Chapter 3: Shoulders
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 3: Shoulders
“Hyaah!”
As she watched Leon swing his wooden sword toward her with all his might, the corners of Helena’s eyes curved into a soft arc.
Five years ago, when a five-year-old toddler had personally designated her as his instructor, Helena’s impression had been simple: How many days will this spoiled brat’s prank even last?
But five years had passed, and looking at the ten-year-old Leon now, Helena found herself wearing a faint smile whenever she looked at him.
—Thwack!
With a spirited shout, Leon’s wooden sword struck the ground and stayed there.
It was because Helena’s sword, which he expected to block him head-on, had instead slanted at an angle the moment they collided, parrying all of his momentum.
“Your posture and strength are good, but your trajectory is too predictable.”
“For five years, all I’ve done is swing downward from top to bottom!”
“You must learn to adapt. That is what talent is.”
“Urgh…”
Of course, Helena’s assessment that Leon possessed sufficient potential remained unchanged.
In reality, it was difficult to expect young children to focus for five minutes, let alone five years. Yet, Leon had stubbornly performed his ten thousand thankful slashes every single day for the past five years without fail.
‘Young Master, talent isn’t just about flashy, extraordinary swordsmanship. That concentration and passion to follow through on a path once decided—that is true talent.’
Well… naturally, Helena didn’t have the slightest clue.
She didn’t know the truth: that Leon’s sparkling blue eyes were shining not for the sword, but for her.
In fact, they were aimed not just at her, but at the countless modest noblewomen he would encounter in the future.
—Thwack! Crack!
Leon’s attacks continued.
Slashing vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and even thrusting.
Of course, the ten-year-old boy’s sword was always blocked, parried, or deflected.
“Huff… huff… You’re really strong, Teacher… As expected of the Sword Saint Family…”
The label that followed him whenever he forgot it: the Sword Saint Family.
Whenever that label was thrust before her eyes or whispered in her ear, the corners of Helena’s mouth stiffened.
‘…I am not strong, Young Master.’
Helena once had a time like Leon’s current age.
No, if anything, her days were even more grueling. Under the title of a "once-in-a-decade talent," the palms of young Helena’s hands were covered in new blisters that formed and burst every day.
Every night, she cried silently while applying ointment and wrapping bandages, yet she never let go of her sword.
A once-in-a-decade talent.
That single phrase had set fire to her passion, made her dream, and allowed her to endure those hellish days.
However, reality was terrifyingly cold.
In the Sword Saint Family, a "once-in-a-decade talent" was not a privilege; it was the bare minimum.
“A boy that age slaying an orc? That’s a once-in-fifty-years talent!”
“A woman subjugating an ogre alone?! The next Sword Saint might actually be a woman!”
The applause and praise were always directed at others.
Of course, Helena would grit her teeth and swing her sword even harder each time, but the day she would receive such cheers never came.
She wasn't the only one capable of bone-shattering effort and discipline.
Even so, Helena did not let go of her sword.
What she had to give up was not the sword itself, but the reason she swung it.
She had to abandon the life she tried to carve out for herself with the blade and accept the life of a noblewoman—a life she had ignored and denied.
“Teacher?”
Leon stood before her.
He looked like a lovely disciple, worried about his teacher’s darkened complexion.
‘That is all in the past…’
The dream she tried to achieve through the sword had vanished like bubbles, but life goes on.
If so, she had no choice but to live this moment with all her might.
Toward the disciple who had made her realize that truth, Helena forced a faint smile.
“I am fine, Young Master. I apologize for causing you concern.”
“I’m glad you’re okay.”
As Leon gave a beaming smile, the smile on Helena’s lips became even clearer.
Perhaps emboldened by that smile, Helena spoke to him.
“You don’t ask for the reason.”
“Hehe, I learned that a gentleman should protect a lady’s past.”
While wondering where on earth he had learned such things, Helena smiled silently once more.
To her, Leon was still just a cute ten-year-old boy.
As if proving that his true sword lay elsewhere, Leon looked up at Helena again.
“Teacher, would it be alright if I repaid you for all your kindness?”
“Kindness… you say?”
Leon’s father, Margrave Konstanz, was a strict man but one who followed protocol to the letter.
Consequently, Helena was being paid a salary perfectly suited to her abilities and duties.
Therefore, Helena’s logic concluded that there was no "kindness" for Leon to repay. However…
‘…I simply can’t refuse when you look at me with those eyes.’
Whenever she saw Leon’s blue eyes filled with earnest longing, Helena had to let out a shallow sigh.
This time was no different.
“I don’t believe you owe me anything, Young Master… but I suppose it can’t be helped. How do you intend to repay me?”
“Yay! Then please sit here.”
Leon pointed to a stone chair set in a corner of the garden.
The chair was low enough to be completely hidden by the shade of the garden trees; once seated, it seemed as though they would be out of everyone’s sight.
Naturally, Helena sat on the chair Leon indicated without a hint of suspicion.
“I am seated.”
“Thank you. Then… if I may be so bold, could I massage your shoulders, Teacher?”
“…My shoulders? You, Young Master?”
“Yes. Well… when I went on an inspection of the territory with Father recently, I saw children my age massaging the shoulders of their parents or elders. So…”
Seeing Leon hesitate uncharacteristically, Helena felt a sharp pang in her chest.
Though from a collateral line, Helena was still a daughter of the nobility.
She had been taught, and had lived her life believing, that no man’s hand—regardless of age—should touch her body carelessly… and yet.
‘…Sigh, I really can’t win against the Young Master.’
Without the slightest clue that everything he had shown her so far was a calculated performance, Helena nodded to Leon.
“Since you put it that way, I suppose I have no choice. Then… I shall humbly accept, Young Master.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
To think the one providing the service was thanking the one receiving it.
‘The Young Master truly has such a kind and gentle heart…’
Since she couldn't know Leon’s true thoughts, Helena could only offer him undeserved praise in her mind.
*
It was a sentiment I’d felt in my past life, but seeing Helena in person, she was purely beautiful.
‘Wow…’
Her snow-white, long neck stood in stark contrast to her black formal attire.
Soft stray hairs peeked out from between her neatly braided deep-blue hair.
How should I put it… right, it felt like looking at a statue of a goddess carved by a great artist who poured their soul into it.
‘Maybe it’s because of my physical age, but I’m just thinking she’s purely pretty.’
It was quite a relief that no other thoughts came to mind.
Thinking about using force, status, or power to suppress someone is the mindset of a criminal worse than a beast.
‘Anyway, it’s a relief. Father has absolutely no interest in Helena.’
My current father, Margrave Konstanz, has nothing but "the manual" in his head.
Thanks to that, we’re far from being a harmonious family, but ironically, because of that personality, the only woman in his life is my mother.
In other words… even though Helena possesses beauty that would make any man drool, she’s a "safe asset."
“Young Master?”
“Ah, I just got a little nervous without realizing it.”
“You don’t need to go out of your way to repay me. Just having that thought is an honor more than I deserve.”
“But I’m the one who brought it up. If a man draws his sword, he should at least cut a radish!”
Are you crazy? I’m not satisfied with just the thought.
Do you know how far I’ve come?
I have to slowly close the physical distance starting now so that I can make you happy ten years later when I’m an adult.
With the determination that I absolutely could not back down here, I finally placed my hands on Helena’s shoulders.
—Knead, knead.
“Mmm…”
“Does it hurt?”
“No, it’s not that… I don’t know if I should say this, but… you’re very good at this…”
“Hehe, thank you. I put a lot of thought into it.”
Surprisingly, I was actually massaging Helena’s shoulders with pure intentions.
The massage techniques I learned from the "massage videos" that occupied half of my 10TB hard drive in my past life.
The physical therapist and sports massage videos, related books, and so on that I looked up with the single-minded goal of perfecting those techniques.
My secret art, which never got to bloom in my previous life, was now shining upon Helena’s shoulders.
“Hngh…”
Sure enough, a nasal moan I’d never heard before escaped Helena’s lips.
Women with ample breasts inevitably suffer from shoulder strain.
No matter how tightly they bind them with bandages or support them with corsets, it’s unavoidable.
After all, with great power comes great responsibility.
‘By the way… I can’t properly use my techniques with this body yet.’
Even if I’ve trained every day for the past five years, my body is still just that of a ten-year-old kid.
First of all, my hands are too small.
Naturally, my grip strength is lacking too.
Did I swing a wooden sword ten thousand times? Of course, that’s because it was a specially made lightweight wooden sword.
Even if she’s a demon instructor from the Sword Saint Family, it was precisely because of that background that she gave me a light sword.
At this age, growth takes priority over physical training.
“Haa…”
Well, even so, Helena seemed sufficiently satisfied.
Judging by that refreshing sigh she let out.
Then… that’s enough for today.
“Hehe, was it relaxing, Teacher?”
“Honestly, I’m surprised. I thought it would end after a few squeezes… I underestimated you. My shoulders haven’t felt this light since the day I was born.”
“Yay!”
Oh, the praise of a beautiful woman truly makes the heart race.
The reason for my existence lies in this very moment…
“If your shoulders feel heavy, please tell me anytime, Teacher.”
Not just your shoulders, but anytime, anywhere.
Just say the word, and I’ll melt away your knotted muscles and pent-up stress.
“Fufu, yes. I shall gratefully accept those words, Young Master.”
“Not just the words! I’m serious!”
“Yes, Young Master. Whoever becomes your bride someday will be very happy.”
At first glance, it sounded like she was saying this was the last time, but I knew better.
I knew Helena couldn't refuse my requests.
‘Hehehe…’
Meanwhile, an orange sunset was settling over the garden.
Since the sun was sinking low in the west, it was time for a "good little child of the new nation" to wrap up the day.
Eat well and grow well. My top priority is growth.
“Then we’ll stop here for today.”
“Yes, Young Master. I look forward to working with you tomorrow as well.”
“Yes, Teacher. I look forward to it too.”