The Banished Black Swordsman Wants a Peaceful Life with the White Saint in the Frontier ~Huh? You Want Him to Come Back with the Saint? It’s Already Too Late~ - 49

Chapter 49: Extra: The Hero’s Search for Companions 2

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The third one appeared quickly. He was still a young swordsman. His leather armor was worn thin, and his sword was a cheap one that hadn’t been well maintained. But his eyes alone were straight and unwavering.

He doesn’t have bad eyes. But… A swordsman, huh.

Honestly, having Garo and Julius was more than enough for the front line. In fact, they should have requested a healer or a mage. So why had a swordsman shown up? Still, this wasn’t a situation where they could afford to be picky. Unless they increased their numbers and built some kind of track record, nothing would even begin. The young man bowed at the doorway, then moved straight in front of Julius and dropped to one knee.

“To be able to serve the Hero-sama is an honor. I-I’m prepared to risk my life!”

“Oooh…!”

That straightforward sincerity was like a single drop of water to Julius’s parched throat. He felt his pride moisten, just slightly. Yes. This gaze. Julius and the others were a hero’s party certified by the king. They were the ones who should rightfully be looked at like this.

“Alright, I choose y—”

“Hold on a moment, Julius-sama.”

Garo cut off the deciding words. Just as he was starting to feel good, cold water was thrown on him, and Julius frowned.

“What is it, Garo?”

“…Mind if I test this guy’s skills a bit?”

Garo must have had something on his mind. He looked down at the young man as if appraising merchandise.

“…Very well. Then take a look at his practical ability.”

Garo rolled his shoulders and gave a small nod. After that, they moved to the back of the guild, to the mercenaries’ training grounds. There was a small dirt arena in the center, apparently used for practice matches and the like. Other mercenaries followed along out of curiosity. Wooden swords were handed out, and Garo and the young man took their stances. Garo was originally an axe wielder, but it seemed he could handle a sword as well.

It was then, seeing the young man’s stance, that he thought to himself. 

Oh?

His stance was narrow, his center of gravity unstable. It looked like the posture of a raw recruit.

“Begin.”

At Julius’s signal, Garo stepped forward slowly. The young man raised his wooden sword and charged at Garo.

“Yaaah!”

With a shout, the young man swung his sword and launched a flurry of attacks. But Garo didn’t move his large body even an inch. With nothing more than a light twist of his wooden sword, he deflected every single strike. There wasn’t even the sound of wood colliding, only the empty whoosh of blows missing their mark as their force was redirected.

“…Is that enough?”

The moment he muttered that lowly, Garo’s wooden sword flashed sharply. A light strike to the wrist sent the young man’s sword flying through the air. It hit the dirt with a dry sound. By the time the young man turned around, the tip of Garo’s wooden sword was already pressed firmly against his throat.

“That’s it.”

No jeers were shouted. The surroundings were quiet. It had been so one-sided that it wasn’t even funny. Julius felt his stomach creak.

“Just as I thought… You don’t have any real combat experience, do you? With skills like that, at best you’d only be good for carrying luggage.”

Garo slung the wooden sword over his shoulder and let out a big sigh. The young man flushed red and brushed the dirt off himself.

“P-Please let me try one more time! Just now, I was only careless—”

“That’s enough. We’re done.”

At Julius’s words, the young man’s shoulders slumped. He was far too inexperienced. His attitude was good, but in terms of ability, he was an amateur. Worse, he was below even a rookie soldier.

“…I’m saying this for your own good. You should quit being a mercenary. With skills like that, you’ll die quickly.”

Garo said this while glancing sideways at the young man. Despite his appearance, this man was the captain of the royal guard. Having seen countless soldiers, he must have instantly judged the young man’s ability from his bearing alone.

Indeed, his attitude had been admirable. But reality was cruel. Bringing in the weak would only doom the party. The guildmaster shook his head with a weary sigh.

“I’m very sorry, but these three are all we can offer today. People with the strength befitting ‘the Hero’s companions’ that Julius-sama desires are not so easy to find.”

“…Understood.”

Julius gave a short thanks and turned on his heel. Laughter chased after him from behind. Though light in sound, it clung to his ankles like mud from a swamp and wouldn’t let go.

“Hey, Hero-sama.”

As they were about to leave the training grounds, while Garo was putting away his wooden sword, a mercenary leaning against the wall called out. Julius stopped.

“What?”

“Do you know why none of us will take your request?”

“No idea. Probably because every last one of you is nothing but a bunch of cowards who only call yourselves mercenaries?”

Julius spat the words out bitterly. That only a rookie mercenary had shown respect for the Hero made him worry for this country’s future. After all, people who could be bought with money were only worth that much.

“Hahahahaha, you sure say whatever you like. Too bad. That’s wrong.”

The mercenary laughed, then quickly shifted to a sharp gaze.

“For us, information is more important than raw strength.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I mean everyone here knows what happened at the inn yesterday. That the Hero’s party had a falling-out, and the mage and healer left. The only one who doesn’t know is probably that greenhorn kid.”

“Wha—!?”

A shiver ran through Julius’s entire body. He had never imagined that much information was already spread among the common folks. Still, there had been plenty of onlookers at the inn yesterday. It wouldn’t be strange if mercenaries had been among them.

“And then there’s Lloyd Valt. Among us mercenaries, he’s like a living legend. The fact that someone like him was injured so badly he can’t fight, while you lot are perfectly fine… Honestly? That’s hard to believe. Obviously, you must’ve turned your backs on him t—ghaa!”

Before he realized it, Julius had grabbed the mercenary by the collar and slammed him against the wall. In one smooth motion, he drew his sword from its sheath and pressed it to the man’s throat.

“Eek!”

A pitiful sound leaked from the mercenary’s mouth.

“If you say his name again, I’ll kill you. You seem to be misunderstanding something, but I’m stronger than every single one of you here. If you like, shall I put on a little blood festival right now?”

The man shook his head violently, so Julius released his grip and returned the sword to its sheath.

“What are you doing, Julius-sama?”

Garo stood beside him, looking exasperated.

“It’s nothing. We were just playing around a bit. Right?”

When Julius asked, the mercenary nodded furiously.The man shook his head nonstop in every direction.

“…Is that so.”

Garo shrugged and said nothing more. The two of them left the mercenary guild together. Out on the stone-paved street, the sun had just passed its zenith. The creaking of passing wagons, the calls of street vendors, the sour scent of fruit… Today, all the sounds and smells of daily life felt distant.

Garo spoke casually.

“So, what’ll you do? Wait until we find some capable mercenaries?”

“Hmph.”

Julius quickened his pace. Deep in his chest, thick anger and impatience swirled together. After several steps of silence, words spilled out.

“…If I’m going to bow my head to people like that, I’d rather ask His Majesty.”

Garo’s footsteps stopped a beat later.

“If you ask His Majesty, your evaluation will drop, you know?”

Garo said. There was no mockery in his voice, just confirmation. At least, this man seemed to understand that his fate and Julius’s were tied together.

“There’s no one in a place like this worthy of me, the Hero. And besides, there are still plenty of capable people in this country. In that case, it would be faster to have His Majesty find them.”

His own voice sounded clearer than he’d expected. Stating it outright was, in itself, a kind of relief.

“Well, that’s true, I suppose.”

Garo shrugged and resumed walking. He said nothing more. On the way back to the inn, Julius repeated his words to himself again and again.

Asking the king was the best option. It was correct for a Hero. He hadn’t made a mistake. And yet, at the same time, a small voice whispered at the back of his mind.

『Aren’t you already running out of options?』 

Shut up. Be quiet! I’m right. My judgment isn’t wrong!

He crushed that voice underfoot in his mind and silenced it.

Back in his room at the inn, Julius tossed his cloak onto a chair and sat down on the edge of the bed. Mud from his boots fell onto the floor. Noticing his fingers trembling, he pressed them down with his other hand. Outside the window, the setting sun slanted across the stone walls, softly illuminating the red tiles of the roof opposite. Children’s laughter drifted faintly from across the street. Peaceful and distant.

I’ll ask His Majesty. At first, I might get looked down on. My evaluation will probably drop. But… After that, I can restore the honor of the Hero together with new companions. Then everything will work out for the best somehow.

Using those words as a pillow, he closed his eyes. Only by telling himself that did his eyelids finally regain their weight. Staring at the darkened ceiling, Julius slowly lay down. In his chest, the word pride felt strangely light, while the word defeat felt inexplicably heavy. It was not a choice of pride, but a choice of defeat.

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