Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: A Knight's Request
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Chapter 127
I figured out what the request was right away. Looking at Taine's tense face, he said,
"Let's go somewhere without people."
"I'll guide you."
I followed behind Taine as he led the way.
"It's been a while since I've been here."
Lander said, looking around. The plain walls felt welcoming. In a castle plastered with artworks, this was the only space utterly devoid of anything. The simplicity offered a sense of peace.
"No one will see us here, for sure."
He doubted anyone in the castle would dare peek into the emperor's training hall without permission.
"His Majesty permitted it."
"When Sir Taine asked to use this place, His Majesty must have been delighted."
Taine raised an eyebrow slightly. His bold, rugged features made even small changes stand out.
"Yes. Just as you said, Commander. It was the first time I'd seen him so pleased while in his service."
"Now I understand how much His Majesty thinks of Sir Taine."
Ardhen was a man with clear boundaries. At his extremes, he divided people into "his own" and "not his own."
Even in the Holy City, the heart of the imperial family, the number of "his own" could be counted on one hand.
Having competed since birth, suspicion was ingrained in him. It was instinct and strategy for survival.
An attitude of bristling with thorns of doubt,刺ing at everything that approached first. The imperial family's authority and his sharp temperament made everyone wary of the emperor.
Yet occasionally, someone would charge in heedless of the thorns. Someone the emperor would weary of pricking and finally allow close.
As far as Lander knew, the first was the vice duke, the second Naria. The Ladder Political Officer was among them too.
And Taine.
A youth the emperor had taken in and protected since childhood, designated as his guardian knight. He was likely the only one the emperor had recently allowed close.
Knowing Taine's character, Lander had left the Holy City with peace of mind. He was a flawless knight, save for his excessively high loyalty.
But neither he nor the emperor had known then that this loyalty would cause minor issues.
The emperor had said there'd never been a man who showed so little greed. It was stifling, he'd complained.
The emperor had probably thrown up his hands at this rigid guardian knight.
A young knight who expressed nothing but reverence—pure and unyielding suited him perfectly. It must have been a new type of human for Ardhen too.
And now that guardian knight had made a personal request of the emperor. How thrilled he must have been. He might have eagerly asked if there was more he could request.
"In the future, try asking His Majesty for conveniences or needs you have."
"I couldn't. Stealing the king's time as a subordinate? This request is an exception; I won't do it again."
"Sir Taine, you really are upright."
"I have no choice if I wish to serve my lord."
"Ardhen doesn't hold his own people to such rigid standards."
He used the familiar name instead of "Your Majesty." Taine clamped his mouth shut. The sovereign's name popping out so casually must have felt strange and improper.
Borrowing Ardhen's words, it was truly touching loyalty. Taine would praise the great emperor even in places without ears to hear.
"If personality changed just by trying, I wouldn't be like this. I suppose I overstepped with my advice."
"No, Commander. I'll keep it in mind."
Smiling, he drew his sword.
"Let's set that topic aside for now and hear Sir Taine's request?"
"You seem to already know, so I won't spell it out."
Taine gripped his sword with both hands.
"The wound has healed well."
He said, looking at the young knight's face.
"It was such a clean cut that it healed quickly. I've held onto that lesson ever since, but I still have much unfinished business."
"I've never assigned you homework, Sir Taine."
"That single exchange became a lifelong task for me."
"That's a burdensome way to put it."
Taine shifted bit by bit. Gauging the distance, perhaps. What was this man's preferred range? He deliberately stepped forward half a pace.
The guardian knight's eyes sharpened. Lander took another step.
Taine's pupils moved. This was it—he stepped back one pace. He could see Taine's rhythm break. The heightened nerves made him react sensitively to even small changes.
"Sir Taine."
"Yes."
"You know, that was a chance to seize the initiative just now. Why hesitate?"
"It was too perfect a distance. In real combat, I'd have gone in regardless. It was an ideal range."
Taine continued, shifting left and right a little.
"So I couldn't move. I barely held back my body from lunging and thought: Did I create this gap? No. You showed it to me, Commander."
"You have good eyes, Sir Taine. Knowing what an ideal interval is makes you an excellent warrior already."
Lander lowered his sword and closed in on Taine. Taine immediately assumed a defensive stance, wary. It was the basic form taught at Schola.
He thrust lightly. Taine parried the straight-extending blade.
Ting—a clear metallic ring echoed as their swords parted. Lander advanced again, watching Taine's feet.
He tested Taine's stance with a light "posture," leading with his shoulder. Taine, guarding left, instantly switched directions.
A keen sense indeed. Most swordsmen would expose a gap failing to handle this simple probe.
He increased speed slightly, thrusting at a guardable spot. Taine calmly countered.
Flawless swordsmanship. Parrying what needed parrying, flowing what needed flowing—no textbook required.
After three or four exchanges, Lander slipped to the side a beat faster. Taine's reaction lagged. His previously fluid feet rooted to the ground.
His body was fixed, but he still defended admirably. A seasoned blade. Few in the military could maintain a bout like this. As expected of Schola's undefeated knight.
With swords locked, he grabbed Taine's wrist with his left hand. He wondered how Taine would handle irregular close combat beyond standard forms.
Schola taught bare-handed Risse too, but few recalled it amid whirling blades in real fights.
Taine, wrist seized, pressed forward with his sword's weight and lowered his stance.
An apt response. Had he tried wrenching his arm free, he'd have lost the strength contest.
But he'd overlooked one thing. Taine's flexibility was lacking.
He flowed Taine's sword aside. Taine's blade, pushing low while lowering his center, lost support and lurched forward.
The sword lost direction, exposing his front fully. Lander swept his recovered blade low to high, resting it on Taine's throat.
"I yield."
Taine said without hesitation. He was breathing raggedly, having squeezed out his limit in focus.
"This is what embodying theory feels like. Impressive skill."
"But it didn't work on you, Commander. I was fairly confident in mana-less bouts, yet here we are."
Taine wiped sweat from his brow.
"The day you left the Holy City, Commander, His Majesty said this to me: 'Don't despair or revere that man. Trying to understand the incomprehensible breeds only fear.'"
Taine met his gaze squarely.
"Now I think I get what he meant."
Was that the end? As Lander lowered his sword, Taine reset his stance.
"I know it's a mountain I can't climb. I'd only gain helplessness. But that doesn't matter. I want to experience your sword even a little more. If I may indulge in an absurd greed, I want to resemble it even by a hair's breadth."
An unyielding attitude. In Taine's expression, Lander saw the emperor. Polar opposites in personality, yet strikingly similar here.
That's why he entrusts his life to this man.
"I'll use body arts."
Taine said. Even at Schola, few could wield body arts. Using mana was that complex.
How far could Taine go? Lander opened his senses, drawing a trickle of mana from his roots.
Ready, Taine signaled with his eyes. Taine closed in at speeds pure flesh could never reach.
The air parted sharply.
His arrow-like thrust targeted the shoulder—a feral sword suited for battle, ignoring the next move.
Lander focused on the incoming blade. It slowed gradually. Expanded senses took in myriad information.
The more his brain processed, the slower perceived time became.
Where the opponent's pupils aimed, which way the shoulder twitched, how much weight on the planting foot.
Before the next action, at least three or four counters surfaced. Lander raised his sword, deflecting Taine's straight charge and claiming the right flank.
Taine, flank exposed, shifted to counter instantly. Mana-enhanced athleticism aside, the fundamentals remained unsolved.
His center was already tipped, lead foot still in air, and above all, he hadn't spotted Lander's diagonal sweep.
Peak focus had narrowed his vision instead. He couldn't advise taking a relaxed step back to observe.
He would have if possible. Cognitive and sensory limits didn't expand just because he taught.
That's why Lander couldn't be a good swordmaster. This wasn't knowledge conveyed by words.
Taine rolled on the floor. Charging with mana must have made control difficult.
He approached, seized Taine's arm, and helped him up. Taine staggered.
"Your mana use is smooth. Few in the empire can wield body arts to this degree."
Taine pressed his head, silent—likely a headache.
"I'm sorry. Pushing too hard wrecked my condition."
"Sit and rest."
"Just for a moment."
Seated, Taine exhaled heavily. Lander watched, then eyed the training hall floor.
Cracked slates traced Taine's path.
"I'll cover it from my salary."
"Ardhen isn't that stingy."
He fetched water for Taine.
"Let's talk once you've caught your breath. I'll answer what I can. Though it probably won't help."
Taine grimaced gratefully. Recovery would take more time.