Chapter 22: Conflict
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 22: Conflict
Actually, when he thought about it, the situation wasn’t half bad.
Both Noel and Katya were individuals who had reached sublime heights in their respective fields. Since they openly wielded their unique supernatural abilities, they were the two pillars driving the efficiency of Aiden’s Skill Copying.
If he could just get proper training from them, his combat prowess would undoubtedly skyrocket.
— Skill Info
◈ Weaver of Fate
⎨Mayer Belford⎬
— Bond: Level 1
— You can copy 1 skill.
Especially since he had recently acquired this.
[ Copying ‘Skill: Analysis’. ]
And if he could obtain a skill like this, it was an even better deal:
◆ Analysis
[There are things visible only to the eyes of one who has traversed countless battlefields. Your ability to analyze and acquire swordsmanship schools becomes exceptionally fast.]
Just from the skill description, this was a golden opportunity. All he had to do was reap the massive harvest.
Which was why Aiden was now learning a crucial lesson firsthand.
…That being talented and being a talented teacher were two entirely different things.
“Why in the world would you weave a defensive formula there? Did you really survive the Alliance War fighting like that? It looks more like you were playing house than fighting a war.”
“I have no idea where you learned such a combat doctrine. Are you proud of your own foolishness? Did you really think you were skilled just because everyone around you sang your praises?”
“…”
Watching the two of them trade barbs with murderous intensity made his head throb.
To be precise, they were engaged in a heated debate over Aiden’s “curriculum.”
They were so passionate that everyone else in the training ground was glancing over, wondering what on earth was going on. The debate, which had started with at least a modicum of mutual respect, had now degenerated into personal attacks.
…Come to think of it.
Was it always like this in the original story?
These two… in other words…
…Were fundamentally incompatible.
They’d had a massive fight recently, but it seemed they were avoiding open conflict out of respect for each other’s positions and circumstances.
It seemed personality clashes were indeed difficult to overcome.
I’m going to need both of them as things progress, though.
Considering the scenario was dangerously twisted and rife with every imaginable peril, these two were the only allies Aiden could truly trust right now. Their help was also essential for the upcoming Chapter 1 scenario. It would be a problem if they kept fighting like this.
And then, just as Aiden was pondering this, a window suddenly popped up before his eyes.
!! Side Quest !!
▶ A violent clash involving two key figures is about to occur.
▶ Resolve the situation as peacefully as possible.
▶ Successfully handling the current situation will grant advantages in the subsequent Main Quest!
▶ If you fail, a penalty will be imposed!
“…”
No, wait.
There was absolutely no need to turn this into a quest and drop it on him.
“Ah, seriously! Instead of all this, why don’t we just show him ourselves? Hey!”
As he was thinking, a voice cut in from the side.
“…Yes?”
Katya, her tone laced with irritation, suddenly began to manifest her Divine Power.
Colorless flames surged out in all directions, radiating intense heat. Everyone in the training ground took a step back.
“Just try to copy this!”
With that, Her Highness the Princess began manipulating the fireballs around her. She fought an imaginary opponent, seamlessly blending offense and defense through her supernatural ability.
Her movements were free-spirited, practical, light, and nimble. Yet the attacks she unleashed were incredibly intuitive and fierce.
At first glance, it looked like a haphazard sequence, but a brilliant, flashing agility bound it all together—so much so that even the knights practicing nearby stared with wide eyes.
…I knew it.
She was definitely holding back when she fought Dame Noel.
Her demonstration was so terrifyingly skilled that it forced him to confront that truth.
“See?”
Katya finished her display, wiped the sweat from her brow, and grinned at Aiden.
“Now, you try!”
“…”
Are you kidding me?
The thought crossed his mind unbidden.
“…I thought you were going to teach me,” Aiden asked blankly.
Katya just tilted her head. “I just showed you, didn’t I?”
“…”
“Can’t you just copy it?”
He looked to see if she was joking, but her expression was dead serious. She genuinely believed anyone could replicate it after seeing it once.
“Your confidence is absurd.”
Noel, who had been watching, let out a sigh and chided her. Then, she drew her sword and took a stance in front of Aiden.
“I will teach you, starting with the most important basic stance. Please watch closely.”
With that, Noel demonstrated a few simple movements. She explained in detail, covering the lead foot, the shift in the center of gravity, the precise direction of one’s gaze, and the posture of the upper body.
…Oh.
This was definitely better than Katya’s demonstration. At least she seemed to have some concept of how to teach a complete beginner.
After slowly and logically finishing her explanation, Noel nodded.
“Good. And if you execute it exactly as I explained—”
Saying so, Noel swung her wooden sword at the training dummy before her.
And then.
—!!!!
A roar like an exploding bomb echoed through the hall.
The wooden dummy shattered into dust, a crater was gouged into the floor as if a meteor had struck, and the shockwave sent spiderweb cracks across the nearby wall.
“—it ends up like this.”
Having caused such a scene, Noel turned back to Aiden without so much as blinking.
“Would you like to try?”
“…”
“…”
Seeing the heavy silence that had fallen over the area, Noel tentatively gauged his reaction.
“…It isn’t that difficult, is it?”
“…”
“Since you can also manipulate Pure White Qi like me, Aiden, you should be able to do at least this much… I think…”
As the expressions of those around them grew increasingly bizarre, Noel’s voice trailed off. From the looks of it, she genuinely believed that after her explanation, he should ‘obviously’ be able to do that much.
“…Hey.” Katya pressed a hand to her forehead with a sigh. “You’re really no different from me, are you?”
“…Please retract that horrible insult.”
The moment they realized they were the same, they immediately started bickering again. Watching them, Aiden’s temples began to throb.
How on earth am I supposed to learn anything like this—
Even with the skills he’d copied from the Knight of Dawn, there was no way he could learn from such terrible teaching—
— System Message
▶ The effect of ‘Skill: Analysis’ has been activated.
▶ Proficiency in ‘Swordsmanship School: One Sword, One Strike’ is accumulating.
▶ Proficiency in ‘Swordsmanship School: Blazing Flame Art’ is accumulating.
▶ You have accumulated proficiency in two or more swordsmanship schools.
▶ The ‘Martial Paths’ category has been unlocked. You can now learn related skills!
“…”
The moment the window popped up, Aiden fell silent.
I’m gaining proficiency just by watching…?
Amazing, Knight of Dawn.
No joke, this is truly amazing…!
It was a terrifying talent, enough to make him marvel at it, even putting aside the fact that he had killed its original owner dozens of times last night…!
As he was genuinely admiring this, he noticed Noel, who had been arguing for some time, open her mouth as if suppressing something deep inside.
“…Then let us stop here.”
“What?”
“It is obvious that neither of us can act as a proper teacher. So, how about we both wash our hands of Aiden?”
“…”
“I will not interfere with Aiden, so let us conclude this with Her Highness not meddling either.”
“…What?”
“I am saying we should end this peacefully. Let us not fight any further over nothing.”
…Huh.
Aiden looked at Noel in surprise. He hadn’t expected her to back down so easily after they had been trading such vicious barbs.
But the moment he saw Katya’s expression, Aiden abandoned any hope that this would end peacefully.
“…So,” Katya said with a smirk. “You went through all the trouble of picking a fight with me, and now that you have a convenient excuse, you’re backing out? And you want me to back out, too?”
“Is there a problem with that?”
The Princess’s face was adorned with her usual inscrutable smile, but having observed her for some time now, he could finally tell.
She was furious.
“—Coward.”
Her next action was an outrage that perfectly matched that sentiment.
Instantly, bursting flames enveloped Katya’s body. The fire, coiling around her arm like a snake, exploded outward toward Noel.
Of course, Noel wasn’t about to be caught off guard by such an attack. Drawing her sword in a flash, she deflected the flames and glared at Katya with a furious expression.
“What do you think you are—!”
Before she could finish, Katya closed the distance in an instant and grabbed Noel by the collar.
“—Hey, you.”
Before the surrounding flames could even clear, Katya’s voice dropped low. The hostility gleaming in her blue eyes poured over Noel like a blade.
“Why don’t you cut it out with acting like his guardian?”
“…Is it not only natural? Aiden and I are to be married—”
“—So I’ve heard. But watching you two, it’s quite strange. Especially your attitude.” Katya’s growling voice cut Noel off. “You don’t even know how to treat him yourself, so you’re just wavering, aren’t you?”
“…”
“You’re too scared to get any closer, yet you can’t completely let him go. It’s pathetic to watch from the sidelines.”
“…”
“And yet, you’ve been constantly showing your displeasure whenever he and I are together. If you have no intention of claiming him, then stop interfering and get lost. It’s annoying.”
Leaving Noel in stunned silence, a twisted smile played on Katya’s lips.
“In the first place, I don’t get why you’re trying so hard to protect him. Hmm? You’re not originally that kind of person, are you?”
“…”
“Anyone who participated in the Alliance War would know. Not that fancy nickname the Empire gave you, ‘Lionheart,’ but that other, more fitting one: ‘The Butcher,’ the one who slaughtered ally and foe alike—”
In the next instant, all expression vanished from Noel’s face.
The change was so sudden and drastic that even Aiden, watching quietly from the side, felt an immediate sense of danger. What lurked beneath her usual, slightly relaxed smile was a murderous intent so sharp it felt as if it could slice skin.
“Wait, Dame Noel—!”
Before Aiden could even try to stop her, Qi exploded from Noel’s body.
The people nearby were blown back with screams, the ground shook, and the entire building vibrated as if caught in an earthquake. The surroundings were completely upturned, as if a tempest had struck.
This was the result of simply ‘releasing’ her supernatural ability.
This was a state Aiden had never seen before—the attitude she took when she truly intended to ‘harm’ someone.
“You are the one.”
A voice that could only be described as demonic, transcending mere anger, rang out chillingly.
And in that exact state, Noel grabbed Katya by the scruff of her neck and slammed her straight into the ground.
The floor crumbled as if a bomb had gone off. Noel’s eyes were filled with sheer ferocity as she violently smashed Katya into the ground, creating a small crater.
“If you’re such a selfish egoist who only lives as she pleases, wouldn’t it be better to live alone instead of dragging others down with you? Know your place.”
Hearing Noel speak in a voice as cold as frost, Katya, pinned to the ground, chuckled and retorted, “Yeah, now your real personality is finally showing—”
“Even though you don’t care in the slightest whether Aiden ‘himself’ wants to be with you.”
“…What?”
“I’m saying you are just as pathetic. Unable to comprehend how others see you.”
“…”
“An irresponsible, selfish person who yanks everyone around on a whim and lacks a shred of consideration would be better off not existing. Isn’t that obvious?”
“What are you—”
“You are a nuisance to Aiden. Do you understand?”
Katya’s mouth snapped shut. Her face went blank.
Just as Noel said, she looked as if she had never once considered things from that perspective.
“So,”
“You, too, should stop approaching Aiden for no reason.”
Before Noel, having said her piece, could slam Katya’s head into the ground again—
“—Stop!”
Aiden, who had somehow rushed through the oppressive aura Noel was emitting, grabbed her and pulled her back.
“Both of you, stop!”
“…”
As soon as his hand touched her, Noel flinched, her eyes widening. As if she had only just snapped out of it, the Qi that had erupted from her body was instantly reabsorbed.
“…”
She hurriedly looked around.
Taking in the ruined training ground, the people staring at her with shocked eyes, and Aiden, who was panting after pulling her away, Noel grit her teeth so hard they nearly bled.
“…I apologize for showing you such an unsightly scene.”
Saying so, she quickly picked up her uniform cap, which had rolled away nearby.
Aiden, still catching his breath, watched Noel as she practically fled from the training ground. Then, his gaze shifted to Katya, who was still pinned to the ground, looking utterly dazed. She seemed deeply shocked, remaining completely motionless where she lay.
Before his eyes, as if to remind him, the window popped up once more.
!! Side Quest !!
▶ A violent clash involving two key figures is about to occur.
▶ Resolve the situation as peacefully as possible.
▶ Successfully handling the current situation will grant advantages in the subsequent Main Quest!
▶ If you fail, a penalty will be imposed!
…This.
This quest hadn’t appeared for no reason.
That single thought hammered into Aiden’s mind.