kscans

CHAPTER 8 PATARAPOZA – Episode 7 Etna

1

They crossed Ova and arrived in Paderia. On the ship, Bard had been uncertain. He couldn’t decide whether to stick to the original plan of going to the capital of Parzam to see Prince Baldrant’s face. He knew he wouldn’t be treated poorly if he went. Chantillion must still consider Bard a friend. Queen Shernelia was there too. Usually, the previous king’s consort would leave the inner palace and live out her days quietly, but as she was the mother of the next king, she should still be in the inner palace, and her influence was likely very strong. Bali Toad would also welcome him gladly. He knew all this.

And yet. The very fact that Julelan was no longer there made the royal palace of Parzam feel somehow very distant. It felt like the palace of a foreign country he didn’t know. The idea of going there and asking to see the prince’s face seemed like an incredibly presumptuous act. What should he do?

He was pondering this as they arrived in Paderia. Upon arrival, he was shocked. He had expected it to be developed, but this was on a different scale entirely. Large trading houses and warehouses lined the streets, carts and carriages filled the roads, and people’s shouts flew back and forth. He blinked his eyes, wondering where he was. This was no longer just a small trading village. It was a major trade hub.

That night, they were entertained by someone calling himself the Paderia manager of the Linz Company. He seemed to have heard Bard was recovering from illness, so it was a quiet, modest banquet. However, there was a wide variety of dishes, the seasoning was good, and the alcohol served was of high quality.

The next day, accompanied by the manager and a servant, they headed towards the gate at the edge of town. Previously, there had been only a thin defensive fence with patrols, but no actual gate. This gate was quite impressive, with two entrance checkpoints and three exit checkpoints, inspecting the goods and people coming and going. They were directed to a side gate. Or perhaps it wasn’t a side gate. The gates with checkpoints were large and wide but crudely built. This one was smaller but had an elegant, luxurious construction. Perhaps this was actually the main gate. Then,

“Hey. You inspect our Frontier Knight Order’s cargo, but that old man gets to pass through? What kind of place is this… Oh!”

A man who appeared to be a knight commanding a pack train was in line for inspection. The man who seemed to be the commander widened his eyes upon seeing Bard.

“Oh, oh, oh! Isn’t this Lord Bard Rowen? How nostalgic. I hear you’ve resigned from your position as Wajd Entrante, but are you visiting the capital again? My, I’m just so pleased to see you looking well.”

It was a man Bard didn’t recognize. A knight with shaggy black hair and beard, and a bulbous nose, with a decent amount of dignity. ‘Who is this overly familiar guy’, Bard thought.

“Commander! So this gentleman is the legendary hero, Sir Bard Rowen?”

“That’s right. Hmm. You youngsters probably don’t know his face. In the past First War of Nations, he holed up in Lordvan Castle and annihilated a thousand demonic beasts. In the capital defense battle, he outmaneuvered a thousand Shinkai cavalry and routed them. Then at the Battle of Hilprimarche, he personally defeated the General of Greed. And in the Second War of Nations, leading just twenty-one elite cavalry, he delivered the final blow to the General of Greed and saved our country. Moreover, Great Marshal Bard was the mentor and guide to the previous king, His Majesty Julelan. Not only that, he was even the matchmaker for the late King Julelan and Queen Dowager Shernelia. I saw it with my own eyes, so there’s no mistake. In fact, I believe the name of the crown prince, Prince Baldrant, must have been taken from Lord Bard’s name. Everyone! Everyone! This is the hero, Lord Bard Rowen. Pay your respects and greet him!”

“Oh, so this is…”

“Lord Bard Rowen, you say!”

Bard wished they would spare him the commotion, but it was too late. Those waiting for inspection and those on guard duty all came over to pay their respects to Bard. After a while of dizzying uproar, for some reason, Bard found himself riding west along with the knight’s unit.

“It feels like a dream to have fought under Lord Bard’s command.”

What? This knight fought under me? Ah. He might have been in the royal army during the capital defense battle or the Battle of Casse Plain. Thinking this, Bard tried to steer the conversation towards self-introduction, saying, “And you are…?”

“Oh! My apologies. Actually, I was appointed commander of the Frontier Knight Order three years ago. After ceding Lordvan Castle to the Goriora Empire, the headquarters of the Frontier Knight Order was moved to Corpus Fort. The size of the order was reduced to less than half at one point, but now with southern trade flourishing and trade with the Goriora Empire constantly expanding, we’re in a trend of increasing personnel again. Paderia was originally created by the Kingdom of Parzam, but since Count Linz offered to take over the defense forces, it’s gradually become like Count Linz’s territory. It’s truly outrageous.”

Bard thought, never mind that, what’s your name? But the knight’s vice-commander-like figure came to the rescue.

“Commander Enes, you’ve crossed swords with Lord Bard before, haven’t you?”

“Indeed. I was utterly defeated. It’s now become my greatest boast. Ha ha ha ha ha!”

Enes. Enes. The name sounded familiar. But crossed swords with me? I don’t recall crossing swords with a Parzam knight… Then he remembered! Enes Karon. The winner of a division in the Frontier Martial Arts Tournament, with whom he had fought an exhibition match. Bard said nonchalantly, “I’m glad to see you looking well, Sir Enes Karon.” Enes Karon’s bearded face broke into a full smile.

2

Enes was a friendly sort, and as they walked for a while, his manner of speech became more relaxed, making him quite a good traveling companion. Bard heard various things about recent affairs in Parzam from Enes. What surprised him the most was that knights were being regularly dispatched from Parzam to Pakula. There was a backstory to this.

Around the time the First War of Nations broke out, the late King Julelan had requested the Tercia family of Pakula to lend them their First Knight, Cedermont Expengler. The Tercia family initially refused but was eventually persuaded by the conditions that it would be limited to three years and that two knights would be sent to Pakula in exchange during that period.

However, these two knights fled back after just one year. They couldn’t endure the harshness of winter in the fort and the terror of the demonic beasts. The Tercia family immediately demanded Cedermont’s return.

King Julelan was perplexed. Cedermont, who was initially intended to be received as a guest general, had been appointed as the Chief General of the Upper Army due to changing circumstances. Although the First War of Nations had ended in victory, the royal army was exhausted and in urgent need of rebuilding. Cedermont, who was fair, caring, tactically skilled, and never gave unreasonable orders, had become an indispensable figure. Moreover, for Julelan, Cedermont was like an older brother who had trained as a knight alongside him under Bard, and there was no one else he could trust so completely.

So King Julelan lent out five very young knights for a period of five years. The implication was that they could be trained and used as Pakula saw fit. At that point, he intended to return Cedermont to Pakula after the initial three-year period had passed.

However, when the three-year period was nearing its end, they were in the midst of dealing with the aftermath of the Second War of Nations and reorganizing the nation’s military forces towards the west and south. They simply couldn’t let Cedermont leave. So they lent out another five young knights for a five-year period and begged to extend Cedermont’s loan period by three more years.

Meanwhile, the knights who had been sent for the initial five-year period returned. Their growth was remarkable. This caught the attention of the middle and lower-ranking nobles in the capital. The quickest way for their second and third sons to advance was through military achievements, but they couldn’t get proper combat training by apprenticing with knightly houses in the capital. Also, they didn’t want to form master-disciple relationships with strange houses, but if they apprenticed with upper-class noble houses, they would just be used as convenient help. If they could apprentice with the Tercia family, they might be trained into useful knights. Moreover, the Tercia family, far from the capital, had no entanglements. And as the king’s family, there was no issue with their lineage. The nobles who thought this way approached the king, asking for his recommendation to send their second and third sons, who were on the verge of being knighted, to Pakula for training, along with appropriate gratuities.

The king was perplexed. For Pakula, it would be nothing but trouble to accept knight apprentices only to have them leave after two or three years once they became useful. So they set conditions. Those who trained and became knights in Pakula would serve in the sacred duty there for five years afterwards, during which time they would receive no pay and bear their own living expenses. Many withdrew when they heard these conditions, but there were still some who persisted. The king sent these to Pakula. Since then, training in Pakula has been established.

Bard was amazed. Just because one has learned to fight demonic beasts doesn’t mean they’ll become skilled at warfare in the central plains. Moreover, Parzam’s royal army is particularly unique among the armies of the central plains. Julelan and Cedermont, who adapted immediately, were exceptions among exceptions. However, thinking about it carefully, it’s not such a bad idea. In an army that focuses on equipment, tactics, and organization, it’s difficult to cultivate individual martial prowess. Training in Pakula would strictly test individual combat skills and small-unit coordination. If those who have learned this fight in the Parzam-style army, wouldn’t they become an invincible force?

It’s not a bad deal for Pakula either. A small number of temporary residents might be more trouble than they’re worth, but if the overall numbers are substantial and they serve for five years after being knighted, it provides some personnel leeway. This allows injured individuals to recover at their own pace and enables more manpower to be allocated for bandit subjugation and patrols. Moreover, the costs are self-borne. Bard prayed that this initiative would work out well.

By the way, Cedermont is still the Chief General of the Upper Army and has received the title of Marquis without a domain. Although he left his wife and children in Pakula, there are rumors that he has taken a consort in the capital.

3

Just before the town of Mithra, Enes Karon and his group changed direction to the north. They said they were transporting the cargo directly to Corpus Fort. Most of the cargo was food, and while it would be quicker to buy it in Mithra, it would be a bit more expensive. By ordering directly from Linz and picking it up themselves, it’s considerably cheaper. So they make regular bulk purchases. Enes, as the commander, had personally accompanied them this time apparently to investigate the defense system of Padelia. Reluctant to part, Enes and his group left.

“Sir Enes Karon seems to have a great deal of respect for you, Lord Bard,” Seto inquired.

Bard gave an ambiguous “Hmm” in response.

“He must be quite strong to have become the commander of the Frontier Knights.”

Bard replied that he was indeed the winner of a division in the Frontier Martial Arts Competition. In truth, Bard’s memory retained not even a smidgen of how strong Enes Karon actually was, so he had no other way to answer.

Bard, Karz, and Seto passed through the gates of Mithra. As they didn’t have much baggage to be inspected, the examination was quite simple. What Bard used here was the travel permit issued by Count Linz for this journey. This permit would also allow them to pass through the gates of the capital. It seems Count Linz’s permits have gained quite a bit of prestige.

The town of Mithra had also grown larger. They had torn down the city walls and extended them, making the town about twice its original size. The once meager exchange of goods with Padelia has now increased dramatically, and it has also become a transit point for exporting goods from the south to Goriora, which explains this level of development.

While they had passed through the gate without commotion, Bard was concerned that someone in the town might recognize him. That worry turned out to be unnecessary. After all, Bard now looked like nothing more than an elderly common traveler. If he had been wearing splendid armor it might have been different, but in such modest attire, he was unlikely to draw attention.

Then, he noticed someone standing at the side of the road, looking at them with a surprised expression. It was a woman who appeared to be just about thirty years old. She was carrying a basket full of goods and had a girl who seemed to be her daughter beside her.

“Lord Bard Rowen…”

In the midst of the hustle and bustle, Bard could see the woman’s lips move to form these words. The woman came running towards them. She reached the side of the horse and seemed to be saying something. Bard dismounted from Yueitan.

“Um… Um. Th-thank you very much.”

Bard wasn’t sure what she was thanking him for, but he nodded and said, “Hmm.”

“I’m so glad. I finally got to thank you. For so long… I’ve wanted to thank you. Um, this…”

She held out something wrapped in pope leaves from her basket. Bard accepted it.

“It’s our specialty bread. I… I devised it myself. Please eat it. It doesn’t keep well, so please eat it today. Well then!”

Saying this, the woman quickly left, pulling the girl’s hand. As she walked away, she turned back and waved. Waving back, Bard thought, “Hmm, that woman’s features seem familiar. Where have I seen that face before?”

Opening the pope leaves, he found a sandwich inside. However, this bread…

The bread eaten by commoners is different in both ingredients and preparation from the bread eaten in the royal palace or upper-class noble houses. Commoners’ bread is long-lasting but hard and tasteless. But this bread was different. It was white and fluffy. Moreover, for some reason, it was flat and square. This was probably a large loaf that had been baked and then thinly sliced. Bard took a bite of one of the four pieces it had been cut into.

Instantly, his mouth was filled with umami. This umami came from fresh vegetables, smoked meat, and then… What could it be? Two types of sauce were used. One was sweet and spicy, giving a strong stimulation to the middle of the tongue. This sauce paired perfectly with the smoked meat. The smoked meat had been finely shredded to make it easy to eat. The other sauce was sweet and sour, enveloping the entire tongue. This sauce complemented the vegetables. No, that’s not all. It’s beef bouillon! A thin layer of beef bouillon had been spread on the bread. To think that even commoners could now use such an expensive ingredient. Come to think of it, this bread… They might have mixed beef bouillon into it while baking. Otherwise, this softness and sweetness couldn’t be explained.

Of the remaining three pieces, he gave one each to Karz and Seto. Bard ate the last piece himself. The sandwich filling settled comfortably in his stomach.

Bard turned to the two and said, “Let’s go back.” Then, he turned Yueitan’s head and began moving towards the gate they had just entered.

“Huh? What? Weren’t we supposed to go to the capital of Parzam? Are we returning to Fyuzarion now?”

Seto seems confused. Karz follows Bard silently, as expressionless as ever.

‘Yes, we’re returning. I’ve seen what I needed to see. Parzam is thriving and prosperous, and the people’s spirits are high. Isn’t that enough? I’ve already done what I needed to do. The same goes for Julelan. Those who come after us will take care of what follows. The aging knight need only watch from afar.’

Bard felt he understood why Queen Shernelia hadn’t informed him about Julelan’s death and what happened afterward.

Bard should do what he can, what he must do. Doesn’t he still have a great task ahead of him? When Patarapoza awakens, he must face him, question him about his desires and intentions. Of course, merely asking won’t accomplish much. Swords, bows, and even ancient blades would be useless against his power. But he must ask. About the secrets Patarapoza holds. About the truth of this world. Someone must ask him. And now, that someone is Bard. The time is probably near.

Strangely, when Bard ate the filling of the sandwich given to him by the unknown woman, the unease in his stomach disappeared. The deliciousness of the bread dispelled his worries. That worry was about how to face Patarapoza. Though it was an opponent he could never hope to fight, Bard had long been questioning himself about what he could gain from that encounter and what he could leave behind.

It’s fine. It’s okay if nothing remains. Bard doesn’t need to push himself. Human endeavors will continue. They will go on through people’s sweat and wisdom. That’s what he should believe in.

He just needs to meet him. Listen to what needs to be heard, feel what needs to be felt. There’s no need to think in advance about trying to do something with it or leaving something behind. He should meet with a blank slate. Accept what happens and act according to his heart.

‘I will become a single drop of water. Even if a drop of water shatters against a rock, it won’t leave even the slightest scratch. But amidst countless drops shattering, eventually, a hole will open in the rock. It’s enough for me to be a single drop of water.’

Look at Parzam’s prosperity. Even a remote town like Mithra on the edge of the country has become this wealthy. How delicious is this bread? There are many people, and their expressions are lively. There are no children in ragged clothes begging travelers for food. This is Jule’s doing. This is what Julelan brought about. Jule didn’t fall with his ambitions half-fulfilled. He burned through his life, pushed forward with reforms, and died after enriching the country. If Jule had been stingy with his life, there wouldn’t be this much development.

‘That’s right. There’s no need to spare one’s life. There’s no need to worry about how to preserve the knowledge gained from Patarapoza. If I can’t think of a way after considering it this much, then there probably isn’t one. So I should face him without even thinking about it. The reason I think I shouldn’t is that I value my own life. There’s a desire for something in return for losing this life. Wanting someone to be present to preserve the knowledge gained is actually valuing one’s own life. Since it’s pointless to think about it, there’s no need to think. I should just discard everything. My life, myself, and the contents of my life. It’s because I can’t discard them that I hesitate and worry. Hesitation and worry are completely unnecessary. I should just live each moment to the fullest as fate dictates. Face Patarapoza with all my might and draw out whatever I can. Even if that knowledge is lost immediately, that’s fine. The path will be born afterward. In any case, what happens after I fall can only be left to the gods’ discretion. I should throw everything away. This isn’t about belittling oneself. It’s the final measure to live life to the fullest, burning one’s life until the very last moment.’

Now, at last, Bard is prepared to face Patarapoza.

The name of the woman who gave Bard the bread is Etna. Fifteen years ago, when Bard left his master’s house and set out on a journey, one day he sold two river bears to Gantz and became a guest there. The innkeeper’s niece, a young girl, took care of Bard’s bath. The next day, when the girl was about to leave for school in Mithra, some thugs who controlled the town tried to interfere. Bard subdued the thugs, and the girl was able to depart safely. However, in the commotion, the girl forgot to thank Bard. She even forgot to ask for his name.

But the reason she expressed her gratitude today wasn’t just for that. The girl who entered school in Mithra started working at a bakery. She continued working even after graduating. She found a lover. Her lover went to Corpus Fort as a knight’s attendant to earn money. Then something strange happened at Corpus Fort. The girl worried about her lover’s safety. Rumors spread that a horde of demonic beasts had appeared and killed all the knights and attendants. The girl prayed desperately to the gods. Her lover returned safely. Not only did he return safely, but he also earned a large salary and reward. He said that a man named General Bard Rowen had come to their aid and saved them, even allowing them to achieve merit.

Some time later, one day, the town was in a commotion. General Bard Rowen himself was visiting the town. She rushed to the lord’s mansion to catch a glimpse of him. It was that man. General Bard was that man. That knight. The godlike old knight who had lent her a helping hand when she was leaving the frontier. Etna wanted to thank General Bard. But there were too many people, the commotion was too great, and she couldn’t get close to the old knight or convey her words of gratitude. She waved her hand while crying.

Eventually, she married her lover. Her uncle also came from the frontier. The three of them opened a shop. It’s a small shop that bakes and sells bread and serves meals. They’ve had three children, two of whom are growing up well. She prayed to the gods every day about the old knight. ‘Thank you for giving me such happiness’, she would say. ‘Please let me thank him someday’, she would ask. Today, her wish came true.