Setelah Sera pergi ke hutan barat, Ryo tak lagi sejak diri sendiri.
Bukan berarti ia dudak-dudak di suatu tempat dan tidak melakukan apa-apa se seluruhnya.
Namun...jika dibandingkan dengan dulu....
Ia bangun sebelum matahari terbit.
Menyilang keras tubuhnya selama tiga puluh menit.
Kemudian ia lari ke luar tembok kota Rune, membuat Menara Tokyo yang sangat kecil dengan es di kedua tangannya, kedua kakinya, dan bahkan di bahu-bahunya.
Makan paginya lalu munkinkan alkimianya sampai tengah hari.
Semasa itu, kadang-kadang Sera datang dan membaca buku di ruang tamu.
Rak buku
Pada waktu makan siang, mereka sering makan bersama di sekitar gerbang timur, terutama di Houshoku-tei.
Setelah itu, mereka biasanya bertanding senam di istana lord.
Hari-harinya biasanya berlalu seperti ini, namun dengan Sera sudah pergi,
u2018Semasa itu, Sera kadang-kadang datang dan meminjam buku di ruang tamu.u2019
u2018Pada waktu makan siang, mereka sering makan bersama di sekitar gerbang timur, terutama di Kagutei.u2019
u2018Setelah itu, mereka biasanya bertanding senam di istana lord.u2019
Semua hal itu tak terjadi lagi.
Ia hanya tak tahu apa yang harus dilakukan lagi.
Orang-orang yang tak tahu apa yang harus dilakukan atau belum menemukan apa yang ingin dilakukan adalah gangguan bagi orang-orang di sekitarnya....
u2018Aku terlalu mengantuk...u2019
u2018Kenapa harus datang ke kamarku untuk mengatakan hal itu?u2019
Ini adalah kantor lama lord di rumah Rune.
Kini, kantor dan kamar tidur lord telah beralih ke aneks, dan kini menjadi kantor dan kamar tidur calon raja berikutnya.
Tentu saja, Abel tidak merebutnya secara paksa, melainkan karena saran dari Count Rune.
Di kantor calon raja yang sibuk menulis, ia sedang sibuk menulis.
Ia sedang menulis untuk menjalin hubungan dengan para lord di berbagai wilayah dan negara tetangga.
Ada banyak hal yang harus diselesaikan sebelum naik tahta.
Tentu saja, setelah ia menjadi raja, ia masih harus menulis hal-hal serupa....
Di kantor yang sibuk, seorang penyihir atribut air sedang bersoah.
u2018Aku hanya sedang mengisi kembali energiku, jangan mengganggu aku, Yang Mulia, calon raja.u2019
u2018Aku tidak tahu apa yang kamu maksud dengan u2018mengisi energiu2019 atau apapun, tapi jelas bagiku bahwa kamu sedang main-main. Aku tidak tahu mengapa kamu harus lakukan di sini, di ruangan ini...u2019
Ryo mengangguk bahu...seolah-olah ingin mengatakan, u2018wah, kamu bahkan tidak bisa memikirkan hal-hal sepele tanpa kamu katakan secara lisan.u2019
Tentu saja, Abel tidak sabar.
u2018Aku juga sedang bekerja dengan sungguh-sungguh, kamu tahu!u2019
u2018Aku sedang berusaha keras untuk menggangguimu, karena aku ingin kamu menjadi seorang raja yang kuat yang tidak akan membiarkan rintangan di sekitarnya mengganggu jalannya, Abel.u2019
u2018Wah, jadi kamu sadar bahwa kamu sedang menggangguku...u2019
Dengan demikian, Abel bertekat untuk dilatih setiap hari agar bisa menjadi seorang raja yang kuat.
Secara paksa, tentu saja....
u2018Serius...aku pikir cara tercepat adalah pergi ke ibu kota, membekukan seluruh pasukan kekaisaran, dan selesai.u2019
Ryo mengusulkan hal itu di bawah kendanaan monolog.
u2018Hey Ryo, sudah kubilang beberapa kali, JANGAN LAKUKAN ITU!u2019
Calon raja berusaha dengan giat untuk menghentikannya.
Ia selalu tampak kesulitan.
u2018Kami sudah jauh melewati titik di mana membunuh seluruh pasukan musuh adalah akhir dari segalanya. Fakta bahwa semua bangsawan utara telah mengkhianati kita berarti bahwa pamanku, Duke Flitwick...pasti ada di balik ini. Suatu hari, ia akan menjatakan pengucapan untuk naik tahta di ibu kota. Kita harus menghancurkan Kekaisaran dan pengaruhnya sekaligus mengambil kembali Kerajaan ini dari genggaman tangannya, jika tidak, negeri ini tidak akan pulih.u2019
u2018Wah, sepertinya...itu bukan hal yang menyenangkan untuk melihat negara kehilangan. Ini hanyalah gangguan bagiku, rakyat Kerajaan.u2019
Ryo mengangguk beberapa kali sambil berkata hal itu.
u2018-Yeah...aku minta maaf.u2019
Abel memang tidak bersalah sama sekali, namun Ryo entah mengapa memberikan kesan ingin minta maaf.
Saat itu, ada ketukan pada pintu.
u2018Masuk.u2019
Saat Abel berkata hal itu, pintu terbuka dan seorang pemuda masuk.
u2018Permisi, Master Abel.u2019
u2018Oh, Sir Alfonso, ada yang bisa aku bantu?u2019
u2018Sebenarnya, si lord ingin bertemu dengan Sir Ryo.... Jika tidak keberatan, bisakah kamu mengikutiku ke aneks?u2019
Di sebelah akhir, ia berbalik ke Ryo sambil berkata.
u2018Uh, tentu saja aku ada. Silakan bawa aku.u2019
Ryo berkata dan pergi bersama Sir Alfonso.
u2018Aku belum pernah kesempatan untuk memperkenalkan diri kepadamu, Sir Ryo. Aku Alfonso Spinazola.u2019
u2018Oh, aku Ryo. Spinazola, kamu tidak maksud...u2019
u2018Ya, aku cucu dari si lord saat ini.u2019
u2018Oh, orang yang bahu Sera...u2019
Setelah mengatakan begitu banyak, Ryo buru-buru berhenti mengatakannya. Ia memang sudah menyadari bahwa ia telah berkata sesuatu yang tidak sopan.
Wajah Alfonso memerah dan ia menjadi seorang pemuda yang tidak bisa tidak menyadari betapa memalukannya masa lalunya.
u2018Ya, buktonya cerita yang memalukan.u2019
Mereka berjalan diam-diam untuk sementara, lalu Alfonso membuka mulutnya.
u2018Seringkali aku menyaksikan pertarungan senam antara Sir Ryo dan Instruktur Sera. Sungguh luar biasa.u2019
u2018Oh, bukan begitu...u2019
Ryo tidak terbiasa dengan pujian yang diberikan langsung kepadanya.
u2018Jadi...aku bertanya, bisakah kamu memberi kami dan para ksatria pelatihan dari waktu ke waktu?u2019
u2018Ampun...?u2019
u2018Instruktur Sera, yang melatihku, juga merupakan salah satu dua instruktur bela diri, telah pergi ke hutan barat...di samping itu, pertempuran senam tengah hari antara kalian berdua pun tak terjadi lagi, dan sekarang semangat para ksatria terus-menerus menurun. Aku juga telah membahas hal ini dengan Kapten Ksatria Neville Black, dan ia setuju dengan syarat kamu setuju, Sir Ryo. Jadi, apa pendapatmu?u2019
Ia benar-benar tidak bisa percaya dimintai untuk menggantikan Sera.
u2018Dengar...aku tidak pernah dilatih secara formal dalam senam...u2019
u2018Bela diri dasar diajar oleh instruktur lain, Max Doyle. Gaya pedang Hume dari ibu kota. Para Ksatria Rune dilatih dengan cara Doyle mengajarkan dasar-dasar dan aplikasinya, dan Instruktur Sera yang menghukum mereka.u2019
u2018Menghukum...?u2019
Ryo mengulangi penjelasan Alfonso.
u2018Maksudku, dia pasti memberi sedikit kesempatan agar mereka tidak terlalu terluka. Namun, ksatria selalu memberikan segalanya dan tetap jauh dari bisa bersaing. Karena adanya individu yang luar biasa ini yang tersedia untuk mereka, melatih mereka, juga berkontribuisi pada semangat tinggi mereka. Jadi, inilah intinya, Sir Ryo, tolong pertimbangkan.u2019
Alfonso berhenti dan membungkuk kepalanya.
Di cara ini, ia adalah seorang pemuda yang cukup baik.
Susah untuk dipercaya bahwa ia pernah terjebak dalam dorongan nafsu dan mencoba mendorong dirinya ke Sera...meskipun mungkin juga ia telah ditendang kembali dengan serangan berapi-api pada saat itu.
u2018Aku mengerti. Jika hanya sesekali...u2019
u2018Terima kasih banyak!u2019
Ryo menyetujuinya, dan Alfonso kembali membungkuk sambil tersenyum lega.
Itu adalah momen saat Ryo menemukan sesuatu untuk dilakukan.
Kamar tidur baru yang baru dipindahkan milik lord.
Ketika Alfonso dan Ryo memasuki, mereka menemukan Count Rune duduk di tempat tidurnya, menulis sesuatu, persis seperti yang telah mereka lihat sebelumnya.
u2018Oh, Ryo, maaf mengganggu.u2019
u2018Tidak ada masalah. Kamu ingin bertemu denganku.u2019
u2018-Yeah. Aku ingin bertanya beberapa hal padamu.u2019
Count perbatasan menaruh tangan di dagunya.
Ia tampaknya sedang memikirkan urutan untuk memulai percakapan.
u2018-My lord,permisi sudah mengganggu.u2019
Alfonso berkata. Sepertinya ia harus memanggilnya u2018lordu2019, bukan u2018kakeku2019 atau u2018kakek neneku2019.
Sepertinya keluarga lord itu juga memiliki masalahnya sendiri.
u2018Hmm?u2019
u2018Aku baru saja meminta Sir Ryo untuk memberi kami dan para ksatria pelatihan, dan ia menyetujuinya.u2019
u2018Baiklah! Aku senang mendengarnya.u2019
Count perbatasan kelihatan senang mendengar laporan Alfonso.
Sepertinya ini adalah salah satu dari u2018beberapa halu2019 yang ingin ia minta.
Setelah mengangguk beberapa kali, ia mulai.
u2018Sebenarnya, aku ingin meminta kamu untuk menjaga Master Abel, Ryo.u2019
u2018Menjaga Abel?u2019
Abel adalah petualang kelas A dan seorang pendekar pedang unggul.
Ia tidak melihat sebab untuk menambahkan tim pengawal bahkan jika diperlukan....
u2018Ya. Master Abel adalah calon raja. Karena Putra Mahkota Cain telah meninggal, cukup jelas.... Tapi tidak semua orang menyambutnya dengan senang hati.u2019
u2018Benar...Flitwick...uncle Abel.u2019
Telinga Ryo mas masih belum terbiasa dengan kata itu, Duke of Flitwick, sebenarnya.
u2018Benar. Ia tanpa keraguan akan menggunakan segala cara ◊ ◊ (Lanjutkan membaca) untuk membunuh Master Abel.u2019
u2018Dan aku ingin kamu mencegah hal itu terjadi. Tidak masalah, tapi apakah kamu yakin harus meminta aku untuk ini...mengapa tidak para Kingsguard atau sesuatu saja untuk hal ini...u2019
u2018Tentu saja, saat dia memasuki istana kratanya...tapi sejujurnya, aku merasa lebih aman mempercayai para pengawal kepada para petualang hingga ia terbiasa dengan u2018Rajau2019, ini juga akan menstabilkan pikiran Master Abel.u2019
Count perbatasan tersenyum sambil berkata hal ini.
Ia tampaknya memiliki pikiran yang lebih fleksibel dari yang Ryo bayangkan.
u2018Tidak terlalu menggila, kan? Seorang raja yang disukai oleh rakyat, para petualang, dan tentu saja, para ksatria.... Seorang raja yang tidak hanya ditakuti tetapi juga disukai. Apalagi seseorang yang naik ke kelas A sebagai u2018Petualang Abelu2019, yang sangat populer di kalangan warga kota Rune. Aku sangat ingin melihat Yang Mulia dalam kondisi seperti itu.u2019
Tersenyumnya Count perbatasan bersinar ketika ia berkata hal itu.
Sehingga membuat Ryo ingin tua di tempat yang sama.
u2018Kontinyu, tiga anggota dari u2018Pedang Berkibaru2019 juga akan dimasukkan dalam detail ketika
After Sera left for the western forest, Ryo became a mere shadow of himself.
It’s not like he sat idly in one place and did nothing all day, or anything like that.
Nonetheless...if it was before....
He wakes up before the sun rises.
Stretches for a solid thirty minutes.
Then runs outside the walls of Rune city, generating a minuscule Tokyo Tower with ice on both hands, both feet, and both shoulders.
He has breakfast and works on his alchemy until noon.
During which, Sera sometimes comes over and reads a book in the living room.
Bookshelves
Come lunchtime, they often eat together at restaurants around the east gate, mainly at Houshoku-tei.
Afterwards, they usually have a mock battle at the lord’s mansion.
The day used to go by like this, but with Sera gone,
‘During which, Sera sometimes comes over and reads a book in the living room.’
‘Come lunchtime, they often eat together at restaurants around the east gate, mainly at Kagutei.’
‘Afterwards, they usually have a mock battle at the lord’s mansion.’
All of these were no more.
He simply doesn’t know what to do anymore.
People who don’t know what to do or haven’t found what they want to do become a nuisance that messes with the people around them....
“I’m feeling sleepy...”
“Why bother coming to my room to tell me that?”
This is the lord’s former office in the Rune mansion.
Now, the lord’s office and the adjoining bedroom have been moved to the annex, and is now the office and bedroom of the next king-to-be.
Of course, Abel did not forcefully seize it, but rather at the suggestion of Count Rune.
In the office of the king-to-be, Abel was busy writing.
He was writing to liaise with the lords of various regions and neighboring countries.
There were quite a few things that ought to be done before ascending the throne.
Of course, after he becomes king, he would still have to issue similar writings....
In the office of the king-to-be, who seemed to be very busy, the water attribute magician was goofing around.
“I’m just recharging my mind, please don’t mind me, your majesty, king-to-be.”
“I don’t know what you mean by recharging or whatnot, but...it’s clear to me that you’re goofing off. I just don’t know why you chose to do it here, in this room...”
“That’s because the people in the other rooms are taking their jobs awfully seriously and...I just don’t want to disturb them.”
Ryo shrugged his shoulders...as if to say, sheesh, you can’t even figure out something so trivial unless I say it out loud.
Needless to say, Abel was irritated.
“I’m taking my job awfully seriously, too, can’t you see that?”
“I’m tearily trying to get in your way, because I want you to become a powerful king who won’t let the obstacles around him get in his way, Abel.”
“Wow, so you do realize you’re getting in my way...”
Thus, Abel was to train daily so that he could become a powerful king.
Against his will, obviously....
“Honestly...I think the quickest way is to head to the royal capital, freeze the entire goddamn imperial troops and get this over with.”
Ryo gave such a suggestion under the guise of a monologue.
“Hey Ryo, I’ve said this several times, but DO NOT do that! ”
The king-to-be desperately tried to stop him.
He always seems to have a hard time.
“We are long past the point where killing all the enemy troops would be the end of it. The fact that all the northern nobles have betrayed us means that my uncle, the Duke of Flitwick...is definitely behind this. He will eventually announce his accession to the throne in the royal capital. We need to eliminate the Empire and its influence while taking the Kingdom back from his grasp, otherwise, the country will not be restored.”
“Good grief...it’s not exactly thrilling to see the country lose. It’s nothing but a nuisance to us, the people of the Kingdom.”
Ryo slightly shook his head several times as he said this.
“Y-Yeah...I’m, sorry.”
Abel was not at all responsible for this, but Ryo was somehow giving off a vibe that made him feel like apologizing.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
As Abel said this, the door opened and a young man entered.
“Excuse me, Master Abel.”
“Oh Sir Alfonso, how can I help you?”
“Actually, the lord would like to speak with Sir Ryo.... If it’s all right, could you please come with me to the annex?”
In the latter half, he turned to Ryo as he spoke.
“Uh, sure, I am free. Lead the way.”
Ryo said and walked away with Sir Alfonso.
“I don’t think I’ve had the chance to properly introduce myself to you, Sir Ryo. I am Alfonso Spinazola.”
“Oh, I’m Ryo. Spinazola, you don’t mean...”
“Yes, I am the grandson of the current lord.”
“Oh, the one whose shoulder Sera...”
After saying that much, Ryo hurriedly stopped talking. He was indeed aware that he had said something rude.
Alfonso’s face turned red and he became a young man who couldn’t help but be made aware of how embarrassing his past was.
“Yeah, quite an embarrassing story.”
They walked in silence for a while, and then Alfonso opened his mouth.
“I often watch the mock battle between Sir Ryo and Instructor Sera. It’s nothing short of amazing.”
“Oh, it’s not that...”
Ryo wasn’t accustomed to being praised to his face.
“So...I was wondering if you could give me and the knights some training from time to time.”
“Pardon?”
“Instructor Sera, who trained me, and also happens to be one of the two swordsmanship instructors, has gone off to the western forest...moreover, the regular mock battles at noon between the two of you are no more, and now the morale of the knights continue to drop. I have also discussed this matter with Knight-Captain Neville Black, and he has given his go-ahead as long as you’re okay with it, Sir Ryo. So what do you think?”
He couldn’t believe he was being asked to take over for Sera.
“Listen...I didn’t receive formal training in swordsmanship, so...”
“Basic swordsmanship is taught by the other instructor, Max Doyle. The Hume sword style from the royal capital. The Rune Knights are trained in a manner where Doyle would train them in the basics and applications, and Instructor Sera would beat them up.”
“Beat them up...”
Ryo muttered to Alfonso’s explanation.
“I mean, she always go easy on them so that they don’t get hurt, obviously. Yet the knights always give their all and still end up being far from measuring up, now the fact that this incredible individual was available to them, training them up, also contributed to their high morale. So, that’s the gist of it, Sir Ryo, please give it some thought.”
Alfonso stopped and bowed his head.
In this way, he’s a fairly decent young man.
It is hard to believe that he was overcome with lust and tried to push himself onto Sera...then again, it is also likely that he was beaten back into shape by the fierce counterattack at that time.
“I understand. If it’s just occasionally...”
“Thank you very much!”
Ryo accepted, and Alfonso bowed again, looking pleased.
That was the moment when Ryo found something to do.
The lord’s newly shifted bedroom.
When Alfonso and Ryo entered, they found Count Rune sitting on his bed, writing something, just as they had seen him before.
“Oh, Ryo, sorry to bother you.”
“Not at all. You wanted to see me.”
“Yeah. I have a few things I want to ask of you.”
The frontier Count put his hand on his chin.
He seemed to be thinking about the order in which to start the conversation.
“My lord, excuse me for cutting in.”
Alfonso said. It would seem that he’s forced to address him as ‘lord’, not ‘Grandfather’ or ‘Grandpa’.
Looks like the lord’s family has their fair share of troubles.
“Hmm?”
“I have just asked Sir Ryo to give me and the knights some training sessions, and he accepted.”
“I see! Glad to hear it.”
The frontier Count sounded pleased with Alfonso’s report.
It seems that this was one of the ‘things’ he wanted to ask for.
And after nodding a few times, he began.
“Actually, I would like to request you to guard Master Abel, Ryo.”
“Guard Abel?”
Abel is an A-rank adventurer and a top-notch swordsman.
He saw no reason to attach a guard detail even if there’s a need to....
“Yes. Master Abel is the next King. Since Crown Prince Cain has passed away, it is fairly certain.... But some will not take kindly to that.”
“Right...Flitta...Abel’s uncle.”
Ryo’s ears were still not accustomed to the word, Duke of Flitwick, apparently.
“That’s right. He will without a doubt resort to any number of means ◈ ◈ (Continue reading) to take Master Abel’s life.”
“And you want me to prevent that from happening. It’s all good, but are you sure you should be asking me...why not the so-called Kingsguard or something for this...”
“Sure, once he enters the royal palace...but honestly, somehow, I feel that it is better to trust him with adventurers until he gets used to being ‘King’, this will also stabilize Master Abel mentally.”
The frontier Count smiled as he said this.
He seemed to have a more flexible mind than Ryo had imagined.
“Doesn’t it sound ideal? A king who is well-liked by the common people, adventurers, and of course, knights.... A king who is not only feared but also favored. All the more reason for someone who rose to A-rank as ‘Adventurer Abel’, and is very popular with the people in Rune city. I would very much like to see his majesty in such a fashion.”
The smile on the frontier Count’s face was radiant as he said this.
So much so that it made Ryo wish to grow old in the same manner.
“Needless to say, the three members of the ‘Crimson Sword’ will also be included in the detail when they return from Kona. Since that was also the reason why the three of them joined the party in the first place.”
“Right, I thought as much...”
Ryo had always suspected it.
Priest Rihya, who was once even called a saint; Warren, who is said to be the best shield-bearer in the Kingdom; and Rin, one of the best magicians with wind attribute in the Kingdom.
They were too capable a group to have gathered naturally.
Even if Abel’s charisma was unusually high, it’s more plausible to think of them as top-notch personnel gathered by various forces.
“In that case, I don’t see any reason why I should be included in his guard detail...”
Ryo tilted his head.
“Well...thing is...I would like for you to remain friends with Master Abel, as equals.”
“As equals?”
The role of the king is a lonely one.
In any age, in any country...it is probably the same, whether it be on Earth or right here on ‘Phi’.
Even Ryo knows that much.
The relationship based on ‘equality’ does not last forever, no matter how hard one tries mentally.
This is because there is inevitably a ‘power relationship’ involved.
Such as physical power as in ‘violence’, the power of money as in ‘wads of cash’, and intangible power as in ‘influence’....
Those who have the same amount of these things are the ones who can finally stand on ‘equal footing’.
The king, however, is the one who has the most of these ‘powers’ in the country.
At the very least, the king in the Kingdom of Knightley does.
In which case, it should be obvious that an ‘equal’, let alone ‘friend’ is not something you can hope for when you are the king.
It’s hard to imagine that the wise Rune frontier Count did not understand that ...
“First of all, not many people can beat Abel in a one-on-one fight. But Ryo falls into that category.”
The frontier Count addressed each aspect in detail one by one.
And that was ‘violence’.
“Secondly...money, the king is supposed to have a lot of it, but in reality, not so much money is at his disposal. Much of it is the property of the state, and the budget dictates how it is spent.”
That was ‘wads of cash’.
A king, who has little private property...now, that’s a little sad.
“As for the third, influence.... I will be your backer, Ryo. If you want, you can go and take over some small country.”
“Whoa whoa, that’s a bit extreme.”
“But I heard you froze a village once...”
Somehow, the news of the freezing of the village of assassins seemed to be spreading like wildfire.
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