The preparations for departure were complete. Everything necessary had been packed into the 〈Inventory〉, so there was little to carry aside from a small amount of money in a pouch and a few swords. Yuda picked up the coat made from Requiem’s leather from the bed and put it on. The weight of the fur gave it a substantial feel. Taking a deep breath, he looked around the room. This house had been his home for nearly eight years. But now, it was time to leave. When the appointed time with Jeanne arrived, Yuda came down from the second floor.
"Got everything packed?"
On the first floor, Tia was waiting, looking up with a smile. Yuda nodded and came down the stairs. Behind her, there was a pile of what looked like containers of side dishes, apparently prepared in advance. She had been cooking nonstop since morning, and he had wondered why she was making so much and now he realized it was side dishes.
"I prepared some food for you to eat along the way. Since you have the subspace, carrying them shouldn’t be a problem, right?"
"Thanks, Tia. You must be exhausted from preparing so much."
"It’s for my beloved student, so it’s nothing. It wasn’t hard at all."
Despite her words, exhaustion was evident on her face. It was understandable. When he told her yesterday that he was leaving, she was flustered, saying it was too sudden. Talking and spending time together, the hours passed quickly. She hugged him fiercely, and they made love once more. It was a truly intense and passionate night.
Yuda only managed to sleep at dawn, but she slept for just an hour or two before getting up before sunrise to prepare food. At breakfast, he was shocked to see the table laden with so many side dishes it seemed it might collapse. They were abundant and delicious. Yuda carefully stored all the containers she handed him in the 〈Inventory〉.
"I’ll eat them all."
"Eat them sparingly. Don’t share with anyone else, just eat them yourself. Got it?"
Yuda let out a small chuckle at her words.
"Yes, I’ll eat them myself. You’re coming with me, right?"
"Of course. I’ll go with you to the north gate."
Tia walked with Yuda to the shoe rack and put on her shoes. She tied the laces tightly, securing them to her legs, and stood up. Before opening the door, she grabbed his wrist from behind and pulled him into her embrace. The soft feel of her chest and her warm body temperature enveloped him. In that comforting moment, Yuda closed his eyes and hugged her back.
"Come back safely. Don’t forget your promise to return."
"Don’t worry, Tia. I told you, this is the only place I’ll return to."
"…Right."
Tia gave a bittersweet smile, gently pushed him away, and lightly kissed his lips before pressing her lips firmly to his forehead. With her eyes closed, she held the kiss as if blessing him. Yuda didn’t rush her. Feeling her affection, he waited until she was ready to let go.
"Let’s go."
After a while, she finally pulled her lips away, spoke, and opened the door. At that moment, Jeanne was seen approaching from a distance. As they stepped outside, she ran toward them. She was wearing the same coat as Yuda. Tia let out a small sigh and held Yuda’s hand.
"Sorry, I must be late."
"No, you’re not late yet, so don’t worry. Have you prepared everything?"
"Yes, I’ve bought the necessary items and packed them in my backpack."
Jeanne turned to show the backpack on her back, which looked quite heavy. Yuda considered offering to store it in the 〈Inventory〉 but decided to suggest it later, thinking it might contain personal items. They headed to the north gate together. The gate was open, and the guards were diligently recording the identities of those entering and leaving.
Unlike the west and east gates, which allowed free passage, this was entirely different. That was because the north gate was the only route out of Serenia Castle to other countries. Passing through here led to either the 〈Land of Pleasure, Urun〉 or the 〈Land of Knights, Philoria〉.
People’s gazes were naturally attracted to Yuda. It was only natural, as he was a hero of the castle, and a statue was planned to be built at the east gate. The murmurs grew loud and noisy.
"Please take good care of Yuda."
"Don’t worry, Zentia. I’ll make sure to protect him."
Jeanne looked at Tia with sparkling eyes, urging her to trust her. Seeing her dependable demeanor, Tia gave a small smile and shook her hand. Finally, she pulled Yuda into a hug to say goodbye.
"Then, come back safely, Yuda."
A moment later, she stepped back from Yuda, smiling brightly and waving, but her drooping tail and ears clearly showed her sadness. Despite the onlookers, Yuda approached her without hesitation, stood on his tiptoes, and kissed her lips. The sound of the kiss was distinct, and her eyes widened in surprise. It was a brief kiss, but since they had never done so in public, she seemed quite shocked. Sounds of “Oh” came from the crowd around them.
"I’ll be back. Stay healthy, Tia."
"……."
She touched her lips, unable to speak. Instead, her previously drooping tail and ears perked up sharply. Yuda waved goodbye and headed to the north gate’s checkpoint. From behind, he heard her shout, “Come back safely, Yuda!” He turned away quickly, feeling tears might spill if he kept looking. There were people entering, but hardly anyone leaving, so his turn came quickly.
"Hey, Yuda- you’ve got some skills, huh?"
The guard greeted him familiarly. On closer inspection, it was the soldier who had advised him to use thrusting attacks instead of slashing during the black wolf ambush. What a small world, it had to be him working at this time. Yuda only smiled at the guard’s words without responding. The guard, seeing Yuda’s silence, shrugged and wrote his name on a paper filled with text.
"Yuda Arshe… and this is?"
"Jeanne Atruare."
"Jeanne Atruar…e. Okay, all recorded. Have a safe trip."
"? That’s it? There should be some more to fill out.”
He knew it wasn’t supposed to be this simple. The guard had only written their names. At Yuda’s question, he shrugged.
"The lord instructed us to let you pass without fuss. It’s been the order for a few days, so no need to find it strange."
Yuda nodded, understanding.
"Oh, well if the lord said so. That’s fine by me. Take care then.”
"Yeah, I don’t know where you’re headed, but safe travels. Stay healthy."
The guard gave a light wave and loudly shouted, “Pass!” Yuda passed through the north gate, much easier than expected. After passing, he looked around as if searching for something, then spotted a carriage by the castle wall and headed toward it. The distance from Serenia Castle to Philoria was considerably far, so traveling by carriage was far more convenient. The roads, paved with support from various countries, were ideal for carriages and were wide enough for several to travel side by side. Two healthy horses snorted as Yuda approached. The coachman, who seemed to have been dozing, opened his eyes, saw Yuda, let out an “Oh!” and hurriedly got down.
"Are you Yuda Arshe, sir?"
"Yes. Here’s my identification."
Yuda showed the bronze badge issued by the Adventurer’s Guild. Confirming the name engraved on it, the coachman gave a friendly smile and opened the carriage door himself.
"Please get in. I’ll take you safely to Philoria."
Jeanne and Yuda boarded the carriage, and with a “Hiyah!” it began to move. It wasn’t as nice as the lord’s carriage, but it wasn’t bad either. As the carriage jolted along, Yuda looked out the window, and Jeanne spoke to him.
"So we’re headed to Philoria."
"?"
Yuda briefly wondered if he hadn’t told her where they were going, but recalled that he had explained everything when recruiting her as a companion. It seemed like a casual remark to start a conversation.
"Yes. Nothing’s changed from what I told you before. At least not yet."
Philoria is a neutral country northeast of Serenia Castle. It’s as livable as Serenia, with honest officials, friendly people, and fertile land. It was like a true paradise. However, being such a desirable place, it frequently faced invasions. Yet, known as the 〈Land of Knights〉, Philoria had skilled knights who easily repelled all invaders.
"Hmm. If we’re going to Philoria at this time, are you planning to participate in the 〈Green Flag〉 tournament?"
The Green Flag is a martial arts tournament, a tradition and event held in Philoria. It’s a competition for novice knights and mercenaries, limited to those using close-combat weapons like swords and spears. Among the various Flag tournaments, 〈the Green Flag〉 is exclusively for those who have never participated before.
In the game, the tournament’s difficulty was manageable if you leveled up early, allowing you to win with minimal control. It was a must-do event, as the prize money was substantial. You could use it to equip your companions, but spending it would lead to failure. To obtain the second fragment, you couldn’t spend a single coin of the prize money. Thus, Yuda had planned to participate in the 〈Green Flag〉 to gather funds for the fragment, but after completing Chapelin Piercen’s 「Lord’s Request」 quest and earning a hefty sum, participation became unnecessary.
Moreover, the side income from hunting black wolves was considerable, so he was currently overflowing with funds. Winning the Flag tournament would also yield a magical Green Armor, a full plate armor, but Yuda didn’t need it now. Jeanne was already equipped with the Blue Lance Knight’s exclusive armor, so it would only be decorative. Yuda shook his head at Jeanne’s question and replied.
"No, we’re not participating. The Green Flag is held every four months, right?"
"Yes, that’s right."
"Since it’s July, there’s less than a month until the tournament. We don’t have anything to do in Philoria during that time. We’re not here for sightseeing. We’re just stopping by the capital, 〈Aslan〉, for a specific reason."
"A specific place? That’s a shame. I thought it would be a great opportunity."
Hearing they were going to Philoria, she seemed to have wanted to participate in the 〈Green Flag〉. Seeing her disappointment, Yuda decided to adjust the schedule later for her.
"It’s not possible now, but let’s participate in the Green Flag in December."
"Really!? You promise?"
"Yes, of course. But that’s for December. We have things to do now."
Jeanne nodded. Yuda was the leader, so she was willing to follow his schedule and plans. Since he promised to let her participate in the Flag tournament, she just had to wait for that day. Satisfied, she didn’t speak to Yuda further. It seemed she had only asked to confirm their participation in the Green Flag.
The carriage continued quietly along the road.
* * *
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#Setting 2. 「The Land of Knights - Philoria」
Philoria is a neutral country where knights who value martial prowess, honor, and faith are gathered. Its officials are honest, its people are kind, and its land is fertile, with no shortage of food or other vital resources. Being a desirable place to live, it naturally faced frequent invasions, but its exceptional martial strength and wisdom allowed it to repel enemies with minimal damage.
However, with the constant threat of invasion, Philoria’s knights and citizens never neglected their training and maintained a state of readiness. As peace continued, however, this tension faded, and complacency set in. The leadership realized a solution was needed to address this issue.
After much deliberation, they decided to hold martial arts tournaments in the capital, 〈Aslan〉, tailored to skill levels. This became a tradition in Philoria and a prestigious event for knights across the continent.
The martial arts tournament, called the 〈Flag Tournament〉, is divided into five categories.
First, the 〈Green Flag〉. A tournament for first-time participants.
Next is the 〈Blue Flag〉, open to those who have participated in the Green Flag at least once.
Winners of the Green and Blue Flags can participate in the 〈Red Flag〉, and exceptionally, those with widely recognized fame can skip the Blue Flag and enter the Red Flag directly, provided their reputation is undeniable. Red Flag winners can participate in the 〈Black Flag〉. All Flag tournaments are conducted in a tournament format. The Green Flag is held every four months, the Blue Flag every six months, the Red Flag every year, and the Black Flag every two years. The rewards for each tournament are significant, but the Black Flag offers a special reward. As most winners are Spirit Sword Bearers, the reward is naturally exceptional.
That reward is the 〈Medal of Glory〉. Those who possess this medal are eligible to participate in the 〈Golden Flag〉, held every eight years. The Golden Flag ranks participants by their victories, often becoming a matter of national pride. However, the participants themselves care little for these rankings.
Spirit Sword Bearers are satisfied with the chance to purely test their strength against peers or superiors. Non-Spirit Sword Bearers are content with the opportunity to learn from Spirit Sword Bearers.
Thus, those who hold the Medal of Glory never fail to visit Philoria’s capital, Aslan on the day the Golden Flag is held. During this time, no wars break out on the continent, and nations at war enter a truce for the duration of the tournament.
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