Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: A Will Dwells in the Sword (7)
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‘Yes!’
While Lilith Rosewood was inwardly cheering after receiving Ethan's permission to participate in the training at the mock battleground.
“……”
“……”
Just as light brings shadow, there were two people who weren't at all pleased with this situation.
Ethan Richard Blackwood, and Emilia Reinhart.
Of the three, everyone except Lilith was displeased with the current state of affairs.
Especially Ethan's heart, as Lilith's master, was burning black with worry that she might get hurt.
No matter how he thought about it, he simply couldn't accept the fact that her participation in this training had been approved.
‘A mock battle with soldiers... No matter how I look at it, it's too dangerous...’
Just earlier today, when he'd heard in the carriage that she'd subjugated a hook-eared beast, his heart had nearly dropped.
And now, here she was boldly volunteering for a mock battle with soldiers.
Of course, purely in terms of danger, the incident a year ago where she'd faced a hook-eared beast one-on-one was undoubtedly far more perilous and reckless.
...But that experience alone didn't allow Ethan to completely set aside his worries about Lilith.
The battle she'd fought a year ago was merely 'experience' in subjugating a hook-eared beast—it by no means proved she had the 'skill' to overwhelm a rookie soldier.
‘A maid isn't the type to lie, and her claim of subjugating the hook-eared beast is probably true...’
Even if she didn't lose the spar, there was plenty of chance she'd get injured, and fighting humans versus monsters was vastly different, so variables could arise.
In other words, just by participating in this mock battle, she was highly likely to return with some scrape or another.
So, genuinely worried for Lilith, Ethan had tried to stop her participation by any means.
‘As expected, Young Master doesn't believe me either. At least regarding my feat of subjugating the hook-eared beast.’
‘Just moments ago, you said I was the servant you trusted most, but I must have misheard.’
Seeing Lilith shoot him a cold glare and say that, Ethan had no choice but to grant her request.
He hated seeing her get hurt, but he hated being hated by her even more.
He fully understood that his past foolish actions had left indelible scars on her heart.
Thus, he felt grateful to Lilith for awakening him from his immature days, and vowed not to hurt her again going forward.
But he simply couldn't understand her throwing herself into danger like this.
Of course, as she said, observing the mock training methods and gauging rookie soldiers' skills would help with patrolling his territory.
Even that alone would prevent rumors that he'd merely pretended to patrol.
However, from the moment he'd brought Lilith here, patrolling the territory wasn't his real goal.
She'd expressed interest in visiting the territorial guard, so he'd taken her out of the mansion in the simplest, easiest way possible.
Plus, he was curious about this Ser Blacksong she'd wanted to meet.
So naturally, for Ethan, Lilith not getting hurt mattered more than successfully completing the patrol.
But her resolve had remained firm to the end, and ultimately, he couldn't resist the pressure and had to agree to her proposal.
“...Ensure my maid can participate in the mock battle with the rookies by providing proper equipment and protective gear.”
He'd already done plenty to earn her resentment, even receiving the title of 'the worst man in the world' from her own mouth.
Anything that might make her hate him even a little was something he desperately wanted to avoid.
...And on the other hand.
Emilia Reinhart, the one who'd created this situation, was burning up inside for entirely different reasons.
‘I should have followed Ser's advice and avoided this mistake...’
Tormented by the situation she'd brought about, Emilia's insides were churning—not like Ethan's worry, but her own agony.
Initially, she'd thought the captain, who was always soft on others, had leaked credit again somewhere, and acted on that.
But she hadn't anticipated this unforeseen political maneuver.
‘Who would've thought the maid Ser yielded credit to was Blackwood Young Master's concubine...’
She'd simply suspected a pretty-faced, busty maid had seduced the captain and stolen his credit.
Never imagining that maid was Blackwood Young Master's concubine, and that Captain Ser had yielded credit with political intent.
Of course, Lilith wasn't Ethan's concubine, nor had she seduced Ser for credit—but to Emilia's eyes, it couldn't look any other way.
The young master glaring murderously and raging the moment she'd insulted that Lilith maid.
And the naive maid blithely asking to join the mock battle without a care.
All the circumstances were enough to turn Emilia's suspicion into conviction.
The only one who could handle Blackwood Family's young master now was his concubine, Lilith.
‘No wonder I've heard rumors that Young Master Ethan has changed lately—it was just to impress his concubine...’
Seeing the truth of the rumors with her own eyes left her feeling oddly hollow.
The problem was that her own situation was worsening so much she couldn't even properly feel that emptiness.
For starters, the moment the mock battle began, that Lilith maid's defeat was all but certain.
Rookies they might be, but they were still adult men—selected after passing basic strength and stamina tests.
Moreover, half a year into guard service, they'd undergone basic training.
How could that busty, dim-looking maid stand against them?
Gazing at her chest—which seemed too cumbersome even to swing a wooden sword properly—Emilia inwardly hurled every curse she could muster.
Those breasts must have played a key role in seducing Young Master Ethan.
When stealing credit, they'd surely tempted Captain Ser too.
Daring to join a mock battle with breasts that hindered swordplay.
Far more useful for handling a man's sword, Emilia thought bitterly, inwardly venting her resentment at what she herself lacked.
Of course, badmouthing Lilith's chest now wouldn't improve her own plight.
The instant Lilith said she'd participate with Young Master Ethan's permission, Emilia's future looked grim.
That maid couldn't possibly beat a rookie soldier, and as a rookie, they couldn't hold back properly either.
In the end, her getting injured during the spar was inevitable.
The issue was that the moment that maid got hurt, Young Master Ethan wouldn't let Emilia off.
And it didn't take long for her uneasy premonition to become reality.
“Emilia.”
“...Yes, Young Master.”
“Prepare to take responsibility if anything goes wrong, since your reckless mouth put my maid in danger.”
“...Understood.”
“The moment my maid gets even a tiny scratch anywhere, I'll carve an unhealing scar in the exact same spot on you.”
“......Yes.”
From a spot a bit away from Lilith, Ethan quietly threatened her in a voice only she could hear.
Hearing his irresistible warning, Emilia prayed silently in her heart.
That Lilith would lose without getting hurt, if she had to lose—an arrogant wish.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Right after Ethan's permission made the spar with the rookies official.
Thanks to his order for proper equipment and protective gear, I headed with Emilia to the prep room next to the mock battleground.
It was a small warehouse-like space with armor and helmets bearing traces of age, and weapons like swords and spears.
The armor was distinctly separated into men's and women's sizes, and all weapons had blunted tips to prevent fatalities.
The blunted edges would decide victory upon contact, probably.
Actual cuts would cause disaster, so they'd dulled the blades to hurt but not maim.
“Mock battle experience will proceed with full upper and lower armor, helmet, gloves, and boots. This is to prevent injury to Miss Lilith, so please understand.”
“Ah, yes...”
Her face weary from my unreasonable request, Emilia bowed her head slightly.
I wanted to say skip unnecessary gear, but it felt like that would drag the conversation out.
So I nodded reluctantly and accepted.
‘...Well, even if I lose, I'll still get EXP.’
Winning gave more EXP, so I wanted to win, but losing still netted some—not bad for me.
With solid armor, I could withstand a few accidental hits and last till the end.
Or end with minor injury even in defeat, giving grounds to request another round.
‘I need to hit level 6. Just exactly level 6...’
Soldiers didn't have set levels, so I didn't know how many low-rank ones it'd take.
With resolve, three or four spars should level me up once.
With that in mind, while changing into the protective gear Emilia handed me to prepare.
“......Ah.”
As I tried on the upper armor, a massive lump got caught at the chest.
“...Um, Emilia?”
“Yes.”
“This chest armor... it's a bit small. Could you swap it?”
“Pardon? I gave you one matching your height.”
“Height's fine, but... my chest is catching...”
“......”
Emilia alternated cold stares between my chest and the armor.
Wordlessly, she pulled out another chest piece and thrust it at me.
“...This is one size larger. Wear this.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“......”
...Though her final gaze held something like jealousy or hatred.
Eh, probably just my imagination.