Knight Today, Mercenary Tomorrow

Hmm?

This is stoopid, really, really stoopid! I don't want anything to do with it!

Oof, that little miss is in an ugly mood. I wonder what's up with her.

Oi, whaddya think you're looking at, eh?!

Well, sorry to have hurt your feelings. What are getting all het up about, if you don't mind me asking?

As if it's any of your stoopid business, you ol-

Hey, you're dressed all funny. Are you travelers?

Yeah, we are. I'm Aldo. And this guy here is my friend Bertrand.

I'm a mercenary, by trade, so it happens.

A mercenary?!

Mercenaries do all sorts of things, if you pay 'em, right?

You're not wrong there, little girl. Why'd you ask?

In that case, I've got a job for you! Take me to the Nuaru Uplands!

What did you say?

I absolutely have to get there!

Yeah, but shouldn't you be asking your parents or something? Instead of us.

Mammy and Pappy say they're busy and won't listen to me. But they won't let me go on my own because they reckon it's too dangerous.

I see... Well, there's not much you can do about that, but it is kind of tough.

That's why I need you two to do this job for me!

What do you reckon, Bertrand?

...... This chain of events reminds of that time when I met...

I've saved up my pocket money, so I can pay you...

Forget it, kid. I don't take money from children. Use it for something else.

If you say so. Shall we get to it then?

Calm down, kid. I haven't said I'll take on your job.

Whaat?!

We gotta run this past your parents first. If you aren't down with that, we'll just pretend this conversation never took place...

All right, all right! Pappy's this way. Come on!

Papa!

Oh, you're back, sweet pea! I'm sorry, little one, I'm busy right now, I can't stop and pla...

Who are these people with you, sweet pea?

Umm, these are the people who're gonna take me to the Nuaru Uplands!

Now, you wait a minute, you two. What's going on here?

Well, you see...

Sorry for the confusion, paps. Lemme explain. I am Bertrand, a mercenary by trade...

What in Hell's name is a mercenary doing with my little sweet pea?

She's asked us to escort her to the Nuaru Uplands.

Is that so?

Yeah, Pappy. You and Mammy are so busy and you don't listen to me at all.

But you can't just go asking someone you've never met before, sweet pea...

I'm afraid I can't allow it. It's too dangerous.

Whaat?!

I can't just leave you in the care of a pair of strangers, sweet pea. I'm sorry, but please try and understand.

Wh-What? You're agreeing with him?!

But things are different this time around. I can give you assurances about my background...

This medal... It's from the Royal House of Miglance!

This is proof that I once served with the Miglancian Guards. The king awarded me this medal for my service to the crown.

Wow! You're pretty cool for an old guy!

Ha! An old, old story for an old man.

Well, then, does this convince you of who I am?

I'm convinced you're a straight-up mercenary, well enough. But, why would you go to all this trouble just for my daughter?

Your girl looks so much like someone I used to know.

Someone?

A person I protected after returning from the front. This cape of mine found a new role in protecting her. But she has since flown the nest, and has no further need of my cape...

......

This cape needs to be put to good use. So, how about it? How about I protect your sweet pea with it?

Understood.

If I'm honest, I'm not sure when me and the wife will be free so...

Can I leave my daughter in your care?

I shall take good care of her, I promise you.

Thank you so much. You two aren't as stoopid as you look!

Okay then, let's head to the Nuaru Uplands.

We'll need to stay at an inn in Unigan along the way.

What? I won't need to rest. No one beats me in foot races!

Any route we take will take us through Unigan. When the time comes, if we are tired, we will take our rest there.

That's right. Okay, let's head for Unigan!

Oof...

No need to overdo it, kid. The inn's not far now.

Umm, yeah... I might be a little bit tired.

Okay then, let's go straight to the inn. Do you think you can manage?

Yeah...

Okay, I'll get us a room.

I'm sorry.

It's nothing I didn't foresee, kid. Don't fret it. You take as long as you need to rest up.

You're kind for an old guy.

I'm not saying it to be nice, kid.

Hey, umm... You were talking to my Pappy about someone who looked like me, weren't you?

What of it, kid?

That's the person you used to guard, wasn't it.

Yeah. She was just like you; full of life.

So, err, how did you protect her with that jangly cape of yours?

Jangly cape, huh?

There's not much to it - when danger approached, I took her under my cape. It was my duty to be her shield.

So, if I end up in danger, will you protect me with it, too?

Don't tempt fate, kid. You should pray that we never have need of the cape.

Whaat?!

Hey, kid, I didn't say I wouldn't protect you...

Well, that took longer than expe, , Don't tell me you've upset her again!

No, this is... Never mind. Did you get us a room?

Yeah, it's all sorted.

Let's get some rest, so we're ready to go again tomorrow.

Hmph!

Okay, everyone feeling fit and rested? Okay then, let's head out.

Woohoo, let's go!

Well, you're certainly well rested!

What makes you want to go to the Nuaru Uplands so much anyway?

Oh...

That's, err... Well...

Hey, kid. If you don't wanna say, you don't need to.

Huh?

We aren't here to ask you questions. Our job is just to get you safely to the Nuaru Uplands. Mercenaries ask no questions of their employers. That's the rule.

I see. Right, well, yeah, no need to talk about it if you don't want to.

Umm, yeah... Okay.

Now, enough of that. Time we headed for the Nuaru Uplands.

Here we are, kid. What now?

Umm, there's a place where you can see the castle really well. I want to go there!

Somewhere with a view of Miglance Castle... That's got to be that hill over there.

Well, that's not far.

Oh, wow!

It looks like we found the right place.

Yess! This is it! This is where I simply had to come to again. Wow, it's just so, so pretty.

You think so, kid? The scenery was better, before the beasts attacked.

Really? Wow... Well, I think it looks pretty now.

You need to come back when they've fixed things up, kid. The scenery'll take your breath away then.

That might be a bit hard.

Hard?

Wait, you two! What's that stench? There're monsters nearby!

'Umans, is it? Oo said you was allowed to come rootin' round 'ere then, eh?

Eek!

Get behind me, kid!

O-Okay! Ah, look out!

Get out o' 'ere!

Gragh?!

Wow!

Are you two okay?

No problem. Let's finish this.

Are you hurt?

No, I'm fine. Bertrand kept me safe!

Tee hee.. You used your cape to protect me! It was, like: whoosh! So, so cool!

Don't get cocky, kid! It's all about the job. You're my charge until I get you home...

But it's good to see you aren't hurt, kid.

So, what do you want to do now? Do you want to look at the view some more?

No, I'm fine now. I've seen all I want to see.

Then let's go back to Rinde. Your father must be getting worried.

Pappy, Pappy! I'm back!

Oh, sweet pea, you're back!

Thank you for putting up with my daughter all this time.

How was the trip, sweet pea? Did you see what you wanted to see?

Oh, Pappy, it was so much fun! I got to go back to that place of ours!

Place of yours?!

I am so grateful to you two. Now my daughter can leave Rinde with no regrets.

Huh? Leave?

Sweet pea, didn't you tell them? I'm sorry, my little one can be so thoughtless some...

I told the kid she didn't have to. Mercenaries ask no questions of their employers...

Oh, is that right? Well, we're actually moving overseas to another country because of my job.

There was this special place - we called it, "our place" - and my little one just had to see it one more time...

It all makes sense now...

Wasn't it lucky that we came along? Did you make some good memories?

Yes, I really, really did! I'll never, ever forget going and seeing the castle with them.

Hey, Mister Bertrand!

Wh-What the?!

So, umm, err, I've gotta go far, far away now, but...

I'll come back to Rinde! And I'll go see the castle from the Nuaru Uplands! When I do, will you take me there again?

I can't see into the future, kid.

Hey, no fair! Promise me! Promise me!

I'll be all grown up and a lady then, so I'll even be able to pay you!

Well, I'm afraid we've got a lot to do to prepare for our journey...

Mister Aldo, Mister Bertrand! Thank you so, so much!

All the best in your new life!

She's flown the nest...

Huh? Did you say something, Bertrand?

No, it was nothing. This is the first time I've done a job with a partner. It's not so bad...

Well, I'm glad that I worked with you, too.

Then let's return to our journey.