Chapter 14
Chapter 14: Why Are There So Many of You
***
The swordsman stood by the road, staring at me intently.
My body tensed up, my small right fist repeatedly clenching and relaxing, as a thin layer of ice-blue mist faintly appeared.
…Damn that bearded swordsman, if he dares take one step, he’ll have to eat my full-force ice spike first!
“Little Syl, what would you like to eat tonight?”
Having been in a state of high alert, Grandma Claire’s sudden question made me jump.
No good, Grandma and the others are still nearby. If we start fighting here, they’ll get caught up in it.
This level of battle isn’t like ordinary knights’ hacking and slashing. If ordinary people get caught up in it, it’s no joke. Whether it’s my frost chill or the swordsman’s lightning power, even just a tiny bit of the aftermath could easily take their lives.
Fighting here directly is too dangerous, it might destroy the entire village. If we really have to fight, I must lead him outside the village first thing, absolutely can’t let it affect Grandma and the others.
In this brief moment, my thoughts changed rapidly, my heart stuck in my throat.
Then… I passed by the swordsman.
I saw his lips curl into a playful smile. It was as if telling me, I’ve finally found you.
But even after we had walked far away, the swordsman didn’t take any action.
“Little Syl, what’s wrong? Your face looks terrible, are you sick?”
Elia cupped my small face in both hands and pressed her forehead against mine.
“I… I’m fine.”
Something felt stuck in my throat, I realized my facial expression was very stiff.
“Really? If something’s not feeling well you should say so, you can’t force yourself when you’re sick.”
Elia’s eyebrows knitted together, showing a worried expression.
“Really, I’m fine.”
I wanted to give her a reassuring smile, but no matter what I couldn’t move my lips.
“Sister Sylvia, you should lie down and rest on the wheat, I can pull it.”
“Thank you, Barry. I’m not, unwell. Don’t worry, everyone.”
I secretly glanced back, but could no longer see the bearded swordsman’s figure, and my heartbeat slowly calmed down.
Seeing that I really seemed fine, Elia became lively again and turned to chat with me.
“Hey hey, Little Syl, did you see just now, that tall and mighty swordsman sir, ah—! So—handsome!”
Elia’s eyes lit up with little stars, her cheeks flushed red with excitement as she clenched her fists while talking to me.
“Mm, very handsome.”
“Shall we go talk to him together?”
“No!”
I immediately became anxious when I heard this, quickly grabbing Elia’s hand, afraid she might really rush back to find him in a moment of impulse.
“Elia, you’re getting married.”
Barry said expressionlessly.
“So what! Does getting married mean I’m not allowed to admire handsome men anymore?”
“You can, but don’t corrupt Sister Sylvia.”
“How am I corrupting her? I’m helping her! If Little Syl is to get married in the future, she should marry someone tall and mighty like that! The misfits in our village aren’t worthy of her, that’s why I wanted to take her to meet him…” Elia’s eyes flashed with craftiness, “A swordsman like that, when would we ever see one in our village! The armor he’s wearing is clearly expensive… Who knows what he came here for, but he definitely won’t stay long, we can’t miss this chance, Little Syl!”
I shook my head vigorously, gripping Elia’s hand even tighter, showing a pleading look in my eyes.
“Ah, Little Syl is shy, she’s shy! Hehe.”
Shy my ass! Which eye of yours saw even a tiny bit of shyness in me!
I’m so anxious.
“Elia, I think you just want to go yourself.”
Barry continued speaking expressionlessly.
“I told you that’s not…”
“Then don’t take Sister Sylvia over there, or I’ll tell Brother Allen.”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
“Watch me!”
“If you dare go, I’ll tell Little Syl your secret!”
“…Don’t.”
Barry immediately gave in.
Having won the verbal exchange, Elia smugly hummed twice, but didn’t bring up the matter from before again.
I let out a soft sigh of relief.
“Little Syl, do you know that swordsman?” Grandma, who hadn’t spoken since earlier, suddenly asked.
“…I don’t know him.”
I don’t know why, but this was the first time I lied to Grandma.
“…Is that so.” Grandma looked at me, showing a gentle smile.
She noticed it.
That swordsman’s cloak, and Little Syl’s cloak hanging at home… Although the latter was somewhat tattered, they were certainly the same style without mistake. Though she was old, her eyes weren’t failing.
But since Little Syl didn’t want to say, she wouldn’t force the question. Time would tell her everything.
“What do you want to eat when we get back?”
“…Potato soup.”
“Alright.”
I tried hard to suppress the unease in my heart as I walked toward home.
…………
The bearded swordsman’s appearance made me deeply anxious. I thought he would find me soon, and had been under the huge psychological pressure of ‘about to engage in a death battle’ during this time, but after spending several days on tenterhooks, I never saw him again.
Having come all this way to find me, could it be he just wanted to look at me once, then left like that?
Impossible, is he stupid? He’s not.
Perhaps he wants to put me at ease first, then went to spread the news?!
When we meet next time, he’ll appear before me triumphantly with countless church knights and more than 10 robed old men.
Just thinking of this possibility made it hard for me to breathe.
Should I run away?
…Maybe I should slip away quietly at night when Grandma and others are asleep, I can’t cause them trouble.
But, will I be able to see Grandma again? Will I be able to return here?
I really don’t want to leave, I want to stay with Grandma a bit longer.
Tomorrow, I’ll secretly leave tomorrow instead.
Yes, that’s decided.
And so, my escape plan kept getting postponed day after day, never being implemented.
Several days later, the Harvest Festival arrived.
This was also a long-standing village custom, holding a festival and evening party after harvesting wheat each year.
That night, everyone gathered in the small square at the village center, bringing tables and chairs from their homes, lighting bonfires, and beginning to pray to the gods.
The ceremony was conducted by Father Merlin from town. Under his guidance, everyone knelt to pray to the Bountiful Mother Goddess, asking for blessing of another bountiful harvest for the village next year.
Afterward came the eagerly anticipated bonfire party, with villagers singing and dancing around the bonfire, happiness and satisfaction floating on everyone’s faces.
The butcher uncle gripped his drumsticks, muscles bulging with blue veins on his arms, as magnificent drum beats echoed through the night.
I saw Elia and the honest-looking hunter’s son in the crowd, dancing simple yet graceful dances with undisguised joy on their faces.
Before long, big barrels of beer were brought over. This was considered a luxury in the village, but tonight they could drink freely.
The atmosphere of the whole party became even more lively after the beer arrived.
The tailor’s daughter from up the village sang this world’s melodious ballads nearby. Two or three younger girls clapped along to the beat beside her, occasionally joining in with a couple lines.
Several boys who had mustered the courage to come invite me to dance all eventually hung their heads and walked back to their companions dejectedly.
Grandma was too old and no longer suited for such occasions, having returned early. I closed my eyes, immersing myself in the rich festive scene of this foreign land.
“Little Syl! Won’t you dance?” Uncle Dor laughed and asked me, fine beads of sweat on his nose. Grandma always sent me to get meat from him, and he would cut extra for me each time.
“I don’t know how.”
I smiled slightly and shook my head.
Actually it’s not that I don’t know how, in my previous life I studied ballroom, Latin, and street dance since childhood, and met Xiaoxi at the same dance studio. I dare not say I was top-tier nationally, but I did win awards. It’s just that I’m not in the mood right now. The bearded swordsman is like a dark cloud pressing on my heart, making everything feel meaningless.
“Haha, what a shame! You don’t know how many village boys have been counting down the days, waiting for today to get close to you!”
Uncle’s expression was suggestive, his smile somewhat teasing. Almost 40 years old, yet he kept winking at me, it seems he had drunk quite a bit.
Not knowing how to answer him, I could only show a helpless smile.
Just as the uncle was about to say something more, suddenly with a “thump”, a cup of beer was placed on my table.
I looked up to see Leyn, the children’s leader, with a flushed face and another cup of beer in hand, speaking to me.
“Sister Sylvia… I’ve been thinking about what happened before, and I was indeed wrong. I apologize to you… I’m sorry.” This apology was said reluctantly. Leyn threw his head back and drank all the beer in his hand in one go, “My beer is finished, you drink the one on the table too, and we’ll be friends.”
The cup on the table was about the size of a pint glass, filled to the brim with beer, foam overflowing down the sides onto the table.
Heh, trying to get me drunk? Interesting. Could it be his hot-tempered father gave him this idea, thinking I’m some little girl who can’t drink and would fall into someone’s arms after a couple sips?
Unfortunately, you’ve calculated wrong.
Just when I’m in a bad mood, let me show you what it means to be able to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk!
“In the future, don’t do, that again, and we’re good.”
I gave Leyn a sweet smile and picked up the cup, drinking it all in one go amid Uncle Dor’s cheering.
“Haha, Little Syl, well done!”
Uncle Dor let out an ear-splitting laugh, clapping vigorously.
“Leyn! What are you doing!”
Barry emerged from the crowd, pointing at Leyn and shouting.
“I’m apologizing to Sister Sylvia, what’s it to you! Barry, stop looking down on people!”
“Apologizing? Sister Sylvia is so young, why are you encouraging her to drink so much!”
“It’s fine, Barry…”
I looked at Barry in front of me, wanting to say he couldn’t outdrink me, but suddenly swayed, the cup in my hand falling to the ground with a “crash” and shattering.
…Huh?
I frowned, reaching out both hands to rub my eyes.
One Barry… two Barrys… three Leyns… four uncles…
Why are there so many of you?