Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Disappointing Spar
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It was interesting.
"And boring."
Jenos, the judge of the sparring match, lost interest in the utterly deflating outcome.
Kallias hadn't even properly shown off his swordsmanship. Just basic techniques. And basic footwork.
So, Jenos found it utterly boring.
Honestly, he hadn't expected such a huge gap between him and the vice captain.
Not to mention the minimal movements.
It wasn't as if he had never seen swordplay that subdued opponents with the least motion.
The minimal force.
Among the many monsters above him, there were those who wielded such swords.
One of the kingdom's masters used that style, but overall, he was a shady, untrustworthy sort with nothing consistent to learn from.
'Rumors said he wielded the saintess Stella's swordsmanship. Just empty talk, then.'
Of course, it wasn't as if there was nothing to see.
The leadership that insulted his squad members while preaching the logic of strong and weak, compelling them to follow—it was quite impressive.
But for a great noble who had experienced war, that was just par for the course.
There was one particularly surprising point, though.
"The church's standard training methods are trash? I agree. But once you realize that, the tradition is to forge your own path."
Not a word of it was wrong.
"The Sixth Squad will grow strong."
The Sixth Squad had no choice but to grow stronger. Especially since Kallias seemed to want it that way.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
Opening the door revealed Bishop Milliman, his hair and beard bizarrely cropped.
"Bishop? What happened to your hair?"
"Cut it."
His long hair and beard were both halved. The uniform chop made him look quite ridiculous.
It was all too natural to bite one's lower lip hard.
"The pope gave me an earful. But I have some attachment to it, so we compromised on half."
"You look exactly half your age younger."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
However.
"What brings you here?"
"I have a report."
And.
"He was more skilled than expected."
"Yes."
"Any weaknesses, then?"
Weaknesses.
Jenos recalled the application documents.
For enrollment in the royal academy.
'Do you have a daughter?'
'Yes.'
At Bishop Milliman's question, Jenos blinked before answering.
"Exactly."
* * *
Early dawn.
Jervan villa.
Brans sighed as he watched Kallias leaning against the wall above the bed, gripping his sword.
"Brans?"
"Yes, it is I."
They had been together for quite some time now, but Kallias always slept like that. Except when injured, he never properly lay down. He always dozed in that position.
Even if he lay down, he never let go of his sword.
He said it was the only way he felt at ease.
Watching him like that always stirred many thoughts in Brans.
"Noisy."
"Yes. I told them to train as you instructed. It's noisy, isn't it?"
The faint glow of dawn peeking over the horizon.
An unexpected sweat-stink wafted through Kallias's villa.
"Those bug-like fools came crawling back, desperate to grow stronger despite the insults."
Sixth Squad members were running near Kallias's villa.
'Not all of them.'
Only about a dozen were visible now.
With a full roster of thirty, it was about a third who had shown up for training.
"Not a bad start."
Kallias watched them from the window, then simply washed with the water Brans brought and changed clothes.
"The terrain is rugged, so mountain runs will build stamina naturally. But what are those?"
At the end of the line were the small figures of Rivann and Linni.
They were tagging along at the rear.
"They say they want to get stronger. Think that'll work?"
"The beginning is what matters."
The kingdom was full of sword wielders.
Did they all avoid training because they didn't want to grow strong?
No. They compromised.
This should be enough. This counts as diligent. Gotta eat. Just a snack. A little rest.
Those thoughts lodged in their heads kept them from growing.
Once you start compromising, there's no end to it.
"Unless you train to the point of thinking, 'I'm gonna die like this,' people don't get stronger. Right up to the brink of death is ideal."
If you're going to train, pour everything into it.
That way, the efficiency of body reinforcement through holy power improves too.
In war or battle, life and death often hinged on split seconds.
A handful of holy power.
A handful of stamina could drastically change outcomes. Life was like that, so if you didn't want to die, you trained.
"The vice captain's here too."
"Yes."
"What'd he say?"
"That he'll get stronger for revenge."
"Doesn't matter."
The more they charged in like they wanted to die, the more experiments he could run.
"Sparring with strong opponents is exactly what I wanted. I hope they grow like weeds."
"But is just running okay?"
"What do you mean?"
"They're only running."
"Not your concern. If you're idle, join them."
"Haha, no need."
"What do you mean no need? Not running? You're the most useless one here."
"Such merciless words..."
"Run. If you don't want to die."
Brans ran off with a tearful face.
Orphin, watching him dash away teary-eyed with odd eyes, greeted Kallias.
"Orphin."
"Yes."
"Preparations going well?"
"Yes, I submitted the academy application in the count's name."
The count's name.
That should make academy enrollment no issue.
"Then give this to Rivann and Linni."
"This is..."
"A list."
People they needed to befriend.
Scattered memories, but there were definitely connections at the academy.
Some were cadets, others their parents.
If they could forge ties through them, it wouldn't hurt.
Of course, the same went for those who needed killing.
"By the way, Orphin. Are you here as their nanny?"
"No."
"Then why are you here?"
"I was saved. My life."
She had come to repay the favor.
Kallias sneered coldly.
"Most of the north owes me their life at least once. Repay it by serving the north, not by coming to me personally."
Allen and Aren.
And the knights from the north who fought alongside him—they weren't staying away because they didn't want to visit.
In the end, the north was where he had to return, so they protected it.
"I want to serve at your side. The one I wish to offer my sword to is you alone, Lord Kallias."
"Hmm."
Orphin de Riofing behind her.
Originally, this knight would have a hand in killing Kallias.
But now she wanted to become his sword. It felt a bit novel.
"Orphin."
"Yes."
"Stand still."
"Yes. Gasp!"
I placed my hand on Orphin's lower abdomen.
Orphin flushed, wondering what this was about, but soon calmed her excitement and tensed up.
"You've trained in the Jervan methods."
"Yes, yes? Ah... yes."
Kallias withdrew his hand and tilted his head.
Unlike those experimental subjects he didn't care about, treating Orphin seriously made sense.
'Shall I do it properly?'
He planned to just beat on the others, but for Orphin, he'd teach properly and gather data.
"Quit it."
"Yes?! But..."
"Your constitution doesn't suit the Jervan methods. Your growth has hit a wall long ago anyway. Right?"
"...How did you know."
The Orphin I knew was an ordinary knight who suddenly skyrocketed due to some event.
The reason lay in training methods—she would realize the Jervan ones didn't suit her.
Then Orphin would develop her own unique methods, reshaping everything to fit her style.
"Discard them. And create your own. One that suits you. I'll help."
She had talent.
A little guidance, and she'd handle the rest.
A knight trained in the north's harsh environment.
As a woman, no less.
Her body was already complete.
"Change your sword too."
"To what..."
"Use a heavy sword."
Her nature was calm and composed.
That trait was a strength in sword discussion, yet she wielded a thin longsword, emphasizing speed.
Due to fundamental differences in frame and strength between men and women, most female knights favored quick strikes.
An inevitable choice, perhaps.
But Orphin suited the heavy sword more than quick strikes.
"Try it my way, even if it feels like a loss. Shift from offense to defense, exploiting gaps—that suits you better."
Changing a lifetime of sword training was incredibly hard.
But she would change anyway.
Whether now or later, she'd do it—so better now. There was still time.
The kingdom's civil war hadn't broken out yet; Kallias was delaying it by killing nobles.
"If it's too hard, go back. If you want to be Jervan's knight instead of mine, no need."
However.
If she wanted to be my knight.
If she wanted to stay by my side, she had to. She had to succeed.
Otherwise, she'd die pointlessly.
A knight was meant to protect their lord.
But in her current state, she couldn't protect; she needed protecting.
He couldn't entrust his back to such a person.
"Will you do it, or give up?"
Orphin bit her lip hard.
Then clenched her fist and answered.
"Understood. I will!"
Kallias's lip corner lifted.
* * *
Thwack! Crack! Thud!! Crash!
"I-I lost."
"Try showing off once more. It won't end this lightly next time."
The girl haughtily declared with her wooden sword, while the boy sniffled.
His gang fled helter-skelter.
And.
"Wow! The boss won again!"
The girl's gang celebrated victory with their bruised faces.
Karpe, also called the land of swords.
Everywhere there, kids wielded wooden swords and scrapped.
The girl called boss was one such.
A sprout dreaming of knighthood.
Flora.
"What are you doing there, my girl!"
"Ah, Daddy!"
She was also the only young daughter of a lonely father.
"Fighting again?"
"It was a duel! Duel! I won, of course! And I didn't even get hurt this time?"
She beamed, showing her hands and arms.
Flora's father hugged his daughter tight with a face like she was the cutest thing ever.
"Ooh~ Amazing? Is my girl really going to become a knight when she grows up!"
"Of course! Suuuper strong! A super strong knight like the blue-haired pilgrim! So strong I can buy Daddy yummy food!"
"Wow~ Daddy will live well in his old age thanks to his daughter. Thanks~ Let's go home now."
"Yeah!"
But as they walked, the girl's father suddenly stopped.
His face hardened for a moment, but Flora didn't notice.
"Why? Not going home?"
"Daddy forgot something. Go on ahead home, sweetie."
"What? Let's go get it together."
"No, Flora. Daddy'll be quick. You can go first, right?"
"Uh, yeah... Okay! Hurry!"
"Yeah. Be right there."
He watched the child wave and disappear.
His expression instantly chilled.
Right after.
From the alley's shadows, a figure cloaked in darkness emerged and spoke.
"Your daughter has grown quite a bit. It's been over twelve years since you came here."
"Yes."
"She wants to enter the academy... She must take after you; quite talented."
"...What brings you here."
"You have a task to handle."
"As always. Handle it. We've already made contact."
"..."
"Your wife's matter was regrettable. Being caught by the Heretic Inquisitors was beyond my control."
"I know."
"Good that you understand my position."
He unfurled documents listing the target's personal details.
[Kallias von Jervan]
"A count, eh."
"A troublesome one. Finish this, and you can return to the homeland. Better raise your daughter in the empire than this doomed kingdom."
Isn't it?
"Pedro."