Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Sparring
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The knight pondered my words for a moment before shaking his head.
"Hmm... Ren? Never heard of her."
"Is that so..."
It seemed her ending wasn't a happy one after all. Then again, I never saw her leave with the count, so maybe the people around had spun some comforting tale to spare me the shock.
Pushing aside the jolt of that supposed happy ending turning tragic, I arrived at the room where the noble lady awaited and steadied my nerves.
"You seem to know the drill already, so I probably don't need to say this, but just in case—mind your manners in there. Got it? She's quite the demanding one."
"Thanks for the advice."
Satisfied with my response, the knight rapped on the door.
"Lady? I've brought the mercenary you requested."
[Let him in.]
A voice from inside replied indifferently. It didn't sound like someone who had any interest in me at all...
"I'm honored beyond words that Your Ladyship summoned me. Name's Kyle."
As I bowed my head, a soft chuckle escaped, followed by the noble lady's voice, now far gentler than before.
"You never fail to amuse me. Now, we have business to discuss alone, so you're dismissed, Sir Knight."
"Understood."
The knight's footsteps faded as the door clicked shut behind him. Now it was just me and the noble lady in the room.
"So... Kyle, is it?"
"So... Kyle, is it?"
Lenia sat in her chair, eyeing Kyle. He was still bowing his head, but even so, his presence felt immense—not just in build, but as a man who filled the room.
A mere mercenary who, amid a rout, had captured elves, rallied the sellswords, and plunged back into the fray to turn the tide.
Truth be told, no knight could match his feats in open battle, but creating that pivotal moment to reverse crumbling morale was an achievement in itself.
What if those mighty knights had fled without a fight? Without that rear-guard shake-up, could the enemy's main force have crumbled so easily? "What ifs" were futile on the battlefield, but Kyle's exploits were undeniable fact.
"You have permission to raise your head."
As he did, Lenia thought he seemed twice as tall as before—tall enough that she worried his head might scrape the ceiling. She studied his face slowly.
Black hair, black eyes—a nostalgic hue that reminded her of someone from her past who'd aided her. Sharp features, sturdy build. A bit leaner from the wars, and he'd be strikingly handsome.
"Hmm... Have you given thought to my previous proposal?"
"You mean the vanguard swordsman captain position?"
"Good that you remember. It's a step below elite swordsman captain, but with your skills, promotion would come swiftly."
Frankly, it was an offer no commoner-turned-noble could refuse. But he knew his own weakness too well to accept.
He didn't know the sword. Sure, he wielded one, but swordsmanship? He was a total novice. No wonder he couldn't lead vanguard swordsmen. It made perfect sense—being good at fighting didn't make you a national fencing champ.
"I'm sorry, but... I can't accept."
"Of course you'd accept... What did you just say? Did I hear that right?"
"I don't think I can be a vanguard swordsman captain. I know it's an honor beyond me, but..."
Lenia's tone darkened. On the verge of losing talent right before her eyes, her mood soured badly.
"May I know why you're refusing?"
Her voice dripped with irritation. But the answer that followed left her stunned.
"I don't know the sword at all, Your Ladyship."
"What?"
Didn't know the sword? Then how... In that instant, she realized the source of that odd unease she'd felt watching this hulking mercenary. He swung a blade like it suited a bludgeon better. She'd chalked it up to distance, but no—he just didn't know how to use it!
"Y-You mean you can't wield a sword at all?"
Her voice trembled—her, who never faltered. A sword-illiterate man had shifted the battlefield's balance.
Splitting horses in one stroke, crushing men with his blade, bellowing to spook mounts into collapse. Tales too wild for personal legend. And the hero didn't know the sword?
"That's right."
More absurd than the wildest yarns, her composure cracked briefly. Then she bit her lip, rose sharply. If this was a lie to dodge her offer, she'd hold him accountable for releasing the elf.
"Follow me."
Her face was rigid as she spoke.
'Why's she so pissed all of a sudden?'
Meanwhile, Kyle broke into a cold sweat at her abrupt shift. He hadn't said anything offensive, yet here she was.
Surely not just for refusing? No way to read Lenia's mind, so with a sinking gut, he trailed her like a lamb to slaughter.
How far they'd walked from her room, he didn't know, but they arrived at the training grounds—smack in the mansion's heart, knights-only turf.
"Lady! You're here!"
Spotting her, the training knights bolted over in alarm. As the count's sole heir and Cligrove's strongest blade, she warranted it.
"You've worked hard. I need the grounds briefly—mind clearing out?"
The knights, well-versed in her moods, clocked her anger instantly from that line. And pegged the cause: the mercenary behind her.
"Of course, Lady!"
Who'd defy her? Especially Cligrove's top sword claiming the field. They watched her and Kyle intently from the sidelines.
Clang!
Lenia tossed a sword at Kyle's feet. Smaller than his usual, a standard two-hander.
"Pick it up."
Kyle gripped it. No clue what this was about, but real steel meant maybe this mad noble lady planned to execute him here.
For freeing the elf and scorning her offer—a scoundrel's chopping block. Feeling the cold, heavy blade, he raised it silently. If it was the end, he'd thrash like hell.
"I'll attack ten times. Defend."
In that moment, Kyle swore her form blurred.
Whoosh—clang!
She closed the gap in a flash, her swing clashing loudly off his guard. The reflexes honed against beasts moved his body.
"One."
Lenia flowed again, flicking his blade aside gracefully, stepping forward with her right foot. Using the recoil, a thunderbolt chop rained down.
Kaang!
Kyle blocked it. How? Even he didn't know—just instinct.
"Two."
This time, she twisted his sword, her blade sliding along his edge, spinning to deflect toward the pommel.
Point-blank thrust at his throat. Basic two-hander form, but Kyle couldn't parry. Not slow reaction— he just couldn't counter the seamless advance.
"Kuh?"
Death. The tip nicking his Adam's apple, Kyle sensed the end and shut his eyes.
"Three."
That brush with death against magic beasts—the reaper's chill. He felt doom, but mercifully, his instinct missed this time.
'He really doesn't know the sword.'
Lenia sighed. Doubts be damned—he was a true beginner. Green from the first grip, and even her killing stroke barely fazed him not at all.
'But his reflexes and power are top-notch...'
Overall verdict: exceptional. Swordless, he'd blocked Cligrove's best twice on raw nerve and brawn. Undeniable talent.
A new greed stirred, unlike before—like unearthing raw ore. Polish this giant gemstone, what jewel emerges? Her chest thumped; cheeks flushed for the first time in ages.
"Th-then... my lord..."
Kyle braced for a beheading, but her words blindsided him.
"Will you learn the sword from me?"
Learn the sword? Her sudden pitch wrecked my poker face. She'd charged like a beast ready to lop my head off moments ago, now this? What kind of mood swing was that?
"You don't want to?"
My hesitation drew a faintly disappointed look. The feral edge had long vanished from her face.
Her letdown aside, I had no reason to refuse. Word was, this lady was Cligrove's finest knight. Folks would line up with bribes for her tutelage.
"No, milady! It's just... so sudden. Who'd turn down sword lessons from Cligrove's greatest knight?"
Her face lit up, those turquoise eyes sparkling.
"Then lessons start tomorrow. I'll assign you an empty room—stay here."
"Your generosity overwhelms me, but... are you sure?"
She smiled faintly and nodded.
"Plenty of empty rooms in the mansion. I'll tell my maids to guide you. See you tomorrow."
And so, I became the apprentice of Cligrove's top knight—and enigmatic noble lady—for sword lessons.
"Whoa, bro. That lady's got the hots for you, huh?"
That evening, with permission to leave the mansion, I met Cutter for drinks. He'd heard my tale and was buzzing about her interest.
"Obviously she's interested. Why else teach me the sword? Probably wants to mold me into her retainer."
He sighed.
"Aigoo, bro... so dense. I didn't mean it like that. I meant, does she like you?"