Chapter 24 : Let’s Stick to the Basics
Chapter 24: Let’s Stick to the Basics
When Robin returned to the lodging, he could see the mercenaries training outside the house.
They swung their swords amid scattering sparks, with five or six braziers lit in the yard.
Clang! Clang!
In contrast to Paul’s stiff expression, Calimacos moved his sword with a smile.
“Haap!”
He brought his sword down diagonally toward Calimacos, but couldn’t touch even a single strand of hair.
When Paul tried to pull his sword back, Calimacos’ blade was already at Paul’s throat.
“You’ve improved a lot.”
“I still didn’t reach you.”
Paul brushed the sword away from his throat with his hand and sheathed it.
Calimacos was overwhelmingly relaxed, yet Robin couldn’t help but be impressed.
Even judging by thought-acceleration, Paul’s sword moved quickly.
Not so fast that the eye couldn’t follow, but it was the fastest he had seen so far.
If Robin felt that way, ordinary people would surely have no idea what had just happened.
Kagagagak.
“Yes! I won!”
“Tch. I went easy on you, Mirian.”
“Easy? What are you talking about? One more round?”
“Sure.”
Behind Calimacos and Paul, Mirian and Torgen were sparring.
Brandok and Felix sat on a bench, simply watching.
Robin felt disappointed that he alone had seen the high-level spar between Calimacos and Paul.
‘No… maybe the others have already seen it to the point of boredom.’
Felix was leisurely chewing toast.
Brandok was fitting arrowheads onto shafts, making Robin wonder if this was an everyday routine for them.
“Robin, you’re back.”
“Yes. I was looking around Bellif’s apothecary and got back late.”
“I saw you passing by earlier. We’ll be resting for a while, so during your stay here, come and go as you like.”
It seemed Robin had arrived just in time to catch the last of the duels, as Calimacos sat down beside him.
He meant to watch Mirian and Torgen’s spar.
Paul turned to leave, saying he would rest now.
“Paul, that last strike you used on the captain. How could it be that fast?”
Paul stopped walking.
He shrugged as if the question was out of nowhere.
“You mean the diagonal slash?”
“Yes. It wasn’t a normal attack.”
“What are you talking about? It was just an ordinary movement.”
“It was an ordinary movement, but the speed wasn’t ordinary.”
Calimacos’ right lip corner lifted as he listened from the side.
“Robin, you’ve got an eye for this. That brat Paul used to be called a prodigy once.”
“Once. Now I’m just a common low-grade mercenary.”
“You trained in swordsmanship properly, right? Teach me too.”
Paul glanced toward Calimacos sitting next to Robin.
Calimacos pretended not to notice and avoided his eyes.
Paul sighed before opening his mouth.
“It’s funny for me to say this, but the basics matter. Robin, do you want to learn the sword?”
Robin nodded fervently, his eyes shining.
“I didn’t give you those bracers for no reason. You lack the strength to wield a sword. Torgen’s words might sound crude, but wearing bracers on both arms will help strengthen your muscles.”
“Paul! I can hear you!”
Blocking Mirian’s sword, Torgen shouted.
“Don’t be tempted by getting strong quickly. Walk the proper path.”
“Krrr, as expected, Teacher Paul! Every word you say is right!”
Calimacos clapped mockingly.
Paul glared at him with disapproval, then went inside the lodging.
‘What I lack is strength. Building muscle comes first.’
Robin immediately took two bracers from the lodging and put them on both arms.
Just that made it hard for him to move his arms freely.
Sreung.
When he picked up a longsword on top of that, his arms trembled violently.
“Robin? You don’t have to push yourself that hard. You’re shaking like Torgen practicing a confession to Mirian.”
“What?”
“Gyaaaaaah!! Captain!!”
With a scream, Torgen shoved Mirian away and ran toward them.
His face reddened as he grabbed Calimacos by the collar and shook him.
“W-what are you saying! Captain, don’t spread nonsense!”
“Didn’t you practice alone in front of the sheep pasture earlier today?”
“H-how did you— No, no, this is slander! Slander!”
His voice was so loud that the neighboring residents opened their doors to watch.
Brandok and Felix bowed their heads, apologizing to calm the villagers.
Robin put some distance between himself and Torgen, who had caused an unexpected nighttime commotion.
‘Basics. Let’s stick to the basics.’
His arms trembled pitifully, but Robin continued swinging his sword.
The next morning, after breakfast, the mercenaries scattered in all directions.
Felix had recovered enough to walk on his own.
As he had mentioned the day before, Robin visited Bellif’s apothecary.
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
“Hello, Bellif.”
“Good morning, Robin. But what’s that on your arms?”
As Paul advised, Robin wore bracers on both arms wherever he went.
Seeing that, Bellif wondered if a monster had appeared outside.
“I’m weak, so… this helps improve my strength.”
“I-I see. Well, come in first.”
He looked at Robin as though he were some oddball, but Robin didn’t mind.
To grow stronger, this much was nothing.
“Since you came so early, I assume you want to learn herbology?”
“Yes. Please teach me.”
“You can read, so I’ll lend you a book I organized myself. I wrote it following the categories in the herb drawers, so it’ll be easy to follow.”
Bellif took a thick book from the bookshelf and handed it to Robin.
On the cover, it said ‘Herb Compilation’.
When he opened the first page, he found detailed explanations far more thorough than the short notes written on the medicine jars.
The names of the herbs, their appearance, the season they grew best, their natural habitats, their effects.
There was a reason the book was so thick.
“If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask anytime. I’ll be here most of the day organizing herbs.”
“Thank you, Bellif.”
Robin stretched out both arms and lifted the thick book to read.
The posture strained his arms, but he had no choice if he wanted to build strength.
—If you feel a throbbing pain the next day after overworking your muscles, that means you’re doing it right.
Just as Torgen had advised, there wasn’t a single part of Robin’s body that didn’t ache.
‘It hurts, but feels strangely good.’
His body screamed, but knowing it was a sign he was doing well made the pain bearable.
Thirty minutes passed as he held the book with trembling arms.
He set it down to rest for a moment.
‘Pellipriel, Andalus, Myuronicpa. Useful herbs to remember.’
After reviewing the book’s contents, he lifted the book again after a ten-minute break.
It bordered on self-torture, but Robin wasn’t aware of it.
He simply felt grateful that he could acquire knowledge.
From noon until evening, Robin read the book.
Bellif prepared his meal times for him.
“In your growing years, you must eat a lot to grow well.”
Even while eating, Robin didn’t take his eyes off the book.
By the time the sky darkened, he had read about half of it.
When he closed the book, something he wanted to check came to mind.
‘If I’m right, Butterhills might be an undiscovered treasure trove.’
“Amazing, reading half this amount already.”
“It’s thanks to you, Bellif. Aren’t you going herb gathering today?”
“I plan to go tomorrow afternoon. I’ll leave the apothecary open, so don’t worry.”
“May I go with you too?”
“Mm-hmm. Gathering herbs outside is more dangerous work than you think.”
“It’s fine. I’ve even fought goblins before.”
Bellif thought for a moment, then added a condition.
“If you get Calimacos’ permission, you may come with me.”
Robin couldn’t refuse that much.
Calimacos had already told him he was free to move around, so it wasn’t a difficult condition.
“Then, see you tomorrow.”
Robin’s steps were light as he returned to the lodging.
“No.”
“What? Why?”
“Outside the village is beyond our area of influence. If something happens, we can’t respond.”
Calimacos’ answer was unexpected.
‘This isn’t good.’
“I-I’m stronger than before.”
“Bragging about exercising for just a few days?”
“Look. I can even lift a longsword.”
Robin lifted it still in its sheath.
Without the bracers on, the longsword felt lighter than before.
“What use is lifting it? You can’t even swing it properly.”
“But I can swing a dagger with one hand now.”
He took out the dagger Brandok had used when attacking him and swung it lightly.
Unlike the longsword’s slashes, he demonstrated quick thrusts and retreats.
“That’s the dagger technique used by Stonegoth punks. How do you know it?”
“I just copied it.”
Robin remembered the dagger skills that Bishak and Timmy had used.
When he and Jeremy were kidnapped, he had vowed to repay them with the same technique.
‘Though that’s something I can’t accomplish anymore.’
Dazzle the opponent with flashy technique, then land a decisive blow.
Even if it was created by third-rate thugs, it was a technique usable in real combat.
Calimacos’ brows tightened.
“You watched… and copied it.”
—Do not reveal your talents carelessly.
Brandok’s advice flashed through Robin’s mind.
“In truth, I grew up in Timmy Orphanage and learned dagger work there. It’s not a skill to be proud of, but the technique itself isn’t wrong.”
Calimacos’ mouth curled slightly.
Robin couldn’t tell what that satisfied-looking smile meant.
“With that cheap dagger technique, you can’t deal with multiple opponents. Punks stick together for a reason.”
“But I’ve even killed monsters.”
“At most, goblins. Don’t get cocky.”
Their back-and-forth drew the mercenaries in.
The mercenaries’ reactions to Robin’s words were divided.
“Our cutie, what if he gets hurt outside?”
“Boys grow up by poking around everywhere. The back mountain’s no big deal.”
Mirian worried for Robin, while Torgen dismissed it lightly.
Paul crossed his arms and looked down at Robin.
“Our goal is to protect Robin. If he really wants to go outside, one of us can accompany him.”
“Who wants to go with Robin?”
Calimacos looked around at the mercenaries, but no one stepped forward.
‘Colder than I expected.’
Calimacos and Paul were busy even during the day with resupplying, handling loot, and planning their next route.
Mirian had been dragged around by village youths wanting to show her their local specialties.
Torgen was helping repair fences because wolves had been invading the sheep pasture.
Brandok rarely left the lodging, and Felix still needed rest.
‘Wait. Mirian is basically just playing around.’
When Robin looked at Mirian, she made an awkward face.
“Sorry, Robin. I want to help, but I’m supposed to learn how to make butter tomorrow.”
“And the day after?”
“The day after I’m supposed to watch the cheese fermentation process…”
“And the next day?”
“I’m supposed to make Butterhills’ famous honey-butter-loaded toast…”
Each time Mirian added another excuse, Torgen’s expression stiffened.
Even she seemed baffled by her own words and fidgeted with her fingers.
“Then Robin’s little expedition outside the village will be postponed.”
Just as Robin felt discouraged at Calimacos’ declaration, Brandok spoke.
“I disagree. Robin can defend himself.”
“I know that too. He’s not normal. Kids like him are the ones who usually rush ahead and get themselves killed.”
“The Robin I’ve seen isn’t that foolish.”
As Brandok persisted, Calimacos’ right eyebrow twitched.
“Our mission is escort, but only up to Baron Tefir’s territory.”
“You know well.”
“Robin saved Felix and me when we were in danger. Wouldn’t it be right to return the favor by giving him an opportunity to grow?”
Robin’s eyes widened at the sudden defense from Brandok.
‘Is he talking about the Goblin King incident? Though it’s not like they would’ve lost without me.’
“How about this: if Robin can face Felix, you give permission.”
“What? Why am I suddenly involved? I’m a patient, Brandok.”
Brandok bent down, picked up a stone from the ground, and threw it at Felix.
It flew fast—far too fast for something thrown at a patient.
The surprising part was Felix dodging it instantly by arching his back.
Felix’s expression turned to shock at his own reflexive reaction.
“Felix, are you fully healed?”
“Captain, this is… um…”
“Look at this rascal. Were you faking it all along?”
“No! I wasn’t! I recovered because Brandok took good care of me.”
Felix looked at Brandok with eyes full of gratitude and resentment.
“Felix still needs more rest. Which makes it all the more doable, doesn’t it?”
Brandok looked between Felix and Robin.
“You want this little kid to fight Felix?”
“A sly Felix and a Robin who wears bracers to get stronger… sounds entertaining.”
Paul spoke with interest, glancing at Calimacos.
Calimacos gave an awkward smile at Paul’s reaction.
“Robin, will you do it?”
“Yes.”
Robin didn’t hesitate for even a moment.
He lifted his dagger and aimed it at Felix.
Calimacos clicked his tongue but didn’t stop him.
“Robin! You brat! How could you do this to me!”
“Sorry, Felix. There’s something outside I really need to check.”
“Felix, take up a weapon.”
At Calimacos’ order, Felix grumbled and looked around.
“Use this.”
Brandok brought a quarterstaff from the lodging.
It was the wooden staff used by the previous resident.
“Oh, come on. Asking a patient to hit a kid—has everyone here lost their minds?”
Felix tapped his lower back and used the staff like a cane.
“We will now begin the duel between the two. Both parties will accept the result, and if they do not comply, they will lose the trust of the notary. The notary is the entire Calimacos Mercenary Company present here.”
“Brandok, that’s too much!”
Standing between Robin and Felix, Brandok spoke at length—something rare.
Finding the whole situation amusing, the mercenaries formed a circle and watched with great interest.
‘Maybe Felix is the most normal one here.’
Robin loosened his wrists while waiting for Brandok to finish speaking.
“Begin.”
At Brandok’s declaration, Robin charged toward Felix.