Chapter 66: Can I Make A Request? "Your disciple sure is something," Ramza remarked as he looked through the window of his office. "It seems that you made the right decision in choosing him as your first disciple." "That, he is." Cairo nodded. "Also, it’s more like he chose me, instead of me choosing him." The two smiled faintly as they watched the young man ran up the stairs that led to the residence of the Hartwell Clan, while carrying on his back a basket commonly used by those who gathered herbs. It was halfway filled with stones, and this was the tenth time the young man had climbed the stairs since he woke up this morning. Even at a different place, Alex found a way to continue his daily training, not wanting to waste a single day before his departure for Briarwood Village. He had also received news from Cairo that the Town of Thaloria was expecting a monster outbreak in the next few days. Alex told his Master he planned to return to the town to help defend it, and Cairo agreed. However, the airship bound for the town would only pass by Etherion Village tomorrow morning, so Alex needed to wait until then. "Are you sure you’re going to accompany him back to Thaloria?" Ramza asked. "A monster outbreak can be very dangerous, you know?" "I know." Cairo nodded. "But I’m currently searching for my way of the sword. If I were to run away from such a challenge when my disciple chose to make his stand, I’m sure it would haunt me all my life. "I don’t want to have a heart demon, which might hinder me from reaching the goal I have in mind." "You still dream of becoming Heaven’s Sword?" Ramza arched an eyebrow. "You know it’s not going to be an easy path, right?" "I am prepared for it," Cairo answered. "That is the path that I wish to take." Ramza sighed before resting his hand on his grandson’s shoulder. "There is a fine line between being brave and being stupid," Ramza stated. "You can follow your dream, you can follow your heart. We will not stop you. But remember this, we don’t care if you become the Heaven’s Sword or not. As long as you return to us safely after your long journey ends, that is all that really matters to the Hartwell Clan." Cairo nodded in understanding before shifting his attention back to his disciple, who was now walking down the stairs to start all over again. "By the way, does your disciple plan to stay in the Town of Thaloria to become an adventurer for life?" Ramza inquired. "No." Cairo shook his head. "He plans to enroll in Frieden Academy as a freshman. However, he said he plans to visit Briarwood Village first. Also, he asked me if I could accompany him there for a mission." "Briarwood Village?" Ramza frowned. "I’ve never heard of it." "It’s a small village in the southeastern edges of the Kingdom," Cairo commented. "It doesn’t have any redeeming features aside from the fact that one of the entrances to the Dungeon of Beginnings is located there." "So there’s really nothing special about the village?" Ramza wondered. "I’ve been there once, and all I can say is that nothing stood out to me." Cairo shrugged. "For some reason, Alex seems determined to go there. I don’t know how to put it, but I have a feeling that he has been training so hard for this trip." "How... peculiar." Ramza rubbed his chin. "Now I’m getting interested in that village too. Maybe you should ask him why he wants to go there instead of directly going to the capital city of Harmonia to enroll in the academy." Cairo pondered for a bit before agreeing. "Since he asked me to come with him, I’m sure this trip will not be an ordinary one. There must be danger involved." "We’ll talk to him after breakfast. If he opens up, then good. If not, then I will respect his privacy." "Mmm." While the two Catkins were observing Alex, the young man once again ran up the staircase until he reached the very top. No notification sounds informed him that he gained any additional stat from his morning exercise, but that was fine with him. Usually, it took him a few days to raise his strength and agility through training, so he wasn’t bothered by the lack of notifications. But despite all this, Alex still felt stronger because his already fit body was getting even fitter. As the young man wiped the sweat from his face, he noticed Lavinia, who was standing in the distance with her two handmaidens, looking at him with a calm expression. He then hurriedly lifted Dim Dim from the top of his head and brought the little one closer to his face before whispering something in its ear. "Dim Dim, why is she looking at me as if she wants to eat me?" The Dim Sum God glanced in Lavinia’s direction before whispering back in Alex’s ear. "Dim Dim." "Huh? Are you sure?" "Dim!" Feeling conflicted, Alex decided to walk up to her and greet her. "Good morning, Lavinia," Alex said to the princess, who was a year younger than him. "Good morning," Lavinia replied calmly. Lavinia’s handmaidens looked at the young man in surprise when he addressed her by her name instead of calling her Princess or Young Miss like everyone did. Only the members of the Hartwell Clan were permitted to address her as such. But it was more surprising that their Young Lady—rather uncharacteristically—didn’t tell Alex off for acting too familiar without permission! Seeing the frowns on the handmaidens’ faces, the young man thought that he might have been a nuisance for turning the stairs that were used by the staff of the residence into his training ground. "Um, am I perhaps disturbing the peace of your residence by running up the stairs?" Alex asked awkwardly. "I’m terribly sorry about this. I just thought that it was a good place to train." "... My brother used to do the same when he was younger," Lavinia replied. "When he was first taught the sword by my grandfather, he would always run up and down the stairs in the mornings." "Oh?" Alex’s face brightened up. It was his first time hearing this information about his master, so he was naturally happy to know even just a bit more about the latter. "Do you look up to your brother, Lavinia?" "I do." Lavinia nodded. "By the way, is it fine if I call you Alex?" "Of course," he replied. "My brother has said that you will be leaving tomorrow to return to the Town of Thaloria, where a monster outbreak can happen any day. Why must you go to such a dangerous place when you can just stay here and train in peace?" "It’s because of experience points," Alex answered in a heartbeat. "Huh? Experience points?" "I mean, I want to experience what a monster outbreak is like. For some reason, I think I will be facing something similar before I enroll in Frieden Academy." "Frieden Academy..." Lavinia muttered. "You plan to study there?" "Yes." Alex nodded. The young lady smiled sweetly, which made Alex’s heart skip a beat. Lavinia was already a beautiful young lady, but her smile lit up her face with an angelic charm. This was a side of her that he hadn’t seen before. "This is probably the first time I’m seeing you smile," Alex managed after regaining his composure. "You should smile often. It makes you look prettier." The sudden casual compliment caught Lavinia by surprise, reddening her face. "I-I came here to see you today to ask if you can give me the remains of Everguard," Lavinia said. "M-My grandfather wishes to have a blacksmith fix it. Since you are our Oathkeeper, he has decided that you need a good shield to protect you in your journey." "Oh..." Alex was also planning to give the remains of Everguard to a good blacksmith for repair. However, he also understood that repairing it completely was not possible. The young man took out his storage pouch, where he stored the broken parts of the loyal shield, and handed it to Lavinia. "T-Thank you," the princess stammered as she accepted the pouch. "The repairs will take some time, but we will surely deliver it to you as soon as possible." "Understood." Alex nodded. "But can I make a request?" "A request?" "Yes." Alex believed that the blacksmith would simply melt the broken parts of the shield to forge another one. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮 That shield would no longer be Everguard, but he wished to honor its sacrifice. "The shield doesn’t have to look exactly like Everguard," Alex stated as he placed his hand over his chest. "But I wish to have the emblem of the Clawford Tribe embossed at its center. The Oath I chose may not be to protect the Clawford Tribe, but I wish to keep Sir Leo’s memory here in my heart." Lavinia looked at the faint smile on Alex’s face. This time, it was her heart that skipped a beat. As if to hide her embarrassment, she simply nodded before making a hasty retreat back to the residence so the young man wouldn’t see the expression on her reddened face right now. The Ninjas, who were assigned to guard Lavinia, exchanged smiles with each other before following their princess from the shadows. This was the first time they had seen their Young Miss act so bashfully. Some of them believed that spring had finally come to the princess, who must be feeling such strong emotions for the first time in her life.