"Haha, I guess being a mercenary makes you sharp. That's right."
After his laughter, Shane suddenly let out a sigh.
"Recently, one of my knights went missing. I gave him a task, but he disappeared without even properly completing it."
"That's terrible."
"Yes, utterly incompetent. If I'd known this would happen, I never would have kept him around in the first place."
A Sword Expert intermediate level knight had disappeared.
His insides must be burning right about now. Well, not showing it was also a skill.
"So I'm in a bit of trouble. One knight position is vacant."
"You'll need to hire a competent knight next time."
"Exactly. Someone who's reasonably perceptive and skilled would be good. For example..."
Shane's eyes narrowed.
A subtle look. His emerald eyes gleamed dangerously.
"Like Sir Inosid."
"..."
He'd been calling him by name until just now, but suddenly added the title 'Sir.'
By this point, anyone could figure out Shane's purpose.
"The other knights would strongly oppose it."
"Sudden good fortune always comes with hardships."
The smile on Shane's lips deepened.
Being able to have a conversation meant the other person understood his intentions.
With this, Shane threw out a more direct proposal.
"Become my knight. Sir Inosid."
A confident voice.
He looked like he didn't doubt for a second that Ferda would become his knight. At Shane's proposal, Ferda hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.
"I..."
But Ferda couldn't finish speaking.
Something had come flying toward where he was.
Crash—!
"Huff! Gasp!"
It was Silvan. Silvan was breathing heavily, covered in dust and sweat.
Even so, his eyes were fixed in one direction.
Toward Burke, the one who had sent him flying.
"You can rest for 5 minutes."
Burke muttered in his characteristically flat tone.
When break time was given, Silvan quickly threw down his sword. Then, just as he was about to take off his armor.
"Don't remove the armor. This is all part of training too."
Silvan's face crumpled.
Inside the armor was full of sweat and heat. And right now, Silvan was standing in a sunny spot full of sunlight. At this rate, it wouldn't be strange if he collapsed any moment.
In the terrible heat, Silvan's face grew redder and redder.
This was the limit. Even if he had to put it back on later, he had to throw off this heavy armor.
Just as Silvan was thinking that.
A cool breeze came from somewhere.
"Is it a bit cooler now?"
Ferda was fanning with a handkerchief.
And that wasn't all. He held out a leather pouch—when had he taken it out?
It was a water pouch full of cool water.
Silvan quickly snatched the pouch and gulped down the water.
"Young master."
Then Ferda spoke to him again.
He pointed to Silvan's forehead with his handkerchief.
"May I wipe the sweat for you?"
"...Do whatever."
"Yes. Then excuse me."
Ferda approached.
Every time the pure white handkerchief fluttered, the sweat beads on Silvan's forehead disappeared.
=====
[Notification]: Affection increased by (1).
*Current affection: -100
=====
The affection had returned to where it was when they first met.
Ferda smiled lightly and retrieved his handkerchief.
"Sir Inosid?"
Meanwhile, Shane frowned slightly at Ferda's lack of response.
His soon-to-be lord was right in front of him, but wasn't this attitude a bit much?
"Sir Inosid."
A voice slightly louder than before.
Only then did Ferda turn his head.
"I'd like to hear your answer to my earlier proposal."
Shane quickly straightened his expression and spoke in a gentle tone. Silvan was here too. He should be able to get a more sincere answer.
Shane didn't doubt this at all.
And just as he expected, a sincere answer flowed from Ferda's lips.
"What proposal are you talking about?"
"Excuse me?"
"I didn't hear anything."
A flat tone.
Shane's face went blank for a moment.
"...I understand. If that's your choice."
Grind—!
The sound of grinding teeth could be heard from here.
He'd seemed mature for his age, but he was still just a kid after all. Getting so emotional just from having a proposal rejected.
"All done."
Only after retrieving even the last drop of sweat.
A satisfied smile appeared on Ferda's lips.
Then his eyes fell on the empty water pouch.
"If it's not enough, I'll bring more."
"No, I'm good now."
Silvan waved his hand.
His expression was somewhat red but peaceful. As he sat there quietly, Silvan suddenly looked up at Ferda.
What filled his eyes was confusion and doubt.
After a moment, Silvan's lips moved.
"But why are you being so..."
Good to me?
If he'd been asked this question right after entering the novel, he would have answered like this:
Because the novel ends if you die.
Because I need you to live for me to survive.
But now it was different.
The moment he saw Silvan with his own eyes, he realized.
This wasn't just a world inside a novel, but a world that actually existed.
So he couldn't give a light answer.
"The young master's condition is important."
Ferda smiled broadly.
Right. At least with Silvan, let's be honest. With that thought, he continued.
"It would be troublesome if you got sick. Don't we have class tomorrow too?"
"...Were we even having classes to begin with?"
"Of course. Learning silence is also a perfectly good lesson."
An answer that seemed like a scam.
Silvan looked at Ferda with distrustful eyes.
Seeing this, Ferda made an innocent expression. Then he opened his mouth to explain 'why one must learn silence.'
"Hey, you."
But he couldn't explain.
Because Casher, who had approached at some point, suddenly spoke to him.
"I heard from my brother. You're that darkie's tutor?"
Casher's eyes went straight to Ferda.
At the blatant disrespect, Silvan bit his lip hard.
Meanwhile, Ferda tilted his head.
"Excuse me, but is there a darkie here?"
"What?"
"I don't see anyone I'd call a darkie."
He looked genuinely confused.
Actually, the only people nearby were the incredibly handsome Young Master Silvan, Burke, Shane, and Casher. If he had to pick someone to call a darkie among them...
"Hm? Is there something on my face?"
At Burke's question, Ferda shook his head.
Then Casher spoke again.
"Whatever. That's not what's important right now."
Casher smirked.
Then he suddenly threw a practice wooden sword that was rolling on the ground.
When Ferda reflexively caught the sword, Casher grinned wickedly.
"Follow me. Let's see if you're qualified to teach anyone."
"Young master."
At Casher's sudden action, Burke looked troubled.
Then someone stopped him. It was Shane.
"It's fine, Sir Logwood. It's just a simple spar."
"But..."
"I'll speak to the Count myself."
Shane looked at Ferda and smiled coldly.
As if saying, go ahead and try.
Turns out this young master was surprisingly petty.
"Sigh, understood."
When Count Arcdute was mentioned, Burke couldn't interfere anymore.
"Please don't be too harsh."
All he could do was look worried and make that request.
Once permission was granted, Casher immediately walked to the center of the training ground.
"What are you doing? Hurry up and follow me!"
Casher shouted like he was scolding.
But Ferda's gaze wasn't directed at Casher.
From the moment Burke tried to stop things, he'd been looking only at Silvan.
Kneeling on one knee.
"Young master, would it be alright if I stepped away for a moment?"
Ferda asked Silvan for permission.
At this sight, Silvan's expression changed to something rather strange. It was an unfamiliar scene.
Not Burke or the other knights, not even the servant who had tried to help him undress—none of them had ever asked his permission.
Ferda was the first to politely ask for permission.
"Why are you asking me that..."
"Well, I am your tutor after all."
He was momentarily speechless.
He thought it was a sneaky answer. But it wasn't completely unreasonable.
"...Do whatever you want."
"Yes, then I'll be back shortly."
Ferda smiled and stood up.
Just as he was about to walk toward the center of the training ground where Casher was.
Grab—
Suddenly someone grabbed his collar.
It was Silvan.
"Young master?"
"If it looks dangerous, roll on the ground."
An unexpected answer came out.
Then Silvan looked up.
"Cling to that bastard's feet and beg."
The hand gripping his collar tightened even more.
His golden eyes trembled faintly.
"...Then he won't hit you anymore."
He remembered. This was Silvan's personal experience.
When he first stood up to Casher, not knowing anything.
When Casher beat him like a dog.
Silvan had grabbed his feet and begged.
Because no one stopped Casher. Because no one helped Silvan.
So he threw away his pride and everything else. Only then did Casher stop swinging his sword.
"..."
Without realizing it, his fists clenched.
Originally, he'd had no plan. He'd just thought he'd play along appropriately and then leave.
He'd been thinking so carelessly.
"Thank you for the advice."
But not anymore.
Ferda smiled broadly.
Then he wrapped his hands around Silvan's hand that was still gripping his collar.
"Young master."
"...?"
"There's a saying in the mercenary world."
Actually, it was something that circulated in the hunter industry, but.
"An eye for an eye. Blood for blood. Pay back everything you've suffered."
Whether it was monsters or fellow hunters who stabbed you in the back.
Pay them back in kind. If you show pathetic mercy, you'll be treated like a pushover till the end.
It was like a maxim in the hunter industry.
"...All the humiliation you've suffered."
Ferda bowed his waist. He brought his lips to Silvan's ear.
And whispered quietly.
"I'll pay it all back for you."
"Wh-what?"
Silvan asked in confusion, but no answer came back.
Because Ferda had turned around and headed straight for the center of the training ground.