Knight Captain (2)

Anyone who insults the sword would not be forgiven, no matter what. That was Tanya's absolute principle as the captain of the Gotberg Knight Order.

From her slum days, only a single sword had protected her. She swung it upon waking. She swung it even from a light doze. Her right hand always rested at her waist. Even on the rare lucky nights when she slept lying down, her sword lay neatly by her head.

Because she could wield the sword, she had risen to the position of captain in the marquisate's knight order. She had shed her slum life, learned knighthood, and become a proper swordsman. But she was still thirsty for more. Neither the realm of Sword Expert nor the title of a small provincial knight captain was enough. She had to see how far she could go with her sword—to the very end. She had to reach the pinnacle. She had to.

"Hup! Hah! Oof!"

Like the wastrel before her eyes, she wouldn't bow her head to those who mocked the sword.

"Shall we continue?"

Tanya asked emotionlessly. Inside, she felt a bit relieved and hid her expression. She had no idea how many times she'd had to clean up after his past antics. This was partly about settling a grudge.

'The young master did mention interest in the imperial knight order.'

It was a simple contractual relationship, but she had once pledged her loyalty to the Gotberg family. To lightly betray that, to treat swordsmanship so casually—nothing about it sat right with her.

'The young master won't pass the chief physician exam anyway, and even if he did, he wouldn't take me as his escort knight.'

Using sparring as an excuse, Tanya demonstrated swift swordsmanship that the wastrel couldn't react to. Her quick blade struck his arms and back with resounding force.

"Hah... hah..."

Finally, the wastrel collapsed to the ground. After a beating like that, he'd surely give up and stay down.

But.

"Ugh, painkiller, emergency treatment. Whew."

It was a bit different from expected. He stood up and gripped his wooden sword again.

"Alright, let's keep going. Is this the right basic form? Tell me if it's wrong."

The wastrel swung his wooden sword with all his might. His stance and trajectory were a total mess. Tanya flicked his blade, sending him tumbling ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠again.

"Hey, even the lowest-grade mana beast is stronger than this, right? This is the worst. Again!"

...He stood up again. Panting heavily, covered in bloody scrapes, he kept rising.

'What is this?'

Only then did Tanya properly see his eyes through his long bangs.

...They were different from before. The hazy, unfocused gaze was long gone. In its place burned the madness of a man obsessed with life itself.

'Ugh...!'

Overwhelmed by his aura, Tanya unwittingly stepped back.

—Crack!

Seizing the opening, the wastrel's wooden sword slammed atop Tanya's with full force.

"Oh, I didn't fall this time!"

Tanya had unconsciously assumed a defensive stance. With no counter coming, the emboldened wastrel unleashed a barrage of full-power strikes. In his innocent fervor, Tanya realized her pent-up anger toward him had somehow melted away.

She admitted it.

'The young master... has changed.'

Tanya's lips curved slightly upward. Now his words made sense. He hadn't been urging her to betray her sworn loyalty to the Gotberg family. Quite the opposite. It meant he would definitely pass the chief physician exam and take her as his escort knight.

'Maybe I was the one twisted up about it.'

Tanya herself hadn't been a knight from childhood. During her growth years, she was just another slum delinquent; she'd learned knighthood only after joining the Gotberg Knight Order. If he showed such resolve for change, it was her duty as a subordinate to respond in kind.

Tanya called to him in a much softer voice.

"Young master."

"Yeah?"

"Frankly, you have no talent for the sword."

"I know that!"

Ras bristled at Tanya's bluntness.

"So I'll teach you some tricks. Efficient techniques for fighting mana beasts."

Ras scowled, his face darkening as if the old arrogant wastrel might resurface. Just as Tanya regretted her judgment, wondering if it was all her imagination, Ras shouted loudly.

"Why didn't you teach me that sooner! I'm ready. What is it? Tell me quick."

Seeing his gruff reaction, Tanya swallowed a laugh.

"If you're caught in a sudden ambush, remember this stance. Assuming you're holding your sword..."

Ras listened intently to Tanya's explanation. Training with him, Tanya found herself sweating pleasantly without realizing it.

"Whoa, she doesn't hold back."

When people push past their limits, you can't help but admire them. Tanya had drilled me mercilessly like that—for four straight days!

"Without emergency treatment, I really wouldn't have lasted."

But it was worth it.

Just four days. In only four days, I'd raised this pathetic stamina and strength to a bare minimum where I could at least do something.

"At this rate, I won't die at least..."

The chief physician practical exam was tomorrow. In my 17 years, this was my first real exercise, and my muscles screamed in protest, but I'd endure one more day somehow. Sprawled on the bed like seaweed soaked in water, I heard a thud near the door.

"What was that?"

I got up and flung the door open. Maybe from fighting the Demon King's army, I instinctively braced for ambushes even now. When camping at night and hearing rustling outside the tent, it usually meant mana ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠beasts approaching.

Tilting my head, I spotted gray hair darting around the corner, trying to hide from my view. Recognizing her, my tension melted away. I called her name softly.

"Neria, what's up?"

After a brief silence, Neria peeked out from the corner. Her flustered face seemed to have cartoonish sweat drops evaporating into the sky.

"O-Onii-chan. Did I disturb your rest? I'm sorry..."

"No, it's fine. But..."

Something smelled good. A rich, buttery aroma from well-baked goods. Looking closer, Neria held a tray politely in her hands, piled high with palm-sized cookies.

"Couldn't knock because of that?"

"Ah, yes. You've looked so tired lately, so I baked some."

"You made ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠them yourself? Impressive."

The cookies looked neatly shaped, like something from a professional servant or chef. Though they were quite large compared to what I'd seen before. Neria really used generous amounts of ingredients. Her heart had always been big since she was little.

"I made them for you... You seem to like sweet things."

Neria looked up at me, blinking cautiously. She must be worried about being a bother by doing something unasked. Cookies made just for me. How could I not be happy?

"Haha, thanks. I'll enjoy them. But I'm just okay with sweets. If I had to pick, I prefer salty."

"Really? I thought you liked them because you eat honey candies every day."

Those were for survival. I didn't hate them, but constantly? Nah. I picked up a cookie and took a bite. The chewy texture spread a nutty yeast flavor through my head. And... sweet. She'd used sugar without holding back.

"Ah, it's yuzu jam. Way more flavorful than plain sugar."

"Did I like sweets?"

A question I'd never considered popped up. Hmm... My tastes were straightforward. No fancy descriptors needed—just delicious. I'd pocket a few of these for emergencies.

Neria watched my face intently as I chewed. Her lips curved up, her chubby cheeks puffing like glutinous rice cakes.

"Ehet."

She looked triumphant, like she'd nailed it.

"But why cookies all of a sudden?"

At my question, Neria's expression turned worried. She tapped her toes on the floor as she answered.

"I saw you training with Captain Tanya... You looked like it hurt so much. When I fell in the garden, it stung a lot, so I wondered how much it hurt for you."

Neria gazed at me pityingly.

"But then a servant sister gave me cookies, and I felt better! So I thought you'd like them too..."

Aigoo, what a good kid. The Neria ten years from now must have been worn down from fighting the Demon King's army. For her to look after her wastrel brother like this—her pure self now was a little angel.

"Thanks, Neria. Shall we take the rest downstairs and have them with milk?"

"Milk?"

Caught off guard, Neria tilted her head.

"Yeah. Cookies taste way better with milk. And more milk means you'll grow taller."

"Gasp, really?"

Her eyes sparkled at the height mention, fists clenched at her chest.

"Yep. At your age, proper calcium intake is essential for bone growth."

"...I don't get it, but if Onii-chan says so, it must be super important. Let's have them with milk!"

Neria's face lit up like a squirrel finding winter food stores. If only Asella took after even half of her. With that thought, I headed to the kitchen with Neria to fetch milk.

"All candidates are assembled."

Father said in a stern voice.

The next morning, before dawn, many had gathered on the northern hill of the mansion. The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Gotberg Knight Order under Tanya's command was ready for battle. I stood before Father, with healer candidates lined up tensely on either side.

Father declared to us.

"The practical exam begins now. Your performance in today's mana beast subjugation will determine your scores."