MTLNOVEL Chapter 30: Farewell at Sunset
[Since that day, your daily schedule has included chatting with Artorius.]
[He was also very happy to see you and shared many things that he hadn't mentioned before.]
[For example, he knows swordsmanship and often spars with his brother, and that he was actually starving when he entered the city that day.]
[You have confirmed that he didn't see anything about you at the time.]
[You are glad you didn't kill him directly.]
[You feel that getting along with him is a very easy thing, and you didn't notice that the way he looked at you had changed a lot.]
[Good times are always short.]
[The two of you still came to the time of parting.]
[According to the agreement, you came to the city gate.]
"Time flies so fast, Artorius."
Ian looked at the sunset hanging on the mountains in the distance and sighed.
"Are you really going tonight?"
"Yes, Mr. Ian." Artorius responded very politely, "If I don't leave now, I won't be able to go back on time."
"In this way, my brother and father will definitely worry about me."
"Is that so..." Ian nodded.
"Okay, it's best if you have your own considerations, but the road at night is not easy to walk."
"How about this—"
Ian untied the long sword tied to his waist and handed it to Artorius.
"This sword is for you."
"This...?"
Artorius looked at the sword Ian handed over, a little disbelieving his eyes.
He quickly waved his hand to refuse: "No, I can't accept this sword! This is a partner that has been with you for a long time, right? I absolutely can't accept it!"
"What kind of partner is there?"
Ian said with a smile.
"Swords are fierce weapons, and swordsmanship is just a trick to kill people."
"No matter how beautiful the language is used to cover it up, this is always the truth."
"Would you regard something that kills people as your partner?"
"This..."
Although he knew that this was the step Ian had laid out for him to accept the sword, Artorius was still hesitant about whether to accept it.
Seeing this, Ian thought for a while and pretended to be a little angry and said:
"What? Artorius, do you think that because I used it, you feel disgusted?"
"No, no, no!" Artorius quickly waved his hand and said, "There is no such thing! Mr. Ian, I am not disgusted with this sword at all!"
"In that case, why don't you accept it?"
"..."
Successfully being led into a dead end by Ian, Artorius had no choice.
He could only stretch out his hands and take the blade from Ian's hand.
"Mr. Ian, I really don't know how to thank you for your help these days."
"No need to thank me." Ian crossed his arms. "I believe that every knight in the royal capital would make the same choice as me, but you just happened to meet me."
"By the way, and this."
[You brought out a large bag of rations.]
[You moved it to Artorius's small wooden cart.]
[In his surprised sight, you smiled and rubbed his head.]
"I've prepared a lot this time. If you want to distribute it to the refugees on the road, it shouldn't be a problem."
"But it's still the same sentence." Ian stroked Artorius's hair, "Do what you can, don't do things beyond your ability."
"If you go back hungry, your brother and father will think that the royal capital is in famine."
"So, do you understand what I mean?"
"Well, oh..." Artorius seemed to be still immersed in the shock brought by the big bag of rations, looking a little dazed.
"Well—you don't have to worry about the city wall either. I took the responsibility, and it won't be traced to you, so just go back with peace of mind."
"Mr. Ian."
Artorius looked at the man who was touching his head.
"Why are you so kind to me? We didn't know each other at all, right?"
[Your mind replayed the scene of Artorius's hair being loose, which was somewhat similar to Morgan.]
[You know the answer to the question.]
[Of course, you will definitely not say these inner words.]
[You chose to use "apology for the rudeness during the body search" as your reason.]
[Artorius didn't doubt you at all.]
[And she seemed to remember something. After saying "wait for me," she turned back and rummaged through things on her small wooden cart.]
"Found it!"
As Artorius said this, there was one more thing in her hand.
Ian took a closer look and then the whole person was stunned—it was a scarf.
Wait.
It doesn't seem to be called a scarf.
Because there are undeniable bifurcations in the place where the threads are intertwined;
The small balls of wool in various places indicate that there have been many accidents in the process of weaving it.
The last and most undeniable point—that is, it is not finished at all.
It is too extravagant to call it a scarf.
A more accurate way of saying it should be a woven object [similar to a scarf].
"What is this?" Ian confirmed.
"The scarf I knitted." Artorius lowered his head, looking very embarrassed.
"Well... I just learned it recently."
Ian couldn't help but smile.
"Does recently mean these few days?"
"Yes, yes."
"..."
Ian glanced at the "scarf" in Artorius's hand, then glanced at him, not knowing what to say for a while.
"That, Mr. Ian... is it very bad?"
"A little bit."
"Is that so..." Artorius's hand shrank back.
"It really is like this."
"Yes, so give it to me."
"Well... sorry, I really shouldn't have... eh?"
Artorius raised his head, a little disbelieving what his ears heard.
"Mr. Ian..."
"This is also a little bit of your kindness."
Ian took the scarf from Artorius's hand and put it around his neck.
"However, if possible, I hope you can consider whether a knight really needs this kind of thing."
"This... I'm sorry!"
"Okay, you don't have to say sorry."
"Be careful on the road."
"Yes!" Artorius became happy again.
"Then, Mr. Ian, will we have a chance to meet again in the future?"
"Maybe."
[Without any more words, you watched Artorius disappear into the road full of sunset.]
[You took off the scarf and turned back to the city gate.]
[You can't help but think of a question—will you see the day when Artorius becomes a knight in the future?]
[However, you never dreamed of it.]
[Morgan was already standing at the city gate at some point.]