How to Live as a Swordmaster of the Enemy Nation

Ticket

Walter let out a hearty laugh as he read the letter Hemingway had written for him. Immediately, Heln, perceptively, handed Walter a glass of liquor. As Walter downed the whiskey in one gulp, he said,

"Ha ha ha, I expected as much. It really was an ingenious idea."

"We haven't even started yet. Please don't consider things to be going too smoothly."

"You're right. The sooner you depart, the better. I'll help you."

Walter looked at Gregory with pride. Hemingway was quite rigid, so Walter himself found it difficult to talk with him, but the rookie, Gregory, had managed to persuade his elder brother.

From the previous time, Gregory had been creating situations that defied expectations one after another. That made Walter even more interested in him. Perhaps because of this, Walter treated Gregory with even more warmth.

When Gregory had nearly finished the meal Heln had prepared, Walter suddenly rose from his seat and strode out. Gregory, apparently not especially uncomfortable around Walter, paid it little mind and continued eating.

Soon after, Walter entered from the reception room and carefully placed something on the table. What he brought was the ceremonial uniform of the Dawn Knight Order.

It was a stately armor style adorned with black and golden embellishments. The vertically-striped innerwear and high collar added to the dignity of the uniform.

"Wear this."

"Is it alright for me to wear something so luxurious?"

"Go ahead. It was originally planned to be distributed to all new knights in two weeks, but you have urgent business, don't you?"

"Hmm... That's very true."

The reason he offered the ceremonial uniform was because, for the martial arts tournament held in Blandi, wearing it was the minimum etiquette and a time-honored tradition.

Furthermore, it would take about two weeks by horse just to get to the Blandi Kingdom one way.

Soon it would be late autumn and the weather would become chilly. So it was also to help shield him from the cold that Walter provided him the uniform.

Gregory didn't show it outwardly, but he liked the uniform. In his previous life, he had never received such treatment as a child.

"Thank you."

When he came out in the ceremonial uniform, Walter could not suppress his admiration. Having become a 3-star knight, Gregory's increased strength, height, and physique—when paired with the crisply ironed uniform—created an imposing figure.

"Oh-ho... It suits you well. Good. You look neat enough to leave right away."

"As you say, I intend to depart immediately. After all, we never know when war might break out. I must deliver this letter swiftly."

"Hmm... Quite right. Well, I'll explain things to the rest of the knight order for you."

Gregory made thorough preparations. Since he had to travel long-distance this time, once he loaded food and clothes onto the carriage, his preparations were complete.

Thanks to Leonyx and Amelia, loading up the carriage didn't take long. No, actually, he didn't have much luggage to begin with. All that was needed for the martial arts tournament was his own body.

"Everything's ready. Travel safely."

"I will definitely return successfully."

"Understood. Until you return, I'll make sure your comrades undergo rigorous training."

"......"

Walter flashed an evil grin at the knight order members. Gregory wondered for a moment if he'd misheard, but this was actually what he wanted.

Seeing his comrades already exhausted from such light training, Gregory thought that a round of physical discipline wouldn't be such a bad thing.

As he stared silently at Walter, the latter spoke, looking flustered.

"Ah, it's not out of any personal feelings! Even in another country, you never know if war will break out."

Seeing Walter, Gregory recalled memories from his previous life. Walter's figure overlapped with his former master's. Perhaps the reason they were getting along so well now was that Walter's personality was quite like that of his former master.

"Yes, of course. Anyway, I'll be on my way."

Gregory flicked the reins and set the carriage in motion. He no longer had the time to waste. Walter saw him off until he was out of sight before returning to the knight order base.

***

Several days had passed since Gregory set out for the Blandi Kingdom by carriage. The journey went very smoothly, all thanks to the letter and insignia Hemingway had given him.

Just by showing the insignia, the soldiers, startled, quickly cleared the way. The dignity of the rank of knight was impressive, but more than anything, Gregory felt firsthand the level of attention the Order's commander commanded.

"Uh, please pass through quickly."

"Yes."

They were strengthening the outer walls and setting up wooden barricades in preparation for an imminent confrontation with the neighboring Blandi Kingdom.

Soldiers stood taut with tension, letting an air of silence settle over the front lines. One soldier, even as he wrote his last will and testament, steeled himself in preparation for war.

The further he moved away from the center, the stricter security became. Gregory pushed through security again and again and before long, reached the region bordering the frontier. True to the sense that war was on the doorstep, the number of soldiers increased and checkpoints were reinforced.

Although Gregory was excepted as an honored guest traveling for the martial arts tournament, seeing the soldiers bristling with tension made him uneasy and his hair stand on end.

War was frightening to him just as it was to anyone, so this tense and silent moment felt suffocating. If it was already this severe here, what would it be like in Blandi, a foreign country? There, he would have to endure penetrating stares from the citizens of Blandi.

It went without saying—a VIP from the neighboring nation of Arme. With tensions this high, blandi's soldiers would hardly welcome such a guest. There was every chance they would find fault and give him trouble.

"This could turn into a hassle."

With the martial arts tournament fast approaching, Gregory needed to adapt to the new environment as soon as he arrived in Blandi, but at this rate, time would be tight. It could mean jumping straight into battle without time to acclimate.

At last, after passing through the final checkpoint, he emerged from the borders of Arme to find a vast forest sprawling before him.

Clatter, clatter—

The tranquil atmosphere was so complete that the rattling of the carriage wheels sounded especially loud. Gregory felt restless. With each repetitive day, he started to wonder if he should train a little even while traveling.

How many days had passed in these boring, listless times? He regretted coming alone for no reason. Not having anyone to talk to was driving him crazy. The only ones for conversation were the soldiers at the border checks.

Neither the squirrels climbing the trees nor the cicadas loudly crying their last would ever answer him.

In his previous life, he had enjoyed solitude, but perhaps he had become so used to his comrades that now he felt even lonelier than normal.

'Should I have brought Magnus along?'

No, Magnus was probably carrying out his father's orders, and if he had brought him along, it might have been a burden. Then, whom should he have brought?

'Ernest?'

As he lost himself in such needless, complicated thoughts, a rustling noise came from the bushes nearby.

A silent forest. Only the sound of the wind. Not even the steps of wild animals or the buzz of insects could be heard.

Whoever had stepped on the leaves must have realized their mistake and, berating themselves, leaped out of the underbrush.

"Tch, I messed up and gave myself away."

The suspicious figure had a scarf wrapped around his head, and had gone to great effort to conceal his identity, covering his whole body with cloth.

Gregory instantly realized they were bandits. Normally, borders were difficult to cross, so mountain paths like these swarmed with bandits and thieves.

He looked around. Bandits were beginning to close in from all sides. In an instant, he counted heads and considered how to get out of the situation.

There was a cart full of food, so he couldn't simply abandon it. If he did that, he would starve to death before long. He had no choice but to pacify the bandits quickly to resolve the situation.

One of them was particularly scrawny, with thick hair that could not fully hide his features. This was the man who'd stepped on the grass—the leader of the bandits.

The bandit leader opened his mouth again.

"Hey, kid, how about having a little chat with us?"

"......"

Was I targeted just because I'm alone? Yeah, it's probably because I'm crossing this lawless terrain alone in such an old-fashioned ceremonial uniform.

The narrow mountain trail—though the path was cramped, it was quite unusual to be traveling alone.

Normally, merchants or travelers crossing the border would be accompanied by guards or escorts, and bandits would focus on groups rather than individuals.

For someone like Gregory, clad in a luxurious uniform, being targeted was only natural. He reeked of money from his clothes alone, and being by himself made it easier to rob him.

However, this was something these bandits had overlooked. Veteran robbers would be wary of lone travelers—they would only go alone if they were strong enough to not need guards.

Which meant these were rookie bandits. They probably couldn't cope with life, so they'd come into the mountains, living as highwaymen. Gregory clicked his tongue as he watched the bandits creep closer.

"Can't you assess the situation? Still not come to your senses, kid?"

The bandits drew their weapons and charged headlong at Gregory.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】