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Chapter 13 – Travel Experience
I was awakened by the presence of people.
An unknown room, and Varian’s parents.
Well, I was convinced that my parents carried me to bed.
Come to think of it, I’m still just 8 years old… I’m sure the two of them couldn’t bear to let Varian, me sleep on the floor.
…..Even so, it’s splendid…..
When I saw my mother, Rushieno, in her sleep, I relaxed.
For your information, the people of Amoros tend to sleep naked.
I think this is because the quality of the clothes is low and it is uncomfortable to wear.
I’ve gotten used to it somewhat, but the linen clothes I always wear are itchy.
I thought of pretending to be a little spoiled and licking the one closer to me, but I felt that if Rudolph, who was sleeping next to me, noticed, I wouldn’t be able to explain myself, so I restrained myself.
Rushieno enticingly mumbled an [Unnn] and moved.
I found it to be sexy even though she’s my parent.
Since this scenery was too flashy for the eyes, I turned toward Rudolph instead.
Anyway, he’s very muscular.
In particular, the bulk of the muscles around the back, abdominal muscles, and pectoral muscles are amazing.
You need strength to ride a horse and swing a sword or spear.
Countless scars decorated his body, which strengthened the feeling of ferocity.
Both of them have bodies that are truly attractive and healthy.
…..At this rate, I think I can expect my body to grow into something similar too…..
I watched my parents sleeping.
After a while, Rushieno woke up.
She immediately put on an underwear chemise.
[Good morning, Varian. What is it? Were you surprised because you woke up next to mother?]
She smiled kindly.
I felt a maternal love that made me feel embarrassed for looking at her with a dirty mind.
[Good morning, mother. Well, I’m a little embarrassed…]
When I tried to hide my embarrassment, she smiled and said, [It’s been a while].
Looking elsewhere, Rudolph had also sat up and started putting on his underwear.
[Varian, there should be a morning service, don’t be late.]
Rudolph quickly put on his clothes.
In the Kingdom of Amoros, both men and women wear similar clothes.
The men wear a long-sleeved tunic and loose-fitting trousers.
Then, tighten the belt around the waist and put on the cloak.
The women wear a long tunic like a dress, with a belt around their waist.
Then, both men and women put on socks and fasten them with garters.
When I was Tanaka, I thought that garters belonged to women, but this garter is not a sexy thing like a so-called garter belt, but a simple ring for fixing socks.
It’s necessary because you can’t fix your socks without rubber.
Both men and women put on their boots, and their outfits are completed.
In addition, Rudolph and Rushieno wear bracelets and brooches to identify themselves as the Earl and Countess*. (TL Note: *there is no female form of Earl)
The two are wearing high-quality wool clothes, but I’m worried that the dyeing is loose or uneven.
The morning service I attended with my parents was simple, and after chanting the scriptures in a room in the castle that was used as a chapel, I listened to a simple sermon and ended.
The sermons of the monk of Castle Dolerum were less to the point and more boring than Reverend Rinel’s sermons.
My older brother Robel and the children of Dolerum were so bored that they just kept yawning.
After the service ended, preparations for departure began in the plaza.
[Oi oi, are you going already?]
[Yeah, we still have a long way to go. Thank you for your hospitality.]
Dolerum and Rudolph hugged each other and expressed their regret at parting.
Looking around, Rushieno and Robel were also saying goodbyes to the Dolerum family.
I was so bored, so I thought about asking around. But, everyone seemed to be busy.
Giroude was taking care of the horses, and Rolo seems to be busy working with the other slaves.
I ended up petting the carriage dog to pass the time.
=========
The road to Lioncoeur was long, and the journey continued on for days.
I learned how to handle bows and horses from Giroude and the squires. I also learned the power of the sling string.
The stone throwing sling had a simple structure with a cloth attached to the center of the string to hold the stone, but the stone thrown using centrifugal force had unbelievable power.
The squires could use a sling to easily throw stones over 200 meters.
On a good day, one can even afford to reach nearly 400 meters.
Its flight distance is not inferior to that of a bow and arrow.
Thinking back, the ancient King of Israel, David, used a sling to defeat the giant Goliath. Seeing this power firsthand, I felt that the myth is actually pretty convincing now.
Eating the stone thrown from a sling at close range will probably break a bone or two, incapacitating the target regardless where it hit.
Together with Rolo, I asked the squires to teach me, and they were very happy to help us practice hard.
The great thing about the sling cord is the low cost.
After all, throwing a stone with a suitable string and piece of cloth…coupled with the power.
[This is a great weapon. For example, if you throw it side by side in a narrow passage…]
[No, you can’t do that.]
The squire Dekos, who must have felt strange about my words, laughed.
He is Dekos Yurban. A large man in his thirties with dark brown hair and dark blue eyes.
His unkempt hair and unshaven mustache emphasize his strength.
He’s Rudolph’s favorite squire, but judging from his appearance, he doesn’t seem to be from Lioncoeur.
[Why?]
[That’s because the stone-throwing sling can’t be used unless you swing it around a lot.]
At my question, Dekos laughed and said, [Please take a look first].
[Hey, you guys, gather up!]
When Dekos gave instructions, the squires gathered while saying, [What is it?]. He seemed to be in a leading position among the squires.
[Look at me… hey, dense formation!]
At the direction of Dekos, the squires held their shields close together.
Dekos grinned when I shouted [Ah, it’s true!].
[Do you get it now?]
[Yes. It’s hard to use in group fights. Can’t swing the sling this way.]
When I answered, the squires let out an exclamation of [Oh!].
[Varian-sama will be a clever and good general.]
Dekos powerfully stroked my head.
[But, you can use the sling while holding your shield. If you’re an expert, you should be able to defeat a knight just by throwing a stone while hiding behind your shield. If you take a hit at close range, the stone may even penetrate your body.]
Dekos also teached me the benefits of the sling.
Apparently, he tried to reprimand me so that I wouldn’t overestimate it.
Even so, it’s amazing that it can penetrate the human body.
The squires love me for being curious and teach me not only swords and bows, but also various other things.
All of them are real experiences, and I have engraved their teachings into my heart.
==========
The carriage journey continued, and I learned various things during the journey.
[Varian, look.]
My brother Robel urged me to see the training of Rudolph and his squires.
The training was quite serious, and the squires were also armed.
They wear drop-shaped helmets and chainmail, and some wear leather jackets and capes over the chainmail.
Everyone had a shield each, but some hold it in their hands and others carry it on their backs.
Weapons include spears and swords, but they vary, and some were carrying long-handled axes and clubs.
Eight horsemen, including Rudolph, galloped following his orders and freely changed their formation.
From 1st column to 2nd column.
Deployed left and right from two columns.
They spread out further and gathered again.
Then formed an arrowhead-like formation.
[Amazing!]
Even an amateur like me can see the high level of skill they have.
[Right? The elite cavalry can be freely manipulated to attack the enemy. That’s why father is called the Hawk.]
Robel proudly raised his chin and explained to me.
[This is why father values his squires. This kind of cavalry won’t just grow in a year or two.]
[I see. I think I get why.]
I nodded many times.
Rudolph’s squires are said to be divided between Lioncoeur and the capital, but if they had 20 and 30 horsemen, they would probably be able to wipe out hundreds of infantry soldiers in the days when there were no firearms.
[Amazing.]
I muttered again.
=========
On the 23rd day after leaving the Royal Capital, the party finally reached the eastern mountains and saw the Lioncoeur Basin.
The carriage had broken axles and wheels due to daily movement, and had to be repaired many times.
I learned the hardships of traveling through my own experience.
[Varian, look, that’s our land.]
Rudolph called out to me who was riding atop the horseback.
In fact, the skin on Robel’s buttocks was peeling off from riding on horseback every day. So he was lying on the carriage this time.
I borrowed a spare horse there and practiced horsemanship.
I had only vaguely noticed that this Varian’s body had really good reflexes.
By adjusting the height of the stirrups, there is no longer any problem for me to ride.
[Father, that castle…]
A solid stone fortress could be seen ahead of us.
I feel a height that would not be inferior to the castle walls of the royal capital.
[That is the fortified city of Portu that protects Lioncoeur. The Lioncoeur Basin, surrounded by mountains, has this only road through which the army can come and go.]
[in other words, if the enemy couldn’t capture this fortress, they can’t enter Lioncoeur…?]
Rudolph grinned while confirming my question with a [Yes].
Looking at the map with the north at the top, the Lioncoeur Basin is formed in the shape of an inverted C anti-sigma, making it extremely difficult to enter except through the west entrance.
And at the extremely narrow entrance, the fortress of Portu, which was unparalleled in robustness, closed the lid as a checkpoint…..in other words, the entire Lioncoeur Basin was a large fortress.
Of course, there are many routes to cross the mountains, but they are only for hunters and travelers, and it is extremely difficult for the army to march through.
In addition, it is said that there are still foreign tribes that are not associated with the Amoros Kingdom in the mountainous regions.
However, although the topography of the Lioncoeur Basin is convenient for protection, the nature is harsh and the population is extremely small.
In terms of size alone, it has an area twice as large as a Marquis’ territory, but the population… so small that it barely qualifies as an Earl’s territory.
[Is this the Lioncoeur, my hometown?]
I gazed at the expansive land beyond the fortress city.
The capital of Lioncoeur is still a little further ahead.
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