Tears of gratitude filled Greig’s eyes. “I can only thank you. I don’t even know how I can repay you, kid!”
“No need. I haven’t stooped so low as to expect anything from peons like you. And it seems my soldiers have troubled you a touch.”
“No, no, we’re to blame for that too. We assumed they were Clinton’s men, here to steal our stuff, so we immediately treated them as enemies. I didn’t think they were your soldiers.”
You make it sound like you guys weren’t immediately subdued before you could do anything. Well, that’s to be expected from mere peons against the Dark Knights who can take down a group of knights single-handedly. If the villagers of this desolate fishing village actually had given the Dark Knights any trouble, I would dismantle the order for being so incompetent.
“If anyone’s been injured, let me know,” I said. “I’ll have one of my people treat the wounded.”
“Heh, no need to worry about that,” Greig said before he erupted into boisterous laughter. “None of us are so weak to be injured by a single blow!”
“I apologize for interrupting this conversation, but it’s clear that my lord is a touch tired,” Carlos said. “Is there any place where he could have a spot of rest?”
“Huh? Yeah, you’re right,” Greig agreed. “We don’t need to stand around and chat here. Why don’t we—”
“You should come to our place, Lofus,” Fol said. “We’re close to a clinic too.”
She stepped forward and took a small pinch of my mantle to pull me in her direction. I sighed and decided to follow her.
“H-Hey, Fol?” Greig stammered.
“Over here,” she said, ignoring her confused father.
Her strides were small and slow as though to show consideration for my body. There’s no need for you to do any of this for me.
“Idiot, now isn’t the time to be chatting with my pops,” she whispered in a voice so faint that only I could hear her.
“How dare you insult me,” I grumbled.
“You tried to act so cool with that dramatic entrance, but I can tell you’re just barely able to stay on your feet.”
“I’m not trying to act cool. I’ve got mana now, so I can easily stand and walk around.”
“You might have mana, but you’re still gravely wounded. Don’t try to put on a tough front.”
“I’m not.”
What’s her deal? She’s trying to lecture me...
Carlos watched my exchange with Fol for a few moments before he whispered into my ear.
“Pardon me for asking, but...nothing really happened, correct?” he asked.
“Are you doubting me too?!”
“Nothing happened, obviously!” Fol shouted.
Our voices echoed into the distance as the sailors followed us. Log solemnly muttered that he knew the truth, and this meaningful word did us no favors.
“What? Fol...and the kid? Huh?!” Greig stammered with shock.
Even I could hardly believe this comedic situation that I was put into. Humor permeated throughout the air as everyone jumped to their own conclusions. You bastards best stop joking around. All the while, Alba remained silent as he managed to slip through Carlos’s alertness and quietly stood beside me. My butler, who was behind me, widened his eyes with astonishment; Alba had managed to hide his presence so well that even Carlos failed to notice him.
Alba, expressionless, peered into my face for a few moments and muttered, “Permission to speak, my lord?”
Ah, right, I told him to be quiet.
“Very well,” I relented. “I shall reward you for getting past Carlos. Go on, you may speak.”
“I’ve noticed that your footsteps have been rather...unstable, to say the least, my lord,” he said. “And that person who seems quite close to you mentioned it earlier. Are you injured?”
“Indeed. I’ve sustained some major injuries. Alba, your astuteness is surely one that’s worthy of praise.”
He’s performed well as captain of the Dark Knights after Carlos; Alba is certainly impressive in his own right.
“And while this is just a guess... Is one of your eyes failing you?” he asked. “Are you unable to see out of your left eye?”
“I didn’t think you could tell,” I answered.
How was he able to know so much? A mantle was draped over most of my body to hide me, and I was sure I looked uninjured at first glance. Normally, I wouldn’t have been able to walk, but I’d channeled my mana into my feet to force my body to move. Alba must’ve pieced together the truth from my unsteady footsteps and Fol’s worried scolding.
A person with astute instincts would’ve certainly been able to notice that, but I had no idea how he managed to intuit that I’d lost vision in my left eye. Was I subconsciously trying to defend my left side more than usual? I don’t even know what that entails. I was less shocked and more taken aback by this point. You’re a bit creepy...
Alba wasn’t the type to be emotional, but he turned his piercing gaze angrily to Carlos.
“Sir Carlos, I trusted you to be by his side, and yet...” Alba growled, his low timbre menacing and furious.
I could clearly see his anger and disappointment in my butler, and Carlos could only stare at the ground in response.
“This injury was inflicted due to my own actions,” I said. “It’s my responsibility, and don’t make me explain myself further.”
“Yes, my lord,” Alba said, swiftly ceding this point. “Forgive me for stepping out of line.”
“You guys done chatting?” Fol said, unable to stay silent. She pointed toward her abode. “We’re almost there, so let’s hurry.”
A single-story house made of wood stood upon a small hill. I wasn’t expecting a lavish inn, but for better or for worse, this was a house befitting a commoner.
“It looks so old,” I remarked. “I doubt it’d even protect me from the breeze.”
“Shut up,” Fol replied. “It’s better than nothing, isn’t it? Just get in.”
She pushed me from the back into her house. It was then that Alba reached out to grab Fol’s wrist.
“Huh?” Fol asked. She looked stunned when her hand was suddenly grabbed.
“You,” Alba said with his expressionless gaze. “You’ve been a bit too insolent to my lord. You seem close to him, but are you a woman? I already have my suspicions, but just what kind of relationship do you have with him?”