Sparring with the Knight
The interior of the Lord's Castle was quiet. Even though signs of life were scattered throughout the castle, the only people in sight were me and two young maids. The faint sounds of apprentice knights training drifted in from outside, slipping through the pockets of silence.
"Here we are."
The spot where the maid stopped wasn't the reception room where I'd met Lijet last time. The training sounds grew louder and louder until they finally led me to the backyard training grounds.
"You've arrived."
Barie was overseeing the apprentice knights' training. Even in peacetime, she was clad in light armor, and she gave me a look that mixed familiarity with something warmer.
"All eyes on me!"
At Barie's command, the apprentices mid-swing with their wooden swords froze in unison. The sweaty gazes of men and women alike turned toward me.
"This is Eck. One of only three A-rank adventurers in Leator."
Barie stepped up beside me and lightly placed a hand on my shoulder.
"And just recently, during the Red Moon, he saved my life in the forest. He proved his true mettle by defeating me when a monstrous beast had possessed my body—one that steals human forms."
The apprentices' eyes widened all at once. They couldn't possibly be unaware of the weight those words carried for anyone aspiring to knighthood. Especially since it was rare for a knight to admit owing a debt to an adventurer.
Barie's tone was matter-of-fact. She didn't hide the fact that she'd been overpowered. A knight's pride must exist for a reason, yet this woman had no qualms admitting defeat.
"I'm appointing him as your guest instructor. You came under me because you believed sticking to what you've learned so far won't lead to growth, right?"
Barie was a young knight. A genius who had risen to knighthood at a young age thanks to her exceptional talent and been selected as the lord's daughter's knight. But her youth made others look down on her.
They figured a knight who knew nothing of the world might pass on secret techniques. That naive thinking was why these apprentices had gathered here.
"I learned the same way you did. I can't teach you anything beyond what you've already learned."
Barie placed a hand on my waist and pushed me forward.
"That's why I've invited Eck as a special instructor. Watch closely and learn."
The apprentices' reactions were mixed. Some nodded vigorously in blind agreement with Barie, while others pouted and eyed me up and down. Commoner. Adventurer. Those two words were branded in their stares.
A wooden sword hilt was thrust toward me. I gripped the one Barie handed over.
"Eck, spar with me."
"...I'll learn a thing or two."
Barie nodded and gestured to the center of the training grounds. The apprentices cleared the middle, forming a circle around us like a stage.
"Don't think it'll be like last time."
"Then I'll have to give it my all."
I faced off against Barie, adjusting my grip on the sword and steadying my nerves.
"Let's begin."
Silence fell in an instant.
Barie moved first. She took a short first step, then closed the distance in her second. Fast.
She raised her wooden sword high and brought it down in a straightforward slash. I deflected the gale-force strike sideways with my own sword, letting it glance off. Her blade grazed past my shoulder, slicing through empty air.
Heavy.
Her frame was slender, like a girl fresh out of high school, but her strength was gorilla-like. Add mana to that, and she'd rival the monstrous power of the ogres that ravaged the forest.
Knight's are strong. Their overwhelming physicality is built for facing massive monsters. Knights exist to protect the territory, honing grand, heavy techniques to cleave and block giant beasts.
That made their attacks easy to read. Any veteran adventurer could spot the openings.
Adventurers hunt monsters too, but they also deal with humans who might betray them at any moment, so they train interpersonal techniques. They engrave into their bones how to kill people and survive other people.
That difference shone through in the spar.
Barie couldn't keep up with reading breaths or exploiting feints. It was a matter of purpose. Like how a rifle and a cannon serve different roles despite equal value—no clear winner.
But if forced to pick the stronger, it'd be knights. Their baseline is A-rank. And there was the class difference.
Just as her wooden sword seemed poised to pulverize me, it veered off like a child playfully swinging a stick. She reduced power for better control. Even so, it was a clean hit for me. That's the gap between knight and adventurer.
Her blade whistled past my chest and dropped like a guillotine.
Block it, and I'm done.
I twisted my body instead of parrying. Pivoting on my heel, I stepped in, slipping into her guard and circling behind her. My sword tip brushed her clothing as I passed.
The corner of Barie's mouth twitched upward ever so slightly.
"Not bad."
My eyes tracked to her toes. Next moves come from footwork. Feet support every action, so watching them predicts what's next.
Tension built in the tip of her wooden sword—and before that, her toes slammed the training ground dirt. Mana-forged superhuman flesh unleashed monstrous strength.
A thrust. I let the predictable trajectory slip between my armpit.
We exchanged blows. Barie dodged what she could, parried and deflected the rest. I moved minimally, grazing her attacks by a paper's width.
The more we traded, the more her habits emerged. As I maintained distance, hit-and-fade style, her sword posed no real threat anymore.
Barie exhausted her moves, repeating the same patterns. Honest. Stubborn.
I pulled back the distance.
"Lady Barie."
"What?"
"If I win, I have a favor to ask. Will you grant it?"
"You're still full of vigor even out of breath."
I was winded, but I could keep going.
"Fine. Show me something."
"This exchange will be the last."
I readjusted my grip. Silence thickened.
I moved first this time. Barie assumed her stance, and the follow-ups flashed in my mind. I could see the lines where to thrust to break her.
My sword traced a fluid arc toward her chin. She checked me, but I dropped low, chased under her guard, and thrust at her throat.
Just as it neared her neck—
Her sword intervened in the path.
Crack!
A snap, and the broken blade clattered to the ground.
I stood, still clutching the fractured wooden sword.
"I lost."
"I lost."
Our voices overlapped.
"In a real fight, your sword wouldn't have broken—it would've pierced my throat. I won't claim victory from a qualitative difference in weapons."
"A normal sword would've deflected without breaking."
"Hm... Then it's a draw."
Barie looked puzzled, sensing something off in that final moment.
Beating you now gains me nothing.
I sighed in relief that she hadn't caught on, steadying my breath.
Barie turned to the apprentices.
"You saw that, right? Eck is strong. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he's my equal. There are people outside who cultivate different forms of strength from us—so keep your eyes open and learn."
Barie added one more thing.
"He's the one Lady Lijet personally commissioned. Any breach of etiquette stains her honor. I'll punish it myself."
The apprentices' shoulders twitched at her warning. The disdainful looks from moments ago were gone, replaced by curiosity and doubt.
"That's all for today. Dismissed."
"""Thank you for your efforts!"""
The apprentices saw Barie off. She jerked her chin at me.
"Eck, follow me to the reception room."
"Yes."
I followed Barie.
Barie flopped onto the plush sofa. Warm black tea brought by waiting maids filled the table, perfuming the reception room.
I skipped the cup and got straight to it.
"I'd like you to arrange a meeting with Lady Lijet."
Barie's teacup paused at her lips.
"My desire to get close to you isn't just about our deal. I genuinely like you and want you by my side."
Her eyes narrowed.
"But if you're using the lady, I'll have to reconsider."
She set the cup down with a clink of porcelain. Her gaze pierced me sharply.
"I want your sponsorship."
Her eyebrow twitched.
"Sponsorship?"
"I'm forming a party. I need a backer to support it."
"Why?"
Her eyes said it was unexpected. I was blunt. Lies to nobles that get exposed later only breed trouble.
"A dungeon is going to appear."
Barie's face twisted darkly. Her stare screamed, What nonsense is this?
"That's no joke. Eck, a dungeon's emergence decides a territory's fate. You expect me to tell the lady some baseless fantasy? What's your proof?"
"I can't say."
I cut it straight. Lying to a noble is easy in the moment, but the fallout when exposed is beyond what a commoner can handle. Better to admit what I can't reveal—less risk.
"You wouldn't believe me if I did."
"So you want me to peddle groundless rumors to the lady?"
"No proof, but..."
I pulled out my prepared parchments.
"If I'm wrong, take my head. That's how certain I am, and this is the evidence."
Receipts from the forge for commissions. Bulk potion orders from the alchemist. Costs for the magic sword seal from the mage, plus a contract promising cooperation in exchange for test subjects.
The sums were eye-watering even for a noble—proof of my sincerity. If no dungeon appeared, I'd be bankrupt and enslaved.
"You're serious."
"Could a mere commoner be more serious than this?"
I continued gravely.
"I'm not asking for money. When the dungeon appears, have the lady back the party."
"Worried about something like the adamantium incident? I couldn't have stopped it without staking my family's name."
"I was deeply grateful then."
Barie rubbed her temple, looking troubled, then finished her tea. She stood.
"Alright. I'll speak to the lady. Her schedule's open right now. Excuse me a moment."
"Thank you."
She headed for the door.
"Oh, almost forgot."
Barie pointed at me with her index finger.
"Wash up before I bring the lady. I get you spent the night with the pink-haired woman, but clean yourself up. Maid, help him bathe."
"Understood."
I turned and checked—long strands of pink hair clung to my clothes. Must've stuck during my meeting with Pila on her bed.