Chapter 76 - Renid (7)

Upon returning to the wagon, Leira immediately handed me a warm cup of tea.

“Congratulations, Johan. On winning the bet. I knew you would be back soon.”

The steam rising from the teacup added credibility to her words.

“It has a nice aroma.”

“It’s a specialty of our region. It’s very popular throughout all of Lenad. In fact, would you believe that in the northwestern region we are currently heading to, a single cup of this tea costs several days’ wages for a laborer?”

“There are abnormal prices everywhere in the world.”

“Is Earth like that too?”

I nodded my head.

“A single pyeong of land somewhere on Earth is sometimes traded for a laborer’s several years’ wages.”

“Lies!”

“It’s up to you whether you believe it or not.”

“What on earth is Earth like for such a crazy price to be possible?”

“For now, let’s look outside the wagon rather than talk about that.”

We were having a very leisurely conversation in the midst of a battle.

The aspect of the engagement was one-sided.

There was no way a group of orcs of that size could be a match for the Merwell Guild’s forces.

There was a difference in individual combat abilities, but considering their overwhelming organization, it seemed highly likely that there would be no casualties from the Merwell Guild.

The Merwell Guild was cautiously and steadily breaking down the orc horde without overextending themselves.

Even in the midst of all that, Tardel’s voice was not heard even once.

He was rigidly fulfilling that promise.

“He is a man of his word, though.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“Captain Tardel.”

Leira realized what I meant a moment later and smiled bashfully.

“He’s blunt, but he’s a reliable person.”

“In that sense, I plan to make him keep the promise for sure.”

“Are you really going to make him not say a single word for two days?”

“A promise is a promise.”

“You’re harsh. Johan.”

Still, he would probably learn something through this incident.

That one must always be humble, and that one’s senses can be imperfect. If he could realize these things, the two days of silent training would be a very cheap tuition fee.

Before long, the battle was reaching its final stage.

As expected, the orc horde was being annihilated without a single casualty.

Despite the restriction of silence, Tardel’s command was quite excellent.

“Our Merwell Private Army is always so reliable. Especially when Captain Tardel is leading them.”

“So you hired me even though you had such faith in them.”

“Because I became interested in you. Shall I say I wanted to poke the bear even more after realizing I couldn't have you?”

“What on earth were you planning to do after buying me.”

“You shouldn’t ask things like that.”

Leira covered her mouth with her hand as if embarrassed and smiled.

Whatever sinister thoughts she had, it was clear that she was a good person to me.

Thanks to her, the progress of the quest had quickened.

Moreover, since I was escorting such a large caravan, the quest reward would also be substantial.

***

Tardel kept his promise.

Even while inside the wagon.

Even during the large and small skirmishes with monsters.

Even when eating.

Even when sleeping.

In every moment I was aware of, he maintained his silence.

“Johan, at this point, I wish you would just consider the penalty fulfilled.”

“No. It’s almost been two days already, and if I let him off here, Captain Tardel would hate it too, wouldn’t he? Right, Tardel?”

As I looked at him with a sly smile, Tardel just closed his eyes tightly and nodded his head.

“If that’s the case, I can’t help it. Johan, then could you tell me about Earth again today, following up from yesterday?”

Leira showed a strong interest in Earth, a place she couldn’t go to.

“What are you curious about this time on Earth?”

“Swordsmanship.”

“There are many restrictions on this topic. I can’t talk about the principles or forms of swordsmanship.”

“That’s not what I’m curious about. Two days ago, do you remember saying that Earth’s swordsmanship is superior to Lenad’s?”

“I did.”

“Then where is your position on Earth?”

My position…

It was a difficult question to answer.

If she was asking about the level of mastery in swordsmanship, my position was above all Earthlings.

And by a huge margin at that.

But at this point in time, it wasn't that I could subdue all Earthlings with swordsmanship.

Because the stark difference in mana was difficult to overcome.

“Why no answer?”

“Because the question is ambiguous.”

“What’s so ambiguous about it. I’m asking about the extent of your enlightenment on the sword on Earth.”

In that case, it became a very simple question.

“Let’s just say, the overwhelming number one.”

“What did you say?”

Leira’s eyes widened, and Tardel, who was listening from the side, snorted for a moment.

Leira aside, it seemed this Tardel fellow hadn't learned his lesson even with the penalty.

What is seen is not everything.

“Johan, you’re not joking, are you?”

“Of course not.”

“Your own thoughts are your own, so I have no intention of saying anything about that. But with your answer just now, your claim that Earth’s swordsmanship is superior to Lenad’s has lost a lot of credibility.”

“As I always say, it’s up to you whether you believe it or not. I have no intention of forcing you.”

“If you are joking right now, I’m very disappointed, and if you have disrespected Lenad’s swordsmanship, I want an apology.”

“It’s neither, so it shouldn’t matter.”

Leira bit her lip tightly.

She was thoroughly angry.

And then, a period of silence continued.

She, perhaps offended, didn't speak to me anymore, and Tardel was only showing his hostility, glaring at me.

He was probably thinking that his superior was being toyed with.

Like that, the wagon ran for a long time in silence.

And a few hours later, it was Tardel who broke the silence.

“The promised two days have passed.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Apologize to the young lady at once!”

“Apologize?”

I had somewhat expected Tardel’s sudden outburst.

His expression from a while ago looked like he had a lot to say to me.

“For the crime of playing with words with the young lady with your nonsensical talk!”

“It is you who should apologize, Tardel.”

“What did you say?”

“If I won the bet, your apology was also supposed to be part of the promise. Did you already forget after keeping your mouth shut for two days?”

Tardel’s eyes wavered for a moment, and he flinched.

He had only just remembered.

“The crime of insulting me and my guild. I must receive an apology for this.”

“Th-that is!”

Tardel’s expression, as if saying ‘this wasn’t supposed to happen,’ was amusing.

He trembled his fists and closed his eyes.

“I will apologize for that.”

It seemed he couldn't bring himself to look me in the eye and say it.

As he said that, Tardel bit his lip hard.

“I will accept your apology.”

“Then it’s your turn now.”

“What?”

“An apology for your remarks that played with words and disrespected the young lady and Lenad’s swordsmanship.”

“This is ridiculous. In the end, you just don’t like my remark about being the number one on Earth. Do people in Lenad really pick on things like this?”

“Because you responded to the young lady’s serious question with a joke.”

“It wasn’t a joke.”

“Hey, Johan!”

Tardel’s shout filled the inside of the wagon.

At that moment, five daggers summoned from the inventory floated in the air.

And then, they began to rotate in a circle according to my hand gesture.

“Wh-what is this!”

It must be the first time he had seen such a harmony of mana control.

Leira’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit as she stared at the rotating daggers.

“I’m showing you how your life can change depending on my will.”

Whoosh!

At that moment, a single dagger grazed over Tardel’s head and embedded itself in the wall of the wagon.

Whoosh!

This time, it grazed his left ear.

Whoosh!

This time, his right ear.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

This time, two daggers flew simultaneously and passed over both of Tardel’s shoulders.

Five daggers embedded in the wagon.

Tardel’s complexion had already turned deathly pale.

“That’s five times. That I’ve saved you, Tardel.”

“Just now, this. What was it!”

“Earth-style Sword Control.”

I answered curtly.

“There’s such a swordsmanship on Earth?”

Of course, that wasn’t the case.

The Sword Control Technique itself was still far from complete, but. It was something only I could do.

Only old man Han Byeong-cheol could imitate what I was doing to a similar degree.

“Then let me ask one thing at this point. Do you still think I was joking?”

“That is……”

Even I thought it was a breathtaking performance.

The unfamiliar method of mana control was enough to dazzle their eyes.

And the spatial condition of being inside a narrow wagon made it impossible to defend against the daggers.

It wasn't a destructive attack, but what I showed was clearly a whole new world.

Tardel, still with a dazed look, opened his mouth.

“I honestly don’t know if you are the number one on Earth, but it certainly seems you were not joking.”

“The apology?”

“I’m sorry. I apologize once again.”

“I’m sorry too, Johan. It seems I misunderstood you.”

Leira also bowed her head slightly to me.

The concept of this quest was flowing in a strange way.

I came as a mercenary to escort a caravan, but it felt like the main point had been overturned.

“I’ll accept the apology again. But I won’t be taking any more questions.”

I took this opportunity to nip the questions in the bud.

From their perspective, they would have many questions about the other world, Earth, but in truth, there was a lot I didn't know either.

I thought it was better to just shut my mouth rather than make up some plausible story.

“It’s a shame, but I can’t help it. We were the ones who acted rudely.”

Thanks to that, the inside of the wagon became quiet again.

Even this spare time was something I could fully utilize.

I began to operate my Mana Breathing Technique.

The healing was slow because there was no Spring of Elixir, but I was still making today better than yesterday.

The two of them thought I was meditating, so they didn't speak to me, and I healed my body and accumulated mana in a comfortable atmosphere.

Then, at some point, I had no choice but to snap my eyes open.

Because I had felt a massive energy for the first time since coming to Lenad.

At this wagon’s speed, we would encounter it before long.

“Leira, where are we now?”

“We are passing through the Teyen Prairie, is something wrong?”

“Contact the other wagons. Tell them to be prepared, there might be a big battle soon.”

“What? What kind of out-of-the-blue nonsense is that! This area is a place where monsters don’t appear!”

To be honest, I had thought it was too easy so far.

I had momentarily forgotten that this place, Lenad, was a world connected to the Abyss.

I couldn't understand all the principles of the Abyss, but there was a high probability that the quest had reached a certain level or higher as the causality twisted and turned in some way.

In that sense, the Merwell Guild hiring me as an escort warrior might have actually increased the danger.

What could I do?

Since it might be something that happened because of me, I had no choice but to resolve it.