Chapter 114 - The Clumsy Master
We have been cleared to release the third volume of the book. Thank you very much.
When I left my house and headed toward the village square, the hunter Lauren-san and his apprentice Kyle were standing side-by-side as usual.
Perhaps because they were going into the mountains today, both were meticulously equipped. On Lauren-san's waist, he wore a long sword for self-defense rather than a dagger. Kyle also wore a sword, though a small one, and had throwing knives strapped to his thigh with a belt.
Lauren-san had probably made him prepare thoroughly. Since Kyle was small-statured, using throwing knives and daggers suited his body better.
When Lauren-san noticed me, he waved his large arm and shouted loudly.
"Oh, Aldo! Over here!"
"You're too loud. Master, you have a huge frame, so we'd know where you are even if you didn't shout."
"What do you mean, huge frame? Is that any way to talk to your master?"
Kyle said while covering his ears, and Lauren-san edged closer to him.
The master-disciple relationship of this mismatched duo was heartwarming as always.
"Good morning, Lauren-san, Kyle."
"Oh, morning."
"Good morning."
When I greeted them, the two stopped their bickering instantly and replied.
That synchronized movement almost made me chuckle.
As I watched the two of them warmly, Lauren-san suddenly brought his face close to mine. It was creepy having Lauren-san's rugged face looming so close, so I took two steps back.
"W-What is it?"
"...You've got a happy look on your face since this morning. I bet it's that, right? When Flora saw you off, you did a 'have a good day' smooch or something, didn't you?"
H-How did he know? Just like when we defeated the Red Bear, this man really is strangely sharp sometimes.
"Ah—judging by his face, he definitely did."
The two of them said while directing lukewarm gazes at me.
"How could you possibly..."
"I can tell just by looking at your face."
Pointed out by Kyle, I reflexively pressed my hands to my face.
Had my expression really been that loose...
"...My wife used to do it for me while acting all shy when we were still lovey-dovey, too. Saying things like, 'Don't go to the deep forest because there are monsters'..."
"This morning, she sent you off by swatting your butt with a laundry pole, didn't she?"
Lauren-san muttered with a distant look in his eyes, and Kyle struck him with the heartless reality.
I felt so awkward that I didn't know what to say, so I decided to remain silent.
"Guh, what's with that? That look of pity. It's not like I'm lonely or anything because I've got Mia!"
"That Mia-chan will also eventually start to find you annoying, Master..."
"Stop it! My sweet Mia would never think such a thing!"
Mia-chan was a cheerful five-year-old. She would be six soon, an age where she'd start to gain a sense of being a girl and re-evaluate her distance from her father.
"Aldo, you can only keep that relaxed face for now, you know? Once you get married and have kids, even Flora will get cold toward you—"
"My Flora won't become like that."
"Master, I think so too."
I flatly denied Lauren-san's rude comment.
Kyle seemed to be of the same opinion, as he immediately affirmed my statement.
"Stop it. Even I thought that was impossible while I was saying it."
"After all, even yesterday out on the street, he was saying things like, 'I love Flora!' and all that."
"Hey, tell me more about that. I'll spread it around the village and use it as material to tease him."
"Wha—please stop that. More importantly, let's get moving!"
Perhaps because I had invited the envy of the happy, I was teased relentlessly by Lauren-san and Kyle along the way.
◆
Having arrived at the western forest, we made our way toward the mountains in the back.
"Now then, today we're aiming for the mountains in the back to get some grand ingredients for the Harvest Festival. Aldo, is this your first time entering the deep forest?"
"After subjugating the Red Bear, I only lightly checked the area around the boundary to see how things were."
"I see. Well then, today will be the first time for both of you."
"Eh? Is it Kyle's first time too?"
Since Kyle had been a hunter here for years, I thought he had surely entered it long ago.
"Yeah, this guy is still an apprentice, so he's only gone as far as the forest. But lately, his movements have gotten a bit better, so I'm going to test him out."
"Yes, yes, I'll do my best."
He should just honestly praise him for his skills improving, but as usual, he couldn't be honest with Kyle.
"Well, to put the differences between the forest and the mountain simply, the ecology of the flora and fauna is different. There are more monsters. And compared to the forest, there are many more slopes and cliffs; those are the main characteristics."
The fact that there are many monsters means the environment is that much easier for monsters to live in. It's only natural that the ecology would differ from the forest where humans and herbivores usually come and go.
"Not only is the footing bad, but you might suddenly encounter a monster and be attacked. Well, I'm not worried about Aldo, a former adventurer who can take down a Red Bear, but you be careful, Kyle."
"...I know."
"Really? It's always the guys saying those confident lines who end up wetting themselves when a monster attacks, you know?"
"I won't have an accident."
Kyle replied disgruntledly to Lauren-san's insistent warning.
Lauren-san was purely warning him as a master, but I wondered if that concern was reaching him. Might he think it's just more teasing?
Well, it was partly because of the provocative way Lauren-san was saying it.
Becoming a little worried, I leaned in toward Lauren-san and asked in a small voice.
"Lauren-san, what's Kyle's experience with monster combat?"
"...He has some, but he only shot a stray Goblin with an arrow from a distance. He's never fought one up close."
"That's a bit worrying."
For an average villager or hunter, that was usually the extent of it.
But there was a huge difference between finishing one off with an arrow from afar and actually fighting a monster up close, finishing it while pushing back its killing intent.
The first hurdle with monsters is whether you can overcome the opponent's clear killing intent.
It's terrifying to have genuine killing intent directed at you by a monster with sharp fangs, claws, and a large build. If you can't overcome that, you'll be taken down without being able to move a finger.
Therefore, a strong heart that can face a monster is essential.
However, in Kyle's case, because the weapon he used was a bow, he had been defeating them unilaterally without being showered in that killing intent. He had never experienced it up close.
I was worried whether Kyle would be able to endure it when we encountered a monster.
"I intend to watch him with the utmost care. Sorry, but keep an eye on him too, Aldo."
"Yes, of course I will."
Kyle is a fellow hunter comrade, after all. As a former adventurer, I intend to watch over him properly. It's the duty of the experienced to cover for the mistakes of a beginner.
Though, with Kyle being so hatefully calm for a kid, he'd probably handle it with a cool face. He didn't seem like the type to get scared upon seeing a monster.
"It would be nice if you could convey that kindness to Kyle normally, though."
"Hmph, it's not kindness. It's just that everyone would be in trouble if the village lost a precious hunter."
Even when I said that, Lauren-san just snorted and stomped ahead.
Good grief, I wonder when those two will ever become honest with each other. It looks like I'll have a hard time following up for them.