At that moment, Allen took the initiative to strike up a conversation with the village chief. Old Jack was a little surprised; at first, he had even wanted to give Allen a scare. But Allen was not really a child. How could Old Jack's face frighten him?
Allen was an adult, and he had spent several years working as a property management supervisor. He knew perfectly well how to win over an old man. With one deliberately trying to please and the other completely off guard, the two soon became close.
Really, all it took to please an old man was to look at him with admiration while he bragged. As an adventurer, Old Jack had not forgotten to boast about his adventures even in his old age.
That day, Old Jack boasted to Allen again. "Allen, you have no idea how dangerous things were back then. That Goblin chief and his underlings had surrounded my master and me. If I hadn't shown my might and led my master out of the encirclement, I might never have met you, Allen." "Oh, right, and while we were breaking out, I even cut off that filthy Goblin chief's head. You wouldn't want to know how badly that bastard stank."
Actually, Allen knew that Old Jack had never killed that Goblin chief, nor had he been surrounded by a group of Goblins. At most, he had run into a few stragglers. But Allen did not expose him and instead asked what happened afterward. "What else? I traded it for a bounty, of course. After that, I spent a night at the Red Lady's place. Ah, you have no idea how wonderful that night was." He regretted it as soon as he finished speaking. "Listen to what I'm saying!" "You mentioned the Red Lady. Who is she?" "Well, well, you'll understand when you're older." Allen caught on then and understood what he meant.
It soon grew dark. "All right, Allen, it's dark already. I'm sure Eva has dinner ready." "I told Mom. Could I stay here for dinner, if that's all right?" Allen looked at Old Jack with wide eyes. Old Jack's heart immediately softened. He could never resist this trick of Allen's. "All right, all right, you little rascal. I never know what to do with you."
Actually, he had a purpose in staying that evening. He had never forgotten why he had approached Old Jack. Come to think of it, he had known Old Jack for several months already. It was time to sound him out.
After having dinner with Old Jack, he said, "Grandpa Jack, since you followed the knight for so long, did you become a professional too?" Old Jack was amused by Allen. "Child, we're talking about a professional. How could I, Old Jack, become a professional just like that? Besides, my master never taught me how to become one. He said I had no talent and was too old, so becoming a professional was unlikely. Most importantly, becoming a professional isn't simple. You need heaps and heaps of gold coins."
Allen pretended to think, then asked after a moment, "What did the knight teach you, then?" Old Jack suspected nothing. He had always regarded Allen's questions as a child's curiosity. "My great master trained me to be an adventurer. To be honest, I didn't really understand the training method he gave me, but that didn't stop me from becoming a powerful adventurer. He also taught me to read. He said it was shameful for an adventurer to be illiterate."
Allen feigned excitement. "Grandpa Jack, you can actually read! That's something only nobles can do. Grandpa Jack, could you teach me too? I want to become a noble as well." Allen looked at Old Jack with his big, pitiful eyes again, hoping he would agree. But Old Jack suddenly fell silent. He simply watched Allen without speaking. Several seconds passed like that. Allen did not know what had happened. He only felt that Old Jack looked a little frightening when he was not smiling, even more frightening than when he was angry.
Just as he was about to give up because he could not hold out any longer, Old Jack suddenly asked, "Why do you suddenly want to learn to read?" Unable to figure out what Old Jack meant, Allen chose the safest answer. "I just want to become a great adventurer like Grandpa Jack. Sorry, did I say something wrong?" Old Jack looked at him gravely. "No, you haven't done anything wrong. My great master often said that what makes a great adventurer isn't how powerful he is, but whether he can keep adventuring without stopping until his death. But I'm old, and I've lost that spirit. I'm no longer a great adventurer. Perhaps only my great master deserves to be called one. I think I can no longer carry on my great master's adventurous spirit, but someone surely can. My dear Allen, do you know? Like me back then, you have an endless yearning for the world outside. Unlike me, you're cleverer and more outstanding. Allen, I want to pass my master's great adventurous spirit on to you. Are you willing? Don't force yourself. Think it over carefully before answering me. I think this is the only thing I can still do for my master." After saying that, Old Jack sank into sorrow. He left his seat and went into his room. Allen was surprised. He had not expected Old Jack to say something like that, but he knew this was an opportunity he could not afford to miss.
When Old Jack came back from his room and stood before him, Allen answered excitedly, "Grandpa Jack, I'm willing! I'm willing! Ever since I met you, I've dreamed of becoming a great adventurer like you." Old Jack patted his head with satisfaction. "Good boy. I hope you can become a great adventurer like my master. But before that, Allen, you mustn't tell Eva and Jason. If they find out I encouraged their only precious son to venture out, they'll scold me to death." "I understand. I won't tell anyone else. This is our secret, Grandpa."
He had finally succeeded in persuading Old Jack to teach him to read, although the reason had been somewhat unexpected. Still, the first step of his plan could now begin, and that left him smiling even as he slept that night.
The next day, he arrived in Old Jack's backyard as agreed, recalling what Old Jack had told him the night before: Remember, my training is very hard. Once you start, you can't stop. Crying and screaming won't do you any good then.
To be honest, he was quite looking forward to Old Jack's training methods. When he arrived, he saw Old Jack fiddling with some things. He went closer and saw that they were pieces of wood. Seeing Allen arrive, Old Jack immediately told him to sit down. Old Jack did not begin training him right away, but taught him to read first, until he finished making the things they would need for training.
For the next month, he trained in the mornings and learned to read in the afternoons. Old Jack's training was nothing particularly sophisticated, just some simple methods for building strength and agility, though they were rather grueling. Still, he studied very seriously. These were skills that would keep him alive on a battlefield someday, and he could not neglect them under any circumstances. Old Jack was pleased with Allen's serious attitude and willingness to endure hardship. He had already begun treating Allen as his apprentice. He knew he was old and did not have much time left. He had no descendants, and his possessions would most likely be divided among the villagers in the future. Rather than that, he might as well give them to his Allen. Having made up his mind, he became even stricter with Allen. Allen was an adult, so he would not cry and scream like a child. Thanks to the effects of the mnemonic formula, his ability to learn and endure was reasonably good.
And so, three years passed. Over those years, he had long since learned everything Old Jack had to teach. To be honest, Old Jack was not much of a teacher, perhaps because he had never taught anyone before. But the little Old Jack knew could hardly be called difficult. Learning to read had perhaps been somewhat harder, mainly because Old Jack himself had not learned it very well back then. He had no trouble with common words, but he did not understand the more difficult ones either. Still, that was enough for Allen, as long as it allowed him to read books.
For the past two years, he had mainly practiced Old Jack's exercise methods along with ones he had worked out himself. At the same time, he practiced the mnemonic formula and reviewed the words he had learned. He knew that words were the sort of thing one quickly forgot without using them. He did not want to forget all the words he had worked so hard to learn.
That day, he was practicing in Old Jack's backyard as usual. Before long, Old Jack returned. "Allen, you're doing well, but I'm afraid I can't let you stay here and keep practicing today." Allen asked in surprise, "Did something happen?" Old Jack hesitated before saying, "There's no harm in telling you. You'll find out once you get home anyway. The hunters came back today. They were all injured, and Old Hank didn't come back at all. Worst of all, they brought bad news. Lately, the wolf packs in the mountains seem to have gone mad. They're attacking creatures all over the mountains. They kill the animals there, but rarely eat them. It makes no sense. It's as if they're killing purely for the sake of killing. I've already informed the villagers. They'll be coming here for a meeting soon." "You mean those crazed wolf packs will attack our village?" "It's not a question of whether they might. They definitely will. Child, keep yourself safe. We'll handle this," he said with certainty.
Before you continue