I Became the Hero While Paving a Flower Path for My Niece - Chapter 9

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Paving the Way for My Cousin: A Hero’s Journey 009
Alex smiled and waited patiently for Leo to get a good look.
‘In the future’ as well, after his death, knights and soldiers had come to the village.
‘But they never found the wolf and just left empty-handed.’
This time would be no different—they’d return with nothing, since the wolf was dead by Yibae’s Magic.
Still, thanks to the knights and soldiers having come, there had been no wolf attacks afterward, so the village should have nothing to worry about.
‘I was the unlucky one.’
To go up the mountain that very day.
Alex let out a rueful laugh.
Once the knights and soldiers had passed, Alex urged the cart forward onto the road again.
“Uncle! Those knights look really cool! Their Armor is so sturdy-looking and shiny! And the Cloaks are amazing!”
Leo, sitting beside Alex, chattered excitedly. Having seen knights in person for the first time—creatures he’d only glimpsed in storybooks—he was clearly thrilled.
Alex listened warmly to Leo’s account.
Then Leo spotted strangers walking along the road. His sky-blue eyes went wide.
“There are people, Uncle!”
“They’re from other villages. A bit further and we’ll reach the Lord’s Castle.”
“Are they all going to the Lord’s Castle?”
“They are.”
“Why?”
“To sell what they have or buy things at the Market. Or maybe they’re looking for work.”
“Are some of them going to buy Sweets?”
As Leo’s eyes sparkled, Alex nodded with a smile.
“I’m sure some people are.”
“Wow!”
Leo, only six years old and having never been to the Lord’s Castle before, looked around eagerly with an excited expression.
[The road does seem right, doesn’t it?]
[The knights and soldiers came from that way, and people are going that way too.]
True enough.
Alex agreed with Yibae. And yet something nagged at him.
Unable to place what it was, Alex paused in thought before a soft “ah” escaped him.
‘In the future, we took a different road.’
Ten years from now.
In the ‘future’ when the Demon Race invaded the continent, refugee camps sprang up everywhere because of the flood of fleeing people, and roads disappeared or were newly carved out.
‘And there was a Dungeon in front of the South Gate of the Lord’s Castle.’
He didn’t know exactly when it would appear.
Because of the Dungeon that formed at the South Gate, the Caldis lord had to seal off the South Gate and construct a new one to the southwest.
So the current road felt unfamiliar for a reason.
‘We went that way.’
Alex turned his head left, gazing toward the path that didn’t yet exist—the one he’d walked with the sixteen-year-old Leo in the ‘future.’
His eyes held both longing and bitterness.
Then.
Six-year-old Leo asked in a buoyant voice.
“Uncle, there are people with swords over there! Are they Mercenaries?”
Alex quickly smiled and answered.
“That’s right. Those are merchant caravans, and the Mercenaries are protecting them so nothing gets stolen on the way.”
That Future had already vanished.
Now was the time to make this present-day Leo happy.
“I see!”
[Is there a Mage? I want to see Magic from this other world!]
Listening to the delighted voices of Leo and Yibae, Alex drove the cart onward.
More people, carriages, and carts filled the main roads and side paths leading to the Lord’s Castle.
And then, at last.
The South Gate of Caldis Lord’s Castle came into view.
“Wooooow!”
[Ooooh!! The Lord’s Castle of another world!!]
Sturdy stone walls and a massive wooden gate blocked the way ahead, and above it, two watchtowers flew flags embroidered with the lord’s insignia, rippling in the wind.
“Wow! It’s so tall!”
As they drew closer to the stone walls surrounding the Lord’s Castle, Leo’s neck craned upward as if it might snap.
At that, Alex couldn’t help but laugh.
He found himself wondering what Leo’s reaction would be when they reached the kingdom’s capital or the massive cities he’d see in the years to come.
“Uncle, can we go up there?”
[Oh! Let’s try climbing!]
Alex smiled wryly at Leo and Yibae, whose eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“I’m afraid not—that’s an important place only soldiers are allowed to visit.”
“I see….”
“But when we reach a bigger city, I’ll take you somewhere even higher, Leo.”
“Really?!”
Leo’s eyes lit up at Alex’s promise.
“I promise.”
“Wow! Uncle’s the best!”
Alex ruffled Leo’s hair and began explaining the castle.
“This is Caldis Territory. It’s ruled by Caldis, the Count.”
The ghost Alex used to be would have dropped honorifics entirely, calling the nobility far worse names. But now, returned to the past, that wasn’t an option.
‘There’s the Aristocratic Insult Crime, after all.’
And more importantly,
“My lord!”
Leo was here.
If Alex weren’t careful, the boy might pick up crude habits just from listening.
He’d have to watch his tongue from now on.
[Oh, the Count.]
Yibae had no such concerns—the words only sounded in his own ears.
“The southern part where our village is uses farmland, but to the north of the territory there’s a Dungeon where mercenaries come and go frequently.”
“A Dungeon! I know! That’s where the Monsters come from, right, Uncle?”
[A Dungeon?! A Dungeon?!]
[There’s a Dungeon here too?!]
“That’s right. So that’s why there are so many mercenaries—to fight the Monsters.”
“My mom and dad are mercenaries too!”
Leo spoke with such pride that Alex chuckled softly.
[Wow, so this world has Dungeons too. Are they like the ones in our world?]
[Let’s go check one out later, Alex! Perfect for practicing Magic and earning money!]
Alex decided to answer Yibae’s enthusiasm later. For now, he joined the line of people entering the castle.
Leo, captivated by all the new faces, bounced excitedly on his toes, peering this way and that.
“Next!”
Soldiers holding spears stood guard at the South Gate, inspecting everyone who passed through.
“Uncle, what are those soldiers doing?”
“They’re checking to see if there are any bad people coming through.”
“I see!”
[Looks like security is well organized here too.]
After a short wait, it was Alex and Leo’s turn.
“Next!”
For Leo, this was his first time seeing a soldier up close. His eyes went wide as he gazed up at the armored figure—the metallic Helmet, the shining Armor, the spear in his hand all looked impossibly impressive.
“Ahem!”
The grim-faced soldier was caught off guard by the child staring at him without blinking, but he quickly recovered with a cough and began inspecting the cart.
Given the cart and the child, he likely assumed they were traveling merchants.
“Do you have any cargo?”
“No. We’ve come from Bello Village in the south. We’re here to become mercenaries.”
“Mercenaries?”
The soldier’s eyes narrowed slightly.
It wasn’t uncommon for people to abandon their villages and take up the mercenary life the moment they came of age—or even before.
But it was rare to see someone trying to become a mercenary while bringing along a child this young.
The soldier, who had a daughter about Leo’s age, began looking between the boy and Alex with a worried expression. There was something tragic about this pair.
“Do you know where the Mercenary Guild is located?”
It wasn’t his concern, but the soldier asked out of genuine worry.
“Yes, we do.”
“And a place to stay—an inn?”
“Not yet….”
Alex had visited the castle before, following adults who came to pay taxes or visit the Market, but he’d always returned to the village the same day—never stayed at an inn. So he had nowhere in mind.
‘There is one place, though.’
‘Future’ Leo—the Hero—had stayed at a particular inn.
But Alex couldn’t quite recall where it was. It was the first day of their journey, and both he and Leo were still feeling their way along.
“If you head east down the main street, you’ll find an inn called the Lake House.”
The soldier said this.
“It’s clean, so it’s fine to stay there with a child. If you mention that Kain sent you, they should give you a discount.”
Alex blinked for a moment at the soldier Kain’s kindness, then smiled.
“Thank you.”
“For the child’s sake, it’s best not to take on contracts that are too dangerous.”
“Yes. I will.”
Leo rolled his eyes as he watched Alex, the soldier, and Kain. For some reason, he sensed a village uncle’s warmth from this unfamiliar soldier.
Not quite sure why, but sensing he’d been helped, Leo grinned widely and called out.
“Thank you!”
At Leo’s charming greeting, Kain, the soldiers around him, Alex, and Yibae all burst into laughter.
Having been given directions to the inn, Alex bowed politely and paused to think. Would the place Soldier Kain had introduced really be any good?
‘Well, if it turns out poorly, we can always leave.’
Alex drove the cart eastward down the street.
“Wow!”
Since the sun hadn’t set yet, the town within the Lord’s Castle was bustling. Horses and carriages uncommon in the village traveled about here and there, and there were many people.
“One, two! Wow! Uncle, look there! A two-story building!”
Moreover, unlike the single-story houses typical of the village, there were two-story buildings scattered throughout.
“Wait a moment, Leo. First we need to get to the inn.”
“Okay! Got it!”
At Alex’s words, Leo sat obediently on the driver’s seat, yet his head never stopped, moving swiftly this way and that. He seemed unaware that his small mouth had fallen slightly open.
Alex, chuckling softly, looked around as he drove the cart. The feeling was both familiar and strange.
[Oh! Fantasy! Medieval!]
Yibae, seeing through Alex’s eyes, seemed delighted by the new sights of this other world.
“Leo, do you know what an inn is?”
At Alex’s question, Leo quickly nodded.
“I do! It’s in fairytales. It’s where warriors sleep. And where they eat with friends.”
[What if someone picks a fight and a brawl breaks out!]
That had happened often in the ‘Future’ as well.
The end was at hand, yet wicked people paid no mind and committed terrible deeds.
‘Perhaps they did worse precisely because the end was so near.’
In a world where order and rules held no sway.
That was why the virtuous shone all the brighter.
‘…though most of them died in the end.’
Alex smiled bitterly to himself and continued.
“We’ll sleep at the inn tonight too.”
“Yay! So the warrior is staying there too, Uncle?”
Perhaps.
The warrior of the Future. Right here.
Alex smiled at Leo and said,
“The warrior is probably sleeping at a different inn, don’t you think?”
Leo was disappointed at that, but quickly recovered and eagerly looked around the town in every direction.
“The Lake House. There it is.”
Just as Soldier Kain had said, the inn, the Lake House, looked clean on the surface, and it had quite a few guests.
A clerk who appeared to be about fifteen years old and was sweeping outside spotted Alex and the cart approaching the inn and hurried over.
“Welcome! This is the Lake House! Our inn has a back courtyard where carts can go, and a stable where horses can rest comfortably!”
“I was sent by Soldier Kain.”
“Oh! Soldier Kain!”
The clerk Matthew’s face brightened even more.
“Please come this way!”
Alex followed Matthew to the inn’s back courtyard, left the horse and cart, took Leo’s hand, and went inside.
The inn was clean as Kain had said, and though there were mercenaries about, it wasn’t particularly noisy.
“Food’s ready!”
He suspected it was all thanks to this grim-faced proprietor. Yet something about him felt familiar, as if he’d seen him somewhere before.
“Sir! These guests were sent by Soldier Kain!”
“That scoundrel?”
“There’s a child too!”
At that, the innkeeper Hallon, who had been frowning, quickly softened his expression and pulled something wrapped from his pocket. It was a sweet confection with a sugary taste.
Seeing this, Leo looked at Alex. When Alex smiled and nodded, Leo beamed and accepted the sweet.
“Thank you!”
Matthew was taken aback.
“A child who doesn’t cry at the sight of their master! Well, besides my granddaughter, this is a first.”
“You rascal!”
Hallon gave Matthew a light swat across the back—a gesture so familiar that the other guests burst into laughter.
[Seems like a decent place.]
Alex nodded in agreement with Yibae’s assessment, smiling.
“One room should be fine, yes? How long are you planning to stay?”
“Five days should suffice.”
That would give them time enough to buy what they needed for the journey, register at the Mercenary Guild, and make a trip north to the Dungeon.
“Then this much will do.”
The price Hallon quoted was cheaper than what Future had mentioned, cheaper even than what his sister and brother-in-law had told him—proof that Kain had steered them to a genuine bargain.
Alex’s confidence only grew when he saw the room itself.
“This floor, Uncle!”
Leo’s footsteps bounded up the stairs with an uncharacteristic lightness; this was his first time staying in a two-story building.
“It’s not huge, but there’s a window and the bedding’s been freshly laundered—you’ll find it quite comfortable!”
[So this is what an inn looks like inside.]
The room was indeed as clean and pleasant as the staff member had promised. Leo wandered about, examining everything with wide eyes.
“Uncle! I really like it here!”
“I do too.”
Alex made his own careful inspection, even tapping at the walls in places.
[Looking for hidden rooms, are we?]
He was checking for something of the sort, instinctively.
‘No traps at least.’
Ambushes against Hero parties happened often enough that his body had learned to move on its own.
“Wow!”
Six-year-old Leo peered out through the open window, and the view of the town from the second floor was quite remarkable.
The sun hadn’t set yet, so people were still wandering about in every direction.
“We have time before dinner. Want to go look around, Leo?”
“Yes! I want to!”
[Good.]
When Alex came back downstairs with an excited Leo in tow, Hallon asked kindly.
“Where are you headed?”
His intimidating face was certainly frightening, despite his courteous tone.
“We were thinking of visiting the Market and the Blacksmith.”
“Ah? The best blacksmith around is Roy, up in the North.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
Alex bowed politely, and Leo raised his voice to follow suit.
“Thank you!”
At the child’s charming words, laughter erupted from various corners of the room.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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