Chapter 22: The Tin Knight and the Lion's Bloodline (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 22: The Tin Knight and the Lion's Bloodline (5)
Just because two people see the same thing doesn't mean they'll feel the same way.
While Dorothea was grinding her teeth at the cityscape spread below the high hill, Adelaide was shedding tears of joy at the exact same view.
‘I’m… I’m alive…!’
It had been a truly, truly arduous journey.
Adel had her share of rough experiences during Colombo’s Special Slave Travel Plan (Random draw. Participation mandatory. Voluntary withdrawal impossible. Entry fee: your life.), but compared to what she had endured over the past fortnight, that ordeal—while mentally taxing—had been physically peaceful.
Adel’s violet eyes glazed over as she began to reminisce.
*
‘I must, I absolutely must try not to be a burden!’
When the journey began, Adel had steeled herself for a great deal.
No one had forced her; she had chosen to follow of her own free will.
She herself had been the one to beg to be allowed to stay by their side, even if it meant being treated as a servant.
She had tagged along, declaring she would be reborn not as the sheltered youngest daughter of a noble house, but as a dignified warrior and successor. She was prepared to endure and persevere, no matter how she was treated.
“We’ll be eating jerky and dried fruit. Any complaints?”
“No! Not at all!”
“We’ll be sleeping rough in the carriage’s cargo bed. If you want to set up a separate tent or something, do it yourself.”
“The cargo bed is more than enough!”
“Talk to me about washing and laundry. I can use magic to keep you clean. But it’s not free. I’ll give you a list of catalysts needed for the magic. Every time you use it, you’ll have to fetch at least one set of items from the list. The same price applies for insect repellent magic or dispelling the cold.”
“Understood!”
And so, on the second day of the journey.
Adel thought to herself.
Huh? Isn’t this a bit easier than I expected?
Objectively speaking, it was by no means a ‘comfortable’ journey.
Her meals consisted entirely of portable rations, she had to sleep in the carriage’s cargo bed, and a leisurely bath was nothing but a distant dream.
But in other words, that was all.
To be more specific, Dorothea neither ordered Adel to do anything nor demanded anything from her.
Of course, she charged a certain price each time she used magic, but even that was just for things like specific types of grass or stones—items that could be found nearby if one looked hard enough.
When she cautiously asked about it, Dorothea answered with a look that said, What a strange question.
“I can take care of myself. I’m not missing any limbs, so why would I make someone else do it?”
For Adel, who had lived a life where it was natural for a servant to attend to her for something as simple as changing clothes, it was a truly shocking statement.
She spent the whole day sitting in the cargo bed, eating, sleeping, and occasionally gathering the ingredients on the memo Dorothea handed her.
Just as Adel was growing anxious, wondering if this was really okay, the Tin Knight’s offer to oversee her training seemed like a lifeline sent from the heavens.
For a warrior, the opportunity to receive one-on-one instruction from a superb knight is worth its weight in gold.
Although she hadn’t properly understood its value when her father was alive, often skipping or slacking off during training, she knew she had to be different now.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ states that its teachings are extremely strict!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ warns that it will not tolerate any whining once you become its disciple!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ asks if you are prepared to follow!]
Despite the Tin Knight’s repeated warnings, Adel felt more anticipation than anxiety.
She was slightly bothered by Dorothea’s peculiar gaze from the side, but she casually dismissed it, figuring she was just a person whose thoughts were hard to read.
She was unaware that it was the exact same look one would give a small animal walking right into a trap.
“Yes! I’ll follow you! Please, grant me your teachings!”
And so, the gates of hell opened.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ demands you run!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ demands you do strength training!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ demands a reflex test!]
The beginning was conventional and ordinary.
A basic check of her stamina and physical abilities.
Though Adel could hardly claim to have ‘trained diligently,’ she was blessed with a naturally gifted constitution, so her physical abilities were quite high.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ says you seem to have the basics down, so it’s time to move on to practical training!]
“Huh? Ah, yes!”
Adel tilted her head.
Having observed the training of the Friedel Knights, Adel knew that knights invested years just to build a proper physique.
She had expected to spend a considerable amount of time on physical conditioning herself, but the Tin Knight shattered that expectation.
…Come to think of it, I only have a year. I suppose I can’t afford to progress at a normal pace like everyone else.
But it was a universal truth among trainees that they preferred practical application over tedious basic training.
There was no reason to refuse when she was being offered a faster pace, not a slower one.
“Then, with a wooden sword… Huh? You want to use steel swords? It’s fine since they’re not sharp?”
[The ‘Tin Knight’ says it will let you have the first move!]
“Uh, right. Um, okay!”
A strange feeling began to creep in around this point, but she brushed it aside, assuming that a knight of such skill must have a profound reason for it.
Clang!
With a sharp ring, the sword in Adel’s hand was sent flying.
Adel tried to quickly regain her posture, but seeing the Tin Knight’s blade already pressed against her throat, she raised both hands.
“I’ve lost.”
The Tin Knight withdrew its sword.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ encourages you to try again!]
“Yes!”
Adel quickly retrieved her sword and charged at the Tin Knight once more.
Clang!
[The ‘Tin Knight’ encourages you to try again!]
Clang!
[The ‘Tin Knight’ encourages you to try again!]
Clang!
[The ‘Tin Knight’ encourages you to—]
“W-wait, just a moment, let me catch my breath, haah, heok! Kyaaah!?”
Gasping for air, Adel shrieked and rolled away as a blade swung toward her face.
Her heart, which had been pounding as if it would burst, turned ice-cold as if doused with frigid water.
Oblivious to Adel’s state, the Tin Knight gave her a thumbs-up.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ praises your excellent evasive maneuver!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ says at this rate, it seems it no longer needs to let you have the first move!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ declares an increase in difficulty!]
“No, wait, just a sec—kyaaaah!!”
Adel couldn’t remember how she collapsed that night.
She could only surmise that at some point, while desperately dodging the Tin Knight’s terrifyingly fast sword, she had fainted.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ recommends you run alongside the carriage!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ says the more stamina, the better!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ praises your excellent running!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ encourages you, saying you’re almost there!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ insists you’re almost there!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ blatantly lies that you’re almost there!]
During the day, she had to either run continuously alongside the carriage or train her body in the cargo bed.
When the sun set, she had to drag her screaming body to face the Tin Knight’s menacing blade.
No matter how much Adel screamed or begged, the Tin Knight never went easy on her.
What was even more terrifying was that despite abusing her body so much, she had no trouble moving the next day.
How should she put it?
It felt as if there were gauges for her health, mental fortitude, and stamina displayed next to her head, and the Tin Knight was squeezing every last drop out of them, right up to the limit, but never letting them fall into the negative.
It might have been a first-rate quality for a training instructor, but for the trainee, it was nothing but terror.
To survive (mentally), Adel had to desperately come up with excuses.
“S-Sir Knight! Wait! Just a moment!”
[The ‘Tin Knight’ says no take-backs!]
“That’s not it! I’m too hungry to move!”
At Adel’s anguished cry, the Tin Knight’s movements paused for the first time.
In truth, Adel’s demand was perfectly reasonable.
It was one thing when they were focused on traveling without much activity, but when she was spending most of the day training, there was no way her body could hold up on just jerky and dried fruit.
“So, um, we should at least eat proper meals, or maybe—”
Adel’s plea to reduce the training even a little was cut short.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ says it will prepare the meals from now on!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ apologizes for not realizing sooner!]
Seeing the Tin Knight suddenly bow its head, Adel’s heart softened.
Come to think of it, it wasn't just Adel who spent most of the day training; the Tin Knight, who managed her training, was doing the same.
The Tin Knight was helping her without any compensation. It felt wrong to resent it just because her body was tired.
“No, Sir Knight, you have nothing to be sorry for. Um, I’ll help with the meal prep.”
The Tin Knight shook its head from side to side.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ insists that creating an environment where the disciple can focus solely on training is also part of a master’s duty!]
“Sir Knight…!”
Adel was moved once again.
She failed to notice Dorothea watching from the side with a look that screamed, She fell for it again.
And that evening.
Adel was handed a giant slab of meat.
“……”
For the first time in her life, Adel realized that a grilled piece of meat that looked so appetizing it made her mouth water could taste so utterly revolting.
Even the rock-hard jerky could be called a delicacy compared to this.
Is it doing this on purpose to mess with me?
Distrust and doubt sprouted in Adel’s heart.
It had taught a girl from a sheltered greenhouse how to navigate the world. The Tin Knight’s teaching ability was truly great.
“I can’t watch this, really.”
Dorothea, who had been smoking some of the meat the Tin Knight had hunted, let out a deep sigh and spoke to Adel.
“You had cooking utensils among the luggage you brought from your domain, right?”
“Yes. Ronnie said they were essential for long journeys, so I prepared them.”
“Bring them over. I’ll count it as the same price as one spell. I’ll put it on your tab.”
The skill Dorothea displayed afterward was truly astonishing.
She just casually tossed ingredients into a pot and let it simmer, yet in about fifteen minutes, a decent soup was ready.
Tasting the soup, which was filled with mushrooms, unidentifiable herbs, and the meat the Tin Knight hadn't touched, Adel’s face lit up in ecstasy.
Perhaps because she had just eaten something akin to sewage-like food waste, the feast of flavors stimulating her palate felt all the more sublime.
Without any exaggeration or flattery, she could declare it the best food she had ever eaten.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ asks if you can’t do this from now on!]
“It’s too much work.”
[The ‘Tin Knight’ argues that good food is an important part of a journey!]
“You can’t even eat, anyway.”
[The ‘Tin Knight’ argues that vicarious satisfaction is the most important part of a mukbang!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ prods you to show off your skills now that you have a guest!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ insists that if you teach her now, she might treat you in return later!]
“Seriously, you want me to teach her how to cook just so we can eat? How long would that even… Haa. Forget it. I’m not even going to bother.”
Dorothea grumbled, but by this point, Adel had a rough idea.
She would be able to eat food made by her from now on.
It’s warm. It’s delicious. I’m full.
A happiness she hadn’t felt in a long time gently enveloped Adel.
Her whole body felt languid and weary, and it seemed if she closed her eyes right then, she would have the best sleep of her life.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ says that now that the nutritional supply is sorted, it will also try harder, brimming with motivation!]
It was a declaration more chilling than being told, ‘I’ll come for you in the night and kill you.’
Trembling, Adel looked at Dorothea with pleading eyes.
She had saved Adel from the hellish food, so maybe this time…!
“Hm? In any case, it warned you beforehand, and you were the one who agreed to it. If you make a contract, you have to take responsibility for it until the end.”
There was no second lifeline.
Though she had her occasional moments of kindness, a witch was still a witch.
Until the day they reached their destination, Adel had to struggle to survive at the hands of a heartless, crazed magic doll.