The Sword Master’s Son-in-Law

– The Second Outing (2)

Among the snow-covered mountain range, only a single mountain remained untouched by snow.

And directly below that mountain.

A long fortress wall had been erected.

“I’m much too late, it seems.”

Bertrenia, standing at the entrance of the fortress wall, chastised herself.

Putting her mission aside, and meeting a man…

“Honestly, I’m hopeless.”

But there are things in this world that cannot be helped.

And so, Bertrenia rationalized her actions.

The place where Bertrenia was currently standing was the entrance of the fortress wall.

Here, these were the ramparts guarding Horn, capital of the dwarven kingdom of Hoorn.

“Perhaps… she’ll be there?”

Bertnia pictured the largest forge in the entire kingdom of Hoorn.

A place she’d only heard whispered of in rumor.

Among the countless forges, this one was exceedingly special.

The very place a master smith had forged the Sword of White Blossoms.

And so, Bertnia passed through the gates, stepping into Horn.

Bertnia’s first impression upon entering was this:

“Hmm… I don’t think I’ll be indulging in *that* here.”

*That,* meaning the pursuit of charming men.

Horn was teeming with dwarves.

And because of that…

They were, on the whole, rather short of stature.

Bertnia, with her personal penchant for taller men,

intuitively knew she wouldn’t be engaging in diversions here.

However, there was one fact still unknown to her.

The Asia’s party that Bertnia sought to join had not yet arrived in the kingdom of Hoorn.

Which was only natural.

After all, Bertnia was unaware that Asia had made a stop in the Vladik Mercenary State.

“I could very well be scolded by the Count at this rate. I must hurry and join up with Miss Asia.”

And so, Bertnia headed towards her destination, oblivious to the fact that she was now the one who would be waiting.

*

‘I wish to repay your kindness.’

Asia had said that quite suddenly.

I’d recognized her meaning at once.

Repaying kindness.

“She must feel like her advancement was thanks to me.”

It was all Asia’s own effort, yes, but my advice had marked the starting point for her change.

It was with that sentiment that she’d suggested this outing.

To repay her debt.

I had no particular reason to refuse, so I accepted.

And on the promised day…

“I’m so sorry. Am I terribly late?”

“Ah, not at all.”

Asia wore attire unlike anything I’d seen her in before.

Whereas previously she’d favored clothes suitable for movement, she was now in a light dress.

And unlike the dress she wore on our previous outing at the Messiah territory, this one boasted ornate lace patterns.

“I, I’ll guide you!”

Asia lightly took my arm, leading me forward.

“You don’t need to think about anything! I’ve planned everything!”

“Understood.”

.

.

.

The first place Asia led me was a theatre.

A place for plays.

“Two adult tickets, please.”

“Hm?”

“Why, why is that?”

“Young Miss Asia is still…”

Not an adult, is she?

Sixteen, I believe.

“Well, I just feel like it. I want to buy tickets as an adult.”

“Ah, very well.”

I suppose this is just one of the luxuries a noble might indulge in.

And so, we entered the theatre, found our seats and sat down.

I whispered to Asia, seated beside me.

“Excuse me—”

“Hee!”

Startled, Asia jumped, as if from a sudden secret.

“Ah… I apologize.”

“Oh, no, it’s alright. But why did you whisper?”

“I’m curious about what play we’re seeing today.”

I hadn’t properly looked or listened to what kind of play it would be.

I had simply followed Asia.

“It’s an adaptation of the children’s book, ‘The Tale of Marcus,’ into a play.”

Marcus?

That sounds familiar…?

That question only flickered briefly before the play began, and I focused on that.

.

.

.

Midway through the performance.

Marcus was acquiring a new sword.

A sound shattered the serene silence that filled the theatre.

“Shepherius!!!”

Naturally, everyone’s gaze turned toward the source of the cry.

‘Ah… a stranger.’

Although his face was familiar, someone I had met recently, and the sword he cradled was one I had gifted him –

He was a stranger.

“Such an embarrassing person.”

The voice came from Teddy.

At the same moment, it dawned on me.

‘Come to think of it, Marcus… Wasn’t that the hero Teddy kept talking about?’

The master of Shephilius, the one Teddy had repeated countless times.

I glanced sideways at Asia.

Asia, too, seemed mortified, her cheeks flushed as she lowered her head.

Careful not to disrupt the play, I whispered to Asia again.

This time, I tapped her shoulder once, so she wouldn’t be startled.

“It would be best if you pretended not to notice.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Hm?

Had she not noticed Teddy?

Then, why was her face so red?

Wasn’t it because she was ashamed of Teddy’s behavior?

Could it be…?

I gestured towards Teddy.

Teddy, being reprimanded by a theater employee.

Asia’s expression hardened upon seeing it.

“Oh, Teddy? Why is Teddy getting told off over there?”

“Well… he made a bit of a loud noise… Didn’t you hear it?”

It was a sound that echoed through the theater, impossible to miss.

“Ah… I, I guess I was too focused on the play to notice!”

“Is that so…?”

To be able to concentrate that intensely on the play.

I realized Asia’s focus was higher than I had imagined.

*

The play ended, and Arthur and Asia emerged outside.

Asia was thinking.

‘I couldn’t properly focus on the play at all.’

Arthur sat beside her.

Each time his arm brushed against hers, her face grew warmer.

It was so embarrassing…

‘My heart was racing.’

Asia pulled herself together once more.

There was a purpose to this outing.

She couldn’t let Arthur’s casual skinship shake her.

She should be the one initiating the skinship, and Arthur should be the one embarrassed by it.

‘I even bought an adult ticket on purpose, so he wouldn’t think of me as a child.’

Buying the adult ticket had been part of Asia’s plan from the start.

Asia had envisioned this outing as a way to imprint the idea of a date onto Arthas’s mind.

But seeing him speak so casually into her ear,

Asia felt as though her plan had already crumbled.

But–.

Asia still had more in store.

“Arthas-nim… Next, let’s go boating!”

“Boating, you say?”

“It’s a bit of a walk, but I heard there’s a lake nearby where we can rent a boat.”

Asia had gotten this information from Melia.

‘Honestly, I was wandering around because I had nothing to do, and a man came up to me and asked me out! Hmph! I’m just as popular as you, milady!’

The date Melia was offered involved boating on this very lake.

Even with a gentle breeze, a boat is bound to sway.

The slightest movement could cause it to rock.

Thus, a staged stumble, a natural touch, would be possible.

“A boat, you ask?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm….”

“Is something the matter?”

“No, it doesn’t sound bad.”

Arthas recalled his past life.

He seemed to have lived so relentlessly.

A futile death it was.

Perhaps it was because he had lived that kind of life.

‘I never once rode a boat.’

Not even a simple paddle boat.

That’s how devoid of leisure his life had been.

As Arthas was lost in reflection on his new life,

Asia was muttering to herself.

“I can do it. I can do it. I can do it.”

A natural touch.

That was Asia’s current objective.

*

A vast lake.

So expansive that if you were to drift to the center, you couldn’t return without oars.

And the lake was surrounded by a dense forest.

A space that felt like a fairy tale.

Also, there were more people than she had anticipated.

‘Hmm… most of them are couples.’

The patrons who frequented this lake.

The majority of them were pairs of men and women.

I glanced sideways at Asia.

‘Surely she knows people usually come to places like this with lovers, right?’

Asia was acting strangely today.

Almost like she couldn’t concentrate on anything.

An awkwardness hung in the air.

Honestly, it would be stranger if I *didn’t* know why Asia was acting like this.

A phrase I’d once said to that old geezer suddenly surfaced in my mind.

‘But what if your granddaughter really does fall for me?’

A question that was almost a joke.

But it seemed like that joke had become reality.

I had a gut feeling.

‘Asia has fallen for me.’

The awkwardness she’d been displaying these past few days.

Seeing it now, it was unmistakable.

So, she said it was to repay my kindness, and that’s why she brought me to a place like this.

And the theatre, too, was a place for dates between a man and a woman.

If that was the case, something became very important.

But right before I could recall what that important thing was.

“It’s our turn.”

“Okay.”

Our turn to board the boat had arrived.

A tiny boat that barely seemed big enough for two people.

“Please, you go first.”

“Alright.”

Even with just Asia on board, the water rippled.

When I climbed on, the rocking intensified.

A precarious space.

I sat down facing Asia for the time being.

But then—.

“Um… the boat is rocking a lot, so… would it be okay if I sat next to you…?”

Asia asked, flustered.

It was true that the boat’s center of gravity seemed to be leaning towards my side,

making the rocking on Asia’s side worse.

I nodded in agreement.

Asia then stood up.

I scooted over a little to make some space.

We moved at the same time, causing the boat to rock, and Asia, losing her balance in the sway, fell into my arms.

“Ah… I’m so sorry.”

Asia’s usually pale face flushed bright red.

“Are you alright?”

She didn’t appear to be injured, but I asked out of courtesy.

And the expected answer returned.

“Yes.”

Indeed, she wasn’t hurt.

And Asia regained her balance, settling next to me.

Thus, the boat we were on sliced across the lake.

There was no need to row.

The boat was attached to a rope, a system where someone on the other side seemed to be pulling us along.

And so, the two of us silently traversed the lake’s heart.

‘This isn’t exactly a chatty kind of atmosphere, is it?’

A strangely… awkward ambiance.

This influenced my silence.

Asia, sitting beside me, fidgeted endlessly with her hands.

I returned, once more, to that crucial consideration.

‘Just how do I perceive Asia, truly?’

The old man’s granddaughter.

A prosecutor with exceptional talent.

A beautiful… woman.

My mind felt tangled, like knotted thread.

I couldn’t quite arrive at a definitive answer.

Lost in those deeper musings, a sudden warmth enveloped me–.

A sudden warmth settled upon the back of my hand.

Asia had covered my hand with her own.

Startled, I gazed intently at Asia.

Asia was-.

“It’s… a reward.”

She mumbled in a soft voice, her head bowed low.

Through the strands of her hair, I could see Asia’s ear.

Asia’s ear was crimson red.

I almost laughed without realizing it.

‘If you’re going to be this embarrassed, why even bother?’

The current sight of Asia was simply too amusing.

“Thank you.”

I expressed my gratitude for this supposed “reward.”

An honest sentiment.

And then-.

Before I knew it, the bow of the boat carrying Asia and I was arriving at the lakeshore.