Chapter 4

“Well, we meet again this year. Have you been well?” “…Happy birthday to you.” “Happy birthday!” “I just made a wish while blowing out the candle. I did it properly this time. Before any mean person like you could come and blow it out.” “Ahem, hem. Is it the same wish as last year?” “Yes.” The small girl’s brightly smiling face was the same as last year. Everything else was the same, too. Countless scars. The old, long-stained clothes, all those shabby things. “I see… But you know what? Heaven doesn’t grant wishes easily. It’s never granted my wishes even once.” Pechenik spoke rather unkindly. It seemed like he was speaking for heaven to hear. “But… I hope your wish comes true.” He smiled, wishing her luck. His smile looked quite bitter. Another year passed. Erica turned nine years old. This year, there was no birthday party for Pechenik. Instead, Pechenik visited Count Hereis’s manor dressed as a traveler. “My, since you’ve come, at least stay for a meal.” “The shorter the farewell, the better.” He had been personally visiting the manors of his close knight comrades to say goodbye, and the Count Hereis’s manor was the last. The Imperial Capital’s social circles had been abuzz. ‘Sir Pechenik has laid down the glory of the Teneuarha.’ Not only the nobles, but even the street storytellers were talking about it in surprise. “You look bored. It’s not like you, who was always cheerful.” “Well, even all glory must come to an end.” “What on earth has made you so disillusioned?” “The blade has dulled. I simply thought the sword protecting the Imperial Castle should be younger.” “It seems you have no intention of telling me properly.” Pechenik had retired from the Imperial Knights. He was a Swordmaster who could be counted on one hand across the entire continent. Such a nonsensical excuse about his sword being dulled wouldn’t work on Count Hereis, who had crossed swords with him daily. Pechenik even relinquished his noble title without hesitation. As he had no family, it would only be an obstacle to his future freedom. “What will you do now?” “Why so curious about someone retiring to the countryside? Step aside, I’m leaving now.” “Can’t you at least tell me where you’re going?” “I told you I’m going to my hometown. To the southern region.” “The southern Empire is so vast and far, even to reach the nearest part from here would take a good month on horseback.” “I haven’t decided yet. Whether to go to the Maritime Alliance Duchy or Dangters. But I should probably go see the sea first, right?” Pechenik pulled down his wide-brimmed hat and tightened his long brown robe. The commoner’s clothes didn’t look out of place on him. Thinking about wearing them to his heart’s content from now on, they felt as comfortable as tailored clothes. He would no longer have occasion to wear the glorious uniform of the Teneuarha. “I’d like to give you some travel money, but you’re so wealthy I have nothing to give.” “If it’s a farewell gift, I already stole something from the garden earlier.” “Oh?” “It must be something very trivial and insignificant for the Count’s manor, so I’ll take it with me.” “…Well, alright. Do as you wish. I’m glad there was something you wanted.” Pechenik had never wanted the dirty little maid. He simply didn’t deny it because he had indeed made up his mind to take her out of the Count’s manor. He climbed into the carriage. Count and Countess Hereis saw him off. “Farewell. I’ll look forward to the day we meet again.” “Yes. If I come across an unbearably interesting story while wandering the Empire, I’ll come to tell you.” “Sounds like you’ll be back soon then.” Pechenik laughed heartily, and the coachman whipped the horses. Finally, the carriage departed. A line of carriages loaded with luggage followed behind. From the second luggage cart, a girl peeked out her eyes, parting the straw. White skin covered in ashes. It was Erica. “Do you still want to leave the Count’s manor?” “Yes.” “Then will you come with me?” “Yes.” She didn’t ask where they were going. She just quickly ran and hid in the luggage cart Pechenik’s finger pointed to, afraid he might change his mind. And a moment later, something truly unbelievable happened. Clop-clop, clop-clop, clop-clop… They were leaving the Count’s manor. For real. It might be a dream. Erica blinked as she watched the huge Count’s manor receding into the distance. Her body stiffened. As it was her first time riding in a carriage, she thought crouching in the luggage compartment was one of the normal ways to ride. After traveling for quite some time, the carriage stopped. “Take my hand and come over here.” Only after taking Pechenik’s outstretched hand and climbing out of the luggage compartment did she realize it wasn’t a place for people to ride. A cozy carriage compartment. The child carefully sat down opposite Pechenik. Though the seat was spacious, she still hunched her shoulders to take up as little space as possible. Despite the comfortable cushions on the long-distance carriage seats, she couldn’t relax at all. Would she no longer be beaten by the Countess or bullied by the manor staff? But she felt lost about how to live from now on. How far would he take her? Where would he drop her off? As Erica fidgeted, twiddling her fingers nervously, Pechenik spoke up. “No need to be tense. You’re no longer a maid.” “…” She couldn’t say that she had never actually been a maid since birth. If he found out she was the illegitimate child of Count Hereis, he might be shocked and abandon her. So she didn’t bother to correct the misunderstanding by speaking the truth. “I’ve brought you along, but I don’t intend to make you my adopted daughter.” “…!” At the word ‘daughter’, Erica, startled, waved her hands frantically. “I’ll work hard if you give me chores. Even menial tasks are fine.” “I told you, I didn’t bring you to use as a maid.” “Th-then why?” Pechenik crossed his legs and rested his chin on his hand by the window. His gaze swept over Erica indifferently. She was thin, but her frame was sturdy. Her skeletal balance was excellent. “I thought I might get bored, so I’m thinking of taking on a disciple.” “What…?” Erica looked around in confusion, craning her neck. There was no one else in the carriage but the two of them. Then that disciple he mentioned- “M-m-me?” Pechenik was a knight. Could he possibly mean to teach me the sword! Me! Erica’s pupils trembled aimlessly before she looked down at her hands. “You’re going to teach me the sword?” Erica didn’t know, but Pechenik was one of the most outstanding figures even among the Teneuarha. He had been the sword protecting the Imperial Grandson of the great Millennium Empire, and a Swordmaster counted on one hand across the continent. Would there be anyone in the world who would pass up the glorious opportunity to be taught by him? “Is that an expression of dislike?” “No! It’s an expression of liking it, I want to do it!” Erica clenched her fists with both hands. Even so, they were only as big as a chick’s. “Good, I like that look in your eyes.” Though her fists were tiny, for a powerless maid who had only been bullied at the Count’s manor, that spirit was quite extraordinary. There must be something innate about it. Pechenik suddenly wondered what kind of people the girl’s parents were. But he didn’t bother to ask. Parents who would sell their young child as a maid to the Count’s manor were obvious without even seeing them. “From now on, call me Master.” “Master!” “Hmm, you’re not shy at all?” “What should I be shy about?” “…Usually, when someone becomes my disciple, they’re so moved they don’t know what to do, and then shyly manage to call me Master.” “…” Erica fidgeted with her fingers. She lowered her gaze, then peeked up at Pechenik. “M…” “…” “M… Ma…” “…” “…Master!” “…” She tried her best to call him shyly as Pechenik had explained. Seemingly more taken aback by Erica’s sudden act, Pechenik just burst out laughing.