An Old Man from the Countryside Becomes a Swords Saint: I Was Just a Rural Sword Teacher, But My Successful Students Won’t Leave Me Alone! - Chapter 16

16 - An Old Man From The Countryside Goes Sightseeing

The Western District, the capital city Baltrain’s much-prided commercial zone, wasn’t that different from the rumors.

“Books are good,” Thyssel said. “I’m healed.”

“Ueugh,” Kuruni groans. “I don’t really like studying…”

“Hahaha…” I laugh.

Thyssel’s eyes shine as she stares at a large bookstore facing the main street.

“Master!” Kuruni said. “This! How about this?!”

“Yeah, I think it looks good on you,” I said.

“Looks good on child-like Kuruni,” Thyssel added. “Not bad.”

“Mmnn!” Kuruni whines in frustration.

We’re at a clothing store that seems to be overflowing with the city’s latest trends, Kuruni was trying on this and that.

“Is this… an accessory store?” I asked.

“These are magical devices,” Thyssel explained. “Simply put, they’re enchanted.”

“Is that so…?” I said.

My curiosity itches as I learn that the magical equipment stores sell enchanted accessories such as bracelets and necklaces.

The three of us ended up looking around various other stores.

It’s quite fun to look around quietly, and sometimes we make some ruckus when we enter stores that are suitable for it.

The hour was when the day was about to turn into night, but the hustle and bustle of the West District never stopped. I had spent a good amount of time there, the shadow at my feet stretched on quite a bit.

“Ahh, there’s really too much here,” I said. “Even if I don’t particularly need anything, it’s a lot to take in.”

“Probably because there’s a wide range of stuff, from daily necessities to rare items, right?” Kuruni adds.

“Mm, I also like the West District,” Thyssel said. “So many offerings.”

All in all, though, there are only so many stores we can visit in a few hours—I decide to take a break from all this shopping.

Aah, but it’s amazing compared to Bidden Village. I don’t usually go sightseeing like this since I never left the village, so it feels quite refreshing.

“Hehe,” Thyssel chuckled. “Master Beryl, you’re really scurrying all around.”

“Hahaha,” I laughed, “that’s embarrassing, you know? I’m from the country, after all.”

I’m not sure if Thyssel saw the way I was looking, but she jabbed me.

No, I couldn’t help it. Anyone from the countryside who heads into the big city will get excited.

“Did anything catch your eye, Master?” Kuruni asked.

“Something had…” I said, after thinking about it for a moment. “There were all kinds of stuff on sale, but the magic equipment store was especially interesting.”

“Magical Equipment is deep,” Thyssel said. “Glad you like them, Master Beryl.”

I was wondering if Thyssel really liked books but it seems that she’s much more fascinated by magical equipment.

“You seem to like them, Thyssel,” I said.

“Yes,” Thyssel murmured, a small smile spreading on her face. “I have many pieces.”

There aren’t many people who can use magic but it seems that enchanted equipment was relatively popular in the city.

There was an ore that could store mana called “Magic Ore”, so most pieces of enchanted equipment were made out of it, and it seemed that your natural aptitude for magic did not matter as much when using them.

I didn’t know the details. I am a swordsman, after all.

They have various effects, such as those that improve fatigue recovery, those that improve injury healing, and those that give some resistance to heat and cold.

If anything, I think they’re necessary pieces for adventurers.

“But, that was a good diversion. Thank you, both,” I said, turning to my two guides.

I hadn’t realized how pleasurable this was, since I was constantly shuttling myself between the Knight’s Headquarters and my inn.

“You’re welcome!” Kuruni said.

“Mm,” Thyssel hummed.

Their reaction seems to contrast each other, but as far as I can tell from their faces, I’m glad to see they’re content.

It would have been perfect if they didn’t feel unpleasant or bored just because they got roped into this old man’s little sightseeing trip.

“Oh, that’s right,” I said. “I’ve already thanked you two, but if you both have more time, let’s have dinner together.”

“Huh?!” Kuruni cried first. “Is that alright?!”

She was a child who ate and slept a lot when she was in my family’s dojo.

Her behavior had incredible healing power.

She’s perfectly fine like this.

“What a relief,” Thyssel said, her expression unchanging. “I’m hungry, too,” she said, her eyes dropping to her stomach.

“Alright, that’s settled then,” I said. “Do you guys have any recommendations?”

Even if I’m buying, I’ve just arrived at the royal capital.

I don’t know which restaurants are good and I don’t know either of their tastes. Kuruni doesn’t seem to have any particular dislikes, though. And Thyssel seems to be very particular about her preferences.

“Oh, then I want to go over there!” Kuruni said. “Reagan’s Skewer Shop!”

“Agreed,” Thyssel said. “I like it, too.”

“Skewers,” I said. “Sounds good, I’m looking forward to it.”

With the menu for tonight decided, the three of us headed to that shop. As it happened, I went with Kuruni to the West District right after a training session, so I’m pretty hungry.

Kuruni is on my right, Thyssel is on my left.

The looks we get are different than when I came to this city, but this isn’t so bad. I feel like a guardian. Mainly due to Kuruni.

Above all else, it’s great that I can go sightseeing without being distracted by all the stares.

One old man and two young women are a bit unbalanced, but we don’t get that much attention.

“Here we are!” Kuruni cried. “The Boar Skewers are delicious~!”

“Huh, boar?” I asked.

We had walked a bit in the West District and arrived at a skewer shop that faced out to the main street.

Boars were medium-sized wild animals that got quite large as adults. They were also prey regularly hunted at Bidden Village.

The quality of their meat was rather hard and chewy. However, that’s just the natural properties of the meat, it can get better depending on how you cooked it. You could say that various cooking methods have been created and established in Revelis, since you could find boars all over the kingdom.

“Uncle!” Kuruni calls out. “Three boar skewers!”

“You got it!” the shopkeeper yells back.

It seems this shop is the type where you can see the cooking process from the outside.

Now that Kuruni has yelled out our order, a man that looks like the shopkeeper randomly arranges boar skewers on a charcoal fire.

“Ooh…” I gasped. “It looks tasty already.”

“Mm,” Thyssel hums. “The boar here is excellent. I guarantee it.”

When I see the juices dripping and the boar meat that had been soaked through in the sauce, I can’t help but get hungry. The smell of grilling meat and the scent of the sweet-and-spicy sauce were also quite appetizing.

Oh-hoo, that looks so good.

So far as I could see, the portions are generous, and just one seems to be enough to fill my stomach.

“Hmm, it’s really crowded, isn’t it?” I asked.

“Yes. Very,” Thyssel added.

“Hmph…” Kuruni grumbled.

I casually glanced around, doesn’t it seem like there’s a lot of people buying skewers? I see some people eating them as they walked.

The shop seems to have tables and chairs, but they’re already full of other customers.

“Don’t you live in the East District, Kuruni?” I asked. “It’d be quite a distance from here, so let’s eat while walking.”

“Can do, will do!” Kuruni replied. “It’s been a while since I’ve done that!”

“As with me,” Thyssel said. “It works out.”

So, do we get our skewers then walk and eat like everyone else?

“Yes, let’s wait for our skewers!” Kuruni said.

“Thanks,” I said.

With one hand, I pay, with the other, we take our skewers.

Ooooh, these are huge. That the sauce charred in some places was another high point. The shopkeeper knows exactly how to cook these. It seems as if both Kuruni and Thyssel had given him their seal of approval.

“Well then, Master!” Kuruni said. “I’m digging in!”

“Mm. Let’s eat,” Thyssel said.

“Right, let’s,” I said. “I’m digging in, too.”

Kuruni takes excited bites out of hers, Thyssel nibbles along the edges.

Just looking at how they eat shows how opposite the two of them are. When they were in the dojo, I’m not sure if they had a particularly good or bad relationship, but I wonder if they’ve become friends since coming to the capital.

Whatever.

I don’t feel like prying into their private lives and they’re getting along better than ever.

“… Yep, it’s delicious,” I said after taking a bite.

As soon as your teeth sink in, the thick meat is amazingly tender and seems to melt in your mouth.

Hmm, this is pretty carefully soaked in brine right from the prep stage. The owner of this shop sure knows how to make the boar meat tender.

At the same time as I bite into it, the juices slowly spread out, the savory sauce and the strong flavor instantly takes over my mouth.

Yeah, it’s super delicious.

I couldn’t help but smile. These are the good things in life.

“Mmm~!” Kuruni hums. “It’s so good!”

“Watch where you’re going while you walk, Kuruni,” I said.

“Honestly,” Thyssel said. “That’s dangerous, Kuruni.”

“Hmph!” Kuruni huffed. “That’s rude, you know?! I’m still a knight!”

The three of us had a conversation as we left the skewer shop.

In this way, we went home while enjoying the boar skewers.