Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Vanguard Swordsman's Identification Tag
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"Hup!"
The wooden two-hander and longsword tangled chaotically in the air. It was a disadvantageous situation for the two-hander user, who had to keep swinging nonstop. Kyle hurriedly tried to knock away her blade, but Lenia's sword clung to his like it was glued, refusing to let go.
Scraaaape!
The longsword slid along his blade, pushing forward. Kyle twisted his sword to shake it off, then raised it high again. He planned to exploit the two-hander's superior weight and reach for an overhead strike. But before he could, Lenia lowered her sword.
"That's enough for today. Good work."
"You too, Lady."
The lesson ended. As usual, Kyle placed the practice sword back on the rack and wiped the sweat starting to bead on his forehead with his sleeve. Lenia smiled faintly at the sight.
"Must've been tough today, huh?"
"You came at me so fiercely, Lady, it threw me off. That's all."
"That just means your skills are improving fast. Your response just now was great. If I had to nitpick, it's still the flexible application of sword techniques depending on the situation..."
Lenia rattled on excitedly about the sword lesson. The other maids would be shocked if they saw this. Even Lenia herself was sometimes surprised. Who would've thought she'd end up getting this close to a guy?
But somehow, she felt at ease around Kyle. Like reuniting with an old friend.
"So... how's the work going? I heard some weird rumors."
Weird rumors? Kyle paused at her words, racking his brain, but nothing came to mind.
"Sorry, but what weird rumors...?"
"That you fought the vanguard swordsmen."
Ah, that. Realizing what she meant, Kyle gave an awkward smile.
"It wasn't a fight—just a bit of training. Seems it got twisted around."
Of course, the training was with his fists. He barely swallowed the words that nearly escaped.
"I see. As expected of you. Given your background... and the sudden appointment, it must've been hard handling them. But I have an eye for talent, don't I?"
Lenia narrowed her eyes with a light smile. Her beautiful turquoise irises peeked playfully from beneath her thin eyelids.
"I'm just working hard enough not to disappoint you, Lady."
As always, Kyle flattered her with a jingle of words. And then.
"I'd love to see your results with my own eyes. That okay?"
"Pardon?"
"Why so surprised? I just want to check out the vanguard swordsmen. You're not hiding anything from me, are you?"
"No, but..."
So sudden—Kyle dumbly echoed her words. She shows up out of nowhere like this? But refusing was impossible; she was too far above him. His lord and teacher, to boot.
"Chung!"
"The captain's here!"
Moments later, Kyle arrived at the barracks with a girl in a straw hat pulled low. Lenia, of course. Still in her training clothes, but the hat hid her face.
"Can't see your face, right?"
"Should be fine."
The straw hat was borrowed from a maid at Lenia's insistence—she wanted to observe without the soldiers noticing. She'd only ever seen them tense and formal; she was curious about their daily life.
"Chung! Good work, sir!"
"Yeah, good work."
In just ten days, Kyle had fully taken control of the vanguard swordsmen. The veterans and sergeants knew they'd be lost without him, so they served him willingly. The rank-and-file still grumbled but were being tamed by his rank and strength.
The soldiers saluted Kyle, then whistled at spotting Lenia. Who'd have thought their stone-faced captain would bring a woman?
"Captain! Who's the girl?"
"This? This? Gah!"
The soldier wiggling his pinky finger crumpled under Kyle's iron fist. If he knew who she really was, he'd thank him for the mercy. Kyle ushered Lenia to his office before more trouble brewed.
"It's not tidied up—kinda messy, but have a seat."
"So this is your office..."
Lenia looked around. Tiny compared to hers, but spacious enough for work.
"Sorry, nothing to offer you, Lady."
She shook her head at his words.
"No need. I dropped by unannounced. Sit down already, won't you?"
****
Once seated, the lady's turquoise eyes turned to me. No idea what she was thinking. After a brief silence, she spoke first.
"Learning to read, I hear?"
I nodded honestly to her question.
"Yes."
"How long have you been at it?"
"Started yesterday, Lady."
"What're you studying with? Books? They're expensive—got someone literate nearby?"
"No. I had a brief chance to learn letters before, so I'm using those memories... studying this."
I pulled out the notebook. She eyed it curiously and extended her hand. I placed it in her palm.
"What's in it? Mind if I look?"
"Of course. It's Sir Willum's notebook—just testimonies about a murder in the city."
"I see... Could you read it?"
Of course not. If I could, I wouldn't be studying.
"Ahem... Only parts so far."
"Then I'll read it for you. And after sword practice, I'll teach you letters. How's that?"
A free favor. No way I'd refuse. I accepted. Who else would recognize my talent and teach me sword and letters for nothing? Loyalty was blooming in real-time.
Generous, capable, cares for her subordinates, and beautiful to boot. If the perfect boss descended from fantasy to reality, it'd be this lady. So what if she's cold to others? As long as she's good to me.
"A murder like this... I had no idea."
"Victims are mostly paupers. This big city's overflowing with them."
"Hmm... But the latest was a guard?"
"Yes."
"Most witnesses saw something silver. Wolves... Werewolves aren't that common, yet multiple sightings..."
From the notebook she summarized while reading:
First witness: Slum boy. Saw a human-shaped figure gleaming silver in an alley.
Second: Thug. Saw a silver-glowing wolf.
Third: Slum worker. Heard noises in an alley, approached, found the body.
A few more witnesses, all similar. Common threads: silver light, human or wolf.
After reading it all aloud, she handed it back.
"What do you think?"
My thoughts...
"Not sure. But the common points are silver, human, and wolf. If it's the same killer in a serial case, we need to catch them fast."
She looked at me with interest.
"Why's that?"
"Hunting beasts that ate people, I've seen plenty. Know their pattern?"
"What?"
From Earth docs and local cases, one thing in common.
"They start cautious. But they grow bolder, attacks more frequent. If this is one killer, it'll follow suit. Started with paupers, now guards. Next... who knows."
Clap clap!
She applauded and laughed as I finished. She didn't seem the type to smile so much.
"You keep impressing me. How about this? You take charge and solve it."
"If you entrust it to me..."
Honestly, too soon after promotion, unit still messy—another hassle job? But she caught my thought, eyes widening playfully.
"Kidding, of course. You've got your duties, and it's Sir Willum's case. He'd be miffed if I stole it."
But soon, her prediction was wrong. Sir Willum came to me first. The plump-faced knight dabbed his profuse sweat with a handkerchief as he knocked.
"Sir! There you are!"
"Sir Willum? What brings you? The notebook—I haven't finished reading it yet."
He shook his head.
"Not that. We need to check vanguard swordsmen headcount! Hurry!"
No clue what, but he looked panicked. I complied, and... one missing.
"Jimmy's gone!"
"Where's that bastard?"
"He didn't show up today, come to think of it."
Chatter varied, but conclusion: Jimmy was AWOL. Bad feeling. No way...
"A vanguard swordsman after all! New victim in an alley—with his ID tag!"
Shit.
"Outta the way! Show's over!"
"Hans! Watch your mouth with Auntie!"
"But Auntie Lina... Captain of the Guard says no one's allowed in."
The alley buzzed with gawkers and blocking guards—unrecognizable chaos. Even loudmouth locals scattered fearfully at nobility.
I entered with Sir Willum.
"New body found here—with a vanguard swordsman's ID tag. Looks killed last night."
Man slumped against the wall, lower body soaked in his own blood. A face I knew.
"Jimmy..."
One of the grumbling rank-and-file. Decent skill, from what I'd heard.
"Knew him, huh."
I nodded bitterly. Subordinate, complaints or not.
"Vanguard swordsman, confirmed."
"He put up a fight, though. Unlike before—signs of struggle here."
Where Willum pointed: trashed alley. Filth piles made tracks clearer.
"What do you make of it?"