Several days had passed since I set out from that isolated city. By the way, I didn’t get to talk with Baldo and the others again, since I left town as soon as I could.
Well, they also wandered from town to town, helping subjugating monsters here and there, so one day we’ll likely to cross path once again. When that time comes, I’ll gladly have some drinks and exchange stories with them.
We rode north on a swaying carriage. The carriage this time was different than the previous one where I also served as escort. I used the sand golem bounty money and directly chartered the carriage.
Might be a bit too luxurious. But it’s a trip in which I unlikely will return from. At least I have to go with style……..from whom did I borrow that kind of thought? And of course, Myne who sat next to me with a refreshed face didn’t have to pay. She wanted to return to her village with as much money as possible.
Whatever, it’s better than having to travel alone.
I listened to the middle-aged coachman who I had paid 15 gold to drive for us.
The further you were from the mainland, the sparser the cities became. In other words, the closer you got to Gallia, the harder it was for people to live. It’s mostly because of the monster waves from Gallia.
The situation only got worse since the holy knights who’re responsible to hold them off were absent. I could tell from how, up until this point, I still had to kill groups of monsters
「Achaaー, this is no good. Looks like……the left wheel is broken」
The man told me in a troubled face as he got down off the carriage. He said that it would take at least 3 days to repair it. So we decided to stay in the village while waiting.
Because Myne told me that she wanted to do something, at first I thought she was annoyed by the delay, but it seemed that I was wrong. She said that the delay didn’t matter, and that she wanted to look around the village on her own. She’s indeed an ‘at my own pace’ kind of person.
I decided to go find the village chief to ask permission to stay here for three days.
「You are one of the strong presences that entered the village just now. Hmm, I sense no ill intent out of you」
The old man smiled, then offered me a handshake.
「I am Aaron Barbatos. The chief of this village. Welcome, young warrior」
He was the village chief? Then, I have to introduce myself properly.
For real…. It’s rare to see a knight with appraisal skill. I can hide my skill list using hiding skill, but I cannot fake my stats. He’s the kind of Holy Knight I’m really afraid to come across with.
「Then, what do you say?」
I slowly unsheathed Greed. But Aaron stuck out his left hand in front of me.
「I’ve said it so myself. You bear no ill intent, and do not actually want to fight. All I want is to test your strength, a spar if you may. What do you say?」
It can’t be helped. My swordsmanship was mostly self-taught. I didn’t even know if what I had now was proper posture or not. Either way, I could still defeat monsters. Then Aaron told me.
「Although you can defeat monsters, you’ll have trouble dealing with human opponent」
「Am I right? You’ll understand if you have the appraisal skill. But those stats are……」
「Then, what about this」
Before I knew it, Aaron’s sword tip is already inch away from my nose. Fast!
Sporting….. I don’t need to be told on how to fight. Perhaps, there was something else behind that seemingly kind smile. However, he’s right about how I had a hard time controlling my body once I reached 2 million stats.
This may prove to be an opportunity. Having an old Holy Knight teach me how to fight, it’s like dream come true. Otherwise I’d be stuck with the fighting stance taught to me by professor goblin.
「Very well. Just for a while, I’ll be in your care.」
I lowered Greed down, and slightly bowed my head to Aaron.
He in turn resheathed the golden sword, and offered me a handshake once more.
Leaving his holy sword behind, the old man attacked me bare-handedly. I managed to catch the fist, but it was so heavy that it knocked me back. This old man was too good.
「Ho, you managed to block that despite being taken by surprise. Then, how about this?」
「The best way to get used to your stats is by fighting barehanded. Well, that’s it for today. Then, Fate, let me direct you to your lodging」
I wonder what he’ll train me in tomorrow… While I was thinking about that, Myne walked relaxedly from the other side of the road. Aaron seemed to be surprised upon seeing her, although it’s only temporarily.
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