Chapter 17: 3rd Round, 2nd Game (2)
Johann's face beamed with an unfamiliar brightness, contrasting Yuli's obvious displeasure.
With an air of cluelessness, Johann replied, brimming with cheer, "What's the matter?"
"Why on earth is that cursed thing here?" Yuli retorted, his frustration evident.
"Oh, come now! To think you'd curse our dear Bung-Bungi! Cancel that immediately! It's been said that ancient items possess spirits! Our dear Bung-Bungi might feel hurt!"
"Nonsense! We had a deal, didn't we? If I made it to Chrome within two days, I wouldn't have to drag that cursed thing! Endurance training is over!"
"When did I say that?"
"This idiot here!"
"Haha, can't remember, can you?"
"...?"
"When did I say endurance training was over? I said if you made it to Chrome within two days, we'd move on to the next stage."
"...?!"
Yuli's eyes shook as if an earthquake had hit upon hearing Johann's words.
"Indeed... That's right."
And then it dawned on him.
He had fallen for Johann's jest.
As Yuli's expression darkened, Johann's grin only widened.
As if the emotional turmoil he had endured during their journey because of Yuli was suddenly lifted.
"Haha, foolish youngster, even if you possess mana, training your stamina and physique is a lifelong task!"
Yuli couldn't contain his frustration any longer.
Attempting to regain his composure, he said, "Fine, I'll give you that. But about the inspiration..."
"Why do you keep calling it that?"
"What is that thing anyway?"
He exclaimed, pointing towards the resurrected Bung-Bungi.
But there was nothing there.
Yuli's anger made Johann wince.
"What? What's the problem?"
"Problem? Problem?! You call this not a problem?"
Unable to contain himself any longer, Yuli exploded.
"No, seriously, where did you sell the carriage?"
And thus it was.
The carriage Johann had brought.
The resurrected Bung-Bungi was now too embarrassed to be called a carriage.
Because both of its wheels were missing.
Johann responded joyfully to Yuli's rage.
"Tsk tsk. After all the effort to master mana and improve your body, will training be worthwhile if the difficulty remains the same as before?"
With that said, Johann swiftly climbed onto the wheel-less Bung-Bungi.
And with a swift step onto the footboard, he shouted, "No time to waste, youngster! Move it! Do you want to freeze to death here?"
Watching Johann yell in excitement, Yuli muttered under his breath.
"Accursed old man..."
Despite cursing, seeing him grab the handle of the carriage, it seemed like his body still remembered the endurance training of pulling the carriage.
"Alright, let's go!"
And so, on the first day in the Niger administrative district,
Yuli's grueling training began anew.
***
Yuli and Johann had been in Niger for about a fortnight now.
At the edge of the icy mountains dividing the Niger administrative district and the Baltan administrative district.
Thud-thud-thud.
As time passed and the sun fully revealed its presence,
The incessant noise finally ceased.
And from where the sound originated,
Creak.
The door of the forge, which had been billowing white steam for two days straight, swung open, revealing a towering figure over 2 meters tall.
A rugged face adorned with a thick, white beard.
And massive muscles that exuded an imposing aura.
"Hmm..."
Ralph Schneel, who had been hammering away just moments ago, gazed towards the rising sun.
An uncomfortable feeling washed over his sunlit face.
"What impudent rascal disturbs me so early in the day..."
On the eastern horizon.
A strong presence rapidly approaching disrupted Ralph's work.
A concentration of energy so intense that it could force Ralph to abandon his work and confront the intruder.
At least until the unwelcome guest revealed themselves.
Squish-squish.
Accompanied by eerie sounds, a cloud of yellow dust approached.
And within it, gleaming crimson eyes.
"I'll... kill... you... I'll kill you..."
The continuous stream of curses was filled with malice.
A bizarre carriage without wheels.
And a boy straining with all his might to pull the carriage.
The eerie combination's arrival left Ralph dumbfounded as he stared at them.
Minutes passed like this.
Squish-squish.
Finally, the wheel-less carriage and the struggling boy, Yuli, reached Ralph's presence.
"D... Do... good..."
Before finishing his sentence, Yuli collapsed forward, unconscious.
"What... who is this?"
In disbelief at the unexpected sight, Ralph looked at the unconscious Yuli.
And in that moment,
Creak. Crack.
The already severely worn-out carriage completely broke down.
The wooden planks of the carriage sank in all directions, as if a gift box had been opened.
And in the center lay a bundled-up blanket.
Rustle.
"Achoo!"
Amidst the swirling dust, the blanket wriggled, accompanied by a hearty cough.
Sensing the presence of an unexpected person, Ralph's face stiffened in shock.
'...?!'
Proudly boasting twelve skilled artisans.
Among them, Ralph Schneel, the sixth-ranked swordsman, felt a chill run down his spine at the realization that someone was hiding.
'Who on earth?'
As Ralph heightened his alertness and prepared to confront the unknown, a grizzled voice came from the other side.
"Hey! Kid, I told you to run gently so the dust wouldn't fly."
Accompanied by grumbling, the blanket was suddenly soaked and revealed a familiar face.
"Oh my, poor Bung-Bungi... You've suffered so much. Please go to a better place."
Seeing the broken carriage more sympathetically than the unconscious Yuli, Ralph felt his tension dissipate.
A voice of disappointment escaped his lips.
"Johann... Senpai?"
At the sound of his name, Johann waved his hand cheerfully.
"Long time no see."
***
Next to the blacksmith's shop stood a two-story house.
Contrary to Ralph's rugged appearance, the interior of his house was cozy and tidy.
Clatter.
Ralph, the homeowner, placed a cup of tea in front of Johann and asked, "So, what brings you here after fifteen years of not bothering to show up?"
A hint of reproach for not searching for fifteen years.
Johann chuckled in response to his senior's grumbling.
"You remember the Shari, right? Why, didn't you boast about getting it back in the day?"
"Do you remember something that happened twenty years ago?"
"If you had bragged back then, wouldn't you?"
"Humph, anyhow. Did you really come all this way for that? It was there twenty years ago, what's the use now?"
"That's a problem for you to think about. And given your character, if it's something like that, you must have tucked it away safely. You always liked flashy and pretty things that didn't suit your appearance."
"Judging people by their appearance is an improper habit..."
"Enough noise. So, is it here or not?"
"Why are you looking for it?"
"Because of that rotten brat."
With a grimace, Johann nodded towards Yuli, who was slumped in a corner of the room like a rag.
Glancing in that direction, Ralph asked with crossed arms, "Hmm, I've been curious since earlier... Who's that kid?"
"He's a nuisance."
"Your disciple?"
"Disciple? I don't raise people like that."
"Isn't it time for you to start raising disciples? To fulfill the Redner family's legacy?"
With Ralph's words, Johann snorted.
He poured himself a drink before responding, "I am the last heir of the Redner family. Whether I ruin it, sell it, what concern is it of yours?"
"It's a pity, that's why! If the Redner family's martial arts become ordinary, it's a loss to humanity, isn't it?"
"Well, you're not wrong."
"So anyway... Is he your disciple or not?"
"He's not. Although I do teach him a few things, I don't consider him a disciple. And he wouldn't consider me a master either."
"Oh? So you are teaching him something?"
"Yes."
"Usually, people call that a master-disciple relationship, don't they?"
"Oh, no way! He and I are just... cooperating for our own purposes!"
"If it fits, it fits. Why complicate things?"
"...Just think whatever makes you comfortable."
Seemingly tired of the argument, Johann waved his hand dismissively.
His gaze then fell on the cup in front of him.
Simultaneously, a slight furrow formed on Johann's brow.
A face of mild contemplation.
"Hmm... What's this?"
Even after examining the cup carefully, it was unmistakably a teacup fit for gatherings of noblewomen.
Perplexed, Johann questioned, "Is this how drinking vessels are made nowadays?"
"That's a teacup."
"Are you crazy? Are you implying we're having a cozy tea party here? Bring the liquor, now!"
"...I quit drinking some time ago."
"Seems like time does change things. You're spouting nonsense about quitting drinking?"
"Stubborn. Even a mountain changes in ten years... After fifteen years, of course, I've changed too."
"Getting old and cranky, huh? I'd rather see a dog stop barking. You quit drinking? Would you like me to bring a bottle, or should I rummage through the house and confiscate everything?"
"Grr..."
Ralph reluctantly got up and fetched a bottle of liquor from the cupboard in response to Johann's grumbling.
Seeing only one bottle through the slightly open cupboard, Johann's expression was one of resignation.
"Hey, after all this time, you bring out just one measly bottle? Are you even my junior?"
"You trusted me with the alcohol..."
"What?"
With a glare from Johann, Ralph quickly retrieved the bottle, shoulders slightly hunched.
And so, the tea cup turned into a drinking vessel.
Pouring out a glass each, the room was filled with a warm, silent aroma of alcohol.
Several glasses were quickly emptied without much effect due to their accustomed tolerance.
However, the atmosphere of the drinking session easily led to topics that were not easily broached in ordinary conversation.
Even without getting drunk, certain topics were only brought up over drinks.
"So... what happened?"
Ralph's gaze, resigned, turned to Johann's worn wooden prosthetic.
Johann chuckled at his blatant stare.
"Are you asking because you don't know, or because you want to hear it from me even though you already do?"
"The latter."
"You're curious to hear a tale of a fool, straight from the horse's mouth? Your unseen temper has become quite bitter."
"If you wanted to hear such a story, you should have kept in touch more often. Must I hear this... through someone else?"
"Well, if you already know, then that's that. Why probe further?"
"..."
Ralph clenched his jaw shut.
Reading determination in Ralph's resolute gaze, Johann quickly refilled his glass and downed it in one gulp.
"Well, it's nothing special."
A sense of emptiness crept into his eyes as a stray drop of liquor trickled down his lips.
"As you know, fifteen years ago, in that fight..."
And as he downed his second glass in quick succession, the emptiness was washed away.
And with the third glass in hand...
"...I lost my life. Taken by that damned monster."
The emptiness was replaced by a sharp determination.
Fantasy,
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