ASTKO 5

5 
 

What. It’s not that big of a deal. 

Sajis found the previous eighth prost*tute he held boring so he dropped her off.
 

Two days ago, he heard that there was a brothel where Guinn Yuni Vladis was desperately making time to visit during his busy duties. 

Guinn is the country’s hero. He’s highly trusted by His Majesty and is highly popular with the people. A man who is more excellent than himself… The prideful Sajis couldn’t ignore Guinn. 

It is rumored that the hero Guinn is crazy about a prost*tute. Even if a man like him does not touch a female prost*tute, women with a good status, body, and appearance should approach him so much that he gets tired of it. Even so, for him to go out of his way to make some time to meet her, it can only be that he either fell for the prost*tute or she has a good body. 

Interesting. If I can make that woman mine then… 

It was at that moment, when Sajis who imagined Guinn trembling with frustration and biting his lip, narrowed his eyes in delight.
 

That was the reason why Sajis came to Hana Hana, but the result was disappointing. Indeed, their technique was good as prost*tutes. But that was all there was. It’s the same for prost*tutes everywhere. No woman attracted him, now was there a woman with an amazing hole. In this case, the maids at his own house are much better. Who and what was Guinn attracted to in this building? The puzzle has not been solved, but it’s for certain that Sajis has lost interest in Hana Hana. 

Sajis called his servant and left the shop early after giving Retana a nomination fee for all the prost*tutes and more than enough rewards. 

 

 

It was when Yaquel returned from the market for the head chef’s errand.
 

“Yaquel!” 

 Hearing his name being called and the sound of horse hooves from behind, Yaquel looked back. Guinn, whose lustrous black hair flutters in the wind, gets off the horse when he got near Yaquel.
 

“Shopping?” 

“Yes. From the market.” 

“I see.” 

“Is Guinn-sama going to the shop?” 

“Yeah. I actually wanted to go yesterday but I wasn’t able to make the time. That’s why I came today.” 

“Was that so? Thank you very much.” 

 

When Guinn noticed the bowing Yaquel’s baggage, he forcibly took the hemp bag carried by Yaquel and put it on his horse’s back.
 

“G, Guinn-samaa! Please stop! You cannot do something as discourteous as putting something like that on the back of a proud warhorse!”
 

He hurriedly tried to take the hemp bag, but his hands were stopped by Guinn. 

 

“Why? He doesn’t mind. Right, Yuni?” 

 

The black horse called Yuni nudged Yaquel’s flank as if it agreed with Guinn.
 

“That’s right…” 

 

Guinn and Yuni start carelessly walking towards Hana Hana. Do you want to ride him? He(Y) was asked, but he has never ridden a horse and just the luggage alone is heavy enough so the burden on Yuni will be too much if he adds himself on its back. 

‘Absolutely not!’ Yaquel greatly shook his head and refused. 

 

“I see. Then I’ll walk, too.” 

“N, no, please go first, Guinn-sama.” 

 

‘If possible, please leave my things behind, too.’ He also felt like saying. 

However, Guinn doesn’t listen to Yaquel’s words and he(G) walks next to him(Y) while pulling the reins of his horse. 

Yaquel felt apologetic towards him and when he said, “I’m so sorry. Thank you very much.” Guinn smiled and said, “Don’t mind it.” 

 

After walking for a while, maybe the mouth of the hemp bag was tied poorly, a fruit called “pyanki’ fell out from inside the bag. After finishing the shopping requested at the market, Yaquel bought two pyankis with his own money in addition to the requested items. 

This pyanki was Yaquel’s favorite food. The sourness and sweetness of the fruit juice are exquisitely delicious. He couldn’t get enough of the melty texture of the fruit’s flesh and really loved it. However, since pyanki is a fruit that is a favorite of women and children, Yaquel was secretly eating it so nobody could find out. 
 

Yaquel hurriedly picks up the pyanki. Guinn noticed Yaquel embarrassedly in a fluster. 

 

“Is that pyanki yours?” 

“……Yes.” 

 

It couldn’t be helped that he found out. Yaquel honestly admitted. 

 

“Do you like it?” 

“Yes. It’s my favorite.” 

“…I see.” 

 

Guinn sadly lowered his brows for some reason. 

 

“Is there something wrong…?” 

“No, … pyanki was also my close friend’s favorite, you see.” 

“Your friend?” 

“Yeah, he was like a comrade in arms of mine.” 

 

He got curious about the past form word ‘was’ that was used and looked at Guinn’s face. He had a sad expression that looked a bit lonely. 

 

“Guinn-sama?” 

“Yaquel, do you remember the day I embraced you?” 

“Yes.” 

“I’m really sorry about that time.” 

“Please, don’t be.” 

“I was pretty rough that day, wasn’t I?” 

“…Yes.” 

“The reason was that that was the day I was informed of my friend’s death.” 

“Ehh……” 

 

Guinn continues to talk as they walk. 

 

“I met him at a knight training school, and while receiving good motivation from each other, we became knights together. I was assigned to the Krantz Knights Order, and though he was also skilled, he has talent in teaching others so he worked as an instructor at the Vigilante Knights Corps. If we met once in a while for a drink, we encouragingly talked with each other about the country. And he would always deliciously eat pyanki after drinking alcohol.” 

“…Did he pass away?” 

“Yeah, from sickness.” 

“………..” 

“The final place that knights long for is, after all, the battlefield. He also used to say that he will die while fighting with his sword in his hands. Yet he got sick and died.” 

“……” 

“I couldn’t say anything. Was he being careful around me who was fighting in the frontlines, or did he not want to let me know about his illness?”
 

Guinn occasionally strokes Yuni’s neck gently. 

 

“He must have felt mortified and vexed, whenever I think that it was unbearable. That was the reason I was deplorably rough that day.” 

“Was that the case…” 

 

Yaquel does not understand Guinn’s knightly spirit. It’s just that, although he was unaware, the regret that his friend died alone must be immeasurable. 

 

“I’m sorry for telling you this.” 

“Not at all, if talking about it lightens Guinn-sama’s heart then please talk to me anytime, if you’re fine with me. My strength may be lacking but…” 

“Yaquel…” 

 

Guinn drew Yaquel’s waist close and put his head on Yaquel’s shoulder. 

A feeling of relief. It felt as if something that was like a black haze deep in his heart has directly disappeared. 

 

“Oh, that’s right! Please tell me the next time you visit that person’s grave. I will buy a lot of pyankis.” 

 

He looks at Yaquel who raised his head as if he thought of something. 

 

 “Yeah, you’re right. Let’s do that.” 

 Guinn gently gazes at him. 

 

 

“Hm~, I see how it is.” 

From inside a carriage stopped in a blind spot a dozen meters behind the two of them, Sajis raised the corner of his mouth into an arc.