Chapter 18
The Flower That Bears a Sword - Chapter 18
Translation: godsn
"W-what? Everything I said was true! Oh, was I too honest for the lady's delicate ears?"
He sneered mockingly. Eki, watching his face, gripped the hem of her skirt and lifted it slightly. As her pale ankles wrapped in stockings were revealed, Bread's gaze instinctively drifted downward. Sensing his stare, she smiled faintly. Then, still smiling, she raised her foot and drove her stiletto heel straight into his shinbone.
"Gah!"
Caught off guard, Bread let out a pained groan as he clutched his shin. Of course, even if he hadn't been careless, there would have been no issue with Eki kicking him. She skillfully planted another kick against his hunched back, sending him tumbling beneath the bench.
"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Bread shouted angrily. Eki answered with perfect composure.
"I'm in a bad mood."
"What?"
"Your words left a foul taste in my mouth, senior. I lack patience, you see—when I'm upset, I can't hold back. Please understand."
"You crazy bi—"
Gnashing his teeth, Bread tried to stand but staggered. Though hidden by his trousers, his shin must have been in terrible shape after that stiletto strike. Smoothing out her slightly disheveled dress, Eki continued:
"Oh, I don't know why I was chosen as a Squire, but I do know why I ranked first in the second exam. You asked how I melted through everything, didn't you? It's difficult to explain with words... so I'll let you experience it firsthand."
"What the— Gah!"
She swung her sheathed longsword straight into Bread's solar plexus. Even braced for an attack, he failed to block it—the strike was simply too fast.
The satisfying impact of a direct hit made Eki smile. She began speaking in the soft, gentle voice he'd so wanted to hear:
"Like this."
Using the scabbard, she pushed against his shoulder—already slumped from the solar plexus strike—and as he staggered, kicked the inside of his ankle.
"Your openings... are too obvious."
Losing his balance completely, Bread crashed to the floor. Eki planted her foot firmly between his shoulder blades.
"Even a Junior Knight like you seems full of holes to me."
"Guh... You— You crazy bitch! You think you can get away with this just because you're pretty? Attacking your senior like this— Do you really think— Ugh!"
Thunk. Her longsword still in its scabbard grazed his ear before embedding itself into the floor with a sharp crack. Bread froze in terror, shutting his mouth instantly. Looking down at him, Eki said:
"Yes, I do think I'll be fine. I read the academy handbook thoroughly before enrolling. There are five cases where an Officer Cadet gets expelled—oh my, was it five? Anyway, this situation isn't among them. I didn't even draw my blade—this is just a minor scuffle between cadets. How unfortunate for you, senior."
Bread twitched violently, but he couldn't free himself from beneath her slender heel. Every time he tried to move, Eki adjusted her stance slightly, pressing down with her stiletto to precisely counter the direction his muscles tensed. It left him completely immobilized.
Bread was an Officer Cadet too—someone talented enough to be called a genius outside Agenka. Yet here he was, being toyed with so helplessly, all because of the sheer gap between him and Eki. Of course, pinned beneath a freshman's jewel-adorned dress shoe, his rage had long since burned away any chance of realizing that fact. His face twisted with pain and humiliation as he cursed through gritted teeth.
"You—you think you can just stand there? If—if you keep acting like this, your squire nomination could be revoked! I'll report everything to the Captain, just you wait!"
"Go ahead and report. I don't mind not becoming a squire. But then, should I also report why I got upset? Should I tell the Captain all the things you just said to me? Like how you mentioned 'night service' and all that?"
"Y-you—! Got any proof? There's no witness! But you attacking a senior first—that's undeniable evidence! You think I'll just let this slide?"
Bread was flailing in desperation. Just as Eki was about to mock him for being beaten by a junior, another voice cut in.
"I'll be your witness."
A black-haired man stepped into the 4th Training Ground as he spoke. His tanned skin and massive, muscle-packed frame made his lumbering gait seem as heavy as a lion or a panther's. His predator-like yellow eyes were half-lidded, as if drowsy.
Eki had sensed his presence near the training grounds from the start—which was precisely why she had acted so boldly. Any decent person would find it hard to side with Bread after hearing his remarks, and if he was the type to fear consequences, then good. Even better if rumors spread that she was someone not to be messed with.
Still keeping her foot planted on Bread's back, she turned her head toward the approaching man.
"Who are you?"
"Baraha Islaf, third year. You're Echinacea Roaz, right?"
"Yes, Senior Baraha."
The man sat on a bench and pulled out a sandwich stuffed with bacon. Chewing nonchalantly, he gestured lazily.
"Ah, go on with what you were doing. I heard everything that bastard was spouting."
"...Thank you."
"Damn it...!"
Bread had fallen silent the moment he saw Baraha. He buried his face, muttering curses under his breath. Eki watched him quietly before pulling her scabbard from the ground and asking:
"Senior Bread, just in case—have you had a sudden epiphany? Something like, 'Ah, I really messed up,' or 'I shouldn't have said those things'?"
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
"Figured as much. Then just get lost. And watch your mouth from now on."
Eki lifted her foot and stepped back. Bread scrambled to his feet, only to twist in pain with a groan. He glanced at Baraha briefly, his face contorted as if forcing down a flood of curses stuck in his throat.
"You—you'll regret this."
He spat the words out like they were being chewed between his teeth before limping out of the training grounds—surprisingly fast despite his hobbling. Baraha, who had been watching, tossed out a remark.
"You could've hit him more."
"I don't want to waste time on a hopeless case. A warning like this is enough."
"Didn't look like he took it as a warning."
"Then I'll just have to repeat the lesson. If he gets his shins stomped every time he runs his mouth, he'll learn to shut up—if only to avoid the pain."
Baraha snorted at that. He shoved the last of his sandwich into his mouth and crumpled the wrapper into his pocket.
"From what I overheard, you were in the middle of squire prep training?"
"Yes."
"Why the hell was that idiot in charge of it?"
"Is he famous?"
"In a way. There's a club for his kind. Bunch of morons who think the military academy is their private estate."
A frown creased Eki's brow. So there was an entire club of people like him? She'd thought knight cadets were all like Alice—decent and honorable.
"Ah, come to think of it. There are guys like Ian Pelletro too. Just because it's a military academy doesn't make it anything special."
Baraha smirked, baring his teeth as he spoke.
"That bastard's never even received a temporary nomination. I doubt you requested him—who assigned that fool to your squire preliminary training?"
"...The Cadet Representative. He was originally supposed to train me, but said he didn't have time today."
"Hmm."
He rested his chin on his hand as if pondering something, then swept his yellow eyes over Eki. His gaze was frank, moving between the cheap longsword she held and the abundant ruffles of her dress.
"Echinacea Roaz."
"Yes, Senior."
"Why do you go around wearing a dress?"
"Isn't the cadet uniform policy flexible?"
"Ah, I'm not criticizing—just curious."
It was a question she'd been hearing constantly. Eki answered breezily.
"It's my preference. I enjoy dressing up."
Baraha's lips quirked upward, as if the answer intrigued him. He gestured toward her shoes with his chin.
"Aren't those heels uncomfortable? Though they did seem useful earlier."
"I'm used to them, so they don't bother me. And leather shoes wouldn't match well under a dress, you know."
"...And the gloves? They're silk, not leather—wouldn't they be slippery for gripping a sword?"
"I don't like damaging my hands. Besides, silk gloves are prettier than leather ones, aren't they?"
Baraha's lips twitched. He was clearly holding back laughter.
"If you like pretty things, why carry around such an ugly, cheap sword?"
"Because maintaining it is bothersome. If the edge gets damaged, I'll just throw it away and buy a new one."
"Pfft."
He could no longer contain his laughter—not a mocking one, but genuinely amused. Eki stared at his chuckling form as if observing something strange. He was an odd man. Someone like Alice's reaction would've been more normal.
After composing himself somewhat, Baraha said with a grin,
"I thought so earlier, but the more I see, the more entertaining you are. I like you."
"...Thank you for thinking so kindly of me."
"Alright, I'll take over your squire preliminary training. Don't worry—I'll handle informing the Cadet Representative."
There was no reason to refuse when he was offering. She did need to learn proper squire conduct, after all. Though his tastes seemed peculiar, at least he wasn't the type to spout nonsense like Bread. This was a fortunate outcome. Eki bowed her head in acknowledgment.
"Thank you. I'll be in your care for today."
"Not just today."
"Pardon?"
"I'll be training you continuously. Until you officially become a squire."
Baraha rose from the bench. His thighs were thicker than Eki's waist. Standing before him, her slender frame seemed barely a handful. Though handsome, his tall stature and broad build created an overwhelming presence when he stood at full height looking down at her.
Yet Eki showed no signs of intimidation. Her eyes held neither fear nor even tension—a trait Baraha seemed to appreciate. Smirking, he performed the Agenka-style salute toward her.
"Ar Sebat-tiem."
Raising his elbow to shoulder height, he clasped his hands before his chest as if in prayer before releasing them, reciting the ancient phrase. It was the Blue Sky's greeting method, derived from the prayer posture of saints.
"Let me reintroduce myself. Baraha Islaf, third year, squire to Vice-Captain Baron Tilius, a Giosa Owner. Pleasure to work with you, junior squire."