AWML 12

Chapter : 12

Was it hard to believe that I was a noble?

“You being a noble… No, actually, now that I think about it, it suits you more. In some ways, you remind me of my Aunt Scarlet.”

“Ah… I see.”

No wonder the Grand Madam followed me so well. I nodded. Maybe it was because of that coincidence.

“Then it must have been even harder for you to adjust here. Hmm. If there is anything you wish for, I can grant it—if it is within my ability.”

“M-may I ask… could you contact Luikaron for me? Or at least check if there is any ship searching for us?”

I asked desperately. This might be the moment I achieve the reason I came here. My heart pounded loudly.

The Keister Count slowly parted his lips.

“Unfortunately, that is impossible. The breeding season of the monsters will begin soon. No one can approach the Monster Sea. And there is no way to communicate with Luikaron.”

“Ah…”

I let out a sigh.

Of course. This is not a world with the internet. How could we contact someone beyond that vast sea?

Seeing me slump, the Count spoke again.

“If any news comes in, I will inform you immediately. Other than that, is there anything else you wish for?”

“…Then.”

I heard the Count was in charge of public safety. That meant he commanded the navy. Could he let Kaisa join the navy? Even a low position would be fine.

Considering the money Kaisa paid to carriage drivers these days, it might actually be better for him to join the navy.

After all, I was earning much more than before.

“Could you perhaps accept my companion into the navy?”

The Count fell into serious thought at my words.

Please. Please.

The navy at the harbor was not recruiting knights right now. Official knights were recruited only once every three years. I remembered giving up because of that.

Knights were not paid as much as mercenaries, but it was still good money. And I believed no place suited Kaisa more than the military.

I had been disappointed before.

Moving to another region that was recruiting knights would make it harder to hear news from Luikaron.

But now this opportunity appeared.

If Kaisa joined the navy and went out to sea himself, maybe he could hear news more easily.

After thinking, the Count spoke.

“…It might be possible. During this season, we gather even mercenaries to form the army. However, if he does not achieve merit, he will only be hired temporarily and then dismissed. Is that acceptable?”

“Yes! That is fine!”

Honestly, I had been worried about leaving Kaisa in a mercenary group when he could barely speak the language. This was much better.

Kaisa had always been a noble and a knight. He was used to belonging somewhere, giving and receiving orders.

The navy might suit him much more than a mercenary group.

And I could guarantee his skill. He would surely stand out and earn merit quickly.

He was not someone who would fear sea monsters.

In fact, if we had been able to get a strong enough ship, we might have already tried crossing to Luikaron ourselves.

“Then bring him to me. I should be able to make a place for him.”

“Thank you, Count!”

“I am glad I could help.”

“This is truly a great help!”

I wanted to tell Kaisa this good news immediately. After thanking the Count several times, I left.

There had never been such a happy walk home.

Kaisa, you do not have to be taken advantage of anymore!

Kaisa smiled when he saw Milena returning earlier than usual.

She was running toward him with a bright smile. It seemed she had received her pay. Or maybe even more money.

It was so easy to read her thoughts.

But what Milena said when she ran to him was far beyond his expectations.

“I met the Count today!”

“And?”

Kaisa tilted his head.

Was meeting the Count such a joyful thing? Unless the Count brought news from Luikaron.

“The Count is going to give you a job! In the navy!”

“…What?”

Kaisa’s eyebrows twitched.

Milena grabbed his hand and jumped excitedly, not noticing his reaction.

“You do not have to be taken advantage of anymore! No more being scammed! No more being looked down on because you cannot speak!”

“When was I ever… looked down on? And when was I ever taken advantage of…?”

“Hahaha! And maybe while sailing, you might meet someone from Luikaron!”

Kaisa let out a dry laugh. Judging by Milena’s excitement, she did not even know what she was saying.

Milena suddenly hugged him tightly and then let go.

Kaisa stiffened instantly, but Milena did not notice at all.

“Grand Duke! You are finally a regular employee! Even though you cannot speak the language, you are officially employed!”

He had no idea what she was talking about, but since Milena was happy, it must be good.

And maybe, as she said, he might hear news from Luikaron.

Kaisa let out a small laugh.

The next day.

Rayban raised his eyebrows when he saw the man Milena brought.

He never expected the person living in the same house as her to be such a large man.

Looking closely, he could see signs of long training.

The calluses on his hands showed he had held a sword for a long time.

‘Now that I think about it, I never asked his status or occupation.’

For a moment, Rayban wondered if he had made a hasty decision because he was in a good mood.

What if he was a spy from Luikaron?

Though there was little reason for a country across the Monster Sea to target Cyern now.

Such thoughts had never crossed his mind when looking at Milena.

Perhaps it was because he felt a sense of threat from this man.

Even to Rayban, who had lived his entire life as a knight, this man felt dangerous. Even his footsteps were almost silent.

It was the mark of long training.

Rayban sharpened his senses.

“Greetings.”

“Yes. Nice to meet you. I have heard about you from Milena. What is your name?”

“……”

A long silence followed. Rayban’s eyebrow twitched.

What?

At that moment, Milena quickly stepped in.

“Count, Kaisa does not speak Cyern well. Actually, he does not understand it either. He only knows a few words.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Yes. That is why I really wanted him to join the military. I thought no one there would bully him for not knowing the language… He suffered a lot in the mercenary group. Some people took advantage of him and even scammed him.”

“I see.”

Rayban nodded.

Milena was acting almost like the guardian of this large man.

The man looked at Rayban with an expressionless face. He did not seem intimidated at all.

Since Milena was once a noble, it was likely that this man had also been one. No—very likely.

The pride he carried did not seem fake. It felt natural.

“Please take good care of Kaisa, Count. You can just call him Kaisa. He is skilled with a sword and has lived as a knight for a long time, so he will adjust quickly.”

“I see. Then is there any sentence you can say?”

Milena turned to Kaisa and spoke in Luikaron language.

“The Count is asking if you can say anything. Show him something decent, Grand Duke. So he does not look down on you. Show him your language skills improved.”

Kaisa nodded as if he understood.

Then, with a very serious expression, he opened his mouth.

In clear Cyern language, Kaisa said:

“If you do not do as I command right now, I do not know what my sword will do.”

That was the longest and coolest sentence Kaisa knew in Cyern.