Such Thoughts - 4
Making a proper health tonic required certain ingredients. Of course, I could draw on the Eastern Merchant Guild's stores, but a few of the things I needed weren't stocked there at present. And naturally, I wasn't planning to visit a major city just for tonic ingredients, either.
A major city meant crowds, and crowds meant there just might be someone with talent worth taking on as a disciple. I'd have to keep an eye out for my next student whenever the opportunity arose—otherwise it would come back to bite me later. If all else failed, I could always coax Lyla into the role, but I'd keep that as Plan B.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Having just laid eyes on a child with talent on Sowol's level, it was only natural that Lyla didn't quite measure up in mine. I gave Sowol's head an affectionate pat, then turned to go.
"We leave tomorrow, so have your things ready."
I had preparations of my own to make, after all.
"My lady!"
Just then, a voice rang out. It was Lyla, the one who'd been hauling luggage a moment ago. The girl looked to be about Sowol's age; she came over with a bright expression and bent into a neat bow.
Well-mannered, this one. Unlike a certain someone I could mention.
"I'm back. Nothing happened while I was away, I trust?"
"Mm. You've worked hard. Wasn't the caravan rough on you?"
"It was a wonderful learning experience. But..."
Lyla's gaze drifted over to me. Wariness, and doubt. The look blending the two seemed sharp enough to cut.
"This is my master. Say hello."
"Ah, of course. I'm Lyla. A pleasure to meet you. I've been with my lady since we were children."
"So the classic childhood friend, then?"
"'Friends'... might be a bit of a stretch, I'd say. At the end of the day, she is my lady, after all."
"Don't say that. You're my only friend."
"My lady..."
Faced with the look of sheer gratitude on Lyla's face, Sowol smiled sweetly.
How heartwarming.
"It's been a while since you two last met, so I imagine you have plenty to catch up on. I'll make myself scarce. See you tomorrow, then."
After bidding the two farewell, I headed for my quarters. I'd only just settled into meditation at the little residence in the garden when I heard footsteps. Those footsteps...
"You've come, I see."
"Did you know it was me?"
So Jung-yang. He approached wearing a faintly troubled expression and asked as if it were some marvel, but there was nothing miraculous about it. Climb high enough up the ladder, and telling people apart by their footsteps alone stops being any great feat.
"With the caravan just back, I thought you'd be busy... What brings you to me?"
"I heard the matter with the cult has been fully settled."
"Yes—for the time being, at least. It was Franz's cult."
"I see..."
"Is something weighing on your mind?"
"Some time ago, Franz came to see me. He threw his weight around, insisting he was owed protection money in the commercial district under the Eastern Merchant Guild's management... With Franz gone now, I find myself wondering whether it's truly safe to relax."
Hard to say. In my opinion, it was far too early to breathe easy. If the cult lost all interest in the Eastern Merchant Guild, that would be one thing—but the world rarely cooperates so neatly.
"Just to be safe, I'd recommend keeping bodyguards on standby around you at all times."
"Hmm... do you think I should?"
"I'll also make arrangements with a friend of mine. For as long as I'm away, she'll be staying here at the Eastern Merchant Guild."
"A friend... you say?"
"Serin, a high priest of the Church. With her around, I doubt any of the lesser factions would even think about touching the guild or its master."
The plan was to have Serin the high priest, along with the paladins she brought with her, stay at the Eastern Merchant Guild. That should more than cover the gap while I was gone.
"My. We'll be hosting quite an esteemed guest, then. Understood. And where are you headed, if I may ask?"
"I need to make a short trip to Robein City. I'll be taking Sowol with me, so there's no need to worry about her lessons."
"I see. I trust you'll handle that side of things capably."
I liked So Jung-yang's total faith in me. Some parents second-guess every move you make the moment you try to teach their child. With no pointless interference in the way, I could raise Sowol exactly as I intended. That suited me fine.
"Hmm. By the way, Master Lee—if it's no imposition, might I ask one more favor?"
"What is it?"
"Would you oversee the training of the guild's warriors? Naturally, I'll see to the associated costs and your additional pay myself."
Apparently it had rankled him that a cult had gotten involved—and that Franz, the cult's man, had set his sights on the Eastern Merchant Guild. Otherwise, he'd never have gone out of his way to hand his warriors over to me.
"Training warriors is important work in its own right. If it's time left over after Sowol's lessons, that's fine by me."
"Then I can't thank you enough!"
Delighted by my consent, So Jung-yang's face lit up. From my end, there was nothing to lose, either. The stronger the guild's warriors became, the more useful pieces I'd have on the board if anyone ever made another attempt on So Jung-yang's life down the road.
After a few more small matters were settled, So Jung-yang thanked me over and over and took his leave. I watched him go, then closed my eyes where I sat.
Right. Time for me to rest a little, too.
Childhood friends reunited after so long always have plenty to talk about. All the more so for Sowol, who'd never had many friends to begin with.
"How was the caravan this time?"
"Ugh, don't even get me started. The heat was brutal, the monsters were endless, and we ran into bandits on top of it all. Absolutely dreadful."
At Lyla's grumbling—delivered with an energetic shake of her head—Sowol simply smiled. She complained like that, yet never once missed a caravan when one set out. Honestly, this girl couldn't be honest with herself either.
"By the way, what's this master of yours like?"
"Hm? Well..."
What was Lee Hyun like? Sowol turned the question over for a moment, then let out a small sigh. Lately, this kept happening whenever she thought of him. She could simply evaluate him objectively like she always had—so why did all these other thoughts keep creeping in?
"Oh my? Oh myyyy?"
Was it her reaction that set Lyla off? The girl's eyes sparkled as though she'd just discovered something delightful, and at the sight of it, Sowol blurted out in a panic.
"It's not like that!"
Her face was quietly heating up. Doing her best to scrub the flush from her expression, Sowol answered with practiced dignity.
"He's simply an excellent master. That's all there is to it."
"Doesn't sound like 'simply an excellent master' to me... but fine. More importantly, my lady—you've changed quite a bit, haven't you?"
"Ah. Yes. I'm learning swordsmanship properly now."
"Oh my? Truly? How wonderful for you. You always wanted so badly to learn the martial arts."
"Mm. And Master says I have real talent for it."
Pride lingered on Sowol's face as she said it. Having Lee Hyun acknowledge her—it pleased her deeply.
Watching Sowol preen, Lyla wore a soft smile. Thank goodness he's someone my lady is happy with.
From Lyla's standpoint too, Sowol's satisfaction was something to be glad of. The masters who had come to teach Sowol in the past had all acknowledged her talent, but none of them could stomach her prickly temper and her half-hearted attitude toward lessons, and one by one they'd thrown up their hands and walked away. But from everything Sowol was saying, Lee Hyun seemed an entirely different breed—he cared nothing for etiquette and wanted only to see her talent bloom. Perhaps that was exactly why Sowol had grown so devoted to him.
He seems like a good man... Maybe I should have a word with him myself sometime...?
Sowol was her mistress, yes—but she was also like a little sister. She was that precious to Lyla, which was exactly why her heart wished so badly for things to work out. And so she gently wrapped her arms around Sowol, who was still chattering away about everything she'd learned.
"I'm so glad for you. Truly."
"Mm..."
It had been so long since she'd felt Lyla's embrace. Leaning lightly into that warmth, Sowol thought for a moment, then spoke.
"Oh, right—I'm heading into the city with Master tomorrow."
"The city... you mean Robein City?"
"Yeah. He said there's something he needs to pick up there."
"Well, how convenient. We're headed to Robein City tomorrow as well."
"Huh? Why?"
"We have to deliver the goods we brought back from the east to the Rogen Merchant Guild there."
That, she hadn't heard. So the journey with Lee Hyun—just the two of them—was about to burst like a soap bubble? A shadow fell across Sowol's face, and Lyla beamed.
"Oh dear me. A shame you won't get that trip alone with Master, isn't it?"
"Wh-what?! No, it's not! It's not like that! I'm just worried because you're traveling again right after getting back from the caravan, that's all!"
She scrambled for excuses, but Lyla's expression didn't budge an inch. Grinning like a cat that had found something to play with, thoroughly entertained, Lyla eyed Sowol slyly and let out a teasing hum.
"Hmmmm~. By the way, if that master of yours is such a fine man..."
"...What about it?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just about time I started looking for a match of my own, that's all. If there's prime husband material around, I really ought to work hard at landing him..."
"What?! But you're barely any older than me!"
"No harm in getting a head start, is there?"
"...Hmph! Suit yourself!"
Sowol whipped her head away with a sharp retort, and Lyla giggled and hugged her from behind.
"Hehe. There's no chance of that, so don't you worry~."