
She muttered in a blunt voice.
Is her personality dry and deadpan like Karl's?
"What's the test?"
"Do you see that parade ground over there?"
It was a smaller scale than the parade ground I ran during my military service.
Of course, that doesn't mean it was narrow. You could easily play futsal there.
Is she telling me to run there?
"60 laps."
"...Pardon?"
"You said you were confident in your stamina. Run 60 laps and come back. Of course, wearing that equipment just as it is."
No, what the hell...
"Run! You slug of a bastard! Do I have to kick your ass for you to go?"
"Heeack!"
It was a reflex action.
Like a round object rolling down when pushed on a slope. At the loud shout, my body ran on its own.
Why was it? Was it because of the shouting that matched a familiar environment?
When I came to my senses, a military song was naturally flowing out of my mouth.
"We are! The brave warriors of Daehan's sea! Embracing the spirit of Admiral Yi Sun-sin's martyrdom in our hearts-!"
I don't know if it's okay to say this now, but.
It seems my PTSD had relapsed at this time.
Otherwise, nobody would sing a military song without anyone telling them to.