Published: July 4, 2025
The world was peaceful.
At least, the world around Ryo was peaceful.
“It’s important to have the leisure of focusing on reading, rather than just swinging your sword like a certain swordsman, Abel.”
“...Why do you say that out loud on purpose?”
In the courtyard of the mansion, Abel, who had been giving Mifa lessons, casually murmured this as he approached the table where Ryo was reading.
If the definition of murmuring is a voice loud enough for the people around to hear clearly, then...
Generally, it might not be murmuring at all, just talking.
“In my hometown, there’s a saying called ‘eternal battlefield.’ It means to always be prepared as if you are on a battlefield. Also, there are the lost words, ‘Si vis pacem, para bellum,’ which means ‘If you want peace, prepare for war.’ And Nietzsche said this: ‘If you seek peace, it must be as preparation for a new battle. Seek shorter peace rather than longer peace.’”
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand at all what you’re trying to say...”
“I'm saying that peace is just a temporary thing.”
Ryo proclaimed this in a philosophical tone, as if he were a philosopher.
If he hadn’t been holding a snack resembling mochi filled with anko... like a daifuku, he might have sounded more convincing.
Abel let out a small sigh and replied, “Ryo’s presence itself is peace.”
“Let’s call it a day for now.”
“Yes. Thank you very much.”
As Abel ended the lesson, Mifa bowed her head.
Watching from the corner of the courtyard, Ryo nodded happily.
Tomorrow, the three of them would set out for the royal capital, Johnjohn.
This was to coincide with Daimyo Sue Koo’s journey to the capital.
It was a journey not too long, taking seven days by land.
Of course, Mifa, Ryo, and Abel all had horses prepared, making the fatigue far less than if they were to walk the entire way.
That said, it was certainly true that knowing they would be embarking on a week-long journey starting tomorrow lessened the need for hard training up to the day before.
Upon returning to his room, Ryo began his final check of the luggage he would take.
“I’ll just make sure to put the book I’ll read along the way in my usual shoulder bag.”
Saying this, he took out a book from his box-shaped travel bag and moved it to his shoulder bag.
Abel glanced at it briefly.
“Ryo, is that the book you bought in town?”
“Yes. It’s the sequel to ‘The History and Utility of Talismans and Spirit Talismans,’ which I borrowed from this mansion’s library before.”
“‘Practical Talismans and Spirit Talismans Open Up the Future’...? But you can’t use talismans, can you? So why ‘practical’?”
“True, I can’t use them... but it’s about knowing your enemy and knowing yourself.”
“‘The Art of War,’ huh?”
“As expected of Abel. You’re spot on!”
“No, it’s just the part where Ryo murmured...”
Ryo praised him, but Abel only smiled wryly.
He only retained fragmented words that Ryo murmured, and didn't grasp the essence at all.
He was aware of this.
“Realistically speaking, if you have no knowledge about the techniques or skills your opponent uses, you won’t be able to deal with it, right?”
“Indeed. You’d always be on the back foot.”
Abel nodded emphatically.
Having been an adventurer for a long time, Abel had rich combat experience with both monsters and people.
That’s why he also understood the difficulties of fighting without any information about your opponent.
“But Ryo... travels by horse.”
“Yes, that’s right. If it were walking... I definitely can't read while walking.”
“You can read on a horse? Do you have experience?”
“No, I don’t have experience... wait? Is it difficult?”
“If you’re not used to it, quite a bit.”
“Ah...”
Ryo was disheartened by Abel’s words.
“I also prepared a book called ‘Alchemy of the Eastern Nations’ because it seemed interesting...”
Ryo’s murmur went unheard by anyone.
The next day.