New chapter of World Teacher is out! (1/1 chapter)

 

 

Trouble is Merely an Event

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

“Do not move, all of you.” (Adventurer)

The one holding Emilia by the neck with one hand and a knife in the other was the escort adventurer who had been maintaining his weapon just a short while ago.

“Damn it. Taking a hostage at a time like this? Are you lot in on this together?” (Zack)

“That is right. Now, hurry up and drop your weapons.” (Adventurer)

“To take a child hostage, you have no right to call yourself a man.” (Zack)

“Shut up. Winning is all that matters. If you do not drop them quickly, I will not be responsible for what happens to this young lady.” (Adventurer)

Zack, his expression bitter, threw down the sword from his waist, so I followed his lead and did the same. While unarming myself, I observed the situation. Emilia’s face was twisted in disgust, but it did not appear as though her neck was being strangled. She held a water bag and a cup in her hands. It seemed she had been caught when she tried to hand me water.

“I dropped it. Now release that child.” (Zack)

“Not yet. Tell the brat outside to drop his too.” (Adventurer)

If it were the usual Reus, he would have charged the wagon without a second thought, but I had ordered him through Call to stand by and stay alert outside. It would take a little time before the responding group arrived, so I decided to gather some information first.

“Um… you gentlemen are adventurers, right?” (Sirius)

“What? Can’t you tell by looking?” (Adventurer)

“Well, I thought maybe not. Adventurers are supposed to be strong, but you seem afraid of a child holding a weapon.” (Sirius)

“You little brat. Hey, keep watch behind us. Ignore the one outside.” (Adventurer)

The man who still had free hands turned to guard his rear, leaving only one watching us. Good. They had fallen for it quickly enough. At least Reus would not be forced to disarm.

“What are you after? If it’s money, take all the cargo you want, but let the children go.” (Zack)

How gallant of him. Though a merchant, he is putting us above his own goods. Those are kind words to hear.

“Heh. We’ll just take everything. These brats are dressed well too. They’ll fetch a good price as slaves.” (Adventurer)

At the word slaves, Emilia’s face turned pale. Perhaps the trauma of her past returned, for her body trembled dangerously. Should I just shoot him? No, perhaps she should face this and overcome it instead.

“Emilia, listen carefully.” (Sirius)

“…Y-yes.” (Emilia)

“You noisy brat, shut up.” (Adventurer)

“You have grown strong. Remember your days of training.” (Sirius)

The man continued shouting, but I ignored him and focused on Emilia. At my words, she closed her eyes. After several seconds, she opened them again. The fear within had vanished.

“You remember now? The person you are now can handle a man like him easily. Do it without hesitation.” (Sirius)

“Yes.” (Emilia)

The moment she shouted, the man flinched. Emilia slipped free of his grip, seized the hand holding the knife, and, using the principle of Aiki, threw him off balance. She could have stopped there, but she did not.

“The only one allowed to touch me is Sirius-sama.” (Emilia)

With that, she threw him over her shoulder. The adventurer crashed into the one behind him, and both were flung from the wagon.

“Huh? The guy just flew. What?” (Zack)

Leaving Zack gaping, I approached Emilia and patted her head. Her breathing was rough, but as I continued to stroke her hair, she gradually calmed down and smiled.

“Sirius-sama, I did it.” (Emilia)

“Yes, you did well. You are no longer the weak girl who only waited to be enslaved. You proved that just now.” (Sirius)

“It is thanks to Sirius-sama.” (Emilia)

“No, it was your own effort. Now then, we still have enemies remaining.” (Sirius)

“Yes.” (Emilia)

Emilia took position behind me while I retrieved my gear and patted Zack’s shoulder.

“Zack, are you alright?” (Sirius)

“Y-yeah. Master, who is this girl?” (Zack)

“I’ll explain later. Prepare the wagon and get ready to fight. The enemy will be here soon.” (Sirius)

“But you said there were only a few. Wouldn’t it be better to run instead of fight?” (Zack)

“With this much cargo, the wagon will not outrun them. We will go out and face them instead.” (Sirius)

“I’m not bragging, but I’m not good with a sword. Depending on the opponent, fighting two at once is impossible.” (Zack)

“That’s fine. Just protect yourself. Reus and Emilia will handle the rest.” (Sirius)

When I looked at Emilia, her expression was determined. She was back to her usual self.

“Let’s go outside. We can’t see the enemy from here, and I’d rather not have the merchandise damaged.” (Sirius)

“Hmm, right.” (Zack)

Although still uncertain, Zack followed as we exited.

“Aniki, Nee-chan, you’re safe.” (Reus)

As soon as we stepped outside, Reus came running over. I patted his head to calm him. The adventurers who had been thrown out earlier were groaning and trying to stand, clearly battered.

“Aniki, who are those guys? Are they enemies?” (Reus)

“They’re enemies. They tried to sell you and Emilia as slaves. Beat them down and don’t hold back when their comrades arrive.” (Sirius)

“What? I’ll smash them to pieces.” (Reus)

With a growl that hinted at the beast within him, Reus glared furiously at the adventurers. The men returned his glare with equal anger.

“Damn it. What’s with that brat?” (Adventurer)

“I don’t know, but he’s strong. Are the others here yet?” (Adventurer)

Though he was just a child, they had grown cautious and chose to wait for reinforcements. Such judgment was indeed befitting of adventurers.

“What should we do, Master? Shouldn’t we strike before the others arrive?” (Zack)

“It’s already too late. Let’s reset the field and prepare properly.” (Sirius)

Even without using Search, their presence was clear. Rough-looking men gathered in groups, blocking both sides of the road. The adventurers returned to the leader among them to report.

“Hey, what’s going on? Weren’t you supposed to have disarmed them by now?” (Leader)

“Shut up. They’re stronger than we thought. Don’t underestimate them just because they’re kids.” (Adventurer)

“Blaming your mistake on some brats is pathetic. Hey, you, go handle it.” (Leader)

“Got it.” (Adventurer)

The leader gave a sharp command to his comrades, and one of the men began to stroll toward us with a relaxed swagger. He stopped in front of Reus, glaring with a menacing expression. There was no mistaking it, he was the very picture of a common thug.

“Hey, brats. Drop your weapons now. Otherwise, you’re going to get hurt.” (Bandit)

“Are you people bandits?” (Sirius)

“That’s right, we’re bandits. Consider yourselves lucky to be sold at a high price by such generous men as us.” (Bandit)

“I see. Then, I won’t hold back.” (Sirius)

“What? What the, ugh!?” (Bandit)

Reus’s fist sank deep into the man’s face, and before he could even understand what had happened, he was sent flying. He rolled across the ground, gouging the dirt as he went, and by the time he came to a stop at the leader’s feet, he was unconscious and bleeding profusely from the nose.

“Reus, charge straight in. Emilia, take care of the ones near the front of the wagon.” (Sirius)

Excluding the man who had just been punched, there were ten enemies in total. Six behind the wagon, three in front. The remaining one was yet to appear.

“Sirius-sama, what about the one above?” (Emilia)

There was a single man hiding in a tree to our left. He was likely a long-range attacker using a bow, but relying on only one archer was a fatal mistake. I picked up a stone roughly the size of my hand from the ground.

“I’ll take care of him. Are you both ready?” (Sirius)

Reus lowered his stance, steady and quiet, while Emilia drew her knife and sharpened her focus. I hurled the stone toward the tree with all my strength and gave the signal.

“Commence battle!” (Sirius)

“Yes!” (Reus/Emilia)

The man hidden in the tree fell to the ground at the same moment Reus kicked off with explosive force and charged forward.

Unlike Emilia, Reus fought with me and Lior almost every day, only to be beaten soundly time after time. A normal person would have broken long ago, but Reus shared Lior’s love for combat against strong opponents and faced each match with unshaken enthusiasm. Through countless real battles and his natural resilience, he carried no trace of the trauma of slavery. Though it was his first time fighting humans, he showed no mercy toward enemies who aimed to harm his sister or me.

He dashed forward, his feet tearing the ground, and with a single swing, severed the arms of two front-line opponents before leaping into the leader’s guard with the same momentum.

“What is this kid!?” (Leader)

“Uraaah!” (Reus)

Even in shock, the leader reacted by swinging his massive sword downward. Reus met the attack head-on, slashing upward. Their blades clashed with a sharp metallic shriek and both shattered at the midpoint. Reus clicked his tongue in frustration and jumped back.

“Damn it, I still have a long way to go.” (Reus)

Indeed, even if the opponent’s sword was a thick, heavy blade and ours a cheap, thin piece of iron, Lior could have cut through only the enemy’s weapon without suffering damage himself. To have reached a draw was already impressive, but Reus’s ambitions were high, and he was genuinely frustrated with himself.

“I told you already. We’ll hold him off, so you go after that black-haired kid!” (Bandit)

“That child must be their leader. Take him hostage and the others will stop.” (Bandit)

“Don’t you dare lay a hand on my Aniki!” (Reus)

Two of the adventurers moved in coordination, blocking Reus’s attacks. Although I had taught him some martial arts, it was only at a supplementary level, so his strikes lacked a decisive finish. He was being stalled by the pair.

The leader, now armed with a spare sword, advanced toward me, but Zack stepped forward, sword drawn, to protect me.

“I can’t just keep relying on the kids. I won’t let you lay a hand on this boy!” (Zack)

“Out of my way, you lowly merchant!” (Leader)

His spirit was admirable, but from my assessment, Zack was clearly the weaker fighter. He was a good man, and I did not want him hurt. There was no helping it.

“You think merchants can’t fight? You’re making a big mistake!” (Zack)

“You think you can best a professional, ugh!?” (Leader)

The leader suddenly fell forward, hitting the back of his head and collapsing motionless. Sorry, Zack, but I ended this quickly. I had merely hooked a thread of String around his foot and yanked it hard.

“Doryaaah!” (Reus)

Meanwhile, Reus’s uppercut connected squarely with one of the adventurers’ jaws, the force lifting him clean off the ground. The blow completely robbed him of consciousness, and the other opponent had already collapsed to the dirt. If there had been a referee, the gong would have resounded loudly by now.

“Aniki, sorry! One of them got away from me.” (Reus)

“Don’t worry about it. You defeated almost all of them yourself and that’s more than enough.” (Sirius)

“Yeah. Haa, I wish I had a better sword.” (Reus)

It was unfortunate that Reus didn’t have a blade suited to his strength. He picked up a sword dropped by one of the bandits and swung it several times before frowning and sheathing it reluctantly. Once we reached Elysion, I would have to find him a proper weapon.

“I have to say, Reus is incredible. I’ve never seen someone this strong at his age.” (Zack)

“I’m still not there yet. Aniki is far stronger than me.” (Reus)

“R-right, the young master is, huh? Wait, what about Emilia!?” (Zack)

“She should be finishing soon. Speak of the devil, look.” (Sirius)

When we turned our gaze toward the front of the wagon, Emilia was moving with graceful precision.

Unlike Reus, her strikes lacked brute strength. She could have used magic, but in human combat it was far too destructive, so I had told her to refrain. If she carelessly unleashed a wind blade, it would instantly turn into a gruesome murder scene. Since I had ordered her to avoid killing, she could not rely on magic this time.

Even so, her honed reflexes and speed allowed her to completely outmaneuver three opponents. Whenever she found an opening, she sliced at their vital points with her knife. She also enhanced her speed further by using magic to create a tailwind around herself. Each time her silver hair drew a gleaming arc through the air, the bandits suffered another wound.

“What the hell is she?” (Bandit)

“I can see her, but I can’t even graze her! What, ugh!” (Bandit)

“Stay back! Don’t come any closer!” (Bandit)

Though none of their injuries were fatal, they had already been covered in shallow cuts and their fighting spirit was gone. Judging the timing perfect, Emilia stopped moving, pointed her knife at them, and spoke calmly.

“My next strike will pierce your throats. However, if you throw down your weapons and surrender, I will spare you. What will it be?” (Emilia)

Her smile after so many wounds, cute yet utterly terrifying, was more effective than any spell. Perhaps because she was a child, her calm confidence made her even more frightening. The three bandits quietly dropped their weapons and surrendered.

“Sirius-sama, it’s over.” (Emilia)

“Good work. Tie them up and gather them in one place.” (Sirius)

“Understood. Zack-san, do you have anything to bind them with?” (Emilia)

“Y-yeah, there should be something in the wagon.” (Zack)

“I’ll help too!” (Reus)

As the three of them began tying up the defeated bandits, one last enemy finally revealed himself. I hadn’t forgotten about him, but he had remained hidden for so long that I chose to ignore him. Why he chose this moment to appear was anyone’s guess.

“I beseech thee. In exchange for my flame’s mana, manifest, great incarnation of fire…” (Bandit)

“He’s chanting? Damn it, he’s a mage!” (Zack)

“Aniki!” (Reus)

“Sirius-sama!” (Emilia)

A magic practitioner refers to one who can use a certain level of magic, and generally, if one can wield intermediate magic, they are called as such. Because the bandits did not expect a magic practitioner among us and kept their distance, the other three were slow to respond. I see, so the one hiding had been waiting for me to become isolated.

“May the spear of flame pierce my enemy. Fire Lance!” (Bandit)

When the man chanted the spell’s name, a massive spear of fire appeared, easily as tall as I was.

I see. This is the first time I have seen a magic user other than my attendants, and that must be Flame Lance, two levels above the beginner tier.

The magic practitioner glared at me, his lips curling into a sneer as he unleashed the fiery spear.

“Die, you monster’s master!” (Bandit)

Now that is uncalled for. To call them monsters when they have become strong through their own efforts as my beloved disciples is truly cruel.

“Impact.” (Sirius)

Since Zack was watching, I decided not to use gun-based magic, but instead a simple magic spell. The Impact I cast was small, and by appearance alone, it could not possibly stand against the Flame Lance. However, the moment the ball of mana I released touched the flames, they exploded into mist and vanished completely.

“What, my magic!?” (Bandit)
“Your mana convergence is too weak. With that level of control, it can easily be neutralized by a simple magic like the one I just used. Well, that is assuming you have a next chance.” (Sirius)

The magic practitioner stepped back, intimidated by my grin, but I could not allow him to escape. He had insulted my disciples, and I needed to provide him with some proper educational correction.
As I pondered the method of his instruction, two shadows suddenly dashed past me.

“How dare you harm Sirius-sama.” (Emilia)

“How dare you touch my Aniki.” (Reus)

The furious siblings charged at full speed toward the man, splitting into two directions to surround him.

“We’ve got him!” (Emilia/Reus)

Emilia struck him in the abdomen while Reus smashed his fist into his face from the opposite side. As expected of siblings, their timing was perfect. The man collapsed to the ground, spraying blood and vomit from his mouth. The fact that he fell without taking even a single step after being hit from both sides spoke volumes about their skill.

That made quite a dull sound though… he isn’t dead, is he?

“Hey Nee-chan, this guy’s still alive. Should we finish him off?” (Reus)

“Let us make him regret surviving. Reus, let us do that.” (Emilia)

Wait, wait! Do what exactly? No, their eyes are serious. The man is completely unconscious, yet Reus is grabbing him by the collar and shaking him, while Emilia is holding her knife with a cold stare. This is bad. They are really about to do it.

“Emilia, Reus. House!” (Sirius)
“Yes!” (Emilia/Reus)

The two immediately ran to me. I patted their heads to calm them down for the moment. I still had questions to ask them, and since every enemy was already incapacitated, this was more than enough.

“…I don’t even know what to say anymore.” (Zack)

I decided to leave the explanation to Zack for later and first addressed my disciples.

“You both did well. There were several unexpected situations, but you adapted quickly and handled them effectively. It shows that you have overcome the harsh training.” (Sirius)

“Really?” (Emilia)

“Yes!” (Reus)

“However, when I was attacked, you two reacted too intensely. In that state, you could not think clearly.” (Sirius)

This time it worked because there were two of them, and the enemy was unsettled when I neutralized the magic. But if they had faced a calm opponent alone, they might have been struck by magic before even getting close.

“Sirius-sama was targeted. There is no way I could remain calm.” (Emilia)

“Anyone who targets Aniki is my enemy. I’ll take them all down.” (Reus)

“I appreciate the sentiment, but you need to change the order of your thoughts. If you want to defeat your opponent, your first priority is to calmly render them powerless. Once that is done, you can vent your anger or do whatever else you wish.” (Sirius)

“I understand. I should incapacitate them first and then make them regret being alive.” (Emilia)

“Right, we’ll deal with them thoroughly after that!” (Reus)

“…Aren’t these kids a little too intense?” (Zack)

I could not deny Zack’s words. Still, we were attacked without reason. Retaliating was only natural. As long as they did not kill anyone, a few bruises were nothing to worry about.

 

—

 

After that, we gathered the defeated enemies in one place for questioning. Since the bandits had joined forces with adventurers, it would be a serious issue for the Adventurer’s Guild, which had dispatched them as guards. We also needed to know the scale of the bandit group. We treated the severely injured ones with minimal healing, while Zack sent a messenger bird to the town of Almest. Afterward, he began interrogating the man who appeared to be their leader.

“Hey, are you the bandits who’ve been targeting this area lately?” (Zack)

“What if we are?” (Bandit Leader)

“You’re going to tell me everything about your group, your base, all of it. Thanks to you, our business has been badly disrupted.” (Zack)

“I don’t know anything.” (Bandit Leader)

“What about now?” (Zack)

Zack pressed his sword against the man’s throat, but the leader merely laughed and looked up at him.

“Ha! Go ahead and do it. If I die, you’ll never learn a thing. A mere merchant shouldn’t pretend to be something he’s not.” (Bandit Leader)

“Damn it…” (Zack)

It seemed Zack realized he had been provoked. He sheathed his sword, looking frustrated, but quickly regained composure and turned to address the adventurers.

“Aren’t you ashamed of yourselves? You joined hands with bandits and even took children hostage. Adventurers are supposed to be brave and noble. This is disgraceful.” (Zack)

“I don’t need to hear that from a merchant who was saved by children.” (Adventurer)

“And I don’t need to hear that from someone tied up and rolling on the ground. Why did you side with bandits, even if it means turning the guild against you?” (Zack)

“Shut up! Don’t act high and mighty, you failed adventurer turned merchant!” (Adventurer)

“What did you just say? You’re insulting my Aniki!” (Reus)

“Stop. Stop right there.” (Sirius)

This was no longer an interrogation but a quarrel, so I forcefully intervened to put an end to it.
Once he calmed down and stepped away from the adventurers, Zack scratched his head in embarrassment.

“I’m sorry, Master. I couldn’t hold it in when they insulted my Aniki.” (Zack)

“I understand how you feel.” (Sirius)

“As a merchant, you should handle it with more composure. Still, we haven’t learned anything yet.” (Sirius)

“It’s pathetic, I know. The thing is, these bandits have been targeting merchants recently.” (Zack)

“Wouldn’t that be because merchants carry more money?” (Sirius)

“Normally, yes, but there have been no attacks on travelers at all. They even go after carriages with guards, which means something suspicious is going on. My Aniki believes there’s more to this. I was hoping these guys might give us proof.” (Zack)

But Zack’s interrogation skills were poor, and he was getting nowhere.  To be honest, all we needed was to reach Elysium. We did not have to get involved in their affairs. However, these people had dragged us into this and even talked about selling us as slaves. I might as well help a little, partly out of spite.

“Zack, may I handle their interrogation?” (Sirius)

“Huh? Sure, go ahead.” (Zack)

“Thank you. I’ll be borrowing some of the goods from the carriage.” (Sirius)

The red dye used for fabric dyeing was taken from the carriage, and I stood before the leader of the bandits.

“What does a brat with demi-humans trailing behind him want?” (Bandit Leader)

He said something that irritated me, but I ignored it and grabbed his arm, then drew a circle with the dye and wrote “anpontan” in Japanese. To me, it was nothing more than an insult, but since they could not understand Japanese, it would appear as an incomprehensible pattern to them.

“All right, it is done.” (Sirius)

“You are leisurely scribbling graffiti, but I will make you regret it for sure.” (Bandit Leader)

“You will be the one to regret it. Besides, this is not graffiti, it is a curse.” (Sirius)

“Huh? What are you talking about?” (Bandit Leader)

The leader distorted his face unpleasantly, but I pinched the arm where I had drawn the pattern as hard as I could. At first, he only looked puzzled, but as I increased the strength until it seemed about to tear, his face turned pale.

“W-what is this? What is happening to me?” (Bandit Leader)

Next, I took out a knife and lightly cut the surface where I had pinched him. Naturally, blood flowed out, but even though it was only a shallow wound, the man began to tremble violently.

“Hey, what is wrong with you? Would anyone normally flinch from such a small wound?” (Bandit)

“No! It does not hurt! I am being pinched like this, and even bleeding, yet I do not feel any pain at all!” (Bandit Leader)

Finally, I inserted the knife deeper. A large amount of blood spurted out, and the man began to shout while sweating profusely.

“W-what is this!? Hey, you guys, is my arm really still attached? I cannot feel any pain or sensation at all!” (Bandit Leader)

“That is why I told you. It is a curse.” (Sirius)

After stopping the bleeding, I smiled as I gazed into the eyes of the bandit leader. What he saw in my eyes was confusion and… a hint of fear. In such an impossible situation, my grin must have seemed truly eerie.

“I study curses as a hobby. And the one I recently completed, when I draw the pattern and let mana flow through it, it removes not only the pain but also any sense of touch.” (Sirius)

“W-what are you talking about?” (Bandit Leader)

“However, if you lie or refuse to answer my questions, the curse will grow stronger and eventually spread through your entire body.” (Sirius)

“Heh… heh heh, then if there is no pain, torture will not work, right?” (Bandit Leader)

“Do you not understand? Losing all sensation means that you will not taste anything no matter what you eat, and even if you embrace a woman, you will not feel a thing.” (Sirius)

At those words, the leader’s bravado disappeared. He must have imagined it for even a moment, for his body began to tremble more violently.

“M-master! That is going too far…” (Zack)

Oh dear, it seemed I frightened someone unnecessary. But Emilia whispered something to him, so the explanation was skipped. In truth, this was an application of regenerative activation, and I was merely using mana to overstimulate his nerves, temporarily numbing his sense of pain. It was essentially anesthesia, and within half a day he would return to normal. It was simply another way to intimidate, without relying on swords or fists, and to those unfamiliar with anesthesia, the current situation must appear as pure horror.

“Once it spreads through the whole body, it will be impossible to remove. Now then, may I start asking questions?” (Sirius)

“I-I will tell you everything, young master.” (Bandit Leader)

Heh, how easy. Well, when you suppress the two strongest human desires, submission naturally follows.

The bandit leader began speaking fluently, even revealing trivial information without hesitation.
I also performed the same procedure on the adventurers, and thus learned why they had joined hands with the bandits.

“So, it really was those people. Damn it, I knew they were no good, but to go this far!” (Zack)

Apparently, the reason the bandits were attacking merchants was because of the orders from rival companies jealous of the Gargan Trading Company’s rapid growth. To destroy Gargan’s business, they leaked the trade routes to the bandits and disrupted the distribution of goods. To conceal the mastermind, they even had unrelated companies attacked as camouflage.

The two adventurers were indeed affiliated with a proper guild, but they had not been doing well lately and had earned little money. That was when the rival company approached them, offering a large sum in exchange for cooperating with the bandits. The weapons they maintained in the carriage had been supplied by that company, believing that well-kept, impressive weapons would earn trust more easily. Though they normally used only one-handed swords, they carried new and unfamiliar weapons for that very reason.

“H-hey… that is enough, right? I told you everything I know, so please lift this curse!” (Bandit Leader)

“Hmm, I will lift it, but before that…” (Sirius)

I caught the bandits’ attention, picked up a palm-sized stone from the ground, and crushed it in my hand using the strengthened grip from ‘Boost’. I crushed it thoroughly, turning it almost into sand, and showed it to them with a smile.

“If any of you ever again call my disciples monsters or insult them, your heads will end up like this. Do you understand?” (Sirius)

The bandits nodded so fiercely their necks seemed ready to snap. The term “monster” should be reserved for beings on a completely different level, not used in frustration against someone merely stronger than you.

Granting their request, I wiped the pattern off with a cloth and let mana flow through it, causing light to spill out as the curse was “lifted”. In reality, I had simply activated “Light” to make it shine, but the men relaxed visibly, believing themselves freed from the curse.

“By the way, there is a side effect. The numbness will last for about half a day. Also, the curse is not completely gone, so please do not try to bother me again. Otherwise, the curse might accidentally reactivate.” (Sirius)

They turned pale once more, but it meant there would be no problem as long as they stayed away from me. In any case, they would soon be imprisoned to await judgment. They had surely learned their lesson.

While waiting for the town guard to arrive to take custody of the bandits, Zack apologized to me repeatedly.

“I am truly sorry. I guaranteed a safe journey, and yet this happened. I have no excuse.” (Zack)

“No, no, both we and our cargo are unharmed. We do not mind in the least.” (Sirius)

“There is no need for honorifics. To be honest, when I first heard about you from my brother, I was skeptical, but after witnessing your strength firsthand, I am deeply impressed. From now on, please allow me to call you Master in the truest sense.” (Zack)

What exactly is a “true Master”? Well, I suppose it means he acknowledges me wholeheartedly.
Zack kept apologizing profusely, but for us, this was no real problem. In fact, it had merely turned into an event that helped Emilia overcome her trauma.

“But what should we do now? Even if we continue, the sun will soon set. Should we return to town with the guards when they come for these men?” (Zack)

“No, there is no need to return.” (Sirius)

“Even so, while I could manage, it would be better for you all to avoid camping outdoors, would it not?” (Zack)

“It is no problem. In fact, we are quite skilled at camping. Besides, since you must deliver the goods, it would be better to arrive on schedule.” (Sirius)

“We do not mind at all. Let us proceed as Sirius-sama says.” (Emilia)

“Master… thank you. We could not cover much distance today, but with two adventurers’ worth of baggage gone, the carriage should move faster.” (Zack)

“Then, it is decided that we continue forward.” (Sirius)

As we decided our course of action and stood up, Reus, who had been keeping watch atop the carriage, shouted.

“Aniki! I smell people coming from that way!” (Reus)

It appeared that the town’s security force had arrived. Despite being a considerable distance from town, the fact that six men had been dispatched all the way to this remote area meant that the Gargan Company was a fairly trusted organization.

By the time Zack finished explaining the situation and the bandits were taken into custody by the guards, an hour had already passed. Following our plan, we directed the carriage toward Elysium. The speed had increased slightly, but since dusk soon began to fall, we started to make preparations for camping.

“I will keep watch and tend the fire outside, so you gentlemen may sleep in the carriage.” (Zack)

“Should we not all take turns keeping watch?” (Sirius)

“Sirius-sama, you do not need to do so. Please leave it to us.” (Emilia)

“I refuse. Everyone takes turns equally unless something unexpected occurs. Consider this part of your training.” (Sirius)

“If you insist. However, your shift will be the shortest.” (Emilia)

“Is the Master truly a child? I feel more like the child here.” (Zack)

“You cannot reason with Aniki!” (Reus)

After that brief commotion, we decided the order of the watch. The next step was preparing dinner.
When camping, the usual meal consists of preserved hard bread and dried meat, accompanied by soup seasoned with salt. Preservation techniques are still underdeveloped, so this is standard fare.
However, we were not in a desert or a frozen wasteland. There was a forest nearby, and plenty of food could be found with a little effort.

“That being the case, Emilia, gather some ingredients. Reus, go hunt something suitable.” (Sirius)

“Understood. I shall look for herbs and edible plants.” (Emilia)

“Got it, Aniki. Medium size is fine, right?” (Reus)

While giving instructions to the two of them, I took out a slightly larger pot and used a hand-drawn magic circle to ignite a fire and boil water. Zack, who had been holding hard bread and dried meat, stood frozen in place, staring at me.

“Um… I already prepared food for you gentlemen, but it looks like that won’t be necessary.” (Zack)

“My apologies. I should have told you we were preparing our own.” (Sirius)

“Not at all, sir. Then I will eat this and turn in early.” (Zack)

I stopped Zack just as he began to bite into his unappetizing bread and pull out his sleeping bag.

“Hold on. You would prefer something warm, wouldn’t you? You do not have to eat that. I will prepare a portion for you as well, so please wait a little.” (Sirius)

“You saved both my life and my goods, and now you are offering to feed me too. How could I ever repay such kindness?” (Zack)

“The bandit affair was just a coincidence, so you do not need to worry about it. As for the food, this is also an experiment of sorts, and I would like a merchant’s opinion.” (Sirius)

“An experiment, huh? If it is yours, I am certainly interested. I shall gladly accept your offer.” (Zack)

Zack put away his sleeping bag and sat across from me. I took out a brown, clay-like block from my bag, something I had made back at home. I broke off a portion and dropped it into the hot water to dissolve. As the clear water changed color to match the clay, a fragrant aroma spread through the air. It resembled miso in appearance and usage, but it was not miso. It was more like a base for soup made from ingredients available in this world.

“Whoa… what is that incredible smell? Is it from that thing you just added?” (Zack)

“It is a mixture of salt and various spices, kneaded and lightly dried for preservation. You dissolve it in hot water like this before eating.” (Sirius)

If completely dried, it would last even longer, but that would reduce the flavor. Since this was not a long journey, I left it semi-dried. Zack, looking curious, reached for a piece, so I tore off a small bit and handed it to him.

“This is… wait, it is spicy!” (Zack)

Honestly, what did he expect? It is supposed to be dissolved in water first. Reus once made the same mistake.

“Sirius-sama, I have returned.” (Emilia)

“I caught something, Aniki!” (Reus)

The two of them came back and displayed their results. Emilia had gathered herbs useful for deodorizing, along with mushrooms and edible wild plants. Reus had brought down a medium-sized bird that looked filling.

“Impressive, that is a Borow bird. They are extremely wary and hard to approach. How did you manage to catch one?” (Zack)

“It got away a few times, but I sneaked in close, jumped out fast, and sliced it in one clean move.” (Reus)

“I have no idea what that means, but I understand it was amazing.” (Zack)

Reus was the instinctive type, so trying to get a detailed explanation out of him was pointless. Zack’s reaction was the right one.

I cleaned the bird, buried the unused parts, and seasoned the meat with salt and the deodorizing herbs before roasting it. For the soup, I added the mushrooms and wild plants, then finally tossed in my homemade dried noodles. The noodles were simple, made and fried in oil, but they were far better than hard bread.

Zack, astonished by the quality of the camp meal, took a mouthful of the noodle soup. The moment he tasted it, it was as if a switch had flipped inside him. Though eating noodles with a fork seemed difficult, he began devouring the food with remarkable vigor. Before long, he had finished everything and leaned back, rubbing his satisfied stomach.

“This is truly incredible. I have never eaten anything this good while camping.” (Zack)

“By now, Dee and the others are probably eating the same thing.” (Sirius)

“In that case, Aniki must be eating with sparkling eyes. This soup base and those dried noodles… they are revolutionary for preserved food! They will sell for sure. How about selling them through our company?” (Zack)

“I do not mind, but if you produce and sell them, make sure to get Dee’s permission first and discuss it with Gadd.” (Sirius)

“It is the other way around, Sirius-sama.” (Emilia)

“That is right. Dee-nii would definitely tell him to get Sirius-sama’s permission first.” (Reus)

As expected. I would rather let Dee take the credit and grow famous, but since he is not here, I cannot convince them otherwise. There is no helping it. I shall grant conditional permission.

“I can teach you the recipe, but only if you give me a share of the profits.” (Sirius)

“How large a share would that be?” (Zack)

“I have no idea how much it will sell, so discuss that with Gadd and decide.” (Sirius)

“This could bring in a fortune. You are being far too casual about it.” (Zack)

“I am not particularly attached to money at the moment, and I find those kinds of negotiations troublesome. Besides, you and Gadd seem trustworthy, so I will leave it to your judgment.” (Sirius)

Although we had only met recently, I believed that both Gadd, who had maintained a long relationship with Dee, and Zack, who had risked himself to save us from the bandits, were good men.

“Furthermore, I have a request for you. I would like you not to tell anyone about the strength you witnessed from us today.” (Sirius)

“That makes perfect sense. Strength like that is better kept hidden for now.” (Zack)

“You understand?” (Sirius)

“Of course I do. If people learned there were children that strong, troublesome individuals would start meddling, and the nobles would surely try to recruit or control you. It would only lead to problems.” (Zack)

As expected of a merchant, he understood exactly what I had been concerned about.

“That is why I will keep silent. More importantly, you saved my life. No matter what the nobles say, I will stand by you, Master.” (Zack)

“Thank you.” (Sirius)

“The pleasure is mine. By the way, you are heading to Elysium to enroll in the academy, are you not?” (Zack)

“Did I mention that?” (Sirius)

“No, but it is an easy guess. Children heading toward Elysium are almost always doing so for enrollment.” (Zack)

I see, that was an oversight on my part. Still, it should not be an issue if they knew we were simply going to attend school.

“Your deduction is sound, but is there something about us entering the academy that concerns you?” (Sirius)

“Not at all. In fact, our Gargan Company has a branch in Elysium. I merely hoped you would favor us with your business. I visit there several times myself, so if you have any requests, I can procure whatever you need.” (Zack)

How very entrepreneurial of him. However, this is convenient for me. Until now, I had been acquiring seasonings through Dee, but with this arrangement, I could handle transactions directly. Once in Elysium, I would not have to worry about reducing the variety of my cooking.

“I look forward to working with you from now on.” (Sirius)

“And I with you, Master.” (Zack)

From then on, our journey proceeded smoothly. We were attacked by monsters several times, but we easily repelled them. The bandits did not reappear. Although they were weak, Reus and Emilia defeated the monsters so swiftly that Zack, the only adult among us, seemed disheartened.

“Even though I am the adult, I am the one being protected.” (Zack)

It was a sad truth, so I merely patted him on the back without saying anything. After a few such small events, five days passed, and we finally reached our destination.

“Master! Elysium is in sight!” (Zack)

“Whoa! It’s huge!” (Reus)

“It is indeed quite large.” (Emilia)

The academy city, Elysium.

Towering white walls built to protect its people stood before us, welcoming our arrival.

 

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