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Chapter 66

The day after I received the letter, I set off at once for the northern part of the royal capital where Gild lives .

In the heart of the royal capital is the royal castle . As flying dragons attack the royal castle from the north, a solid fortress and military posts have been established there . In the south is the housing district for the royal citizens, in the east is the commerce district, and in the west is a factory town for craftsmen . That’s just a rough outline to the division of the royal capital though .

However, soldiers aren’t the only ones living in the north and craftsmen aren’t the only ones in the west . Again, this is just a rough outline .

It’s because of this I don’t think Gild-san is a soldier either . I mean, I think he’s probably a Dragon Tribesman and I doubt they can join the Armand Kingdom’s military .

I take a detour past the royal castle as I head to the northern district . Unlike the gorgeous southern and eastern areas, the northern area is filled with solid boorish structures . As flying dragons will attack sooner or later, defense seems to have taken priority over glamor .

I advance through the maze like roads depending on a map that was given to me together with the letter . As the northern area is a military point, wouldn’t more spacious roads be better? But even though I think that, I’m not aware of the circumstances .

With a map in one hand, I walk as though I’m out sightseeing .

While there are a lot of people coming and going, I get that there are many stern men all around .

I’ve just about never come to the northern part of the city . Will it have a different atmosphere despite being the same city? A sense of adventure is pounding my chest . However, the next moment, my heart tightens at the important trial laying in wait for me .

If I mess up on this trial, I’ll be separated from Mistral . I absolutely do not want that . I don’t want to part with Mistral .

Why does a trial where I have to receive something come with such a severe condition? What was Old Sleigstar thinking when he granted me this trial? Not to mention, Mistral agreed to this, too .

That fills me with unease . Does Mistral want to separate from me? Or, what, does she have faith that I won’t fail?

I haven’t told Ruiseine about this trial . I don’t want to worry her, and I don’t want to show her my pathetic self who is trembling on the inside because of the stipulation . That’s why, this morning when I met with Ruiseine at school, we only talked about what we usually do .

I indulge myself in my thoughts as I walk . The private houses became scarce and the northern outer wall appears before me . Only on the east side was the outer wall torn down . While the remaining three sides all have solid walls, the north’s is the most solid .

Combined with the outer wall is a fortress with a height that requires me to look up to see the top . Maybe, it’s about twice the size of Arch of Triumph’s remains in the east district?

According to the map, Gild-san lives along this wall . As Mistral’s characters are well written and her map is detailed, I can walk without losing my way .

Near the outer wall, the houses have become even more sparse . No doubt, it’s because flying dragons will attack . This place is dangerous . No person would want to live here by choice .

I continue further as instructed by the map and come to a vacant plot of land filled with rocks and stones of varying sizes . A lone, shabby, stone, house also comes into my view .

It’s here, no questioning it .

This narrow house is the only one here so there’s no way I am mistaken .

I approach the house while avoiding the rocks that have been scattered about .

This is where Gild-san lives?

As my body stiffens from tension, I knock on the front door .

I wonder if Gild-san is a moody person? Old Sleigstar said I was to receive something, but at the same time he said this would be a severe trial . Even though I will only receive something, there’s a severe trial . Gild-san must undoubtedly be a difficult person . Is he stubborn? Is he a bigot?

I wonder what kind of person he is while I wait, yet unfortunately no one answers .

Mumumu .

Is he out?

While calling out Gild-san’s name, I knock the door for a second time . However, there is no response .

This is a problem . I didn’t think he wouldn’t be here . Maybe he’s a difficult person to meet?

In order to make sure no one really is home, I go around the stone house and head to the back .

“Ah,” he was out back .

An ojii-san dressed in shabby garments sits motionlessly with a rock in one hand .

How strange . I don’t feel anything at all . If this were the back of my house, the current me should have been able to feel something .

“Umm,are you Gild-san?”

With a timid voice, I call out to the ojii-san . His hand with the rock does not tremble once .

The ojii-san reacts at my voice . “Fumu, it’s rare for someone to visit me here . ” The ojii-san turns his head . His hair and facial hair are grown out long .

“Are you Gild-san? I’m here at a certain someone’s referral . ”
“I am certainly called Gild . Who referred you?”

Gild-san returns a gentle smile to my respectful attitude . He’s nothing like the eccentric person I imagined him to be . Instead, he’s a very gentle ojii-san .

Was I worrying too much? Deep in my heart, I sigh out in relief .

“Yes, I have a letter of introduction . ”

Gild-san comes up to me and I hand him Mistral’s letter of introduction . He accepts it with a smile, cuts the seal, and reads it over .



Is this person really a Dragon Tribesman? The Gild-san before my eyes doesn’t show the same vigor as the Dragon Tribesmen I met on Dragon’s Peak .

He’s a Dragon Tribesman? Did I make a mistake? I didn’t hear from Old Sleigstar that Gild-san is a Dragon Tribesman . Since Mistral especially wrote a letter for him, I guess I just assumed he is .

“Fumu, a referral from the Dragon Princess?”

With those words, Gild-san looks into my eyes . We are about the same height . As I am shorter than average, the ojii-san too is short .

“I knew someone would eventually come visit, but never someone from the human tribe, much less such a cute boy . Having lived a long life wasn’t wasted . ”

Gild-san smiles at me with those words . I involuntarily smile back at him .


“I understand your position and circumstances through this letter . ”

Gild-san beckons me and invites me into his house . Without hesitating, I enter the house behind him

 

“I understand your position and circumstances through this letter . ”

Gild-san beckons me and invites me into his house . Without hesitating, I enter the house behind him .

The house is quite simple . It isn’t that different from Anemone-san’s back on Dragon’s Peak . It’s furnished with a minimum amount of aged furniture . The floor is bare ground with a sheet of cloth spread over it . As there is only one room, a bed and candle stand have been placed in the same spot .

It isn’t very affluent, even compared to than my house . This place is many times simpler . However, within these modest bearings, a sole object placed over the fireplace was terribly out of place .

A sword .

A saber[1]? Its long blade is thin and arched . Out of everything here, it’s the only thing of value .

“Well then, for starters, you did well for coming to far off place like this . ”

Gild-san scoops out water from a water jug and hands it to me . I thank him and gratefully drink the water .

He’s right, though . Between the southern area of the royal capital where I live and the foremost northern part of the northern area where Gild-san lives is a considerable amount of distance . As such, I enveloped my body with dragon ki and ran to the northern area . If I didn’t have that, I’d be being forced to spend the night here .

Gild-san waits for me to take a breath before continuing .

“Your purpose for coming here was explained in this letter . ”

Ah, I never gave him my name .


“Eetto, I am called Ernea Isu . Sorry for the later introduction . ”
“Fumu, Ernea? What a good name .

Gild-san smiles .

He really is a kind person . What is such a gentle person like this living in the dangerous northern area? What’s going to be hard about receiving something from him?

“You visiting me here with an introduction from the Dragon Princess is so you can be entrusted with it . ”

Gild-san picks up the saber from over the fireplace .
“However,”

Gild-san also picks up a random straight sword that had been placed over the fireplace .
“I cannot unconditionally pass it to you . ”

He then passes the straight sword to me .
“Now, let’s have a match . If you can land one strike on me, I’ll bestow you my greatest treasure . ”

I accept the straight sword and meet Gild-san’s eyes . I’m bewildered by this sudden development .

“In the letter, it was written that you’re a duel wielder . That’s the one I usually use, but please use it . ”
“Eetto, but…”
“Since you’re a duel wielder, please use two swords . I’m not so weak that I can’t adapt . ”

Gild-san continues to wear his unchanging gentle smile, but his eyes only grow sharper .

“Well, shall we head outside at once? It was written that the deadline is this year . I have no intention of making exceptions for another’s circumstances, so there won’t be enough time if you don’t hurry . ”

Just how much was written in that letter? Did it include a detailed description about me? For Gild-san to be saying not even this year will be enough time, is he a master of the sword?

In a fluster, I leave the house .

“There are no other people here . You can fight to your hearts content . ”

Gild-san… has already drawn the saber . Its beautiful ripples give a dazzling reflection of the sun’s light .

“Are we really having a match?”
“That’s right . I cannot pass this treasure to some who isn’t worthy . If you can’t land a strike on a feeble-minded old man such as myself by the end of the year, then give up on various things . ”



My heart freezes . He’s smiling, but his words are severe .

I thought he was a gentle ojii-san and grew negligent .

So, it’s like this? I have to overcome this ojii-san in a match?

Did Old Sleigstar say this would be difficult because he knows this ojii-san will be a strict opponent for the present me?

I have to beat this ojii-san? From what I’ve seen, he looks soft and doesn’t have any force except for the sharpness of his eyes .

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

At Gild-san’s urging, I hold up my weapons in a fluster . In my right hand is the straight sword I’m borrowing while in my left is the wooden spirit tree sword I always use . The straight sword is a bit heavy, but I should be able to wield it in one hand with dragon ki .

Gild-san narrows his eyes at my posture .
“Just as was written in the letter, the Dragon Sword Dance . Which one will you show me?”

With those words, Gild-san steps into my space at once . Since we are dealing with weapons, I had my guard up . I respond to Gild-san’s rush by swinging the straight sword to the side .

It’s a swing filled with dragon ki . With it, I repel Gild-san’s blow .

That’s what I thought as the sword snaps back towards me .

My posture is destroyed, and he thrusts without hesitation . With my feet trying to regain their footing, I fall back without being struck . [2]

Thrust out before my eyes is the tip of the saber . It’s so quick, I’m taken aback .

“Had this been a real battle, you’d be dead . ”

I swallow my breath at Gild-san’s strict words .

“What did you come here to do? What kind of resolve did you come with? With halfhearted emotions, you won’t win . ”

Gild-san’s ambiance made me negligent . Right, I need to do this seriously . Didn’t Old Sleigstar say this would be difficult and that I don’t have much time?

Gild-san is stronger than he looks . I get a grip on myself and stand up .

“One more time, please . ”

This time, I rush him .





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