𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭
After a disastrous encounter with the Beast King, we entered the town of Jamul.
We passed through the gate, which had been swiftly reopened after being closed due to a mole demon attack.
At this time, without revealing that we were the heroes, we used fake IDs that we had prepared for situations like this.
After all, if people knew the heroes had arrived, it could create quite a commotion.
Unlike in Elf Village, where we openly revealed ourselves to call for a joint effort, we were merely here to resupply.
Unnecessary disturbances are just a hassle and a source of chaos.
The judgment of the person who prepared these fake IDs was correct.
ㅤ
However, it seemed like the word had gotten out that the heroes were in town, possibly because we had caused a scene with the Beast King near the mole demon earlier.
ㅤ
“Hero-sama, welcome to the town of Jamour. You must be tired from your long journey.”
“Ah, long time no see.”
ㅤ
When we parked the carriage at the station, a lone knight came over and discreetly thanked Stella, making sure he wasn’t overheard by others around us.
Did he come to greet us because he saw us from the town wall?
Ignoring the arrival of heroes could cause some friction, after all.
ㅤ
A young knight with a sturdy physique appeared.
He appeared to be in his mid-twenties.
With a sword at his waist, he is likely a swordsman.
From his demeanor, one can sense considerable strength.
Perhaps he is a hero blessed with the divine protection of the sword.
However, there is something familiar about this person. . . . . .
ㅤ
“Who was it. . . . . .”
“I’m Doug Byte, a member of the elite knight corps of the Sirius Kingdom! The man you’ve twice humiliated! At least remember my face!”
“Ah, now I remember.”
ㅤ
I remembered him with that loud voice.
Right, this is the knight with a dog-like name who was present when Ruberto-san and others came to the village to pick up Stella.
I recall that back then, I kicked him hard, incapacitating him.
And I also remember meeting him during the hero’s departure ceremony.
He had been the first among the heroes with divine protection to confront me, and I remember incapacitating him then as well.
But I have no intention of apologizing; it was a fair fight between men.
ㅤ
“Your disrespect is as appalling as ever! But fine. Now you are a member of Hero-sama’s party. Though you may lack rank, your status is extremely close to that of a Holy Warrior. Reluctantly, I consider you my superior. I won’t make a fuss.”
“Hahaha. . . . . .Allan is sorry.”
“There’s no need for Hero-sama to apologize.”
ㅤ
With that, the knight with a dog-like name, now known as Doug-san, backed down.
Honestly, it was a bit unexpected.
Given his past attitude, I thought he would be more aggressive.
I felt like he’d called me a weakling without divine protection or something. I thought he was some sort of hard-headed divine protection supremacist, but apparently not.
ㅤ
“So, why is Doug-san here?”
“I have been assigned as the guardian knight responsible for the town’s defense. Also, I brought someone else with me, knowing that Hero-sama is here. . . . . .Come on, don’t hide, greet them!”
“. . . . . .Yes.”
ㅤ
At that moment, a child appeared from behind Doug-san.
The boy looked a couple of years younger than me and wore the armor of the knight corps.
He seemed to have been perfectly hidden behind Doug-san’s large frame.
Even now, he seems hesitant, watching Stella cautiously.
He might be a bit timid.
ㅤ
However, contrary to such appearances and atmosphere, my intuition based on my combat experience was appealing a sensation completely opposite to the first impression.
. . . . . .Impressive.
I sense a power close to that of Doug-san.
Undoubtedly, he must possess divine protection.
However, at the same time, there’s a slightly peculiar feeling.
As if my intuition has subtly gone awry, I can’t quite grasp how strong he is.
I feel he might be below Doug-san, but also, he might be on the level of heroes like Fisto, or perhaps even surpassing Blade.
My intuition is presenting multiple answers and isn’t helpful.
Yes.
This is just like the feeling when encountering an enemy of a type I’ve never seen before. . . . . .
ㅤ
“Ahh! Rest-kun!”
ㅤ
My thoughts were interrupted by Stella, who raised her voice next to me.
Stella dashed toward the boy she called Rest-kun and grabbed his hand with both of hers, shaking it up and down vigorously.
ㅤ
“You were in this town, Rest-kun! It’s been a while! How have you been?”
“Y, Yes. . . . . . .”
“I see, I see!”
ㅤ
. . . . . . . . . . . .Stella, isn’t your enthusiasm different from usual?
She seems unusually happy and cheerful, and it’s somewhat irksome.
Oh, come to think of it, she was pretty lenient with the younger kids back in our hometown.
We were just kids ourselves back then, so I never thought much of it, but maybe Stella actually likes children.
That doesn’t mean the unease in my chest is gone.
The way Rest-kun is blushing under Stella’s attention only fuels the uncomfortable feeling inside me.
ㅤ
“Stella, who is this kid?”
ㅤ
I called out to my childhood friend, who was showering the boy with attention, and made her turn this way.
Certainly. . . . . .I wasn’t motivated by jealousy or anything like that.
ㅤ
“When we were training in the capital, we were often disciplined together by Ruberto-san. This is Rest・Valkyrias-kun. Allan, you must have met him before.”
“I don’t remember such an aura. . . . . . Huh? Valkyrias?”
ㅤ
As I react to the familiar family name,
ㅤ
“Ah, look who it is! My younger brother!”
“. . . . . . Brother.”
ㅤ
Blade appears from the carriage and calls Rest-kun his brother.
Rest-kun too calls Blade “Brother,” albeit with a somewhat complex expression.
Ah, so he really is Blade’s younger brother.
Blade’s full name is Blade・Valkyrias.
And also, Ruberto-san’s full name is Ruberto・Valkyrias.
So, this means he’s part of the lineage of the Sword Saint.
ㅤ
However, judging by that complex expression, it seems their brotherly relationship isn’t smooth sailing.
But then again, Blade walks over and tousles Rest’s hair roughly.
His face is not the tense one I’ve seen lately but filled with a hearty smile.
At least from Blade’s end, it seems he dotes on his younger brother.
The younger brother still looks uneasy, but it could just be typical teenage rebellion.
ㅤ
“Ah, that’s true! Rest-kun is here!”
“Hey, isn’t it Rest-boy? You seem to have grown a bit since I last saw you. Here, have some candy.”
ㅤ
The remaining two members of the Hero’s Party, Rin and Auntie Elle, also come out and start fussing over Rest.
Could it be. . . . . .he’s captivated everyone in our group?
This younger brother character is too strong.
Most likely, they were charmed by him when they were in the capital.
When Stella and Rin went to the capital, Rest would have been even younger, so it’s not surprising that they found solace in the presence of a small child.
In Auntie Elle’s case, it’s probably the instinctive desire older people have to fuss over young children.
Even with such a charming younger brother like Rest, I doubt we’ll be getting along any time soon.
ㅤ
“I’m Allan. Nice to meet you.”
“. . . . . .Yes, nice to meet you too.”
ㅤ
I approached Rest, who seemed rather bothered, and initiated conversation.
Rest responded, but neither of us extended a hand for a handshake.
Instead, we exchanged glances as if looking at an enemy.
Notably, Rest was the first to shoot a hostile gaze.
ㅤ
. . . . . .It’s confirmed.
Rest’s demeanor subtly differed when Stella held my hand and when I was being bothered by Auntie Elle and Lin.
Both times he had a complicated expression that included shyness, but it seemed there was more shyness when he was with Stella.
Above all, the gaze he directed at Stella had an irrepressible warmth, similar to the way I look at my own kind.
ㅤ
This guy is my enemy.
Put it nicely, and he’s a rival.
Of course, I have no intention of losing.
We exchanged electrifying glances, sparking tension.
ㅤ
“Eh? Why are you both so confrontational?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve just recognized him as a rival, that’s all.”
“Whaaat. . . . . .?”
ㅤ
Stella looked perplexed, but Rin and Auntie Elle, perhaps sensing the situation, had grins wider than usual.
I could hear whispers like “Ah, a battleground,” “Definitely a battleground.”
Annoying.
Be more like Blade, who watches silently with a nuanced expression, or Doug-san, who remains completely uninvolved.
ㅤ
“Oh. Things have gotten rather lively here.”
ㅤ
At that moment, a figure spoke to us—our group that was, for better or worse, lively centered around Rest.
A familiar voice, filled with dignity—an elderly man.
Everyone turned towards the voice, and there stood an elderly knight who had just stepped down from a large carriage parked nearby.
ㅤ
“I had intended just to rest, but it seems I’ve stumbled upon Hero-sama and friends. My timing appears to be quite good.”
“””Ruberto-san (sama)!”””
ㅤ
The person who appeared was none other than the legendary great hero that I once considered a wall I absolutely had to overcome.
『Sword Saint』 Ruberto・Valkyrias, that was him.
The Valkyrias family that I knew had all gathered in this town of Jamour at that moment.
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