To the Duchy
To the Duchy
"Irion, you stay."
My feet, which were just about to take a step toward the washroom, came to a dead halt.
Renoa's green eyes were staring precisely at me among the many, many candidates.
"Just... me, -nim?"
"Yes."
Everyone, from the candidates to Lance, glanced back at me with sympathetic looks.
'You guys said you wanted to succeed! You're supposed to want to catch Renoa-nim's eye!'
I sent a silent signal for help. But they only shook their heads, pointedly avoiding my gaze.
Soon, as if they had made a pact, everyone scattered quickly.
In an instant, only Renoa and I were left in the front yard of the mansion.
Renoa stood there, staring intently at me. Her sharp, upturned eyes scanned my entire body from head to toe.
Eventually, she stepped down the stairs and approached slowly.
As the distance closed, a thick fragrance wafted over. It was a scent so alluring that it instantly erased the smell of blood lingering at the tip of my nose.
Renoa stopped right in front of my nose. A distance where we were almost touching.
Renoa tilted her head slightly and looked up at me.
The greatest feat I had achieved over the course of three years.
I had grown tall.
And by a lot, too.
It was the result of eating three meals a day—no, closer to four.
As if compensating for the past days when I writhed in growth pains that felt like my bones were being carved.
I had shot up so much that there was now a full head's difference between me and Renoa, who was once slightly taller than me.
Now, for her to meet my eyes, she inevitably had to tilt her head back and look up.
That arrogant angle of looking down at me with her chin raised, like before, was no longer physically possible.
That small fact gave me a strange sense of accomplishment.
"Any injuries?"
"Just as you ordered, not a single scratch, -nim."
"Of course. Do you know how much time I've poured into you? If you had returned scratched by mere miscellaneous Magic Beasts from the outskirts, I would have been greatly disappointed."
Renoa, who had tried so hard to kill me during my days as a gladiator slave, now gets angry if I even get a single wound.
Survival is my immediate goal, but to me, who ultimately dreams of freedom, Renoa's obsession wasn't exactly a pleasant factor.
Even that obsession wasn't because she saw me as a member of the opposite sex; it was strictly treatment as a possession.
It was like she had raised a pet hamster for so long that she had reached a point where she couldn't just write him off as a total loss and buy a new one.
"Naturally, you must have achieved the greatest merit this time as well."
"Of course. I handled the subjugation of the leader by myself."
"As you should. Since it's expected, there's no praise."
"......."
"Fine. Go rest."
"Then...."
Fortunately, I was released quickly.
Joining a beat later than the others, I hurriedly washed up and entered the dining room inside the mansion.
The table was set with a feast to welcome the candidates' safe return.
The others were already in the middle of enjoying their meal.
"Ah, Irion. Over here!"
Helena called me while waving her hand. I sat down next to her.
"You're a bit late? I guess the Young Lady held onto you separately again?"
"Yeah."
"What did the Young Lady say?"
"The same as usual. Any injuries, did I perform the best, that as her slave it's only natural to do that much. Things like that."
"The Young Lady worries about Irion a lot, too. Seeing how she does that every time."
I shook my head and vehemently denied it.
"This isn't worry. It's a twisted obsession. Someone might think she's my mother or something."
"Mother.... There was a time when Irion was really like a child, but when did you grow up so much....... This Noona feels like she's going to cry from the emotion."
Helena made a show of sobbing. Watching her was exasperating.
"Enough of that. Let's just eat."
I started eating.
When evaluating how excellent an organization or company is, the most intuitive and certain indicator is none other than the quality of the meals.
By looking at how well the food provided to the members is served, you can tell at once how they are treated.
In that regard, the meals here at Edelheid were undoubtedly the best.
Thick steaks bursting with juice, freshly baked warm and soft bread, soup with deep flavor, and even fresh fruit.
If it's not enough, you can get as many refills as you want. Just looking at the food, it's the top 1%.
Dalgurak dalgurak.
Given how roughly they used their bodies, one might expect them to eat ravenously, but perhaps because they were technically children of nobles, everyone ate politely.
'If this were the arena, food would be flying through the air.'
Environment makes the person.
"Ah, right. I forgot to mention it. I got a recommendation letter."
The one who broke the silence was Bern.
"Really? From where?"
"A Count's family in the south. They said with the experience of rolling as an apprentice knight here for three years and even participating in expeditions, they'd appoint me as a regular knight immediately."
"Whoa...."
Exclamations mixed with envy and admiration poured out.
Edelheid's training is hell itself.
But the mere fact that one endured that hell adds a massive premium in other families.
One is treated as an elite talent who has experienced actual combat in the Empire's greatest family.
"I'm jealous. I haven't decided what to do yet. What about you, Euclis?"
"I will absolutely become a knight of Edelheid. Rather than going to some peripheral noble family and settling for adequacy, I will see things through to the end here."
"Hmm...."
"What's with that groan? You, who didn't catch a single Magic Beast——"
"Ah, I get it, so stop talking about that."
The voices of the candidates discussing their futures filled the dining hall.
Some wanted to stay in Edelheid and succeed, while others wanted to use the value they gained here as a stepping stone to be treated well elsewhere.
Neither was a bad choice. It was just each person's way of life.
Of course, becoming a knight of the Duke's family would be the absolute best, but unfortunately, reality isn't that easy.
One must always keep a backup plan in mind.
"Irion, what are you going to do?"
"......."
"Ah, right. You were a slave."
Of course, there were also people who had no choice at all.
I wasn't particularly disappointed. I had already done plenty of despairing when I first came here.
"Helena, do you have anything in mind?"
"Me? I... I'll probably stay here? It's the same for Irion, right?"
"For me, it's because I don't have other options."
"I think being in the same place as you would be a big help. In many ways."
"Hmm...."
Certainly, Helena's future is promising. She is quite strong even among the apprentice knights. I, Irion, acknowledge that.
I don't know how she was in the original work, but I reckon she wasn't much different then than she is now.
She'll probably become a regular knight of Edelheid without much trouble.
That is certainly a joyous occasion worth celebrating, but.
"How about going somewhere other than here? I think that looks better."
I don't want her to become a knight of Edelheid. I want her to leave this place as soon as possible.
Three years.
The reason I declared to Renoa that I would become the strongest knight within three years is that this year is the year Renoa becomes an adult.
Furthermore, it is also the year the protagonist of the original work, who is the same age as her, enters the Academy.
'It'll be the same for Renoa.'
The full-scale story will begin.
If I had eliminated the root of the destruction over the past three years, there would be no problem, but I couldn't.
I was too weak, and in the first place, with the status of a slave, I couldn't even leave this place.
If by any chance things go wrong and the Duke's family is annihilated, Helena won't be safe either.
If so, at the very least, I wanted to get her out of here before the incident occurred.
"Irion... do you hate being with me?"
"Huh?"
"Since you suddenly asked how about going somewhere else....... I wondered if you said that because being in the same place as me is a burden......."
But it seems it sounded different to Helena. The look in her eyes as she watched me became sorrowful.
I hurriedly explained.
"Why would I hate you, Helena? For your sake, I could throw away all the other candidates here."
"This bastard suddenly picking a fight with us?"
"It's just a figure of speech."
Though it's actually true.
"Edelheid is a Duke's family, but it's a family of mages, right? The status of a knight itself is higher in other knightly families."
"I guess so...?"
"With Helena's skills, such a place would definitely be possible. I, Irion, guarantee it."
It's not empty talk.
If it's Helena, she can do it.
"What about us?"
"Why can't you guys know when to butt out.... Want me to give you a test?"
"No."
Helena thought deeply after hearing my words.
"If Irion says that much....... Okay. I'll give it some thought."
"That's a wise decision."
After finishing the hearty dinner, I came out for a walk to help with digestion.
An evening walk at the forest mansion is quite atmospheric.
A castle-like mansion, trees surrounding the area. If you look up at the sky, you can see countless stars twinkling.
It was a very good environment for quietly sinking into thought.
I have worked like crazy for the past three years.
Knowing full well what kind of future is approaching, if I were to ruin things due to lack of preparation, it wouldn't end with just the word 'lazy.'
I did my best so that even if I fail later, I can say, 'Still, I did as much as I could.'
This is the fruit of those three years.
======
Name: Irion
Status: Apprentice Knight
Master: Renoa Edelheid
• Owned Skills
[Knightship]
Physical abilities increase in proportion to loyalty toward the master. (Current Loyalty: 50%)
[Master of Duel]
Concentration increases significantly during one-on-one duels.
[Oath of Protection]
Declares a Sanctuary. When the user stays within the Sanctuary, physical abilities increase in proportion to the size of the Sanctuary.
[Grace of Chains]
Growth efficiency increases dramatically while in slave status.
• Owned Proficiencies
[Basic Stamina Lv.MAX]
[Superlative Swordsmanship Lv.2]
[Mana Breathing Lv.8]
[Mana Sensitivity Lv.7]
[Indomitability Lv.5]
[Status Effect Resistance Lv.4]
======
If I pick out only the useful proficiencies, it's roughly this much.
If there's something to point out as key, first is that the loyalty toward Renoa has risen to 50%.
Since I ate the meals she provided regularly for three years, it rose on its own. Like a dog that recognizes the person who feeds it as its master.
But it seems that's the limit; it never rose above 50%.
It might be because deep inside, in a place I'm not conscious of, I harbor a sense of rejection toward Renoa.
Even if the Renoa now and the Renoa I know are different, still.
Just as she cannot trust me and makes contracts, it was impossible for me to be loyal to her with a sincere heart as well.
'Well, it's not like I absolutely have to fill it to 100%.'
It's not something that rises just because I try, so I don't pay much attention to it.
The next important thing is [Superlative Swordsmanship], which can be called the foundation of my strength.
Since there was Lowest-grade, I thought there would be Superlative as well, and I was right.
At the point where [Intermediate Swordsmanship] upgraded to [High-grade Swordsmanship], the proficiency barely rose at all, but by stubbornly putting in the effort, it eventually happened.
'Now it doesn't even rise with the Grace of Chains.'
I have to train for months just to maybe level up once.
It's the same no matter what training I do.
It's the same even if I spar with Zain.
In this mansion, there are no more elements that can teach me anything.
So this is my best.
It is my current limit.
I don't know if I can become the strongest knight of Edelheid, but wouldn't I be able to say I'm decent with a sword somewhere?
'If it still doesn't work out, well, that's a shame.'
I did as much as I could.
A few days later, Renoa called me. A letter was held in her hand.
"A letter came from the Duchy. It's an order to come to the main house."
Finally, that day had come.