Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Ch. 22 .｡.:✧ Chapter 22 ✧:.｡.
—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
When I returned home after two days, my companions welcomed me.
They seemed to have been a bit worried about my overnight stay, but even that was buried by the news that I had met the lord.
“The lord? How did that happen?”
I explained what I knew, and when they heard that I had obtained an unheard-of position called honorary soldier, they congratulated me.
“It’s not an easy thing to have the name ‘honorary’ attached. Indeed, what you did this time seems to have been remarkable. You were also lucky.”
Kayla seemed to pay more attention to the word “honorary” than the word “soldier”.
“If the master weren’t a Warlock, you might have really become a knight later on. The territory is still developing. It’s not too late now. If you wish to become a knight…”
“Then you won’t be able to fix your leg?”
Kayla, who had shown a slightly excited demeanor as if she had lingering attachments to the position of a knight, shut her mouth.
The awkward atmosphere was instantly dispelled when they saw the equipment I had brought.
“This isn’t ordinary equipment. To have such high-quality goods…”
“I was told that dwarves had a hand in it.”
“You’re saying this is dwarf-made? My goodness, dwarf-made equipment… Even during my time as a knight, I couldn’t get my hands on such things, but now as a slave…”
Athena, who had heard the conversation between Kayla and me, asked with an awkward expression.
“Is it okay for me to receive such high-quality items?”
“Your growth is beneficial to me, so there’s no need to feel burdened. And such equipment is consumable anyway. You can use it for a long time depending on maintenance, but don’t think about cherishing it too much.”
Of course, it wasn’t at the level of full plate armor. To have dwarf-made equipment of that level would cost several tens of gold, not just a dozen.
Still, I had prepared most of the necessary items, including a sword, shield, helmet, breastplate, gauntlets, greaves, and boots, and I had also purchased a buff coat made of orc leather for Athena’s comfort.
Given Athena’s characteristics, unenchanted plate armor was awkward for her to use.
Moreover, since one of Kayla’s legs wasn’t normal, further equipment would have been a strain to use.
Still, just preparing this level of equipment had cost nearly 10 gold, so it indirectly showed how expensive dwarf-made equipment was.
‘Honestly, even this much is more than enough for operating in this area.’
It wasn’t a bad feeling, as both of them looked satisfied.
“Thea, take this. It’s yours.”
“Huh? Is there something for me too?”
“It’s a training sword. It wouldn’t be bad to learn it for self-defense. Of course, don’t overdo it.”
Although the purpose was mainly for exercise, it wasn’t a bad thing. The basics weren’t difficult.
I had prepared it because I sometimes saw her blankly watching the other two train.
In addition, I had brought some items known as health supplements and handed them over to Thea.
Thea, who had shown a surprised expression for a moment, smiled brightly.
“Thank you, Inha.”
Athena, who belatedly noticed the gift Thea had received, sent me a grateful look.
With the equipment prepared, the motivation of the group reached sky-high levels.
Athena and Kayla were immersed in the swamp of training, and beside them, Thea began learning the basics of swordsmanship.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have Athena-level talent, but she was showing signs of improving her health day by day, so Athena seemed satisfied with just that.
Thanks to becoming an honorary soldier, forming connections in the village gained momentum.
The entrance was a free pass, and even the self-defense force members bowed their heads to me, and those who had become acquainted with me before being appointed as an honorary soldier treated me with respect.
However, when I treated them a bit more comfortably than others, they began to praise me as a man of character, and it became easier than expected to naturally blend into the village.
‘I thought it was a ridiculous title, but the effect is definite.’
As expected of a title bestowed by the lord, who was no different from a king within his own territory.
It could be considered an indirect experience of the power of the class system.
In that way, for about two months, I solved Kuman’s occasional requests, maintained appropriate connections, and focused on training.
I reinforced the skeleton again with the reagents I had brought and created elixirs to enhance my physical abilities.
Although there was a limit to the ingredients, even this was urgent at the moment.
I also made some for warriors and fed them to Athena and Kayla, but I decided not to give them to Thea as it could be poisonous to her.
When I entered the third month of training…
I let out a deep sigh.
‘2nd Class. It was faster than I thought.’
Even reaching 1st Class was faster than expected, but 2nd Class was even more so.
‘Indeed, at the current level, money is the best.’
Increasing physical performance through elixirs and attempting high-difficulty magic more safely through reagents.
Growth accelerated through repeated failures, and occasionally succeeding meant the skeleton was further strengthened.
As long as I didn’t give up, I was bound to become stronger.
‘This is almost like throwing money away.’
Becoming stronger was more important.
The shortening of time was even more crucial.
After completing the second circle, I emerged from the basement and saw the two in the midst of training.
Thwack! Thud!
They seemed to be sparring lightly with wooden swords.
“Focus! Pay attention to your body movements! Despite having fully functioning legs, that’s all you can manage?”
“Ugh!”
Naturally, Kayla’s skills were still overwhelmingly superior.
Athena had a talent that even Kayla and I acknowledged, but it was too short a time to learn many things.
‘Still, she has really improved a lot.’
It could be said that she had learned the basics, albeit awkwardly.
When they first clashed, the difference was so severe that she couldn’t even tell how she had been defeated, but even though they were going easy on her during training, she was no longer at the level of not knowing what had hit her.
‘Of course, properly reacting, defending, or counterattacking is a different story.’
In the end, the training concluded with Athena being subdued once again.
Athena seemed quite frustrated.
‘She has a competitive spirit.’
“I apologize for making you wait, Master.”
“No, there’s no need to say that.”
Since this had happened a few times, I had already hinted that they should focus more on training than on me during practice.
“What, when did you get here?”
Kayla had long noticed that I was watching, while Athena, who had been focused on sparring, belatedly discovered me.
“You came out early today?”
“I got over a hurdle.”
I spoke plainly, but Athena had good instincts.
“…It seems like something similar happened before…”
She looked at me with expectant eyes, and I calmly nodded.
“I think we can start Thea’s treatment soon.”
When I had slowed down the curse, I had also acquired information about it. Since I had reached 2nd Class and Thea had also built up her stamina through regular exercise, it was about time to start.
“As I said, the treatment period will be long.”
“I don’t care. What matters is a complete cure.”
At my assurance, Athena’s face brightened.
She seemed to have completely forgotten that she had been defeated by Kayla in training just now.
She immediately went to find Thea and disappeared, and even Kayla, who would have normally said that the training wasn’t over yet, didn’t stop Athena this time.
From Kayla’s strange gaze, I could guess what she wanted without her saying it.
“Your leg isn’t possible yet.”
“…Is that so?”
“The difficulty level is different. Moreover, even if my abilities allow it, the preparations for your leg will take a long time.”
“It’s alright.”
Although she said it was alright, Kayla couldn’t hide her disappointment well.
‘I can understand.’
She was somehow drawing out her skills with her ruined body, but… conversely, it meant she was adapting to that body.
‘Even if I fix her leg, there will be a short-term decline in skill.’
It would also take quite some time to adapt to the body.
The more she adapted to her current state, the longer the rehabilitation period would be in the future.
Thea, who had heard the news from Athena, came running out, and I received words of gratitude before even starting the treatment.
“I haven’t even started yet. It will take a long time, and the process won’t be very comfortable.”
“It’s still okay.”
‘Maybe it won’t take long…’
If I followed the treatment method I had in mind, it would inevitably take a long time.
However, if another way worked…
‘Athena is here, and Kayla is here too. It’s worth a try.’
The cave where Thea had originally been cursed.
If I could obtain the artifact inside and succeed in controlling it, there was a possibility of curing her instantly without the need for a long treatment period.
However, while I might be able to obtain it, controlling it was a different story, so I didn’t mention this possibility out loud.
“Since you’re looking forward to it so much… Kayla.”
“Yes. Master.”
“Let’s end today’s training early and start with the treatment.”
“Understood.”
Athena couldn’t focus on training with her current mood anyway.
Therefore, Kayla didn’t object either.
“Thank you, Inha. Thank you, Teacher!”
And so, as we were about to enter the house and start the first treatment…
“Is anyone here?”
“…Damn it. Of all times, now.”
Athena muttered a curse.
“Shall I go out?”
“No, I’ll go. Athena, you know?”
“I know. I’ll hide as quietly as possible.”
After sending Thea and Athena to the room, I went to greet the visitor.
‘Did Kuman send them?’
I felt a bit puzzled since no one had ever visited this house before.
The only person who would have business with me was Kuman, and since I regularly visited the castle, there had been no reason for him to send someone here until now.
‘Did an urgent request come in?’
“Who is it?”
“I have been sent by the lord.”
“Honorary Soldier Jimnis. The lord has invited you to the mansion.”
The lord’s sudden invitation.
Now that I had even received citizenship, I couldn’t ignore the lord’s summons, so I had no choice but to postpone the treatment for a while.
‘They’ll be disappointed.’
Although postponing the treatment for a day or two wouldn’t cause any practical problems, the greater the expectations, the greater the momentary disappointment would be.
I ordered Kayla to guard the house, changed my clothes, and followed the lord’s messenger to the castle.
“I’m curious about the purpose of this summons.”
“Well, I’m merely an errand boy…”
This was my second visit, but somehow, each time I went, I couldn’t grasp the situation well.
‘I don’t like it.’
I passed by the guards who recognized me and greeted me, heading straight to the lord’s mansion.
“It’s been a while, Lord Summer.”
“Indeed. It’s been about a month, hasn’t it?”
The one who greeted me was the butler, Summer.
“The lord is waiting for you, so please go in right away.”
The place Summer guided me to was the office where I had first met the lord.
As soon as the lord saw me, he showed a delighted expression.
“Honorary Soldier Jimnis. It’s been a while.”
“Greetings to the lord.”
“Have a seat. Summer, bring us some tea, please.”
Unlike before, his successor wasn’t present.
While Summer brought the tea, the lord asked simple greetings, and I gave a brief answer that I had been training during that time.
Even after Summer brought the tea, the lord didn’t easily bring up the main topic.
He was drawing it out to the point where I wondered what he was trying to say.
Since I couldn’t ask first, I had no choice but to quietly drink tea alongside the lord.
“It’s quite good, isn’t it? It’s a tea sent as a gift from the Siglen Count’s family.”
“…The aroma seems pleasant.”
The lord was smiling and introducing the tea, explaining that it was a very precious tea and how well the Siglen Count’s family, who had sent such a tea as a gift, regarded his family.
‘He didn’t summon me to brag, did he?’
The self-praise and vanity of nobles were passive, so I didn’t feel any particular emotion.
Only after the tea was finished could I hear the reason I had been summoned.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇