New chapter of Nameless Hero is out! (2/3 chapters)
Trial of Stride Household
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Barwitch was half a day’s walk or a few hours by carriage from Soltaire. Since it was close to both the mountains and the sea, many adventurers and merchants pass through, forming a commercial district. Due to this background, it was also a city where information easily gathers.
The city was enclosed by rectangular outer walls, and a river flows from north to south, dividing the city into western and eastern districts. The western district was slightly larger in area. The west district was home to the Adventurer Guild, a shopping district, and a street vendor street, and is rather prosperous.
Incidentally, the Aldridge estate and the home of our client, Stride-san, were in the east district, where travelers rarely visit. It seemed that long-time residents of Barwitch often establish their estates in the east district. It was said that Parcine Stride was also a prominent landowner in Barwitch.
Alfred and I stopped by the Adventurer Guild to hear the details about the quest information. Even though we already knew the address, I wanted to gather more information about this Stride Household.
“Parcine’s clean as a whistle. The heir of the Stride Household went missing three months ago. It’s probably connected to that kidnapping case. There’s also a daughter, but she went missing six months ago after going to the Dali Amor festival.” (Alfred)
Alfred had gathered information from veteran adventurers at the guild.
“Does that mean this request is about infiltrating the kidnappers’ hideout after all?” (Jack)
“…Most likely. The client probably found a place that looks suspicious. Jack, maybe you should sit this one out?” (Alfred)
“Why?” (Jack)
Alfred sighed and scratched his head.
He should know that I’m not weak enough to get captured by kidnappers.
“No matter how strong you’ve gotten, there are some things a kid shouldn’t see.” (Alfred)
“…” (Jack)
Things I shouldn’t see… I can kind of imagine. The kidnappings started about a year ago. What kind of horrors might those children have faced during that year? Human trafficking, abuse, murder… or perhaps something even more grotesque.
“I can handle it. There are children suffering even now, aren’t there? If I can help, then I have to act.” (Jack)
“That’s admirable, but trauma is a formidable thing.” (Alfred)
Does Alfred have some trauma of his own?
—
In the end, we decided to go for the interview. There was no point in turning back now.
“Number 5, Magril Street… that should be around here, right?” (Jack)
Following the address on the request form, I searched for the mansion. It was deep in the east district. By this point, most of the houses were large mansions. These must belong to nobles or prominent households.
“…Probably this one?” (Jack)
We arrived in front of a house with an unnecessarily large gate. Even Alfred, who was quite tall, looked small next to it. It was the kind of size that made you wonder if giants lived here.
“Wow, I can see why the reward is so high.” (Alfred)
“How do we even get in…?” (Jack)
Looking up, I saw a lion-shaped door knocker placed high up. The lion’s face was as big as an actual lion’s head.
Who on earth would use such a door knocker?
Even with Alfred stretching, he couldn’t reach it.
“Ugh, I can’t reach! This gate is mocking its visitors!” (Alfred)
In the end, Alfred had to give me a shoulder ride, and I used both hands to knock on it. The height was terrifying.
“Alright, go for it, Jack!” (Alfred)
“Just a little more!” (Jack)
Just as I barely managed to reach, the gate suddenly creaked open. Caught off guard, I lost my balance and nearly fell forward.
“Whoa!” (Jack)
“Pull back! Pull back!” (Alfred)
Alfred firmly grabbed my legs, and I clung to his head to stabilize myself.
What a ridiculous scene.
“What are you two doing?” (Old Man)
The person who came out was an old man who seemed quite advanced in years. His hair was entirely white, and his long beard was also snow-white, but his hair was thick and youthful, standing upright. He had the appearance of a hermit. With such a massive door, I had imagined some kind of giant, but the old man was about the same height as me. Alfred helped me down, and I stood before the old man.
“Hey, that knocker is too high to reach!” (Alfred)
Alfred immediately voiced his complaint to the old man.
“That’s just a decoration. Didn’t you see the sign saying to press the button over there?” (Elderly Man)
The elderly man pointed to the side of the gate. There, in small letters, at quite a low position, it said, “For visitors, press here”. When I approached and tried pressing the button, I heard a slow collapsing sound from inside the gate, followed by a loud clanging as something hit the ground multiple times. It seemed to involve some kind of mechanism.
“Who would notice that?!” (Alfred)
“Why are you so hot-blooded? Whose blood is on that head of yours?” (Old Man)
“This is my natural hair color!” (Alfred)
“Hoho, just joking.” (Old Man)
The old man casually brushed off Alfred’s irritation, easily provoking him further.
“So, it’s you, isn’t it… Hmm, seems like a promising kid.” (Old Man)
“…Me?” (Jack)
“Yes. You came after seeing the request form, didn’t you? Come along now.” (Old Man)
I was scrutinized as if being appraised, which made me a little nervous.
“Hey, wait! Old man, are you Parcine Stride?” (Alfred)
“…Hmm? Parcine is my son.” (Old Man)
“Then, who are you?” (Alfred)
The old man slowly turned back to Alfred and fixed him with a sharp gaze.
“I am Martin Stride, the eighth head of the Stride Household. You must be Alfred the Reckless, correct?” (Martin)
“How do you know my name?” (Alfred)
“How many years do you think I’ve lived in Barwitch? News about someone as famous as you reach even my ears.” (Martin)
Alfred seemed pleased at being called famous, and his irritated expression softened.
“I also know that the Chevalier de Liberta disbanded a few months ago.” (Martin)
“Heh… you’re quite the eavesdropping old man.” (Alfred)
“Never mind that. Follow me. I’ll tell you more.” (Martin)
With that, Martin-san began walking again, leading us further into the mansion.
—
Following Martin-san, we were guided deep into the estate. The Stride Household’s mansion had a unique atmosphere, unlike other mansions in Barwitch. The outer walls and gate blended into the city’s architecture, but the garden and house were distinct.
In the expansive garden, pine trees with twisting trunks were planted, and there was a large pond. The pond’s edges weren’t lined with bricks or plaster but with several natural rocks placed as a border. Furthermore, a bamboo water scoop was set in the pond, tilting to release a satisfying *kakon* sound as water poured in and tipped it over. This kind of landscaping wasn’t found in the Aldridge library archives.
Alfred voiced my curiosity for me.
“Is this some imitation of Far Eastern culture?” (Alfred)
“Calling it imitation is rude. My ancestors were born there.” (Martin)
In foreign countries, they seem to have gardens like this. It’s quite stylish.
After walking for a while, we were guided to what appeared to be an annex of the mansion. The annex had an unusual structure. For modern times, it was a modest wooden building, and even the inside of the house had soil coming in.
At what seemed to be the entrance, shoes were neatly arranged, indicating that one had to change footwear before entering the house.
“Come on, step inside.” (Martin)
“‘Step inside’?” (Jack)
“Take off your shoes and come in.” (Martin)
Saying this, Martin-san casually slipped off his straw-woven sandals and entered the house barefoot. Alfred and I followed suit, removing our boots and stepping in barefoot. Inside the house, there was a pleasant scent of wood.
After walking down a shiny, polished wooden hallway, we were led into a rather spacious room.
There was no particular furniture in sight. On the far side, several bamboo-like wooden swords were hanging. Despite the lack of chairs, Martin-san sat cross-legged on the floor. We mimicked him and sat down in the same way in front of him.
My feet felt somewhat cold.
“Well then, where shall we begin talking?” (Martin)
“Martin-san.” (Jack)
“Hmm, what is it?” (Martin)
I voiced a question.
“Are there no servants in this mansion? And what about other family members?” (Jack)
From the moment we arrived at this house to entering it, we hadn’t seen anyone other than Martin-san.
“Ho ho ho, are you concerned for this old man? What a considerate child you are.” (Martin)
“No, that’s not what I meant…” (Jack)
“There are servants, and there are maids too. The main building is in the front; this house is special. I enjoy the quiet here. It’s especially good for the dojo to be quiet.” (Martin)
“Dojo?” (Jack)
“This training hall.” (Martin-san)
Ah, that explains all the wooden swords hanging there.
“Parcine is currently out, but since I’m practically the one who issued that ‘request,’ don’t worry about it.” (Martin)
“Speaking of the request…” (Jack)
Alfred, who had been silent until now, opened his mouth.
“Old man, what’s this decoy investigation about? Don’t tell me you’re tracking those kidnapping cases that were rampant for a while?” (Alfred)
“…” (Martin)
Martin-san fell silent. This was the first time he didn’t answer one of our questions.
“First of all, aside from you, there’s that child.” (Martin)
“What about me?” (Jack)
“I need you to undergo a little interview test. If you pass, I’ll talk.” (Martin)
“Hey, you’re going to test us without even explaining the details of the matter first?” (Alfred)
For an undercover investigation, I guess it’s only natural to verify our background and identity first.
“Understood. Martin-san, I’ll take the test.” (Jack)
“Good, what an obedient child you are.” (Martin-san)
“Jack, are you sure about this?” (Alfred)
I nodded silently in response to Alfred’s question.
“Oh, so your name is Jack.” (Martin)
“Yes.” (Jack)
“I see, I see. I thought you might be one of Aldridge’s children. But as I recall, there wasn’t a child named Jack in his household.” (Martin)
“…What did you just say?” (Jack)
“Oh, nothing. Just ramblings of an old man.” (Martin)
How did he see through my connection to the Aldridge Household?
“Jii-san, don’t mess with us. The Aldridge Household is full of spoiled nobles, right? They wouldn’t take on weird decoy investigation requests like this.” (Alfred)
“Oh, is that so? By the way, is that scar on your cheek from being a child of Demons?” (Martin)
“No, it’s not. This is a scar from an accident. He’s fully human.” (Alfred)
Alfred spoke on my behalf.
“I see. You’ve had quite a bit of interference so far, Alfred. Are you his guardian?” (Martin)
“That’s right. This guy used to be part of Liberta. He’s got potential.” (Alfred)
“Ho ho.” (Martin)
The white-haired old man stroked his mustache with interest.
“Well then, let’s have you take a basic test first. The test will be a single match against me.” (Martin)
Saying this, Martin-san stood up casually. Despite his appearance, he didn’t seem like someone ready for combat.
“Huh, against you, Martin-san?” (Jack)
“That’s right. Are you dissatisfied with an old man like me?” (Martin)
“No, that’s not it…” (Jack)
Does this person just want to have a mock sword fight with a child?
Martin-san shuffled over to pick up some wooden swords and handed one to me, hilt-first.
“This is called a bamboo sword. You can hit with all your might and not die, so don’t worry.” (Martin)
“Martin-san, won’t this hurt quite a bit? Are you really okay with me hitting you as hard as I can?” (Jack)
“Oh? Even though I may look like just an old man, I’m still the head of the Stride Household. For a child to underestimate me would be disgraceful.” (Martin)
No matter how much he insists, hitting an old man with full force seems dangerous.
Despite my concerns, I accepted the bamboo sword. It felt feather-light in my hands. Compared to the swords I usually handled, its lightness made it feel awkward to swing.
After receiving various instructions from Martin-san, we stood in the center of the dojo, keeping some distance between us, facing off.
“Jack, don’t hold back. Go all out!” (Alfred)
Alfred’s voice cheered me on.
With this lightness, maybe it won’t hurt too much.
“Are you ready? Old folks like me are impatient. Let’s get this over with quickly.” (Martin)
Don’t say I’m being hasty…
Without saying anything, I responded by holding my sword in a low guard. In contrast, Martin-san crouched slightly, holding his sword in a central guard position.
“You seem ready. Then let’s begin, shall we? It’s a single-match, so come at me seriously from the start.” (Martin)
This old man sure talks a lot.
“Well then, here I come――――” (Martin)
With that shout, Martin-san’s body left behind an afterimage as he disappeared on the spot.
“…Huh?” (Jack)
A looming pressure.
Something’s coming!
“Whoa…!” (Jack)
I deflected something with my bamboo sword. A loud clashing sound echoed. Due to its lightness, I managed to react just in time. It seemed to be Martin-san’s bamboo sword.
“Hohoho, this one managed to block it.” (Martin-san)
A voice came from behind me. I quickly turned around to find Martin-san standing there, holding his bamboo sword in a straight central guard as before. As expected, he wasn’t just any old man. However, before I could fully process this, Martin-san’s figure once again left only an afterimage behind.
He’s coming again!
Immediately, I accelerated my body. My heartbeat thundered as my vision was dyed in crimson.
This must be what’s called ‘time control’ on the Managram.
With my vision expanded and the world moving in slow motion… I could move freely within the slowly flowing time.
When I noticed, right before my eyes, Martin-san was raising his bamboo sword. Even in a world moving in slow motion, capturing this rapidly approaching strike was quite difficult.
“Oh my, again. As expected of a former Liberta child. Well then, how about this next move?” (Martin)
The white shadow drew closer. It seemed he wouldn’t even give me the chance to adjust my posture. That shadow overlapped with the image of my former mentor.
I know that technique. It is Tristan’s specialty. The god-speed sword technique, ‘Sonic Eye’. A divine technique that unleashed ten strikes in a single second.
However, this time, I could see it from the very start. As long as I caught the initial strike, it was easier to read and evade the flow of attacks. And though he was the head of the Stride Household, his body was still that of an old man. The sharpness of his technique was lacking.
There!
After exchanging a few blows with the bamboo sword, I slipped past him and struck the wide-open area under his legs with my bamboo sword, running past him as I did.
A dry bang sound echoed through the dojo.
“Ugh!” (Martin)
Following that was the cry of the old man, resounding through the dojo.
What was that scream…? Is he alright?
Martin-san crouched down on the spot.
“Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch…” (Martin)
“I knew it, it does hurt, doesn’t it?” (Jack)
“Getting hit, well… ouch, ouch. I didn’t expect to be taken down like this.” (Martin)
The old man kept rubbing the inner part of his thigh where he had been struck.
“Young people these days have no mercy.” (Martin)
“You’re the one who told me to come at you seriously from the start!” (Jack)
“Hoho… it seriously hurts though…” (Martin)
The old man looked genuinely regretful.
—
Using Alfred’s barely usable healing magic, he treated the swelling in Martin-san’s inner thigh.
“Well done… For a child, what incredible brute strength you have…” (Martin)
For some reason, Martin-san’s eyes looked teary. It seemed the pain still lingered.
“You’re the one who recruited children, aren’t you?!” (Alfred)
Alfred quickly retorted.
“I intended to pass anyone who could withstand a certain level of my swordsmanship. Never did I expect to be counterattacked. Especially by a child… It might be time for me to retire as the head of the household…” (Martin-san)
“That’s not my problem! But you recognize Jack’s abilities now, right?” (Alfred)
“Very well… I acknowledge his skills. However, I’ll decide on his hiring with the next test.” (Martin)
“Hey, enough already. You’ll get beaten again.” (Alfred)
That was where Alfred stepped in.
“This request involves an undercover investigation, you see. Being strong isn’t everything. Besides, this test will determine suitability. It will also help discern your true nature.” (Martin)
“…Hah? What are you planning to make us do next?” (Alfred)
“Follow me.” (Martin)
Once again, Martin-san led us to another location. As we walked, Martin-san was dragging his leg. It seemed I had inflicted significant damage.
I started to feel a bit guilty.
Then, we were brought outside again. This time, we circled to the back of the mansion’s annex and walked along a gravel path. Behind the annex, a densely overgrown bamboo forest came into view. A narrow path extended deep into the bamboo thicket.
“Up ahead, there’s a small statue. Scattered beneath it is some money.” (Martin-san)
“Money? If it gets stolen—” (Jack)
“This is my estate. There’s no one to steal it. Even if it gets stolen, it’s not a significant amount.” (Martin)
“I see.” (Jack)
What’s the point of this? I can’t understand the logic of rich people.
“So, Jack, I want you to steal that money.” (Martin)
“Huh?! Is that okay?” (Jack)
“Yes. As long as no one sees you.” (Martin)
“…?” (Jack)
What does he mean? Could there be someone watching?
“You can take the narrow path, or sneak through the bamboo forest if you prefer. If you bring back the money, you can keep the coins.” (Martin)
“…Understood. I’ll go.” (Jack)
“If you successfully steal the money, you pass.” (Martin-san)
Judging by his phrasing, there must be someone keeping watch. This undercover investigation’ must involve opportunities to infiltrate without being seen.
“If someone spots me, do I fail?” (Jack)
“Hmm… If you get spotted but make it back, I’ll still count it as a pass. However, you’ll definitely die.” (Martin)
“What?!” (Jack)
“Jii-san, don’t mess with me! Are you seriously giving a trial that could get a kid killed?!” (Alfred)
“This investigation itself could result in death if the infiltration fails. It can’t be helped. If you’re scared, don’t do it.” (Martin)
This is quite a high hurdle. Well, with the reward amount being significant, I knew it wouldn’t be an easy request.
“Jack, you can turn back here. This old man’s a bit unhinged.” (Alfred)
“Fred, I’ll be fine.” (Jack)
Somehow, my finely tuned intuition skill was telling me that I should go forward.
“Well, if you’re determined, I won’t object. Go all out!” (Alfred)
That’s Alfred for you! Push me forward even more!
“Well then, I’m off!” (Jack)
I waved to Alfred and entered the bamboo forest. Though it was daytime, it was dim and slightly chilling. Yet, for some reason, I felt that taking on Martin-san’s trial might lead to something good in the future. Furthermore, I had a vague sense of obligation to take on this quest.
I carefully made my way deeper into the densely overgrown bamboo forest.
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