Jean, the Darkness

第4話 First travelling (3)

Part of the town was destroyed by bandits. Fortunately, Jahir's camels were safe. Despite the tense situation, somehow Jean slept very soundly. When Jahir returned, he couldn't help but smile when he saw Jean in Saman's arms.

He was a really cute kid, he thought. Amir and others are around Saman, taking a defensive stance.

"Teacher, Jean is sleeping."

"That's right."

"I thought of him as my younger brother, but..."

Saman saw Jean sleeping soundly and confessed his complicated feelings.

"Young brother..."

Jahir took a nearby cloth and wrapped it around Jean's body.

"...then what the problem is?"

Jahir asked, and then Saman shook his head.

"It's not a problem, but I feel like my younger brother is going to need a lot of attention..."

"Hahaha, sure he is."

Jahir laughed and nodded. It's still dark outside, so it's dangerous.

"Sleeping in the room is dangerous. If something happens, we won't be able to respond."

There is no guarantee that the enemy will not return. Jahir then looked around, grabbed his things, and started moving. He left his luggage in a corner of the inn.

"Let's all sleep there."

"Yes, Sir."

Jahir said, and Amir and the others moved accordingly. Sabadda moved the carpet and Saman laid Jan on it. No matter what, they thought he was just a normal kid.

"He was tired and slept well."

"I think so."

When Jahir said this, Saman nodded.

"I want a younger brother, too."

Sabadda said and Abu laughed.

“Isn’t it okay if he becomes everyone’s younger brother?”

"I agree."

Sabadda said, and Amir laughed and sat down next to Jean.

"His movements looked like he was used for a fight."

Jahir sat down and drank water from the water bottle that Sabadda held out to him.

“Do you think so, too, teacher?”

"Yeah."

Abu asked and Jahir nodded.

"All of a sudden, he jumped in, stepped right onto that box, and stabbed the eye of Sabadda's opponent."

Saman said and Sabadda nodded.

"...Without hesitation, he lunged forward and stabbed the enemy's eye, then grabbed the other enemy's head with his hand, put his weight on that hand, and decapitated the next enemy again. He moved... and slashed the opponent one after another... To be honest, I didn't understand what happened... until the teacher came... I'm sorry.''

Saman said, and then Jahir smiled.

"Really?"

Jahir closed his water bottle and handed it back to Sabadda.

"I'll hear about that later. For now, rest."

"Yes, Sir."

When Jahir said this, Amir and the others nodded, sat down, and closed their eyes. When they're in a ruthless situation, take a nap by sitting, closing their eyes, and resting. Although it won't make them completely sleep, it will help the body rest.

In the end, the enemy did not return until morning. The bodies in the room were taken out by the innkeepers, and the fire outside was extinguished by the townspeople, making for a tense morning. When Jahir wakes up, Jean is already awake, sitting on a pile of luggage and looking out the window.

"Good morning."

When Jahir said this, Amir and the others woke up all at once. Jean also said hello and got off the top of the luggage.

"When did Jean wake up?"

"I don't know."

Jean answered innocently and Jahir smiled.

A child who doesn't even sound when waking up. In a sense, it's extremely troublesome.

"Have you been looking outside the whole time?"

"Yes, I have."

"What were you looking at?"

“The merchants are seen riding camels and leaving this town.”

"Really?"

Jahir stood up and looked outside. It certainly was. Their camels were still around there, tied to the pole.

"Let's prepare the meal."

"Yes, Sir."

"Saman, go with Sabadda to fetch water. Jean, go to the kitchen with Abu and get some bread. Amir, go with me to secure the luggage to the camel.''

Jahir instructed and they began to move. Abu took Jean to the kitchen to get some bread. The innkeeper wanted Abu and Jean to have enough food for six people, but when he saw little Jean, he became worried. In the end, the innkeeper ordered his servant to bring some stewed vegetable soup for Jean.

"I'm back. The teacher will be here soon."

Sabadda said, and then Abu and Jean nodded. Saman grabbed a bucket and a towel and wiped Jean's face.

"Go change your clothes now. Your clothes are stained with blood."

When Saman said this, Abu laughed and took out the clothes he bought yesterday from his bag. After Saman finished wiping Jean's body, Abu immediately changed Jean's clothes.

"Wow! These clothes are interesting."

“Hahaha, isn’t it good?”

"Yeah!"

"You're dressed just like us, so we'll be fellow from now on."

"Fellow!"

"And you are our little brother."

Abu said, and Sabadda and Saman laughed and nodded.

"Please call us bro too."

"Yes, Brothers!"

When Jean said this out loud, Saman laughed and went outside. He said he would give the water to the camels because it was precious. Jan and Abu put away their bags and waited for Jahir and Amir. After some time, Saman returned with Jahir and Amir. Everyone sat around the table and ate in a peaceful atmosphere.

After finishing their meal, they prepared to leave the town. They put beans and dried fruits in bags and secured them to the camels. They left the town as leisurely as they had gone, riding on camels.

"Was it the old man who taught you how to use that dagger?"

Jahir asked, and Jean was thoughtful.

"No, the garden attendant did."

"A chamberlain?"

"Yes, he is."

Jean nodded.

"Does that attendant usually carry a weapon?"

"Hmm, I don't know if it's a weapon or not, but he always carries a machete and tends to the garden."

"A machete..."

Jahir mused.

"Does that chamberlain meet with you every day? Did he teach you during his breaks from work?"

"Well, the garden he is in charge of is around my grandfather's mansion, so I met him almost every day while I was at my grandfather's mansion."

Jean answered honestly.

"Are there any other mansions besides the old man’s?"

"Yes, they are."

Jean nodded.

"There is the main mansion where my mother lives, and the girls' mansion where my sisters live. Nearby there are the boys' mansion and the training center. Farther away, there is my grandfather's mansion and my granddad's mansion. Others. There is also a dormitory for the people who work and protect us."

"Hmm...so, there are two old men..."

In other words, there is a maternal grandfather and a paternal grandfather.

"Yes, they are."

Jean nodded.

"Grandfather is my mother's father, and granddad is my father's father."

"I see. So, are you in a good relationship with the grandfather on your mother's side? Or do you have a bad relationship with the grandfather on his father's side?"

“That’s not the case.”

Jean thought for a moment.

"Granddad doesn't spend much time at the mansion, he often goes out. Grandma sometimes teaches embroidery to my sisters, but Grandfather once said that Grandma is too spoiled with me.''

"Well, it's not like I don't understand that. Besides, you are still young. So it's natural."

"Hahaha, maybe so. To be honest, it was more fun to be with my grandma..."

"Fun?"

"Yes. But when she gets angry, it's really scary."

"Is she always angry?"

"No, she doesn't."

Jean shook his head.

"Well, she's never been angry with me. But I saw her when she was angry with my granddad. It was very frightening."

"Huh? Why was she angry?"

"Well, apparently, when my granddad visited his territory, he befriended a woman from a nearby village and tried to marry her."

"Eh?"

Jahir wondered if it was something a small child would know about.

“So your grandma found out about it?”

"Yes. When one of the maids told the story of the marriage to her, she hurried to the village. It seemed that preparations for the party had already begun, but for some reason, Granddad was not there. Since she couldn't meet him, she broke up the party and handed over some money.''

"Money?"

"To cancel the marriage, that's what the chamberlain said."

"Ah, I see"

" But I don't know what that means," Jan said, and Jahir nodded.

"So, did your grandma get into a fight with your granddad?"

"Hmm, I don't know much about that, but on the way back, all the trees from the gate to the mansion fell."

“Did your grandma cut them?”

"Yes, she did."

Jean nodded.

"She cut them with her bare hands."

"...How big was the tree?"

"Hmm, about this much?"

Jean expressed the size of the tree with his hands. Jahir thought it was about 30 centimeters in diameter.

“With her bare hands?”

"Yes."

“Without using an ax or something?”

"No axe, nor anything."

"Did you see that with your eyes, Jean?"

"Yes, I did."

"..."

What an incredible family, Jahir thought. It's hard to imagine what it would have been like for a woman, who is considered to be fragile, to cut down trees with her bare hands.

"When grandma saw you, did she say anything?"

"Well, grandma was crying, so before I could call out to her, the attendant who was with me, took me home to grandfather's mansion."

"Really..."

"However, the trees that fell in the garden remained there for a while until Granddad returned. According to the chamberlain, Granddad sat down on the ground and apologized to Grandma.''

"I understand. If I were in the same situation, I would honestly apologize."

Jahir smiled bitterly.

"Hahaha, my mother said that Granddad was bad and Grandma was angry with him. But that's why I didn't go to visit them for a while. Instead, I stayed with my grandfather and went out together."

Jean said with a smile.

"Huh? Where did you go?"

"I went to the mountains and hunted, together with my grandfather and the chamberlain.''

"It sounds fun."

"Yes, it was."

"What kind of animal did you hunt?"

"We hunted a deer."

"Huh? Did the chamberlain shoot an arrow or something?"

"No."

Jean shook his head.

“My grandfather shot the deer with a gun.”

"Gun..."

As soon as Jahir heard those words, he understood the magnitude of the situation. Jahir thought guns were not yet available in this country, but one day, it would be a must-have.

"Are guns common in Archia?"

"No. It's an Ircandian weapon. The Ircandian do not let Archians touch such weapons."

"Then why does the old man have it?"

"I don't know."

Jean shook his head.

"Is the old man the only one in the house who can use a gun?"

"Granddad and mother can use it too. My brothers have also received training in how to use the weapon. Also, the mother sometimes rides a horse and hunts with grandfather."

"..."

Jahir blinked.

“Teacher, what is a gun?”

Amir, who had been listening to the two of them, asked.

"It's a weapon that can fire iron balls from a long distance, and it's indeed a lethal weapon."

Jahir explained, choosing his words carefully.

"...But you don't have to worry about that for now. First, let's get serious about how to fight with a sword."

"Yes, Sir."

When Amir and the others said that, Jahir nodded and looked at Jean. Jean was just staring at the blue sky.