Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 138

138―――――

Do you even know what winter training entails?

It’s been three days since I arrived at Kalta’s ger [a traditional Mongolian yurt or tent].

If you’re expecting something glamorous from this training, Zion would tell you to think again.

From the outset, for them, the continuous, simple act of packing up tents and moving was mobile training, and riding horses was maneuver training.

The only activities that could be considered actual training were the heightened state of alert compared to peacetime and staying up all night to prepare for potential night raids.

“Master, Master.”

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

“D-Do you really have to go out again today?”

He did it two days ago, and again yesterday.

Every dawn, Zion went out, exchanged a few words with the warriors on guard duty, and then returned to the tent.

Even when Rishikta offered to escort him, he refused with a wave of his hand, leaving her anxious until Zion safely returned to the tent.

Of course, Rishikta was definitely happy to feel her master’s warmth in the same sleeping bag after Zion came back, but she still thought this was excessive.

“I heard that today, you have to stay up all night.

And because it’s a counter-attack drill in preparation for a night raid, you can’t even warm yourself by the fire.”

“That’s right. It’s called pulling an all-nighter.”

“The North is different from the Klausen territory or the royal capital. I’m so worried you might hurt yourself.”

“Today’s the last day anyway. After the all-nighter ends tomorrow morning, I’ll rest, and while the warriors practice mobile tactics for the last time, I’ll catch up with Temujin.”

Nomadic people, for whom daily life is practically war, can’t stay in such harsh places for long.

Even if they themselves are fine, if the horses get injured, that’s the end of the situation; they can’t do anything.

Their horsemanship was so outstanding that they could fight monsters while riding, and even the kingdom’s knights were said to be disgusted when they charged while making strange noises.

“More than that, Rishi, what do you think?”

“About the warriors’ reactions?”

“Yeah. I thought you might have overheard the warriors whispering about us while you were checking on the horses.”

“At first, they were very wary. But after you mingled with them without hesitation, that wariness has strangely decreased.”

At Rishikta’s words, Zion chuckled as if he’d expected it.

Persuading one person is worse than doing nothing, and even if you persuade two, their influence diminishes when they’re part of a larger group.

But humans are truly effective in groups of three, and when you bring those three to your side, their real persuasive power is revealed.

The three warriors who have become rapidly close to Zion in the past few days are gradually explaining what happened with him to the surrounding warriors, and Zion still doesn’t treat the warriors carelessly even though he is Temujin’s guest.

He gives them the feeling that he enjoys being with them and is quite used to their ways.

At first, they would have been doubtful.

Could it be that this handsome guy is just acting for a day or so, trying to deceive them and instill illusions about the kingdom?

‘If I had acted dignified and solemn, they would have immediately suspected me. But that’s not the case, is it?

In any world, warriors, those who prepare for battle, are the same. They tend to like those who acknowledge their hardships and work alongside them.’

Why else would the absurd conclusion that the soldier’s worst enemy is the officer come about?

Isn’t it because they don’t understand the reality and unconditionally emphasize that they are above them, only asserting their position?

It’s a very foolish act that is perfect for inciting resentment, as they don’t even try to win people’s hearts and instead proclaim with their whole body, ‘I am much greater than you.’

So Zion didn’t show any such behavior at all.

On the first day he came as a guest, did he act important as Temujin’s guest, make all sorts of requests to the warriors, or try to look solemn?

No, not at all.

Rather, he spoke and acted like an ordinary person, like one of the warriors.

He focused on erasing the wariness or rejection that outsiders might have towards the kingdom and the northern tribes.

‘If you make a good impression, the rest of the story will be embellished by them. I don’t need to make an effort. The word spreads on its own.’

If the living space is large, it might be different, but you see the guy you saw yesterday when you wake up and rub your eyes, you see them while eating, you see them while riding a horse, and you see them even when going to relieve yourself.

Even though people from different tribes don’t talk much, if you skip a few steps, you’ll find that everyone knows each other.

The story that naturally comes up is bound to be about Temujin’s guest, whom they are most curious about, and from there, the seeds that were sown in advance sprout and spread in all directions.

This nobleman from the kingdom who came this time is strangely getting along too well with the warriors.

‘On top of that, the warriors don’t mind the jerky that they’re tired of.’

I don’t know whose idea it was, but I wanted to shove anchovy poop into the head of the guy who put anchovies in the rice balls in my past life.

If it were small dried anchovies, it might be different, but what were they thinking, putting large anchovies in rice balls?

“Master.

Then I’ll go with you···.”

“You promised to always stay in the tent.”

“I am a knight who serves the master, and a bodyguard who must protect you!

If you at least tell me the reason in detail, I can accept it, but if you keep telling me to wait in the tent, I can’t···.”

“I feel disgusted when strange guys steal glances at my woman.”

Zion, without a second’s hesitation, used his trump card that he had been cherishing.

Rishikta, struck in the heart by that unexpected blow, let out a groan, and her face began to turn bright red.

It was as if smoke would come out of her ears with a ‘Pshoo!’ sound.

‘But that’s actually true.’

Zion had long known that the warriors were subtly looking at Rishikta when she first entered the ger.

Zhan Temujin is also a great beauty, but the feeling of suddenly seeing something different from what you always see is different.

In addition, the people of the North and the people of Nudia have slightly different appearances, so one of the reasons why the warriors’ attention is focused on her is because of that.

Whether they are looking out of curiosity or secretly harboring ulterior motives, it was clear that it was not a pleasant thing for a man.

‘It’s better to hide her in times like this, so that nothing tiring happens.’

Whether it’s something that happened because of my mistake or Kalta’s mistake, it’s only natural that it will have a negative impact on me.

Anyway, most of the warriors will be leaving the camp for maneuvers tomorrow, so then I can safely move with her.

“You understand what I mean, Rishi?”

“My woman, my woman···.”

“···Rishi?”

It seems like he triggered something strange.

A title of Upper Knight, the highest position that ordinary humans can reach, excluding those who are beyond the norm, and the ability to exchange swords with Kim Yu-hyun to some extent.

But unlike those aspects, she is a very delicate person with a slightly serious dependency issue, wanting to rely on someone.

Considering that he has been showing a slightly neglectful attitude towards her lately, the reaction Rishikta is showing now meant that she has reached a considerably dangerous level.

‘···Is she going to turn dark too?

No, Rishi.

Please, at least you, remain a trustworthy escort knight.

Trisha and Zhan Temujin alone are too much for me.’

Zion thought it was impossible to calm her down with words, so he gently hugged the knight, who was still muttering.

No, he softly stroked the woman’s sparkling blonde hair.

“You’ve been through a lot. Meeting a master who keeps walking down a path of hardship.”

“Ah?”

“N-Not at all!

I, I have never thought that way···.”

“No. I didn’t show it, but I feel like I made you do something too cruel regarding Trisha, so my heart wasn’t at ease either.

Fortunately, Trisha doesn’t seem to harbor any animosity towards you, but it’s still true that I don’t feel good.”

“···T-Truthfully.”

Rishikta, who should have been quietly listening to Zion’s words, opened her mouth.

A slightly anxious look and a gesture of not knowing where to put her eyes.

Isn’t this the reaction of a child who broke their father’s expensive fishing rod, looking at their father who is blaming himself for scolding them harshly?

‘Why is she being so anxious again?’

Zion wondered if Rishikta had caused an accident or was thinking of causing one.

He decided to wait patiently without urging her.

Until the child, who is convinced that they have done something wrong, tells their own mistake.

There’s no point in pushing them unnecessarily.

Especially if they are easily hurt.

“Without realizing it, I think I was··· serious.

So I felt pathetic and s-scared.”

“···What are you talking about all of a sudden, Rishi?”

“When you told me to pressure Trisha, I saw her and Master talking together.

At that time, a fire suddenly soared inside me, and I was so upset and angry that I pushed her harder than you told me to.”

“Oh···.”

No wonder, I thought she was turning dark too much, but it seems like Rishikta was unknowingly tormenting her like crazy.

They say that what makes even a nice person go crazy is relentlessly picking on, tormenting, and pushing them around, and since Trisha, the owner of the Black Flame Dragon, received that, it was only natural that things would go wrong in a strange direction.

“T-Truthfully, I was going to tell you sooner···.

I’m sorry.

I was afraid of being blamed, or being abandoned again, so I had thoughts that a knight shouldn’t have.”

“···.”

I thought it was some terrifying confession like she tried to kill Trisha.

Zion muttered inwardly and let out a sigh of relief.

Honestly, if a woman like Rishikta showed even more jealousy than this, he wouldn’t have anything to say.

“Rest assured. I’m sure I told you, right?

Unless you abandon me, I have no intention of abandoning you either.”

“You certainly said that.”

“Then that’s enough. I don’t know if you really tried to harm my people, but since things have been resolved, I won’t ask any further.

But from now on, don’t push the other person too hard with personal feelings.

Unless the other person is aiming for my life.

Understood, Rishikta Amshel?”

“I-I will keep that in mind.”

When he patted her back, Rishikta seemed quite relieved and leaned her forehead against Zion’s shoulder.

Looking at her, Zion thought that he should calm this knight down sometime soon.

“Hmm, but you know. Rishi.”

“Yes, yes. Master.”

“Even if I overlook other things once, shouldn’t you have ‘reported’ to me if something like that happened?

This is no different from neglecting your duty as an escort knight.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!

If you give me a punishment, I will accept anything.”

A punishment.

I’ll have to think about what kind of punishment to give when we return to the kingdom.

Since it’s joint responsibility, would it be right to hold Rishi, the woman, accountable for what Rishikta Amshel, the knight, did wrong?

Zion smiled and gently patted Rishikta’s back as if to say not to worry.

Thanks to that, she, who had been trembling slightly, soon calmed down and leaned against Zion, enjoying the comfort of his embrace, as if she wanted to stay like this for a while.

―

“Are you really okay?”

“About what?”

“This is a training that even the warriors are sick of.”

“Don’t worry.”

“It’s incredibly cold without a fire, and your body gets stiff, and your limbs are sore and numb.”

“I said don’t worry.”

Even with Tyas’s concerns, Zion checked his cold-weather gear and leaned perfectly against the trench that the warriors had dug in advance.

It was definitely cold, but at least the cold-weather gear here was much warmer and had better insulation than the dog fur he used to wear.

It smelled a bit, but it was much better than freezing to death.

“Just what is your identity, Zion?

Do all the nobles of the kingdom live like this?”

At Hustle’s question, Zion turned to him with a ‘Huh?’

He looked at Zion with a dumbfounded expression and continued.

“Waking up at dawn is annoying for us too, but you repeat it for days without any problem, and when digging this trench, you shoveled better than most warriors, and even now, you look too comfortable, as if you’re lying in your sleeping bag.”

“Hustle is right. Hey, Zion.

I can’t figure out your identity either.

Isn’t a war hero supposed to be a strong, cool, and always noble-looking being like Temujin?”

Yung, a middle-aged warrior, also couldn’t get used to Zion’s appearance.

It’s not just standing guard for two hours, but a training that requires staying up all night.

This handsome nobleman from the kingdom fearlessly volunteered to do it together.

“Quiet, did everyone prepare a lot of interesting stories?

If you fall asleep here even a little, you’ll freeze to death, so stay alert.”

“···L-Look at that tone. Is he really a noble?

He’s even better than the warriors.”

“If speaking nicely gets you something extra, you do it nicely, and if not, you don’t.”

With those words, Zion glanced at his shoes.

A friend who was a ‘blocked ship’ [slang for someone who is socially inept or isolated] once told me that one day, he was so cold that he tried applying shoe polish to his combat boots and setting them on fire, but it didn’t get warmer and had no effect, so he just gave up.

Why couldn’t I have thought of such a creative thing? Zion chuckled, regretting it.

It was an unexpected winter training, but considering the rewards that would follow, he wondered if he could do it for another day or so.

Yes, no more, no less, just one day.

―――――――Author’s Note―――――――

I want, recommendations!