Chapter 22

#22 The Tin Knight and the Bloodline of the Lion (5)

Just because you see the same thing doesn’t mean you’ll feel the same way about it.

While Dorothea was grinding her teeth, staring at the view of the city below the high hill, Adelheid was shedding tears of joy over the exact same scenery.

“I-I’m alive…!”

Indeed, it had been a perilous journey.

Adel had gone through some rough experiences during Columbo’s special slave travel planning (random assignment, mandatory participation, no voluntary exit, and life as the participation fee), but compared to what she’d encountered in the past two weeks, that was calm, both mentally and physically speaking.

Adel’s violet eyes began to glaze over as she recalled the past.

***

“I absolutely must not cause any trouble!”

At the start of her journey, Adel had braced herself for quite a bit.

No one had forced her into this; she willingly set out on this journey.

She was the one who begged to just be allowed to stay close, even if treated as a servant.

Determined to become a proud warrior and heir, rather than just the foolish youngest lady of a noble family, she thought she’d endure whatever treatment came her way.

“We’ll be eating jerked meat and dried fruit. Any complaints?”

“No! None!”

“You’ll be sleeping in the back of the wagon. If you want a separate tent or something, you can figure it out on your own.”

“A wagon is fine!”

“If you need a wash or laundry, just ask me. I can clean it with magic. But it won’t be free. I’ll give you a list of catalysts you’ll need, and each time you use it, you’ll need to bring back at least one set of something from that list. Bug-repelling spells or frost removals will cost the same.”

“Got it!”

And on the second day of the journey, Adel thought to herself.

“Huh? Isn’t this actually easier than I thought?”

Sure, from an objective standpoint, it wasn’t a ‘comfortable’ journey.

Meals consisted solely of portable rations, she had to sleep in the wagon’s cargo area, and leisurely baths were out of the question.

But putting it differently, that was about all there was to it.

To be more specific, Dorothea neither ordered Adel to do anything nor made any demands of her.

Sure, she did take a fee every time she used magic, but those were mostly items like specific plants or stones that she could find somehow in her surroundings.

When she cautiously inquired about this, Dorothea responded with a look that seemed to say, “You ask too many questions.”

“I can take care of myself just fine. I’m not missing arms and legs, so why should I ask someone else?”

For Adel, who had grown up knowing that having a servant attach to you while changing clothes was the norm, that was quite a shocking statement.

Sitting in the cargo area all day, eating, sleeping, and occasionally gathering the materials from the notes Dorothea handed her…

It made her uneasy, wondering if this was really okay. Just then, the Tin Knight’s offer to train her felt like a lifeline thrown her way.

The chance to receive one-on-one instruction from an outstanding knight was like gold to a warrior.

Though her father was alive at the time and she often skipped training or did it half-heartedly, that needed to change now.

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ claims that his teachings are very strict!”]

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ warns that once you become his apprentice, he won’t accept any whiny complaints!”]

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ asks if you’re ready to follow along!”]

Despite the repeated warnings from the Tin Knight, Adel felt more excitement than apprehension.

Although she was a little concerned about Dorothea giving her a strange look from the side, she thought, “She’s hard to read anyway,” and dismissed it.

Little did she know that the gaze she was receiving was just like watching a small creature walk into a trap by its own volition.

“Yes! I’ll follow you! Please, teach me!”

And thus, the gates of hell swung open.

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ demands you to run!”]

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ demands strength training!”]

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ demands reflex tests!”]

It all began canonically and ordinarily.

They checked her basic physical fitness and abilities.

Adel couldn’t even say she had been “training hard,” but she was naturally blessed with a physique that was quite capable.

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ said you seem to have the basics down, so let’s move on to practical training!”]

“Yes? Ah, okay!”

Adel tilted her head in confusion.

Having watched the training of the Friedel Knights, Adel knew that knights spend years investing time just to build their bodies properly.

So, she expected to invest considerable time in physical training herself, but the Tin Knight shattered that expectation.

‘…Now that I think about it, I only have one year. I can’t progress step by step like others.’

However, it’s common for practitioners around the world to prefer practical training over boring basic drills.

There was no reason to refuse when he said he would speed things up.

“Then, should we use wooden swords… What? You’re saying we’ll use iron swords instead? Are you sure that’s alright since it’s not sharpened?”

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ says he’ll let you take the first strike!”]

“Uh, so… um, yes!”

By this point, she was starting to feel something off, but considering he was an excellent knight, she thought he must have some deep reasoning behind it.

Clang!

With a sharp sound, the sword clenched in Adel’s hands flew off into the distance.

As she quickly tried to regain her stance, she saw the sword thrusted right in front of her throat, and she raised her hands in surrender.

“I lost.”

The Tin Knight withdrew the sword.

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ encourages you to try again!”]

“Yes!”

Adel quickly retrieved the sword that had flown away and charged back in at the Tin Knight.

Clang!

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ encourages you to try again!”]

Clang!

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ encourages you to try again!”]

Clang!

[“The ‘Tin Knight’…-“]

“Wait, hold on, can I just… Ahhh!?”

While trying to catch her breath, Adel saw the blade swinging toward her face, panicked, and rolled away.

Her heart, which had been pounding like it would burst, went cold as if she had been splashed with cold water.

Unfazed, the Tin Knight gave her a thumbs up.

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ praises your excellent evasion!”]

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ claims that with moves like that, maybe he should skip letting you take the first strike!”]

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ declares an increase in the difficulty!”]

“No, I… wait, ahhh!!”

That night, Adel couldn’t remember how she collapsed.

All she could guess was that she had desperately avoided the terrifying onslaught of the Tin Knight’s sword, and at some point, she fainted.

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ recommends running alongside the wagon!”]

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ states that having more stamina is always better!”]

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ compliments you on your running!”]

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ encourages you, saying you’re almost there!”]

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ insists that you’re almost there!”]

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ claims you’re almost there just to tease you!”]

During the day, she kept running beside the wagon or toning her body in the cargo area.

When night fell, she’d have to face the terrifying blade of the Tin Knight again with her body screaming.

No matter how much Adel screamed and begged, the Tin Knight never gave her any breaks.

The scariest thing was that by putting her body through the wringer, she felt no significant problems moving the next day.

What can I say?

It felt like there was a gauge next to Adel’s head showing her stamina, mental fortitude, and whatever else, and she was squeezing it to the limit without letting it drop into the negatives.

As a training instructor, his qualities might be top-notch, but as a trainee, all she felt was sheer terror.

(To survive mentally), Adel had to desperately come up with excuses.

“Uh, Knight! Just a moment! Please!”

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ says no exceptions!”]

“But! I can’t move because I’m hungry!”

For the first time, the Tin Knight’s movements faltered at Adel’s pained cry.

The truth was, Adel’s request was entirely justified.

While it was one thing to move without much activity, there was no way her body could withstand spending most of the day training on just jerky and dried fruit.

“So, um, maybe I should at least have proper meals, or else—”

Adel couldn’t finish her thought of asking him to lessen the training.

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ readily agrees that he will prepare the meals from now on!”]

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ apologizes for not noticing sooner!”]

Seeing the Tin Knight suddenly bow his head, Adel’s heart softened.

Thinking back, investing most of the day into training wasn’t only her task; it was the same for the Tin Knight who managed her alongside.

He was helping her without asking for anything in return, so blaming him just because she was struggling seemed wrong.

“No, Knight, you don’t have to apologize. Um, I can help with meal preparations too.”

The Tin Knight shook his head.

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ insists that it’s his duty to create an environment where his apprentice can focus on training!”]

“Knight…!”

Adel felt moved once again.

She didn’t even notice Dorothea’s disappointed glances saying, “She’s falling for it again.”

Then that night.

Adel was handed a massive chunk of meat.

“……”

Looking at the incredibly mouth-watering roast, she was shocked to find that it could taste so horrendous.

Even hard jerked meat could be considered a delicacy compared to this.

‘Is he doing this on purpose to mess with me?’

Doubt and disbelief started to grow in Adel’s heart.

Having imparted a shred of worldly wisdom to the sheltered lady from the greenhouse, the Tin Knight’s teaching abilities were indeed remarkable.

“Ugh, I can’t even look at this.”

While Dorothea, who was smoking some of the meat the Tin Knight had hunted, let out a deep sigh, she said to Adel.

“Didn’t you pack some cooking utensils from the territory?”

“Yes. Roni told me they were necessary for long trips.”

“Bring them here. I’ll price it the same as one spell, so let’s put it on the tab.”

After that, Dorothea’s skills were absolutely surprising.

In just about 15 minutes, with a few casual movements and tossing ingredients into a pot, she whipped up a decent looking soup.

Tasting the soup filled with mushrooms, some unknown herbs, and generous chunks of meat untouched by the Tin Knight, Adel was in ecstasy.

Maybe it was because she’d just eaten what tasted like refuse, but the flavors were magnified, stimulating her taste buds.

Without exaggeration, she could say it was the best food she’d eaten in ages.

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ asks if it would be okay to keep this up!”]

“But it’s too much effort.”

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ asserts that tasty food is an essential part of traveling!”]

“But you’re not even going to eat it.”

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ argues that watching food is a form of vicarious satisfaction!”]

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ urges her to showcase her skills as there are guests!”]

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ claims that teaching her could lead to her being treated in the future!”]

“No, you want me to teach her how to cook just because I want to eat? How long is that going to take… Sigh. Forget it, I won’t say anything.”

Dorothea grumbled, but by this point, Adel could at least understand one thing.

She would still get to eat the food she made in the future.

‘It’s warm. It’s tasty. I’m full.’

The happiness she hadn’t felt in a long time softly enveloped Adel.

Her whole body felt languid and drowsy, and she thought that if she closed her eyes just like this, she’d fall into the best sleep ever.

[“The ‘Tin Knight’ declares that since nourishment is taken care of, he will put in more effort!”]

It was a declaration that sent chills down her spine, more frightful than him saying he’d come and kill her at night.

Adel, who was trembling, looked at Dorothea with a pleading gaze.

Having saved her from a hellish meal, maybe this time…!

“Huh? Well, he warned you ahead of time, but you chose to proceed anyway. Once you enter a contract, you have to take responsibility until the end.”

There was no second lifeline.

Though she could be nice at times, a witch was still a witch.

Until they reached their destination, Adel would have to struggle to survive the hands of a demented magical automaton with no sense of human emotion.

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