NOVEL WEB Chapter 274
272. Engagement Episode – Survivor
“Ugh!”
Early morning. Once again, Leira Ainar stepped into the training ground, preparing to warm up before practice. She widened her stance, stretching her legs while planting her palms on the ground.
As she carefully checked her condition, huh? Leira felt bewildered.
Her condition had been exceptionally good since yesterday.
She felt vibrant and even more flexible, so Leira decided to push her waist deeper. Her temples grazed her knees, yet it felt effortless.
‘Did I sleep well?’
Not particularly?
Leira always slept well. She didn’t dream and could fall asleep anywhere, even without a bed, blanket, or pillow. There was no way her condition would be affected by her sleeping arrangements.
“Hmmm.”
After finishing her stretches, Leira swung her upper body with a whoosh and threw a few punches. She even attempted a somersault, easily completing two rotations.
‘Feeling good.’
Leira didn’t think too deeply about it. Whatever the reason, good was good, and she grabbed her sword, diving into training.
The morning was dedicated to basics. Starting with vertical slashes, she gradually tilted her sword, and by the end, she was performing horizontal slashes, diligently completing thirty of each.
Once the slashes were done, it was time to practice thrusts.
She reviewed the lower, middle, and upper thrusting motions, and next up was practicing parrying, lifting, pushing, and wrestling with Ray. However, Leira was the only one in the training ground.
But that wasn’t a reason to slack off.
Leira practiced her footwork alone. She went through the diamond-shaped step, trapezoidal hold, the preparatory T-step for inside-out leg movement, and even the zigzag step preparing for a spin.
Yawn… how boring.
It was dull without Ray around.
With Ray, they would sometimes joke and exchange sword techniques, so there was never a dull moment.
Leira wrapped up her training a bit earlier and headed home. Feeling energetic today, she didn’t even feel the need to wash up.
“Mom~ give me food.”
Leira shared a meal with her mother. During winter, they always had Radimu pickles, which she happily munched on with bread.
“Dad will probably be back the day after tomorrow, right?”
“He should be. If the hunting didn’t go well, he might be late… Why? Do you need pocket money?”
“Huh? Why does it sound like that?”
“When our daughter asks her dad for something, it’s only when her allowance has run out.”
“Mom! If someone hears you, it’ll be misunderstood. I’ve never done that.”
“Well then, it looks like you still have some pocket money left. You only borrowed it two months ago.”
“…Thank you for the meal.”
Leira quickly got up from the table.
Avoiding her mother’s mischievous grin, she grumbled, ‘I just needed to buy Ray’s birthday present because it’s coming up.’ The fact that her money was running out was true.
Cheh. So stingy.
Thinking she needed to secretly get some more pocket money from her mom, she entered the kitchen and set the table for lunch. Gathering various things, including soup, she headed to Ray’s house. It was Leira’s job to deliver meals to the boys of the Dexter family when her mother wasn’t around.
“Eat up.”
Ray and Noel Dexter had been in the study since morning. It seemed they were quite busy preparing for the journey to Barnau, which would take at least two months.
“What are you two talking about for so long?”
No one answered.
An unusually quiet atmosphere. Leira felt like these two were hiding something from her, so she shot a glare at Ray.
“…Thanks, Leira. I’ll enjoy it.”
But all she got back was a polite refusal. She replied that they’d take the dishes back to the kitchen, and Leira shot him a look that said ‘If you don’t say it properly, you’re done for,’ before leaving the study.
What’s this about?
She felt an impulse to press her ear to the door but thought better of it. Leira trusted that Ray would tell her in due time.
Having eaten and now quite full, Leira helped out a bit with chores at home. Sweeping, scrubbing, and cooking weren’t her preferences, so she performed errands for her mother around Abrival Castle.
Most of the time, she would tell the neighbor ladies, “I really enjoyed that ‘Dampdel’ you made last time. Here, my mother said to give this a try.”
Bringing treats as thanks for what she received, and then accepting treats in return was her routine.
The ladies would often ask her, “Oh dear, thank you! Please tell her I enjoyed it. But Leira, now that you’re of age, when are you planning to get married?” They had asked before without any ill intent. Leira smiled brightly and replied, “Once the auspicious day is set, I’ll be getting married.” Quite blandly.
Typically, they would assume she’d figure it out themselves and say, “Alright. Let me know when the day is set.” But occasionally, a lady would add a clause.
“Don’t let your groom run away. You must hold onto him tightly.”
“Oh dear, why would a groom run away? Besides, how can I catch someone who wants to run?”
“Men sometimes run off when they get enchanted by something. You shouldn’t let your guard down until you have children. Remember that.”
“Got it. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Ray wouldn’t run off, but Leira just humorously played along. Most of the husbands of those chatting ladies had set off to catch monsters and never returned.
“Right. I’ve waited long enough. Take this while it’s warm.”
Of course, since it was an old tale, they were all remarried by now. Leira returned home with a steaming plate of ‘Fenaran.’ Just then, Dehorman was walking towards her from a distance.
“Oh, Dad! You’re back already? You must have had a successful hunt!”
Dehorman let out a hearty laugh.
“Yep. There was plenty of game in the mountains. This winter will be abundant!”
“Really? Hehe, then… Dad, can I have some pocket money?”
“Huh? Is that all you have to say to your hardworking father who just came back?”
“What hardship did you face? The Great Warrior goes out hunting with his arms crossed, doing nothing at all. I know what’s what.”
“Oh dear. Look at you. Treating me like I’m less than a Great Warrior. Then no pocket money for you…”
“Ah—! Wait! Dad! Father! You know I always love and respect you, right? I even brought you some snacks with this.”
“Yeah right.”
Dehorman scoffed.
But since it was rare for his grown daughter to act cute, he asked why. After hearing her excuses, he looked dazed and asked.
“Isn’t Ray’s birthday quite far off? It’s summer, isn’t it?”
“Early! Summer, yes.”
“Goodness. Summer or early summer… It’s only just now winter. And the last time you took a lot of money; what did you spend it all on?”
“This thing. This and this one. This is mine.”
“A leather strap? Why would you buy something like that? I could make that for you…”
“Ugh. How can one made by a professional tanner be the same as what you’d make? This fits perfectly in my hand. Plus, it’s a gift for Ray. Would you really feel comfortable using something made by your father-in-law?”
“Fine. What a remarkable daughter I’ve raised. They say raising a daughter is useless. I’ll discuss the pocket money with your mother.”
Dehorman genuinely felt a bit hurt. Turning quickly to head home, Leira hurriedly called after him.
“Oh come on. Why are you like this? Wait, also… Ray and I are going to Barnau. I need travel money.”
“To the capital? Why?”
“Because we’re visiting graves.”
“…Really?”
Hmm. Dehorman scratched his chin for a moment. He turned back and strode quickly toward Ray’s house.
“Dad, you have to give me the money. I mean, you will, right? And the leather strap was something I needed, too…”
Chattering away from behind, no matter what Leira said, Dehorman crossed the empty living room and entered the study where Noel was. Ray happened to be there as well.
As the huge Dehorman entered, nearly touching the ceiling, the study felt cramped. Leira slipped in without anyone noticing.
Sitting across the desk were Ray and Noel Dexter. The rocking chair was empty, and if he sat in it, it would surely break, so Ray attempted to offer his seat. Dehorman shook his head.
“Did you come already?”
“Yeah. The hunting went well, so I came down early. Ray, you’re going for a grave visit, right?”
“…Yes.”
“Good. You’ve calmed your mind. Well done. It must have been a terrible experience, but a man needs to know how to shake it off. You’ve had a tough time.”
“……Yes.”
“Haha! Shoulders back! Though I’m saying this late, your mother was truly an exceptional woman. Naturally, as she was my friend. So, have a good trip with Leira. What’s that… your uncle is in Barnau, right? Leira, be sure to greet him well. Don’t worry about the travel expenses.”
“Wait a minute, Dehorman, I need to talk to you for a second.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Leira… No wait, you two step outside.”
Leira and Ray went outside, leaving their fathers behind. Why were they acting like this? Curious, Leira rolled her eyes and asked.
“Is there something going on? Are you acting this way because of the travel plans or what?”
“Of course, it’s about the trip. What else would it be about?”
“Doesn’t seem like it. Then why is my dad acting like this?”
“…Actually, I was going to ask him to come along.”
“What?? With my dad? Why?”
“Just, you know… for convenience.”
“What do you mean for convenience? How can my dad go on a trip? He’s a Great Warrior, you know?”
“Haha… that’s true, isn’t it? I must have gotten overly excited while preparing for the trip.”
“???”
What is he talking about?
Leira felt that Ray was skillfully dodging the question. Meanwhile, in the study, odd questions and answers were being exchanged rapidly.
Ray had been summoned to the study several times. Dehorman emerged only when supper time arrived, gathering the family and announcing a surprising decision.
Picking up his massive axe, he said with a serious tone, “Dear, I’m going to the Capital.”
“Why are you / Dad?” Both Leira and her mother asked, and Dehorman came up with nonsensical excuses.
He said he was going along to visit a friend in the capital while they were on a family trip, but there was no way he had a friend in the capital who’d only been there once in nearly twenty years.
What on earth are these men doing? ─ Amidst Leira’s confusion, the trip preparations proceeded rapidly. Dehorman had received permission from the chief, and Noel Dexter borrowed a carriage from the lord of Abrival Castle. Ray brought back a sleek black horse from somewhere.
A few days later, they set off from Abrival Castle. Leira could catch a glimpse of the mystery behind it all in the farewell words of her father and the other Great Warrior uncles.
“Pray that I may pass this trial.”
“…The drinking cups might not pass. May there be a harsh trial! Return as a great warrior.”
Leira observed that the ladies’ advice was half right. Men do get swept away by strange things. But having children didn’t change that, it seemed.
Yet Leira did not know.
The real reason Dehorman was following was for his daughter. And that her father would never return home.
Once the carriage departed, Leira became the sole survivor of this group.