Although he wanted to talk to him immediately, whenever he found the courage to do so, Climb lowered his face. It felt as if the pressure would overpower him— of the invisible, thick wall.
The old man turned this way and that and the paths grew darker. Climb followed him from behind without being able to say a word.
This was the same as tailing him.
Climb felt like pulling out his own hair from what he was doing. No matter how hard it was to speak to him, this wasn’t right. Climb tried looking at it as if the situation was reversed while following him.
Eventually, they turned into an alleyway with no one in sight. Climb took several deep breaths and, like a guy confessing to a girl he liked, squeezed out his courage and spoke.
“—Excuse me.”
In response to his voice, the old man turned.
Both his hair and beard were white, but his upright back reminded him of a sword forged in steel. The clear features of his face were lined with wrinkles and although they made him appear gentle, his eyes were sharp, like a hawk gazing at its prey.
He even gave off the air of high nobility.
“What is it?”
Although he could somewhat feel the old man’s age through his voice, it sounded imposing and was overflowing with life. Feeling an invisible pressure from his eyes, Climb gulped.
“Uh, uh—.”
Climb was pushed back by the old man’s energy and could not speak. Then, the old man appeared to release the pent up energy building up inside him.
“Who are you?”
His tone became gentle. Climb was finally released from the pressure and his throat could now move normally.
“…My name is Climb, a soldier of this country. I’m here to give you my sincere thanks for doing what I should have done in my stead.”
As Climb bowed low, the old man narrowed his eyes as if he was thinking and muttered a quiet “Ahh” as if he finally understood what he meant.
“…Do not mind it. Well then.”
As the old man tried to end the conversation and walk away, Climb raised his face and asked.
“Please wait a moment. Truthfully… though I’m embarrassed to admit it, I followed you. Actually, I don’t mind even if you were to laugh at my forward request, but if it’s okay with you, could you teach me that technique that you used a little while ago?”
“…What do you mean?”
“I am training to become stronger and wish to learn even a small portion of the incredible movement and technique you showed just a while ago.”
The old man scanned Climb from top to bottom.
“Hmm… please show me both of your hands.”
Climb held out his hands and the old man stared at his palms with a piercing gaze. It felt somewhat awkward. The old man flipped Climb’s hands over and scanned his fingernails, then nodded with satisfaction.
“They are thick and tough, good hands of a warrior.”
Hearing his words said with a smile, Climb felt his heart grow warm. He felt a joy similar to when Gazef complimented him.
“No, someone like me is… insignificant as a warrior.”
“I do not think that you need be so humble… may I ask you to show me your sword next?”
The old man grasped the sword in his hand and stared at the blade with sharp eyes.
“Aha… is this a reserve weapon?”
“How did you know?!”
“As I thought, do you see the chip in the blade here?”
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