Chapter 25
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 25: A Sword to Protect, Not to Survive (2)
The apprentice knights' boycott, claiming they couldn't train in the same space as a slave, continued.
Only Irion and Helena continued their training under Zain’s guidance.
Like last time, Irion defending inside the circle and Helena in the role of breaking through.
Coincidentally, the two were optimal sparring partners for each other.
Helena, who had only done standard sparring, was vulnerable to sudden variables.
In that sense, sparring with Irion, who could do anything for survival, was a good opportunity to respond to anomalies and gain experience.
Conversely, Irion.
Irion had only sparred with gladiators. Because they each had a flaw, it was enough to just dig into visible weaknesses.
But when fighting a well-balanced knight, he had to use techniques more precisely and create gaps that didn't exist through tactical battles.
The swordsmanship that had a strong raw feeling was delicately adjusted little by little.
—Clack!
Swords tangled once again.
Helena learning Irion’s unpredictable anomalies, Irion learning Helena’s flawless standard.
Filling each other’s lacking parts, the two’s swords grew at a terrifying speed.
“Phew, shall we rest for a moment?”
“Shall we?”
Irion readily accepted Helena’s proposal.
Today was autonomous training because Zain was absent due to other duties. The timing of rest could be freely adjusted by the two.
The two moved their seats to the shade of a nearby tree instead of the scorching training ground.
The location of the mansion is deep in the forest.
Smelling the cool breeze and the forest scent wafting in, the fatigue of training washes away. It was truly a resting place created by nature.
“Helena, take this.”
“What is this?”
“Snacks made by maid noonas. They told me to eat after training, so I asked them to make Helena’s share too.”
“Really? Thanks. I’ll eat well. Tell the maids I said thanks too.”
Started eating delicious snacks on hungry stomachs.
“You don't look tired at all even after training.”
“Compared to before, this is just playing.”
“Just what kind of life have you lived.......”
Although not something to boast about, Helena also prides herself on living a hard life, but she can’t even present her business card in front of Irion.
Noble and slave.
Even trying to compete is deception.
While resting eating snacks and chatting like that, Irion spotted a cadet passing by far away.
Seeing him, suddenly a curious question arose.
“About training. Is it okay to skip just because they don't want to do it? Are there no disadvantages?”
“They weren't dragged here but came on their own feet, so doing it or not is their choice.”
“But isn't it their loss if they don't train?”
“That’s why I say they are foolish. If they fail to become knights, it’s only their loss in the end, but they are being stubborn about strange things.”
Helena sighing as if pathetic. Irion understood their attitude.
“Because they are still young. Must be puberty.”
“Who is calling whom young. You are the youngest here.”
“There is such a thing.”
“But you are using informal speech sneakily? I am two years older than you.”
“Yo (polite particle).”
***
A knight is not something one can become by just waiting quietly. One must polish oneself with bone-carving training.
Harboring personal complaints, being stubborn and not training is only one’s own loss.
There was no way the noble apprentice knights wouldn't know what Irion, who still lacks common sense of this world, knows.
“Until when do we have to stay like this? The Lady has no reaction, and even at this moment, the slave bastard is training.”
Voices of concern began to emerge slowly among the cadets stuck in the living quarters.
“At this rate, won’t the slave become a knight faster than us?”
“My words exactly. Looking at when he sparred with Gerard, his skill was extraordinary.”
“Honestly, I think I’ll lose if I fight him....”
“If Gerard hadn't used mana back then either.......”
—Crash!
Cadets flinched at the suddenly bursting roar.
Gerard slammed the table with his fist. He glared at the cadets with ferociously rolling eyes.
“If I hadn't used?”
“Huh?”
“So what if I hadn't used mana. Keep blabbering.”
“If you hadn't used mana, Gerard might have lost.......”
—Crash!
Gerard slammed the table once more and stood up abruptly. The table broke with a crack.
“Which bastard says that? I did it because I was flustered for a moment, making a slave bastard half-crippled with just swordsmanship is nothing! In the first place, why do I have to follow the old-fashioned rule not to use mana during sparring? It’s an ability I polished too! It’s a convenient means to make him realize the difference in class between a lowly servant and me!”
“Y-Yeah. Gerard is right. There is no way a slave can beat Gerard. You’d win even using your feet. Of course. Indeed.”
To Gerard pouring out words in frenzy, apprentice knights chimed in moderately while reading the mood.
“But it’s true that the situation is flowing strangely. Would Sir Zain step up to train them if it wasn't serious?”
“Right. I must become a knight. Otherwise, I’ll be kicked out of the family.”
“Me too.”
“Me too....”
They are not doing knight activities as a hobby. They are staking their fate here in their own way.
They hated training with a slave, but failing to become a knight was worse.
Most cadets had a chimney-like desire to train already, but.
“Try if you want.”
Gerard glared at them with a creepy expression.
Gerard Rubelius.
Third son of the Rubelius Count family.
If Edelheid is a prestigious family for wizards, Rubelius is famous as a prestigious knight family. Gerard’s skill is also quite excellent.
The reason such Gerard became an apprentice knight of Edelheid, not his own family, is purely because he lacks a lot as a human being.
Simply put, he is a prodigal son kicked out of the family due to many problems with his usual conduct.
If other cadets dream of returning home in glory, what Gerard aims for is revenge on the family that abandoned him.
Gerard’s goal is to use Edelheid as a backing to defeat his brothers and seize the position of family head.
Anyway.
In terms of family prestige or skill, Gerard was superior to any of the apprentice knights.
Since his personality was also eccentric, they couldn't easily raise a flag of rebellion fearing retaliation if they offended him.
“If you are so confident, why don’t you just settle it?”
The one who bravely voiced an opinion then was Helena. Just finished with training, she walked over shaking off her wet hair.
“What?”
“If confident, have a match with him. Don’t whine gathered as a group of men.”
“You lost your mind hanging out with a slave?”
As if not worth answering, Helena shrugged her shoulders and left the seat.
“T-That...!”
One of the cadets tried to make a gesture to chase after her, then glanced at Gerard’s mood.
Ferociously distorted face. An aura as if to kill a person with eyes.
“Hey.”
“Uh, huh?”
“You all follow me. To settle this once and for all.”
***
“How is it teaching him directly?”
“The learning speed is abnormally fast. More talented than anyone I’ve seen so far.”
Zain, who was in charge of Irion’s education for the past few days, reports to Renoa.
Even when he saw the match between Irion and Garner, Zain was convinced Irion hid his skills.
It was understandable because a completely different person from Irion when first seen was there.
“To speak honestly, he is outstanding enough to be fun teaching.”
But it wasn't like that.
Not hiding skills, but a case of blossoming talent late.
He can’t realize ten by teaching one, but if taught one just once, he learned at least that one certainly.
As such, it was possible to pull out progress beyond teaching ten.
“To that extent?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. Is that so.”
Renoa humming a nasal sound at Zain’s high praise. Although expressionless, she looked quite in a good mood.
—Knock knock.
A knock sounded.
“My Lady, apprentice knights have come to visit.”
“As a group?”
“Yes.”
“...Tell them to come in.”
The door opened and apprentice knights swarmed in as a group. All with faces full of dissatisfaction.
Fatigue rushed in just by looking.
“What brings cadets who don't even train here as a group.”
“We have something to ask the Lady, so we came to visit risking rudeness.”
“Speak.”
Gerard spoke as the cadet representative.
“Do you have no intention of withdrawing the appointment of that servant as an apprentice knight?”
“No.”
“May I ask the reason?”
“Because he is outstanding.”
Renoa answered plainly as if there was no other reason.
“Then if we show that we are superior to that guy, will you withdraw it?”
“Haa....”
Renoa sighing a tired sigh.
Wondering why they came as a group like this, it was indeed a trivial reason.
In her heart, she wants to kick them all out of the villa, but that alone is not within Renoa’s authority.
Because these are all people Florencia brought. Unfortunately, compromising is the best here.
“Fine. I allow it. However, if Irion wins, don't ever come visit for such a pathetic reason again. Because it’s tiring.”
Gerard twisted up one corner of his mouth.
“Understood. Thank you for showing generosity.”
***
At the request of apprentice knights, sparring with Irion was prepared.
Irion’s opponent is naturally Gerard.
The weapon is also a wooden training sword like before, but instead, utilizing everything one possessed, not just swordsmanship, was possible. It meant mana.
Since mana was influenced more by bloodline and wealth than individual effort, it was prohibited in sparring.
Because skill doesn't improve if relying on mana.
In that sense, the sparring between the two this time was largely unfair. Gerard is a noble who grew up wealthy, and Irion is a slave.
It was natural for Gerard, other cadets, and even knights to predict Gerard’s victory.
“Two people, step forward.”
Irion and Gerard stood facing each other with some distance.
Gerard grinning with the corners of his mouth pulled up to the fullest.
The superficial goal is to win the sparring and kick Irion out, but inside it was different.
‘I’ll make you a half-cripple who can never hold a sword for life.’
I will make him regret daring to become an apprentice knight without knowing his place. That much must be done to relieve anger.
On the other hand, Irion.
‘What is this...?’
He didn't understand this situation. Not talking about sparring with Gerard.
His eyes were on the notification window that popped up in front of him.
『Owner's Order』
Renoa, isolated in the family, needs her own knight, her own sword to survive.
Win the sparring with an overwhelming skill difference so no one can object, and keep the apprentice knight position.
Reward: Random A-Rank Reward
A quest popped up.
This is not the first time Renoa gave a quest. Just recently, there was a quest to do nothing and stay quiet.
The problem was the content of the quest.
‘Renoa isolated in the family?’
Saying she needs her own knight to survive. What on earth does this mean?
It sounds exactly like someone is aiming for her life.
Of course, there are plenty of people trying to eliminate her later, but it’s not to that point yet.
Irion looking at Renoa who came to watch the sparring. Sitting on the chair, she has an expressionless face as always.
‘Seems there is something I don't know.’
It seemed necessary to investigate in detail. To do that, I must win this sparring.
Anyway, it matches Irion’s direction and the reward is good, so there is no reason to refuse.
“Are you ready?”
“Of course.”
“Yes, well....”
“I say again, the use of mana is allowed. However, attacks threatening life are prohibited. Understood?”
“Understood.”
“Yes, well....”
“Then begin.”
Simultaneously with the start of sparring, Gerard pulled up mana. Red mana of the same color as his eyes surges roughly.
As if to finish it quickly, he rushed without hesitation.
The floor ringing the moment he stepped. The body strengthened with mana swallows the distance in one breath.
A single point thrust containing that speed entirely.
If hit squarely, let alone being crippled, it could lead to death, but that too was what Gerard hoped for.
Because making a person a cripple pretending it’s an accident is not something he’s done just once or twice.
And the opponent is a mere slave?
Who will say what?
Since he is a noble.
—Whish!
But a humble sound of cutting wind not matching the grandiose attack rang.
Just by twisting his body slightly, Irion escaped the trajectory of the attack lightly.
At the same time, tap on Gerard’s ankle from below.
“Uh?”
Gerard’s body, unable to overcome inertia, flew forward as if shot and soon fell thud.
Flustered spectators. Irion, who actually created this situation, had a more flustered expression.
“No, if you come that simply.......”
Is this kind of thing the strongest apprentice knight?
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