Iron Powder and Spellcaster

[early morning]

[Steel Castle, NA District, Rose Lakeside]

When Vashica led [Borso da Este]'s servant to see Winters, Baron Granasi and his personal priest were doing morning exercises by the lake.

The so-called morning exercise consisted of the priest throwing stones at the lake in a melancholy manner, while the Baron kept trying to shoot small stones into the air to break the stones.

The days of traveling in the Monta Republic were a rare leisure time for Winters.

Not only does he no longer have to wait and see, he also has plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful scenery, investigate people's sentiments, draw maps, and experience delicious food from various places.

He even picked up the spellcasting practice that he had delayed for a while, and even had the energy to develop some new tricks.

…

If nothing else happened, Winters should have had such a happy day when he graduated from the Army Academy two years ago.

Because every military officer student is required to return to his place of origin for one year of practical training during his fourth semester at the Mainland Academy.

At this time, all previous Veneta trainee officers must have abandoned the near and sought the far away, and took the initiative to apply to return home by land.

The young officers and cadets will be dressed in bright clothes and arm in arms, visiting famous cities, monuments and battlefields along the inland sea, having fun and noisily going home.

This ceremony is called the "Victory Parade" within the Veneta officer group. It means that the officer cadets have been struggling in the military academy for nine full years and finally got through.

It is also nicknamed the "Journey of Losing Virginity" because most Veneta officers lost their virginity one night during the victory parade...

Every year in the victory parade, the trainee officers have to dig out a bunch of baskets. However, the top military officials in Veneta have always maintained a tacit attitude. As long as no lives are involved, they will pretend that nothing happened, and they often help wipe their butts.

Unfortunately, when it was Winters' turn to "parade," the Veneta trainee officers boarded the boat home for the first time. Not only did he and his classmates not enjoy the joy of wanton indulgence, they were also intercepted halfway by pirates.

This trip from Plato to Steel Castle inadvertently made up for the regrets of two years ago.

…

Thinking of this, Winters sighed in his heart.

The pebbles on the shore are of different sizes and shapes. They are not good materials for casting flying arrows, and it is difficult to control the flight trajectory.

As soon as Winters' attention was distracted, the stone he shot immediately went somewhere.

Kaman didn't notice anything unusual and continued to throw goose egg-sized stones toward the lake. Looking at the way he gritted his teeth, it seemed as if the surface of the lake was not ice but Winters' face...

Although the priest is not tall and has a gentle temperament, his arms and waist and abdomen are very powerful, and his method of exerting force is also smooth.

He raised his arms, twisted his waist, and took action seemingly lightly, and the stone fell on the ice in the distance in a graceful arc.

Winters visually checked that the distance between Kaman and the landing point of the stone was at least thirty-five meters. He picked up a stone and weighed it, feeling that he should not be able to throw it as far as Kaman.

"Why! You have to do it from me!" Kaman complained as he hit the ice with stones: "Play with rocks with you!"

Winters shot out the stones slowly: "If I let others help, wouldn't my identity be exposed?"

"You won't be exposed if I come?"

"You are the priest and I am the spell caster. We can keep secrets from each other." Winters said in a relaxed tone, "And you know all about my cards."

"Stop talking nonsense!" Kaman was aroused, and the force of throwing stones suddenly increased by three points: "Your little follower Charles, and Pierre, and your other men, they can't do it?"

"Who told them not to be here? Charles and Heinrich are protecting Balian, and Pierre is on standby outside the city." Winters innocently spread his hands: "Among the remaining people, I trust you the most. I practice Spells, you vent your emotions, everyone benefits, it’s a win-win.”

"You practiced magic and annoyed me again." Kaman retorted: "A win-win situation? Do you mean you win twice?"

"You finally have a sense of humor, Father Carman." Winters said with a smile, "That's really gratifying."

Suddenly, the wolfdog guarding the two of them raised its head alertly and growled at Winters' back.

Winters turned around and saw Vashika leading someone over.

"Quiet." Winters simply ordered, and the two wolfhounds immediately sat down obediently.

Vashica brought the servant of [Borso da Este] to Winters. The livery-clad footman bowed respectfully to greet him, and then presented an invitation with both hands.

There is a short paragraph of elegant cursive calligraphy written inside the invitation card decorated with hot stamping patterns:

[Dear Sir and Madam, if you don’t have a better pastime in mind and are not worried about being bored after spending an evening with me, please be sure to come to me tonight and I will welcome you without any hesitation]

It is signed "Borso de d'Este" and has a watermark in the style of "Eagle Spreading Wings" on the paper.

Winters nodded, and Vashika was about to leave with the waiter. The waiter's movements were a bit slow.

"[Old sayings] Wait." Winters stopped the two of them, handed the waiter three gold coins, and said a series of old sayings.

Carman, who was standing nearby, was startled for a moment. After a brief struggle, he still reluctantly translated: "Baron thanks His Excellency Esther for the invitation. I will definitely be there."

The footman thanked him profusely and followed Vashika with satisfaction.

After the two of them walked away, Winters took out the invitation again and carefully inspected it inside and out.

"Where did the invitation come from?" Kaman asked.

"A gift from Mr. Ed." Winters scanned the text on the invitation: "Looking at the content, it should be that many copies were sent out at once. There will be no shortage of guests attending the party."

Carman nodded.

Winters sniffed the paper of the invitation and said with a smile: "Scented, the Baiying family is really luxurious."

As he spoke, he tried to remove the gold foil from the cover of the invitation, but failed.

"I'm just going to give you three gold coins for running an errand." Kaman mocked unceremoniously: "Now you know how distressed you are?"

Winters put away the invitation and said helplessly: "Vasya gives one number, and I give another number. Vasya is a dull boy. If it were Pierre, he would have taken care of it without any hint."

"Don't you think you're hypocritical? Mr. Montagne?" Carman pointed to the buildings by the lake: "You got so much gold and stayed in the best hotel in Steel Castle. Do you need to pretend that you feel sorry for three gold coins? "

"Living here is a status requirement." Winters was unmoved: "And I don't feel sorry for the money, I just feel sorry for the waste."

Kaman was noncommittal.

"All the gold bars melted by the Golden Man to worship the sky will be returned to the public. You know that you will still be a witness during the collective vote." Winters was a little unconvinced: "Even if I am really distressed...I stayed in the hotel and did not use the public account. , it’s all my own money, why can’t I feel bad?”

"Where did you get the money if it wasn't in the public account?"

"Salary!" Winters said with a clear conscience, "I haven't received my salary for more than a year! Can't it be repaid?"

Kaman and Winters looked at each other for a while, their attitudes softened, and they praised half-truthfully: "You really distinguish between public and private matters, Your Excellency Montagne."

Winters felt aggrieved: "What is the difference between public and private? I haven't calculated Anna's salary yet!"

Kaman fell into silence completely. After a moment, he surrendered and said: "Mr. Morozov is not suitable for you. Can't you just call Pierre back?"

"Then who will take care of the people left outside the city? I only have a few capable helpers, so I have to put them in the most appropriate position." Winters put his arm around Kaman's shoulders and said affectionately: "That's why I need you to help me train, dear priest, thank you so much for your willingness to be the translator."

Carman knocked off Winters' arm in disgust: "Why do you have to speak old words? Is it fun to pretend to be a noble?"

Winters replied confidently: "It's boring to pretend to be an aristocrat, but when I speak the common language, doesn't my accent reveal itself?"

"Ha." Kaman sneered: "You think your old slang is very standard, right?

Winters touched his nose and felt a little embarrassed: "My old language also has an accent?"

Kaman didn't answer, just kept sneering.

"No matter what, as long as they don't understand."

"Oh?" Carman asked back: "Then why do you play the nobleman and I play your personal priest and translator, instead of the other way around?!"

"What a great idea!" Winters felt as if he had found a treasure and sincerely promised: "Next time you play the role of the bishop, and I will play your butler and valet. I guarantee your satisfaction."

"There's a next time?!" Kaman was anxious.

"I mean." Winters hurriedly reassured: "If there is a next time."

Kaman stared at Winters, his shoulders rolled, and the stone in his hand was broken into two pieces.

"[You shall not steal, you shall not deceive, and you shall not lie to one another]. [Those who tell lies will be destroyed. Anyone who sheds blood and practices deceit is an abomination to the Lord]." Kaman solemnly warned: "Monkey Mr. Tagne, you will go to purgatory if you lie."

"Purgatory?" Winters was a little surprised: "I thought you meant hell..."

Kaman took a deep breath and smashed out both rocks.

Winters stopped there, no longer joking, and the two of them were "shooting" in silence.

After a while, Kaman said dullly: "The family lines of the imperial nobles are registered and compiled by special personnel, and they will be known after a check. If you make up a surname at random, it can only be hidden for a while, so it is better not to be too high-profile."

"OK."

Kaman silently threw a few more stones.

"...What happened to the Beast Spirit Whisperer?"

Winters didn't tease Kaman like he usually did. He didn't stop moving his hands and said lightly: "I'll tell you now."

[It’s too short, this doesn’t count as a chapter, it counts as an apology letter… (face covering) (Orz)]

[That is, this chapter is not counted in daily updates, and the owed chapters are accumulated into the "debt pool\