Chapter 276: The Three Groups of Visitors, and the Warlike War Priest

Now then...

"It has been a while. Two days, maybe."

The one who appeared first saying that was the Surmares temple head accompanied by two attendants.

We had met faces on the final day of the strategy meeting too, so indeed two days.

"Sorry for when you are busy."

I greeted familiarly, but I did not know the name.

Now, how to draw it out?

"I am the one entrusted with the Surmares temple, called Walter."

When I made a formal apology while troubled, he named himself from the other side.

Age about fifty, maybe.

But the cut-like scar running from the forehead to the left cheek was of the old man in front.

The build was good, height a little higher than me.

He wore full metal armor that would not lose to Muriel or Birga, and in his right hand held an all-metal poleaxe about one and a half times Walter’s height.

But that face that had a cut-like scar running from the forehead to the left cheek as if proving battles had a gentle expression like a good old man floating.

"Hiroyuki Asahi."

The other probably knew, but for form I named and exchanged a handshake.

"Sorry on my side too. For my selfishness I have made you accompany."

"No no, Birga is being taken care of too."

Mutual formal talk, but still without seeming angry in particular, the talk continued smiling.

Behind, Birga who had prepared a battle stance relaxed and sighed.

Probably relieved at the harmonious conversation of me and Walter.

"Oh oh, a little late."

There another one appeared.

No, this side also accompanied by two attendants, so three people, maybe.

"No, I, not acting my age, hurried and came early."

Walter spoke as if an acquaintance.

"That is like you."

The middle-aged woman who appeared returned words to Walter while laughing elegantly, then came in front of me.

Apparently really an acquaintance.

"Nice to meet you. I am Marion, the temple head of Anirofe."

"Hiroyuki Asahi."

To Marion who bowed deeply, I named too.

"Thank you for taking Rosina. She was a tomboyish girl so I wondered what would happen, but having her become the Dule of such a wonderful person is joyful to the limit."

Fufufu, she talked while laughing elegantly at me too.

Like the greeting of the bride’s mother at a wedding.

"No, I am helped by Rosina too, and above all she is beautiful."

I returned to Marion too.

The content was true feelings, no lies.

"Thank you."

Marion bowed again, then looked at Rosina.

I looked at Rosina following Marion too.

"W-what are the two saying!"

Rosina was angry with face completely red.

No, that was a pretense of anger.

The proof, the outer corners of her eyes drooped, and her cheeks twitched.

Rosina embarrassed that much was rare.

Usually I was the one done in.

I wanted to play with Rosina a little more with Marion, but that became impossible.

Because the last one appeared.

No, this side also three people, maybe.

"...You are Muriel’s master."

While surprised at the two wearing high-rank priest clothes, the men came in front of me.

The central man who spoke to me, age about late forties.

The clothes he wore were nothing rare, a very ordinary short tunic and long trousers, but with luxurious blond hair and blue eyes, and a little gestures feeling elegant, he seemed a noble in secret.

But age-appropriate dignity was there, and the physique was rugged too.

At the left waist he wore a rapier, and at the right waist a dagger with a large handguard.

He was looking at me as if appraising.

But not the guy who was talking with Muriel.

More, the lines seemed thinner.

Thinking that and looking at the two behind the man, there was a person like that.

The one waiting on the right was that.

A face that would be popular with women, but now he was glaring at me hatefully and distorting it.

Another one, the man on the left seemed not very interested.

Age about early thirties.

Shorter than the other two, lines thinner too.

While fiddling with unruly black hair, he was looking in an unrelated direction and killing a yawn.

After glancing at the two behind, I directed eyes at the middle man again.

"That is so, but you all are?"

From talking about Muriel I thought they were people Muriel invited, but for confirmation I asked.

"This is rude. I am Adalbert, former knight squad captain of the Prussia Kingdom. Behind are subordinates Albert and Wieland."

"..."

"Nice to meet you."

Albert did not move while glaring at me, and Wieland slightly bowed his head while fiddling with hair.

...Better to discipline the subordinates a little more, wasn’t it?

"Master!"

While thinking that, from behind Muriel ran toward me, then came out in front as if protecting me.

"Hoo."

"Muriel! Wearing such armor! Did you abandon the pride of a knight!"

Wieland who had seemed uninterested opened his eyes looking at Muriel.

Those eyes were fixed on Muriel’s exposed chest.

Albert scolded such Muriel.

"Hey, stop it. Sorry. Normally he is age-appropriate, but."

Adalbert who admonished Albert apologized to me.

But without bowing his head, that gaze still stabbed me sharply.

Adalbert did not seem angry in particular, but simply seemed to be probing my background.

"Muriel."

"Yes, Master."

When I called Muriel in front of me, Muriel bowed her head and stepped back behind me.

"Hahaha, quite tamed. Even if I say come here, she does not seem to listen."

Adalbert spoke to Muriel while smiling wryly.

The Muriel in question was silent without meeting eyes while bowing her head.

But she was probably probing the atmosphere.

If these three moved, Muriel would jump out immediately.

"Say something!"

The proof, when Albert put a hand on the rapier hanging at his waist and tried to come forward while shouting, Muriel gripped the handle of the broadsword, put her left foot forward, and took a battle stance ready to jump at any time.

"I am saying be silent!"

That too, by Adalbert restraining Albert, Muriel did not move to the next action either.

"Sorry again. Even though we did not come to quarrel."

This time Adalbert broke the stern expression, wore a wry smile and apologized.

"A man that a woman of Muriel’s degree falls for. He has corresponding ability, probably. More than that we came later, so let us put our business later. Finish the business of those people first."

Adalbert said that to me as if letting Albert hear, bowed his head to the two temple heads, and walked to the edge of the arena taking Albert and Wieland.

"Fine?"

"Well, since he says that let us finish our business. So Marion said she wanted to meet me."

After answering Walter, I immediately turned the talk to Marion whose business seemed likely to finish soon.

"I thought a little chat, but I will put it later too. There is a battle fool waiting impatiently fidgeting there."

"Hoo, I am quite calm?"

"You say well. I know you are fidgeting."

Marion said that, but to me Walter did not look fidgeting.

Age merit, or that degree of closeness.

"Mumu..."

That Walter was groaning was probably on the mark.

So first me and Walter would fight.

What I held was two bastard swords.

Opposing Walter held the poleaxe with both hands.

"Begin!"

"Ya!"

At Birga’s signal Walter rushed at me and thrust the poleaxe.

At the speed of the thrust Walter who should have welcomed middle age put out, I unintentionally rolled my tongue.

But still a speed I could deal with.

I, while holding both swords, completely dodged all of it.

But...

"Ta!"

The thrust poleaxe swept sideways as is.

"Oops!"

At the unexpected movement I hurriedly received with the right hand sword and dealt with it.

After that too Walter put out the poleaxe freely changing.

I sometimes predicted, sometimes with only reflex nerves dodged, received, flowed.

I did not step back, but with the reach difference between the poleaxe and the bastard swords, and also in the cunning footwork, I could not quite turn to attack.

But if this continued, a gap would appear in Walter who was consuming stamina in attack more than me who had not used much stamina.

There was age too.

But having that made an excuse was irritating.

So I decided to turn to counterattack.

First I slammed the poleaxe Walter thrust at my feet to the ground with the bastard sword even lowering my waist.

This was unexpected, maybe, Walter hurriedly tried to return the poleaxe to hand.

At the same time I entered Walter’s bosom.

If I thrust the bastard sword at the throat as is it would end, but before that a shadow was seen at the edge of my vision.

I hurriedly lowered my head.

There the butt of the poleaxe passed by.

If an instant later it would have hit my temple.

But this was a chance.

To the belly of Walter in the posture of having swung through, I applied the bastard swords scissor-like from left and right.

Walter was not wearing armor, so if I sandwiched as is the upper body and lower body would be completely halved.

"I yield, I yield."

There Walter wore a wry smile, dropped the poleaxe to the ground and raised both hands.

I stepped back one, pulled the bastard swords and sheathed them.

"Well well, quite skillful."

Walter without even picking up the poleaxe extended his right hand and sought a handshake.

I extended my right hand too and exchanged a handshake with Walter.

"Apparently Asahi is loved by the war god Surmares. Physically too, technically too. But experience is still shallow, maybe. There seem to be places not yet reading ahead."

Muu, on the mark.

"That only accumulating experience. Do your best not to become arrogant."

"Thank you."

Because it was the first time I was pointed out so appropriately, I said thanks with respect.

Walter nodded with a satisfied face and stepped back to the wall.

To Birga who knew the truth, Walter who was told reproachfully "were you satisfied" smiled wryly and apologized saying forgive.

Now, next...