Sword Saint’s Disciple Part 4. Guidelines

4. Guidelines

“Well then, let’s go. Cathy, the cane.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

Just as Grandfather said, I handed him the cane that’s heavier compared to normal ones.

We’ll begin our descent from the mountain.

From what I’ve heard, this mountain is around 600 meters above sea level.

Yes, there is that. The metric system.

I also measured the sword before with my eyes, using the metric system.

Because they have the same system as my previous life, I’m pretty sure that it’s something common.

Surely, there would be people who got reincarnated or transported to this world, at least that’s what I think.

It’s not just the appearances and names, there are also features from my previous life that are identical.

Our cabin is halfway up the mountain.

In other words, we will travel the distance of 300 meters above sea level to the village.

I went out of the door, leaving behind the cabin I’ve spent sixteen years of my life.

I’ll come back before long! I left in a cool manner without turning back.

……

“Cathy, slowly…”

Yes, it’s impossible. I’m sad after all.

It’s the house where I grew up.

When I thought that I won’t see it for a while, my feet stopped unconsciously and I turned back.

“By the way, Cathy. I’ll move to the village so I’ll come with you.”

What did he just say!?

I heard that an inhabited house will be ruined shortly. If we’re unlucky, wouldn’t this mountain cabin disappear permanently!?

“――Eeeh, then what will happen to this cabin?”

“Calm down, you don’t have to worry. I’ve consulted them before in case I might move to the village, and it was decided that the village will use it as a hunter shed. That’s why, the management will be alright.”

I was relieved with Grandfather’s words.

I’m glad, now I feel like I can leave the cabin to them.

Even so, it didn’t dissolve the anxiety I had about Grandfather living on his own when his lower back is hurting.

“That makes me feel relieve. So did Grandfather made preparations to live in Zack-san’s house in the village?”

Zack-san is the head of Kaisa Village.

It appears that he wants to take care of grandfather who is the village’s benefactor and judging from what Grandfather said a while ago, it seems like they’ve asked him to live in the village for a long time.

Grandfather came to settle in the Kaisa village when it was still in the early periods of development and he secured the territory [alone], since then he was given various favors.

By the way, securing the territory obviously means cleaning up hordes of monsters.

As expected of Grandfather…

“Since this is a good chance, I’ll depend on their kindness. The youngsters in the village would carry the remaining luggage from the cabin later.”

If I entrust Grandfather to Zack-san and the others in the village, I’m sure he’ll have a peaceful life.

“Yes, it’ll be alright if you have everyone in the village… Then, shall we go this time?”

We restarted our descent from the mountain.

It’s all because Grandfather took time to explain every thing that I now feel rea.s.sured.

This time, I walked without looking back.

After getting down the mountain for approximately ten minutes, Grandfather called out to me to talk about what will happen from now on.

“Listen, Cathy. This country’s Intelligence Department’s ability is very high.”

“What’s that? It’s unexpectedly out of nowhere.”

“Just listen. The King Spike I served is the kind of idiot King who pushes his way and charges forward to the front lines during a war. He always rush out recklessly, he’s the so-called muscle-head.”

“Y, yes.”

I can’t understand what he’s talking about.

But I understand the hards.h.i.+ps that became inevitable for the Royal Guard Knights after being forced to join the front lines.

Even so, for Grandfather to bad-mouth him like this…

In other words…?

“In other words, the Order of the Royal Guards and Intelligence Department became a necessity for the survival of King who’s constantly in the front lines. In case of the intelligence Department, they gather every kind of information like the enemy’s weak point and the strengths and weaknesses of the general leading them, how to fight with the least casualties and furthermore, they also they also contemplates the strategy to be used. They’re always busy finding methods to prevent the war beforehand. They really had a hard time just so the King wouldn’t die.”

I see.

But if the King handles the military affairs then wouldn’t he find it hard to deal with information, too?

The image of an intelligent aide came to my mind in that situation.

“Isn’t there someone like an Advisor? Say, something like a Prime Minister?”

“Something like that is unnecessary. Even if Spike doesn’t think deeply about things, he’s the kind of guy who has capable judgement and intuition to given situations, he’s also a good judge of character. You can say he’s an extraordinary King if he just stop his habit of standing out in the battlefield. Actually, there was a Prime Minister who happened to be Human Supremist but he was banished immediately after accession. The Prime Minister post was abolished after that and a rough framework of a political policy was pa.s.sed so that King Spike can make decisions by himself based on the Intelligence Department’s report.”

In short, it’s not because King Spike is not intelligent but because he thinks it’s a pain to use his head.

He must be the muscle-head type.

So the Intelligence Department is substantially playing the role of Prime Minister.

The Intelligence Department collect everything necessary to arrive to a decision, moreover they conduct discussions to narrow down the choices then present the method they squeezed out to the King.

It seems like a very busy department.

The former Prime Minister is an advocate of the ideology that the Human Race is supreme above all others, the only race loved by G.o.d. He is someone who believes that those races other the Humans must be ostracized.

The neighboring country, Dao Empire, have many people like that. I’m sure they’re following Baal’s religion.

There are rumors that the political dispute this time is because First Princess Lily-sama opposed First Prince Edgar’s ideology about Human Race’s supremacy. Second Prince Caryl-sama seems like he doesn’t want to be the King.

By the way, our country has the most varied races in the whole continent so I don’t want to imagine what will happen to our country if the First Prince succeeds the throne.

“We were talking about the Intelligence Department, right? Let’s go back to the matter at hand. I was summoned to get enlisted as an ally due to public sentiment. And so, Cathy is going as my subst.i.tute but you don’t have any records of achievements and fame. Do you understand?”

I nodded in agreement.

I’ve always been in the mountains, so it’s only natural.

“Then we’ll talk about the main issue. Keep selling favors all throughout several places before you arrive at the royal Capital. Just showing your combat strength by exterminating monsters and bandits is enough. At any rate, you need to stand out.”

Oh!?

I gradually predicted his thoughts.

At last, I understood the significance why he mentioned the Intelligence Department.

I spoke to confirm my suspicions.

“Afterwards, the Intelligence Department can spread rumors all over the country about me being the Sword Saint’s disciple. Of course, the rumors will be exaggerated.”

Isn’t that right?

When I said so, I looked at Grandfather and saw him grinning with his teeth visible.

It seems like I’m right.

“Right. It’s easy to spread rumors which blend truth and falsehoods. Handling rumors like that is the Intelligence Department’s expertise. Besides, rumors about your appearance and strength will still spread even if we don’t do anything.”

“Certainly, this hair and eye color will surely make me stand out.”

I replied while lifting up some of my hair.

My hair and eye color is deep red.

Grandfather told me before that it’s an unusual color.

“That’s also right, or rather… it’s not only that.”

Haaaa~ I sighed.

Whyyy?

“Well, it would be fine. Cathy, introduce yourself with my family name later. I’m the only member of the Myers House so it would probably spread rumors. I’ve already told Spike about it.”

“Your… family name? Is it a countermeasure against hara.s.sment from n.o.bles?”

I recalled the thing about family names.

“Yes, that’s it. This political strife, all the enemies who tried to take me down before joined the First Prince’s faction. But this situation will be settled with dominance, so there will be opportunities where they can lose even if they’re n.o.bles.”

In short, I only have to win… is that it?

I don’t have enough confidence but I want to do everything I can.

“But is this really fine? We’re not really biologically related, so claiming that family name is…”

“Of course it’s fine. Even if we’re not connected by blood you are still my disciple, above anything else, you’re my important granddaughter. So puff up your chest in pride when you introduce yourself with that name, got it?!”

So sly. Doing a surprise attack like that.

Even though just knowing that I’m important to him is enough, hearing those words made the corner of my eyes become hot.

The memories of us living together whirled around my mind.

My vision blurred.

“Yes… yes, Grandfather!”

Grandfather smiled gently.

Like this, from being just merely Cathia, I became Cathia Myers on the day of my departure.

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