A/N: Byron’s point of view.
~Byron’s Perspective~
When the merchant Norton approached me about it, I thought it was a bad idea.
Norton, with his usual affable smile on his face.
“Byron, those people are the, um… are Lockharts. They are very popular around here and have recently made a name for themselves among the dwarves of Ars. We’d really like to form an amicable relationship with them. Please cooperate with us.” (Norton)
Norton does business between the Kingdom of Caum and Pericritor.
He wants to have a good relationship with the dwarves so that he can sell weapons made by the dwarves of Ars, the capital of the Kingdom of Caum, to adventurers.
“There is a man as the escort with two children, a woman, but even if the escort is skilled, it seems too risky to me.” (Byron)
“Would you mind meeting them once? They are already at the entrance of the inn.” (Norton)
I shrugged my shoulders and followed Norton down to the first floor.
At the entrance of the inn, a slender man in leather armor was waiting.
Behind him was a boy of about 12 or 13 years old, carrying a brand-new sword that was too big for his frame, a girl a little younger than that, and a female adventurer wearing a hood.
(Is that a noble kid who dabbled in swordsmanship… The kind of guy who thinks they are the best. The type that doesn’t listen to anything I say because they act like they’re a hero. The other girl is dangerous too. She’s in disguise, but she looks like the daughter of a nobleman as if she’s asking people to attack her.) (Byron)
I decided to reject Norton’s suggestion.
I played the role of a blatant dislikable fella, so that they would go to another trading company.
“Norton, this is not part of the contract? I thought we agreed not to add any more baggage to the contract. Obviously, these guys are baggage.” (Byron)
Norton did not break his usual affable smile, but his eyes protested that I should choose my words a little more carefully.
Byron, it’s not polite to call them baggage. This is Guy Jakes, the squire of Govan Lockhart, the Lionheart. And also, a fourth rank adventurer and healer.” (Norton)
I don’t think he is wrong.
(Surely this squire can do it. The other one is a fourth-rank adventurer and healer. I’m probably better at swordsmanship, judging from the way he moved, my guys can’t compete. But two kids are quite risky.) (Byron)
I didn’t change my rude stare and decided to complain more in order to get Norton to give up.
“Certainly, this man can do it. The woman could be useful as a healer, too. But I don’t want to take a nobleman’s child with me. Not only will they be useless, they will act selfish and slow you down.” (Byron)
A man named Guy snaps at my words.
“Take back your words! Master Zacharias is the grandson of the former lord, Master Govan Lockhart. It would be disrespectful to treat his family on the same level as the son of a typical noble.” (Guy)
(This man seems to be serious about his allegiance. A man of this stature swearing loyalty. So, there is more to him than just being called “Lionheart”. But he also seems to be serious about this kid. Does a man of this power approve of a kid like this? No, he’s just angry because he’s the grandson of his respected lord.) (Guy)
I was a little uncomfortable with my own thoughts at this point.
It seemed to me that Guy, a first-class man, was acknowledging the competence of a kid who was just under ten years old.
As Guy and I glared at each other, Norton’s affable smile beside me gradually turned into a tug.
(Sorry Norton, but I have fifteen subordinates. I’ll let you know what I think, no matter what you say.) (Byron)
While I was thinking this, Lockhart’s grandson approached me.
“Byron. You said I’d be a liability, but how do you know that without seeing what I can do?” (Zack)
There was not a trace of childishness in his tone, nor did he sound like an arrogant aristocratic brat. His tone was so calm and cool-headed that it seemed like he was simply stating the facts.
(I might have misunderstood this kid… No, that shouldn’t be the case. Though, I have never talked to a noble’s child before. So maybe it’s just in my mind.) (Byron)
As we were talking, people started to gather around us. My men heard the commotion and came down the stairs.
(This is not good. If we take any more time, my men may come to us. I can’t refuse, but I don’t want any trouble with the nobles….) (Byron)
I was about to tell my men to back off when Zacharias, the nobleman’s brat, provoked my men.
“Guy, let’s not do this. This man cannot even measure a man’s strength. Mercenaries led by such a man cannot possibly be good. It would be much more dangerous for us to work together. …Norton, I’d like to take you up on the offer, but let me decline…” (Zack)
A young subordinate of mine reacts to Zacharias’ provocation.
“Don’t ignore me! Captain, is it okay if I strangle this cheeky brat?” (Mercenary)
As expected, the outburst was violent. I feel the urge to press my fingers against my temples.
(You idiot! The other party is a noble… what should I do? If we get involved in something like this, we won’t be able to make a living as mercenaries. Merchants don’t hire a mercenary group that caused trouble with nobles. It’s really bad…) (Byron)
As I hesitated for a moment, Guy said, “You threaten to strangle him! You!” I took a step forward.
I tried to get in front of him to stop my men.
It only took a moment. I took my eyes off the kid, Zacharias.
The next thing I knew, he was in my range. He held an oddly shaped knife to my heart and muttered, “You can’t keep up with this level of movement… Guy, we’re the ones pulling them up!”
No one, including me, could keep up with his movements.
I was certainly caught off guard.
But I had been a garrison guard and a mercenary for more than 20 years, and I was proud of myself. I had been treated like a good-for-nothing by this brat.
Before I could move, he called out to Guy and was leaving the inn.
Without thinking, I shouted, “Wait!” I shouted.
If we let these guys go, we wouldn’t be able to do any work around here.
We would become a laughingstock if a mercenary party with fifteen men, no matter how skilled in arms I was, was treated like a child of about ten years old or younger by the Lockhart family. Onlookers here would spread the story for amusement.
The Lockhart family is especially popular here in Kilnarc. Naturally, this is the topic of conversation in the taverns. I don’t think it would take that long for it to spread along the Ars Highway.
He didn’t even turn around at my words and replied with the same calm, and cool tone as before, “You don’t deal with children like me, do you?”
In a panic, I shouted again, “Wait! I can’t let you go back like this.” At this point, I had completely lost my composure.
He slowly turned around.
Then, without changing his expression at all, he said, “What? Do you plan on having a serious fight with a child?” He tilted his head deliberately.
I almost lost my temper at his theatrics and the look of triumph on Guy’s face. But I managed to suppress my anger.
“I can’t keep doing this job if a kid ridiculed me. Let’s see what Lionheart Govan’s grandson can do?” (Byron)
As I said this as if I was trying to squeeze out a conversation, he came after me.
“Is that really necessary? You’re the one who said I was a liability just by looking at me. If you don’t at least admit that you were wrong, then I have no reason to be here.” (Zack)
(This kid isn’t what he looks like. He’s really sly. I didn’t think I’d be backed into a corner this far, but my judgment was wrong in the first place. …As they say, a lion’s cub is still a lion. No, the grandson of that Lion….) (Byron)
“I apologize for what I said earlier. I’d like to have a meeting with Master Lockhart.” (Byron)
I managed to regain my composure and bowed.
For a moment, his face seemed to smile.
(It was as if he could see right through me. This guy is going to be a big shot. I’m no Norton, but it might be fun to make his acquaintance.) (Byron)
As I was thinking this, Zacharias said, with a serious look on his face, that he accepted the apology. But what he said afterward shocked me even more.
“I accept your apology. I’m still a novice swordsman, even on hand-to-hand combat. Perhaps it would be better for you to see how good I am at magic.” (Zack)
(After all those moves, he said he was better at magic! I can’t believe he’s a magician with that Body Arts…) (Byron)
I was intrigued by this boy Zacharias. And naturally, I said, “You’re a magician… I’d like you to lead me to the guild’s training grounds.”
What followed was a series of surprises.
First, I was surprised by the other kid who I thought was a complete liability.
A girl who looked who couldn’t even kill an insect unleashed magic on the level of a full-fledged magician in Pericritor.
(If I get hit by that, I’ll stagger too. If Zacharias closes the distance with his earlier move while I’m there, he’s sure to get me. …I never thought I could picture myself losing to such a brat. Well, I don’t think that young girl can be used in actual combat, but…) (Byron)
But I still had room to spare. But when I saw his magic, I froze for a few seconds with my mouth open.
(The girl’s magic was just enough to blow the target out at the base, which is great in the countryside. But this brat’s magic blew the whole foundation off. If I took a hit from that, I am sure to be blown away. Taking a lot of damage. Even if I manage to get back up… it’s just shy of the level of horrific…) (Byron)
I was looking at him with self-mockery, and gasps were escaping from the onlookers.
I guess because I didn’t say anything, he told me that he had experience in actual combat.
“By the way, I’ve been in real combat before, and so has Sharon here. Well, wolves and goblins, at least.” (Zack)
(He read me completely. As this guy said, I ain’t got a good eye for people…) (Byron)
I completely conceded defeat.
“It was Master Zacharias, wasn’t it? I’m sorry for what I said earlier. If you’re a magician of this caliber you would not slow us down. Furthermore, the divine speed of your footwork just before. As expected of the one who draws the blood of the one who is called Lionheart. We would like you to work for you, by all means.” (Byron)
As I say this, Zacharias holds out his hand to me with a friendly smile.
“Just call me Zack. And no need for honorifics. Guy, I wouldn’t mind going with Byron, but I’ll leave it to you to decide.” (Zack)
(Is this brat really a child? That act saved my life. The onlookers must have thought that Lockhart’s genius had recognized me. And he’s standing up for Guy, the man. He knew Guy was angry with me and dared to pass judgment. He has more charisma than I do…) (Byron)
I couldn’t decide what to do, so I just held the right hand that was being offered to me.
I could feel a swordsman’s callous in his right hand, even through the glove, and I could sense that he had undergone rigorous training.
(Not even a man with a big head. He said his sword was inexperienced, but probably quite good. No wonder a squire of his stature admires him so much.) (Byron)
In the end, we were allowed to accompany Master Zacharias all the way to Pericritor.
Afterward, Norton told me how old Master Zacharias was, but at first, I couldn’t believe it and had to ask him twice.
(So much magic and swordsmanship at only ten years old. The most frightening thing about him is his insight. He has the blood of a hero, but perhaps the “lion” gave birth to the “dragon.” …I heard he was a second son, but with that caliber, wouldn’t he have been better off that way? I think he’s going to do great things beyond the Lockhart domain…) (Byron)
I was convinced that Master Zacharias was going to be a great man. And I’m hoping that he’ll give me, a hothead second-rate mercenary, a chance.
(Perhaps luck has turned in my direction. This person will definitely go far in the world. I’m glad I got to know such a person… But at this rate, his impression of me is weak. It would be great to leave a better impression…) (Byron)
I was a mercenary who thought about things unexpectedly.
I guess mercenaries who can’t think this much would be out of a job.
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