EP.149 When Are You Going to Do It?
The legion commander’s words of gratitude and the subsequent conversation were merely a prologue.
The next topic that came up was the real deal, and for the legion commander, it was the beginning of an ear-bleeding incident.
“My son mentioned that the soldiers’ diet…”
As soon as the topic shifted to diet, Baron Jonathan’s eyes changed completely.
The usual lofty and relaxed aura that the absolute being exuded had completely disappeared.
In its place were the harsh words of a highly skilled trainer.
“Doing it that way is really not good. Above all…”
Tap tap!-
Baron Jonathan tapped the table with his fingers, as if frustrated.
It wasn’t even a punch. Just two taps with his fingers.
Crack!!-
With those two taps, the solid wood table that could withstand knife cuts split into two pieces.
Kyle shook his head as if he had expected this, but the others were different.
The Saintess and Commander Priscilla, who were sitting nearby, looked at Baron Jonathan in shock.
Their expressions clearly said, “What’s going on all of a sudden?”
But it wasn’t as bad as for the legion commander and the officers standing next to him.
“…Hic.”
One officer covered his mouth, trying desperately to swallow a hiccup.
Despite his mountain-like build, he shouldn’t be trembling over something like this.
Even the legion commander was trying hard to keep his composure, but his face was filled with fear.
As Kyle shook his head, Baron Jonathan’s lecture continued.
“The Northern Margrave doesn’t do this. Even though there are environmental differences between the west and the north, and the consumption rate is higher in the north, this will affect future muscle…”
Baron Jonathan, who usually barely uttered a word.
But now, he was more passionate than anyone else.
Was it because it was about managing the diet of many people, not just individuals?
Or was he someone who reacted unconditionally to any muscle loss?
One thing was certain: everyone was tense and focused.
It was only natural, unless you were crazy.
He had just shattered a table with two taps of his finger right before their eyes.
If he glared at them for not listening attentively, would laser beams shoot out from his eyes?
Or if he shouted at them to listen properly, would he breathe fire?
Once again, all sorts of imaginings about Jonathan were unfolding.
No, should we call it delusions rather than imaginings? Anyway.
‘I think I should probably stop this.’
As Kyle was about to step in quietly, Old man Neil held him back.
Seeing him slowly shake his head, it was clear he meant not to interfere.
Kyle stepped back slightly and whispered in Old man Neil’s ear.
“Why are you stopping me, Old man Neil?”
“Let him enjoy it.”
“Enjoy what?”
“You know, that thing. Teaching people who know nothing.”
An experienced player teaching and taking care of newbies? Is that what he’s talking about?
But that situation and the current atmosphere are completely different.
I understand. It’s quite possible.
Kyle had felt it himself when teaching Ian and Leto.
That feeling of looking at newbies as an experienced player, the satisfaction of teaching them.
And the thrill that comes when they finally start on the right path.
As someone who has experienced it firsthand, I can fully understand. Yes, I’ll admit that much.
‘The problem is, look at the current atmosphere! How can you call these frightened people willing newbies?’
They were just poor newbies trembling in fear, not wanting to die.
From the legion commander down to the lowest-ranking officer, weren’t they all terrified?
Baron Jonathan wasn’t even showing any particular intensity.
Yet with just a few of his words and gestures, their faces had turned pale blue.
“Moreover, the exercise facilities are very outdated. At this rate…”
What exercise for people who came here to fight?
The legion commander or other officers sitting there might say that.
In fact, I clearly saw the lips of some officers twitching.
But Baron Jonathan was expressing his opinion very forcefully.
At this point, it was almost more like coercion than advice.
Yet not a single opposing opinion was voiced.
Only someone ready to leave this world would dare to say, “That might be a bit difficult.”
In the end, Kyle quietly walked out of the tent alone.
There was no reason to stay there anyway, since he had already received the words of gratitude.
He wished the innocent legion commander and officers could be released now, but…
Unfortunately, the reality was that the possibility seemed low.
‘Old man Neil will handle it well, I’m sure.’
I wonder what the kids are doing. I told them to exercise on their own, so they should be doing fine.
But still, it’s natural to feel uneasy about the kids.
And with Jonathan’s children, it’s not just about getting lost or breaking something.
‘Should I go check if they’re doing well?’
Just as he was about to take a step with that thought,
“W-wait a moment! Why, why are you doing this, Commander?!”
Turning his head at the sudden scream, Kyle saw the Saintess half-emerging from the tent.
And behind her, a hand presumed to be Commander Priscilla’s swoosh! and pushed the Saintess out.
“Commander! Why are you suddenly doing this!”
Swish!-
Commander Priscilla quickly closed the tent entrance.
As a result, the Saintess could only stand there blinking, looking dazed.
‘…She really didn’t become a commander just based on her skills.’
It was just for a moment, but Kyle clearly saw it.
The look in the commander’s eyes as she pushed out the Saintess and closed the tent entrance.
That look that said, “I’ve done my part, now it’s your turn to do something.”
“Sigh.”
Kyle sighed and slowly approached the Saintess.
“Your Holiness.”
“Ah.”
The Saintess, who had been floundering in front of the tent, turned her head.
Then, her face turning red up to her ears, she shouted, “It’s nothing!”
“Pardon?”
“It’s nothing! I mean, this…!”
Was she embarrassed about being suddenly pushed out of the tent?
The Saintess was spouting words that were completely incomprehensible.
Kyle, who had been staring at her blankly, slowly parted his lips.
“Shall we take a short walk together?”
“Now?”
“Yes. Without your escorts. Just you and me. The two of us.”
The holy knights seemed to have received orders from Commander Priscilla, as they were pretending not to notice.
Kyle, having already met with a cardinal and even the Pope, was surely trusted.
They seemed to have judged that there would be no problem with him being alone with the Saintess.
“Well… I’d like to, but…”
The Saintess nodded, fidgeting with her fingers.
To this, Kyle said, “Let’s go,” and took the first step.
*
A small river was flowing not far away.
As they walked along its banks, the Saintess carefully observed Kyle’s expression.
‘What could this be about?’
Had Kyle ever asked to just walk together like this? Absolutely not.
He had asked to go running together, or to exercise together.
While those things had happened, they had never walked peacefully like this before.
That’s why the Saintess’s imagination was running wild with all sorts of scenarios.
What would he say? How would he act?
Would something happen that she had been carefully nurturing in her heart all this time?
“Your Holiness.”
After walking for a while, Kyle turned slightly and parted his lips.
“Yes, Brother Kyle. Please speak.”
“I… I really like you, Your Holiness.”
“Thank y—”
The Saintess was about to reflexively say thank you.
But then, realizing what he had just said, she quickly looked at Kyle with an “Eh?”
“B-Brother Kyle? What did you just…?”
“I said I like you. Not as praise for your character. Not just that you’re a good person. I mean I like you as one person likes another.”
The Saintess was speechless. She could only blink her eyes and stare at Kyle.
Then she bowed her head deeply and her hands started trembling.
A red flush spread from her ears all the way down to her neck.
If she were to raise her face, it would probably be bright red.
“It’s a bit sudden, isn’t it?”
“…”
“But actually, it’s been quite a while. That I’ve liked you.”
It wasn’t a lie. He really did like her.
Though it wasn’t that he liked her as a woman, but as his favorite character.
Either way, since he did like her, it couldn’t be said that it was a false statement.
“However, there’s one thing I should clarify.”
“Yes…?”
“The biggest part of that ‘liking’ was admiration and respect.”
Her actions in the novel, and how she guided the protagonists, were so impressive.
It felt truly amazing that she could do that despite being just a supporting character.
Trying to express that in a way that fit the current situation, this was the answer he came up with.
“Because you’re kind to others, warm-hearted, and sometimes act as a guide. That’s why I admired and respected you. That’s why I said I like you, Your Holiness.”
At Kyle’s words, the Saintess slowly raised her head.
She seemed to have roughly understood why Kyle was suddenly saying these things.
I also like you. But it’s not solely romantic affection towards the opposite sex.
There are other emotions mixed in. They are also very positive feelings, but…
Yes. Because they were such good feelings, they were enough to cause misunderstandings.
Misunderstandings like having a lot of interest in you, wanting to become closer.
“I’m sorry.”
That he had treated her so well as the Saintess because of those feelings.
So even if she were to come closer than now, things might not change much.
The Saintess, having understood everything Kyle said, remained silent for a while.
Was she shocked? Or was she disappointed?
“…Brother Kyle.”
Unfortunately or fortunately, what the Saintess showed was neither.
“If someone really dislikes a person, wouldn’t they not feel even those emotions?”
“Pardon?”
“You said you felt admiration for my words and actions, and looked up to me.”
“That’s right.”
“Then that means you don’t dislike me at all, doesn’t it? If you really did, no words or actions would have seemed good or sounded nice, and no aspect of me would have appeared shining to you.”
Wait a minute. What’s this? This reaction is a bit different from what I expected.
I thought she would be disappointed, or angry, or embarrassed on her own.
I really didn’t expect her eyes to sparkle even more like this.
“In that case, I just need to work harder from now on.”
“Your Holiness. I mean…”
“I won’t ask you to change, Brother Kyle. I’ll be the one to change for you.”
When characters would frustrate readers by being dense and oblivious,
At those times, the Saintess would always open the cap of the soda bottle and pour it refreshingly.
True to her role as the official dispenser of satisfying moments, her words flowed without hesitation.
‘This is really unfair…’
He had meant to shake her, but instead, it seemed only he was getting shaken.