They were only halfway there when Berfin opened her eyes. When she realized that Eren was in her arms, she suddenly punched him in the jaw. When this punch brought Eren, who was paying attention to the road, to his senses, she slowly put Berfin down on the ground. But Berfin wouldn't let him go that easily.
- What do you think you are doing? How dare you take me in your arms without my permission. Are you a bully? Or are you a pervert who tries to take advantage of me when I am not myself? Tell me, who are you?
Did you learn such things after you left us? Has harassing girls who are unconscious become your hobby? Who knows how many girls have you harassed like this.
You pervert. I can't believe a pervert like you came out of our family...
- (Before Eren could even open his mouth, Berfin was saying everything that came to her mind. Unable to take it anymore, Pal Padraig intervened.) Berfin, calm down. Stop talking nonsense. I asked Eren to carry you. Or would you want me to carry you in this old state of mine?
- (He punched Eren hard in the chest.) Pray that my grandfather is here or I would beat you up…
- Okay, that's enough now. Don't argue in the middle of the road. Let's go to the office.
Berfin, who had become silent after her grandfather scolded her, stopped staring at Eren. Then she noticed Han standing behind Eren.
- He! What is he doing here?
- He's coming with us. My grandfather called him.
- (When her angry gaze surrounded Han, she walked towards him with calm steps.) You're lucky that I was having a bad day today. Otherwise, the result wouldn't have been like this. Don't think you're anything. You're not better than me.
(She was going to turn around and leave, but stopped and looked at Han again.) One more thing… Don't think this is the end of it. We will fight again, and this time you will see my true strength.
Pal Padraig heard what his granddaughter said, even though he didn't want to. "It seems like this girl won't come to her senses. Maybe a little more beating will do her good... We'll see..." he muttered to himself and continued walking. The others followed him.
...
Pal Padraig sat down at the desk while Berfin sat down on one of the chairs in front of the desk. When there was only one chair left to sit on, Eren chose not to sit and stood with Han.
- Grandfather! What were you thinking when you brought this kid here? He doesn't even know how to fight yet. You're not thinking of taking him into our group, are you?
- Interesting. So you don't remember getting beaten by him just now?
- He was completely lucky. I admit that I wasn't very good at fighting, but that doesn't mean he's a good fighter. He's always defending. He doesn't have any proper attacks. You saw that too, right? I was the one who constantly attacked. He was the one who tried to block my daggers...
Pal Padraig raised his hand to silence Berfin, then started rubbing his forehead with his head down. Since when was his granddaughter so arrogant? What did he do wrong that this girl became like this. So what would have happened if Han hadn't come? Would he have continued to hide in the dark and think he was something?
Pal Padraig thought his granddaughter would die on his first serious mission. Fortunately, Han came and he was able to see the truth before sending his grandson to his death with his own hands. He raised his head and looked at the man who had unknowingly saved his grandson's life.
Is this man a spy or a savior? He couldn't decide. The best thing to do was ask him. Whether what he said was a lie or the truth, he would get an answer somehow. And every answer meant opening a new door on the path to the truth.
- (Pointing to the empty seat) Come sit down. Don't just stand there.
Han looked at Eren first and then walked over and sat on the seat across from Berfin.
- Tell me, what do you want? (There was a moment of silence and Han didn't know what to say.) Won't you tell me?
Han remained silent again. He had no idea what to say. Because coming here wasn't his choice. He was simply going with the flow of life and the mission notification that was appearing before his eyes. He said calmly, "I don't know…" and then bowed his head.
Although the silence made Eren and Berfin nervous, Pal Padraig was calmer.
- So you don't know. Good... Then listen to what I have to say. Maybe my words will remind you of something... When I saw your fighting style, the first thing that came to my mind was this...
I don't know what your goal is, but you somehow reached Eren. If I'm not mistaken, you knew he was my grandson. Then you managed to infiltrate our military camp using him...
- I... I didn't do anything like that...
When Berfin suddenly stood up, Eren also turned bright red. Is Han a spy? Did this kid disguise himself and infiltrate the camp? Is this real? Did he bring a spy to a forbidden area with his own hands?
If so, then he committed an unforgivable crime. He will never get out of here alive. His grandfather would ignore family ties and definitely kill Eren.
Eren got closer to Han to make up for his mistake. Berfin was in front of Han. In case Han did something, Eren stood behind Han and waited for his grandfather to give the order. But his grandfather took the espionage topic in another direction.
- There's something I don't understand. You managed to infiltrate the camp. But then why did you reveal yourself... The common feature of all spies is secrecy. Don't you know that?
But you reveal yourself there and challenging one of the best teams in our military camp. Why?
(There was silence again, and then another thought occurred to Pal Padraig.) So were these actions to attract my attention? Good... You did it... You caught my attention... Now tell me, what do you want from me?
(When Han continued his silence, Pal Padraig calmly warned him.) Either you're a very good spy or you have a problem that only I can solve... If you don't say something sensible now, you won't be able to get out of here safe.
Even though things were getting serious, Han didn't really know why he was here. He didn't want to say ridiculous things and get into an unsolvable situation. Thus, he briefly told his life story, from his life in the red orc tribe to the time hunt the four-eyed bear.
Then, when he told the four-eyed bear hunt in detail, Eren and Berfin felt like they were experiencing the events and couldn't remain indifferent to Han's story. For them, everything Han told them was very likely to be true.
- The last thing I remember is falling off the cliff with the forest monster and seeing Arz dead in the monster's teeth. I don't remember what happened after that because I lay unconscious for two days. When I came to, it was midnight...
- (Eren) Yes, I remember... That day, there was a red orc standing on top of the cliff and looking at you.
- He must have been the tribal chief...
- Maybe so, maybe not, but the head guard, who was afraid of his gaze, hesitated to take you with him. Fortunately, that red orc waited without doing anything.
- (Berfin) I don't know if he's a tribal chief or something, but he's obviously cast you aside. You're clearly an outcast from your tribe. Otherwise, how could you have come this place?
- Even though the tribal chief treats me coldly, he doesn't throw me out of the tribe. He always says, "The tribe is a whole and everyone in the village is a part of our tribe."
I am one of that part. Our tribal chief would never do anything that would disrupt the whole. He rules our tribe with honesty and justice. I would appreciate it if you didn't speak badly of him.
- If a chief who cares so much about his people, why did he leave you then? You are proud of your chief, but now you are not in your tribe, you are here with us. The tribal chief definitely doesn't need you...
- (Pal Padraig, who was annoyed by Berfin's constant sarcastic speech, intervened.) That's all well and good, but... Your movement technique is very fast for an orc. I don't think it can be an orc technique. Moreover, you are not bad at using a dagger. It is obvious that you have received rigorous training.
Where did you learn all this, who taught you? You should explain, right?
- I learned how to use a dagger from my mother. At first, I wanted to use an axe or a sword, but my mother said that using a dagger would be best for me. After the fight with Berfin, I realized how right my mother was.
I learned my movement technique from a book that the tribal chief gave to my mother. As you said, this is not an orc technique. While walking in the forest, the tribal chief came across a group of people who had been attacked and killed by wild animals.
He found this book among their belongings. He thought it would be useful for me, so he brought it and gave it to my mother. I learned this movement technique by studying from the book.
- (Berfin) Don't believe it, grandpa. He's talking nonsense. Who can do such moves without a teacher? He supposedly learned it all by himself from a book. Only a fool would believe what he said.
Moreover, he says, "My mother taught me how to use a dagger," but where has an orc ever been seen using a dagger?
- I'm telling the truth. My mother taught me how to use a dagger.
- You're still talking nonsense...
- (Pal Padraig raised his hand to silence Berfin.) Berfin, that's enough. Whether she tells the truth or lies. That's not what matters. Calm down a bit.
(He turned to Han and asked again.) Your story is good, good, but I'm still not convinced.
Tell me, what do you want from me... Of course, you can still remain silent. After all, dying is also an option.
Han hadn't mentioned the quest notifications that had come before his eyes. These quests usually helped Han grow stronger. Whenever a quest notification came, Han was willing to do that quest.
Han was surprised by the sudden quest notification that appeared when he saw the girls at the family dinner. It was certain that this quest had been triggered because of the girls who had attended the dinner. But which girl had triggered this quest?
Maybe Berfin's quest had been triggered. He didn't know, but he thought that if he came here with Eren, he could find a clue about the quest. If nothing came out, it would be certain that Mary was the one who triggered the mission. But the mission was completed without the need for Mary.
He came to a military training camp... Why did the mission bring him here? Why? Does this mission want him to receive military training here... Maybe... Maybe not... He couldn't be sure, but he was definitely sure of one thing.
- I just want to get stronger and be a son my mother would be proud of. I want to increase my mother's reputation in the tribe. I want her to be respected.
I will do whatever I have to do for this purpose. If you allow me to receive training here, I will do everything I can and I will not let you down. I promise.
Although Pal Padraig wanted to get angry at Han, he didn't. He told a story that was too ridiculous to be made up. Eren confirmed some parts of the story he told by moving his head. So, Han is story may have been true, but he didn't expect his ultimate goal to be so superficial.
It was like a display of a pure child's love for his mother. Moreover, he didn't sense any ulterior motives in Han's gaze.
He thought for a while and an idea came to his mind. This child is like water that is completely open to manipulation. Wherever Pal Padraig wants, this water will flow. First, he will give him what he wants and make him stronger, then he will make him do what he wants.
It would be like tricking a naive child by giving him candy. But he could not ignore a possible danger. The answer to the question, "Is this child a spy or not?" was still very uncertain. If he rejected him now and he was not a spy, he would lose a good seedling.
What if he is a spy… He could not answer that for now, but there were many ways to catch spies. He could even use him to his advantage without the spy knowing. Pal Padraig stood up, having made his decision, and spoke, leaning his hands on his desk.
- Okay. For now, I will believe your words. Tomorrow, come with Berfin and take care of the camp entrance procedures. (He turned to Berfin.) The next day, you both come to the hut. Come early and don't keep me waiting.
- (Berfin immediately objected to his grandfather.) Grandfather! Why is this child coming to the hut? If he is going to work, he should go and work with the new soldiers. What business does he have with us?
(When he realized that his grandfather was angry at his suggestion, he softened his words a bit.) So at least he should go and learn the basics. He left his tribe and came here directly. I don't think he has any knowledge of what a soldier should do.
First, we should train him in military discipline, then if you want, he can come to us.
- Berfin! As I said, bring him to me the next day.
No matter how angry Berfin was, she couldn't object to her grandfather anymore. She silently turned her angry gaze to Han. While Han and Berfin were looking at each other, Eren's voice was heard.
- (Eren) It looks like we're done here now. Han, get ready. Let's go to the city and do some shopping. We need to get the things you need for your education.
- You wait. We still have things to talk about... Berfin, go outside with the child. Wait outside for a bit, we won't take long.
Berfin bowed to her grandfather and then grabbed Han by the arm and pulled him outside.
- My grandfather seems to be training you in some way. Just know that I'm my grandfather's first student. In other words, I'm your superior. You'll call me senior. You understand, right?
You have to do what I say when my grandfather isn't around. If you don't accept it, don't come here tomorrow.
- Okay.
As soon as Han said "okay", Berfin's eyes started to shine. Then a slight smile appeared on her face. She wanted to go home as soon as possible and make a list of the tortures she would do to Han. She would then apply them to Han in turn. After all, the first lesson she learned from her grandfather was to work with plan…
Berfin had at least ten different methods of torture in mind by the time Eren left his grandfather. When she saw Eren, she immediately left Han's side and said that she had work to do and quickly walked away.
- Let's go Han. Let's not stay here any longer.
Eren and Han left the military camp and went to the city and got the things Han might need. Pal Padraig also had a hand in the creation of this list of needs…