kscans

Chapter 3 - That Girl Had Become a Legion Commander

"Militar... you've really grown up..."

"I knew it was you, Sensei! I had a feeling it might be."

"I never thought I'd see you in a place like this."

"That's my line, Sensei."

Militar grasped my hand and swung it around cheerfully. She usually had a calm and composed personality, but when she smiled, she had a child's innocent grin... That part of her hadn't changed either. It had been fifteen years since we last met, but strangely, I remembered her well.

"Wow, that old guy knows the Legion Commander."

"He must be a famous blacksmith."

"He seemed really knowledgeable, too."

I almost laughed at the crowd's comments. Unfortunately, I wasn't such an amazing blacksmith. Just an ordinary, nameless one from a regional town. But I was genuinely happy to have met one of the children from my past. As I was lost in nostalgia, the soldiers approached us hesitantly.

""Legion Commander, this gentleman is...?""

"This is the man who looked after me during my childhood. I'm going to talk with him for a bit, so you may all return ahead of me."

""As you wish.""

At Militar's command, the burly soldiers departed. She had such an air of authority. Fifteen years ago she was seven or eight, so she must still be in her mid-twenties. What a difference from me... oh, speaking of which.

"They've been calling you Legion Commander, but... M, Militar, are you the Legion Commander of the Grossa Army?"

"Yes. Thanks to my efforts, I have attained the position of leading the Grossa Army."

...Seriously?

"That's an incredible promotion..."

The Legion Commander was the number two in the national army. To think we used to play together... Suddenly, she seemed like a being from a world far away. On the other hand, there I was, an unemployed forty year old man. The difference in our stations was so vast that I lost my confidence, feeling as if I might just fade away.

"This is all thanks to the sword you made for me, Sensei."

"...Hm? A sword? What do you mean?"

"This isn't the place to talk. Let's go inside a shop."

"Ah, hey, wait."

Militar joyfully took my hand and started pulling me along. W, what in the world was happening...?

"Um, excuse me!"

Just as I was about to be led away, I heard a voice call out to us. It was the young lady from before. She bowed her head deeply in front of us.

"Thank you... truly, thank you for your help."

"No, I didn't do anything. I just couldn't overlook a lie."

"I am glad to see you are unharmed."

Militar's tone had suddenly become stiff and formal. When she spoke to me, she was just like her old self... Her quick switch made me realize just how much of a soldier she had become.

"My name is Teru. I run an inn near here."

I thought the young lady would leave after that, but she surprisingly introduced herself. She had red hair that reached her shoulders and brown eyes. Maybe a little younger than Militar.

"So, Teru-san, you run an inn. But why did you have a Falchion?"

"I sometimes take on monster subjugation as a side job."

"I see..."

"I don't know anything about the properties of metals, so I would have just had to accept my losses. Thank you so much."

Teru-san took my hand and thanked me once more. She seemed strong-willed when she was confronting the street vendor, but she was actually quite polite. She was so respectable for someone so young. And... why did Militar seem somewhat on edge?

"Well, Sensei. Shall we be going?"

"Huh, where to? ...Whoa!"

Suddenly, Militar grabbed my arm and started pulling me somewhere with incredible force. She was so slender and slim, yet possessed such tremendous strength. As I was being dragged along, I heard Teru-san's loud voice from behind.

"My inn is in the East District of the Royal Capital! I'd like to show my gratitude, so please come and stay!"

"Alright. I'll come by lat..."

"You'll bite your tongue if you talk, Sensei."

I was about to reply to Teru-san when I heard Militar's cold voice, and I couldn't say another word.

□□□

"Now, Sensei. Please choose whatever you like. The menu at this shop is all wonderful."

"R, right."

Militar had brought me to a private room in an expensive-looking (this is important) cafe in the center of the Royal Capital. Each and every item was priced high enough to wipe out my food budget for an entire day. Although I had a decent amount of money, I suddenly felt insecure.

"Please do not worry about the cost. I would not make you pay for anything, Sensei."

"Euh..."

Militar said, as if she had read my mind. It was so pathetic I could cry. For now, I ordered the cheapest tea on the menu.

"S, still, this is a nice place. Is it a favorite of yours, Militar?"

"Yes, they have a fine selection of domestic tea leaves. Their northern leaves in particular might be the best in the country."

"H, huh..."

She really lived in a completely different world from me. When was the last time I even had tea? I was already starting to sweat, worried I would run out of things to say, when Militar straightened her posture and looked at me. "Well then..." she said. Her shift into soldier mode made my own tension rise.

"Actually... there is something I have wanted to ask you for a long time, Sensei."

"Something you want to ask? Me?"

She had mentioned it in the letter, but what could she possibly want from a shabby old man like me? Militar seemed to ponder for a moment, then, with a determined and serious expression, she spoke.

"Sensei. Would you... become the exclusive blacksmith for the Grossa Army?"

The words that came out of Militar's mouth were something I had never expected.