WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Dionysus
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 269: Uninvited Guest (2)
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“I’ll be going to Hale Kingdom for a little while.”
“What? Wait...”
“Well then, I’ll be back.”
“What? Huh? W-wait! Hold on!”
When his beloved daughter, Illia Lindsay, suddenly left for Farreira territory, Joshua Lindsay felt an emptiness and sense of loss beyond words.
A light outing with the family had been planned for two days later.
No, that was not all.
It had happened before too.
Lavath territory, where the demon had first appeared.
There, Joshua had given his daughter advice for the first time in a very long while.
Even he thought it was quite good advice. In fact, Illia seemed to have regained her spirits considerably afterward.
‘But even then...’
Illia had rushed off to see Airen, not him.
...That was why Joshua had left his family behind and come to the continent’s central region.
Waiting quietly until his daughter returned was far too cruel for him.
It was better to take action himself, even if it took time.
Though it would not take that long.
He was a Sword Master, one of the Ten Great Swordsmen.
Some might dispute it, but the head of House Lindsay believed he could easily rank among the top five.
Traveling alone and focusing solely on moving day and night, his speed was astounding.
It had taken him barely two weeks to cross from the west to the central region.
However, he could not maintain that mad pace until the end.
At some point, he began wondering what exactly he was doing.
‘She’s no child. Why am I worrying this much over my grown daughter’s love life?’
Of course, he could worry.
She was his only daughter, the apple of his eye.
But there was no reason to go this far.
It was not as though Illia had fallen for some worthless layabout.
Airen Farreira...
There were a few matters that personally displeased him, but objectively speaking, Airen was truly an excellent young man.
His swordsmanship, character, and appearance were all beyond reproach.
And yet, why did he feel this way? Why had he crossed into the continent’s central region alone, even casting aside the dignity of a house head?
After sinking into such thoughts, Joshua Lindsay’s pace slowed.
Rather than hurrying along, he focused on his feelings and thoughts. To clear his cluttered mind, he began taking an interest in other things as well.
That was why he had helped the blue-haired young man he met along the way.
Had he still been consumed solely by thoughts of his daughter and Airen, as he had been when he first stormed out of the house, he could not have done so.
‘...I’m glad I could help.’
That young man.
He was probably the eldest son of House Lloyd.
Joshua nodded as he recalled the young man’s fluid swordsmanship.
This generation certainly had many talents.
Compared to his own youth, remarkable young people were rising across the continent.
That was not an entirely pleasant thought.
The birth of heroes often heralded the rise of a crisis.
Demons other than the Jester were appearing one after another, and he wondered how much longer this could be hidden from the continent.
‘...And amid all that chaos, what am I doing, running all the way here?’
“...”
Joshua Lindsay looked up at the sky for a moment before stomping his foot down.
Thud!
It was already too late. Farreira territory was right before him.
Having come this far, he could not simply drown in regret.
He had to move forward.
He had to face them.
Who?
His daughter.
And that boy.
With a long exhale, the head of House Lindsay gathered himself and raced toward the territory.
“You came from the west... Have a good journey.”
“Thank you.”
Thanks to his disguise and forged identification, there was no commotion at the gates.
The guard gave him a warm smile, and Joshua briefly nodded before entering the city.
His destination was the lord’s manor.
His targets were the two young people.
However, rather than heading there at once, he walked around the territory at a leisurely pace.
It had become a habit since he arrived in the continent’s central region.
To clear his complicated thoughts.
And to see what places other than his own territory looked and felt like, Joshua would walk slowly through a city, observing its scenery and the expressions of the people passing by.
That was not all.
What was needed to understand a place more deeply?
Conversation.
And what helped conversation flow?
Alcohol.
As he watched the sky turn orange beneath autumn’s earlier sunsets, Joshua entered a neat-looking tavern.
“Damn it, I came up empty.”
“What are you talking about now? Things didn’t go well?”
“Argh! I lost again!”
“Hahaha! You’ll need another ten years before you can challenge me!”
A breeze warmer than the autumn air, carrying delicious aromas and a faint scent of alcohol.
And the lively chatter found in any tavern.
After ordering a beer and some food, the head of House Lindsay slowly settled into the atmosphere.
He did not even need to use the senses of a Sword Master.
Among drunkards freely talking about their own affairs without worrying what anyone else thought, Joshua quietly continued his meal before...
“This is a nice place.”
He spoke briefly, as though tossing the words into the air.
Immediately afterward, a middle-aged man holding a beer sat across from him.
“It certainly is quite a nice place.”
“...”
“The bar snacks are good, and the prices are even better. More than anything, they have such a variety of drinks that it is easy to choose according to the mood of the day. Ah, would you mind if I joined you?”
“I don’t mind.”
The head of House Lindsay answered briefly.
He meant it.
He had not expected anyone to respond to the words he had casually thrown out, but that too was part of the fun of traveling alone.
More than anything, he liked the man’s air.
Calm and composed, with red hair and eyes that somehow seemed filled with deep experience.
Joshua watched him for a moment before speaking again.
He tossed the words out as casually as before, as though it did not matter whether the man answered.
“...When I said this was a nice place, I was not talking about the tavern.”
“Hm? Then...?”
“I meant this territory.”
“Is that so?”
“It is. It looks far better than the surrounding territories.”
“You seem to be a traveler. Would you tell me what made you think so?”
“Hm. Very well.”
Soon, Joshua began sharing his assessment of Farreira territory.
“First, public order is excellent. The guards’ equipment is in good condition, and they carry themselves with discipline, so that is only natural. The residents do not seem anxious either. The city itself is even more impressive. The roads around the territory are well maintained, and the city is kept clean enough that there are hardly any foul-smelling places.”
“Ho.”
“The conversations in this tavern were impressive too. Complaining after drinking is universal, but people seem more concerned with the future than with day-to-day worries. That does not seem like a bad sign. It appears the lord is governing this territory well.”
“That is a better assessment than I expected.”
“I am not merely being polite.”
Joshua took a sip of beer and continued.
Public order. City maintenance. Welfare.
Everyone knew those things helped a territory’s reputation.
Yet many lords could not pay attention to them because they lacked money, which caused them no end of headaches.
There were also rotten nobles who ignored their people’s lives entirely.
Then where did Baron Farreira get the money to manage his territory?
‘He must be supporting highly profitable businesses at the territorial level. The glassware guild is one example, and it seems the territory has attracted many producers who create considerable added value...’
He did not know the details.
The head of House Lindsay had only been interested in Airen Farreira.
He had not given much thought to Baron Farreira or his territory.
Still, even a superficial look made it clear.
Abundant trade.
Well-planned artisan guilds.
The business acumen that made them possible, and the sense of balance to keep everything running without trouble.
And because he was generous enough to share that prosperity with the people, Joshua realized that Baron Harun Farreira was a far more remarkable man than he had expected.
That was separate from his son’s fame.
Joshua honestly shared those thoughts, and the man before him wore a rather pleased expression.
He seemed to be a local. Otherwise, he could not have made that expression.
What was somewhat surprising was that this local had a far deeper interest in the matter than Joshua expected.
“Then what do you think this territory needs in order to develop further?”
“Hm?”
“Ah, my apologies. I personally enjoy discussing such matters, but everyone around me seems tired of it... If you find it unpleasant, I will stop.”
“...It is not that, but the question is too broad and abstract.”
“Ah, that was the problem. Then let us move on to something more specific. I have been considering ways to make use of the blacksmiths who recently settled in the territory...”
A discussion about developing the territory had begun out of nowhere.
It was surprising.
But it was not unpleasant.
If anything, it was quite enjoyable.
It was the first time he had held such a deep, well-matched discussion with someone he had met by chance in a tavern, and it was a refreshing kind of fun.
Moreover, the man’s eloquence, attitude, and flashes of insight were so impressive that even Joshua, who led the prestigious House Lindsay, was surprised. He lost track of time while talking to the middle-aged man.
An hour later.
The head of House Lindsay spoke with a completely different expression from the one he had worn when entering the tavern.
“You are remarkable. Do you perhaps handle this territory’s administration?”
“Haha, not at all. I merely have some interest in how the world works.”
“That is far beyond the level of someone with merely some interest...”
Joshua muttered with an incredulous look.
He liked the man.
To be more honest, he coveted him. He wanted to reveal his identity and recruit the man into House Lindsay.
Their conversation had been brief, but Joshua was certain. The man was not only knowledgeable, but also a true talent with upright character and bearing.
His heart growing warm, the head of House Lindsay nearly forgot why he had come here as he considered whether to reveal his identity.
Only empty beer glasses continued piling up beside him.
That was when it happened.
A topic from the next table snapped him back to attention.
“Did you hear?”
“About what?”
“You know, Young Master Farreira. There’s a rumor he has gotten together with the young lady of House Lindsay. No, it is not even a rumor. It sounds almost certain...”
“Whaaat?!”
Crash!
“...”
“...”
“...”
The tavern fell silent.
Everyone wore confused expressions as they looked at the middle-aged man who had shattered a table with a single punch.
What in the world could make someone that angry?
More importantly, who was that man to possess such monstrous strength?
Most people cared more about the latter question, so they averted their gazes.
No, they went further and began leaving the tavern. The owner looked close to tears as they quickly paid their bills and fled.
A moment later, the red-haired man quietly stood and handed the owner a gold coin.
“I apologize. My companion has caused trouble... It is not much, but I hope it helps.”
“...You may break a little more if you like.”
Clutching the gold coin tightly, the owner regained their composure.
The red-haired man smiled.
After returning to his seat, he looked at Joshua Lindsay and asked,
“Did you perhaps react that way because of what you heard about Young Master Airen Farreira and Lady Illia Lindsay?”
“...Ahem.”
“Was I correct?”
“That is right, but...”
“I see. I already knew, but I thought a traveler might not have heard the news yet.”
“...”
“Still, I find it difficult to understand why you became so upset.”
“...”
“Let me ask directly. Does the fact that our territory’s Young Master Farreira has become romantically involved with Lady Lindsay bother you somehow?”
...The red-haired man’s expression was so cold and rigid as he asked that it was hard to believe he was the same person from before.
‘What is this? Why is he acting like this?’
Joshua Lindsay was flustered.
Of course, he knew his behavior must have looked strange.
It was certainly surprising, but not something to become angry over.
No one here knew that he was Illia’s father.
But...
‘Even so, why is he reacting like this?’
Because he was a local?
Because he felt that Airen Farreira, the son of the respected Baron Farreira and a young man building a reputation worthy of respect himself, was being insulted?
Was that why he was upset?
‘If that is the case, I can understand it.’
Joshua nodded.
His guess seemed to be correct.
Then the way to ease the current tension was clear.
He only needed to apologize.
Say he was sorry.
Say that he was from Adan, and that Lady Lindsay was like a treasure of Adan Kingdom, so he had become a little excited.
Say he found it difficult to believe that she had become involved with someone else.
That was all he needed to say, but...
“Of course it bothers me.”
...That was not what he said.
“If it is Lady Illia Lindsay, Adan’s greatest genius and the youngest Sword Master in history... She could have met someone better, someone...”
Instead, his words only made him more heated. His emotions swelled.
He continued pouring out even harsher words without even caring that the man before him was a local.
What made the head of House Lindsay fall silent was the incomprehensibly intense emotion pouring from the other man’s eyes.
‘This is...’
Joshua swallowed.
The other man was an ordinary person. He was certainly not a swordsman, nor did he look like a mage or a Sorcerer.
By Joshua’s standards, he was an exceedingly frail person.
And yet, Joshua felt tense.
And yet, it was not easy to withstand the man’s presence.
As he faced the man’s blazing, resolute gaze, Joshua felt confusion, indignation, and a touch of anger.
The tavern door burst open.
“This place is nice. What do you think? We should go out on dates like this from time to time...”
“Huh? There is nobody here...”
The newly arrived couple froze as though nailed in place.
A man with blond hair as warm as midday sunlight.
A woman with beautiful silver hair that seemed to hold the moonlight of the night sky.
Looking at the two middle-aged men locked in a staring contest across a shattered table, both thought at the same time.
‘Father?’
‘Dad?’
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