I Became the Main Character’s Demon Sword

16

Sensing Arpel’s desire to end the conversation quickly, the two immediately moved on to discussing the reward. They received a check with an amount written on it, saying this was what they could give right away.

“This is fine.”

It was a large sum rarely seen at the Mercenary Guild. With this much, it seemed they could live very comfortably until reaching the temple with just two or three more requests.

“And… if it’s alright with you, I’d like to give you this as well.”

“What’s this?”

“It’s an artifact I originally intended to give to my daughter. It may not be enough as payment for my daughter’s life, but please accept it.”

Arpel took the bracelet-type artifact handed over by the Count. It was such an expensive item that he hadn’t had the chance to see one before.

Artifacts were made under the supervision of priests, imbuing accessories with holy or magical power to protect the wearer. They were difficult to make, with only a few released each year, so their prices skyrocketed. Only nobles could afford to buy them.

He glanced down at Rohan’s wrist. It might be a bit loose, but the bracelet wouldn’t fall off.

“I gratefully accept.”

It was a very satisfying request outcome, considering how suddenly it had come about.

Afterwards, the couple offered to treat them to dinner, but Arpel flatly refused. When he whispered to Rohan asking if it was okay, clear discomfort showed on the child’s face.

It was true that there weren’t many chances to try the food eaten by nobles. But no matter how fancy and delicious the food is, if the atmosphere is uncomfortable, it’s likely to cause indigestion.

Seeing the worry clearly written on Rohan’s face about whether it was really okay to refuse, Arpel left the mansion without asking further. The hosts looked quite disappointed, but Rohan’s feelings were more important to Arpel.

“How is it? Not uncomfortable?”

“No, it’s fine.”

As soon as they left the mansion, Arpel wrapped the artifact around Rohan’s wrist. It was a uniquely styled bracelet that tied at the end in a knot shape, so even though it was made to fit the wrist of the Count’s daughter, it could be secured without slipping off.

With several jewels embedded in it, it definitely had the feel of an accessory, but it was simply beautiful.

“Look, there’s a jewel here that’s exactly the same color as Arpel’s eyes!”

“You’re right.”

Rohan, who had been staring intently at the bracelet on his wrist, chattered excitedly with a delighted expression. His short, cute finger pointed to the center of the bracelet. Purple jewels were embedded in it. Arpel stroked Rohan’s head as the child expressed how much he liked it, saying the color was so pretty.

“Shall we go a bit farther this time?”

“Not to the next village?”

“No. Somewhere about 3 days away.”

“I’m happy with anything as long as I’m going with Arpel.”

Arpel hugged the child as he mumbled in a tiny voice with his face turning red.

Seeing how the child now naturally wrapped his arms around his neck, Arpel couldn’t help but think:

‘I wish… he would grow up a little later.’

Because once the child grows up, it will be hard to hug him tightly like this. When that time comes, he might miss the child’s warmth that now comes so naturally.

I hope I can spend more time with you.

***

The plan to go quite far from the town with the Count’s castle was put into action early the next morning.

Carrying Rohan, who still seemed a bit sleepy, Arpel went to a place where they could rent a carriage, unlike before. He could have run while carrying Rohan, but even for Arpel, running for 3 days straight without rest would be troublesome.

“Why are you here?”

“Haha, it’s been a while, Sir Arpel!”

“We met yesterday.”

The one who greeted them at the carriage rental place on the outskirts of town was Louis, the knight from the Count’s castle whom they had seen enough of just yesterday. Seeing Arpel’s furrowed brow, Louis hurriedly waved his hands.

“Ah, I didn’t eavesdrop secretly, the guard standing in front of the door…!”

“So. Why are you here?”

“If you tell me your destination, I’ll lend you a carriage from the Count’s castle!”

“No thanks.”

It was a very clean rejection. As Arpel turned away without hesitation, Louis hurriedly followed.

“But Sir Arpel, our Count’s carriage is much more durable and comfortable than ordinary carriages. Your back won’t ache from a long carriage journey. It will surely be better for the child too!”

“…Hmm.”

Arpel, who had been letting the words go in one ear and out the other, stopped in his tracks. Louis silently marveled at this sight.

After hearing from the guard that Arpel’s group was planning to go to a village about 3 days away, he reported it directly to the Countess. She, wanting to offer as much help as possible, ordered to lend them a carriage, and if he refused, to say these words.

‘Tell him it would be good for the child too.’

‘The child…?’

‘Yes. He seems to care for the child quite a lot.’

In any case, he had conveyed their desire to help until the end, so thinking it was worth a try, Louis spoke as the Countess advised. Surprisingly, Arpel showed a reaction. The man who had been giving cold, stiff answers with a face that looked like it could freeze the air, for the first time showed a contemplative expression.

“Arpel, are we riding in a carriage…?”

Rohan, who had been dozing in Arpel’s arms, asked while rubbing his eyes. Arpel gently took the child’s hand away from rubbing his eyes and nodded.

The cold wind was gone, and now what was blowing on his face was a warm breeze. Louis looked at Rohan anew. Come to think of it, even when they first met, Arpel had been excessively attentive to the child. He had just overlooked it because the situation was so urgent.

Arpel eventually accepted Louis’s offer. Although he was suspicious of why they would lend a good carriage without asking for anything in return, he decided to set aside his doubts for the moment at the mention that it could ease Rohan’s discomfort. It would be better to have a comfortable journey if they were going anyway.

Louis, who even provided a coachman, bowed his head several times with a bright smile before leaving. His smile was quite peculiar, but Arpel didn’t pay it much mind.

“It’s so fluffy… it’s like a bed.”

“You’re right. The quality is good.”

As explained beforehand, the carriage lent by the Count’s family was of very high quality. While the exterior wasn’t particularly fancy, the interior was sufficiently luxurious. The inns they had stayed at so far weren’t very cheap, but this was as soft as the beds there. It might even be better.

In any case, Rohan seemed to like it, which was good news for Arpel.

***

Although slower than moving on their own, the carriage journey wasn’t bad. The carriage was as stable as the Count’s family had boasted, so it wasn’t uncomfortable throughout the journey.

The 3-day journey passed more quickly than expected. Although it might have been boring for the child to be in a not-so-spacious place for most of the day, there were small toys and picture books inside the carriage for some unknown reason, so time flew by as he fiddled with various things.

Was it the Countess’s doing? Recalling the gaze of the smiling Countess looking at the child, Arpel read a few picture books to Rohan as he tugged on his sleeve. The picture books here had many contents quite different from the world he used to live in.

The last book they read was a typical moral tale. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t particularly interesting either. Rohan seemed satisfied though. Arpel stroked his head a few times, impressed that he asked to read books first.

“Shall we eat dinner outside today?”

“Yes!”

After arriving in the village, Arpel took on one more simple request. It was so simple that it didn’t even take an hour, and when he finished the request, the sun was slowly setting, so they decided to eat dinner before going in.

Walking towards the restaurant, he raised his hand to pat the child’s head out of habit. Now, if Rohan sensed that a pat was coming, he would familiarly bring his head to Arpel’s palm. Although he nuzzled against it, perhaps due to lack of skill, the brown hair caught on Arpel’s fingertips became messy.

Even so, he would smile with his eyes crinkled, and occasionally when Arpel looked at the child, he was reminded of a dog breed called a Retriever from the world he used to live in. The light brown-furred Retriever seemed to look just like Rohan. He wondered if there was a similar dog breed here too.

Shaking off his continuous thoughts, Arpel found a restaurant with decent reviews and ordered two dishes. They brought out a dish of mashed potatoes formed into round shapes, deep-fried and served with a sweet sauce, and chicken grilled steak-style with some spices added. Both looked quite appetizing, and Rohan’s eyes sparkled.

“Be careful, it’s hot.”

He cautioned, worried that Rohan might put a steaming hot potato ball directly into his mouth. Seeing him pause, it seems he was quite caught out. Instead of eating the potato right away, the child put some of the accompanying salad in his mouth.

Until recently, Arpel had thought Rohan wasn’t a picky eater. It seems that back then, the child himself had tried hard not to show that he ‘disliked’ something, and Arpel hadn’t paid as much attention to Rohan’s expressions as he did now, so it was natural he didn’t know.

Now, he knew that Rohan disliked carrots.

He tried to eat the carrots without showing his dislike, but the child’s brows furrowed. For some reason, Arpel felt like the corners of his mouth might turn up, so he bit his lip.

After staring at that sight for a while, he casually spoke up.

“The carrots are delicious.”

“…Do you want my carrots?”

“Yes. I like carrots.”

Before long, thinly sliced carrots were piled up on one side of Arpel’s plate. Thanks to being mixed with a slightly tangy and sweet sauce, the characteristic taste of carrots wasn’t too strong.

Throughout the meal, Arpel barely ate his food, mostly watching Rohan eat. Perhaps because his mouth was still small, his cheeks puffed up just from putting a small potato ball in his mouth. Somehow, Arpel felt like poking those cheeks.