Chapter 101: Chapter 91: Seeing Sean Again
"Uncle Peyton!"
Recognizing the man’s face, Roland waved excitedly.
He hadn’t seen Peyton since the village was attacked by Kobolds.
However, when he corresponded with Sean, it was always this old rcenary before him who wrote the letters.
Those letters, in addition to Sean’s caring reminders and updates, were always full of Peyton’s witty remarks and jokes.
So even though they hadn’t seen each other in a long ti, the bond between them hadn’t faded in the slightest.
"Celestial Father above..."
He couldn’t see clearly in the twilight, but when the tall figure dismounted and walked closer, Peyton was so shocked that the stalk of wheat he was chewing fell to the ground.
He clearly rembered when they first t six months ago. The boy had been as thin as a reed, looking like he could be snapped by the wind at any mont.
But now...
The old rcenary squinted, looking Roland up and down. Only after confirming the familiar facial features did he clap Roland’s shoulder heavily with a rough hand.
"You kid, did you swallow a Giant’s heart or sothing? You’ve grown so..."
He gestured at their nearly equal height and shook his head in amazent.
"You’re almost as tall as !"
Faced with Peyton’s exaggerated words and actions, Roland just offered a gentle smile without explaining further. Instead, he asked a question.
"Uncle Peyton, why were you waiting for
outside of town?"
"Who else but that brat Sean!"
Peyton snatched the reins from Roland’s hand and led him toward the town, complaining nonstop.
"A few days ago, he heard you were coming and forced
to wait here at the town entrance. Said he was afraid you’d get lost, ha!"
He rolled his eyes dramatically.
"I told him, how could a big young man like you possibly get lost? But that little rascal just wouldn’t let it go..."
As he spoke, Peyton did a perfect impression of Sean being a pest, making Roland laugh out loud.
Putting an arm around the old rcenary’s shoulders, Roland asked.
"By the way, where is Sean? Ever since he beca one of Lord Beckham’s personal Guards, he’s been bragging about it in every letter. It got so bad that for a while, I didn’t even want to read them."
"That kid?"
Peyton scoffed and shook his head.
"He spends all day at the barracks now. He’d sleep at Lord Beckham’s feet if he could. Anyone who didn’t know better would think the Lord was so peerless beauty!"
Laughing and talking, the two arrived at the town gate.
Unlike the tense atmosphere of Songmu Town, the Guards in Wuxi Town, though on high alert, seed much more composed.
After a simple inspection, they entered the town.
The streets were paved with neat cobblestones, and the horse’s hooves made a crisp clopping sound.
The roads were lined with well-arranged houses of wood and stone. The protruding windowsills on the second floors were filled with blooming flowers and drying herbs.
The clanging from the Blacksmith Shop mingled with the scent of wheat wafting from the bakery. A bronze sign hanging at the entrance of an inn glinted in the sunlight.
Being close to Black Pine Forest, one could also see so Adventurers and rcenaries in various gear, but they were mostly sitting quietly in tavern corners or orderly restocking their supplies at the general store.
A few children ran out from an alley, laughing and playing. They nearly crashed into Roland’s horse before scattering at Peyton’s mock-ferocious glare.
Patrolling Guards, their Armor gleaming, strode steadily through the marketplace.
An old woman with a basket of herbs on her back was haggling with the butcher. The air was filled with the scents of smoked at and fresh rosemary.
’It seems Lord Beckham governs this place well...’
Roland glanced around.
"It’s even more peaceful here than I imagined."
Peyton snorted softly.
"That old codger may be grumpy, but he knows what he’s doing. Co on, I’ll take you to see Gary’s new tavern. That brat Sean should be getting off his shift soon."
With that, Peyton led Roland to a tavern.
An oak sign hung before the tavern, bearing the na ’Breath of the Forest’.
Sunlight filtered through the flowers on the windowsill, casting dappled shadows on the dark brown wooden door.
Two long benches were placed by the door, where a few custors were leisurely drinking ale. Their laughter rose with the smoke curling from the chimney.
After tying Black Wind to a wooden post by the entrance, Peyton strode forward and kicked the tavern door open.
"Gary! Co see who I brought!"
Gary was about to curse him out for kicking the newly replaced door, but his eyes lit up the mont he saw Roland’s face.
"You’re... Roland?"
Although he had only t Roland a few tis, the boy had left a deep impression on Gary. He was his own son’s best friend, far more sensible than that little rascal of his, and a youth with the strength to slay a powerful Demon.
"Good kid. You’ve grown so fast."
Unlike Peyton, Gary didn’t comnt much on how muscular Roland had beco in such a short ti.
After a few simple pleasantries, he went outside and hung up a ’Closed’ sign, then turned and went into the back kitchen.
Before long, a tempting aroma drifted out from the kitchen.
While cooking, Gary started ordering Peyton around.
"Peyton, don’t just stand there like an idiot. Co help
with these ingredients!"
"You old fart! I’m not your tavern’s hired help!"
"If you don’t want to work, then get out and earn so money!"
"Then how about you pay
back for helping you renovate the tavern!"
"In your dreams!"
The noisy bickering made Roland smile unconsciously.
Compared to the disciplined life at the manor, this lively and casual atmosphere felt exceptionally relaxing.
Soon, aromatic dishes were brought to the table one after another.
Although the staple food was the usual boiled beans and black bread, the side dish was a stew of tender, flavorful at. It instantly whetted the appetite of Roland, who had grown tired of the monotonous als in the manor’s dining hall.
Just as the final dish, a wild vegetable salad, was placed on the table, heavy footsteps were suddenly heard from outside.
"Dad!"
Along with the CREAK of the wooden door, a familiar voice bood in his ears.
"Dad! Why are you closing so ear— Roland?"
Sean rubbed his eyes hard. With a cry of surprise, he rushed to the table in a few large strides and stared up and down at his long-lost best friend as if he were so rare treasure.
"You... you’re..."
Looking at Roland, who was now even more sturdily built than himself, Sean was too shocked to speak coherently.
After a long mont, the straightforward youth flopped down onto the seat next to Roland and gave his sturdy arm a hard punch.
"Looks like the food for a Blacksmith Apprentice is pretty good!"
He laughed heartily.
"With a build like this, I’d like to see anyone try and bully you now!"
Noticing the look of relief and joy in Sean’s eyes, Roland shook his head with a helpless smile and took a good look at his reunited friend.
Compared to when they last parted, Sean hadn’t changed too drastically, but the details revealed many differences.
He was more muscular, his once fair skin was tanned dark and glowing, and his palms were covered in thick calluses.
The most obvious change was in his expression. His forr boyish immaturity was gone, replaced by a look of steady resolve.
"Ha!"
Before Roland could reply, Peyton, who was sitting to the side, chugged a mouthful of ale and let out a satisfied belch.
"With the way this kid looks now, who would dare bully him? We’ll be lucky if he’s not the one bullying others!"
"Damn it, Peyton!"
Gary, seeing the bottle in Peyton’s hand, roared in anguish.
"That’s the most expensive ale in the house!"
"Obviously! Why else would I be drinking it?"
"You scoundrel!"
Watching the two of them bicker, Roland and Sean exchanged a smile.
Dinner concluded in this lively and warm atmosphere.
"Oof!"
Sean let out an exaggerated groan and collapsed heavily onto the bed, while Roland took the opportunity to look around the room.
Compared to the small, cramped room he rembered from the village, Sean’s current living quarters were exceptionally spacious and bright.
"You have no idea..."
Sean said while rubbing his stomach.
"how strict Lord Beckham is with his training..."
Although he was complaining, his eyes shone with unconcealable excitent and pride.
The two chatted for a while longer before finally lying down on the bed side-by-side, just like they used to.
"By the way, Roland..."
Sean suddenly turned on his side.
"How co you had ti to visit ? Master Hawke actually let you have ti off?"
Before Roland could answer, he continued on his own.
"Then again, with an exceptionally talented apprentice like you, of course the master would give you special treatnt."
"Don’t be ridiculous."
Roland gently waved his hand, cutting off Sean’s teasing. He stared at the clean, flat ceiling above and spoke slowly.
"Actually, I ca this ti... mainly to say goodbye to you..."
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