CH 3

v1c3: The Most Troublesome Friend

The next morning, I headed to the north square’s church after finishing dressing up. Before I left the lodging, I hesitated whether or not I should go wearing my iron sword on my waist like usual. In the end, I decided not to bring it along. Right now, I am a nobody and not a mercenary. Also, it is unlikely that this thing will be needed in the middle of the city. It will only become extra baggage.

If you go inland for about a street from the commercial district on the Ixlaha coast where the lodging is located, you will see a huge gray building with stone walls. That is Ixlaha Central Terminal, the transcontinental railway station that was built a year ago.

The area around the Terminal is congested with many trading establishments, and it has been called the new commercial district for some time. It is said that the number of shops around there is about 5 times compared to 5 years ago, and it is also the area with the highest density of buildings in Ixlaha. In addition, as this area has many towers that have been managed by the church since ancient times, the mismatch between ancient and modern architecture makes up for an especially peculiar sight in the city.

The city is even more colorful due to the upcoming Independence Day Festival. Each storefront has been decorated with artificial flowers and colorful flags without consistency, creating a sight that constantly torments my eyes. Though the Independence Day Festival is supposed to be an annual event in Ixlaha, it can be seen that this year’s decorations are much gaudier than those of last year. It must have been because the people’s anticipation of the attending ‘saintess’, which Hugh was saying yesterday evening, is taking effect excessively.

If you go through the bustling crowds in front of the Terminal, you will arrive at the road leading to the first district of the north side. Around there, the number of stagecoaches will decrease, and you will see many cabriolets: the light carriages drawn by only one horse.

The first district is totally different from the unorganized new commercial district. It is a peaceful residential area where the upper classes such as Curia executives and business owners live. Rows of trees stretch out in parallel with the neatly arranged stone pavings, and each and every orderly-built house has a garden with a green lawn as if it is a rule. It is also the kind of district that won’t have much relation with someone like me even in the future.

My destination is at the end of the road—the central church facing a public square with a large water fountain.

The fountain square in front of the church was crowded by many people. There were no less than 100 people as far as I could see. Probably, most of them were those who came to hear the explanation of the church knights selection test. When I looked around, there were a lot of familiar faces that I’d seen somewhere. Hugh’s prediction seemed to be correct.

When I turned my feet to the queue in front of the church to finish the registration, it was then.

“What a surprise, man! I didn’t expect you to be in a place like this.”

I inwardly clicked my tongue at the half-laughing voice. When I turned to look in the voice’s direction, as expected, a familiar face was looking at me while grinning from ear to ear.

“Yo, was it about 2 weeks? Long time no see, Sword.”

He is a guy with short blonde hair and a lean body. There is a daring smile on his mouth like usual, but a sharp gleam dwelling in his eyes is like those of raptorial birds.

“……Gordo.”

He is Gordo, a former colleague of mine in my mercenary days.

Somehow, I felt like all my enthusiasm had died down, and I became depressed. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder in an overly familiar manner.

“Oi oi, this is a reunion with your best friend, the great me, you can be more excited, you know? What, are you on period?”

I frowned at the vulgar joke and shook off Gordo’s hand; even so, his smile never left his face.

“You’re still as unfriendly as ever.”

“You haven’t changed either.”

I glared at my former colleague with a sour expression.

Although he is always smiling frivolously, I’ve never seen his eyes smile until now. The only thing dwelling in his eyes is the ferocious gleam that always seems to be looking for prey.

Gordo Bauduin.

He is a mercenary who once belonged to [Sunset Union]—the same guild as me—and his capability is second only to the top of the guild, Boss Han.

I don’t remember exactly when, but I somehow became a buddy with him. During my mercenary days, I’ve been caught up with him whenever possible; furthermore, I’ve been forced to accompany him on almost every mission. Every time that happened, I became depressed.

This might not be something I ought to put into words, but in fact, I’ve always been bad at dealing with this guy. Nothing is more stressful than being with someone whose thought process I can’t understand.

However, this guy doesn’t seem to care about my feelings at all. I’ve tried conveying my true intentions frankly countless times, but his attitude hasn’t changed, not even a bit.

I always wonder what exactly about me is making this guy attached to me to this extent.

“How about you? What are you doing in a place like this?”

“Watching the birds. After all, there are a lot of pigeons in this square.”

Gordo said in a ridiculing manner. As always, he is still good at poking other people’s nerves.

“Putting aside your worthless ridicules, don’t tell me, are you also going to take the member selection test?”

“Since you said ‘you also’… Sword, I take it you are here for it.”

Gordo squinted his eyes and laughed mockingly.

I felt really bitter at my careless verbal slip.

“Bastard, then tell me, are you here to just look around?”

“That’s right. That’s especially the reason.”

While laughing nastily, Gordo looked at the surroundings’ examinees in contempt.

“What? I just want to see the scene of my old buddies sweating profusely for reemployment.”

He was such a guy whose personality was crooked to the point of being admirable.

I blurted out.

“You know what? I really hate you.”

“Unfortunately, I really like you.”

Gordo received my contemptuous gaze with a ferocious smile as if he was devouring it. Indeed, it felt like I was watering the desert with a watering can.

Getting fed up, I admonished him.

“As for needing reemployment, isn’t it the same for you as well? Instead of laughing at others’ misfortunes, how about you try to live more properly? “

“Sword, you know what? There have never been any standards to measure things like unhappiness. As such, unhappiness is just another viewpoint seen from what you call happiness. Do you get what I mean?” (T/N: ‘misfortune’ and ‘unhappiness’ has the same word in Japanese)

I was astonished and stunned for a moment.

“Have you decided on your next job?”

“Since a week before you come back to this city.”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I unconsciously looked down. Indeed, God really is an unreasonable bastard. How is it possible that three is a job for a guy with a failure personality like him, while I’ve gone adrift in the streets?

“What is your job?”

“Not much different from being a mercenary, it is a bloody job. If you like, shall I introduce you too?”

Cursing myself for a moment of my hesitation, I shook my head from side to side. The devil is tempting. There is no way the job he introduces can be decent.

“No need. I will decide my path by myself.”

“How awe-inspiring! But, seeing you here on this occasion, it just seems to me that you’re somewhat being swept around by the current.”

Looking at the surroundings, Gordo chuckled. I wonder how many times I need to click my tongue today. A reply that sounded like an excuse leaked from my mouth.

“You can’t replace your back with your belly, right? Also, life isn’t something you can breeze through conveniently.”

(T/N: A pun from Japanese warring eras. If you get cut in the belly, your internal organs can be damaged, which is pretty fatal. Whereas, your back has a lot of bone, so even if you get cut in the back, your chance of getting a fatal injury is lower. In short, it basically means “if you want to live, there is no other choice.”)

I said while looking at the surroundings’ examinees. All of them were familiar faces that I’d seen in my mercenary days. But now, they were desperately trying to join the church that had snatched their jobs in the first place. I felt that this reality is a world without virtue.

“You’re so gloomy. Tell me, Sword. Want to start a rebellion together with me and try livening things up?”

Gordo warped his arm around my shoulder again.

“First, hijack the transcontinental railroad, infiltrate the imperial capital, and then we will start a coup. We’ll also bring along our former mercenary friends. If we do so……”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I dramatically let out a sigh. This guy having the same thinking pattern as me is today’s most depressing thing.

I shook off Gordo’s hand once again and replied.

“If you want to do it, do it alone.”

“You are so inflexible, Sword. Having humor is also important in life, you know?”

With the nagging Gordo at my back, I moved toward the church’s entrance. His twisted sense of humor never matched my standards. It has been the case so far, and it will be even in the future.

A simple long desk was placed in front of the church’s gate. Apparently, it seemed to be the reception place. Two men, who appeared to be people in charge, were sitting there. Just from their uniforms based on blue and white colors, it could be seen that they belonged to the church knights.

And then, there was one more person with a different outfit standing next to them.

It was a female knight wearing silver armor that reflected sunlight.

She was a beautiful woman. Her shoulder-length silver hair, which had the same color as her armor, was also stunning. Since she wasn’t wearing her helmet, her cool beauty was generously exposed to the public. Although she seemed to have a slender body, I could easily imagine her refined body under the armor just from her dignified standing posture.

""

The female knight was observing the crowd of examinees with her sharp eyes. Although it wasn’t the gaze of a hungry beast like Gordo, her eyes were those of a hunter who sorted out her prey.

I instinctively heightened all my tensions.

The concept of strength is, after all, relativity. Only by having a corresponding ruler can you measure the other’s skill level. As for me, who has been wielding that ruler for many years, it’s not particularly difficult to estimate the strength of the person before my eyes.

Looking again, I saw a cross engraving on the chest and three blue lines on the shoulders of the armor. It was the symbol of the church knight commander. I see, no wonder the pressure is different.

And, the gaze of the female knight met with mine. It would be no exaggeration to say that I was glared at. If it were Gordo, he would probably glare back at her with a nasty grin on his face. But, I am better at socializing than him. Having turned my eyes away with natural movements, I wrote my name in the names register at the reception table by feigning ignorance.

However, I could feel her gaze on my whole body during that period.

It was really uncomfortable.

Perhaps, some sort of selection process has already started at this stage. I wonder what their evaluation of me is.

After the registration process, I received an envelope that seemed to include necessary items. When I was about to enter the church, it was then.

“You there!”

The female knight called out to me. The guy tending the reception in front of me didn’t say anything. I wonder if she learned how to judge others by sight.

“What is your name?”

A cold and straightforward question as if to say don’t say anything extra. I answered her question.

“Sword.”

“Your surname?”

“There isn’t.”

“Hmm?”

“I lost it 10 years ago.”

In response to my answer, a faint emotion appeared on the face of the female knight. It was so subtle that it couldn’t be seen without straining my eyes.

“Is that so? I apologize for being nosy.”

She seemed to be a morally upright person just like her appearance suggested. I lightly raised my hand to show my intention, ‘don’t worry about that’.

“So, why did you call out to me?”

“Ah, one of your shoelaces is broken. Please be careful.”

……Ah, seriously.

I looked down in disappointment. Sure enough, one of my shoelaces was broken. It was the shoelace on my left foot, different from yesterday.

I ended up clicking my tongue again.