Chapter 22
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 22: Apprentice Knight Irion (2)
“What happened to hiring a new gardener mentioned the other day?”
“We are still looking for a suitable person.”
Renoa and Bibi conversing while strolling in the garden. Zain follows a little distance behind as if guarding a shadow.
Renoa’s age is fourteen this year.
Even though it is a young age not having held a coming-of-age ceremony yet, the practical affairs of this mansion are entirely handled by Renoa.
She is strictly a noble, and a member of the Edelheid Ducal family that commands the continent.
They don't go easy on her because she is young or a woman.
To survive in the political world with no blood or tears, one must know how to perfectly manage at least one mansion of their own.
That is the logic of this floor.
“Try to find one as quickly as possible. Branches are about to cover the entire mansion.”
The biggest advantage and disadvantage of this villa is that it is in the forest.
Even a little neglect in management, and tree branches clutter the mansion.
If a gardener doesn't stick to it and prune branches every day, it’s a matter of time before the mansion is buried in the jungle.
It was no wonder the last gardener quit as if running away saying his back went out.
“I will raise the pay and find a younger and more skilled gardener.”
The conversation was scheduled to end there.
A sharp rupture sound heard from somewhere made Renoa stop walking.
“What is this sound?”
“It seems to be the training ground side. Maybe the sound of apprentice knights training.”
“Hmm.”
“Would you like to stop by for a moment?”
“......Shall I.”
The two headed to the training ground.
The place they arrived at was practically a market street.
Cadets and knights, and even maids gathered in a circle watching something.
“What are they doing?”
“Well.”
At that moment, the knight Sylvan and Renoa’s eyes met. He was startled as soon as he saw Renoa and ran over hurriedly.
“Oh, you came, My Lady?”
“What is this commotion?”
“They were sparring for a moment.”
“Sparring.......”
Renoa’s green pupils narrowed thinly.
Sparring between cadets is a daily life nothing special. But Sylvan was busy reading her mood.
As if there was something in that crowd he didn't want Renoa to see.
“Tell me straight. What is it?”
“...Saying the slave the Lady brought recently knows how to handle a sword, he is sparring with cadet Gerard.”
“Irion is?”
“Yes.”
To think his name would come out here. He was getting on my nerves recently anyway.
“Move.”
Renoa passed Sylvan and dug into the center of the commotion.
What was happening inside was spectacular.
Sparring between Irion and apprentice knight Gerard.
It was a fierce aspect exchanging offense and defense, repeating advance and retreat.
“Kugh, this servant...!”
Gerard is a skilled person counted on fingers even among apprentice knights. One potent candidate for Renoa’s escort knight.
This situation where such Gerard is fighting fiercely with a mere slave appeared to others as just playing around.
“What, Gerard is being pushed?”
“Obviously acting. Can’t you see the slave bastard feeling good?”
“Gerard, it’s boring so finish it slowly.”
The giggling sounds of peers buzzed in his ears. But Gerard had no leeway to retort to their words.
—Crash!
“Ugh...!”
Irion attacking ignorantly as if he doesn't know defense.
Before the first blow ends, the second comes, and before the second reaches, the third comes.
A fierce attack pouring out not allowing a moment’s gap.
‘What is this bastard...!’
Each blow is heavy. The wrist receiving the attack feels like breaking.
Irion’s swordsmanship was different from the swordsmanship Gerard had seen so far.
Unrefined raw swordsmanship.
Not sparring with a person, but feels like facing a wolf. Rushing in without caring even if damaged.
—Whoosh!
Gerard tilted his head back urgently.
Wooden sword crossing the bridge of the nose.
Sharp sound of cutting wind rings.
“Chee!”
I lose if this goes on.
Defeat.
The moment those two letters flashed through his mind, Gerard clenched his molars.
To a mere slave, not even a knight.
‘I can’t tolerate it even if I die...!’
Gerard gathers strength. Red haze rises faintly over the wooden sword.
Use of unauthorized mana during sparring is strictly prohibited, but who cares.
Since Irion is a slave, not a formally trained cadet. Even if killed during sparring, it won’t be any problem.
Gerard thrusting the sword.
Red flash crosses.
Right before the wooden sword strengthened with mana pierces Irion.
—Clack!
Gerard’s sword bounced into the sky.
“What?!”
Gerard panicking.
The knight Lance, who approached before anyone knew, intervened between the two and struck away Gerard’s sword.
“We’ll stop here.”
“Sir Lance?”
“It was too overheated to be called sparring, Gerard. The use of mana must have been prohibited.”
“But...!”
“I will hear the detailed story later. The Lady has come. Show manners.”
Gerard, flinching at the words that Renoa came, quickly scanned the surroundings to find Renoa.
It would have been over if I took just one more step. He clicked his tongue quietly.
“I greet the Lady.”
“Slave, what are you doing not greeting quickly too?”
“Ah, yes....”
Irion also bowed his head awkwardly.
“Why did you stop. When it looked most fun.”
Renoa walked between the two. The crowd split left and right like the Red Sea.
Renoa met Irion’s eyes.
“Seems you are quite leisurely? Even sparring with cadets.”
“I just intended to distribute sandwiches. I said I didn't want to spar, but they scared me into continuing.”
Irion quickly making excuses and measuring the escape angle.
“He says so?”
“It is true that cadets provoked, but that slave also accepted the sparring willingly.”
Renoa looks at Irion again.
“He says so.”
“But, he... um.”
“Speak.”
“Because he teased that there is small.”
“There?”
“There.”
“Are you an idiot? Speak clearly.”
“Dick.”
“.......”
Renoa, who didn't understand for a moment, blinked her eyes, then soon frowned as if disgusting.
From behind, Bibi added a word.
“My Lady, among males, genital size is a very critical issue. Teasing that it is small is truly comparable to insulting parents——”
“Please shut up, Bibi. Not curious.”
“Yep.”
When Renoa glared, Bibi pretended not to know and looked away. Renoa sighed deeply as if tired.
“So. Who won?”
“If the sparring wasn't stopped, there is a high probability cadet Gerard would have won.”
“Really? I don't particularly think so.”
“Pardon?”
Lance asking back not understanding the meaning. Renoa continued silently.
“If using mana was prohibited in the first place, it would be Gerard’s foul loss at the point he used mana. Isn't it?”
“...Your words are correct.”
“He says so. Congratulations, Irion. You won.”
“Ah, yes....”
Irion with an awkward attitude as if not happy at all about winning.
On the other hand, Gerard couldn't hide his resentful expression. Renoa read that atmosphere.
“Gerard, seems you have something you want to say? After being cornered enough to have to use mana against a mere slave.”
“It’s because I was careless! If I do it again, I am confident I will never lose...!”
As if she had been waiting for those words.
Renoa tilts her head and looks at the education staff.
“Cadet Gerard says it’s because he was careless. Do you teach that it’s okay to be careless if the opponent is easy?”
“...We will educate again properly.”
The training ground where Renoa’s interrogation, soft yet sharp enough to cut, continues. The heat from earlier was no longer there.
What remained was only silence cutting to the bone. Everyone held their breath. Even the sound of wind passing by occasionally seemed to read the room.
Feeling like standing in punishment as a group. Knights, cadets, and maids were all desperately hoping for this suffocating moment to pass quickly.
Eventually, whether her interest dropped, Renoa turned her body without lingering attachment. Just as she was about to leave the training ground.
“Princess.”
Someone grabbed her.
Everyone’s eyes squeezed shut. They barely suppressed the sighs and curses about to burst out.
Wondering what tactless guy it was, they looked for the owner of the voice.
It was Irion.
“What.”
“I have something I want to tell you.”
“You bastard! Where do you think you are for a slave to dare speak——”
“Enough. Speak.”
Renoa, who cut off the knight’s shouting at once, stared intently at Irion.
As that gaze reached him, cold sweat flowed down Irion’s nape. It felt like blood was drying up.
Not sure if saying this is right or wrong. It might be making an irreversible choice.
But.
“I also want to learn the sword together with the cadets.”
Prevent the future of ruin by Renoa’s side. In his head, there is no better gamble than this.
To not die, one needs to dig closer to death.
To do that, Renoa’s trust is indispensable.
The only way for Irion, a mere slave, to stay right next to the Princess of this huge family.
‘Aim for Renoa’s escort knight.’
I have to take that spot.
Only then can I guard her side 24 hours and control variables.
Of course, the risk exceeds imagination.
Death if I fail.
Die even if I make a mistake.
Even if successful, it is unknown whether I can obtain freedom.
But if it’s a future of dying even if staying still, this was the best struggle Irion could do.
“......What?”
Before Renoa could ask back, a shout burst from the side.
“Just because you have a mouth, you babble carelessly! In your eyes, does a knight look like child’s play?”
The one who popped out with a flushed red face was the instructing knight Sylvan.
He huffed and puffed forgetting even the fact that he dared to cut off the Princess’s words.
Others weren't much different.
Cadets and knights thought the slave was climbing up without knowing his place.
Maids cheering for Irion also exchanged glances with expressions saying ‘That went too far’.
A slave becoming a knight.
It’s crazy talk.
Naturally, everyone here was sure Renoa would refuse too, but.
“Do it.”
“Yes?”
“My Lady?!”
Renoa accepted calmly.
As expected, as if throwing a rock into a lake, the surroundings became noisy instantly.
“My Lady! Even though they are apprentices, they are strictly children of nobles or talents who will shoulder Edelheid’s future!”
“So?”
“To make such people mix swords with a lowly slave! This is an insult to knighthood! What would the world curse Edelheid as!”
At Sylvan’s passionate outcry, other knights and cadets buzzed as if agreeing.
For a slave to dare receive training at an equal position with them. Their shallow pride absolutely does not allow it.
But.
“Ha.”
Renoa snorted shortly, as if their opposition was ridiculous.
“Insult?”
Her green pupils flashed coolly.
“Is it not an insult for that great talent to lose to a mere slave?”
“That is, cadet Gerard was careless and took an unexpected blow...!”
“Careless?”
Renoa’s lips twisted.
“Being careless means being incompetent enough not to gauge the opponent’s skill properly.”
“.......”
“Is it knighthood to be careless just because the opponent is weak in the first place? Shouldn't you do your best when striking a neck regardless of who the enemy is, even if it’s a child?”
Sylvan smacked his lips. No one could refute those words.
Edelheid’s family tradition is thorough meritocracy. A place where results prove everything rather than process.
“For a mere knight to dare discuss Edelheid’s honor in front of me. I must have looked quite easy.”
“...I apologize.”
Sylvan bowing his head reluctantly while biting his lips. Renoa looked at Irion again.
Where did the coldness from just before go, a smile like a child who discovered an interesting toy hung on her lips.
It was her whose emotions became rich while getting involved with Irion recently.
“Fine. Do it if you want.”
Renoa’s permission fell.
Irion, who worried he might be rejected, breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
“Instead, there is a condition.”
“Condition means...?”
“Defeat everyone. Not only cadets but even knights, all of them. No, defeat every knight of the Edelheid Ducal family with skill.”
“.......”
“Why? No confidence? Don’t tell me you ran your mouth in front of me not even able to do that much?”
Renoa still smiling.
Irion wasn't unaware that it was an obvious provocation, but.
“Princess, when is your coming-of-age ceremony?”
“3 years later. Why ask that?”
Irion curled up the corners of his mouth and answered pretending to be leisurely.
“3 years. I will show you I can achieve it within 3 years.”
The die was cast long ago.
The point where the main story proceeds. Until then, catch Renoa’s eye and become an escort knight.
If the path ahead is a thorny path, I will walk it willingly.
Irion swearing heroically. To his confidence, Renoa responded with a smile.
“I’ll be looking forward to it.”
—Ding.
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