Meeting and Farewell in Spring
The long-awaited spring had arrived.
For many people, it was the season to restart activities and also the season for new beginnings.
As the snow melted and roads became busier, trade gradually resumed with the movement of horse-drawn carriages. For Regor, known as the birthplace of new products, spring was indeed eagerly anticipated. The goods painstakingly produced during the winter were quickly loaded and transported to the royal capital and various cities.
Next up was the movement of people. The season was at its peak with new employment and guild members changing bases. Many guild members from different places were expected to visit Regor, and many parties from Regor would head out on expeditions.
During the winter, there were many opportunities to deepen friendships with acquaintances in Regor, but now it was time for activities. There would be new encounters and farewells as well. One such farewell was about to take place at the western gate of Regor.
「... I never imagined that Bridget—no, lady Bridget—was connected to the baron family. Regardless of my ignorance, please forgive my past impoliteness.」
「Don't worry about it, Sheena. And you too, Nastasha. It was my inadequacy that made me pretend to be someone else and fail the mission. However, experiencing the duties of a commoner has been valuable to me. I am grateful.」
Three carriages with particularly ornate decorations were parked near the carriage station at the west gate. These were carriages for the nobility, naturally carrying a noble. Among them was Bridget, the novice female swordsman who had undergone trials in the wintery forests of Baroa.
But she was not dressed in her knightly garments now; rather, she wore ceremonial attire. This made her completely seem like a young lady of a noble family. Although, she never could completely hide her aura as a young lady before.
Facing her were Sheena and Nastasha. It seemed they had come to see Bridget off. In spring, Bridget was heading to the royal capital as a female knight, openly revealing her true identity. Everyone had somewhat known right from the start, though.
「I wanted to reveal my identity because I thought I would have limited opportunities to express my gratitude once I started living in the royal capital. This is all merely my selfishness... I'm glad to have met you before departure.」
「Lady Bridget...」
「There's no need for titles. I want to be Bridget, just Bridget, in front of you. Someday, I hope to face a mission with you again.」
「Haha, yes. It would help if you were accustomed to marching by then.」
「This...is harsh.」
Laughing lightly, Bridget gracefully stepped into the carriage without taking a hand from her entourage.
「Farewell. Let's meet again somewhere, someday.」
「Yes, certainly. Bridget.」
And so, the carriages carrying Bridget departed towards the royal capital. Was it an emotional farewell? From my perspective, an noble who knew my face leaving Regor added to my peace of mind.
「Hey, Mongrel. You could have at least said something.」
「No way. I'm on duty.」
「You really do dislike nobles.」
「I like good nobles. But good nobles don't manipulate the lower classes.」
I was currently engaged in the loading and unloading of trade goods at the carriage station. It was bronze-ranked heavy labor, but quite rewarding. I had been discreetly watching Bridget's farewell scene from behind the cargo. If this were an anime, I'd probably be a background extra.
「More importantly, Artemis leader.」
「What?」
「I heard you returned the new type of arrowheads you acquired before. What happened?」
「You're quite sharp... There were many weak spots at the base. If the arrowheads alone were fragile, it would be one thing, but the shafts seemed like they'd be ruined with them, so I had no choice but to return them. We can't use them.」
「Oh, I see. I don't specialize in bows, but if the pro says so, it must be true.」
I've practiced archery many times, but I still don't grasp the quality of equipment. I was surprised there even were new types of arrowheads, but new things always come with bad reviews too. Yet, being able to receive field feedback is crucial in manufacturing. It shouldn't be a one-sided affair.
「In spring, there are many small prey, so tools with durability are easier to use. High performance is pointless if they break quickly.」
「I get that. Reliability in weapons is essential.」
「... Your weapon isn't particularly well-made, is it?」
「Got something to say about my bastard sword?」
「No, not really.」
Simple structures are less likely to break. In that sense, my ornately unembellished and practicality-focused bastard sword is an excellent partner. Well, the reason it doesn't break is also because I've reinforced it to the max.
「... Mongrel. Raina's going to reach Silver by this year.」
「Oh, she's already advancing? That's fast.」
Raina was currently Bronze 3. The rapid pace could be attributed to being within Artemis, but still, it was quite fast.
However, to rank up, especially when the certificate color changes—meaning a promotion—one must pass quite a rigorous assessment. For someone as diligent as Raina, it will still take a little longer to reach Silver.
But saying that, it means she could rise to Silver just over two years since becoming a guild member.
「Your junior is surpassing you. Aren't you upset?」
「Rejoicing at a youth's growth is an elder's role.」
「You're 30, you know.」
「I'm still 29, thank you.」
「Same thing.」
It's not the same; there's a world of difference between 29 and 30, like Everest and the Mariana Trench. Next time, when I ask your age, I'll aim a bit higher, so brace yourself.
「Raina—and recently Ulrika too—are concerned about you remaining at Bronze rank. If you want to stay as their reliable senior, it's about time you make up your mind.」
「This is something I can't compromise on.」
「Are you avoiding conscription?」
That's precisely sharp. But for me, it's not just conscription that's the issue.
「Half-bloods are used up at the front lines.」
「... It depends on the commander. Nowadays, half-bloods are not so rare. You're too wary of the nobility.」
「Better to be overly cautious. Everyone has only one life. Most only have one soul too. It's too late after death.」
Though, even if I were thrown to the front lines, I wouldn't have any intentions of dying. But what would be the point of a rampage against the Sangreal army there?
Would they elevate me as a war hero and promote me to centurion? Maybe even to command of a corps. It would be a career path overflowing for a commoner. And I have not an inch of desire for such a career.
I refuse to be bound to a country.
「Sheena, if you claim to be the leader of your party, maneuver so you don't lose any juniors. In the coming season, more transfers without any notion of Artemis' prestige will arrive. A female-only party is bound to stir things up.」
「I understand, even without you telling me. For a while, I'll enforce staying in groups.」
Transfer members. In Regor, where booming times flourish, we call guild member parties from other cities settling here as transfers. Usually, the work pie in a city is already divided to the limit, so transfers don't typically fare well. But from spring to summer, when there's a workload, there's room to squeeze in. If they can outmaneuver existing parties in that time...that's a typical pattern of dispute.
「Hmm. But Mongrel, you're a solo half-blood, and an easy target for guild members from elsewhere. You should worry about yourself rather than Artemis.」
「Now that's what you call a valid point.」
For reference, Nastasha had only waved her hand slightly during the farewell scene with Bridget. Such an unsociable person.
「But there's no need to worry about me. I'll deal with anyone who bothers me on the outside by calmly beating them up.」
「What a peculiar way to put it.」
Basically, it means hand-to-hand combat. In this world, the penalty for hand-to-hand combat is surprisingly light. Wonder why, even though it involves injuries.
「Hey, you strong lad! Come back here soon! The heavy ones are piling up!」
「Aye aye! Well, back to work. Later then.」
「Yes, sorry for interrupting.」
Anyway, now it's cargo work. While working, let's slyly mix in Lord Chaos' letters to notable addresses.