Chapter 13: The First Letter (13)
Chapter 13: The First Letter (13)
My bewildered gaze turned toward Seria.
The girl, who usually carried herself with such a haughty and imposing air, was now bowing her head, thrusting a pouch heavy with gold coins toward me.
To an outsider, it might have looked like a malicious senior extorting a timid junior. Seria’s body was trembling so pitifully that one couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
It showed just how nervous she was. Perhaps the fear she felt toward me hadn't quite faded yet.
Judging by the size of the pouch, there were at least two hundred gold coins inside.
In the Empire, a single gold coin was worth roughly a month’s living expenses for a commoner family of four. If the value fluctuated too wildly beyond that, the Empire stepped in to stabilize prices.
This meant that the pouch contained enough money for Emma and her herbalist father to live comfortably for over thirty-three years.
Even for a noble, a lower noble like myself would find spending just a few dozen gold coins a burden. To call over two hundred gold a "modest fee"—even if she was an illegitimate daughter—she truly was a child of the Yurdina family.
The problem was, what on earth had I done to deserve such a staggering sum?
However, I couldn't bring myself to give a blunt, incredulous reaction to a woman who was squeezing her eyes shut and trembling. Instead, I spoke in a softened tone.
"Uh, Seria? What do you mean by 'payment'?"
"…A-Ah!"
Realizing she had skipped the most important part of her explanation, Seria jolted in surprise and snapped her head up.
Our eyes met. Her eyes, clear and brilliant like aquamarine, immediately darted down to the floor the moment they locked with mine.
In the past, I would have thought she was being dismissive, but seeing her reaction now, I realized that wasn't it at all.
If anything, she was far too tense when dealing with people. Fearing she might bite her tongue again, I spoke in a relaxed voice.
"You can take your time. It’s not like I have anywhere else to be."
In truth, I had plenty of places to go, but I said it hoping she would calm down even a little.
My attempt at comfort seemed to work, as Seria’s trembling subsided slightly. She took a few deep breaths before speaking in a hesitant voice.
"W-Well, when I asked for your guidance last time… I thought it would be rude to make such a request without offering anything in return…."
I had to swallow a hollow laugh at those words.
What was so wrong with a junior asking a senior for a favor? Sure, since it took up my time, she could have treated me to a meal, but two hundred gold coins was beyond excessive.
It seemed Seria lacked basic common sense when it came to human relationships. I pressed my fingers against my temples. I was at a loss as to how to respond.
If I accepted the gold, I’d have a fortune that would last me a long time, but I didn't feel right about it.
Once I graduated from the Academy, I wouldn't have to worry about making a living anyway. I wasn't the type to be obsessed with money, and more than anything, it felt wrong to accept payment for work I hadn't even done yet.
What if the help I provided wasn't worth two hundred gold?
There was a law nobles lived by: 'Return what you receive.' Whether it was a favor or hostility, nobles always gave back exactly what they were given.
They believed it was a display of their noble pride.
Unfortunately, I wasn't desperate enough for money to swallow that pride, nor was I cynical enough yet. It was inevitable that I would decline the pouch of gold.
"…Seria. I think you misunderstood because I was so firm last time, but I don't think what happened then was rude. Even if I were to grant your request, I couldn't possibly accept this much."
At my sigh-laden voice, Seria began to fidget, looking as if she wanted to argue. A small voice escaped her lips.
"B-But…."
"I can't take this money, Seria."
I threw those words out with firm resolve, leaving no room for argument. Seria finally slumped her shoulders in disappointment and lowered her arm.
But by this point, I was genuinely curious as to why she was being so desperate. I wouldn't be human if my heart didn't waver at least a little.
I carefully posed a question to her. I kept my voice gentle so she wouldn't get tense again.
"But Seria, why do you want my guidance so badly anyway?"
"…?"
Seria turned her questioning eyes toward me. Looking at that gaze, I felt like I was falling deeper into a labyrinth.
"I mean, think about it. There are plenty of incredibly talented people at the Academy besides me. Forget the fourth years—if you just look through the third years, you'll find plenty of swordsmen more skilled than I am. We even have Professor Derek and various other professors in the Swordsmanship Department. Why me, specifically?"
Seria lowered her gaze and remained silent for a moment. She seemed to be contemplating what to say.
I waited for her with my arms crossed, making sure she wouldn't bite her tongue again. I had plenty of time before my next lecture anyway.
Though I desperately wanted to go back to the dorms and rest, I was even more curious about her circumstances. After all, wasn't she the 'Rude Brat of Yurdina'?
If it was something she was this obsessed with, there had to be a reason. So, I simply watched her intently.
"…Because that’s what you said last time."
"What did I say?"
I could only tilt my head in confusion. I had no idea what she was talking about.
What did I say last time? Suddenly, a sense of foreboding began to creep up on me.
And Seria’s next words confirmed it.
"You said… that there’s a limit to how much one can achieve by swinging a sword alone…."
Wait, I never said anything like that.
However, I could immediately guess who the speaker was. The 'Ian Percus' who had taken over during that week of my missing memories.
It was highly likely that that arrogant, incredibly rude man had said it. I pressed a hand to my forehead.
Regardless of my internal crisis, Seria managed to continue, albeit hesitantly.
"I-It was the first time I’d ever heard anyone say that. And after I lost to you, Senior Ian, I thought about it for a long time. Why did I have to lose to a slacker who doesn't even put in any effort…?"
She was slipping in insults again. A slacker who doesn't put in effort? For her information, I’ve undergone grueling training since I was a child.
But by her standards, she might actually think that. Though, thinking something and saying it out loud were two very different things.
My expression soured slightly. But Seria didn't even seem to notice my irritation.
"If anyone knows the answer to that, it would be you, Senior Ian. And you even gave me advice during our last duel…."
"Ah, that."
The advice about the 'signs' I had noticed. In truth, I was the one who had gained more from that day.
Because I had gained the eyes to see through my opponent's movements.
Though it was still blurry, I could see it more clearly when my opponent was nervous or hesitant—I could tell where the next attack was coming from.
That alone made me feel like my skills had advanced by a whole level. But it seemed I wasn't the only one for whom that duel had been memorable.
Seria must have been plagued by various thoughts since that day as well. Why she had lost, and what exactly I had told her to fix.
She was a talented swordsman. She would surely realize what I meant soon enough and be able to fix the problem. That was probably why she had this misunderstanding.
The idea that I was qualified to give her advice was laughable.
What happened that day was a result of luck and coincidence aligning. I didn't think I could give her useful advice a second time.
"…I see what you're saying."
I let out a sigh as I spoke. I decided to overlook the rude comment she had made just moments ago.
It was Seria, after all. The Rude Brat of Yurdina wasn't going to change overnight.
And while it was still just a guess, it seemed like Seria didn't actually harbor any malice.
The way her eyes were sparkling with anticipation right now was proof of that. Normally, wouldn't someone take a sentence starting with a sigh as a negative sign?
She was oblivious. Or perhaps just socially inept.
I didn't know if it was possible for a child of a high-ranking noble family like Yurdina to be like that, but for now, it seemed like the most likely possibility.
"But Seria, I'm not as amazing as you think I am. What I said that day just happened to hit the mark… You're a talented swordsman. You don't need to be so impatient. If you just keep moving forward step by step, you'll eventually reach a higher realm, won't you?"
Seria, who had been buoyed by anticipation at first, began to slump her shoulders again as I continued. She looked utterly dejected.
Feeling an unnecessary pang of guilt, I cleared my throat and finished my sentence. I tried to make it sound encouraging.
"So, try to live with a bit more leisure. You're already an excellent swordsman, and you'll become an even better one in the future."
With that, I turned around. I figured she would have understood by now.
But the words that stopped me in my tracks were a single phrase from Seria’s lips.
"…The Hunting Festival."
I froze.
It was a word I had heard somewhere before. Well, of course I had heard it many times. It was one of the biggest events held at the Academy.
A competition held during the Month of the Bow to see who could hunt the strongest demonic beasts in the forest.
The Hunting Festival, where students participated in teams of four, was such an important festival that even the Emperor would attend if his schedule allowed.
But that wasn't why I had stopped.
It was because I remembered seeing that word somewhere recently.
My thoughts drifted to the contents of the letter tucked inside my coat.
'Sepia' and the 'Hunting Festival.'
"If it’s not this year… I won't have another chance…."
Her voice was trembling. With her eyes squeezed shut, she spoke like a sinner making a confession.
My thoughts became tangled in an instant. I didn't know the exact circumstances of what Seria was talking about. But one thing seemed certain.
Sepia intended to participate in this year's Hunting Festival. And she had a reason why she absolutely had to.
I pondered, agonized, and hesitated.
But it didn't take long for me to reach a conclusion. I bit my lip, turned back around, and strode toward Seria.
Then, I placed both my hands on her slender, trembling shoulders as she stood with her head bowed.
"…Seria."
"Ye-Yehet?!"
Startled by my sudden action, she let out a cute little sound, her eyes going wide.
Her upturned eyes met mine. We were close. Close enough that our breaths might mingle.
A sweet scent tickled my nose. Her deep blue eyes stared blankly at me.
After agonizing and hesitating until the very last moment, I finally opened my mouth.
"You look especially pretty today."
"…?"
Of course, Seria only tilted her head as if wondering what on earth I was talking about.
It was the day our private joint training began.