Chapter 12: As the Snow Melted

As the snow melted, leaving speckles on the ground, two opposing figures swung their swords—one with red hair, the other platinum blonde. It was Belgrieve and Sasha.

Spring had graced the village of Turnera, and as the mountain flowers burst into bloom all at once, the piles of snow thawed, leaving mottled spots on the soil. Wheat shoots were beginning to peek out of the snow, growing vigorously as they basked in the light of the sun.

The moment the snow vanished, Turnera’s residents would immediately begin tending the fields: wheat would be threshed, soil would be revitalized, and potatoes would be planted. Once all that was done, it would be time for the spring festival. Each and every farmer would be hard at work stretching their bodies after having been unable to move in the winter.

Belgrieve, too, had been immersed in spring work when the snow had finally melted enough to clear the roads and Sasha paid him a visit. Before he could even ask why she had come, she immediately bowed her head and asked for another sparring match—to which Belgrieve assented with a wry smile. He had not missed his training for a single winter day, but it was hard to say he had trained to his satisfaction. A part of him did want to let loose for once. Farmwork and swordplay used different muscles.

Both warriors swung their sheathed swords. Sasha’s movements were far more refined than they had been the last time they’d fought, and each blow was far heavier. She shifted her center of gravity more smoothly, so that she was less often swinging with just the strength of her arms.

At first, they seemed equally matched, yet gradually, Belgrieve was driven into a corner. This was not like him at all, and he found himself growing heated.

“Hrr! Yah!”

“Gah!”

A strike from Sasha sent his sword flying out of his hands. Her face lit up. However, Belgrieve immediately reached out, grabbed her wrist, and twisted it. She dropped her sword with a yelp, and the moment he heard that Belgrieve let go in a panic.

“I-I’m sorry Sasha! That was force of habit... Are you injured?”

Her eyes teary, Sasha shook her head. “No, that was my fault... As expected of my Master! The most dangerous moment in battle is when you’ve dropped your guard thinking you’ve won! To think you would purposely go easy on me to teach me that... I, Sasha Bordeaux, still have a long way to go...”

“No... No, listen, I was serious there...”

“Next time, I will land a strike without letting my guard down! Please, don’t be disappointed in me, Master!”

She gripped Belgrieve’s hands with pleading, teary eyes. How can this girl have such a strong imagination? He smiled miserably. But he knew he would be completely defeated the next time they fought, and that would undoubtedly be the best way to dispel her delusions.

Belgrieve invited Sasha in and served her some tea. She took a sip of the fragrant beverage and let out a long breath.

Offering some raisins, Belgrieve said, “Bordeaux must get to its spring work a lot earlier than Turnera.”

“Yes, the snow’s already completely melted, and they’re preparing the fields and threshing the wheat there. The number of fiends has gone down quite a bit, so I’ve been helping with management more than adventurer work these days.”

“I’m glad it’s settled down. But I wonder why there are fewer fiends.”

Sasha seemed taken aback at that statement. “Huh... You haven’t heard? The demon lurking near Orphen was hunted down. It was thanks to that demon that the fiends were acting up.”

I see, so that’s what happened, Belgrieve thought, tacitly accepting the explanation. He was surprised to hear there was a demon before recalling the words of Lady Winter. Were the demons the beings who tried to control the winter? According to legend, there wasn’t just one of them. Does that mean demons will be reviving one after another? Was this only the first one?

Oblivious to his musings, Sasha excitedly prattled on. “The team they put together was amazing! They had Maria the Dragonslayer, Dortos the Silverhead, Cheborg the Destroyer, and the one who dealt the final blow was none other than the Black-Haired Valkyrie herself, Angeline! I was sure you’d have heard by now...”

Belgrieve was shocked. He hadn’t imagined his daughter might be involved. While a part of him felt happy and proud that her name was up there with the giants even he had heard of, another part didn’t want her to head into too much danger. I guess that’s what it means to be a parent, Belgrieve mused, stroking his beard.

“We barely get any deliveries or letters in the winter... I’m ashamed to say I’ve only learned of this now. Thank you, Sasha.”

“O-Oh no, oh no... I should have brought a newspaper then.”

“Don’t worry about it. That girl should be coming home if the number of fiends has gone down... So what business did you have with me?”

“Oh, that’s right. I’m here on my sister’s behalf today. I’m supposed to hand this over.”

Sasha presented a letter to him, which was addressed to Hoffman.

He tilted his head. “This is for the village chief, not me...”

“Yes, truth be told, there’s a proposal to maintain the roads between Bordeaux and Turnera.”

According to Sasha, the fall festival had been the first time Helvetica ever came to Turnera, and she was aghast at the poor roads she had to traverse to get there. How could it be so difficult to travel within Bordeaux territory? There was a chance the village would be isolated should something happen. In addition to this, the cheese and fruit preserves she tasted during the fall festival were very high quality. If the roads were maintained, it would be far more efficient to sell them outside, and possible to import more goods to Turnera.

She did have a point. If the roads were a bit better off, perhaps it would be possible to send letters and packages in the winter too. However, this was not a matter that Belgrieve could decide. The letter was for Hoffman anyways.

He stood, letter in hand. “In any case, let’s go see the chief.”

Hoffman was in the midst of plowing a field. He was singing a work song as he drove a donkey with a plow.

“Hey, Chief!” Belgrieve called out, and Hoffman came to a stop.

“Oh, Bell! What’s up?”

“A little something. This here missy is Sasha of House Bordeaux.” Belgrieve introduced her.

“My name is Sasha Bordeaux,” she said with a bob. “Are you the chief of Turnera? I’ve come here as a messenger of my elder sister, Helvetica Bordeaux.”

“L-Lady Bordeaux’s sister...? I-I apologize for appearing so—”

Sasha frantically stopped him before he could kneel. “No need! I’m fine, perfectly fine! I didn’t come here to throw my weight around!”

Belgrieve laughed at the spectacle they made. “Chief, it’s been bugging me, but you’re not usually this humble.”

“Grr... I-I’m a bumpkin, what am I supposed to do?” Hoffman said, scrunching up his large body.

Sasha giggled. She didn’t seem to put on airs around commoners, and neither did her sisters. The Bordeaux house was founded by a family that gained influence the good old-fashioned way: they were the descendants of pioneers who shed sweat with the farmers to develop the land around Bordeaux. It seems that joining the dukedom and earning a peerage had done little to change their fundamental nature, and the girls would often make rounds of the territory in the time between their official duties. They would occasionally help farmers with their work as well, though Turnera was a bit far, and they had only started visiting recently.

Yet despite their rustic side, they conducted themselves elegantly. The combination of these aspects made the girls both easy to get along with yet hard to approach, lending them a peculiar charm.

Insisting he couldn’t leave the lady’s sister standing, Hoffman led the two to a table in his yard. In the corner of the yard, small children were prodding and whacking at a pile of snow with sticks. These were Hoffman’s grandchildren.

“Oi, honey! We got guests! Get our best tea brewing!” Hoffman yelled into the house, then urged Sasha to take a seat. Tattered clouds flowed through the sky, and while the wind was still chilly against the skin, the sun was nice and warm.

Hoffman read the letter and nodded. “I see, the roads... That will be a huge help.”

“I’m glad to hear it. And I’d love to have your assistance on the matter.”

“With pleasure! You good with that, Bell?”

Belgrieve sipped at his tea and nodded. “It’s not a bad deal. But we should probably get everyone together to talk before we make a decision.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Wouldn’t want any squabbling! Lady Sasha, I don’t think you’ll find anyone against it, but could we send our answer a little later?”

“Of course! Take your time!” Sasha took a sip. “Oh, this tea is delicious!”

“You think so?! We made it from the lent leaves in our humble garden! We add a bit of dried okra flower for the secret ingredient!”

Hoffman was chatting up a storm the moment Sasha complimented him. Belgrieve smiled and sipped the tea—it certainly was good. Belgrieve usually brewed lent leaf tea himself but was a little shocked to hear that the okra flower could make such a big difference.

After some friendly chatting, Sasha took her leave—it seemed Bordeaux was busy at the start of spring. As she departed, she shook Belgrieve’s hand vigorously with sparkling eyes.

“Well then, Master! I have to excuse myself! Next time, I’ll make you get serious against me!”

“Um, Sasha... I’m telling you, I—”

“Fare thee well! May we meet again!”

She gallantly hopped aboard her horse and raced off. As she was an AA-Rank adventurer, she apparently did not need any guards.

Belgrieve sighed. “She’s a good kid, but...”

“Oi, Bell, it’s gonna get busy around here! Let’s have a town hall tonight! Aha ha ha ha ha!”

Hoffman seemed roused by the first opportunity for industry since Turnera was founded. Belgrieve kneaded his beard. Well, let’s just leave that to Hoffman and Kerry, he thought.

He spent the afternoon teaching the children swordsmanship.

○

The carriage rattled and shook. While there was still snow here and there, the air was filled with the bounty of spring, and fresh foliage sprouted from the sides of the path.

The carriage was pulled by a lone horse, and Anessa gripped the reins. In the back, Angeline and Miriam sat sandwiched between the luggage.

Chewing on dried fruit from the south, Miriam cheerfully said, “The air tastes great! It’s like my chest is all clear.”

“Uh-huh, isn’t it...? The air is clean around these parts.”

“Right? Orphen was a bit smoggy... Maybe a place like this would be easy on that hag’s lungs...” Miriam muttered without thinking, only to turn her eyes away circumspectly.

Angeline grinned. “You really love Maria, don’t you?”

“Wr-Wr-Wrong! I don’t care about that old bat at all!”

“Hmm, I’ll leave it at that... Here, Anessa.” Angeline smirked as she tossed a piece of fruit over to the driver.

“Oh? Thanks, Ange. It looks like this is gonna take a while. The roads are bad, so we can’t go too fast.”

“Right?” Miriam wistfully sighed. “But just kick back and relax. We’re not in a rush.”

“I guess so... Oh, but maybe Ange’s in a hurry?”

Angeline shook her head. “There’s nothing to hold me back... No time limit on this vacation, and I am feeling peaceful at last. Heh heh, dad will never see it coming...”

A month had gone by since she slew the demon. By the time the demon was taken care of, the snow had started to melt in Orphen, but it would still be thick in Turnera. And while Angeline wanted to return home that instant, she still had her injured shoulder to worry about. She decided to wait until the snow had melted. The first chance she got, she purchased a wagon and horse with her own money. Then, she loaded it with gifts, invited Anessa and Miriam, and finally embarked on her grand homecoming.

While a few Calamity-Class fiends had appeared since then, the old veterans handled them without issue. They were just the survivors of the outbreak, and after that, Ange was back to the old days of sitting around, waiting for a good request to come in. The adventurers who had left were slowly returning.

Lionel’s old comrades from the capital arrived. They didn’t make it in time for the demon hunt, but were able to participate in the guild reform with Dortos and Cheborg, greatly aiding Lionel’s cause. They were still in the trial stage, but Orphen’s adventurers’ guild, instead of being led by one guild master, was shifting towards resolving issues with a council. By doing so, Orphen’s guild was slowly branching off from the central guild’s policies that revolved around vested interests. However, the central guild was laying down quite a bit of pressure, and there was still a veritable mountain of issues to sort through.

Not that Angeline had much interest in any of that now. The threat to Orphen and its surrounding area was gone. She could see Belgrieve without any reservations, and that was all that mattered.

With that said, she had left Orphen roughly eight days prior, passed through Bordeaux, and was now on the last leg to Turnera. She had yet to run into any trouble and planned to be there within the day. She leaned against her many boxes of things, her hands folded behind her back. The sky was blue, the sun was warm. While she was getting drowsy, she would be roused each time the carriage bounced over a rock.

The lazy wind carried the scent of spring as though the fresh sprouts had imparted their refreshing green hues to the breeze itself.

“Hey, Ange, where’d you put the mint water?”

“Hmm? Right here.”

“Let me have some too, Merry.”

“You got it. How about you, Ange?”

“I’m fine...”

Miriam uncorked a bottle of water steeped with roughly chopped mint leaves, letting its lung-piercing fragrance fill the carriage. She took a mouthful before passing it off to Anessa, who drank some as well.

Anessa let out a deep breath. “So we’re finally meeting Ange’s father, eh... I’m looking forward to it.”

“But ‘Red Ogre’ sounds pretty scary... Maybe he’s only kind to Ange?” Miriam teased.

Angeline pursed her lips. “My father is not so petty as that... He’s kind to everyone, and very strong too.”

“Ha ha, he must be amazing for you to praise him that much... Oh, whoa there.”

There was a girl on a horse riding from the opposite direction, so Anessa slowed down and shifted from the center to the side of the road. The girl offered a respectful nod and was about to pass when something must have caught her eye in the carriage, as she turned her horse around and rode up beside them.

She called out to them in a clear, valiant voice. “A moment of your time, please! I know it’s rude to speak from horseback, but... Young lady in the wagon! With your splendid black hair and black eyes...are you perchance Angeline the Black-Haired Valkyrie?”

Angeline nodded dubiously. “I am... Who are you?”

The girl leaped down from her horse and approached with a cheerful smile.

“Oh, I knew it had to be so! I am Sasha Bordeaux! I cannot thank you enough for saving my younger sister Seren! To think we could meet here of all places...”

The girl was Sasha, and she was just on her way back from Turnera. Her eyes sparkled as she came face-to-face with one of the people she admired.

However, the expression had vanished from Angeline’s face. “Seren’s older sister...?” she muttered.

“That I am! I look up to you as a fellow adventurer—”

“I see... So it’s you...”

“Pardon?”

Angeline jumped out of the carriage. She approached Sasha like a vengeful specter, exuding a fearsome amount of pressure, fighting spirit, and even a bit of bloodlust. Even Sasha, with her skills as an AA-Rank adventurer, retreated a step from a sense of primordial fear.

“A-Angeline...? H-Have I done something...”

“You’ve got some nerve, trying to dodge me and take my father away...but don’t think you can become my mom so easily...”

“Wh-What are you talking about?!”

“Don’t play dumb... I know how you tried to forcefully take my dad back to Bordeaux territory...”

“N-No, that’s a misunderstanding! That was the other older sis—”

“Ha... Aha ha... Heh... No excuses. I’ll have to thoroughly check to see if you really understand what makes dad so wonderful!”

“Wh-What are you going to do to me?!”

Angeline grabbed Sasha by the shoulder and peered into her face. She had the look of a fierce deity to her, and Sasha could not prevent a faint “Eek!” from escaping her lips. Were all S-Rank adventurers this terrifying?

Angeline slowly opened her mouth. “Question one... What is my dad’s favorite food?”

“Eep... Huh? F-Food, is it? Sir Belgrieve’s favorite dish?”

“Yes... Hurry up.”

“I don’t know! We’ve only ever had tea together, and we have never shared a meal!” Sasha screamed her answer, and all of a sudden, Angeline was sneering.

“You don’t even know that...? Remember this. My dad likes mutton stewed with jarlberries. A little on the salty side, with dried oregano for seasoning... You dip some light bread into the soup and eat it... I love it too. Also—”

“Calm down, fool.” Anessa lightly rapped her on the head.

Angeline turned to her with narrowed eyes. “What? I’m busy...”

“Hear her out, would you? You’re not seeing eye to eye here.”

Angeline cocked her head, while Miriam chuckled from the wagon.

With a desperate defense, Sasha somehow managed to clear up the misunderstanding. Angeline was red, sulking from having jumped the gun, while Sasha hunkered down, unable to stop herself from trembling. Anessa rubbed her back.

“Are you all right? She becomes a different person where her father’s concerned...”

“Y-Y-Yes. Somehow or another...”

Sasha took a few deep breaths before finally regaining her composure. Miriam offered her some mint water. As its refreshing scent filled her throat, she lowered her head.

“Thank you, I’ve calmed down.”

“Oh no, we’re the ones who should apologize for our idiot. C’mon Ange. Quit pouting and apologize.”

Ange sullenly inclined her head. “I’m sorry...”

“O-Oh, don’t worry, I’m just glad we cleared up this misunderstanding...”

“But you’re an adventurer, Sasha? I’ve heard of nobles who dropped out to become adventurers, but this might be the first time I’ve met an adventurer who’s still a noble,” Miriam observed. Sasha bashfully scratched her cheek.

“Yes, nobles usually see it as a profession for lowlifes, after all... People like me are probably quite rare.”

“You’re AA-Rank, right? It shouldn’t be long before you rise another rank too.”

“I’ve still got a long way to go! I can only call myself first-rate once I can make Sir Belgrieve take me seriously.”

“Belgrieve... Do you mean Ange’s father? Are you learning the sword from him?”

Sasha’s eyes lit up. “Yes! Precisely! Ange’s esteemed father, my master, and the Red Ogre Belgrieve! He has a wonderful way with the sword! Even though his right leg is a prosthetic, he does not let it hinder him—rather, he uses its irregular movements to his advantage, all of which he devised himself! He puts the weight of his entire body into his sword, so it’s fast and heavy! Not to mention, he’s skilled on the strategic front too! When I confronted him earlier today, he purposely went easy on me, and when I knocked his sword out of his hands and was feeling giddy, he closed in and disarmed me barehanded! Don’t drop your guard even when victory is at hand! I have learned a wonderful lesson today! Now I must do my best so that Master takes our match seriously next time!”

Anessa seemed rather put-off by her passionate spiel, while Miriam looked quite intrigued. As for Ange, she had approached Sasha without a sound and grabbed her by the shoulder. Still stricken with lingering fear, Sasha found herself frozen in place.

“Sasha!” Angeline said after a moment’s thought.

“Yes, yes ma’am!”

“Please forgive me for my misunderstanding... You were a comrade after all!” Angeline said, then embraced her with passion.

“Oh... Ohh...! Y-You recognize my potential, Angeline...! I, Sasha Bordeaux, shall spare no effort in catching up to you!”

Sasha, moved to tears, hugged her back. The two held one another, twirling in circles, and Anessa muttered to herself, “I’ve got this feeling...they still aren’t seeing eye to eye.”

“Heh heh, Sasha’s an interesting gal.”

After some pleasant chatter, they parted from Sasha and were back on the road to Turnera. The wilderness opened up to cultivated fields where fresh, green wheat sprouts peeped out from the melting snow. As if letting out all their pent-up frustrations, their small leaves stretched out towards the sun.

They would be in Turnera soon. The closer they got, the more Angeline’s chest was filled with nostalgia.

“Just a little more...”

“Oh, just look at how vast the fields are. It’s stunning.” Anessa took in a pleasant, deep breath.

Miriam mischievously prodded Angeline. “You’re going to see your father soon, Ange. How do you feel?”

“I’m jumping for joy... I’m happy to be alive!”

“The hell are you on about...” Anessa sighed, though she made the horse pick up the pace.

The scenery Angeline saw from the wagon had hardly changed from when she left: the plains where she had played with the other kids, the narrow paths she’d walk with Belgrieve, and the forest where she’d gathered acorns. Each time a familiar sight entered her vision, she felt something tighten within.

She had been missing it for so long, yet that hole was being filled. At the same time, a strange anxiety began to build. The scenery hadn’t changed, but what about Belgrieve?

Angeline had never found anyone in Orphen who could replace her father. But what if Belgrieve had found someone who could replace her? It seemed he had a new disciple in Sasha, who seemed to be around the same age as Angeline. She was lively, cheerful, cute, and she admired Belgrieve enough to speak with such devotion. Surely it wasn’t a bad feeling to be wholeheartedly adored.

There were still plenty of young children in Turnera as well. Knowing Belgrieve, he would dote on them as if they were his own.

And Ange had also heard of how Countess Bordeaux had approached him. Seren and Sasha were both beautiful, so surely their eldest sister was beautiful too. Of course, she knew Belgrieve had turned her down, but what if he had only done so out of consideration for Ange?

Belgrieve felt a strong sense of responsibility, and it was possible that she had become a shackle preventing him from doing what he wanted. What if he didn’t miss me much when I was gone? What if he’s not actually looking forward to me coming home? What if he grew to hate me in the depths of his heart?

Angeline shook her head. “My father is not that sort of person!”

But the anxiety wouldn’t leave her. It grew larger the closer they got to the village. She wanted to return to Turnera so badly, yet now she suddenly felt like running away. There were butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

They had entered the village now. The villagers looked at the carriage curiously, then rubbed their eyes when they saw Angeline. A few greeted her, but she kept her head down and did not try to look their way.

“Which way, Ange?” Anessa asked.

Angeline looked up blankly, a familiar landscape entering her eyes.

“Over there...” She pointed.

Eventually, they were in front of a house. Angeline timidly looked out at it.

There were children gathered in the yard, and they seemed to be swinging wooden swords. Belgrieve watched over them with gentle eyes.

Something clutched at her chest. She nearly burst into tears.

With timid feet, she stepped down from the carriage.

One of the kids noticed her, pointed, and said something. Belgrieve turned to face her. Perhaps he had a few more wrinkles than before. Perhaps his hair had grown a bit faded. But they were the same—those same gentle eyes.

“Dad! Um... You know!” Before she knew it, Angeline was sprinting, leaping into the yard. She stood in front of Belgrieve and wailed. “I...I! I’ve been working really hard! I became an S-Rank! I beat up a lot of fiends! Ummm... And, er, I saved people in trouble! The other day, I beat a demon, and... Ummm... I’m doing my best and...”

She couldn’t figure out what to say, and as she scrambled to find her words, a large, gentle hand rested atop her head. A rugged palm that had wielded a sword and a spade for so long lovingly stroked her hair. The strength drained from her body.

“You’ve gotten so big.”

“Yeah.”

“You grew your hair out. It really suits you.”

“Yeah.”

“You’re a full-fledged adult now. For a moment, I didn’t recognize you there.”

“Yeah.”

Why had she ever doubted him? The tears fell from her eyes.

Belgrieve smiled. “Welcome home, Angeline.”

“I’m home, dad!”