The Holy Sword Scramble -2-
Today, the mansion was peaceful as always.
"Ricardo."
"Yes."
"Where are you going?"
The young lady, awakened by the rustling sound, stared at me packing my backpack in the corner of the room with a question mark floating above her head.
"Hiik...! Are you running away?!"
"Yes...?"
The young lady's eyes widened into perfect circles as she put on a tearful expression and spoke.
"I'll only eat a little! Don't run away!"
"...Yes?"
"I-I'll even share my chocolate with you...!"
I was surprised that the young lady, whose delusions were excessive, could speak objectively, but her far-fetched words left me with an awkward expression. I'd told her a week ago, yet she seemed to have completely erased it from her mind. I'd even reminded her yesterday.
"Hwiieeeeng!!!"
I sighed as I looked at the young lady clutching my collar. Whether she was pretending to have forgotten or had truly wiped it from her memory, I couldn't tell. Either way, it was cute, so my mood lifted.
I gave a dry laugh and pressed both of her cheeks with my hands.
"Ubu-bu-bu-ppyu."
"I told you a week ago that I'd be stepping out for a bit."
"Ubu-bu-bu-bu-bu! (You did?!)"
Her lips jutting out like a goldfish, the young lady pouted before furrowing her brows.
"I said something came up and I'd be gone for about three days."
"Ubu-bu-ppu...(Right. You did.)"
Shoulders drooping dejectedly, the young lady let out a deep sigh and muttered softly.
"It's because Ricardo's leaving without playing with me that I forgot."
"I'll play with you plenty when I return."
"What if you abandon me and go?!"
"I won't abandon you. With a mountain of unpaid wages piled up, where would I go?"
"Heehee, that's true too! I'm a debt collector."
I burst out laughing at the young lady's ridiculous remark, delivered with a bright smile as she confessed to being in debt.
"Honestly. I can't leave you alone."
The young lady gently grasped my collar and spoke.
"Then can't I come with you?"
She glanced at me nervously and bit her lip, but unfortunately that wasn't possible. I shook my head and gave a negative answer.
"I'm sorry."
"Whyyy!"
How could I say "Because it's dangerous"? I shook my head slightly and gave an answer the young lady might understand.
"It's because we're going somewhere that only serves grass."
"Grass?"
"Yes, a famous chef is holding a lecture. Since the main ingredients are all vegetarian, we'll probably be eating nothing but grass all day."
"Eeeek... But I like grass."
"Paprika and spinach too?"
"Hiik...? Not those."
"Exactly."
Understanding, the young lady nodded and finally released my collar. There was something ominous in her hesitant gaze. It was the look of someone wondering whether she should really let me go.
"Haa..."
The young lady let out a long sigh and looked at me.
"It's not something dangerous, right?"
As expected.
'She doesn't buy it.'
I gave her an embarrassed smile and nodded at her question. It seemed she didn't believe my clumsy excuse. Perhaps no matter what excuse I gave, she would see right through to the core of it. The young lady was sharper than she appeared.
I smiled faintly and gave her an honest answer. She preferred straightforward words over flimsy packaging.
"I'll have to use a kitchen knife, so I might cut my fingers."
"..."
"And since we'll only be eating grass, I might lose some weight."
I smiled while gently stroking the worried young lady's head. It was meant to reassure her. A small smile bloomed on my face like a flower as I felt the warmth of her hair beneath my fingers.
"You don't need to worry."
The young lady took my hand and spoke in a small voice.
"If it's dangerous, don't do it."
"Understood."
"Don't get hurt."
"I promise."
"If you think you'll be late, tell me."
"Of course."
"And..."
The young lady looked at me sharply, then began rummaging through her treasure pouch.
"Eek..."
"What are you looking for?"
"Eeee...."
After frowning and searching for a while, the young lady pulled out a small object like a cat robot with a four-dimensional pocket and held it out to me. Red. Shaped like a dragonfly's eye. Hmm. This was...
"Miss, this is underwear."
"Hiik?"
Startled, the young lady stuffed the underwear back into her treasure pouch and pulled out a small doll instead, offering it to me.
"This."
"What is it?"
"Me."
"...?"
"Think of it as a talisman."
"Did you make it yourself?"
"Ung."
Her handiwork was truly disastrous. Looking at the doll she'd made, I spoke with a playful tone.
"It's not a curse doll, is it?"
"Eeeeeeek!!!"
"Puhaha! Just kidding."
A doll. It had been a while. I stared at the doll in my hand for a moment before tucking it into the inner pocket of my coat. From the white yarn hair to the body stuffed with cotton from socks—her effort was in this gift, and I was grateful. Of course, the doll's sharp eyes made it look like a curse doll, which almost made me laugh, but I tucked it carefully into my pocket with sincere thanks.
"Thank you."
"Ungnya."
My luggage was all packed. Spare clothes and a sword. Handmade potions. And a map marking the Holy Sword's location. Various other things.
With the massive backpack on my shoulders, I smiled while stroking the young lady's hair.
"I'll be back."
"Ungnya."
"Want me to bring anything when I return?"
"Jerky and chocolate."
"Puhaha... Understood."
The backpack on my back felt especially light today.
'The Sword of Dawn.'
In simple terms, the Holy Sword. If this matter went smoothly, I might finally get some rest.
"Huaa..."
The North, which I hadn't visited in a long time, was the same as ever. My breath came out in white puffs. A biting wind that felt like it was stabbing my skin blew through, and snow covered everything in sight. It felt like only yesterday that I'd defeated the Apostle of Mercy here, yet so much time had passed. The rapid flow of time left me with a sense of regret.
That aside.
"What the heck is that?"
[★★Northern Army Stew★★]
"...Hmm?"
I frowned at the massive banner hanging in the middle of the northern city streets. My expression seemed to say, 'Why is that hanging here?'
"Puhahahaha!!!"
This was why it was so entertaining. I never expected the recipe I'd casually shared would become such a huge success. It was surprising that a character whose only mention in the novel was an obituary notice was now running a large shop in the North, and I hadn't imagined it would become this popular. I couldn't stop laughing.
"I'm glad."
I was relieved that it was bringing warmth to the harsh North. Planning to share side dishes like kimchi next time, I looked up at the tallest snowy mountain in the North.
Andes Snowy Mountain.
A towering, dizzyingly high mountain. The Andes Snowy Mountain, teeming with countless monsters, was where the Holy Sword lay dormant. It was a location that held significant weight in the novel and contained a major episode. After all, it was an episode featuring two Apostles.
'Yuria, Mikhail, Malik, Rowen, Luin, Shyartia.'
An episode where many of the main characters joined forces. It began with the cult's scheme and ended with the academy's victory. This episode started with the cult spreading information after discovering the Holy Sword's location. The empire's goal was to retrieve the Holy Sword. The cult's goal was the same—to recover the Holy Sword and reduce their burden. Here, the cult added one more objective: eliminating the academy's top students. Their plan to boost the cult's morale after repeated failures and disrupt the empire's atmosphere to gain the upper hand seemed to be succeeding, but it backfired when Mikhail took up the Holy Sword, putting them at a disadvantage.
That was the episode. A common one found in any novel.
There was one reason I'd come to the North. To prepare for any unforeseen variables. If the Apostle of Temperance brought Archbishop-level personnel, the scales would tip dramatically. If the protagonist's party, unable to handle an Archbishop, had to face one alone...
It was obvious things would go terribly wrong. Mikhail and Hanna might be able to handle an Archbishop, but 'Yuria' and 'Luin' were far too lacking to face one by themselves. Moreover, the temple sealing the Holy Sword held more than just one or two variables that couldn't be taken lightly. Even considering the worst-case scenario, insurance like me was absolutely necessary. If the Holy Sword fell into the cult's hands, the risk would be far too great to dismiss lightly.
"Before that... for now."
I looked back at the banner I'd seen earlier.
[Hamburger Steak Free Serving in Progress.]
"Should I grab a meal first?"
Even the most beautiful scenery is best enjoyed on a full stomach. With the thought of filling my belly, I stretched and took a step forward.
When I arrived at the restaurant...
"Dad!"
"Kuh-kuh-kuh! Where did your boyfriend go? There's more than one or two things this dad wants to ask."
"Oh, come on!!!"
Yuria.
"Oppa."
"The flavor has definitely deepened."
"Be quiet. It's embarrassing."
Malik and Hanna.
"I'm trash."
Luin.
"We're not here to play, you idiots."
Shyartia.
And then—
"Hoooom. There are quite a lot of rivals here!"
"...?"
There was someone I hadn't expected. At the unwelcome voice, I lowered my head and looked down. There stood a young lady with purple hair in a bun, wearing a thick fur hat.
"Hoooom."
The woman, dressed in a thick fur coat, was peeking at the army stew restaurant from beside me. Looking at her, I thought:
'...Why are you here?'
The biggest variable had appeared.