Side Story 2. A Pleasant Day in the Life of an Apprentice Knight (2) |
Is this really okay?
Even as Ash threw punches while following Arendt’s lead, he couldn’t stop questioning everything.
Really? Is this really okay? We’re knights?
But whenever such thoughts crossed his mind…
“You’re so slow it’s painful to watch. Can’t you move a little more interestingly? Our rookie is watching.”
Arendt’s lines, even more villainous than the villains themselves, sent Ash’s mind into a state of confusion.
Back in the war, he had been known to move swiftly and nimbly across the battlefield, but now his movements were limited.
But that didn’t seem to bother Arendt at all.
Is that guy really crazy?
Arendt barely moved from where he’d started the fight.
Even when a sword slashed past his head, he didn’t blink.
Arendt easily dodged the blade with a slight twist of his head, and then struck the unsuspecting enemy’s weak point with his scabbard.
Ppeuuuk!
“Kuaaak!”
In an instant, one of the enemies was subdued.
It was a movement reminiscent of a well-controlled dance.
Pwak!
Using his healthy leg as support, Arendt spun around and stabbed the enemy in the side with his sword’s hilt.
“Kwak!”
As the man bent over with a strangled cry, he slammed his scabbard into the back of the enemy’s head.
Kwaaang!
A cloud of dust rose, and the large man fell. The short battle ended when the last one who charged at Ash was knocked out with a clean blow to the solar plexus.
“Tsk. Honestly, those weaklings are always the same.” Arendt grumbled, dusting off his gloved hands. He hadn’t even broken a sweat in the commotion just now.
The fools who had so fearlessly attempted to attack the Imperial Knights were all rolling on the floor, groaning.
“Sir, what’s going on?”
“I told you earlier. I got word from the Khan Union.”
Arendt shrugged.
“So I spread a rumor to give them some incentive… That I’d been badly injured during the war and can’t fight anymore. That my knighthood is only honorary now, and I’ve been taken off active combat duty… something like that. People know I have lingering aftereffects, so they took the bait instantly.”
Ash was speechless.
It was no different from deliberately using himself as bait to lure the enemy into letting their guard down and then attacking them.
Was he like this during the war too…?
Ash felt faint.
“Senior, you’re really…”
“Awesome?”
“You’re out of your mind.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
Ash was once again left speechless by this brazen retort.
He’d heard rumors that Captain Laius had even set up a separate villa to keep Arendt imprisoned, but he never thought he’d experience it firsthand like this.
“Anyway, you’re an accomplice now, too.”
“…Huh?”
The unexpected remark snapped Ash back to his senses. Arendt was staring at him.
“You’re an accomplice too. I saw how excited you were beating them up.”
“…”
Ash felt a deep resentment at himself for not being able to deny it. Realizing his own inner turmoil, Ash clutched his head in despair, and Arendt smirked.
“And your role begins now.”
“Huh?”
“The intruders will come now.”
The moment those words fell.
“You troublemakers!”
Arthur’s thunderous roar erupted.
As soon as Arendt nodded, as if to say, “Look,” Arthur and Richt came running in from the other end of the alley.
Richt, taking in the scattered rioters, muttered in bewilderment.
“Oh, this is ridiculous. I knew you were up to something…! Could it be Ash, even you…!”
“Eeek!”
Ash, caught in the act, unconsciously took a step back. Arendt chuckled and patted him on the shoulder.
“What are you doing? You’re not helping me walk?”
“Huh?”
“If we get caught, the nagging will be brutal. Hurry up and run.”
Arendt shamelessly held his arm out toward Ash.
“This is why I brought you along. I even fed you snacks earlier, so pay me back.”
“Ha, but! You stuffed them in my mouth without permission, didn’t you?”
“Shut up. You obediently accepted them, but now you’re talking nonsense.”
“No…! That’s not true…!”
Just as Ash was about to protest, Richt and Arthur, gritting their teeth, began to run towards him.
“You guys stay right there!”
“Ash, if you run away, I’ll punish you during the next training session!”
Arendt was right beside him.
And the two formidable seniors were right in front of him.
Ash’s mind went blank at the pressure squeezing him from both sides.
“What are you doing? Run.”
“Stay right there!”
Arendt’s relaxed voice and Arthur’s shout.
Ash, sweating profusely, finally made a decision.
He grabbed Arendt’s outstretched arm.
“I’m sorry. Senior Arthur! Senior Richt!”
“Hey! They’re running away!”
“Arthur, go that way! Don’t let them escape!”
Arthur made a sharp turn at Richt’s command. Meanwhile, Ash practically lifted Arendt with one arm and leaped over the wall.
“What the heck, Senior, why are you so light?”
Ash was startled by how little he weighed, and Arendt said proudly.
“I reduced my body weight for situations like this.”
“Are you crazy?”
Regardless of whether Ash was panicked or not, Arendt kicked his shin and urged him on.
“Get up on that building. Let’s hide on the roof.”
“I’m not a horse! Don’t kick me!”
“Horses, dragons, juniors. They’re all the same.”
“What the hell are you talking about, Senior!”
Even after screaming for what felt like the umpteenth time, Ash followed Arendt’s command and launched himself toward the roof. Arendt landed softly, turning to look at Ash.
“I know a route where we won’t be caught. Follow me.”
“Haa…”
Ash sighed deeply, but had no choice but to follow him.
Arendt walked precariously, maintaining his balance on the roof. Ash followed him, feeling uneasy.
Before he knew it, Arthur and Richt weren’t even visible, let alone their voices.
“Is this enough?”
Only then did Arendt stop walking along the rooftop. They were quite far from the busy streets, and the surroundings were silent. Ash looked around, bewildered.
“Senior, this is…”
“It’s a hideout I took from some back-alley thugs. They say they often gather here because not many people come here. These houses are almost empty, and they belong to people who fled during the war and never returned.”
Ash decided to give up trying to understand. Regardless, Arendt found a suitable spot and sat down.
“You sit down too.”
“Yes…”
Ash crept closer and, in despair, plopped down next to him.
A cool breeze blew, cooling the sweat that had formed on his forehead.
“Whew…”
He let out a deep sigh without realizing it. Arendt glanced at him and spoke.
“You look like you want to say, ‘What kind of lunatic is this?’”
“…That’s right, sir.”
“Not that I’d deny it.”
Arendt chuckled lightly.
“But honestly… wasn’t it fun?”
Ash froze.
It was the unfamiliar smile that flashed across his face in the cold daylight.
Arendt kept that smile as he looked up at the night sky.
“Teasing people is more fun than you think.”
Ash, who had been staring at him as if entranced, nodded absentmindedly.
“That’s right.”
“…I know it’s weird for me to ask, but… Are you serious?”
“Huh?”
Ash, finally realizing the problem, let out a stupid sound. Arendt was already giving him a bewildered look.
“I’m bad enough as is, but you seem to be born with quite the troublemaker streak.”
“No, no, that’s not what I mean…!”
“Well, your problem will be solved sooner or later.”
Arendt smiled mischievously again.
“Huh?”
Ash asked again, dumbfounded. Now that he thought about it, he’d completely forgotten. He’d complained to Arendt earlier about something.
“People keep getting confused and flinching because they think you’re me right?”
“Ah.”
“And I suggested a solution of my own.”
The content was…
“…You want me to cause trouble like you, Senior?”
“You saw the solution today. You caused it with me.”
“Huh?”
In an instant, Ash felt his blood run cold.
Arendt giggled and collapsed on the roof.
“You’re a troublemaker now, too.”
“Huh? But today, I was just dragged out by you, Senior…!”
As Ash trembled, Arendt, lying down with his arm as a pillow, replied calmly.
“You said it was fun? Then that’s the end of it.”
“But…”
“But what? You’re an accomplice now.”
Arendt looked at Ash with narrowed eyes and asked briefly.
“What? You don’t like it?”
“No, that’s…”
But he did.
“No.”
Ash barely swallowed the words that almost spilled out of his mouth.
The thrill of deviance held a charm that a young man couldn’t resist.
Just like that damn senior in front of him.
“Let’s kill some time and then head back.”
“Yes.”
Holding back his complicated feelings, Ash crouched down next to Arendt.
A brief, natural silence settled between them.
A pleasant breeze blew, ruffling his hair.
But the peace didn’t last long.
“Ah.”
It was because Arendt suddenly jerked up.
Like an animal sensing something ominous, Arendt began to look around hurriedly.
“Senior?”
Just as Ash, puzzled, was about to call out to him…
“Sorry to interrupt your little bonding moment.”
An eerie voice rang out from behind.
“Haaaah!”
Ash nearly lost his balance and tumbled off the roof.
A hand suddenly reached out and grabbed Ash and Arendt, who were about to run away, by the scruff of their necks.
“Ash. Why are you doing this to me, too?”
The voice, filled with every ounce of frustration, anger, and anguish, belonged to none other than Captain Laius.
“C-C-Captain!”
“Honestly. You appear like a ghost.”
Unlike Ash, who was startled, Arendt, clutched by the scruff of his neck, just sighed in annoyance..
“I was just teaching my junior, wasn’t I? Is there a problem?”
A loud sigh escaped Laius’ lips.
“Haaaaaah… Please, how many times do I have to tell you this? Don’t beat people up recklessly. No, at least report it before you act alone, please! I’m begging you!”
“That wouldn’t be fun.”
Laius released his grip on Ash, then flicked his knuckle against Arendt’s forehead.
Whack!
“Ouch!”
“Ash. You too… Haa. No. Forget it.”
Laius swallowed his words and replaced them with a sigh.
“The guys you beat up were arrested by Arthur and Richt. You’re going to get a real scolding when you get back.”
“Yes, Sir… I’m sorry.”
Ash’s shoulders slumped.
“Follow me.”
Laius grabbed Arendt and quickly jumped down from the roof.
The brief game of hide-and-seek was over in an instant. Ash swallowed a deep sigh and followed him.
At that moment, Arendt turned around and met Ash’s eyes.
His playful grin seemed to echo the question he’d asked earlier.
Wasn’t that fun?
Ah.
For a moment, Ash hesitated, unsure of what expression to make, but eventually he broke into a weak smile.
And then, exactly one month later.
The symbolism of the apprentice knight’s uniform changed from “walking disaster” to “follower of walking disaster.”