Fortunately, I didn’t feel nauseous. My chest was a bit tight, and the road was super bumpy compared to the asphalt roads I’ve experienced, but according to Jennifer’s words, it wasn’t too rough since it was a supply route.
Well, thinking back, I rode on much shakier carriages than this. Many of them didn’t even have suspensions like cars do. I don’t even remember wearing a seatbelt in there.
That said, unlike carriages where the side windows are mostly the only openings, the front passenger seat of the car had absolutely nothing blocking my view. The speed was about 80 km/h, but after a long time in a car with an unobstructed front view and without a seatbelt, I felt my knees getting weak.
Plus, in a world where cars are pretty rare, and traffic was extremely light in this countryside, the car drove remarkably smoothly.
With a refreshing feeling, yet strangely a bit scary, we drove along for about 40 minutes.
The place we arrived at was a base hidden in the forest.
“This isn’t a place where soldiers live. It’s a site guarded by hunters protecting the vast forests of Winterfield.”
As Jennifer parked the car in a suitable spot, she said.
“Though, considering their level of armament, they’re just like our soldiers, I guess.”
Jennifer glanced at me as she spoke.
“Is it a bit unsettling for you, Your Highness?”
“No, it’s not.”
I answered immediately.
After all, this was something the Emperor should be concerned about, and even if we stretched it a bit further, it was something Alice, who would become the next Empress, should be worried about.
The people of Winterfield were loyal among the dukes. This group of soldiers was formed to protect the territory’s forests when northern warlords invaded, not to grow more powerful with designs on the Emperor’s position.
“Lady!”
Opening the car door, Jennifer stepped out, and a burly hunter with a bushy beard immediately ran over.
He was wearing a thick fur hat. Was it called a ushanka? It looked like something a Soviet soldier from World War II might wear, complete with ear flaps.
Of course, the clothes the hunter wore weren’t military uniforms at all. A glimpse of a red checkered shirt peeking from underneath his fur coat and sturdy jeans gave him more of a lumberjack vibe than a hunter’s. Maybe the difference between the two wasn’t all that great. To keep from freezing to death in these mountains, he would have had to chop wood for fuel 365 days a year.
“Hey everyone, the lady has arrived!”
When the hunter shouted that, other men dressed similarly to him seemed to pour out of the wooden cabins scattered around as if they were made of popcorn. The faces of the people coming out of the cabins were all bushy with hair.
“How have you been?”
“Yes, of course!”
As the man politely removed his hat, the tangled hair underneath was revealed. It seemed he hadn’t had a haircut in ages, as it was growing wild all over.
Perhaps because of the cold or because he’d had a drink since noon, the hunter’s face flushed a bit.
“It’s been a really long time, Lady. But…”
The hunter’s gaze eventually landed on me a bit late. Naturally, the other men who had come out also directed their attention my way. Their eyes were full of curiosity. It made sense since a teenage girl had shown up in a place like this, and it seemed there were no other women around.
“She is the Crown Princess from the Imperial Capital.”
“Oh.”
At Jennifer’s words, the hunter’s face tightened slightly. Whether because he was nervous or had a not-so-great impression of the royal family, it looked like he was doubting if the soldiers accompanying me had come along too.
“Well, there’s no need to be too nervous. Right now, the title of Crown Princess is secondary to being a student. Since I’m here as your mentor too, I’m not expecting any special treatment from you guys.”
Even though I had come as a royal, I wasn’t thinking of getting treated any differently.
“I’m planning to climb the mountain. Can I borrow some hiking gear? The place I used to visit when I was little should still be around, right?”
…Had I ever stayed here?
Well, to meet the Sword Saint living on that mountain, it might have been better to stay here than in the center of Winterfield.
“That’s right. The clothes you used to wear should still be around.”
“Thanks.”
…Clothes?
“Come this way. I might have some hiking clothes I wore when I was little. It might be a bit tight in the chest, though.”
While Jennifer was joking, I followed her with a bit of hesitation.
*
…It certainly was madness to climb a mountain wearing a school uniform skirt that exposed my legs. Even if it was a path trodden by people, mountain trails are unbelievably bumpy. Furthermore, the peculiar chill of the mountains burrowed relentlessly into the gaps between my legs.
Since my thick pants felt insufficient in this situation, I shivered at the mere thought of how freezing it would have been if I just followed with thick stockings on.
In games, unless there’s something special, outfits don’t change, so it’s easy to overlook that.
…I wonder what would have happened if Jennifer had never spent her childhood here.
“…Phew.”
I let out a soft sigh. Although Jennifer would hear it, there was no helping it. Climbing the mountain was indeed hard work.
Honestly, I wanted to collapse and lay down on the ground, but I was holding myself back.
Thanks to the minimal exercise I had kept up with regularly, I wasn’t out of shape. Surprisingly, Jennifer climbed the mountain slowly, as if considering my situation, and the mountain path itself turned out to be much better than I had expected. Though it was not as flat as a village road and had strides of stones jutting out here and there, it seemed to be a path used by hunters.
Every time I stumbled or walked too inefficiently and expended too much energy, I would rewind time a little and try again, so at least I could minimize my physical exhaustion as much as I could think of.
“Well, even someone living in the mountains can’t be entirely self-sufficient for food.”
Seeing Jennifer say that made me think that at least if a path existed in the game, there must be a walkable path too.
However, it took us four hours to get here.
The sun was already setting. Maybe my friends were fervently searching for me right now.
…Well, I’d come back as soon as I finish my training, so it shouldn’t really matter.
Of course, that would be before I met Jennifer.
*
“Master—”
Jennifer barged into the Sword Saint’s house built on the edge of a cliff without permission and swiftly ducked to the side.
A small pot flew through the air at a terrifying speed and dropped down the cliff below.
“Oops.”
Though Jennifer made a sound like that, she didn’t really show any surprise on her face.
“What a foolish girl!”
And I wasn’t surprised either.
“What face do you show to come back here!?”
“With my face still intact, of course, Master.”
“Huh…”
As Jennifer boldly answered, a voice from inside the cabin sounded incredulous.
“Still, at least I can handle half of your sword techniques. So shouldn’t I at least be a decent apprentice?”
“…”
It seemed Jennifer’s words left the Sword Saint utterly speechless.
“I’ve come to introduce someone to my Master. Is it alright if we go in?”
“…Fine. Even if I tell you not to, you wouldn’t listen, would you?”
“You got that right.”
“You foolish girl.”
Hearing the same phrase he always uses, Jennifer glanced at me and nodded, then went ahead into the cabin first.
The cabin I followed her into was warmer than I thought.
From the outside, it looked shabby, but upon seeing the inside, it was evident it was a well-built log cabin. It seemed properly constructed with carefully stacked firewood, and not a single draft of wind was blowing through. The interior was adorned with various animal furs.
In fact, it felt more like a hunter’s house in the woods than that of a Sword Saint.
However, above the fireplace hung three swords that could easily be called ‘katana’ instead of the heads of animals. Each one was different lengths.
“Hmm.”
After seeing the Sword Saint looking at me with more interest than his own disciple who had gone in first, I finally thought, ‘Ah, so this is the Sword Saint.’
With his long, white beard and white hair tied back, he looked almost like a Japanese-style topknot. Yet, his ethnicity was definitely that of a typical Westerner. To be honest, just looking at his pupils, they were blue.
According to the lore, he traveled to the East in his youth and returned with the name of the Sword Saint.
“Is this the one?”
“Yes.”
“This brat?”
Hearing Jennifer’s words, the Sword Saint exploded in anger.
“What nonsense is this, bringing along a talentless brat!?”
“…”
Uh-oh.
I was found out on first sight.
Well, it was to be expected from a Sword Saint. In fact, both Lucas and the Emperor probably see me as a strange anomaly too.
“If you’re curious, why don’t you swing a sword or two and see?”
“What?”
Huh?
I couldn’t respond because I’d already shown these people far too much.
…Did I really mess up the character portrayals?
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