The Test (4)

"So that's why I want to become stronger."

The quiet voice drifted through the door. My hand, about to knock, froze midair.

I'd only come to discuss a minor matter—never expecting to overhear Adel's true feelings like this.

After a moment's hesitation, I lowered my hand.

'Someone she's grateful to, is it?'

Where had the trembling, rain-soaked kitten from our first meeting gone? In just these few months, her assessment of me had changed so drastically.

Then again, how much effort had I poured into building this trust between us?

It was good that things were proceeding according to plan—but I couldn't bring myself to rejoice.

'Sigh...'

If everything unfolded as I'd designed, she would have to endure countless regressions.

When I first met Adel, I'd been indifferent to the suffering she would face. What did her pain matter to me, after all?

But now that we'd grown closer, I found myself recoiling from my own scheme. Doubts crept in—Was it truly alright to go through with this?

How ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠laughable.

Building trust meant I, too, would inevitably grow close to her.

And yet, I'd crafted this plan without realizing that.

Was this guilt over the agony she'd endure? I'd thought my heart had shattered and dulled beyond repair over these twenty long years.

Apparently, that wasn't entirely true.

'Hypocrisy, now of all times?'

Perhaps it was because I kept ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠seeing my younger self reflected in Adel. She always managed to stir something in me like this.

The man I'd been before meeting her would probably laugh at how foolish I looked now.

The thought drew a bitter, unconscious smile to my lips.

§

Time passed, and the promised day arrived.

The usually quiet training hall was bustling with people for the first time in ages.

Adel and Abel's demonstration match had drawn the curiosity of many servants, who now crowded the space.

Perhaps because the hall was frequently used for external events, spectator seats lined the perimeter. Most of the servants chattered among themselves as they looked down at the arena.

"Who do you think will win?"

"Come on, surely the Duke has the upper hand?"

"But he can't use magic or aura, right?"

"I'm betting on Lady Adel!"

A small wager had sprung up among the younger maids, but I let it pass. Turning my head slightly, I spotted Lily standing quietly nearby.

Her hands clasped together, eyes closed as if in prayer. There was something almost desperate in her posture.

Shifting my gaze, I noticed the knights engaged in a heated discussion.

"No matter how you look at it, the Duke will win, right?"

"What are you talking about? You haven't seen how much stronger Lady Adel's gotten this past month!"

"Evan, what do you think?"

Ah, so Evan was here too.

His ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠injuries were mostly healed, after all. Though he hadn't officially rejoined the knight order yet, likely due to concerns over lingering aftereffects.

"I think she'll win."

That was Evan's reply to his fellow knight. The unwavering conviction in his tone made me smile despite myself.

Even in this short time, it seemed Evan had come to trust Adel in his own way. Not that he could articulate why he believed she'd win.

'The knight order... They all came, just as promised.'

There was a reason I'd insisted every knight attend this mock battle.

I wanted them to see Adel not as someone to underestimate, but as a warrior worthy of respect.

In truth, that was the main reason I'd proposed this test to her in the first place. Of course, if she lost, we could simply pretend it never happened—no harm done.

My eyes shifted to Adel standing across the arena.

Her presence honed to a razor's edge, crimson pupils gleaming with sharpness.

In what could be called both a short and long month, she had changed dramatically. The most striking difference was the fighting spirit burning in her gaze.

The resolve and willpower every true warrior must possess.

I could see it blazing in her eyes now.

"Ready?"

"Yes."

Adel gave a firm nod in response to my question, her determination clear. Beside her, a spirit taking my form materialized.

Silpi, if I recalled correctly.

Wind attribute.

I'd faced countless opponents, but it had been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ages since I crossed blades with a Spiritualist.

Even including the time I'd spent teaching Arin in my youth, I could count my encounters with spirit summoners on one hand.

And this? A wind-attribute spirit? A first in every sense.

[Contractor.]

"I know."

Wind grazed my skin. Even at a glance, I could tell extraordinary energy was beginning to envelop Adel.

Was she substituting spirit power for wind magic application? An impressively innovative approach.

"Combatants—ready."

The referee Arin lowered her hand, signaling the start of the battle.

"Begin!"

The opening was a probing exchange between both sides.

The process of reading the opponent's intentions before clashing in earnest. Adel, equally accustomed to this, didn't rush but quietly studied me instead.

'Shall we begin?'

No magic. No aura.

This was the equivalent of giving up both the Queen and even the Rook in chess. But I still had my Knight and Rook remaining.

"Hup."

With a short exhale, I charged forward. Adel showed no panic at my sudden assault, raising her rapier in response.

Simultaneously, longsword and rapier collided with a metallic clang.

Kang!

The two blades clashed violently enough to send sparks flying. Though tremors traveled through the rapier's length, she held firm.

Adel surely understood she must never lose grip of her weapon.

But determination alone wasn't enough. On the battlefield, resolve alone guarantees nothing.

Whoosh.

While locked in the clash, I twisted my wrist to aim the sword at her throat. Yet as if anticipating this, Silpi's Wind Barrier intercepted the longsword.

At the same moment, Adel thrust her rapier toward my chest. Smirking at her seasoned reaction, I disengaged backward.

Then swung the longsword in a wide arc once more.

Kang!

"Silpi!"

[I know!]

An enormous wind barrier materialized, blocking all directions. The sheer force of it momentarily halted even my movement, making me hesitate.

Adel exploited that opening, swinging her rapier. Her coordination had indeed reached a commendable level.

But it still wasn't enough.

[Kgh!]

Using wind to immobilize opponents was a sound strategy, but ultimately a one-trick pony. With sufficient strength, the technique could be neutralized by generating counter-winds.

"Is this all you've got?"

"Of course not!"

Shouting this, Adel charged at me again.

Had it been a reckless charge, I would've knocked her out cold, but her sharp gaze suggested otherwise.

Perhaps due to Silpi's Wind, her attacks had gained even greater speed than before.

So fast my body struggled to keep up.

Clang-clang-clang!

Amidst the rapid metallic clashes, Adel's rapier aimed for my throat. Unconsciously, laughter escaped me at the long-forgotten sensation.

That feeling I'd grown sick of experiencing on battlefields.

'You've grown stronger.'

Had she truly been the same woman I saw a month ago? The transformation was staggering.

Not just her spirit-handling abilities, but her overall judgment had reached impressive levels.

Though she still had far to go.

Whoosh!

The minuscule gap in her chain of attacks. Yet on the battlefield, even such tiny openings become direct paths to death.

My longsword shot toward Adel's throat.

But she only curled her lips upward, reversing her rapier's grip.

"Oh?"

[Good, she took the bait!]

The wind's direction inverted. An incomparably stronger barrier froze my movement once more.

Planning to end this with one decisive strike, was she?

But I had no intention of going down without resistance.

Crack!

With the sound of splitting air, the wind barrier shattered.

[...Monster!]

"It's over."

The instant my blade was about to touch her throat, an explosive gale erupted from her rapier. Had she not actually poured all her power into that earlier barrier?

Before I could react, my body staggered slightly.

Somehow, her reversed rapier was already piercing precisely toward my neck.

I hurriedly raised my longsword to block, but whether due to the wind's restriction, my movement felt sluggish.

The cold touch of steel against my throat.

"I've lost."

"...Lady Adel wins!"

At Arin's shout, Adel's legs gave out as she collapsed. Chuckling, I extended a hand toward her.

"Why so surprised, Adel? You won."

"...Truly?"

"Yes. I never expected you to lay two traps in succession."

In combat, psychological warfare matters most.

And in that mental battle, she had momentarily gained the upper hand over me—proof enough of her qualification for the subjugation expedition.

Her utilization of the wind spirit also deserved full marks.

I hadn't fought at full strength, but neither had I held back.

Against such opposition, she'd created openings and pressed her advantage. By all rights, she'd passed the test.

She grasped my hand and rose.

Clap-clap-clap!

A thunderous applause erupted from the spectator seats. Turning, I saw maids, butlers, and even knights cheering for Adel's victory.

"Lady Adel is the best!"

"Damn it, there goes my month's salary..."

"I never doubted you!"

Well, some were celebrating their gambling winnings more than her triumph. But I could let that slide.

"You've worked hard this past month, Adel."

"...Thank you."

Though completely drained, Adel managed a faint smile. And so, she earned her place in the subjugation expedition.

Through her own strength alone.