Chapter 112: I Had a Time Like That Too

K-thwack.

The moment Alondo was sent flying helplessly.

Prental stood in his way.

Seeing him hold up a palm, Muno slung his greatsword onto his back and calmly stepped back.

“Of course, I have no intention of doing anything more. It was just entertainment, after all, entertainment.”

Considering it was just that, my whole body was tingling from having used Acceleration, but it couldn’t be helped.

The effects of those artifacts called the Jewel Knight’s equipment were unexpectedly, absurdly outstanding.

His capabilities had been enhanced in an instant, as if he had become a different person.

‘It was obvious he hadn’t trained, but he was quite something. It would have been more fun if we had fought a few years ago.’

There were many eyes watching and I didn’t intend to kill him, so I didn’t bother using the ability of ‘Blade’, but he was a strong opponent in his own right.

Honestly, I was completely looking down on him, but in the latter half, it would have been a little dangerous if I hadn’t used Acceleration.

Although, that was the power of the artifacts.

‘There’s no guarantee that future enemies won’t suddenly become strong like that, so I must be careful.’

While he was lost in thought.

“The Black Knight’s skills are as great as his reputation. Everyone, a round of applause!”

The prince began to manage the situation.

“To the Black Knight who showed us wonderful entertainment! And also to our victory!”

“To victory!”

While everyone raised their glasses.

No one paid any attention to Alondo being carried to the back of the party hall.

It seemed that day’s party would conclude without any further trouble.

Of course.

Perhaps it was because the entertainment was livened up a bit too much.

“Sir Black Knight, as for me……”

“Oh my……. So young, yet so gallant……”

“You there, have you heard of our family name?”

A side effect did arise, with the nobles attending the party, regardless of gender, approaching him all too eagerly.

Fortunately, there was no terrorism from those damned cultists or any other ominous events that I had worried about.

The party proceeded all too peacefully.

“Now! Here we go!”

Fwoosh.

Pop-pop-pop.

Soon, the Spirit Arts fireworks show that began with the prince’s signal announced the end of the Founding Day and New Year’s Day party.

And from that point on, Muno began to bid early farewells to the people he had grown fond of.

“I have to leave at dawn……”

He couldn’t explain the detailed circumstances, but all the acquaintances who had been through thick and thin with him for a short period of time nodded with a smile.

“When things are settled, I’ll come visit you in Drasen.”

“You don’t have to come.”

“I’m going, I’m definitely going! And I’m going to get my due from Ryan for saving his son!!”

Even Uncle Klarm, whose character had strangely changed.

“Animals, you treasure them now, right?”

“Yes. That’s why I don’t ride horses at all anymore.”

……Actually, it’s because I can’t ride them.

“Alright, have a safe trip. See you again.”

Even the animal-loving sister, the likes of whom I wondered if there were any others in this fantasy world.

“Aren’t you disappointed? About…… not being able to return to the Tower.”

“Well, I found something else that’s reliable instead.”

“I hope to meet them with you next time as well.”

“You should, of course.”

The old lady…… no, the sister who taught me Spirit Arts also promised to see me again with a bright smile.

Of course.

“The next time we meet, I’ll be the crown prince. Aren’t you sad, brother-in-law?”

“I’ll be the crown princess. How about joining the contest, even now, little brother?”

The prince and princess were clingy to the end.

“……I must carry out a royal command.”

“Still, even just your name……”

“That’s enough. Please, just stop. Brother-in-law, Sister.”

Hearing the friendly titles I added, they smiled brightly and backed away.

“Hah……”

And.

“Next time.”

“After we’ve both finished our duties.”

With a final farewell exchanged by lightly bumping gauntlets with Karina, who was about to withdraw with the princess.

“Is that all? At least a kiss or something……”

“Your Highness!!”

“Ah, fine. Jeez……”

All my business in the capital was finished.

‘It was a really long day. Phew.’

His first day of the new year seemed to be ending just like that.

But that night.

– At this hour?

– It will only take a moment.

– Still…….

– My identity, isn’t it clear?

– That’s why I’m saying this. I also heard about what happened this evening…….

– Then you must have also heard that I am no match for him…….

While Muno was asleep, thinking about the next day, it seemed to get a little noisy outside his room.

‘Mmm?’

And soon after.

Knock. Knock.

– Sir Muno, you have a visitor.

The knight guarding his quarters announced the arrival of a visitor.

“What…… is it?”

Half-baffled and half-annoyed, I got out of bed, deployed my armor, and went out.

In front of the door, an unexpected person was standing alone.

“Alondo……?”

“You don’t even add ‘Sir’ to my name now.”

Alondo showed an awkward smile, with a slightly different atmosphere than at the party.

‘What’s with this bastard?’

I felt a little uneasy.

‘Did he evolve in a regenerative direction? Even if he received holy power treatment, in just a few hours…….’

I was pretty sure I had knocked out four of his top and bottom teeth, nice and even, but they were already perfectly healed.

“Ah. Well, we’re not on such good terms, are we. Besides, at this hour……”

“I heard you’re leaving early tomorrow.”

I got a little more annoyed at how he brought up a story I had only told the prince and Karina’s group, and how he had come to know of it.

The fact that the Steel Knight who had promised to stand guard all night as an apology for spreading strange rumors had disappeared also bothered me.

“What, you want another go? I don’t mind.”

If he picked a fight again, I would just break his spine.

Alondo waved his hands at the words I threw at him, filled with annoyance.

“I learned well enough this evening that I’m no match for you. I have no such intention.”

“……Then why?”

“That is……”

Alondo, who was about to say something, began to hesitate.

He was so different from how he had been at the party that I couldn’t help but tilt my head slightly.

The words he finally uttered left Muno flabbergasted.

“I came to say…… thank you.”

……Are you crazy?

The words almost slipped out.

Thanking the person who beat him up.

That’s when an ominous thought came to me.

Perhaps he discovered a new preference while getting beaten up, or…….

‘Ah, f*ck. No way…….’

Even as I thought, no way, no way.

Alondo’s downward gaze and reddened face, as if he were embarrassed, suddenly started to feel chillingly creepy.

“So, what I mean is……”

The moment the guy tried to speak again with difficulty.

I found myself shouting without realizing it.

“Ah, damn it, really! I like women! And I don’t like hitting people either!!”

At that, Alondo suddenly stared at me with blank eyes and blinked.

Soon, as if realizing something, he gritted his teeth and shouted back.

“What are you talking about!!? What kind of misunderstanding have you got! You crazy bastard!”

“No, you’re the one saying strange things!”

“What strange thing did I say!”

“You, right now……!”

As we were shouting at each other in the middle of the night, I quickly realized something.

“Ah, maybe not?”

“Of course not!”

“Then why?”

“I’m about to tell you now!”

“Ah……. Ahem ahem. Then please speak.”

Alondo, his face thoroughly flushed, huffed and puffed before finally clearing his throat and beginning to speak again.

“Ahem. Anyway, what I wanted to say wasn’t that……. What was it? Ah, damn it! I forgot!”

“Why are you getting angry at me! This old man!”

“Now I’m an old man!”

“Then what are you!”

“That……. I am an old man, yes. Hah……”

……What now.

I think this guy got hit and lost his mind.

At this point, I was beginning to doubt Alondo’s sanity.

“Anyway, I’m not thankful at all, but I came to say thank you.”

The guy ended up spouting nonsense that turned my doubt into certainty.

“……Ah, is that so. Yes, well then, I’ll be on my way.”

Slam.

As I slammed the door shut, the outside immediately became noisy.

Bang. Bang. Bang!

– Listen to what a person has to say until the end!! Come on!!

Ah, jeez. I have to sleep, but it’s so loud…….

Muno had no choice but to open the door again.

“What is it, really? If you’re going to talk nonsense, just leave.”

Even to myself, my attitude was almost like dealing with a pesky salesman, but Alondo let out a deep sigh and quickly spat out his words.

“For the past few years, no, for over a decade, I’ve been lost in delusion, unable to find that path. So……”

“Then I’ll be on my way……”

“……Listen to the end!! Come on!!”

Ah, jeez.

Why have there been so many clingy people lately?

As I let out a deep sigh, the pesky salesman(?) began to continue what he was saying.

“But a few of your punches snapped me to my senses. Today’s events made me realize that the artifacts I wear are not my own abilities, and that I had given up trying all this time.”

“Then will you give those to me……?”

“You crazy bastard! Do you know how much they’re worth!?”

“Ah. A shame……”

“What’s a shame! Your armor is an artifact too!”

It really is a shame.

I was going to give it to Lian. I thought it would fit him when he grew up.

“……Then what is it, really? Are you thanking me for hitting you?”

In truth, I was also a little embarrassed to be thanked for such a ridiculous thing, so I had said some nonsense myself.

But.

“Yes, that’s it. Thank you for hitting me and snapping me to my senses. Thanks to that, I think I’ve found that path now.”

When I hear something like this, how on earth am I supposed to respond?

I was bewildered.

“It may be late, but I’m going to try again. And then, I will properly give you a good punch back……. I came to tell you that.”

……Isn’t that a threat of revenge, not a thank you?

I wanted to retort again, but I just clicked my tongue at Alondo’s incredibly serious gaze.

“So let’s meet again. Whenever that may be, I will appear a changed man.”

Seeing Alondo turn away after finishing his words stirred a strange emotion in me.

Even his current appearance seemed like a different person from when we were sparring.

Do they say there’s no person with only one side to them?

But no matter what.

‘That a person can change so quickly……. It really does happen.’

That must have been why.

“I’ve heard there’s no age too late to start trying.”

I found myself using formal language again to the unpleasant, unlucky middle-aged man I had disliked the whole time.

“……What?”

“I’m just saying. In my ho……metown, there were people who started studying in their 50s and got their doct…… sage certificate in their 60s.”

Ah, tsk.

What is a Doctor Sage? I almost bit my tongue.

“A sage, there’s a certificate for that?”

“They’re just called that. Well, it might be a little different for knights, though.”

“……If you hadn’t said that last part, I might have been moved.”

“I’m usually the honest type.”

At those words, Alondo, who had turned back slightly, let out a soft laugh.

“Yes, you seem to be.”

I definitely remembered him as having a very spiteful and annoying impression.

“Thanks for the good words. I will definitely prove it. That it’s possible for knights too.”

Seeing him now, he suddenly looks rather easygoing.

“But I won’t go easy on you next time, you know?”

“Puhahahaha! Of course! Of course you should, Black Knight. I’m rooting for you. For myself, and for you.”

Why was the annoying old man suddenly acting so cool?

But for some reason, this didn’t feel bad either, and I found myself smiling.

‘Ah, right. If this is the case…….’

He had something else to say.

“Sir Alondo’s family is rich, right?”

“Yes. Of course……”

“Then, if you’re thankful, please support our family!”

“……”

As they say, you can’t spit on a smiling face.

As I pushed my shameless request with a broad smile, Alondo froze with a very complicated expression, looking hesitant, before finally giving an awkward nod.

It was a very satisfying night in many ways.

‘It must be a sign that things are about to go well.’

I had woken up annoyed, but was going back to sleep happy.

And the next day.

“Are you ready?”

“Of course.”

“Really?”

Muno nodded vigorously, despite the suspicious gazes of the two people looking at him.

“You heard the situation.”

“We did, but……”

“I won’t be late, so please trust me.”

“Then, let’s go.”

Anthony the Blood Knight, the vice-commander of the Red Iron Knightly Order, and Rantor Selden, the third in command, started to ride their horses, leaving Muno behind.

And their horses seemed to be quite magnificent steeds.

No matter if he had skills like Wind Sprint, it was tough for him, who was on foot, to catch up by running.

“A little slower, please……!!!”

Heeeeeigh!

‘Damn it, things are going well my ass……! This life, really……. F*ck.’

Dududududud.

And so, Muno began the second day of the new year by running his ass off.

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