Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

[The Outskirts of Champagne]

The bumpy little road twisted and turned with the terrain, and as far as the eye could see, vineyards spread everywhere.

It was April, and the withered grapevines were sprouting tender green buds. At first glance, it seemed as if the wooden stakes supporting the vines had come back to life.

The stakes, uniform in thickness and height, were neatly arranged on both sides of the road, resembling soldiers standing at attention, saluting the passersby.

By sheer coincidence, among the three travelers on the road, one really was a general, and another...

"Wow! So this is how grapes grow?! I always thought grapevines were thin and delicate, but they can grow as thick as tree trunks?"

[Novice Nun Liz] turned around, excitedly sharing her newfound knowledge with her companions, as though she had uncovered some grand secret.

"Stop shouting," the blonde knight coldly reprimanded. "Hold the reins properly, or you'll fall off the saddle."

The previously elated novice nun instantly felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her, extinguishing her eagerness and joy to share her discovery.

She glared, her almond-shaped eyes blazing, and retorted sharply, "Don't look down on me! I can ride horses—probably learned it earlier than you! I can also swim, handle guns, and wield swords!"

The blonde knight remained unresponsive.

Seeing no reaction, the novice nun huffed angrily, turning her head to the other side of the road, giving the knight nothing but her back.

The atmosphere grew heavy and awkward.

"Sister Liz," Marvey cleared his throat and kindly pointed out, "those aren't grapevines; they're the stakes supporting the grapevines."

"Oh?"

The novice nun turned around in surprise, carefully examining the grape trellises nearby. Only then did she see the vines tied to the stakes.

"So that's how it is." Novice Nun Liz nodded lightly in thanks to Marvey, her tone sweet as honey. "Thank you, Mr. Marvey."

"Don't mention it." Marvey, caught off guard, waved his hands repeatedly. "Don't mention it."

Looking slightly flustered, Marvey took off his hat and smoothed his hair. In no time, his face turned red from his cheeks to the tips of his ears.

The blonde knight let out a disdainful chuckle.

Liz, like a startled kitten caught in a trap, immediately bristled. "What are you laughing at?"

Marvey hurriedly tried to mediate. "'Siegfried' probably wasn't laughing at you, Sister Liz. He's just got an irritated throat."

The novice nun was so furious, her shoulders were trembling. She bit her lip and let out a small scream—trying her best to keep her voice down.

Then, Sister Liz gripped her reins tightly and stayed silent. After a long while, she finally mumbled, filled with grievance and sorrow, "I'm not some fool from a story. I obviously know grapes don't grow on plates. I just... I just haven't seen grapevines growing out of the ground before..."

Faced with the novice nun's abrupt emotional confession, even Marvey didn't know how to defuse the awkwardness.

The blonde knight [Siegfried] adjusted his collar and spoke as gently as he could—though his face remained stern. "If I recall correctly... there's a vineyard near your home, isn't there?"

Seeing his friend still harping on about grapes, Marvey quickly interrupted him.

He nudged his horse forward, cutting between the nun and the knight, and asked curiously, "Sister Liz, you said you can wield swords and guns?"

Still overcome by her earlier disappointment, Sister Liz's spirits lifted instantly. She eagerly replied, "I can use a longsword! Like a cross-shaped longsword! I can use guns too! I even shot a duck once!"

"Amazing!" Marvey encouraged her. "But for a nun, swords and guns aren't exactly standard training, are they? Where did you learn to wield swords and shoot guns?"

"My father." Sister Liz puffed out her chest proudly. "My father taught me personally!"

"Your mother didn't object?"

"How could she not? Mother was very unhappy. But once Father decided on something, not even she could change it."

Marvey listened with great interest, nodding frequently. "Not teaching his daughter embroidery or sewing, but instead training her in swords and guns. Your father must be a unique and fascinating man..."

He rubbed his hands together, his enthusiasm growing. "Did he teach you anything else? Or perhaps do anything else out of the ordinary?"

"Sister Liz!" The blonde knight suddenly interjected.

The novice nun tilted her head in confusion, looking at the blonde knight.

"There are a few cottages up ahead," the knight explained, taking the leather flask from his saddle and tossing it to the novice nun. "Go fetch some clean water—fill it up."

"Why me?"

The novice nun initially resisted, but then seemed to realize something. She blinked, took the flask, pulled on her reins, and obediently left the road to fetch water.

Watching the nun's figure riding away, Marvey sighed and shook his head. Then, he turned to the blonde knight, protesting unhappily, "Siegfried, even though we're good friends, I have to call you out on this—you're interrupting my interview!"

"Since you already know her identity, don't pretend otherwise just to take advantage of her trust," Siegfried—also known as Siegfried—warned with a solemn expression. "And don't try to pry into royal secrets."

Marvey scrutinized Siegfried's every subtle expression. After a moment, he shrugged, spread his hands, and laughed breezily. "Alright, I promise."

"Thank you." Siegfried gave a polite nod before dismounting to let his horse rest.