Sword Whisperer: Chapter 7
Chapter 7. Career Options (2)
“…..Is not Cho family one of the nine great families?”
Yuri asked as she brought grilled pork ribs from the brazier. Dolby shrugged his shoulders.
“That’s right. He is the most senior official in the village.”
The mere news of the heir of the Cho family’s appearance made a big fuss in what was a quiet village. It wasn’t a fuss in a good sense though. Yuri shook all over as if she was nervous.
“Is something going to happen today? Nothing good ever comes out of crossing path with those who are in high places…..”
“Don’t worry too much. Our security team exists because bad things do happen.”
Dolby said proudly. Van thought quietly as he looked at them.
‘Nine great families.’
They were the lineages of the most venerable blood lines in the world. In the old days, it was often said that there were ten families, rather than nine, but what was important was that such high statured person has personally come to the village.
On top of that, his appearance obviously showed that he needed help.
“I’m more worried because of that security unit. Can’t afford to get hurt, thinking about my kid. You know what I mean?”
Rubbing her stomach, Yuri said. Although her abdomen was not that big yet, it wouldn’t be much longer before her stomach grew like a mountain.
Dolby laughed delightfully and nodded his head.
“Of course. Don’t worry even a bit. Nothing bad will happen.”
And it was before even finishing the dinner. Someone was banging on the door, and upon going outside they found a security unit’s messenger standing at the door.
“The captain is calling you. Dolby, Van. Both of you.”
There was tension on Dolby’s face while sense of anticipation set in on Van’s.
The time has come.
§
“It is a simple matter to sum up. We should provide protection to the Cho family’s heir Cho Yooryung until he gets to his home.”
“…..By us, you mean, including you…..?”
“It’s not an easy task.”
Aidan said anxiously.
“I need to form an elite unit as much as possible. Even at the cost of vacating the village.”
There will be a total of six men. Cho Yooryung, and one of his knights. Aidan, Dolby, Van, and Gord, and one of the lieutenants.
Dolby seemed slightly surprised.
“Could I…. be included in the elite team?”
“Why. Cuz you kept losing to Van?”
Aidan smiled bitterly.
“That bastard is a monster. Just because you’ve lost to a monster does not make you a weak person. The winning days over Van are numbered, even for Gord.”
“My, captain. How could you say that? I was taking it easy because it was only sparring, had it been a real battle, I can easily take him…..”
“Losing is losing. I’m thinking of your pride, keep your words brief. Nothing good comes out of speaking in length.”
Gord sheepishly scratched the back of his head. Van spoke as he clenched his fist. The tone of his voice shook as it was filled with excitement.
“Has his identity been verified?”
“….Yup. A scholar was just here and verified the emblems. He said it was genuine.”
“Then… It must be dangerous.”
Dangerous. Even as he uttered that word, Van’s heart pounded as if he has met his first love, for the first time. As Aidan looked at Van, he spoke quietly.
“Van. I won’t say anything to you for having such a firm determination. However, do not get over excited. Over excitement isn’t something that a swordsman should think kindly of.”
“….Yes. Understood.”
“I’ll take any questions you may have. Dolby. Anything you want to say?”
“This mission…. If I wanted to decline, would that be an option?”
Aidan groaned in response. Aidan did think that such a response might be coming from Dolby. It wasn’t he wasn’t aware of Yuri’s pregnancy.
“I’ll not insist. I surely do need someone to look after the village as well. Only that separate resources need to be secured.”
“Hey, Dolby. Are you sure you want to stay? Think hard about it. It may be your first and the last chance in your life. A chance to have an heir of a great family to be indebted to you will not come easy?”
Gord smirked as he fixed his beard. However, Dolby still couldn’t escape from being hesitant. And it was then.
“Then at this time, I should let you all know what the reward would be for helping me. Wouldn’t that help make up your mind?”
Everyone quickly turned their heads as an unexpected voice was suddenly heard. They weren’t sure when he stepped into the room, but a black haired man, fraught with injuries, was smiling as he looked at them from the doorway.
He seemed to be in similar age group as Van’s.
‘What the heck. Looks terrible.’
They weren’t sure how deep the wounds were, but the bandage which wrapped around his body was soaked with blood. However, Yooryung, the man, nonchalantly looked over in Aidan’s direction.
“Captain. Could I take a moment to describe what will follow? What the risks and rewards are.”
“…..Please.”
“First, the risk. The risk, as expected, is that you could die. The terrible rebel forces are after me, after all. I’m not sure how many them there are. There could only be five, or even tens who are after me. It all depends on how much importance they placed on capturing me?”
Dolby moaned upon hearing that. The rebels. He knew how infatuated and persistent they were just from the rumors. They weren’t easily seen at the outskirts of the central region, and somehow it came to this….
“Then I’ll talk about the good thing. Uh, Hm…. OK. Hey, you, the hesitant young man. Do you have a dream? Or something you want to have…..?”
“I don’t know. It wasn’t something that I even thought about on a regular basis…..”
“Ah, Alright. Oh, sure. Then how about this? A big farm and a huge house such that you won’t even see the ends of the property. And, so many servants that you couldn’t even count them, all.”
Yooryung smiled mischievously.
“I’ll endow you with the wealth and fame which are beyond your imagination. Whatever your wish is, I’ll help to make it happen. It wasn’t because you will simply help the heir of a great family. You are all standing on a much greater staked chess board than you think. If you were to help me, not just from the great family…. But the king, the great highness, might also reward you.”
“The, great highness?”
“Ah, of course, all I’m saying is that that might happen. Or it might not. At any rate, what needs to be done is simple. Dodge the rebel’s pursuit, and escort me safely to the Cho family’s territory. Alright, then decide quickly. I don’t have the luxury of time. Will you? Or not?”
Dolby couldn’t speak quickly. And it was then. Van asked quietly.
“You just said. You can make any wish come true.”
“As long as it’s possible.”
“I want to be the world’s greatest swordsman. Can you help me?”
When Van spoke those words, he was even fully prepared to be laughed at by Yooryung. It was because that had been a familiar response. Even when his sword skill progressed consistently, the members of the security unit picked on him as a kid whenever he spoke those words.
However, Yooryung responded in the way that wasn’t expected, at all.
He looked at Van, and looked down on his callus filled hands. And for the first time, he smiled.
“You are wishing for something much greater than wealth and fame. However…. Alright. It’s only worth helping when a wish is such a grand one as this. Are you sure you can handle it?”
“Most definitely.”
“Alright. Then it looks like you and I will be in it together, life or death, so let’s formally introduce each other. I’m Cho Yooryung. I’m the third son of Cho’s family.”
Yooryung extended his hand out. Van spoke as he grabbed it.
“I’m Van. I’m an orphan.”
§
Finally, Dolby decided to join the mission. Yuri was concerned and could not bear it until the very last minute, but it was an opportunity of a life to not seize it.
With the break of the dawn, they took off on their horses. Contrary to the fear which was planted in their minds, it was a rather peaceful journey.
When Yooryung came to them initially, he was lying, like a corpse, on the dilapidated wagon, but now he was holding onto the reign as if nothing had happened.
“So, it has only been 1 year since you’ve first held your sword?”
Yooryung appeared to have keen interest in Van. He must have found it interesting to hear that Van was dreaming to be the world’s greatest swordsman.
“Yes. It just happened that way.”
“Awesome? If you have advanced to the point of being an ace in the security unit in less than 1 year, hm, it isn’t incomprehensible to see you dream of becoming the world’s best.”
Gord, who was next to them, felt that he wanted to say a lot when he heard Yooryung’s words, but he did not open his mouth. Yooryung spoke sheepishly.
“Well, did you know that when you become a knight, you can even slice up strong steel with a sword?”
“…..I’ve heard the rumors. I thought that they were exaggerations…. But is that really true?”
“Exaggeration? Kk, you haven’t seen the real monster. For those who are truly powerful, slicing through steel is just a play. If you want to be the world’s most powerful swordsman, hm…. Don’t you think that you would be able to cut down a mountain?”
“What, a mountain?”
Even Gord, who was next to them, clicked his tongue. Internally, he thought that this aristocrat boy was mocking them for being country boys. It was such a ridiculous thing to be believable.
However, Van was different. He was used to believing in what seemed to be foolish things. Isn’t wanting to become the world’s best swordsman, already a foolish thought.
As Yooryung liked Van, Van, too, took keen interest in this young man.
As soon as the sun set, they made fire and camped. Dolby was rather nervous as he didn’t know when the rebels would come after them, but Yooryung was rather nonchalant.
“Those bastards’ horses are the same as ours. As rebels, they won’t be able to borrow fresh horses from the village, so ultimately, they will ride during the day, and rest over night. It’s best to rest comfortably. Right? Captain.”
“…..That is logical.”
“At the dawn, we move again. Sleep well until then.”
Van and Dolby took the first watch. Dolby sighed as he looked at Van who was fiddling with Lucas’ sword.
“Don’t you even get nervous.”
“…..Of course. How wouldn’t I.”
It was only that he didn’t particularly dislike being nervous, this time. It was possible that he was saying that because he did not know what it was truly like being in the battle of life and death, but in some way, he was actually looking forward to the first true battle.
Dolby murmured.
“After this mission, I’m going to quit the security force, and stuff. If I could really have my own farm as Yooryung has said…..I want to live there with Yuri, resting during the day and drinking during the night.”
“…..You have never told me that you wanted to live like that, before?”
“Because that was a meaningless wish. How could an ordinary member of the security force have a chance to live like that, ever?”
“That’s true, too. Then if I want to get some R&R, I could just go visit your farm?”
“Kk, who knows, I might even have a designated room ready for you.”
“Oh, that sounds great? Please do so. I’d like to have a rich friend, for once.”
The two giggled. Such lighthearted conversation continued until it was time for Gord to take watch.
‘This is the first time sleeping with a sword in my grip.’
It was still dark. Turning his eyes away from the rising embers from the sparkling campfire, Van quietly held Lucas’s short sword in his arms. He felt the sound of his heart beating, slowly reverberate over the sword.
And it was in that evening.
Van had a dream.
It was a dream in which Lucas appeared.