Kelebor Fortress (2)
The drill grounds of Kelebor Citadel.
Countless soldiers crowded thick around a hastily prepared sparring ring. And inside that ring, Schwarz and Viscount Nemeris stood facing each other.
"I look forward to a good match."
"The pleasure is mine."
With a booming laugh, Viscount Nemeris settled into his stance. Watching him, Schwarz let out a short sigh.
How on earth did it come to this?
When Schwarz turned a resentful look toward Milia, she simply flashed him a thumbs-up, as if to say not to worry.
"You aren't using a weapon, lad?"
"That is correct."
It was Robert's firm belief that a servant carrying arms could come across as intimidating to guests. Accordingly, everything Schwarz had been taught was pure hand-to-hand combat — fists and feet alone.
"Hmm. Fine then. I won't use a weapon either."
"Pardon…?"
Schwarz's voice came out half-dazed. And before he could so much as protest, Viscount Nemeris hurled the greatsword in his hands clear out of the ring.
With a heavy thunk, a blade nearly as tall as a grown man buried itself in the earth. Nemeris turned back to Schwarz, face alight with anticipation, and bellowed,
"Kahaha! That look on your face is priceless!"
"Ahaha…"
There's such a thing as being too hearty. Who in the world, just because their opponent wasn't using a weapon, would casually throw their own away?
"…And yet here he is, right in front of me."
Faced with a stunt that defied every scrap of common sense, Schwarz could only mutter in helpless bewilderment.
"If old Robert trained you, that means you're no slouch yourself. It's been far too long since my blood got pumping like this! I won't hold back — so you'd better come at me with everything you've got!"
"Understood."
As Viscount Nemeris began settling into his stance, Schwarz nodded and took his own. At the same moment, the soldiers' chatter died away, and silence settled over the sparring grounds.
"Ah, right. Nearly forgot."
"…?"
Just then, Viscount Nemeris spoke as though he'd remembered something important, and Schwarz frowned in confusion.
And in the next instant—
"W-what are you doing?!"
"When men talk, they talk with their bodies, don't they? Wahahaha!!"
Watching Nemeris suddenly fling off his upper garments, Schwarz yelped in alarm — only for the viscount to boom with laughter and strike a pose worthy of a bodybuilder.
Looking at him like that, he really could pass for a bandit…
"Don't worry! I've no intention of making you strip too!"
"Th-that's a relief…"
Baring his torso in front of this many people was something Schwarz sincerely wished to avoid.
Silence settled once more. But it did not last long.
— Clang!!
"Hup!!"
At the bell signaling the start of the match, Viscount Nemeris charged straight at Schwarz. For a man of his bulk, the speed was almost unbelievable.
"Hyah!!"
With a sharp shout, Nemeris drove a straight punch at Schwarz's face. Schwarz ducked beneath it and swept a leg toward the viscount's.
"Fine reflexes! Not bad at all!!"
But Nemeris had clearly expected as much. Laughing heartily, he backstepped out of range, then surged forward again, raining punches down in rapid succession.
"Kh…!!"
"Kahahaha! It's been ages since I met someone who could weather my attacks!!"
Every blow carried the crushing weight of a mace. It was nothing like Robert's swift, precise style — but it was more than threatening enough. If Robert's martial art was built to subdue an opponent, Viscount Nemeris's was built for one purpose alone: to beat them into the ground.
If I get the chance, I wouldn't mind learning a thing or two from this…
With that thought, Schwarz focused on defense, weathering the viscount's onslaught. And after how long spent purely on the back foot—
"An opening…!!"
When the human body exerts itself violently, the briefest of gaps inevitably appears — that fleeting instant between one motion and the next, when the breath is drawn.
"Ugh?!"
Seizing that opening, Schwarz ducked low and drove into Nemeris's guard. In the same motion he caught the arm the viscount hadn't yet retracted, hooked his leg, and toppled him—
"Hrrrngh!!"
"Wha—?!"
—then braced hard, locking Nemeris's arm between his legs and hauling back. Pain lanced through the limb, and the viscount let out a low groan.
"Not bad…!! But I'll be damned if I lose to some young pup!!"
"Grrraaagh…!!"
Nemeris strained with everything he had. Schwarz, too, dragged up every scrap of breath and pulled with all his might. Cheers erupted among the soldiers as the contest of strength dragged on for several long minutes.
"I yield. There's no winning this."
In the next moment, Viscount Nemeris conceded defeat. Schwarz released his arm with a short breath and rose to his feet. Sighs of disappointment rippled through the soldiers — while behind them, Milia alone was clapping.
"Incredible, lad! You don't look it at all, but you've got some serious strength!"
"Th-thank you for the compliment…"
The viscount rolled his shoulders as he stood, working the arm loose, and Schwarz trailed off, dipping his head.
Dragon versus human. The outcome had been decided from the start. The thought left Schwarz with a vague unease — but when the viscount offered his hand, he reached out and took it.
"Sorry for doubting you. That's just the kind of man I am."
"Please, think nothing of it."
Schwarz bowed his head toward the sheepishly apologizing viscount.
"Well? Was I right?"
"You truly were."
Milia had already sidled up, arms crossed and looking thoroughly smug, and Viscount Nemeris was nodding in agreement when—
— Clap. Clap. Clap.
"…?"
"…?"
"…?"
At the sudden sound of applause from behind them, all three turned.
And what met their eyes was a sharp-featured girl with hair and eyes the color of burning crimson.
"It's been a while, Milia. And Schwarz."
"Eh…"
"You're…"
"Hmm…"
Faced with a figure none of them had remotely expected, the three could only stare, speechless. The girl answered their gazes with a faint smile—
"Lady Rosenberg?"
—and Schwarz, the first to recover his wits, stared at the girl before him in a daze.
"What are you doing here, Senior?"
Caught completely off guard, Milia regarded her with open wariness. Unlike the Valentine Countship, which occupied the kingdom's northwest, the Rosenberg duchy lay in the southeast. In short, there was no reason whatsoever for her to be here.
"You're aware that investigators were dispatched here because of the unidentified monster that was discovered?"
"Yes, I know that… Don't tell me you're the investigator, Senior?!"
"Sadly, no. I only came along as the investigator's escort."
"Hold on. Escort?"
Milia's mouth fell open in sheer disbelief. The Rosenberg family was no ordinary house. It was one of the Five Great Houses — the five highest-ranking ducal families that had served the kingdom since ages past. And the daughter of such a house was playing bodyguard to some mere investigator?
"You're joking, right?"
"Hmm. I'm not generally one for jokes."
Amelia answered Milia's incredulous question with a low hum. At that response, Milia felt her mind go faintly blank.
"A pleasure to meet you, Viscount Nemeris. I've heard a great deal about you."
"An honor to meet the young lady of House Rosenberg. I trust His Grace is well?"
"Yes. As healthy as ever, I'm glad to say."
Once the brief exchange of greetings with Viscount Nemeris was done, Amelia turned toward Schwarz.
"My respects, my lady."
"Mm. I'm glad to see you looking well."
Amelia answered with a faint smile. Watching the two of them, Milia felt an inexplicable irritation welling up inside her.
"My Lady?"
"…"
But she could hardly snap at Amelia outright. The best she could manage was to casually insert herself between Amelia and Schwarz. Schwarz made a puzzled sound at Milia's behavior — but Amelia seemed to grasp her intent at once, regarding her with a faint, knowing smile.
"Milia. There's no need to worry so much. I don't make a habit of going after men who already have an owner."
"W-what?!"
Caught utterly flat-footed, Milia flushed scarlet and cried out. Amelia chuckled, clearly amused by the reaction.
"I'm joking."
"You just said you don't enjoy joking…"
"I never said I never do it at all."
"…"
Has Milia ever been led around by the nose like this by anyone other than Arze? Schwarz watched the two of them spar, sparks practically flying between them. Left unchecked, the standoff looked ready to drag on until one of them finally backed down…
"Come to think of it, you said you came as the investigator's escort. Where is the investigator, then?"
"Ah. Right — I'd nearly forgotten the important part."
Schwarz asked with a short sigh, and Amelia answered as she turned. At once, the frosty air between the two girls melted away.
"Follow me. There's quite a bit you two need to hear as well."
"Let's go, Schwarz."
"Yes, My Lady."
As Amelia set off, Milia let out a disgruntled little huff and fell in behind her. And—
— Well done.
As if saying exactly that, Viscount Nemeris gave him a thumbs-up. Schwarz dipped his head lightly in return, then crossed the drill grounds after Milia.