The Villains I Taught Became Heroes

23 – Event – 5

“Huh? Miss. Didn’t you say you’d rest at home today?”

“Hahaha. Rather than resting, I thought it would be better to do something helpful at the upper levels! I can fight too, so I came out to patrol and lend a hand!”

How can she have such an optimistic attitude?

Applauding the proud Sowol, I stuck a compliment sticker on her forehead.

“Huh?!”

“The intention to help with household chores. I liked it.”

“Thank you!”

Quickly removing the compliment sticker and putting it in her notebook, I patted Sowol’s shoulder and turned my gaze to Laila.

She seemed a bit surprised by Sowol’s appearance, but her smiling face was still in an unsettled state.

“Well, shall we continue with the patrol? Sowol. But do you patrol alone?”

“Yes. It was a sudden decision, so I don’t have a partner.”

“I see. Hang in there.”

“Why?”

“Well, sending a disciple out on patrol alone. How can you even think of doing that?”

“Well, that’s true…”

“Oh! It’s you, sir!”

It was at that moment.

A lively voice was heard.

Turning in that direction, there stood En, with no freckles and not overly slim but with red hair.

Seeing her in armor, it didn’t seem like she was enjoying the festival; rather, she appeared to be patrolling alone.

“I heard you volunteered for patrol duty from the Eastern Summit. Were you also participating in the patrol, sir?”

“Yeah. How about you?”

“Oh. Originally, today was a day off, but since the knights of the territory also receive support from the Eastern Summit, I decided to join the patrol separately.”

Ah, splendid indeed.

Certainly, she couldn’t be anything but an inspiration to the knights. Nevertheless, patrolling alone. It worked out well.

I patted her on the shoulder and pushed her toward Sowol.

“Huh?”

“Since Sowol here also has to patrol alone, the two of you can go together.”

“Uh…”

“Well, it wouldn’t be bad!”

En’s animosity towards Sowol disappeared completely when Sowol fell during the race.

In that case, it shouldn’t be a big problem for the two of them to patrol together.

“Let’s meet later then. Laila, let’s go.”

“Yes! Miss! See you later!”

With her characteristic bright smile, Laila greeted Sowol. Now, where should I go?

“Oh! How about checking over there? What do you think?”

Laila pointed to a narrow alley. Maybe there’s some kind of festival going on there too?

“There are guys in places like that selling fake goods, luring people in with cheap prices, and then forcing them to buy at high prices, or even robbing them!”

“Oh, I see. That’s likely.”

Seems like she’s experienced in these matters more than I am. Anyway, if there’s a place like that, we can’t avoid patrolling.

“After patrolling that area, let’s have lunch. What do you say?”

“Hehe! Sure!”

It was a good choice to patrol in the direction of the alley.

As soon as we entered, we saw a swindler from a foreign land selling strange items at exorbitant prices.

Twice, they caught those thugs attempting to coerce travelers into buying goods with their chunky, imposing presence.

“Is that typical?”

“Well, when you travel as much as I do, you see a lot of this kind of thing here and there.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. True merchants should know how to sell legitimate goods at proper prices. Such individuals aren’t merchants in any sense.”

The young lad, wrists bound, wore an awkward smile as he was being dragged along.

Laila, casting a disapproving glance at him, sighed quietly.

“Merchants often receive undue blame from others. Especially the grand traders from the Far East.”

“Is that right?”

“That’s because of individuals like them. They’d do anything for profit, that’s the perception.”

“Not entirely wrong, one could argue.”

“It’s different in the East. Even merchants pursuing wealth must understand righteousness and principles. Our Eastern traders, settled in the Orient, haven’t forsaken those values.”

It was a statement brimming with considerable pride.

Having spoken, Laila appeared pleased, sporting a satisfied smile.

“Them?”

“Yes. They were conducting fraudulent dealings in the alley.”

“I see. Hey, take them all away!”

We handed over the individuals we caught in the alley to the nearby soldiers.

That wraps up the morning patrol.

Glancing at the time, it’s slowly approaching lunchtime.

“Let’s go grab some food…”

“Oh my! What a coincidence!”

Wait?! That voice?!

I turned around and spotted Sowol and Anne standing there.

They seemed out of breath, as if they had patrolled diligently.

“Have you finished the morning patrol?!”

“Oh. Are you done too?”

“Yes! We’ve also completed the patrol! There’s so much going on! Seems like the festival attracted all sorts of riffraff!”

Listening to Sowol’s confident words, Anne nodded. Looks like they had a tough time too.

“Well done. We’re going to eat, care to join?”

“Are you talking about lunch? I don’t particularly mind, but if the master recommends it to that extent, I can’t refuse!”

I didn’t really recommend it to that extent.

But, well, whatever.

Looking at Laila, she seemed indifferent.

After all, sharing a meal with others is the best way to enjoy it.

“Let’s go. I’ll buy lunch.”

I received my salary from Sojung yesterday, after all.

Is it because it’s a bit early for lunch?

The restaurant had quite a few empty tables.

Since there was enough space for the four of us to sit comfortably, we took our seats leisurely.

“What do you want to eat? I’ll have the set meal. The set meal here is delicious. Have the set meal.”

“What comes with the set meal?”

“Steak, bread, and omelette. They also give you a drink.”

“Oh, then I’ll have that too.”

Sowol, who also liked meat like me, smiled and ordered the set meal. And Ann did the same.

When Laila, smiling, was about to nod, Sowol, looking puzzled, said,

“Laila, you don’t like meat, right?”

“Huh? Is there someone who doesn’t like meat?”

“Yes. Laila prefers things like bread or vegetables over meat.”

Then why did she try to order the set meal?

As I observed, Laila scratched her cheek.

“Haha… Since you’re treating, it’s a bit awkward for me to say, so…”

“But you don’t have to eat something you don’t like. Master. Laila can order something else, right?”

“Of course.”

After saying that, Laila ordered what she wanted. It was a salad, soup, bread, and jam.

“Hmm…”

After placing our orders, Sowol, Laila, and Ann started chatting energetically.

Watching them closely, I rested my chin on my hands on the table and said,

“Laila, aren’t you enduring too much?”

“Yes?”

“Of course, this is the seat of your master, the esteemed knight of the territory, and myself, the noble in charge. But it’s not a place that demands formality. However, it seems like you’re holding back from saying something…”

“…Ahaha.”

“Laila always does that.”

Seeing So Wol nodding in agreement confirms what I observed.

“In my opinion, you seem to hold back too much. To uphold principles and righteousness is like enduring one’s desires. Of course, it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but people move according to their desires. Therefore, it’s good to let out your desires occasionally.”

“Um… Is that really okay?”

“Of course. Moderation is key. Moderation.”

After lunch, there was nothing special.

From Noble mtl dot com

I patrolled just like in the morning.

Although I coincidentally ran into So Wol several times during the patrol, it didn’t seem like anything significant to pay attention to.

As the patrol duties were coming to an end, it was around the time for the day’s work to conclude.

“Master.”

“What is it?”

“During this festival period, am I your dance partner?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, um… after the patrol ends, could you be my dance partner at the campfire tonight?”

Campfire?

Is that a thing too?

Checking the schedule, it was indeed there.

They really do everything.

“You can go with So Wol.”

“Miss, this evening, you’re going to the castle with the lord of the territory.”

Ah, right. Come to think of it, that’s true.

I remember So Wol mentioning it with a gloomy expression when we coincidentally met for the sixth time.

“Well, it’s not that difficult. Wouldn’t it be better to choose someone else as your partner?”

“Ahaha. There’s no one willing to be a partner with a lowly servant like me.”

“A lowly servant, you say. You’re pretty enough. Hm… But wouldn’t it be more of a mockery if someone like me, an old man, became your partner?”

Of course, even though I’m in my mid-twenties, like So Wol, to Laila, I might be perceived as an old man just as she first referred to So Wol as an “ajusshi.”

For this dance partner, someone of the same age might be more suitable, I thought.

“If this master becomes my partner, it would be an honor.”

“Oh, really? Well then, I won’t be too formal either. A promise is a promise.”

“Hehe. Thank you. Oh, and there’s one more thing I want to mention.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know how to dance.”

Seriously?

Asking to be a partner when you don’t even know how to dance?

I admired Laila’s boldness.

Such determination.

You’re going places.

“But why did you suggest dancing?”

“I just wanted to try it once. You told me not to hold back, didn’t you?”

As Laila spoke, her face was filled with a laughter that suited her age.