Chapter 55 Arriving in Beidi (Three)

  The Ludwig family is a relatively prominent family in Ocedin. At the time of Auguste Spencer's establishment of the Kingdom of Ocedin, the Ludwig family made significant contributions. They were also devout followers of Odin. When the first Duke of Ludwig was still a young man, he greatly admired that strong, humble, brave and somewhat sinister youth... In short, what has been passed down through generations in the Ludwig family is a story about "a tiger's roar, an aura of kingship overflowing".

  By the time of Stefnir, he was sent to the temple of Odin in the capital at the age of five, bathed in the light of God, received the teachings of God, and dedicated his life to serving the great Odin.

  At the age of eight, Stephen, who was proficient in common language and familiar with various scriptures, became the youngest student in the history of the Temple Fighting Academy. At the age of twelve, he became the youngest winner of the Holy Sword in Othello's history. It was a prize awarded by the temple to the most outstanding graduate that year, a double-handed great sword blessed by the Northern War God, and it was the same specification as the giant sword used by Othello that year.

  "It's the one on top of the church." Stefan said with a mix of pride and a hint of helplessness, "Although the blessings imbued in it are quite effective, its structural design is already inferior to the latest model of great sword."

  The cross on top of the church... Johnny was speechless. Old man, that's an honor!

  "I really miss it, the expressions of those brothers and sisters who were four or five years older than me after I beat them..." The old man fell into his memories.

  Twelve-year-old Stephen was already as tall as an eighteen-year-old young man, with a sturdy build, sharp mind and agile movements. If it weren't for the fact that the entire college knew his age, losing to him wouldn't be too embarrassing.

  After graduating, the old man was assigned to the Northern Army and became a combat pastor. After countless battles of all sizes, Steffen's military talent was gradually discovered. This guy who seemed to have opened a modifier made many people headache, but also received many welcomes. Due to the name of the Ludwig family on his head and the identity of Pastor Odin, those who tried to compete with him for command of the battlefield retreated one after another, especially after he won victory after victory.

  In his thirtieth year, the barbarians launched a massive alliance. The tribal coalition was so powerful that it seemed to be about to break through Osedin's northern defense line and head south with abandon. Stefan had a brainstorm and did something shocking. He sneaked into the barbarian camp alone, entered the chieftain's tent, killed the barbarian leader who had been elected as the alliance leader, as well as several chieftains and their elite guards who happened to be by his side, dissolved the tribal coalition, and escaped unscathed. Osedin valued martial valor most, and Stefan, who had made great contributions, was promoted. Under the recommendation of generals who were tired of his overstepping and self-willed command, he entered the central church and became a bishop. However, for him, the best gain was still that girl who made his head spin.

  Beautiful girl.

  "Alas, I truly miss the battlefield." The old man sighed.

  Astrid listened with relish, and Johnny also thought it was wonderful. But some questions still couldn't be figured out.

  "Why did you become a lifelong archbishop and then retire? From what I heard at the dinner table, it seems like you stepped down before you were even 40?" Jony asked.

  The old man was silent for a while, then said: "When Odara was born I was thirty-five years old, when his mother left I was forty-two years old. Ah, forty-two years old."

  Joni and Astrid's eyes widened as they waited for the next part of the story.

  "Tanias invaded Osedin, you know?" The old man suddenly changed the subject.

  The two of them nodded.

  "I was dispatched to the front line of the Western Army. In those days, I led a team to annihilate two fully-armed heavy cavalry units, and in the fake battle array of the Sun God Temple, I beheaded more than a dozen so-called strongest Holy Warriors - only Odin knows where they came from, those dozen strongest ones. Incidentally, I also killed that brainless Derynis Archbishop."

  This should be given an honor title about fighting... thought Joanie.

  "Oh, and I also captured a Marquis of Tanrias, broke him into pieces, and threw them at the gate of the Tanrias army because his troops attacked the kingdom's interior, near a village close to the Second Empire of Velsa. This incident was quite famous back then, probably that's why Elal, that softie, is afraid of me."

  It's shattered... That was still an honor related to battle!

  "But why is it a lifetime archbishop?" Astrid asked the question that was on Johnny's mind.

  "This is because, in the previous years, I perfected the scriptures, perfectly explained the doctrine, refuted all the high priests, gained Odin's recognition... and after the war refused the position of Pope."

  Is this what it means to be a genius? Johnny felt like an ant in comparison.

  Stephen suddenly sighed, his face sorrowful: "No more beating around the bush, that damned Marquis attacked this very village, and Odara and Udis's mother happened to be visiting relatives here at the time."

  Stephen clutched his head, lowering it: "What if I were the Pope? What if I could single-handedly take down Tanias' crappy holy city? I couldn't protect the people I love most!"

  Joni and Astrid stared at each other in shock. Unbelievable...

  "So." Stephen's voice returned to normal, with only a hint of crystal in his eyes. "Taking advantage of the Western army's recapture of the border fortresses, when the situation was overwhelmingly good, I resigned from all my posts and returned to this village to raise my two sons. I'm tired, fame and fortune... well, fame and power are no longer interesting to me. I don't want anything else to happen to them."

  Two people nodded in understanding.

  "Alright, you know who I am now? Any other questions?"

  Jony raised his hand and said, "Excuse me, can you teach me how to read?"

  "Alright!" Stephen agreed readily, "How long will you stay?"

  How long?

  "This... will probably be for life..." Johnny replied somewhat hesitantly.

  "Then it's troublesome, if we solidify a universal language..."

  :(

  "Sir, Grandfather, I really want to learn how to read..." Johnny said weakly.

  "I'll give you some scrolls, okay? Next time when you need it, just put on a all-nighter and read them yourself. Recognizing characters is exhausting." Steven said patiently.

  "Qiao Ni really wanted to bang his head against the wall: 'No! I just want to learn how to write, learn!'"

  "Alright, alright, Udell!" Stefan shook his head and sighed.

  Udis walked in and stood silently on one side, waiting for his father's instructions.

  "Starting today, you're in charge of teaching Johnny Smith common language." The old man pushed the responsibility away and turned to Astrid, "And what about you? Are you going to learn too?"

  Aisutieru shook her head: "I just want to become stronger."

  "Alright, understood. Astrid, you go train with Lancelot later, I think that kid likes you too. Johnny, focus on learning your Universal Language!"

  "No, Grandpa, I want to get stronger too!" Johnny said with some urgency.

  "Do you want to become stronger too?" Stefan glanced at Johnny, "Do you think you can be as smart as me? I also learned literacy before learning martial arts, do you want to learn both at the same time?"

  Jony stood up suddenly, feeling that this would be a turning point in his life, only it might lead to a dead end: "Grandfather, I think I can. First, what you learned back then wasn't just the common language, but also the teachings of the great Odin. Second, I have a foundation, so connecting with martial skills will be more convenient and faster."

  Stephen laughed. He looked at Udis: "Udis, tell him what the textbook for General Speech is."

  Udis still had a stiff expression: "It's the Odin scripture."

  "Hey, kiddo, did you hear that?" Stefan said with a chuckle to Johnny. "You're going to have to learn doctrine too."

  ...but Joanie was not giving up: "Then I'll learn together with you, I have confidence in myself!"

  "Alright then." Stefan surprisingly agreed, changing his previous reluctance. "Speak first, and absolutely no regrets later. If you don't learn well, heh heh, go ask Odara about the consequences. Alright, off you go, if there's anything else, go ask Udis."

  After finishing speaking, the old man stood up and walked out of the gate: "I'm going out for a stroll."

  After seeing Stefan off, Udis said to the two of them: "Follow me." Clean and neat.

  －－－－－－－－－

  The village where Jony is located is called Vichil. After taking a giant sword that seems to be of better quality from the small warehouse in the church, the two followed Udis out of the church. Outside the church was a vast expanse of white. Some people who should be villagers were gathered on the open space near the church, chatting, competing, or swinging their large swords alone.

  Joni was really unsure if this was a villager from a small village.

  "From now on, you come here every morning." Udis said, pointing to the empty space, then he shouted loudly in that direction, "Lancelot!"

  A lithe figure came running towards Johnny, carrying a huge sword on his shoulder. It was the wild girl from yesterday.

  "Lancelot, from now on you're in charge of teaching these two martial skills. You two, follow Lancelot and learn, when you can defeat her, come find me again. Jony, after dinner, come to me for lessons. That's all, I'm leaving first." Udis handed over the task and turned back to the church.

  This guy and his brother and father are completely two different personalities...... Johnny thinks it's quite interesting.

  "Sister, you're here!" Lanselot completely ignored Johnny beside him, "Come on, what do you want to learn? I'll teach you!"

  Jony coughed softly on one side: "I want to learn the combat skills of the giant sword."

  Lancelot's big eyes blinked, looking at Astra, with a pleasant smile on his face.

  Estelle's face showed a hesitant expression, as if she was considering learning something. Jonyi couldn't help but say: "I said, I want to learn..."

  "Off with you!" Lancelot gave him a sideways glance, "No one asked you."

  I haven't really offended her, have I... Joni's unbearable gloom. But when facing people of the same age, he didn't have the politeness he had when facing elders: "Your father said you're supposed to guide us, are we wrong? Are you going to disobey your father's orders?"

  "Lancelot grunted: 'That was my fault, I'll guide you now.'"

  After finishing speaking, she smiled apologetically at Astrid, then turned her face to Joanie and said: "Have you learned basic movements like chopping, slashing and thrusting?"

  "Of course!"

  "Go over there and practice each move a hundred times first." Then she smiled warmly again, "Sister, have you thought it through?"

  "What? I..."

  "Who am I? Hurry up and go!"

  Isn't this girl hostile to men? Has she been bullied by a man? Has she been... Joanie thought of all sorts of vicious curses and walked away with a huff, swinging her sword.

  After all, she is now her own mentor.

  Astrid hesitated for a moment before saying: "I usually use bows..."

  Lance... Lancelot's face also turned a bit red. This thing she won't know how to use.

  "What about close combat? Close combat! Sister, we Osadin are all about hand-to-hand combat!"

  "Aisutier thought for a moment and said: 'Long sword, after all, I used it before.'"

  Lancelot was stunned again: "Sister, where are your hands? We Othello's people all use our hands!"

  Astrid looked a bit disappointed and forced a smile at Lancelot: "Forget it, I'll go find a place to practice archery on my own."

  Although reluctant in his heart, Lancelot was very enthusiastic about arranging necessary things like arrow targets for her. Of course, such work was handed over to men.

  "David, Nisi, John, all of you come here!" with an air of a big sister.

  However, judging from those people's flattering and fearful attitude, she is indeed a big sister.

  "Help this sister set up an archery range." After finishing, Lancelot followed Astrid's side, chatting and laughing, extremely happy. Those three obviously strong young men, however, obediently started to get busy. Soon, the archery range was set up.

  "Sister, you practice slowly, if there's anything you need, just find me anytime." Lancelot pulled Aisling's hand and said, "I'll go take a look at that guy... oh, Johnny's side."

  At this time, Joanie had just finished one hundred positive chops, scolding his mother while performing a straight stab.

  Lancelot came over and stopped him: "Hold on a minute."

  Has she found her conscience? Johnny stopped his action and looked at Lancelot with curiosity. But why did he look so gloomy.

  "I'll test your skills first." Lancelot raised his massive two-handed sword, drew a circle in the air, shifted his body to one side and trailed the sword behind him. "Then decide how to teach you."

  Jony eyed Lancelot's not-so-sturdy body and arms, smiled slightly, turned sideways, holding his sword upright at his side: "Then I'll come."

  I must teach this wicked little girl a lesson! He thought fiercely. (Just arrived at school, see you tomorrow, everything will be back to normal then.)