113
Workout
Knock knock.
The executioner, Dalus, rose from his seat at the sound of a heavy knock.
‘It’s Aaron.’
There was no need to ask who it was.
The only people looking for Dalus’ cabin were Aaron and the soldiers from the Cassidy Fortress.
Among them, the soldiers struck with swords or clubs instead of their hands, saying that it was ominous, so such a sound could not have been made.
And Aaron was the only one who felt ignorant and aggressive in the knock.
Dalus waited for a moment at the door.
Knock knock knock!
A rougher knock.
Only then did Dalus open the door.
“Why are you always open so late? I know you have nothing to do.”
As soon as I opened it, Aaron came in naturally, grumbling.
“···You may come in.”
Dalus closed the door, giving his permission a beat late.
By then Aaron was already sitting at the table, drinking the tea he had made for himself.
‘You have a lot of luggage.’
Dalus sat down across from Aaron, looking at the huge bag he had placed next to him.
“···You can drink it.”
Dalus, who gave permission a beat later, turned the overturned teacup over and wiped the inside with a cloth.
This was a teacup placed there because Aaron often came by out of the blue to get food or tea.
“Ugh… This is tea. I’ve tried the king’s tea, but your tea is the best.”
‘A king···.’
Dalus chuckled slightly at Aaron’s characteristic bragging.
“I’m hungry. Do you have anything to eat?”
Aaron, who had drank the tea in one gulp like beer, asked me while patting my stomach.
“I heard you got married. Where is your wife? Why are you begging the executioner for breakfast?”
The Cassadic scoundrel has a wife.
It was such a famous story that even Dalus heard it, as if someone had spread it on purpose.
“Madam, what… isn’t cooking better than cutting people’s throats? I have a fair share of your earnings.”
He came to me before the sun had even risen and told me to serve him food.
‘You’re a real loser.’
He muttered quietly, then realized that it was his job and chuckled.
Dalus got up from his seat and went to the back.
There was a workshop there, which was occasionally used to butcher animals hunted or to dismember the bodies of condemned prisoners for different purposes.
Luckily, I caught a deer yesterday.
It was so big that it was hard to call it a deer, so it didn’t have to worry about food for a while.
I was planning on doing the pickling today, but Aaron arrived at a good time.
After examining the fat to use as an ointment, Dalus returned with the deer’s right leg that he had prepared.
It was so big that it took two hands to hold, but Aaron could probably eat it all.
“Arooon! It’s been a while!”
“You’ve grown a bit? Well, if you take after your father, you must be as tall as a pole.”
“It has to be bigger! My father said that I have to have long arms to be able to cut off a head in one go! I have to be bigger than Aaron······.”
Aaron’s face crumpled, but Ted was so excited that he kept chattering.
It seems that he was bored because he spent time with himself without saying anything.
“Yeah, promises are important… but from the morning….”
Dalus coughed and laughed as he looked at the crumpled Aaron and headed towards the brazier.
“Aren’t you bored here? You should go out and meet some friends.”
“That······is okay.”
“It’s okay. Are there still guys who bully you? I beat them up so badly, what kind of guys are they?”
“Ah··· No··· That’s not it. It’s just that this isn’t so bad···.”
Dalus listened to their conversation as he cut up some meat that had been marinated in honey and placed it on a heated pan.
A large pan was quickly filled with meat.
“But Aaron! Aaron really threw a rock and destroyed the Bolt Castle?!”
“Yeah, it was a total blast. When you throw something, the angle is very important. If you throw it in a parabolic arc like this, it goes farther.”
“Wow-!! Really?! Show me! Show me!”
“Ahem… I miss you?”
“yes!”
“Hey, Dalus. I’m playing with the little horo.”
Dalus was so focused on his fans that he just nodded.
‘You play better than me. Is it true that you have a daughter?’
Aaron has a daughter…
I couldn’t imagine it.
Dalus poured the wine he had prepared over the partially cooked meat.
Pour enough to cover slightly and then simmer, which was Dalus’ favorite method because it improved the flavor.
At that moment, kuuuung!
Dalus hurriedly ran out at the loud noise heard from afar.
“Wow! You broke it like this! Aaron is cool!”
“Right? You can do it if you eat meat often and exercise every day. Work hard.”
A peaceful conversation between two people.
Due to the recent heavy rain, the warehouse we had built collapsed.
The debris hadn’t been cleared yet, and the bundle of logs was nowhere to be seen.
“Dad! Aaron threw a tree this big over there!”
“It wasn’t just any tree, it was a paulownia tree. A paulownia tree.”
Ted is smiling brightly and waving both his arms, and Aaron is laughing next to him.
The sun was rising after that.
“Don’t eat.”
Dalus spoke briefly and hurriedly went inside.
It was because I was thinking about the meat I had left.
“Too bad. This reduces your strengths from three to two. Now you’re just a loser who’s good at driving.”
“Still, there are two left.”
Dalus lightly ignored Aaron’s grumbling.
Aaron laughed out loud and grabbed the meat with his hands and tore at it.
“What’s going on so early in the morning? Isn’t it time to go to work?”
Dalus asked, sipping his tea.
“Oh, I was going to give you some work. You guys are so good these days, you don’t get paid much.”
“I recently received a pretty big one, so I’m still feeling loose.”
“That’s right, Geralt. It was pickled really well. It doesn’t smell at all.”
“I did it! I did it!”
“Hmm… You have a talent for pickling.”
Ted and Aaron bickered again.
I was confused as to whether he was playing nicely with the child or if he was really fighting.
“So what is this job?”
Dalus took a sip of his tea and asked again.
“Oh, yeah. Work. That’s what we were talking about. Ted! Get out of the way of the adults.”
“···Aaron was an adult too?!”
“Dalus, it seems like your home education has failed. Why don’t you send him to a synagogue? There’s a guy there who’s like a teacher.”
The two of them soon started bickering again.
“···So what’s the job?”
Dalus asked again.
“Oh, yes. I’m planning to climb the Kirton Mountains, and I need a guide. Haven’t you climbed the Kirton Mountains often?”
“That’s right. But why are you trying to climb the Kirton Mountains?”
“I’m going to plant some garlic and catch some trolls while I’m at it.”
‘······troll?’
Dalus furrowed his brow slightly at the brief word.
As someone who doesn’t express emotions, it was the greatest expression of emotion.
“It won’t be dangerous. I promise.”
Aaron laughed, patting Ted’s head.
I was wondering how it could be both a troll and non-dangerous at the same time.
Dalus nodded at the word ‘promise’ that came out of Aaron’s mouth.
The Kirton Mountains were so overgrown and dark that it was easy to get lost.
Without a guide, even Aaron would have gotten lost.
“Okay, let’s go together. I need to get some food too.”
“That’s a good thing. I’m just lucky.”
As I laughed at the shameless remark, my eyes turned to the large bag next to Aaron.
A lot of luggage, unusually.
‘···no way.’
The Kirton Mountains are famous for their rugged terrain and vast size.
Even if it was Aaron, there was no way he would have suggested going to the Kirton Mountains at dawn that day.
“When do you plan to leave?”
“Um… what if my stomach goes out a little?”
Dalus hesitated for a moment at Aaron’s nonchalant answer.
However, no matter how many times I repeated it, the content was the same.
“Are you saying you’re going today?”
“That’s right. The weather is nice these days, so wouldn’t it be nice to go hiking?”
“Before you go to the Kirton Mountains, you need to prepare···.”
“I’m going to the back mountain, what preparations do I need?”
“The back mountain! No, it’s the back mountain of Cassidy, but isn’t it still the Kirton Mountains? Preparation is essential before climbing.”
Dalus raised his voice for the first time in a long time, then quickly suppressed it.
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ve prepared everything. All you have to do is come with your body.”
Dalus took a deep breath for a moment at the sight of Aaron smiling calmly while patting the luggage piled up next to him.
“Can I check for you?”
“Of course. Since you’re a shepherd.”
“Shepherd… what… first, okay.”
Dalus ignored Aaron’s incomprehensible words and looked at Aaron’s luggage.
Aaron was a man who was oddly knowledgeable and oddly ignorant, and so he had to be thoroughly investigated.
However, contrary to my worries, most of the things needed for hiking were included.
‘It’s perfect, just like living in the mountains. This should be enough.’
Dalus nodded at the sight of items that were difficult to care for.
At the very bottom there was a strange object.
At first glance, it looked like a pickaxe, but it was small.
“What is this?”
“Ah, Homine.”
Although it was an answer he didn’t understand, Dalus nodded.
Contrary to my worries, I packed quite a bit of everything I needed for the hike.
However, the most important piece of flint was missing.
“The most important piece of flint is missing. As expected, we are leaving too hastily···.”
It was with Dalus, but he pointed out the mischievous smile on Aaron’s face.
“Oh, it’ll be here soon. It’s about time now···”
Aaron turned his gaze toward the door, giving another incomprehensible answer.
‘Flint is coming soon? Did he send you on an errand?’
When I turned my head to follow him.
Knock knock knock!
At that moment, a loud knock was heard.
“Ah, you came.”
Aaron jumped up and opened the door.
“Coach, work out! We’re ready.”
Heavily armed guards were seen.
Everyone’s lips were trembling and their eyes were full of strength.
Judging by the load on his back, he seemed to be already prepared.
“I’m a little hungry, so let’s get going.”
Aaron said, lightly carrying the huge bag next to him with one hand.
‘My opinion never mattered in the first place.’
Dalus laughed as if coughing and poured the remaining wine from his glass into his mouth.
“Just wait a moment, I’ll be out soon.”
Dalus headed inward, feeling fortunate that he had not unpacked his things after hunting yesterday.
***
“What on earth do you think a wizard is···.”
“Oh my! What kind of habit does this son of a bitch have of talking to Big Brother!”
“This······ this··· this···.”
From the beginning of the workshop, the grumbling Guobarou was easily controlled by the weasel next to him.
‘I also got a shepherd, which is essential when climbing a mountain… I also got flint, workers, and food…’
I checked the list of things to prepare before leaving.
It seemed like I had roughly packed everything.
I didn’t intend to go that deep and I wasn’t planning on staying for long.
A familiar bucket appeared between them.
Kanna stood proudly, carrying a bucket, but it was obvious because she was so short.
Because the mountain behind was so high and rugged, I couldn’t take Kanna, who lacked stamina.
So I told him I couldn’t go with him, but he secretly joined me.
I’ve been exercising him lately, but not enough to take him to the Kirton Mountains.
“You can’t.”
Kanna nodded, sticking out her lips slightly.
It seemed like he just came to take a stab at it since he seemed to understand it quickly.
“Oh, while you’re here, take this one with you so we can play together.”
I pushed Ted towards Kanna.
“Ah··· no··· Aaron, I can’t do it alone··· no···.”
Ted, who was muttering something in surprise, ran to Kanna’s gesture and prostrated himself behind her.
It was fortunate that they seemed to be on good terms.
“Okay, then we will begin the first workshop of the 4th Group of the Foreign Defense Corps. This is to increase the unity of our 4th Group and also······.”
As I was talking about the purpose of this workshop, I suddenly realized that it sounded similar to the abbot’s sermon, so I quickly shut my mouth and waved my hand.
“Let’s go.”
The crew members behind him, each holding a bunch of garlic, nodded.
It was a good day for plowing.
***
Dalus climbed the mountain with the speed of a skilled shepherd.
I asked Dalus if there was a suitable place to plant garlic, and Dalus said he had a suitable place and was on his way there.
“Hehe …
Not long after we started climbing, we heard a groaning sound coming from behind.
“Raise your hand if you feel like you’re about to die.”
So I did a quick research to figure out the status.
Surprisingly, no one raised a hand as if they could hold out.
“That’s too bad.”
I climbed the mountain again just like that.
The slope was steep.
Because the tall trees were dense and untouched by human hands, and the grass that reached up to my ankles caught my steps, I felt twice as tired.
“Heeeeeeek- Heeeeek-.”
“Rest here.”
He ordered a break at the sound of gasping for breath.
The guys fell down and took out their water canteens and put them in their mouths.
“How dare you joke about how high it has risen···.”
When I clicked my tongue, the guys looked up at me with aggrieved eyes.
However, those who saw my back lowered their heads.
I was carrying all the guns that the guys brought because they were whining that they were going to die.
Everyone except me is climbing up naked, and yet you’re groaning like that.
‘I should order this often.’
My shoulder was sore, but I didn’t want to bother putting it back on, so I took out my water bottle and just wet my neck.
“Chief, aren’t you going too deep? It would be better to stay a little closer to manage.”
Grass asked, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
“We need to go a little deeper to get to where the garlic originally was. And since you said we’re almost there-.”
“This is the fifth time I’ve heard that we’re almost there! Captain!!”
Kel, who had fallen face down, screamed.
“We’re almost there.”
At that moment, Dalus returned and answered in his characteristically heavy voice.
Kel, slightly startled, sat down hurriedly and looked alert.
“Ahhh-!”
“Everyone, get up. We’re almost there.”
He woke up by hitting the back of the head.
“What a nice place, strangely magical.”
Guobarou, who was thought to be the first to fall, muttered with a calm expression.
It seemed to be thanks to the magic he had cast on himself while screaming before climbing the mountain.
“When you arrive, there’s a cool valley, ice-cold beer, and pork. If you’re tired, tell me. I won’t make it difficult for you.”
I lightly promoted the scam.
They jumped up as if they had been hit with a stimulant.
Dalus’ ‘Almost There’ lasted about thirty minutes before it ended.
Dylan, who had fallen, glared at Dalus and muttered, ‘That guy is really almost alive.’
‘This is the perfect place.’
Such complaints disappeared as soon as they arrived at the place Dalus had guided them to.
On one side there was a wide, cool river flowing, and on the other side there were trees that were small in height and size.
Trees that look fragile, like they were planted not long ago and could be easily uprooted.
It was the perfect workshop location where I could work the fields and shower at the same time.
As expected of a skilled shepherd, he guided us to an amazing place.
‘I think it would be okay to pull out all of this and plant garlic.’
I gave a rough estimate and nodded.
It was time to show nature the fear of humans.
“Manager, there are a lot of trees here, so isn’t it not a good place to plant garlic?”
He shook his head at Grass’ question.
“Just pull out the tree. This isn’t even a green belt.”
“···Yes. Because I’m the leader.”
I put my luggage aside and took a moment to relax.
If you throw stones, you can’t uproot trees.
Moreover, the trees here seemed much more fragile than the ones I had seen on my way here.
‘Since I’m already picking, I might as well build a cabin.’
Originally, simply cutting down a tree would be destroying nature, but if you cut it down to make a hut or a raft, it would be an eco-friendly business.
I grabbed the stump of the nearest tree.
The trees came into one bundle.
I put strength into my hand and hugged him tightly, and there was a thud sound.
I just put strength into my waist and turned it backwards.
Booooooooo-!
The tree was uprooted with a strange sound.
‘Is this possible?’
I shook the tree in my arms gently to shake off the dirt.
Then, after placing it on the floor, he roughly cut off both ends with a sword.
It was a bit uncomfortable because the gazes of those around me were exactly the same as those you would see when meeting a troll, but it was better than when I threw a rock.
The guys quickly understood and nodded.
“Take it and make something like a house or a table.”
He pushed the trimmed tree to the guys next to him.
All the crew members clung to him and moved him.
‘That’s how strong the security force is…’
I was amazed at the sight of them moving around like ants, screaming and clinging to each other.
Booooooooooooo-!
Pulling out trees was surprisingly fun.
It was fun to do it because I could move my body moderately and see results right away.
I was so absorbed in the fun that before I knew it, a suitable empty space had been created.
The crew was building a cabin under Dalus’s direction with the wood I had cut.
Because there were a lot of people, the progress was quite fast.
After cleaning up to some extent, we drank the meat and beer we brought.
“Kkieeeek!”
The ice maker was old and noisy, but it produced ice properly.
Other guys jumped into the river because it was hot.
They were having a great time, as if they had never complained before.
Brick in particular was delighted to see the man who had been locked up in prison come out into the world.
But the weasel on the very top sat down and made a subtle expression. A face that looked somewhat relieved.
‘That kid···.’
There were some guys who would pee whenever they got into water.
It didn’t matter anyway since the river was flowing and I had no reason to go into the water.
“Hmm? The water tastes a little strange.”
“Stupid Kel. The water in the mountains is originally clean and tastes different.”
I didn’t bother telling the truth to Berman and Kel, who were grumbling downstream.
The two of them kept drinking the water, saying that it tasted really different and that it was amazing.
“Are you planting this? It’s called garlic.”
Dalus opened the bundle, took out a garlic clove, smelled it, and asked.
“Oh, maybe I should plant it.”
“Well… if you’re going to plant, it would be better to spread the trees out a bit so that they can get more sunlight.”
Dalus’s advice seemed to make sense, so I stood up.
It showed the Kirton Mountains the true horror of humanity.
***
After playing for a while, I called over the kids who had collapsed and were taking a nap, and gave them each a hoe that Kanna had made.
“What is this?”
Since they were ignorant and didn’t know how to use a hoe, I showed them how to do it myself.
Of course, it was my first time so I was a bit immature, but I pushed through and somehow it worked out.
“···Didn’t you just dig the ground with your fist?”
Berman asked useless questions, but I ignored them and gave each section a set amount of points.
“Five silver coins to the one who gets to the end the fastest.”
Before I could finish my words, the weasel ran away, and the others also ran hurriedly.
“Five silver coins only for the person who finishes the fastest. Why not just give them one silver coin each?”
“Then it’s not fun.”
“I see,”
Dalus answered briefly, took out some garlic and chopped it.
“I think I should plant this side. Split this bottom part and…”
After fiddling with the garlic for a while, he seemed to have figured out how to plant it.
“Once that’s all done, tell the person who plants everything first that they’ll get five silver coins, and then tell the person who covers it up the fastest that they’ll get five silver coins. If anything happens, everyone screams together.”
Dalus said there were no monsters around here, so it didn’t seem like there would be any problems.
“Where do you plan on going?”
“We have to catch the troll.”
“I see. Okay, I understand.”
Dalus nodded while chopping garlic.
“Let’s go, Kua Ba Rou.”
“I am Swallows.”
I went up the river with Kuobarou, who denied my identity.
Since monsters are also living things, they are bound to live around water.
I don’t know if there are any trolls around here, but if there are, I’d guess they’d be around the river.
In the past, they were dealt with by digging traps around the river and luring them.
“Trolls are armed with their monstrous regenerative powers. When you meet one, the most important thing to do is cut off its head.”
“If you want to kill someone, cut off their head. That’s very helpful advice.”
“However, if you are too tall to stab the neck, stabbing the heart is also a method. However, the heart is expensive······.”
Guobarou must have thought it was a compliment, as he continued to offer obvious advice like, “To kill a troll, hit its neck or heart.”
I thought of him as a radio and continued up the river.
Soon, a very long and beautiful waterfall appeared, so long that I had to tilt my head back to see it.
“Nigagara-class waterfalls.”
I looked around in awe at its great grandeur.
The sound of the waterfall was so loud and the lake below was so wide that if we waited here, a thirsty troll would likely come.
“But do trolls drink water too?”
“······I’ll drink it.”
After hesitating for a moment, Kuo Bao Rou answered in an uncertain voice.
At that, I clicked my tongue and opened the pouch I had brought with me.
When Kuobarou saw the bag, his eyes widened and his hands trembled, but he tried to keep his words in check.
He took a large water bottle out of his pocket.
The water bottle was filled with pig’s blood.
Of all the meats, trolls liked pork the best.
Next came the cow, and last was the human.
If there were pigs, cows, and humans, the troll ate them in order, starting from the left.
The smell of blood carried far, so if you sprayed it, thirsty or hungry trolls would come.
There could have been other monsters or beasts besides trolls, but that wouldn’t have been bad since it would have diversified the dinner menu.
I walked around the pond in a circle, sprinkling blood all over the floor.
Kua Ba Rou sat on a huge rock and watched what I was doing.
Although we were luring the trolls, known as the top predators, neither Kuo Bao Rou nor I were that nervous.
I’ve dealt with trolls before, so I knew it wouldn’t be that difficult.
Kuobarou wasn’t nervous because he knew I could use Aura.
No matter how tough a troll’s hide was, it was just a piece of paper in front of the Auror.
The knight was not called the sword of humanity for nothing.
‘I don’t think it’s necessary to use Aura.’
I emptied the water bottle and sprinkled every last drop of blood on the floor.
Soon the surroundings were filled with the smell of blood.
‘I wish you would come sooner.’
“ice.”
“Keeeeeek!”
I waited for the guests while sipping an ice-cold beer.
After twisting his body for a moment, Kuo Baorou exhaled deeply, then screamed again and filled his water bottle with ice.
***
Kirton Alvarsikshaharan woke up refreshed after a long time.
It’s been raining a lot lately so my bones were aching, but today they were feeling pretty good.
‘I need to start taking care of it now…’
Of course, as always, it was just words.
It was Alvarsik, who was approaching 500 years old and now needed to be managed seriously.
Alvarsik sat up straight with a ‘Ugh…’ sound.
In front of it stood stone statues of great ancestors.
It was time to say hello.
Alvarsik nodded to each of them.
I had collected them all since my ancestors, but since there were only a few of them to begin with, I was able to finish them in one day.
After finishing with him, I became dazed again.
A curse with no end in sight.
It was a famous saying among dragons.
There was no need to catch the flowing sand because there was an infinite amount of time without end.
The lethargy that comes like that.
It was a typical chronic disease of dragons.
Of course, Alvarsik, who was only 500 years old, was still young by dragon standards, but that did not mean that 500 years was a short period of time.
They say that in the past, in order to cure that lethargy, people would go out a lot, but after the empire was established, that was no longer possible.
Because the cursed power could even cut through dragons.
Unlike in the past when dragons were revered as gods, they are now reduced to nothing more than very powerful monsters.
To escape the empire, they all hid deep in the mountains.
Alvarsik did not leave the Kirton Mountains where he was born, despite the occasional grim news. He had neither the passion nor the will to do so in the first place.
There is an adult dragon in the Kirton Mountains, and he likes the sea so he lives on the deeper side.
Now, because of the Empire, it was difficult for dragons to interact with each other, so even though he was 500 years old, Alvarsik was still the youngest.
It’s been thirty years since I last heard from you, so I don’t know what happened in the meantime.
‘Oh, I guess I should check the tree I planted last time.’
Alvarsik’s only hobby was growing trees.
Unlike other things that are dead when you wake up after a short nap, trees are still there no matter how many times you sleep and wake up, and are someone worth being friends with.
That’s why growing trees was the most popular hobby among dragons.
Moreover, the tree they had found last time had a beautiful shape and was very splendid when in full bloom, so it really caught Alvarsik’s fancy.
Raising him to paint mountains was Alvarcik’s goal for the next hundred years.
However, as beautiful as the tree is, it is also very picky, so a separate magic field was installed to provide nutrients.
‘If I just work on my magic field a little this time, I’ll look pretty when I open my eyes next time.’
Alvarsik left the nest with a heavy smile.
