༺ Preparation (1) ༻
The summit ended with a simple banquet.
All the guests left and Elia was returning to its daily life, but it did not mean that it was all peaceful.
Why wouldn’t it be?
The impending storm loomed over Elia, casting its shadow across the entire continent. The current situation was akin to the calm before the storm.
In this moment, where Gorgan, who had begun to wake up, was likely to be captured in the next war.
The group also had to prepare for the battle that would follow, since it was almost certain that Alaysia had deliberately awakened Gorgan.
In the middle of a small village near Elia.
In a short peace that would last an unknown length of time, Vera took a moment to visit Dovan.
It was to ask how he was doing, and at the same time to find Aisha, who must be somewhere there.
“It’s been a while. You look much better.”
A peaceful smile was on Dovan’s face when they finally met.
Having shed the hardships and regrets of his life, the old man had become someone who could wear a warm smile, and he was indeed doing just that.
Vera smiled back, feeling warm inside because of that smile.
“It’s thanks to you, Dovan.”
He didn’t say it merely out of formality.
He had gained a great deal from his encounter with him.
The first thing that came to mind was the Holy Sword at his waist.
Even without that, he had acquired a lot of enlightenment through a sequence of events.
It was a valuable enlightenment that couldn’t be counted with money, and at the same time, it was an enlightenment that made him who he was now.
“How is it, taking care of the village?”
“It’s very good. Now that I have put down the hammer, I feel refreshed inside.”
Dovan laughed heartily. His body had shed so much muscle that he could hardly be recognized as the blacksmith he once was.
Nevertheless, Vera found nothing regrettable in the loss of Dovan’s muscles.
He had come to understand that there were things far more important than honor and glory.
“…I’m glad to hear that.”
“It’s nothing new. By the way, how is it? Are you having no problem with your sword?”
“Yes. It fits so well that I don’t think I’ll ever see another sword like it again in my life.”
“It’s nice to hear that. Please take good care of it. It’s like my own child.”
Like my own child.
Vera smiled at that, and soon asked Dovan about his other child.
“By the way, how is Aisha? I haven’t seen her since I came back to Elia.”
“Don’t even get me started. She’s been playing as the boss of the neighborhood with a bunch of other kids her age. Even the Apostle of Death comes by every now and then to spend time with her. You didn’t know?”
Vera’s expression hardened.
This was news he had never heard before, and the reason was obvious.
‘…Theresa.’
Vera sighed.
Theresa always had a soft spot for children.
She must have intentionally cut off the news to give them time to play.
‘It’s already time for them to get back to training, tough…’
He couldn’t let them play any longer.
They had to prepare to face Gorgan, who could strike at any moment, along with Alaysia, who was right behind.
The Seven Great Souls.
The Eight Legacies.
The Nine Apostles.
There was no reason to doubt the information as he got it from his own past life.
Of course, the role itself was too much of a burden for the children, but as there was no other way, he had no choice but to train them.
At the sight of Vera sigh, Dovan chuckled and spoke.
“You must be having a hard time.”
“…It’s nothing. It’s just that I’m not good enough that I have to rely on the children.”
“Are you blaming yourself again? That’s a bad habit. Try to trust others a bit more. I believe the children can take care of themselves.”
The advice was delivered with a gentle smile.
Vera wasted no time in taking it to heart.
However, his expression didn’t soften as he had no way to resolve his immediate restlessness.
Dovan laughed at Vera’s expression and gestured to the forest north of the village.
“They should be somewhere in that forest around this time. I remember the Apostle of Death coming in the morning, so you may probably find both of them.”
“Thank you. Excuse me, then…”
“Go ahead.”
Vera hesitated for a moment, then bowed deeply to Dovan and walked toward the forest.
Dovan watched him go for a while and smiled with satisfaction.
‘Indeed, people need to love.’
Vera’s impression had softened a lot compared to when they first met.
According to Aisha, the two had been like lovebirds. That must have been the reason.
— I can’t be at ease! It’s so hard to be with Renee!
A laugh escaped Dovan’s lips as he suddenly recalled Aisha’s outburst.
‘She talks like she won’t be like that.’
He wondered if Aisha knew that those who saw love as insignificant were the most sincere in love.
Like any parent, Dovan, who had woven his child into his thoughts, spent long hours in the sun, imagining the man Aisha would bring home when she grew up.
‘…Hmm, what should I do if she brings in a scoundrel?’
If being peaceful meant killing time by worrying about things that hadn’t come, then he was the most peaceful person in the world right now.
***
It wasn’t that difficult to find the children.
Indeed, it wasn’t surprising.
They didn’t use artificial bodies like Trevor.
Nor were they experts at hiding their presence.
With a little concentration, Vera could sense the presence of the two children.
However, there was something strange.
‘I clearly heard they were playing boss of the neighborhood…’
But why are those who are with them not children?
Vera narrowed his eyes.
The other two presences he felt were obviously…
‘…Miller.’
And someone who shouldn’t be here.
Vera hastened his pace.
He became impatient due to Miller’s penchant for causing trouble and the ever-suspicious presence of the other.
And so, he ran, the vegetation crunching beneath his feet, and what he saw at the end of it was an unlikely combination.
“…What is this?”
It was Vera’s voice, and those present simultaneously turned to look at him.
Aisha was lying on the ground, panting.
Jenny held her breath as she cradled Annalise in her arms.
Next to her was a panicked-looking Miller, and…
“…Friede, didn’t you return to the Great Woodlands?”
The Keeper of the Great Woodlands.
Friede, one of the Seven Heroes.
Friede laughed softly and spoke, pointing at Aisha’s chin.
“She asked for help.”
“Help?”
Vera’s eyes shifted to Aisha.
Aisha jerked and immediately bowed her head as if embarrassed and answered.
“…I heard the elf apparently knows how to use a dagger.”
Vera frowned for a moment at the words, then exclaimed as he realized what she meant.
‘So it’s help for training…’
It was nothing new, but Friede was the eldest of the elves and an experienced hunter.
Of course, Friede must have known many combat skills, and was particularly confident with dagger skills used to assist the mystical forces in manipulating the wind.
In this life, Aisha wielded a small dagger, a gift from Dovan, rather than a longsword, so Friede was probably a better teacher than he was when it came to weapon skills.
Vera, having finished his thoughts, had a blank expression on his face.
Friede laughed at that and added as if consoling him.
“She said she wanted to surprise you because you always treat her like a kid. I, personally, want to see your surprised face, too, so I helped her, and…”
A mischievous look crossed Friede’s face.
“…I guess I succeed.”
Suddenly, Vera felt an unknown emotion stir inside him.
It felt somewhat unfamiliar, but it wasn’t unpleasant; it was warm and comforting.
To Vera, who had never experienced such a sensation before, the name for this unfamiliar emotion was ‘pride’.
Vera’s eyes bore into Aisha.
Aisha’s tail flicked unnecessarily in response, and she replied bluntly.
“…What?”
With a quick, haughty gesture, Aisha turned her head.
Vera stood still, watching the chain of reactions, and suddenly remembered Dovan’s words before he went here.
— Try to trust others a bit more. I believe the children can take care of themselves.
Trusting the children.
That he was trying to handle everything on his own.
Vera admitted it.
At the same time, he remembered.
‘The seven great souls…’
Aisha here was the owner of such a soul.
Which meant he couldn’t just treat her like a child.
He wondered what to say.
While pondering the words to convey to Aisha, Vera finally uttered a somewhat awkward statement.
“…So, are you getting anywhere?”
Vera was too proud to be honest with himself, so the words he uttered were blunt.
Aisha replied back, showing that she too was a person whose pride never died off.
“I feel like I can deliver a punch in your face.”
Vera’s fingertips twitched slightly at the taunt.
Immediately, a small smile appeared on Vera’s face.
“Really? I’ll have to confirm that.”
Aisha’s shoulders twitched.
Her eyes became fierce as well.
“…W-why don’t you try it?”
Aisha jumped to her feet, daggers in both hands.
She looked ready to charge at once.
Vera tried to make fist with his bare hands, but he stopped and then slipped his hand into his pocket.
A dagger came out of his pocket.
The same dagger Vera had once received from Renee for his birthday.
It was Vera’s way of praising Aisha for doing such a clever thing.
Aisha’s eyes widened.
She had mixed feelings about Vera pulling out a weapon for the first time, as he had always used his bare hands against her.
“Are you scared?”
Vera asked with a smirk.
Aisha grinned at that, and then immediately replied in a gleeful tone.
“As if!”
She charged forward.
It was an incredible speed compared to before.
Suddenly, Vera realized.
Aisha had been consistently dedicated to her training while he had been neglecting his own training.
Clash—!
The blades clashed.
And with a shriek, the blades twisted.
Aisha’s foot shot out for Vera’s waist, but Vera caught it.
It was a swift exchange of attacks.
Watching this from a distance, Annalise commented.
[He seems to be getting weirder day by day.]
Miller nodded in agreement, and Friede laughed.
Jenny didn’t really care about that.
She was just happy to be sitting here and resting.
‘…I want to go back late.’
There was a pesky Trevor once she went back to the Grand Temple, so she wanted to play around here a bit more.
“Aisha, do your best…”
Jenny shouted, waving her hands in the air.
Her cheer was accompanied by the underlying notion that if Aisha hung in there a bit longer, she would go back later.
༺ Preparation (1) ༻
The summit ended with a simple banquet.
All the guests left and Elia was returning to its daily life, but it did not mean that it was all peaceful.
Why wouldn’t it be?
The impending storm loomed over Elia, casting its shadow across the entire continent. The current situation was akin to the calm before the storm.
In this moment, where Gorgan, who had begun to wake up, was likely to be captured in the next war.
The group also had to prepare for the battle that would follow, since it was almost certain that Alaysia had deliberately awakened Gorgan.
In the middle of a small village near Elia.
In a short peace that would last an unknown length of time, Vera took a moment to visit Dovan.
It was to ask how he was doing, and at the same time to find Aisha, who must be somewhere there.
“It’s been a while. You look much better.”
A peaceful smile was on Dovan’s face when they finally met.
Having shed the hardships and regrets of his life, the old man had become someone who could wear a warm smile, and he was indeed doing just that.
Vera smiled back, feeling warm inside because of that smile.
“It’s thanks to you, Dovan.”
He didn’t say it merely out of formality.
He had gained a great deal from his encounter with him.
The first thing that came to mind was the Holy Sword at his waist.
Even without that, he had acquired a lot of enlightenment through a sequence of events.
It was a valuable enlightenment that couldn’t be counted with money, and at the same time, it was an enlightenment that made him who he was now.
“How is it, taking care of the village?”
“It’s very good. Now that I have put down the hammer, I feel refreshed inside.”
Dovan laughed heartily. His body had shed so much muscle that he could hardly be recognized as the blacksmith he once was.
Nevertheless, Vera found nothing regrettable in the loss of Dovan’s muscles.
He had come to understand that there were things far more important than honor and glory.
“…I’m glad to hear that.”
“It’s nothing new. By the way, how is it? Are you having no problem with your sword?”
“Yes. It fits so well that I don’t think I’ll ever see another sword like it again in my life.”
“It’s nice to hear that. Please take good care of it. It’s like my own child.”
Like my own child.
Vera smiled at that, and soon asked Dovan about his other child.
“By the way, how is Aisha? I haven’t seen her since I came back to Elia.”
“Don’t even get me started. She’s been playing as the boss of the neighborhood with a bunch of other kids her age. Even the Apostle of Death comes by every now and then to spend time with her. You didn’t know?”
Vera’s expression hardened.
This was news he had never heard before, and the reason was obvious.
‘…Theresa.’
Vera sighed.
Theresa always had a soft spot for children.
She must have intentionally cut off the news to give them time to play.
‘It’s already time for them to get back to training, tough…’
He couldn’t let them play any longer.
They had to prepare to face Gorgan, who could strike at any moment, along with Alaysia, who was right behind.
The Seven Great Souls.
The Eight Legacies.
The Nine Apostles.
There was no reason to doubt the information as he got it from his own past life.
Of course, the role itself was too much of a burden for the children, but as there was no other way, he had no choice but to train them.
At the sight of Vera sigh, Dovan chuckled and spoke.
“You must be having a hard time.”
“…It’s nothing. It’s just that I’m not good enough that I have to rely on the children.”
“Are you blaming yourself again? That’s a bad habit. Try to trust others a bit more. I believe the children can take care of themselves.”
The advice was delivered with a gentle smile.
Vera wasted no time in taking it to heart.
However, his expression didn’t soften as he had no way to resolve his immediate restlessness.
Dovan laughed at Vera’s expression and gestured to the forest north of the village.
“They should be somewhere in that forest around this time. I remember the Apostle of Death coming in the morning, so you may probably find both of them.”
“Thank you. Excuse me, then…”
“Go ahead.”
Vera hesitated for a moment, then bowed deeply to Dovan and walked toward the forest.
Dovan watched him go for a while and smiled with satisfaction.
‘Indeed, people need to love.’
Vera’s impression had softened a lot compared to when they first met.
According to Aisha, the two had been like lovebirds. That must have been the reason.
— I can’t be at ease! It’s so hard to be with Renee!
A laugh escaped Dovan’s lips as he suddenly recalled Aisha’s outburst.
‘She talks like she won’t be like that.’
He wondered if Aisha knew that those who saw love as insignificant were the most sincere in love.
Like any parent, Dovan, who had woven his child into his thoughts, spent long hours in the sun, imagining the man Aisha would bring home when she grew up.
‘…Hmm, what should I do if she brings in a scoundrel?’
If being peaceful meant killing time by worrying about things that hadn’t come, then he was the most peaceful person in the world right now.
***
It wasn’t that difficult to find the children.
Indeed, it wasn’t surprising.
They didn’t use artificial bodies like Trevor.
Nor were they experts at hiding their presence.
With a little concentration, Vera could sense the presence of the two children.
However, there was something strange.
‘I clearly heard they were playing boss of the neighborhood…’
But why are those who are with them not children?
Vera narrowed his eyes.
The other two presences he felt were obviously…
‘…Miller.’
And someone who shouldn’t be here.
Vera hastened his pace.
He became impatient due to Miller’s penchant for causing trouble and the ever-suspicious presence of the other.
And so, he ran, the vegetation crunching beneath his feet, and what he saw at the end of it was an unlikely combination.
“…What is this?”
It was Vera’s voice, and those present simultaneously turned to look at him.
Aisha was lying on the ground, panting.
Jenny held her breath as she cradled Annalise in her arms.
Next to her was a panicked-looking Miller, and…
“…Friede, didn’t you return to the Great Woodlands?”
The Keeper of the Great Woodlands.
Friede, one of the Seven Heroes.
Friede laughed softly and spoke, pointing at Aisha’s chin.
“She asked for help.”
“Help?”
Vera’s eyes shifted to Aisha.
Aisha jerked and immediately bowed her head as if embarrassed and answered.
“…I heard the elf apparently knows how to use a dagger.”
Vera frowned for a moment at the words, then exclaimed as he realized what she meant.
‘So it’s help for training…’
It was nothing new, but Friede was the eldest of the elves and an experienced hunter.
Of course, Friede must have known many combat skills, and was particularly confident with dagger skills used to assist the mystical forces in manipulating the wind.
In this life, Aisha wielded a small dagger, a gift from Dovan, rather than a longsword, so Friede was probably a better teacher than he was when it came to weapon skills.
Vera, having finished his thoughts, had a blank expression on his face.
Friede laughed at that and added as if consoling him.
“She said she wanted to surprise you because you always treat her like a kid. I, personally, want to see your surprised face, too, so I helped her, and…”
A mischievous look crossed Friede’s face.
“…I guess I succeed.”
Suddenly, Vera felt an unknown emotion stir inside him.
It felt somewhat unfamiliar, but it wasn’t unpleasant; it was warm and comforting.
To Vera, who had never experienced such a sensation before, the name for this unfamiliar emotion was ‘pride’.
Vera’s eyes bore into Aisha.
Aisha’s tail flicked unnecessarily in response, and she replied bluntly.
“…What?”
With a quick, haughty gesture, Aisha turned her head.
Vera stood still, watching the chain of reactions, and suddenly remembered Dovan’s words before he went here.
— Try to trust others a bit more. I believe the children can take care of themselves.
Trusting the children.
That he was trying to handle everything on his own.
Vera admitted it.
At the same time, he remembered.
‘The seven great souls…’
Aisha here was the owner of such a soul.
Which meant he couldn’t just treat her like a child.
He wondered what to say.
While pondering the words to convey to Aisha, Vera finally uttered a somewhat awkward statement.
“…So, are you getting anywhere?”
Vera was too proud to be honest with himself, so the words he uttered were blunt.
Aisha replied back, showing that she too was a person whose pride never died off.
“I feel like I can deliver a punch in your face.”
Vera’s fingertips twitched slightly at the taunt.
Immediately, a small smile appeared on Vera’s face.
“Really? I’ll have to confirm that.”
Aisha’s shoulders twitched.
Her eyes became fierce as well.
“…W-why don’t you try it?”
Aisha jumped to her feet, daggers in both hands.
She looked ready to charge at once.
Vera tried to make fist with his bare hands, but he stopped and then slipped his hand into his pocket.
A dagger came out of his pocket.
The same dagger Vera had once received from Renee for his birthday.
It was Vera’s way of praising Aisha for doing such a clever thing.
Aisha’s eyes widened.
She had mixed feelings about Vera pulling out a weapon for the first time, as he had always used his bare hands against her.
“Are you scared?”
Vera asked with a smirk.
Aisha grinned at that, and then immediately replied in a gleeful tone.
“As if!”
She charged forward.
It was an incredible speed compared to before.
Suddenly, Vera realized.
Aisha had been consistently dedicated to her training while he had been neglecting his own training.
Clash—!
The blades clashed.
And with a shriek, the blades twisted.
Aisha’s foot shot out for Vera’s waist, but Vera caught it.
It was a swift exchange of attacks.
Watching this from a distance, Annalise commented.
[He seems to be getting weirder day by day.]
Miller nodded in agreement, and Friede laughed.
Jenny didn’t really care about that.
She was just happy to be sitting here and resting.
‘…I want to go back late.’
There was a pesky Trevor once she went back to the Grand Temple, so she wanted to play around here a bit more.
“Aisha, do your best…”
Jenny shouted, waving her hands in the air.
Her cheer was accompanied by the underlying notion that if Aisha hung in there a bit longer, she would go back later.
