“A trade journey to Roberin City?”
“Yes. We also need to deliver goods to the Rogen Company. Since you’re going that way, how about going together?”
The chief warrior’s proposal was one that I had no reason to refuse.
From here to Roberin City, it’s a day’s ride on horseback, but with carts, it’s roughly a three-day journey.
If the trading company prepares food and lodging for those three days, I can focus on teaching Sowol.
“Let’s do that then.”
“Thank you.”
Pleased that his proposal was accepted, the chief warrior hurriedly headed elsewhere.
Watching him go, I left the trading company and headed to the church in the territory.
“You want me to move my quarters?”
Serin, who was staying in the quarters prepared at the church, looked visibly tired.
It seems she’s been quite focused on making holy water.
“Yes. There’s a place for me at the Eastern Trading Company. Could you stay there for a while?”
“Why?”
“I just feel a bit uneasy about it.”
I shared my opinion that the cult might be targeting the Eastern Trading Company. After listening for a while, she accepted my proposal with a light shrug.
“If that’s the case, I can’t refuse. Oh, and I think I can finish making the holy water in a few days.”
“Good.”
“But what are you going to use this for?”
“To make medicine for my disciple.”
“Such devotion?!”
“I have to be devoted. It’s hard to find someone of her caliber.”
“Hmm. Is she that good?”
“She really is that good?!”
If I were to tell you about all the trouble I went through looking for a talented disciple before Sowol, three or four days wouldn’t be enough.
“If you’re that serious, should I help you look too?”
“You have a talent search skill too?”
As far as I know, she doesn’t have talent search skills.
As I looked at her curiously, Serin shook her head.
“The church takes care of many orphans. We sometimes bring in orphans with good talents to the church. When you’re at the center, you get a lot of information about such children.”
“Oh, is that so? Then let me know if you find any good ones.”
“Alright. Of course, you know it’s not for free, right?”
I nodded at her as she spoke cheerfully, winking one eye. The condition she sets is ultimately to help when dealing with the cult, so there’s no reason to refuse.
“Don’t worry.”
The probability of finding someone will increase if the power of a large organization like the church joins in, compared to me searching alone.
Thanks to prior arrangements, moving Serin and the holy knights from the church to the Eastern Trading Company was no major problem.
Some holy knights tried to evangelize the trading company’s non-religious employees. Still, considering that their presence prevents unnecessary problems, we could overlook that with a smile.
“Master, it’s about time we should go.”
I turned around as I watched Serin and the holy knights evangelizing.
Four large carts were loaded with a lot of cargo.
As the warriors for escort approached the carts, I climbed onto a cart and sat down.
“Should I walk?”
“No. You sit too. Meditate on the cart.”
“It seems like it’ll be hard to concentrate…”
“Being able to concentrate in any situation is important too.”
If you can’t enter a state of selflessness on a shaking cart, how could you possibly enter such a state during battle?
That’s how important concentration is.
As she sat on the cart without argument and closed her eyes, Laila, who had armed herself, approached.
“It seems you’re teaching her properly.”
“Of course. Oh, and I plan to guide you as we go, too.”
“Us too?”
One of the nearby warriors looked at me happily as he spoke.
Yes. Teaching the Eastern Trading Company’s warriors will make things easier for me later.
“The first thing I’ll teach you is footwork. I’ll teach you basic movements useful in combat, so remember them well.”
I got off the cart and immediately demonstrated the footwork. Forward, rotate, backward, and then leap. The warriors, intently observing the deep footprints on the ground, started to imitate one by one.
“Oops!”
It won’t be easy to succeed from the start.
But it’s good footwork to know, so I hope they’ll practice even if it’s difficult.
“What’s the name of this footwork?”
“Cloud Step. It’s something you can’t learn even if you pay for it, so master it well.”
It’s a footwork technique I obtained from a ruin I broke through over the past year, and in the game, it’s useful in the early to mid-game.
If mastered well, you can outmaneuver most enemies with just this footwork.
“Ugh. This is difficult.”
“Did you think it would be easy?”
I snorted at Laila, who almost fell over as her feet tangled while trying to perform it.
She couldn’t do even this much at once, which shows that Laila’s aptitude is clearly not up to Sowol’s level.
Still, seeing that she’s learning faster than the other warriors, if there’s no one else, maybe her…
“Huh? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You seem to be doing quite well for your young age. How about having a match with Sowol later?”
“With the young miss?”
Laila glanced towards Sowol, who was meditating and then waved her hands.
“No way~. No matter what, how could I with the young miss…”
“It’s also a skill test. Let’s do it later this evening.”
“Sigh. Alright.”
As Laila, who finally agreed, went elsewhere, I climbed back onto the cart.
They’re moving slowly as they practice the footwork while following.
On the cart, which had become relatively less shaky, I spoke to Sowol, who was meditating.
“You heard that, right?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not concentrating, are you?”
“Ugh. It’s not easy.”
Sowol, who finally opened her eyes, let out a deep sigh.
Yeah. It won’t be easy.
But still, you have to do it.
“Are you able to do it, Master?”
“For me, this much is nothing. If it’s hard to maintain a state of no thoughts and enter selflessness, it’s not a bad method to focus on thinking about one thing.”
“Think about one thing?”
“Yes. It’s not bad to think about what’s important to you.”
“Did you do that too, Master?”
“Well… I did too.”
In my case, I dreamed of going back home.
When I focused on achieving that goal, I found it easier to concentrate.
I’m not sure how she interpreted my explanation, but Sowol nodded slightly.
“By the way, do you think I can perform well against Laila?”
Sowol has been learning swordsmanship properly for less than a year.
As such, it’s indeed burdensome to face Laila, who has been practicing swordsmanship for a long time, unlike her. Even if she has learned how to channel magical power.
I looked at the worried Sowol and then patted her head. Perhaps because she’s now used to being patted, she lowered her head quietly, making it easy to pat.
“You don’t necessarily have to win. It would be good if you win. But if there’s something you can learn from the fight with Laila, that’s not bad either.”
“Not bad… then what’s good?”
“Winning, I guess?”
As I said, it won’t be easy.
While Laila’s talent might be less than Sowol’s, considering what she has honed so far, she should still be above Sowol for now.
“…What happens if I win?”
“I’ll give you one praise sticker.”
That’s the best gift, right? Look at her, clenching her fist and burning with determination.
“I’ll definitely win.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
As Sowol concentrated again and meditated, the cart continued to move.
The sun slowly set, and the warriors, tired from practicing the footwork, immediately collapsed.
“Phew. So tired.”
“What if we get ambushed like this?”
The reason warriors join trade journeys is to prepare for attacks from bandits or monsters.
So, along with the question of what to do if we’re attacked while they’re this tired from practicing footwork, their gazes fixed on me.
“If something happens, I’ll fight, so don’t worry.”
“Hahaha! That’s great! Then I’ll rest easy!”
They’re so pleased. I gave them a slight smile and then watched the workers prepare the meal.
Meanwhile, Laila, who had rested briefly, approached.
“Is it alright now?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. But how about you?”
Laila was also tired from practicing the footwork.
But she seemed to think that was just a penalty, nodding nonchalantly.
“I’m fine.”
“Good. Sowol! Let’s start now!”
Sowol got off the cart and approached with a wooden sword.
As Laila watched this and lifted her sword from its scabbard.
“Begin.”
-Woong…!!
A white light began to emanate from Sowol’s wooden sword, and seeing this, Laila’s expression twisted.
“Sword energy?! Young miss?! How can you use sword energy…?!”
Laila, clearly flustered, quickly glanced at me.
I just smiled at her.
“Kuk…”
Laila, gritting her teeth, narrowly avoided Sowol’s attack.
Watching this, I approached the warriors who were seriously observing.
“Want to bet on who will win?”
“I didn’t know the young miss could use sword energy… I’ll bet on the young miss.”
“Me too, on the young miss…”
“I’ll bet on Laila.”
The odds are quickly set. About 7:3 in favor of Sowol.
“Who will you bet on, Master?”
“Me?”
I watched the sword clashing with the wooden sword, then shook my head and said, trying to set the mood as much as possible,
“I’ll bet on a draw.”
What if I’m wrong after saying this?
Please, Sowol!