Chapter 18: The Swordsmanship Guild
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 18: The Swordsmanship Guild
“Assault?”
I calmly looked back at Jin. She had been approaching with the confident click-clack of a successful professional woman’s heels but had stopped in her tracks. Her heels, which had been striking the floor with purpose, scraped to a halt in a jagged line.
When our eyes met, she flinched and gave an awkward smile. I didn't know the details, but it seemed she was the one who had caused this situation. I turned my gaze back to Zaken.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Y-Yesterday! More than a few people heard you being violent, Sir Allen! Just because you paid the courtesan's fee doesn't give you the right to assault the girls at our establishment…!”
“Assault, you say.”
I could roughly picture what was going on. So this was how she decided to grant my request to put on an act? I’d guessed she was inexperienced, but I thought the future godmother of the underworld would handle it more skillfully. My mistake.
The result wasn't bad, though. It added to my notoriety, which should lessen my stepmother's suspicions. However, I found it hard to tolerate a mere pimp yapping at me.
Every last one of these underworld scum tries to poke and prod at the smallest opening to see what they can gain. What Zaken wanted wasn't Jin's well-being, but money he could extort using this as a pretext.
In the past, I would have fallen for it without knowing any better, but…
I let out a smirk.
“How can a foreigner already be a citizen? According to customary law, one must reside in the city for a year to become a citizen.”
“Th-That's…”
Was it an unexpected counterattack? Zaken was clearly flustered. Then again, even I wouldn't have expected the old me, who knew nothing but how to be a scoundrel, to come up with a proper justification.
“Besides, since when have you been such a stickler for city law?”
In truth, the very fact that a pimp was trying to pressure a knight's son by citing customary law was proof he looked down on me. Weren't we in an age of barbarism where conflicts were resolved through duels?
I placed my hand on the hilt of the sword at my waist.
“I-I apologize. I must have eaten something bad. Hehehe.”
Zaken's triumphant face turned pale in an instant. He hurriedly bowed his head. The way he bent his waist to nearly a right angle was a show of extreme deference he wouldn't even offer a king.
I wasn't fooled. He was the type to exploit any opening the moment I showed one, as if nothing had happened.
“Rise. I'll forgive you, considering your past sincerity.”
“Then the violence…”
“She's merely borrowed, so it would be troublesome for you if I were to lower the product's value. Fine. I'll be moderate.”
“Moderate… Yes, yes. Please, I beg you.”
Zaken retreated with a sour look on his face. I ignored Jin, who was watching me cautiously, and headed for my private room. She belatedly followed me inside.
“I did my best, sir.”
“I know. But you drew too much attention.”
I was also at fault for equating her with the Jin from the game. This was the price for forgetting that everyone has a clumsy beginning.
“I have no talent for acting. Perhaps it would be better to use another method?”
“Another method?”
“To disguise yourself as a scoundrel, wouldn't it be better to parade down the main road with a prostitute on your arm than to put on a clumsy act?”
“Impossible.”
An unacceptable proposal. If my relationship with Jin grew closer, there was a risk the future would be distorted. In fact, that kiss last time had already crossed the line slightly. Any more would be trouble.
“Then, must I continue this awkward performance?”
“It would be best to tone it down from yesterday.”
Wary of getting any closer to Jin, I left the room without waiting for her reply. And so, I failed to see Jin trembling behind me.
Left alone, Jin muttered.
“In the East, they say it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.”
I noticed Jin's presence when I came face-to-face with Piole at the main gate of the Swordsmanship Guild.
“You! How dare you bring a prostitute to this sacred training ground!?”
Piole, who should have been reflecting at home, rushed over as if she'd been waiting the moment I crossed the guild's threshold. Jin, whom I never dreamed would follow me, was avoiding my gaze and feigning ignorance.
It was a total mess.
The most urgent issue was Jin. If a named character with a significant role in the scenario kept acting on her own, the future I knew would inevitably become twisted and cause problems.
“Jin, I will not tolerate such willfulness.”
“Does our contract specify a superior and a subordinate?”
“So, you'll continue to do as you please?”
“As long as the result is the same, what does the process matter?”
I looked down at Jin without a word. I had chosen her because I had no other option, but it seemed to have been a hasty decision. Unable to bear my silent gaze, Jin muttered as if making an excuse.
“Th-That acting... I really can't do it...”
By now, they would have noticed our absence at the brothel. Telling her to just go back would ruin the act. However, a warning was necessary to avoid a repeat of this kind of difficult situation.
“You would do well to remember your circumstances. Fugitive.”
After confirming that Jin's face had hardened slightly, I turned away. Piole was glaring at me with her arms crossed.
“Weren't you banned for a month?”
“Hmph! It was canceled.”
“Sir Andrei's love for his daughter is really something.”
“Wh-What?”
Taking advantage of her surprise, I walked past her and went straight inside. Piole, coming to her senses a moment later, followed me.
“Hey! Where do you think you're going!”
“Where is Sir Andrei?”
“A scoundrel like you might have all the time in the world, but my father is a vassal of Quaran. He has to make every second count.”
“I believe the tuition was paid.”
“Besides, I'm in charge of basic training anyway!”
Piole added that, aside from her father, she was the best in the guild, then laughed slyly.
My body, which had been excited at the thought of gaining experience points, calmed down. I hadn't signed a formal contract yet, so it was difficult to protest. And it wasn't like I had the money to buy the fishing rights right now, either.
“Are you skilled enough to take Sir Andrei's place?”
“What's with that look? You're assuming I'm no good just because I'm a woman, aren't you?”
“I don't doubt your skill. You trained the hardest when we practiced together, however briefly, so of course you'd be good. The problem is that teaching ability doesn't necessarily correlate with skill.”
“I-Is that so…?”
Piole's expression changed strangely. She avoided my gaze and fidgeted with her fingers. She almost looked embarrassed.
But only for a moment.
“D-Don't think flattery will get you anywhere!”
Piole shouted again before heading into the building, seemingly having forgotten her intention to kick me out. Jin, who had stealthily followed me inside, watched the scene and remarked.
“You have a master's touch when it comes to handling children, sir.”
“That wasn't my intention.”
Jin didn't seem to believe me.
“It's only because she doesn't dress up. With looks like that, she may not compare to me, but if she put in some effort, she'd be prettier than Lucy. She's tall, too, so she'd look quite good with you. And since she's trained with the sword for so long, her hidden figure is surely beautiful as well.”
“Don't tell me you're jealous.”
“What right would a mere prostitute have for that?”
Despite her words, her voice felt chilly. When Piole came out of the building again, Jin scurried back. The sight of her leaning against the stone wall, watching like a pouting girl, made me chuckle.
In any case, on second thought, being taught by Piole didn't seem so bad. If it was true that she was second-in-command at the Swordsmanship Guild, she would give me a decent amount of experience points.
It would be a success if she was even half as good as Sir Andrei. And I preferred dealing with a beautiful woman over a middle-aged man anyway.
“If I catch you dallying with that prostitute one more time, you'll really be thrown out!”
Piole said abruptly, carrying a practice sword with a blunted tip and no edge. It seemed Jin wasn't the only one who was jealous.
I shrugged.
“When do we start?”
“Right now! Prepare to die!”
#
“Beginners start with light training in plain clothes, but you're late. Way too late, right? To make up for lost time, you'll have to work twice as hard as anyone else. Well, if you don't want to, just say so. I'm not going to force you.”
Contrary to her words, Piole watched Allen's reaction. She had been furious when her father ordered her to train Allen, but she soon realized it was an opportunity. An opportunity to legally torment him.
That was why she had stayed up all night preparing. Of course, the training wasn't solely for tormenting him. If her father found out, she'd not only be banned from the Swordsmanship Guild but might even be ordered to marry.
Piole was already well past marriageable age.
In any case, if Allen suddenly changed his mind and backed out, all her preparations would be for nothing. That was why she had subtly provoked him.
‘Hmph! I'll make you run away on your own two feet!’
Fortunately, despite her warning, Allen didn't run. Instead, he picked up a sword with a smug reply.
“I never knew you thought so highly of me.”
Piole had to stop the corners of her mouth from twitching. He seemed to be letting his guard down, thinking of their training when they were children. Once he experienced this for himself, he'd be begging to quit.
“Let's see how long that confidence lasts! We're starting with a run!”
“How many laps?”
“Until I say stop!”
After carefully warming up, Allen began to run along the perimeter of the training ground, which was about half the size of a soccer field. Was it to be expected? He kept fidgeting with his armor as if it were cumbersome, and after just one lap, sweat was pouring off him like rain. His pace was gradually slowing.
“Hehe, you had fun playing around all this time, didn't you? How hard will you have to work to make up for the time you wasted in debauchery? Twice as hard? Three times? One thing's for sure, it's going to be hell. Can you really do it? If you think it's too hard, that you can't, then give up now. And never show your face in front of me again.”
Piole ran alongside him on an inner track, taunting him. Allen didn't reply. He seemed to glance at her for a moment before focusing on running straight ahead.
A furrow formed between Piole's brows.
“So this is easy for you, is it? Fine! Pick up the pace!”
Even though it was obvious Allen was struggling, Piole pushed him even harder, driving him to his limit.
“Hah... Hah...”
His sweat-soaked shirt hindered his movements, and his armor felt as heavy as lead. His pace slowed until it was no different from walking, but Allen didn't give up and kept running.
At the sight of his desperate struggle, Piole chewed on her lip as she ran beside him. It was a scene she had never imagined. That scoundrel, showing determination instead of giving up?
‘Did he really get his act together? After all this time?’
The coppery taste of blood from the cut on her lip brought her to her senses. Even if he had come to his senses, it was too late. A body stiffened by a life of debauchery wouldn't return to its former state. And even if it could, it would take an immense amount of time.
“Stop!”
Allen's body had reached its limit long ago. Piole would not tolerate anyone getting injured during a training regimen she designed. Not even Allen, the scoundrel she despised.
“Hah... Hah... Hah...”
Allen gasped for breath. It was as if the boundary between inhaling and exhaling had vanished, his lungs and the air becoming one. After pushing himself so suddenly, there couldn't be a single part of his body that didn't ache.
“Hmph, serves you right. And after just a few laps around the training ground.”
“Hah... When do we learn swordsmanship?”
“Swordsmanship? What can you do when you don't even have the strength to hold a sword!”
Though still panting, Allen drew his sword. The tip was trembling. Piole's face crumpled. The more determination Allen showed, the more irritated she became.
“You're so... so annoying.”
“I don't care how you feel. All I want is for you to do your part.”
“I said you're annoying!”
Piole's irritation exploded the moment Allen perfectly mimicked the basic stance and sword path she had reluctantly shown him. She had only shown him once. Just once, and Allen's sword reached the same point.
It wasn't a coincidence. The next sword path followed the same trajectory. Did he remember what he'd learned in the past? If not, was it really talent? Piole couldn't accept either possibility.
‘You were always like that.’
From the first moment he held a sword, Allen had effortlessly displayed the talent Piole so desperately craved. And he had wasted it, oblivious to its value.
Piole had despised that Allen.
‘Father must be counting on his talent, too.’
Her father must have remembered his talent and taken him back. Piole was certain of it.
‘I can't accept it.’
How hard had she worked to get where she was? She'd had to work twice as hard as others to overcome the disadvantages of being a woman and her own lack of talent. And now, this bastard who'd wasted his talent on a scoundrel's life was going to stand above her again, as if nothing had happened?
Piole could not tolerate it.
Not if she could help it. It was too unfair.
It was at that moment that she remembered how obsessed Allen had been with sparring against her father. The corners of Piole's mouth curled into a grin.
“You want to spar, don't you? Then how about you spar with me? It's not for free, though. There's a condition.”
“A condition?”
His response was quick, despite his ragged breathing. Her irritation subsided, thinking it was just as she'd expected. Allen would definitely not be able to refuse this offer. Piole was sure of it.
“That's right. A condition. If you lose to me, you leave this place.”
Allen replied instantly, as if it wasn't even worth considering.
“No.”