Chapter Two: The Difference Between a Kettle And a Brain (Pt.1)

"Wow! It's so hot! Is this even an Autumn night?"

"I'm going crazy, crazy! My head is smoking!"

These words actually have a lot of problems. The weather now is simply the weather of an autumn night, we are on a hill of the Gray Mountains edge, the Hudyne Ridge. From West Glade where our home town Heltant is, in order to go to Mid Glade which is the central area of Vyseus, we must pass through some checkpoints, Hudyne Ridge is one of them. Although here is just a corner of the Gray Mountains, in fact we should not underestimate the altitude here, so it's absolutely not a place for people shouting hot.

But our heads are really going to smoke.

Sanson and I couldn't sleep well for a couple of days, we are tired and start getting angry. Karl looked at the two of us with a flustered expression. While who looking at us with flustered expressions are not just Karl.

The Orcs are clenching their swords and staring at us. Don't these guys know how to give up? Sanson is annoyed and started to get mad on me.

"Hey, I told you it would become like this, so we should have killed them all?"

"Who the heck would know that they are really such annoying?"

On a night few days ago. We suddenly heard screams near our camp, we ran over and watched; And we hindered the Orcs' banquet. The Orcs killed a traveler (We speculate that he was a businessman), pulled out all of his stuff and they were booing.

The moment Sanson saw this scene, his eyes suddenly emitted evil light, swiftly pulled out his sword, and chopped down the head of a Orc. Other Orcs wanted to resist, but with Karl's Longbow support from behind, and Sanson's body is much larger than the enemies, those monsters were in an overwhelming adverse. So the Orcs ran to me, seemed that I look like the easiest to handle. This was my first real battle with monsters, although I was nervous, I pulled out my bastard sword patiently.

"Ah, go to hell! Unaware Slash!"

This move is my gorgeous Unaware Slash! Well, Unaware Slash is the move I used when I battled with the ogre illusion. it's a technique that utilizes the primitive and cruel power slashing from bottom to top, and then a back-flip, then attacking upward again. Its disadvantage is that the heavy upward strike will cause low back pain, but because of the strange power conferred by OPG, I can perform this continuous strike twice quickly. Although this technique suits my taste a lot, Sanson said this technique is more suitable for dying.

Real Orcs are not as stupid as those illusions, but even the first guy came over the guy tried to dodge, its ear still got hacked. The Orc jumped away immdiately.

"Phew!"

Unfortunately, the ear cut off accidentally flew into my mouth.

Because I was so disgusted and vomiting there, so the Orc fled while clutching its ear. Noticing those several monsters tried to escape, Sanson wanted to chase them down, but because I felt so disgusted and couldn't manipulate my body, so I said: "We should investigate the identity of this businessman first, and bury him." Sanson made a not too pleased face, but because Karl also agreed my suggestion, so we went to investigate the identity of the businessman, but we failed to find out anything. We heaped some stones on his body, buried him briefly, and dragged our tired bodies and moved forward.

But since the day, the Orcs seemed to want to have their revenge so much, and kept chasing us from behind. I have heard that the vengeance of Orcs is very strong, but I didn't know it's actually strong to this point. This time, they just simply surrounded us, so we have no way to escape. Hence we were forced to move back against the cliff. Behind us are layers of piled rocks and cliffs, which are extending into the clouds. In front of us is a wide hilly area, there is birch everywhere, which forms into a forest. We can see the Orcs in the gaps between those birch. Because we are burning a raging fire with the branches and leaves, so those guys can't rush in, but like this we were tortured several nights and didn't sleep well, we have came to the point that our eyes are bloodshot.


"Hey! Do you understand our language?"

I am so angry that I began talking with these guys. One of the Orcs who is carrying a super large sword stepped forward. It is bigger than the other Orcs several times. This guy seems to feel not comfortable about the fire, it kept blinking and said:

"Oink! You want to make your last words? Humans sometimes do so. Oink!"

"You look more like making your last words! You bastards! When will you give up?"

"Oink! Give what up! We must insist, until all of your hearts stop beating!"

"You are so cute. Why don't you just butter us up."

The Orc heard what I said, made a surprised expression.

"... What does this, oink, this mean?"

"I mean human children would do the same thing as you are doing here! Keep acting shamelessly!"


The Orc is still making a confused expression. I started to talk very sincerely:

"Listen. Human will get older and older won't they?"

"What is that? Oink! Isn't that for all creatures, oink, all are like that?"

Well, closer, closer.

"Ah, ah yes. However, when humans get older..."

I unwittingly got close to this guy's face, while gradually lowered my voice. The Orc became very nervous. I smiled at it kindly and said:

"They become more cunning! "

I nimbly grabbed this guy under my armpit, then put my sword on its neck. The Orc wanted to resist, but my arm grabbed harder. The Orc issued some nervous cry.

"Hey, if you dare to come over, I'll immediately kill this guy!"


I looked at Karl and Sanson with a triumphant face. How am I? But the two of them looked very strange. These two men are using a surprised expression, like they found an unique rare thing on the world, looking at me.

Orcs are also. One of them finally said:

"Oink, then?"

"I, didn't I say! If you dare to come then I'll kill it!"

"Dare to come, then kill, oink, so what?"

"Isn't that bad if it gets killed"

"What, oink, what does that mean, oink, you say it's bad to kill it? Oink! Didn't you say you will kill it?"

"Hey, what's wrong with them?"

Then Sanson shook his head and said:

"Huchi, Orcs don't care about hostages."

What? How would there be such a thing?


"How... How is this... No, then why are they trying to revenge for their companions? If they don't care about their companions' lives, then revenge..."

"Orcs won't think a fool who got captured as hostage is their companion. And the so-called revenge is not for their companions, is for the hatred that they couldn't get the businessman's stuffs. It's because we hindered them."

I was so surprised and widened my mouth.

"These frenzied bastards!"

Because I was too angry, so I twisted the guy's neck under my arm, and threw it back to the Orcs. Although the Orcs were surprised by my strength, they still began dealing with the guy I threw back who is no longer their race in their eyes first. The Orcs are waving their machetes, that guy who was in my armpit didn't even have a chance to scream, became meat. I looked at this scene, and felt nauseated.

"Woo... It's too over."

"That's the nature of these guys. The male Orcs don't know when they will die."

"What about female?"

Even in this case there is curiosity, so apparently I am a Human. Karl began to explain.

"Orcs absolutely won't touch those female. If human wants to offense those mother female, that's absolutely not feasible too. Usually those female Orcs hide in the caves and never come out, but even hero like King Rhuterino, as long as he offenses a female Orc, he would be dead too. "

"Oh, really?"

The Orcs has completed their job, began to turn their weapons to us. Ouch, we almost fell into a hazard because of the chatter.

Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.24 Final)

In the candlelight wholeheartedly making the sword belt, is this girl really Jamini? She is fully focusing on the needlework, her face muscles are all relaxed, revealing a serene face. I unwittingly said:

"My destiny... Really strange. Even in Summer, I couldn't imagine that I actually would be going to the capital. And now because it's Autumn..."

Jamini is stitching while answering:

"Because it's Autumn?"

"Yea. Into the Autumn, Cathselprime appeared, I became a wizard's assistant, Dad became Amutaat's captive, and lastly I have to go to the capital. I had heard that Autumn has magic..."

"What do you mean? Why do you say that Autumn has magic?"

"This is Autumn. During Spring and Summer, the vitality of all lives on the earth burns vigorously. But once they're touched by the hand of Autumn, this vitality disappears. And soon after it'll be Winter, which represents death. So Autumn is very mysterious. The dying life. The looming death. In the short while between the vitality disappears and the death comes, all mysterious things will happen. That is the magical time appears in Autumn."

"Magihal Kime? (Magical Time?) "

Jamini is trying to cut the thread with her teeth, so the pronunciation is a bit strange. She could wait until the line is cut before she spoke, but she just said it out. Really cute. I smiled. I tell her the story about this magical time that Karl likes a lot.

"In different places, this so-called Magical Time is different too. What can be determined is that, it must be in a certain period during Autumn. If someone happened to get to a place which's in Magical Time, he will meet  a variety of rare things. In the short autumn, from the fallen leaves covering the earth, until the first snow descending, this person will get a memory that remains forever, that sometimes he himself may not notice. He might just remember what happened in that Autumn, after a few years, or when he gets old, he would suddenly found the time special. But in case someone know that he has entered the Magical Time, from the fallen leaves covering the earth, until the first snow descending, he can achieve something amazing. "

"Oh my god ..."

"When King Rhuterino started the Glorious Seven Weeks War, it was also the time that leaves started falling. You should know the story of him defeating Dragon Lord? In the end of the tragic war, Dragon Lord finally fell down. But then snow began floating down from the sky. As a result, King Rhuterino couldn't even lift his sword, so Dragon King just fled. And King Rhuterino could no longer use a sword since then."

"So, that period was..."

"The Magical Autumn of King Rhuterino. Before the onset of Winter, he completed the greatest thing in his life, but at the same time that thing is also uncompleted."

Why does Karl like this story? I wonder if it's related to this incomplete ending? I don't like this kind of stories. I like the one which is simple and complete. But this story seems to suit Jaimini's taste. Jamini is holding her cheeks, made an expression showing that she's immersed in the fantasy. Then Jamini seemed to suddenly awake, and said:

"Done. Put it on and have a look. "

I looked at the sword belt that Jamini made for me. She's not able to make a delicate belt that can be worn around the waist, so this is just a thing that is attached to the scabbard, and can be hung on the shoulder. Once I put the bastard sword on my shoulder, Jamini said like apologizing:

"It'd be great if it can be tied on your waist..."

"Not at all. Now my both hands are free, I also feel very comfortable when I walk. It's fine."

I put on this thing, and then tried to pull out my sword, managed to pull it out uneasily. What do you expect? this is not an ordinary sword, but a 2 cubits long greatsword. I bothered for a while, then moved my left arm around to the back, pulled down the scabbard and tried to pull again. This time I pulled it out smoothly. I suddenly feel great that I don't have a shield. I deliberately showed Jamini that I can pull out the sword easily, and then said:

"Clang! Not bad huh? It suits exactly with the length of my arm. Thank you."

Jamini chuckled. I plugged the sword back again and said:

"It's very late already. You should go. Go home, I'll take you back."

Jamini picked up her shawl on the bed, wrapped her head and shoulder. I took a lamp and went out.

"Do you want to try riding?"

Jamini riding on Jamini. Ha, really interesting. Although Jamini looked a bit scared, she agreed.

I took the horse over, made it stood still and then looked at Jamini. Jamini looks a bit embarrassed. In fact, so am I. I grabbed Jamini's waist, lifted her to the horseback. It was a simple task for me, moreover I have OPG now, she is even lighter. Jamini is sitting sideways on the horseback, I gave her the lamp, and then grabbed the rein and began bringing the horse to walk. In the wind of the autumn night, the rare crunch sound makes people feel very unique. If it's winter night, the leaves will be like going to fall, issue buzzing sound, but autumn night is not like this. We are listening to the sounds of crickets, walking into the woods. Jamini on the horse is holding the oil lamp, the light shines us into a gray. The surrounding trees also seem to absorb the light directly.

But I feel very happy. Tomorrow, I'm going to depart. While we are going to be right back, but even just for a while, the scenes around seem to become brand-new, are approaching to me. I plugged one hand in my pants, and another hand is grabbing the rein, walking while whistling. The horse is very well-behaved and obedient. Does this guy know Jamini has the same name as it? Why is it so docile? Jamini who's sitting on the house is stroking the horse's mane, and also singing along with my whistles. Occasionally her hand would block the light from the oil lamp on her another hand, she would see the shadow and scare herself, then quickly put her hand down. Whenever this happened, Jamini would nervously scream, and I would giggle.

Joyce said that the two of us are like a noble lady and a knight apprentice? Now this scenario seems to be really alike. I have nothing to say.

※

Huh? Strange. The road became shorter? We can now see Jamini's home in front. I scratched my head, and let the horse stop, and then turned my head and stretched out my arms. Jamini didn't think anything and jumped down. At the moment I seized Jamini's waist in the air, a plan emerge in my mind.

I grabbed Jamini but didn't put her down, I said:

"Oh really. Jamini?"

"Huh?"

"Do you want me to give you a suggestion?"

"What?"

"You have to be careful, don't put yourself into a situation that you can't escape."

Jamini didn't understand what I'm saying, but I still followed my plan. Jamini is now in my arms, where can she escape? Jamini's eyes suddenly widened...

※

....After a while, I put Jamini down, then picked up the lamp she dropped on the ground, rode on the horse and ran away like lightning. Than Jamini began to yell:

"Hey! Huchi! Your bad! Ahhhhhhhhhh!"

That's why I told her not to fall into a situation that she can't escape. Even so, I'm no where better than her. Judging by I think Jamini is beautiful this fact, I will probably be her knight for a lifetime. It seems that this is my miserable fate.

※ ※ ※

The next day before the sun rises, in the gray dawn, I nailed up my house's door.

I thought I am doing something awesome, but think about it carefully, I'm just nailing up a door. But the problem is, this is the home I've stayed for 17 years since I was born.

I heard that our king had a bad brother. This brother should have been the king. But he has a very bad personality, his behavior is also a mess, so the House of Lords banished his identity, put his brother into the seat of the Crown Prince.

The story of this banished Crown Prince reminds me one thing that is very consistent with my current situation. This banished prince nailed up his room one day. The internal staffs of the palace were surprised, and asked him the reason, he said:

"My future is out there somewhere, so I have to go outside, but the past I cherish is inside here, so I will come back before I die. Without the past there will be no future, so I want this room sealed until that time."

Then he ran out of the palace, on that day he got banished by the House of Lords.

Yes, no matter what kind of wanderer, in the end there is a place for him to go back. Maybe the home he escaped from, or homeland, even orphans, he has somewhere hiding his precious memories. He will yearn this place throughout his life constantly, and gain the power to continue travelling from the yearn. Conversely, to nail up his own past, means that he is going to put himself to an adventurous future.

Ah! I'm too good in speaking. Because my heart was strangely excited suddenly, I accidentally hammered my finger twice.

I tossed my finger while locked up the workshop, then I put on the harnesses on the horse, began to go to  Karl's home. While the morning mist shrouded around, I've never got lost because of this.

Karl is doing the same works as I did before. He stopped and noticed me, then showed a smile.

"Ah, you are really early, Nedval."

I smiled, took the hammer with nails from him, nailed one in each room. Carl shook his head with a smile.

"You can now control your strength very well. Looks very natural huh?"

"Because I received that kind of ridiculous training everyday. What's on your back?"

There's a longbow on his back. Karl shrugged his shoulders, said:

"Because, after all, it's a trip, we have to be armed, don't we? I still know a little archery."

"But where's Sanson?"

Then there was a sound of hooves, Sanson's shadow appeared in the fog. He hastily stopped the two horses and then jumped down.

"Hah..Hah.... Sorry! You waited long?"

"No, no. We were just ready."

I looked at the face of Sanson, almost laughed out loudly. Sanson's eyes are red. He probably cried in the morning when he stepped out from his home. No, no. Hum, how would he let his father Joyce see him like this... Ahhh!

I approached Sanson. Sanson saw me making a sinister smile and walking towards him, immediately put out a vigilance expression. I suddenly drilled my nose to Sanson's chest, Sanson was scared and stepped back.

"Ah... It smells so good!"

Sanson not just swallowed my bait, even peremptorily swallowed the hook.

"Hey! Huchi, what, what's the smell?"

"You turn really fast! Hehehehe! "

He must have hesitated for a long time, then finally sneaked to see the girl on the way to here.

Then he must hugged and cried with her. I deliberately imitated the sound of a man and a woman said:

"You've just came back, now you are leaving again!"

"I'm sorry, but I am a soldier..... Wouuu, in fact, I don't want to leave too, Wouaaaa!"

"Ah, so this is our destiny? We should use love to face this punishment bravely!"

Sanson's face is turning red and green, I laughed and got on the horse. Karl got to know which one is his horse, then loaded his stuffs on it, then got on the horse with skilled actions. Really good at riding. Envy. But Sanson is still dejected, with a depressed expression. Karl found that Sanson looks lost, began as if to cheer him up.

"Percival, don't worry. We are not going to do something like fighting Amurtaat, are we? And if you can perfectly fulfill your duty in this mission, then its the greatest loyalty to our thane. '

"This, this is certainly! I'll lead the way."

"Do you know the way?"

"Last night I read the geography books until late night. So the path, time, necessary supplies places and estimated speed are all considered."

"Then I trust you, we'll just follow you."

Sanson even made a salute, and then began to walk in front of us. The fog is very thick, and it's forest, so there is no way to run. Therefore, we are slowly walking out of the village.

Once we are outside of the village, Sanson began to accelerate, made the first step to the capital with the speed of a rushing horse. Now the sun is rising, the road ahead us is dyed golden. Such a starting really give us a very good mood. The fog instantly dispersed, we all increased our speed all a sudden. The pain yesterday came back again. My waist is very painful, but because Sanson and Karl are running easily, so I can't be left behind alone too.

The sun is irradiating at our eyes, the wind is striking at our eyelids, it feels warm and cold.

The three of us began riding towards the dawn.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※  End of Chapter One  ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.23)

After a day of work, the adults sitting on the chairs in front of their houses, all widened their eyes greatly. The children in the village are screaming and running in, girls are clenching their hands, looking at us with surprised visions.

My body aches haven't been eliminated, even I'm sitting on the horseback, my whole body is still in pain. And the horse is also same as me. Sanson and I are riding the horses walking on the main road of the village.

"Wow! Noble Lady Jamini's Admirer Knights Huchi is riding!"

I made a miserable smile to the cheering villagers. My whole body is stiff, and I can't control my arms too. Then I saw Jamini who has a flower on her head, playing around with the children in the village. Ah! Really can't take her anymore. Jamini seemed to notice the noises here, turned her head, so the four eyes of us are intersecting.

"Wow!"

The villagers are cheering. They probably think that I'd be like in the stories, picking up Jamini and let her sit on the saddle, and then riding towards the sunset. But in fact I don't have this idea at all. Even if I really want to do this, I can't. Because my body's pain is almost killing me!

Jamini looked at me with astonished eyes, and then came up to me. The villagers originally stood between me and Jamini immediately retreated to both sides. God, these people's actions are really unified. Jamini hesitantly walked over, and then touched the horse's cheek.

"Really beautiful... What's its name?"

"Jamini."

Jamini (The human!) blushed, the villagers began chuckling. In fact she didn't know why I name the horse like this! Jamini with the red face didn't know what to do, looked around for a while, and then touched her head. Then she finally realized there is a flower on her head. Gosh, really stupid.

Jamini took this flower off, put it on the ear of the horse. Surprisingly, Jamini (The horse!) actually stood obediently there and let her put the flower on! How could there be such a guy? Then I found a frightening fact. That is when girls want to turn into another look, they can immediately turn. Jamini who was bouncing around with the village kids just now, now actually turned into some kind of saint, said with a very slim and elegant voice:

"A horse with the same name as me. I'll give you this flower, you have serve your master nicely."

The voice trembled a little, but it's very clear from the beginning to the end.

Then Jamini turned back and ran away. The villagers are cheering again, and I just want to pass away.

I almost got immediately arrested by these people to Sinderella's Song. If it's not Sanson, I would probably be drinking there all night. Sanson said there are a lot of things to be prepared, gently sent away the villagers swarmed around us, I finally managed to escape from there.

Sanson went into the grocery store, asked the boss for the things we need. Tools like bags and ropes on horses, oil lamps, a few bowls, flint and ignition device, needle and thread, knives, iron bars, and a tripod for cooking, kettles, three large buckets... It will take forever to name them all. Anyway, we tied and put all these things on my horse, Sanson's horse, and the horse of Karl that we brought along. And then I followed Sanson to his home.

Blacksmith Joyce didn't say anything, just gave us an oil lamp, pots and pans, knives and hand axes, and gave us some plasters and herbs. Then Sanson's mother gave us some kelp, bacon, flour, corn flour, salt, pepper... Why am I naming them again? Anyway she gave us this kind of stuff. We put these categorized things on the horseback.

Sanson's mother asked me to stay at her home for dinner and sleep for the night, but I declined. Because I still want to tidy up my home a little bit, and I should nail the door, and lots of other things to do. The most important thing is, I want to have a good sleep in my own house today. So I am riding on Jamini, began to go back to my home.

I had stayed in the castle for the past several days, returning home after this long period, it should be quite deserted. Anyway, just take a sleep tonight, going to depart on tomorrow morning, so I don't want to clean up much. Maybe just make a fast dinner, eat and then go to sleep will be fine.

But when I went near my home, I was shocked.

The lamp is lit.

Is that father? No. Father was captured by Amurtaat. I got off from my horse, tied it and pulled out my bastard sword, and went close to my house. Perhaps my father escaped? Although I don't believe that will be the case, soldiers should first go back to the castle. Is that a thief?

Not possible. There is nothing to steal in my home, and in fact there is no thief such kind of characters in our village. A thief probably will not go to such a ghastly place like our village to do business.

So, is that a tramp nearby found that here's empty, so ran into it? This is possible. Our house is quite remote, plus I'm not here for a few days, the atmosphere looks very like an empty house.

"You're a dead. Watch how I finish you."

I'm sneaking up to my house, and then went close to the door. I'm ready to kick the door and rush in, but the door suddenly opened.

"Ah! Hey, Jamini? Uhhhhh!"

Gosh, really awful! Jamini opened the door, and then splashed water, that was all splashed on me. This stupid girl, actually didn't see me standing outside in the dark, and didn't notice me until she splashed all the water in the pot.

"Ah! Huchi, What are you doing here?"

"This question should be asked me!"

"That ask!"

"Uh! Jamini, what are you doing here?"

Don't know why, I feel like I am an idiot. Jamini giggled, then immediately handed me a towel hanged on the wall. I smiled, took off the hard leather, then wiped my body, and then began to rub my armor. Gosh, My hard leather! But this girl, what did she actually do in someone else's home?

"What are you doing here?"

"Preparing dinner! I heard that you are going to the capital tomorrow? Therefore I want to make something tasty for you."

"... You have just washed me, now you can chop me into pieces?"

"Oi, Huchi! You should go to take a bath!"

I stood up and muttered.

"Thank you so much."

"If it's not me, who else will help you to prepare these?"

I smiled, and went outside. Just got splashed by the water, took off my shirt and immediately went outside, so my body is shivering. Oh! Really cold. I deliberately waved my arms, and then went to the bucket nearby and began washing my body.

Ahchooo, ah, so cold.

I generally took the bath, and then went to the woods, brought the other Jamini who was tied back.

Oops, there's actually no place that I can be tie a horse around my house? I worried for a while, and first I unloaded all the things on the horseback, then I found a long rope, tied to the horse's rein, then carried it to the workshop. Because the rope is long enough, if it gets hungry it can go outside finding grass to eat, it can also drink water when it's thirsty.

※ ※

I suddenly envy the Jamini eating grass outside so much, but in order to keep my manner, I said to the Jamini in front of me:

"Thank you, I'm full. It's really a pleasant meal."

This is not a bad thing that someone make a farewell party for me when I leave the village. Even this person's cooking skill is bad enough, but I should be very grateful on her sincerity alone, shouldn't I?

Jamini told me to scoop some water for her, then began washing up the dishes. Well, she looks ridiculously beautiful at the moment. I have to stop thinking this, so I picked up a grindstone, began to grind my sword. Blacksmith Joyce has sharpened it very well, so there is no need to spend much time to grind it. This kind of daily grind, is to prevent it from rusting, and its life can be extended.

Then Jamini was like recalled something, patted her hands.

"Hey! Huchi, don't you feel bothered holding this sword with your hands and running around?"

"Huh? What, I have to do that."

"But you can't travel like this. Let me see... Do you have any leather band or spare belt?"

I tilted my head, went to the workshop and picked a leather band over. Jamini immediately came up with a needle and thread, started making a belt tying on my scabbard.

Damn. She is so beautiful.

※

Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.22)

"Huchi Nedval - "

"Understood."

Hearing my answer, deacon Hamel seemed to get a bit flustered, but still nodded his head. I said:

"Because I'm not a regular army, so this is not sending troops. Anyway for my age I can't even join the self-defense forces, so it's suitable to send me. That would be nice, because my father's affair is still hanging  there. If I get to know the truth, I will probably go to annoy you first, Mr deacon."

Deacon Hamel made a wry smile.

"Though you are arrogant, but you seems equally trustworthy."

I glanced at Tyburn. If he can go together, then there's nothing to be afraid of. Tyburn seemed to see through my heart and said:

"If the situation allows, honestly I would also like to go with you. However, this place really makes people worry. Huchi, you have to be careful and careful. Although you've already faced stone golems and ogres, those were just illusions. The reality is completely different. If you forget this, you're dead. Understand?"

"Understood."

"Don't worry about Jamini. I wouldn't let her to meet other guys..."

"Shut up!"

Karl smiled and said:

"So do two of you need any special preparation? No? Then we should start off earlier. Please make your preparation and come to my house tomorrow morning. I don't want the others finding my true identity, can you help me?"

Sanson is not quite sure what he was talking about, but still hurriedly nodded. Karl said:

"I will be responsible for meeting the King His Majesty, and the preparing the money. You two should discuss a bit, please help to handle the travelling things. Percival, please look into that how can we arrive the capital in the fastest way. If you want to make villagers feel easier you can spread the news that some of us are going to the capital, but please don't mention my name."

"No worries!"

Deacon Hamel stood up and walked to the desk, opened the drawer with a key, and took out a box and a wallet. He gave the wallet to Sanson, asked him to buy some items we'll need. Then he gave the box and to Karl.

"This is the seal and the appointment, and the Heltant Fief certificates, also the harvest right cerificate of all forest products and agricultural products. You are now the sole deputy of Heltant Fief.

"Sure."

Sanson suddenly stood up from his chair. Once I sat down he immediately pulled me up, he said:

"So we will be excused first, go for the preparation. Mr... Mr...."

"Just call me Karl as usual."

"Okay, Karl, you know riding?"

Karl smiled and nodded. But my face was twisted into a mess. Horse? I quickly turned my head to Tyburn.

"Wait a minute! Tyburn, you are a wizard right? Can you just cast a magic, and let us fly to the capital? Right! Teleport! Last time you called Balrog, that...That...What spell was that? "

Tyburn chuckled and said:

"Fool! Are you Balrog?"

"Huh?"

"It's very difficult to explain. Because I'm blind, so I can't correctly perform Teleport Wrap. But Balrog is a very powerful devil, so even I can only set the approximation coordinates, he can still cooperate with me and come. In fact, this is also related to that Balrog has the ability 'Gate'..."

"I won't understand even if you continue. Forget about that, stop."

Then Sanson didn't give me further opportunity to speak, dragged me out of the office. The remaining three people are like discussing some incredible things, but I won't understand anyway. Sanson hurriedly asked me:

"Hey, hey, Huchi, you didn't seem to be very surprised. Who is Karl actually?"

"Karl of coure is Karl. Otherwise who do you think he is?"

"Come on, Huchi, tell me."

"Didn't he just say?! ' My brother's seat when he's not here...' You still don't understand?"

Sanson said with a surprised expression:

"That he is the younger brother of the thane?"

"Correct. Half brother. So the age difference is quite big. "

"Ah!"

Karl is the half brother of the thane. His mother was a maid in the castle, so Karl has long abandoned the care of his own identity. He left the village and traveled around when he was young, after he grew up, he came back. Our too kind thane wanted to invite him back to home as a real brother, Karl declined, but requested to let him quietly live in the forest. Hence Karl lives his mysterious life in all the curious eyes. Hearing what I said, Sanson nodded.

"This time it's my turn to ask question. Do you want to go by horse?"

"Of course. Otherwise, such a long way, do you want to go on foot? It will be over five or six months for a round trip."

"Of course not, but also not riding."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know riding."

Sanson laughed.

"It doesn't matter. Who were born with riding skills? You will get familiar gradually."

"Ah..."

"I'll give you a suggestion. It is very important to let the horse know its master."

There is glow in my eyes, but Sanson didn't see.

Sanson and I went to the stables behind the castle.

The horse guard O'Neill in the stable heard that I have to ride to the capital, made a surprised face. Come on, this uncle, I am more surprised than you. He shook his head, and brought us into the stables.

Sanson has his own horse, so he has no problem. Coming here is to find the horses for me and Karl. O'Neill is telling us which trained horses have no master yet, and let me take a look to those horses. Even if he showed me the horses, does he want me to know how to choose one?

I said to O'Neill:

"Hey, if I ask you to choose between a pure wax candle and an admix candle, how would you choose?"

O'Neill laughed. He took a look at my physique, then helped me to pick one directly. The horse is chestnut-colored,  looks really handsome. Compared to Sanson's large horse 'Meteor' athough it looks small, I also don't like that kind of scarily large horse. I am quietly staring at the horse, the horse is also quietly staring at me. The eyes of the horse are very strange. The eyelids are round, looks like it's being scared, but still very ferocious and scary. I slightly turned my head, crossed my arms and gazed at the horse. The horse snorted at me. Neighhhhh.

Sanson laughed and said:

"Huchi, you and this guy should try to adapt to each other today. I'll prepare the other things for the trip."

I nodded, Sanson drove his horse and left.

O'Neill smiled, and then brought a saddle and other harnesses in front of me. I am standing there confusedly and watching, so O'Neill demonstrates to me how to plug the bit, how to pull the tape on its head, how to tie the tape under its chin, and how to put on the pad before putting on the saddle, how to tie the tape on its chest and stomach. It looks not difficult at all. O'Neill slowly showed me his every action, then untied all of them, asked me to try.

Fine, I'll try.

I picked up the horse bit, wanted to put it into horse's mouth. But what happened? The obedient horse of O'Neill , when I get close to it, it shakes its head and begins to move back. I looked at O'Neill with my suspicious eyes, but he just smiled.

I snapped my fingers. Didn't Sanson say that we have to let the horse know its master?

"Well, anyway, I have to ride you. If you resist less, the two of us can have a more pleasant relationship. Understand?"

O'Neill watched my serious face, and began to laugh. I grunted, then use my arms to entangle the horse's neck.

"Ahh!"

I grabbed the horse's neck tightly under my arm, and then used another hand to push the bit into its mouth, O'Neill saw this and made a fainting expression. The horse also wants to resist, but what am I wearing on my hands? Aren't they OPG? I continued to push the bit into the proper position, and then tied the tape on it. Then I moved back a little, in order to let it see that I want to put the saddle on its back.

"Come, now should be its turn. If you dare to resist, I'll make you kneel before I tie it. Understand?"

The horse didn't even give a glance to my words, directly ran away. Gosh, I'm going crazy.

※ ※ ※

After some wrestling, the horse seems to know that I am its master. Of course, before that I suffered a lot. I got kicked by the horse's hind legs several times, I also kicked the horse several times. O'Neill nodded and said:

"The is the first time I see such a matching horse and master."

Anyway, now it stands obediently, allows me to tie the things on it. Let it bite the horse bit, tie the tape on its head, then the chin. Put on the pad, then the saddle. Then tighten the tape on the stomach and chest properly. It's very difficult to do it 'properly'. I asked O'Neill how tight should it be, but he said just properly tight, I really don't get him. But in fact, after thinking carefully, if someone ask me what level of fire should they use to cook the candle wax, I will probably also can only answer him 'proper level'.

"Can I ride it now?"

I've learned how to equip the harness, and it's already afternoon. However because we have to depart tomorrow, so I don't have any other time. O'Neill guided me how to climb on the saddle. This guy is now very obedient, so it's very simple to learn that.

O'Neill tied a long rope on the horse bit, then asked me to try to run.

"Hey, you have tied up the horse, how do we run?"

"Circles."

So the horse and I make O'Neill as the center, began to circle. So I am not learning how to manipulate the horse, but how to stay on a horse. I said that, O'Neill nodded.

"Ah. It's better for you to start from learning how to not fall from a horse."

Then O'Neill suddenly issued some kind of instructions. Although I don't understand what he said, the horse immediately began getting faster and faster, and I immediately got shaken faster and faster. I am very afraid, so I released the rein, grabbed the horse neck. O'Neill couldn't take this and said:

"Harden your legs, relax your upper body, and gently shake."

Harden my legs? Relax my upper body and gently shake? I straightened my waist up, my feet began to step on stirrup heavily. It feels more comfortable, but now I look like a scarecrow, seems to make O'Neill want to laugh.

Anyway, after I fell down two or three times, I finally realized the trick. I must make the impact on my foot disappear at my waist. So the important parts are my feet stepping on the stirrups and my knees, they must move gently and rhythmically.

Once I got to such a degree, O'Neill began to teach me about the rein. This is very simple. Just pull the rein in the direction to go, and then give the horse a little signal with heel. If you want to stop, just move the center of gravity backward, then pull the rein up. If you want to speed up, move the center of gravity moved forward, then kick the horse's stomach with the stirrup.

Don't know if O'Neill has decided to make me a crash course, I've ran like this for a hour, he did't even let me take a rest, and finally untied the rope and let me casually ran. Once the rope was untied, the horse seemed to restore its nature, (Frankly it's that I was just sitting on the horseback, and what the horse did, was completely out of my hand) began desperately resisting. In order to make it know that resistance is useless, I kicked its stomach heavily.

Gosh! The horse suddenly gone mad, and began to rush. Oh right, kicking the horse means Go! Then what means Stop? I don't know what to do! Although I finally found ways to make it stop, once the horse stopped, my whole body flew forward.

 "Uhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

※

Late in the afternoon, Sanson who came to watch my progress shook his head.

"Did you fight with the horse?"

I nodded, Sanson showed a even more surprised face. O'Neill told him to see the horse I rode. The entire horse body is smoking bubble-like sweat, it's panting. Sanson is surprised and widen his mouth:

"Then make its name Jamini!"

Horse and I glared at each other with abominated eyes, while O'Neill and Saon is mutually patting their shoulders and laughing.

Chapter One: Riding Towards the Dawn (Pt.21)

"Ha? Really?"

I even forgot the method of controlling my strength that I risked my life to practice, happily jumped and got my head hit by the ceiling. Gosh, my head. The place got hit yesterday got hit again, that really hurts. The soldier who talked to me looked at me with surprised eyes, and Karl laughed.

The soldier slowly said to me:

"Ah. Mr. Nedval, the thane and Earl Huritchell's troops were all captured by the goblins. I pretended to be dead, so I didn't get caught. Then a goblin came to stab the corpses to verify whether the people had died, it came to my side, and I struck it with all my strength, then finally managed to escape. "

I was too happy, and I even forgot the pain of my head. I kept saying all kinds of blessings to soldier, like becoming a billionaire no matter what kind of career, getting a super beautiful wife, the next eight generations will be wealthy and healthy etc. The soldier is laughing, and asked me:

"Hey, why can you jump so high?"

"If you can not to flatter girls who are your enemies, you will become like me!"

After the words that no one could understand, I was too happy, so began shrieking some strange noises, ran out of the hall.

On the next day after Sanson arrived, I heard this news from a escaped soldiers. Really very happy! Dad surely knows how to strain on the battlefield. I am hopping around, sometimes doing some flips, which makes the passing people think this guy is 100% crazy.

When I was lying in the middle of the training ground and smiling at the sky, Sanson ran over. Sanson had removed his dirty armor which was full of the dust and blood and put on clean clothes. I wanted to speak to Sanson, but he spoke first with a smile:

"I also heard that. On the way I saw that you were simply crazy, so I asked someone what happned. It's great, Huchi."

"Yeah! My father doesn't know anything, even doesn't know how to die."

"....Can it be considered as a compliment?"

"By the way where are you going? Why don't you take a rest, but instead even wore these formal clothes."

"I'm going to some local families, informing them that their family was killed, this is my mission."

This moment, I suddenly felt very guilty for my happiness just now. The war dead's houses will soon become scenes of tears. Sanson saw my sorry face, smiled at me and said:

"In fact, you have nothing guilty. Your happiness is exactly the same as the sadness of the families, are a matter of course."

"But... This seems that I only care about myself."

"Seeing you got happy to such a degree, that could be right too. If you still feel guilty, go to help Tyburn. I heard that you have became his assistant?"

"Okay."

Tyburn in the hall is busy taking care of the soldiers, but just like Karl said, the soldiers were able to come here then their injuries can't be too serious. Most of them are just with minor injuries, in fact, the bigger problem is that they are exhausted. They were constantly attacked by monsters in the process of fleeing, so they are extremely tired after arriving here.

Tyburn has handled several critical injuries, now he is just sitting on a chair and commanding the maids. I am commanded by Tyburn, transporting the injured soldiers to their home.

Sanson met me on the way to the village, he made a surprised expression on my strength. I am briskly pulling the cart loaded with wounded, Sanson grabbed the car and is running at the back.

"Wow, you say this is OPG? Really incredible!"

"So now I am finally similar to you. Because I have got the power of an ogre."

"What did you say! You! Your wicked mouth is still the same."

On the way sending these soldiers back to home, each of them showed a happy face. In the village, when I put them down in front of the door of their house, looked at the tears of their family members, and I felt that I was almost going to cry too. The cart I am pulling is loaded with joy. Once the villager saw me pulling the cart, they would cheer for the people above. Oh! You came back alive. All thanks to everyone's blessing, sorry for letting you worry. Cray! You came back! Oh, Diane!

I looked at a smooching couple and almost laughed out happily. This is really a happy job.

However, sometimes Sanson stopped at the doors of the homes of the war dead, went inside to convey the bad news, I really couldn't bear to watch that scene. Men handshake with Sanson with a stiff expression and say thank you,  and women clutch Sanson and cry loudly. Whenever this happened, Sanson could only motionlessly look at the sky. Tears dropped from his eyes, the cheeks of the soldiers and me are also moistened by tears.

"Hey, don't worry about it!"

"I say sit!"

We've been to the entire village, sent all the soldiers back, then I forced Sanson to sit on the cart. Sanson refused, but only carrying one person back to castle is fine for me, so he finally couldn't refuse my strong request, laughed and sat on the cart.

"Alright! Let's go!"

"Wow!"

I began to run with the speed that almost overturned the cart. Behind me is Sanson's scream.

"Cart, the cart will be entirely destroyed! You! I don't want to die here!"

"What did you say? Because it's still too slow so you are deadly bored? Charge!"

"Wow Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

I wanted to make Sanson happy, but he seems to be scared. Once we arrived the castle, where he rolled down the cart, he ran away without looking back. I looked at his back and laughed.

※

I laughed for a while, then put the cart to a side, again walked into the hall. This is in order to see if anyone had turned better. But I don't see Tyburn sitting in the hall. Karl is not here too. I don't know why, so I ran to find deacon Hamel.

"Ehh, Mr. deacon, where did Tyburn go? "

"Ah, Huchi you are back? Great. Come with me."

"Huh?"

"We are waiting for you. Hurry."

※ ※ ※

Surprisingly, after sending the wounded back, deacon Hamel directly brought me to the thane's office in the end on the first floor. I've lived so long, but I've never came in to see for even once. On the right side of the corridor, weapons hanging on the wall are flashing with the sunlight reflection, on the left side that sunlight can't shed, several portraits are hung there. I guess in the pictures are the ancestors of the thane. Hanging there probably is to prevent sunlight from damaging the color! I was thinking this kind of things, while moving forward.

Deacon Hamel proficiently opened the huge wooden door and went inside, I pouted and followed him.

I looked around the room, immediately sighed. It's almost empty. It's surrounded by straight stone walls, there are only a few desks, tables, a few chairs and some bookcases like furnitures. Sword with shield hung above the fireplace look like the only ornaments. I know our thane is very poor, but is this even an office of a thane?

There is a table near the huge window, Tyburn, Sanson and Karl are sitting there waiting for us. I don't know what is happening, so I am just standing, but Karl immediately told me to sit down.

"Nedval, come here and sit. Mr deacon?"

Deacon Hamel also sat down. The five men sitting around the table, Sanson and I don't know the reason for coming here, so we are a confused look. Deacon Hamel is a worried expression. But Tyburn and Karl have no special expression.

Deacon Hamel began.

"Now I speak in the identity of the thane's deputy..... Young master Karl? You really don't want to be the thane's deputy?"

Sanson's face changed instantly, became very surprised, but I just nodded.

Why Karl dares to stay in the forest of the thane, live in it leisurely and comfortably? Because his name is Karl Heltant. He is the younger brother of Thane Haltent. In the village, except me, only a few people know.

Karl shook his head.

"I don't have a qualification, I have never helped my brother, and just living a lazy life in the forest. And I have said several times, I don't want to take my brother's seat when he's not here.

Although deacon Hamel showed a face of regret, he didn't continue to push. Sanson is gazing at Karl if an unbelievable expression. then hurriedly looked somewhere else. Deacon Hamel said:

"Well, Guard Captain Sanson Percival!"

"Yes Sir!"

"In order to report on the status of the Heltant Fief and the defeat of The Ninth Amurtaat Crusade, and to  request assistance from the King His Majesty, we must send someone to the capital Vyseus Impel. Understand?"

Young master Karl Heltant will be going to the capital. But we need guards here, you should also know that most of the soldiers in the town are injured, into the late autumn, if the monsters found that the guards are weakened, they must desperately attack, that's within our expectation. So we can't send too many people to escort young master. Young master said he wants to go to the capital on his own, but that is simply outrageous. In this season how can you reach the capital by one person? Therefore, I hope you , together with another person to go with him."

Together with another person. Sitting here right now, the only one who is unnecessary here is...