Volume 6 Chapter 26 Attack on Livia
Just as Randy sank into the sea of thought, the area in front of the door became bustling, and the door swung open with force.
"Ah, found you!"
It was Livia who cut into Randy's thoughts, appearing suddenly.
With a beaming smile, Livia seemed oblivious to the atmosphere, exclaiming, "I've been looking for you!"
"I wondered where Julius and Cathy went."
"Livia, it's just that──"
Before Julius could tell her to quiet down, Livia walked over and sat neatly between Julius and Catherine.
Though Livia appeared childlike and petite, her age was not much different from that of Randy and the others.
It was quite cramped with 3 of them sitting on a 2-person sofa.
A seemingly annoyed Catherine and an exasperated Julius.
In between them, Livia waved cheerfully at Randy saying, "Hey there!"
"Livia, where have you been all this time?"
Livia puffed her cheeks in response to Julius, who frowned.
"It's the other way around. You two left Livia behind!"
"You just disappeared on your own, saying you'd check out town."
"Remember, you're supposed to be my escort!"
With a sigh, Livia puffed her cheeks and said, "Well, just follow me then!"
(Escort... escort, huh)
While looking at Livia, Randy suddenly made eye contact with her.
"Hey. I'm bored. Let's play."
"I'm not bored. I'm in the middle of serious thinking."
Livia pouted at the grimacing Randy.
"But, [Battle Demon] is stronger than Lucas, right? Come on, let's play!"
Livia continued pouting, and Randy looked around saying, "There are others here too."
Keith, Abel, and Luke all had comparable strength.
"That's true, but..."
Livia, looking around curiously, fixed her gaze on Keith and said to Alan, "The grandpa looks scary."
"So you are the second [Sword Saint], huh?"
Alan smiled at Livia, who nodded and replied,
"Yep! Who are you, old man?"
Livia tilted her head, and Catherine frowned, saying, "You idiot."
"Livia, he is Lord Victor. The lord of this place."
"I see."
Livia nodded in understanding, and Alan smiled at Keith, saying, "The second one is quite adorable."
"My mouth has nothing to say."
Keith shook his head expressionlessly, and Alan laughed again, saying, "You don't have to hide it."
"So, does the old man know my master?"
"Master?"
"Yeah. My master is the [Sword Saint], so Livia is the second."
"I see. If it's the [Sword Saint], I know about them. I used to be an adventurer, believe it or not."
Alan's adventurer days were when he had caused trouble and had to leave the country.
But it wasn't for a very long time.
"So, I heard that name a lot when I was young."
This was over 20 years ago, before Randy and the others were born.
It was around that time that the [Sword Saint] was at his peak.
A hero from a generation closer to Keith and the [Black Flash].
So for the slightly older [Iron Lion] generation than Randy, it was a name to admire.
"Hmm, you know him. So, is the old man strong?"
Livia, tilting her head, happily talked about how incredibly strong Randy and Luke were.
"You've never fought me, right?"
Randy, looking exasperated, listened as Livia's eyes sparkled while she said that Luke had claimed he was much stronger than Randy.
Since Luke usually never praised Randy, if he said something like that behind his back, even Randy would awkwardly respond, "I-I see."
"So... if the top guy here is a former adventurer that the master knows, you must be super strong, right?"
Alan, trying to be playful, asked Livia with sparkling eyes, "Do I look strong?"
"Hmm. Not really."
Alan nodded vigorously at Livia, who furrowed her brows, saying,
"I guess so. But it's because everyone is risking their lives for us. So, at the very least, I thought I should nurture life with my hands for everyone."
Alan gently rubbed his hands, filled with emotion.
His rough fingers, unlike his face, could almost be mistaken for those of a trained Knight.
That's why Livia couldn't help but frown and say, "But you have calluses from the sword?"
"Ah, this? It's because I swing a hoe every day with everyone..."
With a smile, Alan mimicked swinging a hoe.
Indeed, as Alan said, it could already be considered his life's work.
Along with his duties as a lord, he swings a hoe side by side with the villagers.
Even though there are other things he should be doing, he swings the hoe while managing those tasks.
It's a behavior that can be said to be typical of Alan, who is beloved by the villagers.
"Is that fun?"
Julius, showing interest, muttered, "That's unusual."
Indeed, as Julius pointed out, Livia's interests are basically only in battles and the strength of her opponents.
Of course, like a girl, she likes cute things and sweets, but her opponent is a middle-aged man over 20 years older than her.
It's hard to believe they would have anything in common.
Yet, Livia is showing interest in Alan's story.
No matter how nice Alan is, it's the first time for Julius to see Livia like this, even as a childhood friend.
While Julius looked surprised, Alan was explaining to Livia the joy of tilling the soil.
"Hmm. I don't really get it."
After listening, Livia gave her typical reaction, and Julius bowed his head to Alan, saying, "I apologize."
"No need to worry. Interests vary from person to person."
Alan, smiling, turned back to Livia.
"Do you like swords?"
"Hmm, I don't know. But I do like playing with swords. I've been playing with Julius like that for a long time."
"I see. Then... what about cutting lives?"
Everyone's face stiffened at Alan's thrown question.
But Livia just murmured, "Hmm," and shook her head.
"I don't know. But the fun of swordsmanship comes from getting better and fighting strong opponents, I guess."
Livia, showing a smile, laughed again, saying, "You sound just like Lucas."
Just as Alan and Livia were getting excited talking about swords and Luke, Julius interrupted, saying, "Excuse me," as he stepped between them.
"Livia. We're in the middle of an important conversation. If possible, please be quiet──"
"Ehh!"
Pouting, Livia turned her gaze to Abel and said, "Well, I guess it can't be helped."
"Hey, big brother, you're free, right? Let's play with Livia."
"Sure."
To their surprise, Julius and Catherine widened their eyes in unison, asking, "Is that okay?" But from Randy's perspective, it was understandable that Abel would be interested.
After all, even as the second generation, she bore the name of the [Sword Saint].
Moreover, it hinted that she had crossed swords with Luke as well.
Although Luke was a step ahead, Abel and the other Galhart were comrades and rivals who had honed their skills together.
It was only natural for him to want to test his own strength.
With a delighted Livia in tow, Abel said, "I'm heading to the training grounds," and left the room.
Finally, in the now quiet room, Randy sank once more into the sea of thought.
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