Chapter 12
The Flower That Bears a Sword - Chapter 12
Translation: godsn
"It's about upholding chivalry. Like Dame Teresa von Franc Almari, who understands honor, lives modestly, respects the weak, and reveres martial virtue."
Alice's eyes sparkled with admiration as she spoke Teresa's name. And Eki was startled by the unexpected mention—the name of the Giosa Owner she had killed. To hide her surprise, she responded even more brazenly.
"Chivalry doesn't say anything about not dressing up, does it?"
"It's so obvious that no one needed to say it."
"So why is it obvious, exactly?"
"It's vain extravagance!"
"I didn't take out a loan to buy these clothes, so 'extravagant' doesn't quite fit. These are all things I already owned. Wouldn't deliberately buying knightly attire be the more extravagant choice?"
"Do you need anything more? Just wear your cadet uniform."
"So because my clothes bother you, Miss Winterbell, you're telling me to wear only my uniform even though I have perfectly good clothes of my own?"
Though Eki's argument bordered on sophistry, Alice was left speechless. Having to repeatedly counter what she considered self-evident truths made it difficult for her to explain. Alice's tightly clenched lips trembled with frustration. After fumbling for words, she finally pulled out a more practical reason.
"...H-how could you possibly wield a sword properly in such cumbersome attire in the first place!"
"I'm not uncomfortable."
Truthfully, she was. Though raised as a noble and accustomed to it, there was no way the flowing skirts and puffy petticoats weren't cumbersome. If she hadn't been skilled enough to be unhindered by her attire, she might have sought another solution.
Naturally, Alice didn't believe Eki's words.
"That's absurd...!"
"You're aware of my entrance exam scores, Miss Winterbell. If you don't believe me, shall we spar like this?"
Alice gritted her teeth and glared at Eki.
"Are you saying that even in a dress, someone of your level would have no trouble?"
"My, I hadn't thought to be quite that rude. I simply believe I can defeat you, Miss Winterbell."
[Your words and hers amount to the same thing in the end, don't they?]
The Magic Sword chattered in her mind. Eki smiled as she thought: Shut up, you damned thing. I know that already.
Even she had to admit she was being insufferable, so Alice's outburst was inevitable. Flushed crimson with indignation, Alice pulled a glove from her pocket and threw it down.
"I formally challenge you to a duel, Echinacea Roaz. If I win, you will apologize for your insult and never wear such extravagant clothes again."
"I accept, Alice Winterbell. If I win, you will cease interfering with me."
"Agreed. Name the time and place. Who shall be our witness?"
Etiquette dictated that the challenged party sets the time and location, with both sides agreeing on a witness. Even with a face that looked ready to draw steel at any moment, Alice strictly adhered to the rules of dueling—stubborn to the core.
Even before her regression, Eki had never once pretended to be a knight. So this formal duel was her first. During her time gathering the Giosa, she had lived on the border of illegality and outright crime.
Mercenaries usually threw punches the moment a challenge was issued. The back-alley types would just stab you when you turned around. Aspiring knights really are different.
Feeling oddly refreshed by the novelty, she answered.
"At sunset today, in the training grounds behind the dormitory. As for the witness... I don't really know anyone in Agenka, so you may choose, Miss Winterbell."
"I'm in the same position, so I'll ask the Cadet Representative. Do you agree?"
"Fine."
"Understood. Then."
Alice cast a contemptuous glance before swiftly turning on her heel and striding out. Eki quietly watched her retreating figure before turning her attention back to the open bag she had left untouched.
"I provoked her because I figured it'd be better to settle things with a fight if I want to live comfortably here... But I wonder how she'll react after the duel."
[Eh? You're not gonna kill her? It's a duel—a perfectly legal chance to kill someone! Hey, it's been way too long since I've seen blood. Let's kill her, yeah? Yeah? If she stays alive, she'll just keep bothering you!]
"Just shut up, will you?"
Ignoring the Magic Sword's words, Eki resumed packing. In the end, she only stopped when lunchtime was nearly over—not because she had finished, but because her stomach growled. Back when she had been gathering Giosa, skipping meals had been routine, but she had no intention of doing so now.
Officer cadets were provided with basic room and board, and meals were served in the communal dining hall in the academy's main building. Since most cadets were nobles, the menu was varied and of decent quality.
From the moment she left the dormitory until she reached the dining hall, Eki was met with piercing stares. She didn't pay them much mind—she had expected as much.
Among the cadets, clad in sweat-drenched training uniforms or the standard navy-blue academy attire—or occasionally something else, but always neat and practical—Echinacea stood out starkly.
Today, she wore a light dress layered with translucent fabric over a pale blue lining. Her floral-adorned hat served more to block sunlight than as decoration, and her makeup was subtle. The hat's attached veil obscured her face somewhat.
Even though there was some distance between the academy and where the Giosa Owners resided, she had deliberately worn the hat, tense about stepping into their vicinity for the first time.
Among noble ladies, her outfit would have been nothing more than an ordinary outing attire. But this was the Agenka Military Academy—a place where, despite the considerable number of female cadets, not a single one wore a skirt. There was no avoiding the stares.
Still, being the center of attention throughout her meal was grating. Cadets glanced at her from afar, whispering among themselves. The occasional "Is she insane?" reached her ears. They must have thought they were being discreet, lowering their voices as much as possible, but Eki heard every word.
Well, I sowed these seeds myself.
She sighed inwardly as she spooned her stew. No one sat near her. If she were to become a Master by age twenty-three, she'd have to endure three years like this. It wasn't a pleasant thought. She had erased the past to start anew—she didn't want to live like she was enduring penance all over again.
Maybe I can cut it down by a year. Would becoming a Master at twenty-two be acceptable?
It was then that a brown-haired man suddenly appeared before her.
"You're Echinacea Roaz, right? Just as I heard—easy to spot."
The man grinned affably. He appeared to be in his mid-to-late twenties, with a black armband embroidered with blue thread wrapped around his arm—the insignia of the Cadet Representative, who led over 150 officer cadets.
Alice must have mentioned the duel's witness. Was he here about that? And yet, his face seemed familiar. Who was he again? Masking her uncertainty, Eki replied.
"Yes, I'm Echinacea Roaz."
"Ian Pelletro. Third-year, and the Cadet Representative."
"Nice to meet you, Senior."
As Eki set down her spoon and bowed her head, Ian waved his hand dismissively.
"Ah, no need for formalities. Sorry for interrupting your meal."
"It's fine. What brings you here?"
Contrary to her expectation that he'd bring up the duel, Ian didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked her up and down with an appraising gaze. When Eki instinctively furrowed her brows, he raised his hands as if admitting a mistake.
"Ah, sorry. I was just curious. Have you decided on a club yet?"
"A club?"
"Hmm, so you really didn't know. I had a feeling that might be the case."
Compared to most cadets who spent years preparing for the military academy, Echinacea knew very little about it. Seeing her completely clueless expression, Ian readily explained.
"Most cadets usually know about the clubs beforehand, but there are occasionally ones like you who come in unaware. You do know there aren't separate classes or exams at the academy, right?"
"Yes."
"There are no exams, but there are rankings. You can personally challenge others to change your rank anytime by formally requesting a duel, and every three months, all cadets participate in a ranking tournament to reassess their standings."
"Yes, I know that."
Rankings were the core of the academy, so Echinacea was familiar with that much.
Cadets took turns serving as temporary squires for official knights or junior knights who lacked their own. Unless a knight specifically designated someone, these temporary squires were assigned based on the academy's internal rankings.
Though called "serving," it was nothing like being a maid or a servant. They maintained weapons, armor, and horses, assisted in sparring and training, and sometimes even aided in battles. If they were lucky, they might receive advice on swordsmanship or even spar with a knight. Most aspiring knights built their experience and skills through this kind of apprenticeship before becoming knights themselves. Some knights treated their squires as mere errand-runners, but more often than not, they treated them as juniors to be mentored.
Naturally, competition among cadets over who would assist whom was fierce. Since hopefuls couldn't just fight it out among themselves, the cadet ranking system was established. Of course, cadets staked their lives on these ranking battles.
"Everyone works hard to prepare for the ranking tournaments. But no matter how you look at it, it's not easy to improve your skills alone, right? You need a partner if you want to spar."
"Yes, that's true."
"So, cadets gather to train together, and sometimes they pool resources to hire an instructor to learn swordsmanship. The groups that formed this way eventually solidified into clubs. Usually, cadets decide which club to join before they even enroll."
"...Is it mandatory?"
Echinacea asked again, feeling awkward. Given her current situation, joining a group wasn't exactly a good choice.
'There's nothing to gain, and with group activities, the annoyances will only multiply.'
Moreover, she had no intention of maintaining an excessively high rank in the tournaments. The higher her rank, the more likely she'd cross paths with Giosa Owners—those who might have memories from before her regression. She wanted to avoid encountering them as much as possible.
Ian shook his head.
"Joining a club isn't mandatory. But you'll be at a disadvantage in many ways. Without a club, it's hard to get close to other cadets. In an academy with no classes or instructors, if you don't even have a senior to seek advice from, you'll fall behind easily. Why don't you at least hear about which clubs are available?"
"Thank you, but I'll pass."
When Echinacea cut him off firmly, Ian's expression turned strange. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then lowered his voice slightly.
"Normally, freshmen—especially top-scoring ones like you—are fiercely competed over by the clubs. But this year, that competition is going to be even more intense. As the student representative, I'm worried it might escalate into serious conflict."
Wouldn't the competition be less fierce since the top-scoring freshman is some weird girl flouncing around in a dress? Before Echinacea could voice her confusion, Ian continued.
"There's a reason for it. That's actually why I sought you out on purpose."
"What reason could that possibly be?"
"Anyway, are you really not going to join any club? If you join even one, the others won't bother you. But if you don't join any, every club might come after you."
She thought it over briefly, but her conclusion remained the same. She had no intention of participating in group activities. Her voice was firm.
"I won't be joining any."
"...Alright. If that's your decision, then so be it. If the club recruitment competition gets out of hand, come find me anytime. As the representative, I'll mediate for you."