Chapter VII

"When does combat begin?" Byrne's voice echoed in the surroundings, drawing the attention of his two pupils. "It begins not with our body, but with the readiness of our mind. The resolve to engage and the will to triumph against your enemy. Even a weak child or a frail elder can possess this resolve should their will burn strong."

Lotte and Saul sat on the grass, with straight backs despite their exhausted bodies. Lotte had heard this lesson before, but he didn't mind hearing it again.

As someone who came from a rather civilized world, combat was not something he often encountered. Although he did get involved in a few squabbles in his youth, those were merely kid quarrels. 

"Second, is a trained and enduring body that will not crumble when faced even with an incredible amount of strain. Calmness under severe pressure and ability to respond to it."

That kind of training came to mind during the early days he came into this world, but he didn't want his height to be stumped so he avoided intense lifting training as exercise.

His goal was to be capable of carrying his own weight with his strength, whether in somersault, high jumps and climbing. He climbed trees, leaped between branches, and practiced flips until the world spun.

Each failure taught him a lesson, often at the cost of a bruised body. His swordsmanship came next, hours of swinging a wood sword, striking dummies, focusing on brute force.

The only strength training he did was swinging a wooden sword and punching dummies. Still he was more than capable of exhibiting formidable strength.

Now Byrne made them run around carrying heavy straps on their body and during sparring. Intensifying the strain much more on their bodies. What's surprising was, Saul is somewhat able to keep up albeit still with a lower weight than Lotte.

The gap of years of training between them simply wasn't possible to bridge in the amount of time Saul has trained. Lotte has trained at an extremely young age, up to the present after all.

"After that is the basics. Attacking, defending, dodging and footwork. It applies to all forms of martial arts. With a weapon in hand, or without it."

So far, I've been faithfully following the training. I've been repeating slash, thrust, quick cuts and heavy strikes countless times. It was rather easy since I already did that before, it's just more elaborate now. 

I've even started to apply it when we spar with Byrne. And Saul… Saul was slow.

He was having a hard time performing those basics, and gets tired easily. So far, defending is the only thing he could do when facing Byrne, but he always had that defiant look on his face every time.

'He must be frustrated.'

"Even as a swordsman, I learned all the methods I needed to engage in unarmed combat. I used to train soldiers, to knights that later on became formidable pillars in the battlefield. That training is what you will get. The strength you gain from this is what you will need in the future."

Briefly, he seemed to look at Lotte. But Lotte was too dazed to notice it.

"From now on, you will no longer spar solely against me," Byrne announced with his usual steady voice. "To grow, you must face someone of equal strength. Only by battling your peers can you sharpen your skills and your mind."

"Oh! Does that mean we won't spar with you anymore?" Saul quickly turned to me with a begging expression for me to shut up but it was too late. My mouth had ran off on its own.

"Besides getting beat into shape that is."

Saul glared at me once again like he was going to kill me.

Well it is what it is.

This is a good time for him to vent all that anger too. But sparring with someone of equal strength? The two of us were hardly equal. Just like before I would be flooring this special character of the story.

***

The time came and we were facing each other for the second time. To be honest I was slightly nervous, but I didn't think I'd lose. A battle was just that thrilling for me. Even against Saul.

And I don't plan on holding back.

Once again, I found Saul in that familiar stance. We have been receiving techniques from the same person after all. The kid from before, to the kid that is now Saul overlapped for a moment.

Saul has a much more built body now, but he was still smaller and thinner than me. I have the advantage both in experience, build, and mentality in general, as a person who lived a different life before.

After a silent moment, the tension in the air was broken by the first move.

Saul charged first, his eyes wide and fully focused on Lotte. Unlike the last time, his sword were properly placed in a stance, ready to bring down a strike once he reached his opponent-Lotte.

Lotte sighed in his mind and thought that Saul was still too impulsive despite having built a somewhat acceptable body through training. Saul looked slow in his eyes which were simply so used to trying to keep up with Byrne and his flurry of hits.

He side stepped effortlessly and the sword had missed its target. Lotte countered with a swift thrust, which Saul barely managed to dodge in panic. For Saul's lacking foundation and experience, he had grown especially when it comes to defending strikes.

Because that was all he could do against Byrne. Lotte had witnessed it himself. Once in a while, Saul would attempt to get a hit at Byrne only to fail and get his face struck.

After that exchange, seemingly unsure of what to do, Saul curled his body and waited for Lotte to strike. Lotte was familiar with it, Saul would shrink his body and defend against Byrne his absolute best.

So he responded in kind by breaking that very defense. Since the opponent was just watching him, there was room for a singular heavy hit.

A quick strike, a heavy strike, and a thrust. Those were among the techniques he had polished by himself, when he started training. But a simple vertical strike was easy to predict.

So a feint was the answer. The sword did not proceed from above, but instead was pulled back as Lotte spun and used the momentum for an even more powerful strike. Saul, caught unprepared, barely parried the sword as his sides were struck.

The force sent him tumbling to the ground. Luckily his sword had not broken this time. But Lotte didn't let Saul catch his breath. What came next was a flurry of strikes in an attempt to wear down Saul.

Byrne watched them intently, lost in his thoughts.

He had been training them, but it was an irregular method of training. Instead of steadily making them learn and develop, he had to shape them up into an able warrior before their coming of age.

If the young man that is Saul wanted revenge against his brother, and if Lotte wanted to see the bigger world, there's no room to be lenient at all. Luckily, Lotte was already a tough child even before training. Saul however, was raised from a comfortable upbringing despite coming from a family that produced warriors. 

The only reason he was keeping up was the burning desire to be strong and take revenge with his own hands. Byrne hoped for the better, with Saul forgetting about revenge and living a quiet life.

But eventually, Saul would find himself in situations where he has to protect himself. It was the least he could do, for the last offspring of his former lord, and friend. His lord's eldest son had all but turned into a tyrant.

The day before he accepted him as an apprentice, Saul had proved himself, a true descendant of their household. To which, Byrne was grateful for as even one person had survived the onslaught that occurred. Although he is now a runaway, with no riches of a noble whatsoever.

He had expected him to be overwhelmed by Lotte, but Byrne was confident. That the blood running in Saul's veins will aid him in overcoming the wall in front of him, despite his inferior body, and technique.

Saul defended like his life was on the line, and Lotte leisurely struck while walking in circles. He would go for disabling Saul but he had no experience whatsoever how to actually do it, they were only beaten up by Byrne after all, and trained to develop their body and stamina.

So he decided to experiment. He dashed up close to Saul, enough to stun him momentarily, and as expected. He was easily able to bypass his tight guard focused on the sword. He then swung from below to hit the opponents knees.

"Urk!"

The second hit.

It was a hit to the side of Saul's knee. From there on, Lotte had an easier time breaching his defense. It was a fairly simple and short spar, there was no need for the dogfight tactics he had always dreamed to test.

'This is the end.' Lotte saw that Saul was finally slowing down, yet he still had plenty of stamina, to fight a dozen times more.

A thrust to finish the spar once and for all.

In that instant the sword missed, barely scratching Saul's chest.

'He dodged?' Surprise was clear from Lotte's eyes.

Saul, gripping his sword down tightly…

'An upward swing!'

Fortunately it only grazed Lotte, as he stepped back a few steps with his head tilted back.

For a moment he was stunned. It was the second time that Saul had attacked or exchanged a blow. And it almost hit him. It was a proper counter.

Lotte smirked. He thought that maybe, it was time to stop playing around and let his strength loose.

"That's enough." Just as he was preparing to pummel Saul, he heard Byrne announce the end of the spar. Leaving Lotte's fighting spirit with nowhere to vent and sparing Saul who was already panting and sweating.

"Hah, just when things were getting interesting too."

Saul couldn't believe it. He was out of breath yet Lotte looked like he hadn't even gone through a battle. It wasn't as brutal as when they were beaten by Byrne but it was equally taxing. He hated his frail body even more and desired to train further.

"So, who won?"

Byrne looked at Lotte for a moment upon hearing that. He initially didn't want to make this competitive but…

"Lotte, wins." He hoped that this will bring Saul's potential even more.

The training for the day ended with that spar. 

As Lotte walked home, he thought about the last moment before Saul countered. He let his guard down. Knowing that Saul was weaker than him, mentally younger, and has lesser training experience with fighting.

Living in peace for five years since coming into this world, numbed him of the fear he initially harbored.

Next time… He won't be as merciful anymore.

***

Upon coming home he was greeted again by three happy blonde heads, with Guin asking to be carried again, Alea going on about her day while playing with the kids and Edna who silently welcomed him.

"Lotte."

"Hm? What is it father?"

When I first came to this world, it was quite awkward to call this man my father. I got used to it eventually though, we literally lived with each other and I had to act like his real son. Sometimes I felt sorry, but being an otherworlder is something I will take to the grave with me should I never find a way back home.

"Could we have a moment?"

'Did something happen?'

Father and I rarely talked with each other over the years. Of course there were some father and son moments especially while taking care of my little sisters, but that was it.

Outside the house, I found father gazing at the night sky. However the skies were cloudy and the moon wasn't even present.

"Are you still doing that apprenticeship?"

'So that's what this is about.'

As his son, of course he knew what I did around the village. He never complained much with my training and only told me to be always careful. But my intention for doing so… He was against it. 

To go outside and see the bigger world.

And to train in order to prepare myself for that world.

"Yes, it's going well, and I even have a junior now."

In any case, Lotte wasn't planning to stop ever. This is his lifeline. The only way to find out how to go back to his world. If he stayed here in this village, he might just find a wife among the other girls in the village and life a decadent life here. 

He didn't want that. He has to get involved at the center of the story, or the sidelines if it is too dangerous.

Also, he was incredibly bored. Since he's already in this world, he wanted to see warriors fighting against monsters, and mage's casting magnificent spells. Maybe he'll even get a harem? It was only a food for thought back in his world, but Lotte knew that more often than not, stories with an otherworlder as a protagonist have a harem centered around them.

Most of it was forced, and premature, which is why a lot of them sucked.

Of course he knew a few ones that turned out great though. He wondered if the main character of this world had a harem…

"A junior… An outsider again? Was it the kid you told me about? The one the old man took in?"

"Yes, that one. He's quite the handful, but were managing just fine." When I first trained myself father wondered what I was doing. I simply told him that I wanted to train and become a strong knight.

I remember him asking why I'm doing it. When I answered that it was because I wanted to go outside. He had the same face as he had right now. He would always look melancholic whenever the 'outside' were mentioned, but also with a frown.

Unlike the other villagers who would just straight up scold me when they hear me wanting to go outside.

"That's the most outsider we ever had since your mother came here." His expression quickly faded as he beckoned me to sit beside him.

"Are you still against my dream father?" I asked with amusement and a bit of a chuckle. Had he been my real father I wouldn't be this bold. But since I'm an adult anyways, I didn't care. Luckily, it didn't make our relationship worse.

"Even if I am, eventually I won't be able to stop you. You're growing Lotte." He clasped my shoulder and shook me slightly.

"You've become strong. Strong just like your mother."

'Mother?'

"She was strong? Physically?" I've never heard of that. No one has told me about my mother ever since I came into this world. I didn't know if mother was also strong like me, but I became strong because I trained like a madman. Hm, is she physically strong then?

Father looked at me for a moment, gauging my reaction. He seemed to think that mentioning my dead mother might affect my mood suddenly.

"Yes." He had a rare smile as he started talking about it. "Back then, she beat me to a pulp on sight. Luckily I managed to calm her down when I used my large body to hug her." But that smile faded as he went on. "She… seemed to be running."

'What? Why am I only hearing this? Shit, is this an important piece of information? Of all things, why didn't I investigate 'this' body's origin more. I thought that the mother was not important since she died right away.'

I was most focused on my three sisters. Anyone would be, since it's very rare that they're born as triplets. I took care of them especially since I was expecting for them to have some sort of role in the future.

"It's as if something terrifying was chasing her. Back then, she wouldn't be able to sleep, and I had to be there for her to calm down. She didn't trust anyone in the village." Father seemed like he wasn't done telling stories so I chose to be silent.

"After a while she was finally able to walk around. But not without holding my hand to the point that it hurt. It was pretty endearing to see her like that, and I felt that I had to protect her at all cost."

"The villagers and the chief were against keeping her. But I insisted. I've already fallen for her. She… She definitely had nowhere to go."

"I never asked why she was running back then. And she never told me where she came from, nor did she look back ever again. We lived a happy life and had you. Then your sisters."

Father stopped there for a while. His complicated expression returned again as he spoke with a graver tone.

"Lotte… If you ever find your way outside. I'll never know what you're going to see out there. Your mother fled to this place. Probably because there was something dangerous to her out there."

He turned to me and clasped my shoulders. "Should you find yourself out there… Promise me that you will be extremely careful."

It was a strange experience. This side of his father were a first time. He had only ever scolded him lightly due to training too much and skipping some responsibilities here and there.

"Yes… Father" Of course his father just like the rest of the villagers were against it. Even Yeona, who dreamed of going outside, was against it. While Rugner doesn't want to help and keeps his mysteriousness up. 

Today was another piece of information he overlooked. He came too late at knowing about his own background. If that danger outside is something that can recognize the resemblance he bore with his mother, he'd be a target without knowing anything.

He pledged to himself to have more awareness than he could ever that night.

***

Lotte was pumped for training the next day. He was expecting to be beaten up by Byrne as usual, although now that he would also spar with Saul, he can beat him too and vent his frustration.

Why was Byrne so insistent on unfairly beating them down? He was getting used to being hurt at this point. He learned to endure after repeated days of getting struck.

However what welcomed him was Saul, with swollen red eyes.

'This guy… How much did he cry?'

He had a fierce expression on his face and stood stiffly. His mouth was curved downwards as if he never wanted to smile or laugh again. The loss yesterday impacted him more than it should. 

Lotte decided to forgo teasing Saul for today, else their relationship might never improve.

"Did he cry himself out yesterday? Why didn't you console him?" Lotte decided to ask Byrne why he just let Saul like that.

The corner of Byrne's eyes twitched as he looked at Lotte. To be honest, how could he do it knowing that he sinned to that kid? He was able to teach him as a repentance with his inaction and he was used to being strict, but as for comforting Saul? He wasn't worthy, and it's not his place anymore.

And ever since his wife and child died he never knew how to exactly handle situations like these. He spent too much time fighting and training instead.

"You go and comfort him. This is also a part of a seniors duties. A camaraderie with each other."

'Hah? Isn't that kid like, your lord? Or future lord? Why is he passing the responsibility to me?' 

"Me?" Lotte was about to protest but then he remembered their somewhat shaky relationship. 'Maybe I could?'

Besides, who else does Saul know in this place anyways? There's only me and Byrne. He must feel so alone. He never went beyond Byrne's manor to meet the villagers so he doesn't know anyone there…

"Wait… That's it!"

Saul… Needs some company! He's still a kid, if he meets a kid his age then he might forget his sadness momentarily and won't feel so pressured into living solely for vengeance. Meeting new people might make him feel refreshed, that's how it was to me after graduating college anyways…

'I might need Yeona's help with this.'

Yeona… She was fairly attractive compared to other children in the village, with her 'prim and proper' upbringing contributed by her mothers way of raising her and Rugner's expensive clothes as gifts. Maybe Saul would feel motivated after seeing her? Who knows he might even develop a crush on her.

"Alright, it's decided." Lotte thought that it would be amusing to see how Saul acted in front of a girl. He could already see him stuttering or trying to demonstrate etiquette like a noble clumsily.

***

Early in the morning, she would wake up to wash herself with hot water and wear the dress prepared beforehand by her mother after fixing her bed.

Then she will braid and tie her hair, which used to be done by her mother. In order to be independent she learned it herself until she was able to do it alone. One of the teachings from her mother she kept to herself at all times, were that an upstanding woman should always groom herself and look clean.

"Honey! The breakfast is ready!"

Her mother prided herself in cooking, yet she always found it rather… lacking in flavor. That is not to say that the food wasn't delicious. It's just that her mother preferred the dishes naturally as it is to avoid getting fat.

While Yeona agreed, she just preferred it slightly more seasoned… Something similar to how Lotte cooked his skewers.

"Hmp.."

Thinking about that guy soured her mood instantly. The guy never ceased to tease her, and basically nicknamed her an idiot. Now, they call each other an idiot whenever they meet. It was so childish but she couldn't help being caught up in annoyance.

She and her mother sat silently at the dinner table. She had no other siblings, she also knew that her real father had left before she was even born, to the 'outside' of the village. Everyone in the village testifies that it was because no one ever comes back from going out.

But, another man whom she considers her 'father' could do it. He was someone from the outside who fell in love at first sight with her mother. At first she didn't like him, but the gifts he brought with him were way too pretty and never seen before to her eyes.

He was 'Rugner'. Mother was being courted by that man for four years now. She once asked him how he was able to go out and come back safely.

"It's because I'm amazing." She believed him without a doubt. 

How else can he go back and go out, unlike her 'real' father that she never met? "If you become amazing like me, you can eventually go out without consequences. Listen well to your mom and you will be like me too one day. Then we can all leave this place together!"

She aspired to better at everything she does. She was going to lead a different life compared to everyone in the village when she grew up. Maybe the time will come when she's the one who can go in and out of the village just like her father.

She's going to love seeing Lotte's surprised expression when that happens. That the kid he called an idiot can go out unlike him.

"Heh.."

However… That guy was dreaming dangerously. He wanted to go out on his own, even though there was clear evidence of people not getting back when they did that. Truly an idiot.

She could remember it clearly. The day that Lotte had changed. It was when his mother died.

He was down for quite a while, and at that time she wanted to cheer him up. But being much younger back then, maybe she really was an 'annoying idiot' for pestering Lotte to play with her.

She remembers liking to play with Lotte because of his hair. It was red and pretty, the only color she saw as vibrant around this village. Most people had blonde or brown hair like her own. She hated that she developed a liking for red dresses because of that.

'Though I never wore it in front of anyone…'

She felt embarrassed being seen in a dress the same color as Lotte's hair. What if people thought she liked it? Well, she does like the color. Only the color.

Recently, she's been busy reading the books in the chief's study. The chief wasn't there but everyone was free to go inside anyways. She decided to finish reading the books inside, just like Lotte. She couldn't stand the fact that a person like Lotte who always trained and sweated was more well-read than her.

If she couldn't even read as much as him, then she's really going to be an idiot.

She made a fist and decided to continue reading later on.

"Oh? You seem fired up, honey?"

Her mother noticed her expression and asked.

"Yes mother. Today, I'll finish reading all the books." She found it tedious, but also had fun reading the stories. After reading all that, she could finally get back on track to one of her hobbies. Which is observing how Lotte improves himself. She'd been thinking about training too, even though she hates the heat, dirt and sweating.

"No stalking again today I guess then?" Her mother spoke with an unperturbed tone and half-lidded eyes looking down on her plate with an ever so faint curve on her lips as she bit on a piece of fruit.

"*Cough cough* Mom!"

She had told her countless times that she wasn't a stalker… She's just observing how Lotte exercises as reference when she decides to exercise too. Her mother herself said that besides proper food, exercise was a good way to keep fit and healthy, and also maintain one's youthful beauty.

Her appearance spoke for itself, as the flower of the village. It was unfortunate that she still wasn't willing to marry even after all these years. Though she could tell that she was opening up to Rugner.

As for observing Lotte… It began when she was so angry with him. She had wanted to take revenge on him back then. But she wavered. She saw him screaming as he tired himself out until he was lying on the floor breathing roughly. At first she was scared because he seemed to be going mad.

But as she grew up, she realized why Lotte had changed. The day that Lotte looked down was when his mother died. She didn't understand what it meant to lose someone back then, but maybe Lotte already did at that time and he experienced it. Those screams and frustration must be the result of all that.

She couldn't bear to imagine if the same thing happened to her mother. Her anger faded significantly after that.

She would have liked to be friendly with him again. If only Lotte stopped calling her an idiot… Which he didn't. 

After that they didn't play together anymore. But she was curious what Lotte is up to.

Just like before he would tire himself out while swinging a stick. After a while what he swung became a wooden sword. Then he ran around the village until he fell down, and eventually started to strap some weights in his body while running. 

Every other day he would close his eyes while standing and suddenly slash at the air multiple times, then smirk with a satisfied smile. She thought Lotte was really going crazy several times.

And then, he once walked out of the village. He climbed a relatively low but grassy hill on the horizon which just happens to have a singular tree that provided cool shades from the sun. It became a daily habit of his to do that after tiring himself out. 

Since then she would watch Lotte from afar. But she couldn't catch up to him because he walked too fast so she had to memorize where he trains and goes to then wait there. Except whenever he goes to the mad old man.

'What is he thinking? Associating himself with a rumored killer…' The village chief even briefly appeared to warn them all to stay away from that guy. Yet, Lotte did just the opposite.

Yeona never wanted to go anywhere near that place. Lotte might be fine but she understood her limit. She couldn't run fast or jump long distances like Lotte. Also, he was strong unlike her, who was forbidden by her mother to hold a sword to maintain her soft touch.

Because of that, she rarely saw him again. He used to train in their backyard all the time, where she could see him just fine. But now, after disappearing in the distance she doesn't know what kind of crazy stunts he's up to.

She always wondered how one guy could be so dedicated? His endeavors were nothing short of foolish… Training to prepare himself for when he goes out? Does he think he's as amazing as 'Father'? Unlike him, her 'Father' wasn't alone when he travels outside, and he has people he can count on, even though they were odd.

Then again, those two were closer than they look. They still have secret dealings she didn't know yet, the reason why her 'Father' always calls Lotte.

And just as she wondered about him..

Later on that day, the person in question had shown himself. With another kid she didn't recognize.

Yeona stared at Lotte and the kid, dumbfounded.

"What did you say?"

"Yeona, this is Saul. Saul this is-"

"No, no. After that?"

"Uh well… Let's all play together!... Hehe!"

The first thing that Lotte thought to do in order to cheer up Saul, was to make him meet Yeona. Maybe he will feel inspired to do better knowing that there's a pretty girl just around the village. But his expectations betrayed him. He forgot that Saul himself is almost as pretty if not prettier than Yeona.

He looked confused and annoyed without even a speck of pretense to look like a nice person in front of Yeona.

And Yeona. She was staring daggers at me. Did she somehow regain a newfound anger at me? That, I didn't know. I could only push through this situation now somehow.

"So… Shall we play catch?"

"With how fast we run, she's never gonna catch us." Although he joined later than Lotte, Saul was now in a physical degree beyond kids his age. "Why did you even bring me here? Just to introduce me to a countryside girl?" The latter part was almost a whisper but Yeona heard it clearly.

Yeona, not one to back down, felt annoyed.

"Lotte… Who's this fake chick?" Saul flinched and stared dumbfoundedly at Yeona upon hearing that. "And play? Since when did you like playing again?" She felt a little intrigued when she heard Lotte calling for her after almost not even visiting her for half a year but what was this? 

He was with another kid she never saw around the village, someone with a pretty face dressing like a guy. Some time ago, there was some news about monsters and people from outside.

'Is that kid the one survivor from those people?' She never thought it would be a girl. She also had a wood sword in her waist, and her hands had some obvious calluses.

"He's… Not a girl. As for playing… Well we could play a different game then. What do you like-"

Yeona shut the door and cut off Lotte. He felt speechless. He never thought that they would somehow dislike each other right upon meeting.

"She seemed rude. What are we doing here anyways?" Saul asked and Lotte wondered that himself. He was supposed to have fun teasing Saul by now but alas, he didn't care about Yeona one bit. He even seemed annoyed.

"I told you, it's a break. We're on a break. I especially asked Byrne to let us off today."

"But I want to hurry up and train so I can beat you."

"Hey, If you train, I train too. You'll never catch up. Let's just go to my house."

"Your house?" Saul's distorted face returned to normal right away when he heard that.

Saul sparked some interest in what kind of household could have brought a boy like Lotte. The environment must be intense to raise someone who only thought of training and being annoyingly full of himself.

Meanwhile Yeona looked at them with a sharp glare from the window. She planned to see just what Lotte was up to once again. Especially after hearing that they were going to his house. That house… She never got to visit there but he's bringing another kid in he just met recently? She felt that it was audacious.