269 - - 10-03 Study Group
"Good morning!"
"Good morning!"
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
The village of Kaina was filled with the cheerful greetings of children.
"Good morning!" "Good morning!"
"Good morning!"
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
The children gather at the residence of the village headman, Mr. Giebeck. They are the children who are participating in the study group taught by Meane and Erza.
There are nine of them. As expected, they are few. It's simply because there are not that many children.
"Not so many, after all.
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
Meane had noticed this as well. In a normal family, it is not unusual to have more than three children.
In fact, Erza has three siblings, even though they have different mothers, and Meene has seven siblings.
The food situation is not so bad, you know.
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
The village head, Giebeck, overheard her soliloquy.
"Mr. Meane, it's because of the men who were drafted into the army and the epidemic that broke out eight years ago.
He still spoke a little strangely.
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
"Epidemic, huh?"
This is something Locke has told Jin before. Locke told Jin as if the draft was the main cause, but in fact the epidemic was more serious.
Locke did not know much about it because he had gone to King's Landing to become a knight at that time.
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
"It was terrible then. Half of the village was destroyed and all the dead had to be burned to ashes because they didn't want the disease to spread. That's why there are no graves that look like theirs.
"I didn't realize that. ......"
But as if to shake off the somewhat heavy atmosphere, Giebeck continued.
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
"But there will be more people living here soon.
"What?"
Meane, who had been looking down, looks up.
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
"I don't know if it's because the villagers are a little less burdened since Jin came last year, or if it's because of the hot springs..."
"Oh, someone is pregnant?"
Next to her, Elsa was looking at her with a >Meane is very perceptive.
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
"Yes...five wives' bellies are growing."
"That's great news, isn't it?
While they were talking, Hannah came in.
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
"Auntie," she said, "good morning!
"Yes, good morning, Hannah. Well then, let's get started."
I taught her that we say good morning to each other at home, but that we should keep our study group meetings separate from the rest of the class, so she immediately puts this into practice.
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
Including Hannah, there were 10 children in the group, ranging in age from 7 to 14.
Good morning, everyone. My name is Meane and I will be your teacher. This is my daughter, Elsa, who will be my assistant.
"Sensei Meine! Erza-sensei!"
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
The children are in high spirits.
"Yes, quiet."
Meine clapped her hands to silence them,
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
"Since we are starting today, let's introduce ourselves first. You may know each other, but I don't know you well since I just arrived here the other day. So please tell me about yourself.
The children answer, "Yes, sir.
"Well, let's start with the teacher. My name is Meene. 35 years old. I'm 35 years old. I'm not from this country but from the Kingdom of Egelea. This Elsa is the teacher's daughter. Then, Elsa, please introduce yourself.
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
"...... Elsa, I'm 17 years old. I'm 17 years old. I come from the Shoro Kingdom. I'm not very good at talking, but I hope we can be friends.
When Erza finished, the children applauded.
"Minne-sensei! Erza-sensei!
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
"Let's see your magic again!"
Erza had become a heroine of the children after she had shown them her magic when she had built the snow room.
"Now, please introduce yourself one by one, starting with you."
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
"Yes! I'm Patty! I turned eight the other day. My father's name is Linus, and he's good at making things out of wood. My mom is Sera. She gets a little scared when she gets angry, but she's good at origami.
"Yes, thank you, Patty. Okay, next, please."
"Yes! I'm ...... not me, I'm Mario. My ...... father is Rock and my mother is Molly."
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
In this way, the children introduced themselves.
When they had finished, it was time to start the class.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
Jin was watching from a distance when Reiko pulled the hem of her dress with a tug, and he knew she had something to say, so he left and went to the back of the village headman's house.
What is it, Reiko?
"Yes, I'm sorry, but the old man asked me to tell you something."
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
"Well, what is it? Well, let's go there.
There is a warp gate in the basement of the new house, so we can easily return to the laboratory.
After being greeted by the golem in charge of the Warp Gate room, Battler 1, I headed for my familiar living room.
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
The old man's mobile terminal, Laozi, is waiting for him there.
Lao Tzu said and bowed,
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
He then held out a short sword.
"Tetrada...... Oh, the Cline Kingdom forces have been disarmed, haven't they? So it was one of them."
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
Jin looked at the shortsword as he said this. It is an ordinary, common sword. He holds it in his hand, but there is nothing about it.
"What about it?"
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
"What?"
Jin heard something unexpected,
"<
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
Jin uses a magic to examine the function of magic power.
"Surely, this is my ...... ah, I remember. This must be Licia's short sword.
Jin remembered. Last fall, when he and the men of the village were carrying wheat, the tax money, from the village of Kaina to the village of Toka, they were attacked by a golem, and Licia, the tax collector at the time, recklessly confronted the golem with this sword.
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
However, the sword, which was not made of steel but of soft iron, bent easily. After defeating the golem, Licia tried to have the sword repaired by a blacksmith in Toka Village, but was told that it could not be repaired, and she became depressed.
Jin, who couldn't bear to see Licia like that, fixed the bends by <
"This is the sword from that time. I remember Licia was in Tetrada too.
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
"Licia-san, she is the one who asked your father to run away, isn't she?
Reiko wasn't there when the golem was defeated, but she was referring to the time when Count Walter misunderstood and brought the information that she was coming to capture the golem.
"Oh. He took good care of you."
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
The sword in his hand is rust-free and well-sharpened. Licia had probably never used it in battle, but it was clear that she had taken good care of it.
"Indeed. A person who takes good care of a gift from his father is a good person."
Reiko's criterion was simple and clear. Jin chuckled.
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
"I'd give it back if I could."
The disarmed swords, spears, shields, armor, etc., were checked for quality, and unless they were clearly specially made with magic, rare materials, etc., they were instructed to be crushed and turned into ingots.
In that sense, the old man (and his subordinates) who found this sword should be praised.
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
"I think he is in the capital, right?
Reiko overheard Jin's mutterings.
"Father, you're not going, are you?"
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
"Hm? What's wrong? My face is not well known in the Kingdom of Klein, and I don't think I'm in any particular danger.
"That's true, but ......"
The overprotective Reiko has been looking a little reluctant lately. Then the old man offers a helping hand.
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
Preventive measures for what?
It is a natural question.
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
The old man replied,
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
The mobile terminal, Lao Tzu, brought something in a basket.
"Hmm? Isn't that a piece of clothing?"
<"Yes. The clothes are made of thinned sea dragon leather.
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
"Sea dragon leather? Then this is also impact-hardened?
Anne's full strength is about ten percent of Reiko's former strength. That is to say, it can be prevented by human power.
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
The silver side is the smooth surface of leather. It makes sense that the best defense is the surface.
I understand. Pants and a jacket. Thank you, old man."
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
There was something else in the bottom of the basket. It looks like a collar.
What else is this? ...... No, wait, a magic tool. What ...... is it that generates a barrier in response to the clothes?"
Read at https://w w w . m t l r e a d e r.com
<
It is a very well-equipped machine. You are doing a very good job these days, as you did with the Pegasus in the last issue.
I will be very glad to use it.