Chapter 345 Alicia (End)
Clack clack—.
The wagon wheels rolled on.
The rhythmic sound of hooves blended in, creating a unique melody.
The sunlight poured down with a pleasant intensity, and the green sprouts seemed to dance in the breeze, welcoming the unfamiliar traveler.
A picturesque rural road, like a canvas painting.
A heavily laden wagon, full of sheepskin, moved forward with a single passenger aboard.
“It’s nice weather we haven’t seen in a while. Isn’t that right, you lovely lady?”
The talkative coachman asked.
As someone who shuttled between the city and countryside buying and selling goods, he often picked up fellow travelers at low prices, but today he happened to find a companion early in the morning.
The woman, taking in her surroundings, smiled gently as she replied.
“Yes, the sunlight is pleasantly warm, the breeze is cool, and the scent of flowers floats in the air. It’s a beautiful day.”
“Isn’t it? The weather around here has been quite terrible lately, but the clouds have cleared for the first time in forever. In that sense, you’re quite lucky, miss. You get to ride in this fine wagon on such a lovely day.”
The coachman playfully boasted about his wagon.
The woman nodded, inspecting the wagon slowly as if keeping pace with the coachman’s banter.
“It’s a sturdy and fine wagon. The evidence of careful repairs adds a charm of its own, showing it’s been on many journeys.”
“Aha! The keen eyes of a young lady! It’s nice that you admire my number one treasure; now I’m feeling good too.”
Flattered by the woman’s compliment, the coachman became even more animated.
As if he needed any encouragement, he continued excitedly.
“By the way, miss, are you from one of those famed Swordsman Noble Houses?”
“Noble?”
“Oh, it’s not in any other sense. I’ve traveled all over the world, and I’ve never seen anyone as beautiful as you. But, strangely, there’s this… unique power about you that feels quite extraordinary. That sword you have….”
The coachman glanced sideways at the sword the woman had placed nearby.
It was a massive black sword that looked anything but ordinary.
Way too serious of a weapon for just a noble lady’s self-defense.
“If there’s a story behind it, I apologize. I have a hard time holding back my curiosity.”
“Oh, no, it’s alright. Riding in such a wonderful wagon, it’s only natural we should chat. I enjoy talking too. Feel free to ask me anything.”
“Yeah, I love having conversations too! Ask me anything.”
“Hahaha! You sure are a noble! A learned person like you is different from simple folks like me. I guess nobles are taught to speak so nicely?”
At the coachman’s question, the woman humbly dismissed it.
“I’m not a noble. I’m from a farmer’s origin.”
“Aha! A young lady with such wit! What farmer would carry such an impressive sword?”
Bursting into laughter, the coachman mentioned someone he just thought of.
“Wait a minute… It seems that Lord Alicia was also from a farmer’s background.”
“……”
“With white hair… boasting extraordinary beauty… and wielding a large black sword…”
The coachman scrutinized the woman before him.
With skin so clear her age was hard to guess and bright eyes.
Her glossy, pure white hair, and the large black sword beside her.
Everything matched the hero who had just retired yesterday.
“Could it be… Lord Alicia…?”
“Ah… Yes, um… I had no intention of hiding it. Yes—”
“—No way! Hahaha! Sorry, miss. I just babbled without thinking. There’s no way the hero who had their retirement ceremony at headquarters yesterday would be out here!”
“……”
“The distance doesn’t make sense, and above all, the hero basking in everyone’s praise wouldn’t travel alone!”
“…Could it… be?”
“Of course! With my considerable experience in this field, I can tell just by looking at someone what they do and what they had for breakfast!”
The coachman, who had never actually seen Alicia’s face, assumed the woman was an aristocrat from a renowned swordsman noble house who had come to this remote location without a servant for some reason.
The woman considered whether to clear the misunderstanding but decided it wasn’t necessary and let the conversation flow.
“Lord Alicia! Wow, what an amazing person. I’ve seen people insult their parents, but I’ve never seen anyone insult Lord Alicia. That just shows how pure and noble she is!”
“…Yes.”
“Rumor has it that she split an evil monster that loves to experiment in half with a single strike, and at that time, it was said heaven and earth split!”
“Excuse me? That… is somewhat exaggerated…”
“Exaggerated? They say she could even make a giant hole in a mountain with her bare hands! Didn’t she burn down that ridiculously huge devil tree with divine fire in just a few days?”
“That was actually over five months… Ah, never mind. Please continue.”
“Miss, what’s up with you? Could it be that you’re one of those people who are jealous of Lord Alicia?”
“J-jealous? No way. …I just meant to say that legends can always be inflated, so it might differ from the truth.”
“Hmm… What you’re saying isn’t wrong. It can happen, especially with martial matters. …But at least Lord Alicia’s fame isn’t exaggerated.”
The coachman said with a rather resolute tone.
In that moment, the coachman, who had only shown a friendly and playful attitude, revealed a solemnity.
“She’s a grateful figure who dedicated her life to slaying monsters. Thanks to her, countless lives were saved… And how many families were able to stay together… I know very well, having traveled the world with this wagon.”
“How many families were there that we could have kept together… I know very well, since I’ve traveled around the world in this wagon.”
“…”
“Everywhere we go, praises pour out, and there are plenty of people expressing their gratitude, saying he’s their lifesaver—truly, he’s a hero.”
The coachman, who was talking about the hero, revealed his wishes to his companions at the tavern.
“One of my lifelong wishes is to have him ride in this wagon… Well, it might seem shabby for a hero who saved the world, but still… someday… even if it’s by chance, I hope that day comes.”
Hearing the coachman’s heartfelt words, the woman pressed her lips together and smiled gently.
It was her unique expression that comforts anyone who sees it.
“This wagon is quite splendid. …If he rides in it someday, I’m sure he’ll love it.”
“Ah. Hearing that makes my nose tingle.”
The coachman roughly wiped his nose with the back of his hand.
Feeling that he had dampened the mood too much, he raised his voice and changed the subject.
“By the way, how long has it been since I had a swordsman on board? There was this romantic swordsman I once had who roamed the world with just one sword, and thanks to that swordsman, I survived a pack of wolves…”
The coachman continued his stories without stopping.
At each pause, the woman showed various reactions that fueled his enthusiasm.
After a while, they began to see the point where the two would part ways, and the coachman showed his regret.
“They say every meeting has a parting, but this time it feels especially short.”
“I got lost in conversation and didn’t notice the time passing. Thank you.”
“No need for thanks; I’m the luckier one to have talked with such a beauty. But… it’s a bit awkward mentioning this after coming all this way, but about the village you’re heading to… it’s wise to be cautious; it’s a strange place.”
“A strange place?”
The woman tilted her head in curiosity.
The coachman glanced around and lowered his voice.
“The village chief there is an old man who often travels to the city. Even though he’s well over seventy, he’s not just healthy; his whole body is muscular… Well, that’s one thing, but there are rumors that the village coexists with monsters. So, some people doubt whether that old man isn’t a monster himself.”
“…”
“Also, when passing through this area, there are times when you might forget the seasons, you know? Strange phenomena happen, like suddenly dropping temperatures as if winter just arrived.”
“…I see.”
“Hmm? Your reaction seems a bit lukewarm; did you already know?”
“No, not really. But hearing you say that puts my mind at ease.”
“What?”
The woman placed her hand over her heart and exhaled a trembling breath.
The coachman couldn’t quite understand the delicate smile on her face.
Monsters might appear, and strange phenomena could happen, yet she felt relieved—that wasn’t typical.
However, looking at her expression, he started to grasp it a little.
Yes, that’s definitely the face of a woman who yearns desperately for her precious person.
“So, it seems your precious person is waiting in that village.”
At the coachman’s guess, the emotion on the woman’s face deepened.
She had only mentioned that man briefly, yet her heart was pounding loudly.
The woman’s heart was pounding loudly.
“…Yes. He’s the one I have long… deeply loved.”
“A man who is loved so passionately by someone like you… Whoever he is, he must have saved a country in his past life.”
Just when the conversation was about to end, they arrived at the edge of the forest.
Clunk—.
The wagon stopped.
“Thank you for the ride. About the money…”
“Forget the money. Believe it or not, I’m a merchant who lives and dies for romance. I’ve already received my payment in your story.”
“But….”
“I said it’s fine. More importantly, I wish you luck on your reunion, miss.”
The coachman swiftly drove away.
The woman, standing at the edge of the forest, pondered what to do with the four coins she couldn’t hand over before finally putting them back in her pocket.
Instead of coins, she took out two glass jars filled with black smoke.
The black smoke inside the jars resembled the color of the large sword strapped to her back.
Zing—. Zing—.
The two jars resonated.
They hadn’t made such a noise while she traveled around headquarters or various places in the continent.
Zing— Zing—.
The tremors were unprecedented.
The intensely black smoke trapped in the jars seemed to struggle to escape.
Even moments ago, it wasn’t this intense, but now it vibrated as though it might burst.
Thump, thump.
The woman’s heartbeat quickened in sync.
The scene she had imagined countless times in her head was finally real, yet her fingertips were sweating and her eyes were already moistening.
“…….”
The woman focused intently on one spot.
A narrow path leading into the forest.
A gentle breeze blew through the woods along a path narrow enough for just a small wagon to squeeze through.
Just then, the large sword tied to her back slipped and fell to the ground.
The two glass jars she held also dropped, rolling across the ground.
“Young Master….”
In an instant, emotions flooded her face, and a man reflected in her tear-filled blue eyes, who hadn’t been there just moments before.
“……Young Master.”
The woman called out to him.
So lovingly, so pitifully.
“Young Master…!”
Leaving all her belongings behind, she dashed towards the man.
She threw herself into his arms, the man who had come to greet her.
Thus, she expressed the feelings she had cherished for so long. The man’s warmth, scent, and the sensation of his body enveloped hers completely.
The scent of fresh spring leaves and flowers filled the air.
As she repeated to herself that she would never let go again, she wept endlessly in his embrace.
“…What a crybaby.”
A smile broke on the man’s lips.
He had a lot to say, but for now, he wanted to hold her tight and feel all of her.
As he gently stroked her hair, he embraced her as if she were the most precious person in his world.
With one arm, he pulled her close, aware of the weight this delicate woman had carried.
“Well done coming back to me, Alicia.”
And thus, they reunited.
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