The Apprentice (First Half)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sword saint and the hero meet again after a long time, and their conversation is that what will shake the world.

“So”

“No”

Or not.

The Sword Saint Sazaki who asked as if it's the most obvious thing in the world whether Ferad brought alcohol was instantly denied by the other. The two had been friends since they were young boys, and because of that they are not at all reserved about each other.

“Then”

“Nope”

Elrica also cut off the vagabond Sazaki who was about to ask her if she had brought him a bottle of his treasured liquor. She, too, had learned how to deal with this drunken man on her travels in the past and had no reservations handling him.

"I mean, why'd you come down from the mountain?"

And Sazaki, as understood by Ferad and Elrica, got right down to business after the talk about alcoholic beverage.

"Because I've got a pickup coming nearby. I'm on a trip to see my acquaintances, my son, my grandchild, and my great-grandchild. You're the one who was in the neighborhood at first."

"Wow, you actually saying something nice. Huh? Weren’t your sons...?"

"At the neighboring continent."

"Well, good luck on your long journey."

The elderly Ferad explained the reason for descending from the mountain in the tone similar to when in his youth, where he was always pulled along by his close friend.

"Well, it’s about ten years for me, too."

"I can't believe you didn't die from all that drinking. Right, Elrika?"

"Exactly."

"Hahaha! There's no way I'd die from drinking!"

While Sazaki laughed, Ferad and Elrika exchanged exasperated looks. Even during their past arduous journey, Sazaki constantly drank, to the point where his alcohol consumption would have normally destroyed his organs and killed him.

"Alright. Then I'll join you on that journey."

"What? Well... what do you think, Elrika?"

"I don't mind."

"Well then, let's go on a journey after a long while."

"That’s settled then. Including Elrika, let's reassemble the Shining Stars after the long eighty years."

With Sazaki's sudden declaration, Ferad's wrinkled face contorted, and he felt the urge to shove a bottle of alcohol into his old friend's mouth.

Originally, they hadn't decided to embark on a journey together. To be able to go on a journey to meet acquaintances with their old party member delighted both Ferad and Elrika.

However, the Shining Stars were the name of the two-person team that Ferad and Sazaki formed in their early days as a group of warrior. As Elrika silently questioned the meaning of the word she heard for the first time, she was unaware that it was his husband’s secret hidden even from her. A remnant of their youthful days.

"So, who are we going to visit next?"

"That’ll be Lara."

"Oh...?"

While Sazaki still wore a smile, the moment Ferad mentioned the name, Sazaki's expression appeared troubled, and he scratched the back of his head.

"It looks like my journey ends here. I wish you luck."

"Are you saying that when you are at the 0th step?"

Sazaki shook his head and suddenly brightened up when Elrika interjected with a deadpan expression.

"Even then, you still meet her, no?"

"Well, that may be true, but..."

Ferad's words prompted Sazaki to scratch his head again. The awkwardness came from a woman named Lara.

"I've already arranged for my inheritance to go to Lara and her child when I die later. Because of that. It's embarrassing to meet her again afterI tried to act cool."

"I see..."

Seeing Sazaki lowering his head, not knowing what to do, Ferad too does not know what to say.

While Lara was technically Sazaki's wife and had even borne his child, she had also been a companion with whom he maintained a complicated and distant relationship for nearly seventy years. Sazaki felt awkward about arranging to send his few possessions to her after his death and was unsure how he should act when they met each other.

"Well, I was thinking about meeting Lara soon anyway, so it's a perfect opportunity. Let me make my preparation for the journey and inform my apprentices as well."

Despite the dilemma, Sazaki ultimately chose to accompany the journey and he slowly stood up.

So this sword saint, who had been sitting on the ground all this time and clutching a bottle of alcohol, made his decision.

◆

"What?!?"

Carl, a novice swordsman who had joined the Clovis school, couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Oh, it's you, greenhorn Carl."

Homeless Sazaki was walking on two legs.

"Did you finally lose your mind from drinking!?"

"I've been able to walk normally all this time, but everyone always says the same thing."

Carl's rude exclamation would likely be the common reaction from those who knew Sazaki. Indeed, Sazaki had been entangled in similar exchanges for a long time, and during a period of temporary alcohol abstinence due to the Great War, people even thought the world was ending because he wasn't drunk.

"I'm thinking of going on a journey. I've properly told you, alright."

"Wait a minute! I'll go get some alcohol right away. You can't die until then!"

At Sazaki's sudden statement, Carl concluded that he hadn't lost his mind from drinking, but rather because he ran out of alcohol.

"Well, listen up, greenhorn. I'm going to meet some friends and acquaintances. It might be a pretty far trip, so I might not be back for at least three years."

"What!?"

Normally, Sazaki would laugh it off and tell Carl to hurry up and get the alcohol, but this time, he conveyed his plans with a serious expression.

For Carl, it was quite a shock to hear that the homeless old man suddenly decide to go on a journey, and on top of that, he announced he wouldn't be back for three years.

"You're going to drop dead!"

"Don't be ridiculous. Just because I'm a guy who lounges around the city all year round doesn't mean I'll die just because I go on a journey."

"Well, yeah, I mean, sure, I guess."

Although Carl tried to bring Sazaki back to his senses, he couldn't help but recall that, apart from his drunkenness, the old man seemed surprisingly healthy.

"But why the sudden journey?"

"Well, it's not like I'll die just because I'm going on a journey. It's just that at this age, there are people I want to see, even if it's just their faces, before I kick the bucket."

"Ah, well, I guess that makes sense for old folks like you..."

Upon hearing the reason for the journey, Carl was convinced by Sazaki's elderly-like words, though they sounded somewhat weak.

"I've decided that when it's my time to die, I want to be surrounded by this city's alcohol, so I'll be back."

"Isn't that where you are supposed to say you want to be surrounded by your grandchildren!?"

Sazaki, the hopeless drunkard, brushed off Carl's sadness, causing his thoughts to veer off in an unexpected direction.

"That's why I'm going on this journey. Don't forget the reason you wanted to become stronger."

"I get it, I get it! I'll become a reliable older brother for my siblings! Is that good enough?"

"Yeah, that works."

"Don't you dare die while you're on your journey, you old geezer!"

"Who are you calling an old geezer, you greenhorn?"

With that, Sazaki turned his back and grinned in response to Carl's rant.

This slightly noisy youth and the sloppy drunken old man. Although an odd pair, they were undoubtedly a master-disciple duo that suited each other, and it was a farewell that’s unexpectedly refreshing.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All the main characters written in this strange story are grannies and grandpas, but if you find it interesting, please bookmark(ncode . syosetu.com/n0528ii/) it and rate it with a star ☆ below, and this author will cry from joy!

<<Prev

Next>>