I Became a Childhood Friend With the Villainous Saintess

61 – Barony of Isquente (3)

Sir Malon was an old knight.

My physical prime has already passed a long time ago, and I am now at a point where I am just glad that it doesn’t get any worse.

He used to raise his voice loudly, saying that he was still making corrections, but it was true that he was now taking a step back from the front line.

When he took off his armor and put on ordinary clothes, Sir Malone looked like just a grumpy old man.

But time could not destroy his value.

An old knight who survived after spending his youth on the battlefield.

He was a human being whose life was an experience itself, beyond simply having thick bones.

Baron Isquente hired Lord Malon as a training instructor at the territory, and he was a master from whom I could learn a lot in terms of swordsmanship.

“Uh-huh! Your skills have improved even though I haven’t seen you in a while. “It’s going to be too much for this old man to handle now.”

“That’s too much praise. “I still have a lot to learn from the Lord.”

“Thank you for your words!”

So, every time I came to the Barony of Isquente, I would ask Lord Malone to spar.

Sir Malone was also willing to accept my requests, and sparring with Sir Malone was helpful to me in many ways.

Should I say that we can expect a textbook-like response? He was a technically exemplary person.

“In particular, the number of irregularities has increased tremendously. “Where did you get this opportunity?”

“I met a good partner.”

“hehehehe! It’s nice to be young. I’m just jealous. Ah, it was especially sharp just now. “It’s hard to deal with.”

“Let’s try a little more. “It’s fun to do this after a long time.”

“Then this time, I will go first.”

How many swords were divided like that? A satisfactory sparring was completed.

We were able to confirm the increased performance and also found one or two things to fix.

After seeing off Sir Malone, Sirien was turning the pages of a book on a bench next to the training ground.

As I got closer, Sirien glanced at me and closed the book.

Her beautiful eyes were curved like a crescent moon and she smiled.

“Is it all over?”

“Yes. “I’m going to leave it at that for today.”

“You worked hard. Do you want some water? “I planned it out in advance.”

“Good. “I’ll drink it well.”

Sirien really knew me well.

Since I was thirsty, I gratefully drank it.

After she finished drinking the water, the book Sirien was reading caught her eye.

‘Contemplation of the contradictions of ancient religious history and divinity’ to be written on the wine-colored leather cover.

It was a title that I would never touch upon.

“Why? “Do you want to know what it’s about?”

“A little bit. But I don’t want to read it.”

“It’s almost exactly what the title says. If the light in the world becomes too strong, everyone will go blind, right? Then, since no one can see the light, it is a contradiction…… Well, it’s not really that important.”

Sirien giggled, pushing her book aside to her.

A hand that seems to naturally pull my hand. I followed Sirien’s hand and sat down next to her.

I sat down and saw that the distance was quite close.

I felt a little bit of warmth because my arms were touching each other.

Sirien’s body was still warm.

“Isn’t training difficult? “I don’t miss a single day.”

“It’s something I’ve always done. “You have to be consistent to improve your skills.”

“It seems amazing to me. I hated studying at the castle every day. “I wanted to play with you rather than study boringly.”

“And you worked pretty hard too.”

“Because there was nothing to do.”

When I was young, Sirien often came to see the knights’ training grounds.

However, he never came close, and all he did was watch in silence from a distance before returning.

I didn’t know because he didn’t tell me, but I heard it was because he wanted to have fun.

I realized once again that I was insensitive.

“So you were hanging out in front of the training ground every day?”

“Uh, huh? “Did you see it then?”

“Then I guess I didn’t see you? “I thought I came to see it because I was bored.”

“I see. “You were watching it then too.”

Sirien muttered softly and raised the corners of his mouth with a smirk.

I felt like I suddenly felt better.

His slightly tilted head leans on my shoulder.

Brilliant silver hair flowed down as if tickling, and her soft cheek touched her forearm.

Sirien’s fingers circled and rubbed my knee.

“You know, have you heard? “They say there will be a festival here starting tomorrow.”

“I heard it briefly from Lord Malone.”

“Really? They sell delicious food and have a lot of fun things to see. “The baron was confident that he had also invited many merchants.”

I took a quick look at Sirien.

She wasn’t looking in this direction, but she knew what she wanted.

Flushed cheeks, gaze to the side as if avoiding me. The mouth flutters a few times and then closes.

I wasn’t that clueless. You must be looking forward to it.

Since Sirien has a disingenuous side, I thought it would be best for me to encourage her in times like this.

“Do you want to go together tomorrow? “I want to go there sometime.”

“Yes, let’s go! I heard earlier that there is bread with plum jam. “I had to try that.”

“We can buy one each and eat it together. “You like plums.”

“So I’m looking forward to it.”

It seemed like I got the answer right.

I felt her cheek twitching on her forearm.

She may have thought she was invisible, but Sirien would let her guard down and become infinitely lax.

He seemed to know a lot about the festival.

Baron Isquente seemed to have told me a lot about this and that.

He must have been excited and talking about his territory because he was very proud of it.

Sirien pretended she wasn’t interested and even though she was grumbling, she would have listened.

“Shall we take a walk? I want to go see the town. “They’re preparing for the festival right now.”

* * *

The village was filled with a festive atmosphere from the moment we entered.

Although it wasn’t finished yet, the anticipation spreading throughout the village was such that it wouldn’t be strange to hold a festival right away.

Various stalls were set up on the outskirts of the village, and there were several merchants who were said to have been brought in by the baron.

Looking at the large stage set up, it seemed like they were preparing for various performances.

Because it was close to the front line, the number of mercenaries and soldiers who came to see it was quite large.

Among them is the symbol of Hybras. There were believers wearing lantern-shaped necklaces, and they recognized Sirien first and greeted him.

“Ah, saint! I was grateful the other day. “Thanks to you, my friend can sleep peacefully.”

“It was something that had to be done. “I’m glad to see that your brother seems to have come to his senses.”

“Saint. “I don’t even know how to pray because my education is short. Can I join the church?”

“Prayer is about the heart. Forms don’t matter if you have a sincere heart. “If you really like it, the priests at the temple will kindly teach you.”

Hybras’ doctrine was also quite popular on the battlefield.

I couldn’t help but like the people who gave ‘proper funerals’ to soldiers who were always with death.

In addition, the doctrine of leading to rest after death also had an attractive aspect.

From the perspective of a religious denomination, divinity can be obtained through the military, so it is like a mutually complementary relationship.

Thanks to this, a temple to Hybras was built in the Barony of Isquente, close to the front lines.

That was the reason why the baron, the lord of this land, always treated him with respect.

A saint of a religious order is treated at the level of a high-ranking noble even in the empire.

It had not yet been revealed to the Baron that Sirien was a direct descendant of Ilencia.

After saying hello to people who recognized us, we passed through the streets where preparations were in full swing and arrived at the center of the village.

The center was much quieter than before, perhaps because preparations had already been completed.

However, the firewood pile made by stacking several large logs caught our eye.

There was no need to say what the firewood was collected for.

“Look at that. On the last night, they lit a big fire. I remember? We also lit a bonfire outside the cabin and played. “It was really fun back then.”

“Wasn’t it just nice to be able to have fun at night?”

“Well, to me, night was like the end of the day. “For the first time, I realized that quiet, quiet time could be fun.”

“Yes. Actually, I had fun too. I was so excited about going home that I screamed and danced to the wrong beat. “Therion just drank orange juice and acted like he was drunk.”

“That’s right, that’s right. “Then do you remember what the four of you promised?”

“How could I forget?”

A promise that Therion made with excitement.

Sirien, Therion, me, Henna. He said that if the four of them got together again, he would grant their wish.

Sirien, caught in the mood, offered her hand and said that she would also listen.

Although it is now a distant task.

“When I think about it, you were always there in my first memory.”

“Because we are childhood friends. “I am also your knight now.”

“Okay then. You are my knight. “You must continue to stay with me.”

Sirien suddenly hugged my arm.

Her unique warm body temperature was conveyed, and her fluffy texture made me feel embarrassed.

These days, the physical distance from Sirien seemed to be getting closer and closer.

“Even though there are no two people, you are still the most precious person to me.”

“Well, that’s the same for me… ….”

“Yes. I’m glad you said that. So this time, I will keep my promise.”

Her gloved fingers pointed towards her dry pyre.

“If you come here with me on the last day, I will grant your wish.”