The Protagonist’s Party is Too Diligent – 68
EP.68 Deal (2)
Fortunately, I didn’t get carsick. Although my heart raced a bit, and the road was far bumpier than the asphalt roads I’d experienced back on Earth. But according to Jennifer, the road also served as a supply route, so it wasn’t too rough.
Come to think of it, I had ridden in much shakier carriages. Unlike cars, many carriages didn’t have suspensions. I also didn’t remember wearing seat belts in them.
Still, it was a different experience sitting in the passenger seat of a car, with nothing obstructing my view ahead. Even though we were only going about 80 km/h, the open view and lack of a seatbelt made me feel a bit anxious.
Given that cars were rare in this world, especially in the sparsely populated countryside, the vehicle sped smoothly along the empty road. After about 40 minutes of driving with a mix of refreshing and slightly terrifying feelings, we arrived at a base in the forest.
“This isn’t a military base. It’s a place where hunters who protect Winterfield’s vast forests stay.”
Jennifer said as she parked the car.
“Though, in terms of armament, they’re no different from our private soldiers.”
She added, casting a glance at me.
“Does it bother you, Your Highness?”
“No, not at all.”
I responded immediately.
This was something the Emperor should be concerned about, not me. Even if we broaden the scope, it would be Alice, the next in line for the throne, who should worry about it.
Winterfield was loyal among the dukes. This private force was meant to protect the estate’s forests from northern warlords, not to raise arms against the Emperor.
“Your Grace!”
As Jennifer stepped out of the car, a bearded hunter rushed over to greet her. He wore a thick fur hat with ear flaps—an ushanka, if I remembered correctly, like the ones Soviet soldiers wore in World War II.
The hunter’s clothes weren’t military uniforms. The red checkered shirt and sturdy jeans visible under his fur coat made him look more like a lumberjack. Then again, there probably wasn’t much of a difference out here. To survive the cold in this forest, they probably spent most of the year chopping wood for firewood.
“Hey, everyone! Lady Winterfield is here!”
At the hunter’s shout, other men dressed similarly to him emerged from various places. From the log cabins scattered around the base, bearded faces appeared.
“How have you all been?”
“Very well, thank you!”
The hunter removed his hat politely, revealing matted hair that looked like it hadn’t been cut in ages.
His face, flushed either from the cold or from having had a drink or two, lit up with a broad smile as he spoke.
“It’s been a long time, Your Grace. But…”
The hunter’s gaze shifted to me as I got out of the car. And then, the other hunters emerging from their cabins also turned their attention to me, their eyes filled with curiosity. It made sense—after all, it wasn’t every day that a teenage girl showed up in a place like this. There didn’t seem to be any women around here at all.
“This is the princess from the capital.”
“Oh.”
At Jennifer’s words, the hunter’s face stiffened slightly. Whether it was due to tension or a less-than-favorable view of the imperial family, I couldn’t tell. The way he glanced around, as if expecting to see soldiers accompanying me, suggested he might have thought I brought a guard escorting me.
“You don’t need to be so nervous. For now, she’s here as a student, not a princess. She’s also here as my disciple, so she’s not expecting any special treatment from you.”
Even if I had come as a princess, I wouldn’t have expected special treatment.
“We’re going to climb the mountain. Can we borrow some climbing gear? I assume the place I stayed as a child is still the same?”
…So she’d lived here before?
Well, it made sense. To meet the Sword Saint living on the mountain, staying here would be more practical than staying in the heart of Winterfield.
“Yes, everything should still be there, including the clothes you used to wear.”
“Thank you.”
…Clothes?
“Come this way. My old climbing clothes should fit you. They might be a bit tight around the chest, though.”
I followed her, feeling slightly puzzled by her playful tone.
*
…Sure enough, hiking up a mountain in a school uniform skirt that left my legs exposed was pure madness. Even though the path was man-made, it was incredibly uneven. The cold mountain air also crept between my legs, biting at the exposed skin mercilessly.
I was wearing thick pants now, but the chill still managed to seep through. Just imagining how cold I would’ve been if I had followed in just stockings made me shudder.
In games, your character’s clothing didn’t change unless something special happened, so it was easy to forget practical details like this.
…If Jennifer hadn’t stayed here during her childhood, I wondered how much worse things would’ve been.
“…Phew.”
I exhaled softly. Jennifer would hear it, but I couldn’t help it. Climbing the mountain was that exhausting.
Honestly, I wanted to collapse on the ground, panting and gasping for air, but I managed to hold back. At least the minimal exercise I did regularly helped prevent me from completely wearing out. Surprisingly, Jennifer seemed to take my condition into account, hiking up the mountain at a slower pace. The trail, though uneven and scattered with rocks, was in better shape than I had expected. It seemed to be a path that the local hunters used.
Every time I stumbled or exerted too much effort inefficiently, I would reset time just a little and try again. This way, I managed to conserve as much energy as possible.
“Well, even people living in the mountains can’t be entirely self-sufficient.”
Watching her, I realized that even in the game, if there was a path, it meant it was possible for people to pass through it.
Still, it had taken us four hours to get this far.
The sun was already setting. My friends might have been searching for me, wondering where I had gone.
…But I’d return as soon as the training was over, so it wasn’t something I needed to worry about too much. Of course, time had already been reset to before I had met Jennifer.
*
“Master—”
Jennifer swung open the door of the Sword Saint’s house, which was perched right on the edge of the cliff, without even waiting for permission. She immediately dodged to the side.
A small clay jar flew at incredible speed, sailing out and disappearing over the cliff’s edge.
“Oh dear.”
Jennifer made a sound, but she didn’t seem particularly surprised.
“You wretched girl!”
And I wasn’t surprised either.
“How dare you show your face here again!?”
“Well, I still have a face, don’t I? That’s why I’m here, Master.”
“Huh…”
A sound of disbelief came from inside the cabin at her shameless response.
“I can handle about half of your sword techniques now. Doesn’t that make me at least a half-decent disciple?”
“…”
It seemed the Sword Saint was at a loss for words at Jennifer’s statement.
“I came to introduce someone to you, Master. May I come in?”
“…Go ahead. As if you’d listen to me if I said no.”
“You’re spot on.”
“You useless girl.”
With those words, which seemed more like a habit than an insult, Jennifer glanced at me and nodded for me to follow as she stepped inside the cabin.
Following Jennifer inside, I found the cabin to be warmer than expected. Though it looked shabby from the outside, the interior revealed it to be a well-built log cabin. The logs were stacked tightly, keeping out any drafts, and the place was decorated with various animal furs. It felt more like a forest hunter’s house than the home of a Sword Saint.
However, above the fireplace, instead of mounted animal heads, there were three swords hanging on the wall, each one distinctly a katana. They were all of different lengths.
“Hmm.”
The Sword Saint, who had been more interested in me than his own disciple, watched me with curiosity. Only then did it dawn on me, Oh, this is the Sword Saint.
He had a long white beard and white hair tied back in a way that resembled a Japanese topknot. However, his features were those of a typical Westerner, with blue eyes. According to the lore, he had traveled to the East in his youth and returned with the title of Sword Saint.
“Is this the child?”
“Yes.”
“You fool.”
At Jennifer’s words, the Sword Saint immediately yelled.
“Bringing someone with no talent here, what are you thinking!”
“…”
Oh.
I’d been completely exposed in an instant.
Well, he was the Sword Saint, after all. It made sense. Even Lucas and the Emperor saw me as something quite peculiar.
“If you’re curious, why not have her swing a sword?”
Jennifer suggested.
“What?”
Wait, what?
Before I could react, I realized I had already revealed too much to too many people.
…Maybe I’d chosen the wrong character after all.