【The Old Man of the Expelled Inn Unwittingly Dominates Today Too】Although I Want to Lead a Slow Life, for Some Reason the Strongest Beauties Who Hold Important Positions in the Country, and Were Once My Disciples, Gather Around Me Asking to Be Hired – Even Though I Only Taught Them a Little～ - Chapter 17: The Past of Swordmaster Alesia

Several days after returning to the inn “Father Inn” from the royal castle, we were preparing for our departure tomorrow. Well, I’ve only got this cheap sword when it comes to equipment. Maybe a brand new white T-shirt as well. Wearing an old white tee would be inappropriate. Not that it smells or anything.

“Master, a courier delivery from the Kingdom of Fridania.”

The magical doll Sera carries in loads of packages into the lobby. It’s incredible how she lifts multiple heavy-looking wooden boxes with those slender arms. She’s been able to make such outrageous moves ever since I started channeling my “fighting spirit” into her. But, honestly, it’s a bit problematic. Sera runs not on pure magic but on an old man’s “fighting spirit,” which is a substitute. I hope it’s not overworking her before she breaks down. I should pay more attention to her physical condition.

The sender of the mountain of wooden boxes piled up in the lobby is Princess Mariessia of Fridania. And what’s inside the boxes…

“It’s Anpan!”

Wow, wow, wow, this is amazing! Or should I say, this is wild!

“Hehe, Baldo-sama, you love Anpan, don’t you?”

“Liena, look at this! It’s from that famous store! And this one’s a unique version with mugwort and herbs!”

“Princess Mariessia seems to be very concerned about you, Baldo-sama.”

“Hmm? She probably said it was to apologize for the false charges that led to my exile. But getting this many Anpans makes me feel a bit awkward.”

“Master, there seems to be a letter included. It’s an unpleasant letter with a heart mark.”

For the first time, Sera hands me a letter, visibly disgusted.

“Eh? A letter?”

It’s from Princess Mariessia. Reading it, there are embarrassingly written lines like, “I can’t sleep thinking about you ♡” and “Let’s go on a date next time ♡.”

She’s got the wrong letter in here. No matter how you think about it, this isn’t content you’d send to an older man. Mariessia must’ve intended to include a description of the various Anpans. I’ll pretend I didn’t see this.

“To add hearts when addressing Master, unforgivable. Sending such an unpleasant letter.”

“No, no, she probably just mistakenly included it. Princess Mariessia must be busy, too. I’m grateful for all these Anpans she sent.”

Sera still seemed irritable, apparently not convinced. I wonder if even magical dolls go through sensitive phases.

But why does she treat me, just some older man, this well?

Even if I were falsely accused and exiled, I wouldn’t think a princess of Fridania would have the time to care about an innkeeper like me. I don’t get it.

I scratch my head as I pick out an Anpan.

“Hehe, Baldo-sama, you are thick-headed. Well, it might be better for me that way. Being a close-by princess has its advantages over a distant one.”

Huh? Thick-headed? What’s she talking about?

Is my odor too strong? Should I change my white tee? But you can’t help it at this age.

“Never mind. More importantly, we’re finally setting off tomorrow. Let’s go to bed early today. You have to work a lot as the general of the Special Operations Forces.”

“Uh… General?”

Somehow, this older man ended up as a commander.

Honestly, I wish they’d let me be.

But I must admit, “Special Operations Forces” sounds cool.

It sounds like a mysterious, unpredictable particular unit.

Well, let’s do what I can as an older man.

After dinner, we start preparing for an early bedtime. Alesia seems to have already retired to her room.

By the way, Liena has started to stay at this inn occasionally. She says it’s too much trouble to come from the castle. She’s still a princess, though.

“By the way, Baldo-sama, it seems the light is on in Alesia’s room quite late. Do you think she’s studying or something? She’s gotten used to the inn work, so I hope she isn’t overworking herself.”

Hmm, that’s probably not study, but…

“Ah, I see. Thanks for letting me know, Liena. You should also get some rest soon.”

After parting ways with Liena, I knock on Alesia’s private room.

“Alesia, are you alright?”

“Ma-Master…”

Alesia’s room is filled with lamps, and her face appears between them.

The room is almost blindingly bright with all those lamps. The heat from the lights makes her break out into a slight sweat.

“Can you come over here?”

“Yes…”

I hold Alesia’s hand and slowly pull her out from the mountain of lamps.

“I-I’m sorry, Master. To show such an unsightly appearance in front of you…”

Her beautiful blue eyes are red, and her hand is slightly trembling.

“It’s alright; no need to be so hard on yourself. Like I’ve always said, everyone has a weakness or two.”

——Yes, Alesia’s significant weakness is her fear of the dark.

This stems from events in her childhood. Before she met me, she was abused. She was born as the daughter of some noble, but her biological parents died early. Her stepmother took over the household. From there, she was subjected to abuse and harassment from her stepmother and daughter. And Alesia would often be locked up in a dark room without any light.

Day in and day out, she was confined to a world of darkness with no light.

She kept being told she was useless. Later, nearly everyone in her household died in a fire, but Alesia miraculously survived.

She and her uncle arrived at my inn in the Kingdom of Fridania after a journey with no destination. Her only relative, the uncle, didn’t survive the injuries from the fire and soon passed away. Thus, I took care of young Alesia in my inn.

Later, the then-Captain of the Knights of Fridania saw our training and scouted Alesia as a knight-in-training. Since then, she worked hard and climbed up to being a Swordmaster.

Therefore, for Alesia, darkness is the cause of a trauma that denies her very existence from its root.

“It’s been so many years since then… I still haven’t changed since the time I was with Master… I’m so weak. It’s disappointing to hear that someone like me is a Swordmaster, isn’t it?”

I gently place my hand on Alesia’s trembling back.

“Whether you’re a Swordmaster or not, fears are fears. It’s completely normal. If you’re struggling, you can always rely on those around you. Liena and Sera are there, too. And if an old man like me is good enough, I’ll help as much as possible.”

Saying this, I gently rub Alesia’s back.

She seems to have calmed down quite a bit.

I focus my 【Fighting Spirit】 on the magic lamp, lighting the room almost fiercely.

It’s natural to be afraid of the dark. All you have to do is make it bright. Effort to overcome it is essential, too, but that can come gradually.

Alesia seemed relieved; the tension seemed to snap, and she closed her eyes, falling into sleep.

Oops, I brought some sweet bread to eat together, but I guess that’ll have to wait until tomorrow.

——Rest easy. I’ll turn all your darkness into light.

I gently lay her on the bed and quietly leave Alesia’s room.