Editing Rune Soldier Louie:Volume1 Chapter3 (section)

===Part 2 - Companions===

“……He even broke his wand.”

Said Melissa the acolyte, her eyes were filled with tears, High Priestess Jenny looked at her with remorse.

“He used an important symbol of a magician to beat goblins in the head, and when his wand broke…he used his fists……”

Then, Melissa repeated “This is against my will” five times.

(She can’t be serious……)

Once known as the “sword princess”, the High Priestess listened to Jenny, although her face was calm, she was actually very angry.

Melissa didn’t say it, but she wanted a different hero from the God of War. From Jenny’s point of view, Louie was her friend’s son, she known him ever since he was little.

“He is always shirtless in front of women, that kind of behaviour is barbarous. He doesn’t discuss anything with us, clearly he is a man that thinks for himself, he could have caused serious harm to his companions. If God doesn’t give me some inspiration soon, I’m afraid my faith in God may waver.”

Jenny could understand how Melissa was feeling, but she didn’t want her quitting the faith over this.

(Louie shirtless in front of women…)

When the King founded the country of Ohfun, one thing was always certain, men would exercise topless to try and attract members of the opposite sex.

A strong burly figure, of course women admire this, but most women still prefer a gentler man. However, most men don’t understand this.

(When it comes to a beautiful physique, Louie clearly excels in that area.)

Jenny thought.

When Jenny was young, she always held the firm belief that a strong body was needed for fighting.

As a woman, she always maintained a well-proportioned body, using a dancing sword technique with an elegant posture, she gained the name “sword princess” through defeating opponents.

“How can you say that……?”

Jenny said to Melissa.

To qualify as a member of the clergy, you must get an evaluation from Jenny. Whether you are strong or weak, you will learn fighting skills so you can defend yourself.

In Melissa’s case, she always helped out in less physical demanding tasks. For example, she would always help out with sermons for the younger believers.

In the future, she would most likely be teaching large groups of people, but now she was too young, and she needed to learn to control her temper.

Melissa always fantasied about getting a hero, one that was perfect in every way, someone that would be worshipped like an idol. Unfortunately, such people do not exist in this world, hero’s come in all shapes and forms.

“What should I do?”

Melissa asked Jenny, with a puzzled look on her face.

“I am willing to listen to the High Priest’s instructions.”

“Rather than listen to my opinion, you should follow the mission God has given you.”

Jenny then spoke in a commanding voice.

“God has given you a mission, you were told to follow your magician hero Louie. Even though he doesn’t have the qualities of a hero yet, you should embrace your duty, not run away from it.”

After listening to Jenny, Melissa couldn’t help but feel disgusted.

Jenny knew that Melissa could endure, even if Louie didn’t have the qualities of a hero.

(Louie was always such a gentle child.)

Jenny thought, thinking about the times she spent with Louie when he was a child.

Seeing that Melissa was trembling in front of her, she thought of some encouraging words.

“You should reach out to him, try to understand more about him from his daily life, maybe then you’ll find out if he is the hero you are meant to serve.”

“……I will.”

Even though she promised her, she couldn’t help but show that she was unhappy.

Then, she unsteadily stood up, and left the chapel.


<div style="text-align: center;">* * *</div>


“He broke his wand."

Merrill was recounting their adventure to the information broker.

“I can’t believe a magician even did that.”

“Why not? He’s an idiot.”

Merrill laughed. She then took two steps towards Shamsul.

“What do you want?”

He continued to watch her, a smile appeared on her face.

“Thanks to your lousy information, we almost ended up dead!”

The smile on her face disappeared in an instant, she was furious, but so was the broker.

“Hey! You know full well how dangerous it can be going on an adventure!”

The broker found Merrill’s expression offensive, he could only think of defending himself.

“Everyone knows it dangerous, but don’t you feel uneasy knowing this?”

Merrill’s face relaxed, she was calm once again.

“I would certainly feel uneasy.”

“Well, now that you feel that way, don’t you think you should return our money?”

He couldn’t afford to lose money, or even give it back for that matter. Unfortunately for Merrill, she was flat broke and needed the money.

“No refunds.”

After Shamsul finished, he felt a pair of small hands touching his.

“But......”

“But what?”

Little Merrill’s eye’s sparkled, she moved her face closer to Shamsul’s.

“That may apply to other people, but I am an only child. Don’t you want to help me?”

“Of course, you’re my friend after all.”

Merrill waited for an answer from the broker.

“Then……”

He started to smile.

“What’s that look supposed to mean?”

Merrill leaned back from the brokers face.

Shamsul smiled like a wild dog.

“Hey, smile for me again……”

“You’ve got to be kidding.”

Merrill cried, she then followed that with a roundhouse kick to Shamsul’s face, his body flew through the air, impacting the floor of the bar.

“Don’t be so impulsive, I was only joking.”

Shamsul staggered as he got up, as he looked at Merrill.

“You try something like that when I was being sincere, that was a bad joke.”

Merrill confidently said.

“But thanks to your joke, I’m feeling a little better.”

“That was rude……”

Shamsul patted the dust off his clothes, Merrill then sat down on a seat at the counter.

“This time you’ve really done it.”

“Well, you can’t please everyone.”

Shamsul put his elbows on the counter.

“What was your friends name again, Louie, wasn’t it?”

“What are you talking about, did you forget or something? You were the one I bought the information about him from.”

“Ah, yes, he’s the adopted son of Headmaster Carwes at the Magician’s Guild.  That guy really doesn’t behave himself, he’s got into fights with our people several times.”

“Don’t tell me you want to introduce him to the thieves’ guild?”

“Maybe, though he does have a great physique, he could become a great man…maybe even a hero one day.”

“The guy is still useless.”

Looking at his performance in their last adventure, little Merrill didn’t think Louie had what it takes to join the thieves guild.

“Anyway, I’ve got some other information about him. In fact, I forgot to tell you last time. ”

“I’m not paying.”

Merrill made this very clear, even if she wanted to buy the information, she wouldn’t be able to since she doesn’t have any money.

“Alright, I’ll give you this one for free, as well as a little gift.”

“Good, what’s the information?”

“Well……it’s related to his background. No one knows who his biological parents are.”

“Okay.”

The broker peaked the interested of Merrill.

The thieves’ guild has extensive information on everybody, they know everybody’s biological parents, except for Louie’s.

“And……”

Merrill smiled, and reached her hand out to Shamsul.

“I want to know more about that guy, Headmaster Carwes. He may be a great man, but I’m sure you’d be able to learn more about him if you got closer to him.”

“Come on.”

Shamsul said, as he put a jewel into Merrill’s hands.

(Oh, this must be worth at least 200(0) silver coins……)

As soon as Merrill had the stone in her hand, she started thinking about how much it was worth.

(Anyhow, since Louie is our travelling companion, it should be easy to glean some information from him.)

Merrill had got a task that was too simple, she liked it that way. She then put the jewel into her bag, said goodbye to Shamsul and left the underground bar.


<div style="text-align: center;">* * *</div>


“He actually broke his wand.”

After Genie finished speaking, a mocking smile was on her face.

Genie was talking to one of her former colleges from the mercenary guild. His name is Barb, he’s about thirty years old, but you wouldn’t know that by just looking at him.

“That magician is unbelievable.”

Barb said, as he drank from a glass.

“By the way, I didn’t expect you’d become a knight of the Kingdom of Ohfun?”

Barb was previously a mercenary, strictly speaking, his type of character isn’t’ generally allowed to become a knight.

Genie didn’t think he’d become a knight either.

“The Kingdom hasn’t been around that long, they had a shortage for talent. When I was in my third year as a mercenary, I did some fencing and found success.”

“Yeah, I understand.”

If Ohfun was a normal country, knights would be from the royals of the country.

However, since Ohfun was created recently, they had to choose their talent from people who might not have been eligible in another country.

“With your abilities, you’d make……”

“Women can’t become knights.”

Genie said coldly.

In the past, someone had said something similar to her. The faces of a group of men emerged in her mind, men who were of nobility, they tried everything in their power to stop her.

“Let me be very clear. I don’t have any interest in serving the royals.”

“Then what do you want to do?”

“If you’ve been listening, I’m currently and adventurer. I think I’ll continue doing that.”

“That is a possibility, but you’ve got to think about your future.”

“I was young once, but it’s too early to be worrying about what I’ll be doing when I’m old.”

“You mean you won’t become a mercenary again, not even for the Kingdom of Ohfun……?”

Currently there is no war, so any tasks a mercenary gets would be easy.

“I don’t have the motivation to fight for the kingdom, I’d rather fight monsters, mostly because it’s more interesting.”

Genie shrugged.

“Is that so?”

Barb looked disappointed, he then stood up.

“I have to go back to the city, what about you?”

“I think I’ll wait here for my companions.”

“My house is on Mayor Street, if there’s anything you’d like to discuss, you know where to find me. Hopefully I’ll be seeing more of you…anyway, I wish you the best of luck.”

Genie saw through his words, she though they had a hidden meaning.

“Why? Is there something you want to tell me?”

Genie was being frank.

“Yes, you’re always welcome.”

“However, you’re a knight now, and you don’t even have a wife, I feel sorry for you.”

In an instant, Barb’s face became very stiff, then he smiled.

“Well, you could always take that spot.”

Barb laughed, then he said his goodbyes and left the bar.