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“Is this one okay to keep?”

I couldn’t decide, so I held the trout up for Georg. He looked at the shape and color of the trout’s back and belly before nodding. I breathed a sigh of relief and placed my catch in the bucket of water. Georg glanced at my bucket and asked.

“You already go two fishes. Not bad for a first-timer.”

“Honestly, I think you could have done better by yourself.”

Georg let out a low chuckle and leisurely cast his rod again. His big bucket was full of trout. Some pretty big ones, too.

“We won’t be able to eat them all, so I will pick a few and release the rest. From now on, we’re just having fun, so go catch a few more.”

Georg said lazily as he put his rod back on the rack. Georg and I were on a fishing trip. It was a crude camping trip, a two-night stay, but we were excited and packed up everything. We rented a wagon, bought a tent and tools, and even hired two people to drive the carriage and care for our equipment.

“I had no idea this place existed. How did you find out about it?”

I asked, and Georg shrugged coyly.

“Well, it’s a spot passed down through the generations to the Knights of the Ashen Bear. A forest road on the way to the North. Monsters are rare, so between us, it’s a good place to camp like this.”

I nodded, baiting the hook. Georg watched the rod sway slightly but left it alone. Winter was a quiet season. Not a sound of running water, not a bird chirping. I followed Georg, casting off my rod and sitting on my stool.

“Fishing is a way to relax. You don’t do it to catch fish.”

As I stared blankly at the rod, Georg spoke up. I frowned and looked back at him, wondering what he was talking about after catching so many fish. He was staring out over the riverbank with a relaxed expression.

“It’s for the process; casting the line and waiting until the fish is caught. Though it’s up to the person to decide what kind of waiting they enjoy. You can admire the scenery like I do or enjoy the silence.”

He sounded like a true fisherman. Georg rested his arms on his knees and lifted his head to look at the sky again. The sky had opened up a bit today instead of the usual downpour of snow. The sun shone bright, casting a warm glow. Of course, it was still freezing cold.

“Of course, there is also hand fishing and those who wrestle with those giant fish in the sea, but that’s now the realm of struggle.”

I snapped back at Georg and shifted my position slightly to make myself more comfortable. The leaves crunch at my feet.

“But I know one thing; the more urgent you are, the less fish you catch. Anyone who fishes know that.”

Georg sipped from his cup. He then offered me one, which I accepted and sipped, unable to resist.

“You should learn to enjoy waiting.”

I set the glass on the floor and looked up at the sky. An eagle was flying overhead, circling the sky. I followed the eagle’s course with my eyes. I watched it pass by, taking turns sipping my drink with Georg.

“…Do you have any more?”

“Is that even a question?”

Georg chuckled and held up a leather cask full of liquor. He took it, poured himself a drink, and set it back down. Then he poured into another glass he’d pulled out of nowhere and set it down beside me. I frowned at the cups. Beside me, Georg was still snorting and laughing.

Just then, the fishing pole I’d cast rattled. I set down my glass, grabbed the rod, and heaved it up. But I was too quick to reel it, and the rod snapped. I stared at the rod in disbelief and smirked. Georg looked at the broken rod and chuckled again.

“…But look at it. I got him.”

I shrugged and pointed to the bottom of the ice. Next to the ice pit was a large trout I had pulled up with the rod. Georg laughed with me in disbelief.

“You’re still in a hurry.”

“But I still got it.”

We stared at the trout lying on the ice and muttered to ourselves.

“I think we have enough for dinner.”

“Probably.”

Georg picked up the large trout and dropped it into my bucket. Then he picked up another branch, untied my line, and made me a new rod.

“Let’s keep going.”

I chuckled, still looking at my crude rod. I tossed the line back into the ice hole and leaned back.

The sun had set entirely. The trout tasted better than I expected, and the winter night wasn’t as cold as I thought. A twig snapped and crackled in the fire. The sky was clear, and the stars were clear.

“It reminds me of when we were up North.”

“Yeah, we should go show our faces at Evernode soon.”

I said, recalling their faces one by one.

“We must take our time to clear our heads. We don’t know when the Sixth Disaster will appear, so let’s rest while we can. I thought I should stop you before you pushed yourself further. You say you want to protect, but what good is a Hero who fell asleep mid-battle.”

Sparks from the campfire flew like stars. I wasn’t going to push myself that hard. The Sixth Disaster still hadn’t appeared, so I could only wait.

“I can see what you’re thinking, Elroy.”

“…You’re the one who brought it up.”

I said tersely and stretched my legs. I didn’t use magic today, nor draw on my mana. I sat still and waited for drowsiness to wash over me.

“Let’s go often. Fishing today was fun.”

I mimed casting a fishing rod. Georg nodded and laughed.

“Yeah. When we’re done, I’ll take you on a fishing tour across the continent.”

It was the third day of my supposed two-day vacation, and if I could put off my anxiety for another day, I would. I watched Georg shuffle into his tent with a grunt. I remained at the fire after he entered. Soon, the sound of Georg snoring pierced the quiet night.

“You’re not going to speak again, are you?”

I asked, looking at the Holy Sword at my waist. She still hadn’t spoken, and it felt so empty not to hear her voice. I wanted to listen to her congratulate me after defeating the Disaster. Hell, I’ll be happy if she nagged me for taking so long to beat it.

“…Are you saying I can do just fine without you?”

I wanted to tell her no, that I still needed her words. I placed the Holy Sword on my lap and took out the oil and rags I had brought. The blade of the Holy Sword glinted in the flames of the campfire as it emerged from its sheath.

“I feel like I know so little about you.”

‘I don’t know what you are; you are far different from the original. You’re supposed to be a Holy Sword from a time long before me.’ I anointed the rag with oil and slowly wiped the blade clean. The Holy Sword that had slashed countless monsters and sliced through Disasters since it began traveling with me was no different than when I first encountered it. It hadn’t even been scratched and shone as brilliantly as ever.

“…I’m sorry for complaining.”

I apologized and continued cleaning the blade. I wipe the blade down with a rag. Strangely, the rag I use always stays clean. ‘I wonder if she still enjoys me cleaning her?’ I know the Holy Sword wouldn’t stop talking to me for no reason.

“So tell me someday.”

With that, I retired to my tent. It was the first time in months I dozed off naturally.

***

“Did you have fun’?”

I returned to the headquarters and was greeted by Daphne, who had somehow found herself at the dining table. Behind her was Marianne, wearing an apron. The base had been taken over by these two while I was gone. I smirked and turned to Daphne, a tiny puppy in her arms.

“What are you doing here?”

I asked, scratching the puppy’s head as it licked my finger.

“I came to talk. I thought Marianne would be bored if she had to be alone.”

“I’ll put the equipment in the headquarters warehouse, Elroy.”

Meanwhile, Georg was diligently packing up the gear from the camping trip. Daphne looked bored as she watched the equipment being carried away.

“You’ve only been gone for a few days, so why did you bring everything but a bathroom?”

“…I bought it all. I can’t help it.”

I lamely excused myself. Daphne was dressed like she’d be at home in comfortable clothes. Come to think of it, she even brought her dog.

“I’m staying here for the holidays.”

Daphne said. My eyes widened, and I turned toward Marianne, wondering what was happening.

“She just came by and asked for a room, so I gave her one.”

“I asked because I thought it would be better for us to be together.”

Even Marianne was supporting her. I threw my hands up in the air in confusion. Daphne, seeing my expression, opened her mouth cautiously.

“So I can’t…?”

Ugh. I met those violet eyes and shuddered. Marianne joined in, her eyes glowing for some reason.

“No… Stay as long as you want.”

Daphne’s face lit up, and the puppy joined in, grinning broadly and sticking its tongue out at me, matching her owner’s mood. I closed the door behind her, and Daphne smiled as she set the puppy on the floor.

“Oh, and there was a letter from the palace this morning. I thought you might want to check it out?”

Daphne said nonchalantly and handed me a letter bearing the royal seal.

“…Thank you.”

Daphne grinned like a fox and turned around. I opened the letter from the royal palace, feeling like I’d gotten my ass handed to me.

『To Elroy the Warrior

I have come up with a way to make you stronger.』