Episode 26: In the Season of New Buds
Spring is ending, and it’s gradually getting warmer.
If this were Earth, it’d be around April or May, I guess.
However, unlike Japan, it’s a dry, European climate, so even though it’s getting warmer, it doesn’t really feel like it.
Still, animals and plants seem to have sharper senses than humans, as they’re waking up from hibernation and sprouting new buds, full of energy.
That’s just wonderful.
On such a warm yet cool, pleasant day, I am…
“Gueh-hah-hah-haaa!!! I’m coming at ya, Andrews!!!”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it…”
For some reason, I’m in the training grounds behind the Guild, having a pretty serious sparring match with Jacob, the leader of the Strider Clan, “The Fang of the Wolf Gang,” who’s a huge guy…
How did this happen?
Let’s rewind.
This morning, I woke up feeling great as usual, had breakfast with Tris, and headed to the Guild.
I wanted to enjoy the free hostess club again.
I was in the mood to meet and chat with cute girls and have some drinks for a while!
As usual, I brought a souvenir that doubled as a snack for drinks and opened the Guild door…
“Who’s that guy?”
“Is he a Strider too?”
“Tch, I don’t like him. He’s just got a pretty face!”
Ah, I see…?
That’s right, spring…
This year, spring was unexpectedly cold and delayed, but…
Normally, in spring, aspiring Strider brats gather from the villages around Midford…!
Aspiring Strider brats are nothing but troublesome and annoying.
They want to do this yakuza-like job, so they’re all rebellious…
“Hey, you!” “Think you’re hot stuff!” “Hey, you there!”
They don’t have enough skill to understand the difference in power, so they pick fights like this…
Ugh, annoying.
I’m going home today.
Thinking that, I turned around and…
“Good morning, Dru!” “Mm, good morning.”
Shio and Margot were there…
No, that’s not all.
The leader of the Strider Clan, “Blue Comet”…
“Katrina.”
“Call me Pascal-san!”
Even Katrina Pascal, the former female Knight Commander, is here…!
“Kati, what’s up today? Did you come to see me?”
“…Want to get cut?”
“Okay, sorry. But really, what’s the matter? On a day with so many brats…”
“Hmph, you wouldn’t know because you avoid showing your face at the Guild during this time of year, disliking the trouble, would you? Every year at this time…”
“Hey! Old hag! Are you listening to me…”
Oops, a newbie brat who was trying to pick a fight with me butted in.
“What’s with this kid…? Get lost, I’m talking to Andrews right now.”
“Shut up! Don’t ignore me, you ugly old hag?!”
I punched him.
“Ah, gagagi…?”
“Hey, brat, Katrina is beautiful. Don’t insult her.”
“A-ah, hi…!”
Leaving the brat who ran away, I turned back to Katrina.
“Sigh… You really are something… You know, it’s normal for us high-ranking Striders to cooperate in training the newbies! Who punches them?!”
“Isn’t paying respect to a beautiful woman a matter of course for a man, even before being a Strider?”
Tris is a slave, and it’s almost like I’m forcing her to play house, but I respect her in her own way.
I’ve never openly disparaged her face or figure.
Especially Katrina.
Flowing blonde hair, well-defined features, a magnificent female Knight.
She’s one-eyed, but even that, even that scar, is wonderful.
There’s no way I could disparage this beauty.
“Ah, fine, I get it!… Honestly, why do you… like me so much, even though I’m so cold to you?”
“That’s because Katrina is a wonderful woman. Well, I’ll excuse myself here.”
Okay, I’ll try to escape since I flirted with her.
“…Katrina, this hand?”
But I was caught.
“Did you think I’d let you escape?”
“Well, wait a minute, Katrina. If it’s a date, let’s do it at night…”
“Then I want you to go on a date with this old man during the day!!!”
It’s William, the leader of the “Guiding Hawk,” grabbing me with a huge voice.
“I want you to hang out with me too! Huh?!”
Jacob, the leader of “The Fang of the Wolf Gang,” a huge man with a cleft chin, puts his hand on my shoulder while making a low voice.
Hmm.
“…Can I go home?”
““““No way.””””
Sigh…