CH ss - 41

[Alfine: The Genius and the Ordinary]

“For that reason, I judged that the person Al is looking for, Finn, is the same person as the Crimson Magic Swordsman Frick. How is it? Do you think that Frick is the person you are looking for, Al?”

At Lloyd’s question, I answer in a confused state of mind,

“I, I don’t know. But at present, given the information you have just given me, the possibility that he is Finn that I’m(atashi) looking for is——”

“Hey! Al!”

Meila suddenly pulls the sleeve of my clothes strongly.

“What is it, Meila? I’m(atashi) having a really important talk right now!”

Having gotten impatient due to getting in touch with information about Finn, I turn around and talk to Meila in my usual tone.

Seeing me, Meila’s complexion turn pale.

“Al~.”

Meila’s half-crying face made me to finally realize what I did.

Oh no! With my usual habit, I(atashi),

(…)I said it.

I forgot that Frontier Count and the others were suspicious of my identity.

It’s bad… How can I deceive them, I wonder…

When I look in Lloyd’s direction with a glance, I see him half-suppressing a laugh as though he has seen through my identity.

“Al, you sure are not good at lying. You should be thankful to Meila.”

“Frontier Count-sama… I(boku) am——”

Lloyd stops me – who tried to open my mouth to lie about my identity – by raising his hand.

“You do not have to lie. We have identified your identity. You have changed your hair color and hairstyle, and even gender and swordsmanship, but you are the third Sword Master of the kingdom of Hartford, Alfine Wolford, are you not?”

Then, Loran who is standing next to Lloyd put his hands together, apologizing to me.

Other than me and Meila, he is the only one who knew my appearance before I became Al.

“Oh right, please do not blame Loran. He is my important friend who has also been serving me well since I became an upstart noble after inheriting my wife’s parent’s family. Besides, I have no intention to be hostile to Alfine-dono. Rather, I want you to lend me your hand to thwart the ambition of Gile and the Radcliffe family.”

Lloyd takes a step forward clasps my hand.

His palm is rugged with calluses, seems to be the result of practicing the sword; I’m impressed that he had risen to this position with nothing but sword alone, unlike the nobles of the royal capital.

Having trouble answering, I move my eyes to Meila to ask for help.

But Meila just shakes her head without saying anything.

That means there’s no way to deceive them anymore, huh…

As Gile is maneuvering secretly, I want to avoid getting my identity as Alfine be exposed though.

But I’m also indebted to Lloyd for providing me information with information about Finn…

Moreover, we also have a common enemy, that is the Radcliffe family.

I sort out the situation with my utmost effort, and ponder on whether or not I should accept Lloyd’s offer.

“Well, you do not have to acknowledge your identity. I also trust the ordinary adventurer Al more than the Sword Master Alfine, after all. I do not care about your past.”

Lloyd grins and pats my shoulder.

I had already abandoned my social position as the Sword Master Alfine, so I have a favorable impression toward Lloyd who trust the adventurer Al.

“Thank you. Then, may I help Frontier Count-sama as an ordinary adventurer Al?”

“Very well. I think everyone here is tight-lipped, but do not say a word of this matter to anyone.”

Lloyd lets the matter rest, promising not to divulge my identity as Alfine.

Inside me, there is no longer any value to the name Alfine, except for apologizing to Finn who has become Frick for my past conduct.

Once I’m done doing that properly, I don’t intend to use that name ever again.

“I would be grateful if you could do that. Because I intend to live as an ordinary adventurer Al.”

“Ahh, that is fine. Besides, I also received an interesting information from the royal capital.”

“Interesting information?”

“Actually, Sword Master Alfine-dono has already been executed for an attempted assassination on the commander of the Royal Guard Knight Gile, you know. It seems that her body is hung at the gate of the royal capital.”

Err, I don’t really understand what that meant.

I’m still alive, and am in Youg Hannotes, so why?

“I’ll have you listen to that report from me. After Ojou-chan gave cold shoulder to the commander of the Royal Guard Knight – Gile who fell in love with her, took flight, and came to Youg Hannotes in search of her lover Finn, that Gile bastard became flustered and cooked up a story taking advantage of the absence of the Sword Master, saying that the Sword Master Alfine suffered a serious illness and was undergoing medical treatment at his secondary residence.”

Loran explains the situation to me who shows a perplexed face.

“Undergoing medical treatment… ah, so that’s why there was no one making a ruckus even at the cities we stopped by on the way to Youg Hannotes.”

Meila was also collecting rumors among the inhabitants in the cities we stopped by on the way from the royal capital to Youg Hannotes, but was left wondering because there wasn’t any rumor about me.

If I suffered a serious illness and was undergoing medical treatment, it wouldn’t raise any noteworthy suspicion, right?

Before that, I had a long vacation due to Finn’s matter after all.

That meant Gile thought it was only a matter of time before I was caught, so he reported to the king that I was undergoing medical treatment.

“As Meila Jou-chan said, no one paid attention to it at first, but the period had become so long that the king begun to have suspicion. It seemed that he rushed Gile to let him see Alfine who was undergoing medical treatment repeatedly. But you see, Ojou-chan was working as an adventurer here. Gile who was cornered because he couldn’t find her set up a substitute woman as Alfine and had her executed for attempted assassination.”

Listening to Loran’s story, the grinning face of Gile emerges in my mind.

That Gile… to not only dragged in an unrelated person, but also kill her…

At that time, I should have decapitated him properly, shouldn’t I.

I feel angry at the selfish act that Gile did, and clench my fists tightly.

“I should have decapitated Gile…”

“I feel bad for the woman who died as a substitute of Alfine-dono, but thanks to that, the king’s trust has moved away from Gile. Prime Minister Boris’s son – Gile, who holds an important position as the commander of the Royal Guard Knight is an essential lead to expose the evil deeds of the Radcliffe family. Either from the case of the mine or the case of the Abyss Hole, I get the feeling that the Radcliffe family are aiming for a second Great Invasion. I will use any means to prevent just that. Even if I have to get into the power struggle that I hate.”

Even the usually calm Lloyd lets out his anger and shows determination to uncover the evil deeds of the Radcliffe family.

“Besides, I also want Al to remain as Al in order to expose Gile’s lie. Even though Al has abandoned his name, appearance, position, and sword style, the swordsmanship of the Sword Master Alfine has permeated his body. I know well that the swordsmanship that has permeated one’s body is not so easy to remove. Moreover, the swordsmanship of the Sword Master Alfine is one of a kind self-taught swordsmanship. If the swordsmanship can only be used by one person in this world, it can be the proof for the person themselves.”

One of a kind swordsmanship…

It’s true that except for when I was taught a bit of sword style in the village, I have been practicing by myself though.

Wasn’t that something that anyone could do normally?

Because, look, Finn could use it too, though not as good as I am.

I’m aware that my swordsmanship is unique, but I’m surprised that Lloyd said that no one else can use it.

“Is that so? I thought my swordsmanship is very ordinary though.”

“…The dual sword style that you use as Al is also a pretty peculiar and strong swordsmanship for ordinary people, and Alfine’s swordsmanship that I saw when I went to the royal capital was something very original, you know.”

“I thought anyone is able use it.”

“Geniuses sometimes seem to overestimate ordinary people. Ordinary people cannot handle such swordsmanship. Of course, as I am an ordinary person as well, I cannot handle your swordsmanship.”

To think even the master of the sword – Lloyd who is called a hero cannot use my swordsmanship.

If that is the case, Finn who was able to handle the swordsmanship I taught, though imperfect,

It seems that I had given an inadequate evaluation to such Finn.

It’s no wonder that the evaluation of Finn went up when he started accepting requests solo or with other people without teaming up with me.

“I have to apologize to Frick properly… Frontier Count-sama, I would like to go to Inbahanes where Frick and the others are once again, is that okay?”

“I thought you would say that. The lot of the Royal Guard Knight Order have been cleaned up, but there may still be some who work for the Radcliffe family. I believe that hiding your important things in your opponent’s pocket will make it harder for them to be found, so you should go to Inbahanes and meet Frick.”

“Y-yes! Thank you very much! Then, we will be leaving immediately!”

“H-hey, Al! Wait!”

“Meila, hurry up!”

As I hurried out of the room to prepare for the trip to Inbahanes, Maribel – who has been silent until then – opens her mouth.

“Al Onii-chan, Meila Onee-chan. Maribel will also go with you! Maribel has to give back the favor for saving her father. Father, Maribel can go too, right?”

Maribel who suddenly began to say something out of the ordinary look at her father’s face with a glance.

“Ahh, if Maribel has decided so for herself, then go. I will wait here.”

“Un, father always said that if you are helped, you have to return the favor properly, right! See you later!”

Having said so to her father, Maribel pulls mine and Meila’s hands.

“That’s how it is, so Maribel will be in your care, you two.”

“Even if you say you’ll be in our care… it might get dangerous… heey, Meila say some——”

“Maribel-tan, I love youuu! I’ll work hard!”

When I tried to turn down Maribel’s accompaniment, Meila hugs her and won’t let go of her.

Laughter leaks from the people in the reception room who are watching the situation.

Pushed by the atmosphere, I could not refuse Maribel’s accompaniment.

After that, we hurriedly finished preparing for the journey, and decided to head to Devon village where Frick and the others were last at.

It must had been hard for Finn to keep up with her standard…