Chapter 9

"Then, Teacher, see you later."

"Yeah. Thanks a lot, Alyushia."

At the carriage stop in the capital, Baltrain.

After thanking the knight captain who had accompanied me all day, I boarded the carriage.

After visiting the blacksmith recommended by Alyushia, Srena had wanted to take me to a blacksmith with ties to the Adventurer's Guild, but that didn't happen.

The reason being, if the sun sets any further, there won't be any carriages left.

While the area around the capital is relatively safe, running on the road for hours at night still carries a considerable risk. Normally, one would move with a guard at night.

If you try to save on guard fees, you might encounter bandits, wild animals, or even monsters. Nighttime is that dangerous.

This carriage to Bident Village was arranged using Alyushia's connections, but even so, it would be quite expensive to run a carriage with a guard at night.

I can't be that much of a burden, and hiring my own guard would cost a lot, so I decided against it.

Srena seemed to be reluctant to part with me, but apparently, she had been called by the Adventurer's Guild. We parted ways right after the test cut.

"Really, the guild is so rough with people... Well, Teacher, I'll be off. I hope you'll visit the guild when you come to the capital again. I plan to stay for a while."

"Yeah, I got it. Take care, Srena."

Those parting words came to mind.

The Adventurer's Guild, a place I have no connection with.

In a rural area like Bident Village, there's rarely an event that would require hiring an adventurer, and minor beasts or monsters can be handled by me and my students.

Not to mention, the old man is here too.

But, if Srena is there, it might be worth dropping by.

Besides, there might be former students who have become adventurers. I'll consider that when I visit the capital next time.

"Thank you very much."

"Yes, it's a long journey, so please take your time."

I called out to the driver and leaned against the edge of the carriage.

It's unusual for someone to take a carriage to a remote village at this hour, so this carriage is practically mine alone.

Unlike the trip there, spending this time alone is a bit boring.

There's no leisure to enjoy the scenery like during the day.

...I'll sleep.

That's the best way to pass the time.

Deciding on that, I closed my eyes, and with the fatigue from the day, my consciousness quickly drifted into a light sleep.

"---Customer, customer. This is Bident Village."

"...Hmm... Ah, we've arrived."

Shaken awake, my consciousness slowly returned.

When the driver woke me up and I looked outside, the sun had already set, and it was clear that a considerable amount of time had passed since I fell asleep.

Hmm, I slept well. But that's fine.

"Sorry, thank you."

"No, no, you must have been tired. Take care."

Stepping out of the carriage, I felt a sense of nostalgia even though it hadn't been a full day.

Going to the capital was quite an event, and I had unexpected reunions with Alyushia, Kurni, and Srena.

While it was a happy occasion, being in unfamiliar territory and seeing people I hadn't seen in a while must have been mentally exhausting.

"Well, I'll head home quickly... Huh?"

Bident Village is a rural area.

At this hour, with the sun set, fewer houses have lights on. The shops are closed, and at most, there are only a few lodging facilities.

However, I noticed that there was a light coming from my family home—the dojo.

"That's unusual. Is someone visiting?"

While it's not uncommon for the house to have lights on, it's rare to see lights from the dojo at this hour. It's unlikely that the old man is practicing swordsmanship this late at night.

Curious, I quickened my pace towards the dojo.

"I'm home. Is anyone here?"

"Hey, you're finally back."

"Teacher! It's been a while!"

"Thank you for your help."

Opening the dojo door, I saw the old man sitting cross-legged and a young man sitting formally.

Next to the young man, a seemingly gentle woman of a certain age was sitting, holding a small baby.

"...Is that Landred? It's been a while."

"Yes! It's good to see you, Teacher!"

Putting aside the unknown woman for a moment, I addressed the young man.

His lively response.

His sharp face and neatly cut blonde hair are distinctive.

While not overly muscular, his well-balanced physique, built for swordsmanship, clearly marks him as a swordsman.

He—Landred Patroclark—is a graduate of this dojo.

I remember he was in his late twenties. A fine young man, skilled with a sword.

He also took on a role as an elder in the dojo, which was mostly filled with children and young people.

He was one of the students to whom I gave a farewell sword.

However, after training at the dojo for about six years, he left for the capital, Baltrain, to become an adventurer. There was no reason for him to visit Bident Village.

"...So, who is this lady?"

"Oh, let me introduce you. This is my wife, Fanari, and my son, Jayn."

"I am Fanari Patroclark. My husband has been in your care."

"Thank you. I'm Beryl."

Fanari bowed as Landred introduced her.

Seriously, Landred, you got married?

While he's an adult, I was a bit surprised to learn that my much younger student had married and even had a child.

"But, what brings you here today?"

I don't think it's just to report his marriage and child.

If that were the case, he would have come when he got married. I can't figure out why he would come to this village now.

"Yes, actually, with Jayn's birth, I decided to retire from being an adventurer."

"Hmm... I can understand that."

Landred is a Platinum-ranked adventurer.

Platinum is considered mid-level among adventurers.

In general, an adventurer is considered competent at the Gold rank, and anything above that involves talent and luck. Of course, reaching Platinum isn't just a matter of luck; it's a testament to his hard work.

I genuinely felt it was a waste.

However, being an adventurer is a dangerous profession.

There are dreams, but there are also risks.

He chose his family over his dreams.

"It's your decision. I won't say anything, just don't regret it."

"Yes!"

He gave a spirited response, glancing at Mrs. Fanari for a moment.

Hmm, it seems he has no regrets. That's good.

"What are your plans now?"

"Well, I'm thinking of moving to this Bident Village. I wouldn't have made it this far without your help. I came today to pay my respects."

"Really?"

Indeed, this is a backwater, but it's a good place for a family to live peacefully. There's enough work, and they won't go hungry.

"By the way, I heard from the Great Teacher that you've become a special instructor for the Reberio Knights. Congratulations!"

"Ah, thank you."

I still haven't fully grasped the reality of being a special instructor, so I was at a loss for words.

By the way, the Great Teacher is the old man. He still occasionally teaches when I have to be away on business.

Since he handed over the dojo to me, he doesn't interfere much, which is a relief. While he can be a bit tactless, he is reliable in this regard.

"Beryl, before you came back, I was talking with Landred."

"Huh? About what?"

The old man, who had been silent since the greeting, spoke up.

His tone and expression seemed cheerful, and I felt he was still young in some ways.

However, when the old man has this look, it usually means he's up to no good. I wonder what they talked about.

"I've decided to let Landred take a look at this dojo."

"Eh?"

Eh?

"You should settle down in Baltrain and fulfill your duties properly."

"Huh?"

Huh?

"And while you're at it, don't come back until you find a wife. Show me your grandchild soon."

"Ah?"

Haaaaa????

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