"I'm tired and sleepy."
Javier scowled as he tossed and turned on a comfortable chair. He wanted to sleep a little more, and nothing was surprising about that, given his schedule. In the afternoon, he protected the troublemaking young master. At night, he lay on the bed only to stay awake through the night because of insomnia. In between the rare breaks he had, he trained himself to stay sharp with his sword. Thus, it was only natural that he was exhausted.
No, it was almost karma. I think I dozed off fairly longer than on other days. Javier strangely felt that he had slept longer than usual. So, he smiled, satisfied that he was able to get some rest. But a voice interrupted his moment of euphoria.
"Haven't you slept enough…?"
The stranger's words sounded mocking to Javier's ears. But at the same time, they didn't sound mean-spirited. Am I dreaming?
But he immediately knew that it wasn't a dream because he hadn't dreamed for the past couple of years. I'm probably hearing things due to sleep deprivation. Javier flopped himself in the other direction to silence the voice.
But the voice came again.
"It's late. Time to wake up, sleepyhead."
What the…? It's not a dream. The voice was definitely coming from right beside him.
I'm a sleepyhead? No way… The grogginess was starting to fade, and clarity was returning gradually. He recalled how he had been suffering from insomnia for many years now. So, there was no way someone would call him sleepyhead. Plus, he had exceptionally sharp senses. They picked up on this stranger's movement and woke Javier even before they had time to walk over to his side and speak in his ear.
He snapped open his eyes to see who it was. He scanned the room, and he felt his body stiffen.
"Finally awake? Sheesh, if I didn't get you up, you'd be waking up when the sun is shining over you."
Standing beside his chair was a young man with black hair. He looked like he was in his mid-twenties. The guy was looking at him with a playful expression. But at the same time, it looked menacing and mischievous, like the face of a naughty kid who discovered the nicest toy in the world.
"Master Lloyd…?" Javier found himself muttering, as the pieces began to snap together in his head. The guy standing in front of him was the young master he protected. The beast and menace of the fiefdom. The very man who, for some reason, had been acting very strange in recent days.
Lloyd smirked as he looked at Javier. Javier didn't like it.
"At last, you recognize me. I'm truly honored," Lloyd mocked.
Honored…? He doesn't look a tad bit honored.
"But sir, why are you waking me up…?" Javier didn't mean to mutter, but his words came out all jumbled and mixed. He was too dazed and confused. Everything was a blur.
Why is this guy waking me up? This has never happened before. Javier thought to himself. It was impossible. It was that snake Lloyd who always slept in, and he had to wake him up every single morning without exception. So, it was a wonder for Javier to see his young master proudly standing beside him, smirking triumphantly.
"What do you mean, why? You fell asleep here," Lloyd stated.
"I did? Here?" Javier's eyes widened for a second.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Hey, don't you remember what happened last night?"
"But last night, I was…"
"Passed out. Totally passed out," Lloyd interrupted. "And you slept like a baby. You snored and ground your teeth in your sleep. You know, I thought I was in the middle of a night at the opera or something."
"Yeah, I understand. The concrete lecture does that to people. I almost lost it when I took that class," Lloyd admitted in an emphatic voice. "I was even getting sleepy myself as I was reading the lecture out loud."
I don't know what happened… I can't remember anything. Really. I just leaned on this chair, and that was it. Last night was a blur, but Javier was certain of one thing: Now his head felt clear and light. He couldn't believe he got a good night's sleep. It was a marvelous and unknown experience.
"Tsk. I guess you're still groggy. Here, drink this. It will wake you up." Lloyd held out a glass. The cold clear water undulated in it.
After gulping the drink down, Javier inspected his body. He clenched his fists. He felt strong and revitalized, which was something he did not feel the day before. He could feel the blood coursing through his clenched fists. He felt alive and refreshed, so very unlike the endless days when sleep deprivation wore him down. This is amazing. Did I really sleep well and defeat that hellish insomnia?
Although it seemed like an impossibility, Javier decided to accept this new reality. After all, his body was the proof. Being an excellent swordsman, he decided to trust the signs from his body. But just then, something caught his eye.
"What is that?" Javier was gazing at Lloyd, particularly at his waist. A wooden sword was hanging down at his side. There was more. The young master's outfit was different from usual. He was wearing sturdy leather armor on top of his daily outfit. Leather protective pads were strapped around his knees and elbows. And a towel was draped around his neck.
Javier had the impression that his young master was all set, ready to take action, whatever that action was. Wait a second. Is he…? Javier involuntarily sucked in his breath because he felt something ominous was coming his way, and he was correct.
"Did you forget already? We agreed that you'd teach me how to use a sword if I cured your insomnia," Lloyd said matter-of-factly.
Lloyd's confident voice called to mind the event of the night before. Last night, Javier took Lloyd's offer. It was a kind of bet. The two made a deal that Javier would teach his vulgar young master the way of the sword if he helped him overcome insomnia and get a good night's sleep. Lloyd made the offer, and Javier agreed to it. What? Now I have to teach this jerk how to fight with a sword? Me?
He wasn't celebrating anymore that he had finally won the battle against insomnia and tasted the sweet victory of restful sleep. Now he was in deep trouble.
"We will start with running," Javier announced.
They were in the training hall with plenty of sunlight. Standing on one side of the hall, Javier continued. "Please stand over here. Good. You will be running laps around the hall. Do you have any questions?"
"No. What's there to it? It's just running." Lloyd looked at Javier with a quizzical look. "Hold on, you weren't going to pep-talk me, were you?" he asked.
"Pep talk? I don't know what you mean."
"Oh, come on. You know how coaches and trainers put on their solemn faces and say, 'all training boils down to the basics, like running. The powerful slashes and impressive techniques must be backed by strong stamina and basic strength.' And blah, blah, blah."
Feeling exposed, Javier shut his mouth.
Lloyd shrugged. "And don't tell me that you pictured me refusing to run and whining to get on to the sword fighting right away," Lloyd continued. "And then you would reject me in a solemn voice that it was me who wanted to learn the sword in the first place, not you. Is that what you imagined?"
"Crap, I am right." Lloyd shook his head. "Whew. What are you, a baby? Tsk. I'm off now." With that, Lloyd began to jog.
Left alone at the starting line, Javier furrowed his brow. I really thought he would complain that he couldn't run.
The young master's reaction was completely different from what he expected. He was very cooperative, even. But I'm sure his true colors will show if I just make him keep running.
Javier was certain. He was certain that everyone brims with confidence when they first try something out. They imagine that they could do it. That the goal was near. That they were almost there.
But at the moment they need to overcome their physical and mental limits, their initial confidence and bravado dissipate like they never existed. They make compromises because things aren't easy anymore. And, at last, they prove to the world that they are weak and fragile by giving up. Much like those who went on a diet only to start snacking again four days later. Like those smokers who started smoking a day after telling their friends that they'd quit.
Lloyd Frontera. You're no different. Javier knew his young master. He had no experience of this kind of situation… where he was forced to run. Javier could already picture what was going to happen after a few laps. He's going to regret being so arrogant. He might even ditch this whole thing and call off our deal.
Honestly, Javier direly wished that he would call it off. He didn't want to teach swordsmanship to that jackass. He couldn't trust his young master. After all, Lloyd was a drunk whose sole purpose in life was to get wasted. And he caused a riot every time he got loaded.
Javier flinched a little when he imagined the kinds of troubles that lush would get into once he learned how to use a sword. I can never let that happen.
Sure, his sadistic drunken ways had mellowed in the past few days. But one's nature doesn't change that easily. He told himself it must be the same for Master Lloyd. For all anyone knew, his old habits could live again today. I'm going to treat you as harshly as possible. I will do so until you get exhausted and quit. Or, until you overcome your nature and prove that you are worthy of my efforts.
Javier resolved that he would put his foot down on this. He gazed icily at Lloyd, and he waited. He would wait until Lloyd gave up. But things didn't go as he planned.
Lloyd kept running. Without any words, he ran. He ran ten laps, then twenty, thirty… On and on, he ran. He passed Javier dozens of times. Yet he never voiced a word of complaint. Not even once.
He was out of breath. He was sweaty all over. His legs staggered in exhaustion. Yet he continued to run without a break, never slowing down.
But how? Javier thought. Javier's eyes trembled in disbelief. He tried to hide it at first but didn't even bother after a while. He couldn't wrap his head around the young master's mental strength. His tenacity was inconceivable, and Javier wanted to know where it was coming from.
However, to Lloyd, the secret was plain and simple. He had done countless things that were more physically demanding than simply running laps.
It was true.
During the time he was in the military, he had to undergo an exhausting number of marches and training. It was even worse when his parents passed away, and he had to make a living doing part-time jobs.
One time, he spent a whole day carrying bricks on his back up to the fourth floor of a house for a construction job. Then there was the time he loaded and unloaded the boxes and goods that went in and out of a warehouse all through the night.
Only those who went through such struggles knew what it felt like. During those times, Lloyd felt like his body was morphing into a gear in a machine. His muscles felt like they were on the brink of disintegrating after being endlessly used and abused.
Then, when he reached the point where breathing became a chore, he would look hopefully at his watch. He'd tell himself that it would be over soon, that it was almost time for a break. However, the reality he always faced was nothing but… a world of shit. Whenever he looked at his watch, he would see that not even half the time had passed!
So, compared to the miserable days when he had to grind and hustle to earn some money, running around the hall was the same as being up in the sweet heaven above.
That was Lloyd's life back in Korea. Every day was a stifling struggle back then. Misery and despair assaulted his thoughts, and he constantly wondered, How long do I have to live like this?
And yet… he couldn't give up because he had to survive. For just a few pennies… Just to make ends meet…
He had to overcome his limits all the time. Even when he couldn't push himself anymore, he had to keep moving like a zombie. That was the only way he would not starve. But now, it was simple. I just have to run, and that's it.
He wasn't moving because he had to. He was moving and running because he wanted to learn how to use the sword.
Sure, his body was sore. But he was happy and enjoying himself. He was out of breath and covered in sweat. His legs were losing strength. The world was becoming a smudge in front of his eyes from lack of oxygen. Despite all of this, he was happy.
Lloyd kept running.
When he reached fifty laps, Lloyd grinned at Javier as he passed by.
"Hey, Javier, I'm the one who's running, so why does your face look so bad?"
Another lap.
"Hey, don't tell me I totally shattered your expectations."
Another lap.
"Fine, keep staring into space then."
Another lap.
And Lloyd continued running.
Finally, Javier stopped him.
"Master Lloyd, please stop running."
"W-why?"
"You're exhausted and staggering."
"I know… I know that. So?"
"So, take a rest."
"Whew. Okay. Fine."
At last, he stopped.
"Did I fluster you?" Lloyd asked as he caught his breath.
"No."
"No, my foot. You are. You are flustered. Ha… Fine. I guess you didn't see this coming," Lloyd said and paused for a second. "I'm pretty sure that you got here ready to tell me something like, 'Master Lloyd, I am disappointed in your lack of determination,' or 'Master Lloyd, you have to keep running until I tell you to stop.' Tell me I'm wrong."
Javier looked at Lloyd without a word.
"I told you this before, but you're pretty judgmental."
"I'm not sure what you mean."
"Did you think I was joking when I asked you to teach me swordsmanship?" Lloyd said, gazing coldly at him. The smile was gone from his lips.
Javier couldn't come up with an answer when he met his gaze. He felt exposed.
"Is swordsmanship a joke to you? Is that it?" Lloyd demanded.
"Of course it's not."
"Then why didn't you take me seriously when I asked you to teach me?"
"That's…"
"You think you can teach me with that lax attitude of yours?"
Javier was struck speechless again. For the first time in his life, he wanted to run away and hide. The jabs from the young master — who he dismissed as a mere troublemaker — continued to stab him in the heart.
"Come to think of it, I should be assessing whether you're qualified to teach me how to use the sword, not the other way around. Am I wrong? So please, let's do it right. Instead of arguing whether I'm worthy or not, spend your time finding out how to teach better. Got that?" Lloyd asked.
"Yes…" Javier bit his bottom lip involuntarily.
I can't believe I got scolded by that good-for-nothing. It felt like a smack in the head. He wanted to deny it. But he could not.
I can't because he is right. Javier accepted that he was in the wrong. He was more concerned if Lloyd was even worthy of being his student. He couldn't care less about instructing him properly. Just as his young master pointed out.
Just then…
Ding dong.
A new message popped up in front of Lloyd.
[Your approval rating with Javier Asrahan has increased by one point.]
[Current RP with Javier Asrahan: -28]
[You have earned 18 RP by improving relationships with main characters.]
[Current RP: 29]
Translator: https://bettertranslation9.wordpress.com