Chapter 67
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Luel's Admiration
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The surprise was short-lived.
Abel replied politely.
“Lady Luel. Please feel free to speak comfortably.”
This was a strict class-based society.
Inside the academy's walls, it might be different, but outside, Abel was nothing more than a commoner.
His opponent, on the other hand, was the heir of a renowned martial house, so there was a clear difference in status.
That was why Abel had subtly mentioned his own commoner background.
“No, no. It's only natural to show proper respect to an outstanding warrior!”
But Luel didn't mind Abel's words at all.
Instead, she continued speaking to him with equal courtesy.
‘Her imperial tongue is quite fluent.’
Abel thought as he listened.
There were many languages on this continent.
Imperial was among them, and if one had to compare it to Earth's languages, it held a position similar to modern English.
As such, many people used and learned it.
Luel's imperial was smooth enough for effortless conversation.
It carried a foreign accent and a rather stiff manner of speaking, though.
‘Her speech is a bit archaic, too.’
While he pondered this inwardly, Luel didn't pause.
“The battle just now was truly impressive. I thought you had seized the advantage, but by the time I came to my senses, you had us completely on the ropes.”
“It was just luck.”
“Luck... For a warrior, that's part of skill as well. Anyway.”
Luel glanced around briefly before speaking softly.
“If it's not too much trouble, might we have a short conversation before dinner?”
Abel felt inwardly troubled by her suggestion.
It wasn't something he could decide on his own.
Fortunately, he didn't need to respond himself.
“Exchanges between promising talents are a good thing, aren't they?”
As the two conversed, Scarlett stepped forward from a pace behind and spoke.
But her words were directed not at Luel, who had made the proposal first, but at Alten Blaine standing behind her.
Alten laughed heartily in response.
“Haha, of course. I brought Luel here to give her some worldly experience in the first place. Above all, hanging around old folks like us must be boring, right?”
At the words “old folks like us,” a vein briefly throbbed on Scarlett's forehead, but she nodded with a smile.
“...Indeed. It would be better to chat comfortably in the drawing room.”
Scarlett said this and assigned a servant to guide them personally.
And so, Abel found himself unexpectedly heading to the drawing room with Luel, following the servant.
The drawing room was on the first floor—a large, ornate space he hadn't seen before.
It seemed to be reserved for entertaining important guests.
Abel sat across from Luel at the table in awkward silence.
Luel spoke only after the servant had placed tea and refreshments on the table and left.
“I hope my request for a conversation wasn't an imposition?”
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Abel smiled as he replied.
“Not at all. I was thinking I'd like to chat as well.”
“I see! That's a relief.”
Luel visibly relaxed at his answer.
“If I may, could I ask a few questions?”
“Of course. Go ahead.”
With permission granted, Luel unleashed a torrent of words as if she'd been holding them back.
“Is the weapon you normally use the same as the one from today? And your swordsmanship—did you learn it from a specific master? It was quite unique.”
“Hmm. Normally, I use something with a longer, broader blade. About like this.”
Abel sketched the shape roughly in the air.
Luel let out an exclamation of admiration.
“That's enormous. Is there a reason you use such a sword?”
“Ah, well.”
Originally, he'd chosen it with a future swordsmanship in mind, but he couldn't say that outright.
So Abel wove his answer around her second question.
“In the past, I happened to learn a few techniques from a retired mercenary. The weapon he used was similar to the one I described.”
“I see...! That explains the intensely practical feel.”
“Exactly.”
It had to feel practical.
He hadn't learned any formal swordsmanship to begin with—from scraping by at the bottom until entering the academy.
It was simply skill honed through countless real battles.
Still, Luel seemed satisfied with his answer, her cheeks flushing as she posed another question.
“What impressed me most was how you handled the Gigant itself. It was as if you and it were one.”
“Haha. Circumstances forced me to pilot Gigants from a young age. Nothing proper, though.”
“Might I ask what those circumstances were?”
It was a potentially tricky question, but this time, Abel wasn't flustered.
He'd anticipated something like this and already sorted his thoughts.
Abel spoke calmly.
“I'm an orphan. I wandered the slums, doing all sorts of jobs just to survive. One day, I caught someone's eye by chance and ended up fighting in illegal duel rings aboard Gigants.”
“I see.”
Luel nodded without any hint of disgust or aversion.
Abel was the one surprised by her reaction.
‘What is she?’
The story he'd just told was packed with elements that would repel a typical noble.
Scarlett was an exception, but most would have shown open discomfort.
Abel fell silent for a moment before continuing slowly.
“Back then, I fought with my life on the line just to survive. After battle after battle, at some point, the Gigant started feeling like an extension of my body. Of course, it was probably just an illusion.”
“No. Watching you fight today, it was exactly as you said. I was in awe several times over.”
Luel shook her head, praising him.
The more they talked, the harder it became for Abel to pin down what kind of person Luel was.
She was far more proactive with her questions than someone just sharing battle impressions should be.
When Abel fell quiet, Luel seemed to sense something and spoke cautiously.
“I'm sorry if I asked too many questions and made you uncomfortable.”
“Not at all.”
“That's good, then. Um...”
After a brief hesitation, Luel said,
“I learned a lot from today's spar. Not just how much I still lack, but also that someone my age is already so far ahead.”
“You flatter me...”
“So, with that in mind, may I keep in touch from time to time?”
“Pardon?”
Abel blurted out in surprise.
Luel gazed at him steadily, as if it were the most natural thing.
“I'd like to continue our exchanges.”
“Exchanges, you say...”
“Exactly as it sounds. Regular spars, letters back and forth, that sort of thing.”
Hearing this, Abel thought,
‘Is the Union Kingdom's culture that different from what I know? Or does she have some ulterior motive?’
No matter how he pondered, nothing stood out.
There might be differences upon close inspection, but in general, things were similar.
Naturally, no noble heir would propose ongoing contact with a commoner after one spar.
As Abel wrestled with confusion inwardly, Luel added,
“This is me speaking not as the Blaine heir, but as one warrior to another. Please answer without feeling burdened.”
Her eyes were utterly sincere—enough to make Abel feel ashamed of his suspicions.
In the end, after some deliberation, he spoke.
“It would be an honor. Exchanging with someone as accomplished as you, Lady Luel, would teach me much.”
“Really! Thank you!”
Only then did Luel's tension ease, her thanks coming out slightly tongue-tied.
Abel nodded with an awkward smile.
Like it or not, building ties with Luel was advantageous.
He had no connections in the Union Kingdom.
He'd always planned to cultivate some there eventually, so this was fortuitous.
“Ah, may I ask a few more things? About that final technique...”
Afterward, Luel peppered him with more questions.
Naturally, most revolved around combat.
Abel, initially awkward, soon enjoyed the conversation.
It was a topic he loved, after all.
Knock knock.
The talk halted at the sound of knocking.
“Dinner is in two hours.”
Lost in conversation, time had flown until dinner was near.
“We should head back soon.”
“Ah, yes!”
Luel rose with evident reluctance.
They needed to bathe and change before dinner, so starting now would leave time to spare.
“Then.”
They exchanged farewells and parted.
They'd meet again at dinner anyway.
As Abel followed a maid back to his room, he thought,
‘Luel doesn't appear in the game.’
Not just minor role—she never appears at all.
Of course, not everyone in this world is in the game.
Among game characters, only a few hundred are even named.
Meaning, characters absent from the game were commonplace.
But.
Luel's case was different.
‘Her family is mentioned, and her knight was a fairly important side character.’
Family name. Family head. Knight formerly of the family.
All that appeared in the game, yet only the heir's name was missing?
Moreover, Luel's skill was exceptional even by Abel's standards.
She could enter the academy's upper ranks immediately.
In other words, there was no reason not to feature her.
Thus, Abel reached one conclusion.
‘Luel dies, or suffers something similar—with high probability.’
Not absent, but ‘unable’ to appear.
With that conclusion, his face hardened.
‘The Blaine family annihilation is at most a year away.’
Even that was the maximum; it could happen sooner.
The problem was, he had no way to warn Luel.
What could he say?
Your family’s about to get wiped out, so watch your back?
She'd never believe it—more likely feel insulted.
“Shall I show you to the prepared bath now?”
The maid asked after they'd walked a bit.
“Yes, please.”
Abel replied simply and followed her straight to the bath.
Soon after, soaking in the steaming tub, he muttered,
“Intervening in any way would cause massive ripples.”
The method was secondary; saving Luel carried huge risks.
It could derail the future he knew.
‘But...’
Abel recalled their conversation.
The pure passion in her eyes as she looked at him.
‘For now... I'll watch and see.’
Unable to untangle his knotted thoughts, Abel slowly closed his eyes.