Dream Life Vol II Chapter 5: “Lionheart”

　After finishing our negotiations with Byron, we were on our way to the city.

　With the arrival of the merchant caravan from the south, the main street was bustling with activity, and the stores were calling out to us.

　The sight of men and women dressed like mercenaries parading through the streets was quite fantastical, and I looked around as I walked.

“Seeing them like that makes me think I was mistaken when I saw him crossing arms with the mercenaries earlier.” (Liddy)

　Liddy was talking to Guy with dismay.

“However, just now, my anger has subsided. As expected of Master Zack. You saw that Byron is a better swordsman than I am, and he’s so strong that he could probably hold his own against Nicholas.” (Guy)

　Guy addressed me with a happy face,

“When did you realize I was putting on a show?” (Zack)

　After thinking for a moment, Guy said,

“…Well, I guess it started when you made the comment about doubting Byron’s ability?” (Guy)

　I nodded, thinking it was the right time for me too, but I couldn’t figure out why he’d noticed.

“How did you know?” (Zack)

“Master Zack usually approves of people of any status who are capable. You were never angry when people tried to test you, as they had done with Rob the hunter and the others. But this time, you did not even try to persuade them but acted as if you were trying to pick a fight with them. That’s when I felt something was wrong. You must have a plan.” (Guy)

　I was impressed by Guy’s observational skills.

(He’s looking at things surprisingly well. He’s a bit overzealous, but maybe that’s the kind of thing Grandfather liked about him and made him a squire.) (Zack)

　I was a little embarrassed to be praised that much.

“I’m sure you’re right, but I don’t like people who don’t like me either. It just so happens that there are no people I didn’t like in Rathmore Village.” (Zack)

　Guy shook his head,

“But didn’t you recognize the man’s abilities from the moment you met him? I was in a state of confusion at the time, but Master Zack was calm. So, I was wondering if you had any ideas on how to break his resistance.” (Guy)

　I wave my hand and say, “You’re overestimating me. I didn’t know at the beginning,” I replied with a laugh.

“You’re funny, aren’t you? I was just thinking at the time, ‘Oh, this is a bad idea.’” (Zack)

　The normally quiet Sharon nods her head Liddy says, “I didn’t realize it until the end.”

　I felt a little embarrassed and decided to change the subject.

“Speaking of which, Norton and Byron called Grandfather Lionheart, what did they mean by that?” (Zack)

　Guy happily answered my inquiry.

“The name Lionheart is a title given to my grandfather by His Excellency the Count of Roswell. When the former lord was in the Northern Governor’s Army…”

　Guy explained that when Grandfather was with the Northern Governor of the Caelum Empire and a subordinate of the Count of Roswell, he had saved the life of the Count of the Frontier’s heir, the current Count of the Frontier. Hearing of his success, the previous Count of the Frontier gave him the title “Lionheart,” which means with the heart of a lion, and the crest of a lion as his family crest.

　When I asked for more details, Guy happily explained. The following is a brief summary.

　My grandfather, who led a platoon of the Northern Governor’s Army, was assigned to the company of the heir of the Count of the Frontier. He was famous as a young but powerful man even then, and the Count of Frontier trusted him enough to entrust his son to his care.

　The company led by the heir went to the battlefield against the Holy Kingdom of Lux, but they got lost on the way and entered the Moenia Mountains in Lux.

　If they had turned back immediately, there would have been no problem, but the company leader, the heir of the Count of the Frontier, insisted on breaking through the mountain path, and the company went even deeper into the mountains.

　Unfortunately, deep in the mountains was the village of the Holy Kingdom Lux’s most elite unit, the Beastfolk Assassins Squad.

　My grandfather and his group were attacked in the mountains by the beastfolk in a guerrilla battle. A hundred soldiers, except for the platoon led by my grandfather, were almost completely destroyed and reduced to about 50 men, including those who were injured. The company was then in danger of being wiped out.

　In order to protect his lord, the heir of the Count of the Frontier, my grandfather led his own platoon to launch a counterattack.

　At that time, many of my grandfather’s men, such as Walt, Nicholas, and Hector, were excellent men, and they led the company in a mortal struggle against a squad of about 30 beastfolk, almost as many as my grandfather.

　My grandfather also defeated several of the beastfolk, despite being wounded all over. After a full day of fighting, his allies came to his rescue, but what they saw was the bloodied figure of my grandfather intimidating the beastfolk on the battlefield, which was littered with the corpses of both friend and foe.

　The information was passed down to the frontier count, who gave him the title “Lionheart,” in reference to a lion who subdued wild beasts and beastfolk with his might.

(I guess the mithril knife he gave me on my tenth birthday was a gift from his commander. But I never heard him talk about that ever…) (Zack)

“But I never heard such a story from Grandfather nor from Father?” (Zack)

“I didn’t serve the former lord at the time, so I don’t know much about it, but I heard that the former lord, who was knighted, was harassed by the nobles at every turn. It seems that they did not like the fact that a commoner was even given a title by His Excellency, the Count of the Frontier. I think that was one of the reasons why this story was never told in the house.” (Guy)

“Yes, that’s true. I don’t know what happened when he first came to the village, but I once asked Govie why he had retreated to the village. He didn’t say clearly at that time, but only that he had fulfilled his duty to his lord. It sounds like he was going through quite a lot.” (Liddy)

　Liddy doesn’t seem to know the details either.

　A commoner, a “boorish man”, had become a knight. And that serious person doesn’t know how to socialize as a noble. The nobles would have refrained from harassing him if he humbly asked them to let him join them, but judging from my grandfather’s personality, he would not have done such a thing.

　Taking advantage of the retirement of the previous Count, he led Walt and others and moved to the frontier village of Rathmore. The name “Lionheart”, which became the catalyst for this, was probably not a very good memory for Grandfather.

(Speaking of Lionheart, it’s a title befitting a king. There must have been many people who thought it was a waste to bestow it to a commoner…) (Zack)

　We walked around town talking about such things, but as dinner time was approaching, we decided to return to the inn.

　Back at the inn, I tried to train as usual, but Guy told me to take the rest of the day off so I wouldn’t be tired tomorrow or later.

　I wasn’t that tired, but I decided to listen to Guy, who was a seasoned traveler and went back to my room.

　I remembered about the meal and asked Guy why he decided for us to eat in the room.

“Well, we were supposed to have our meals in the room, was that all right?” (Zack)

“’It would have been fine in the dining room, but many in this town know my face, and I thought it would be a nuisance to Master Zack and Lydia…” (Guy)

　Guy seemed to be concerned that Liddy and I would not like it, as people he knew would call out to him when he was eating with us.

　I don’t think I would have minded much, but I was grateful to Guy for thinking of Liddy.

　The room assignment was, as expected, a combination of me, Guy, Liddy, and Sharon.

　A little disappointing, but unavoidable.

　Another disappointment was that there was no bathroom in the inn. I wanted to take a bath to wash away the fatigue of the trip, but I was told that there were no such facilities in this inn, or rather, in this town.

“Probably there won’t be any baths until we get to Pericritor. If you want to wipe yourself off, I can get you some hot water” (Guy)

　Guy’s words reminded me that the public bathhouse in the village of Rathmore was a valuable facility. So, I just ask for hot water.

“Whenever I go away, I often think of the baths that Master Zack built for us. I think it is truly the village’s treasure.” (Guy)

　Guy went to the front desk to ask for hot water, and I was left alone.

　I lay in bed and thought about the day.

(A lot has happened in one day, hasn’t it? My eyes still tear up when I think of the village… but I was excited to see the city for the first time. A foreign land, foreign people, foreign culture… that said, tomorrow we would be on a dangerous journey. I had to keep my wits about me, but I couldn’t help but be excited…) (Zack)

　I guess I’m more tired than I thought I was. I was more tired in spirit than in body, and I think I slept until Guy came back.

　I am startled awake by the sound of the door slamming open.

(No good. My [Detection] isn’t helping… It’s good that this town is safe, but I need to ready myself…) (Zack)

　We wipe ourselves off with the hot water Guy brought and have dinner when we feel a little refreshed.

　Liddy and the others join us in our room. The food is not as good as the food in the mansion, but it tastes better than I expected, and I slowly savor the meal.

　Through the open wooden window, we can faintly hear the bustle of the bar.

(Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I’ve been in an atmosphere like this. I haven’t seen it since I was in Japan. …It really was the frontier, wasn’t it, our village…) (Zack)

　After chatting with Liddy and the others, I decided to go to bed, even though it was still early.

　As soon as I lay down on the bed, I fell asleep and fell asleep.

　The next morning, I woke up refreshed at the crack of dawn and quietly left the room so as not to wake Guy, who was sleeping beside me.

　As usual, I headed for the inn’s backyard to do my morning workout.

　The innkeepers had already started preparing breakfast.

　I washed my face lightly at the well, trying not to disturb them, and began swinging the brand-new bastard sword that Bertram had given me.

　I wasn’t familiar with this sword. Since I had it made much larger, it was heavier than the wooden swords I had used before, and my body wobbled every time I swung it.

(I should swing it during breaks, too. This is totally useless in a real battle. Byron might have said I was slowed down by this brand-new sword. He’s not wrong….) (Zack)

　After about ten minutes, Guy also came to the backyard to exercise.

　The Lockhart squires never miss a workout under any circumstances. Even Nicholas, who is in charge of internal affairs, trains in the morning and in the evening and participates in the Village Patrol training every few days.

　Naturally, Guy also never misses a day of training. He became a squire because of his admiration towards my grandfather, so he trained hard to win Grandfather’s approval.

　After greeting each other, the two of us practiced together. We continue to swing for about 30 minutes, with occasional pointers from Guy. Halfway through, Sharon joins us and begins swinging her own slender short sword.

　As I concentrate on my swinging, my sweat flows and my breath rises, but I feel like I can’t start my day without doing this.

(I’ve been doing this since I was four years old. It’s been six years now…) (Zack)

　After I finished my bare hands, I washed my face, washed my sweat off with the cold water from the well, and went back to my room.

　Liddy was awake by then and greeted me with a languid expression.