Chapter 19
The Flower That Bears a Sword - Chapter 19
Translation: godsn
Eki's expression faltered. The squire of Vice-Captain Baron? The moment she heard those words, only one thought came to mind: "I'm screwed." No wonder Bread had been acting like a dog with its tail between its legs the moment he saw Baraha.
"You're a squire?"
"Yeah. For two years now. If I say I'll train you, even the Cadet Representative won't object. You won't have to deal with trash like him anymore, and his club won't dare spout nonsense either."
As much as she'd rather face a pack of idiots and their club's empty threats, it would be far more comfortable than being trained by the squire of the Giosa Owner whose head she'd once chopped off. Eki hastily shook her head.
"I'm fine, senior. You don't need to go that far for me."
"I'm doing this for myself. If you become an official squire, we'll be working together often. My lord is the Vice-Captain, and you're the Captain's squire, right?"
"...Ah."
She'd been so distracted by Yurien that she'd completely forgotten. Becoming Yurien's squire meant she'd frequently encounter other Giosa Owners. Any one of them might remember the erased past. Suddenly, the future seemed impossibly dark.
Baraha shrugged his shoulders.
"Seeing how the Cadet Representative brought that idiot here as his proxy, I'll probably have headaches working with you if things stay like this. Might as well train you properly in advance."
"Th-thank you..."
She didn't want to get involved with him, Baron's squire. Yet she couldn't refuse. She had no grounds to, either. Even if she avoided him, she'd still have to keep encountering other Giosa Owners after becoming a squire.
'I'll need to order more hats and gloves. And buy more cosmetics.'
She'd have to dress even more extravagantly. Enough to make herself completely unrecognizable. These gloomy thoughts occupied her as Baraha counted something on his fingers before nodding decisively. Turning away, he said:
"Follow me for now. I have something to give you."
"Ah, yes."
He began walking away from the training grounds. Eki followed behind him. From this angle, his back looked incredibly broad. Though still in his cadet uniform, he wasn't wearing the jacket, allowing the well-defined muscles beneath his tight shirt to show clearly.
With such a noticeable physique and being Baron's squire to boot, why didn't she remember killing him? He wasn't among Agenka's victims in her memories. As she walked behind him, she kept racking her brain. Then something suddenly occurred to her.
"Did the Vice-Captain visit the cemetery again today?"
"Obviously. After losing his squire like that... Seems like he remembers whenever there's thunder and rain like this."
"Has it really been three years since that monster subjugation? Feels like yesterday."
"The damage was just that severe."
The conversation between the guards beyond the prison gates. She couldn't recall it exactly, but it went something like that. Because similar exchanges happened nearly every time there was thunder and pouring rain, not just once, it had stuck in her memory.
Eki's face paled as she raised her head. That man hadn't existed when she massacred Agenka. Because he'd already died in an accident before then. And if three years before her imprisonment meant this very year...
Baraha Islaf would die during this year's monster subjugation. And the Vice-Captain who had stood against her until the end to save Agenka's citizens would, whenever lightning struck, find himself visiting the grave of his dead squire.
Eki was walking absentmindedly when she nearly collided with Baraha's back as he suddenly stopped. The place where he halted was in front of the male dormitory.
"Wait here for a moment."
After turning to look at her and speaking, Baraha disappeared inside the dormitory. Eki stood motionless in that spot. Her gaze landed on the ivy creeping up the dormitory's red brick walls, but she wasn't truly seeing it. Students coming and going from the dormitory glanced at her in her dress and whispered among themselves, but none of it reached her ears.
Echinacea was thinking.
She had turned back time to be happy. She wanted all those who had died by her hand to live again. Honestly, she hadn't considered anything beyond that. It meant she had never deeply pondered the implications of reversing time.
'It's practically the same as knowing the future. And if I know, then I can change it.'
She had returned to alter the past. By coming back, half of her desired goal had already been achieved. That was why she hadn't thought about what she could do with her knowledge of the future.
Eki knew about the major events that would unfold. Though she had been too busy being consumed by the Magic Sword and later gathering Giosas to remember the finer details, there were undoubtedly significant incidents that even reached her ears. And she had the power to change them.
'Maybe I'll change what I can.'
Not that she intended to meddle in everything. Only within the reach of her own hands. Because she didn't want to see those around her suffer. Carefully, without drawing attention, without being noticed.
For example, saving Baraha Islaf, who was soon to die.
'This could also test whether the Giosa Owners have their memories.'
If the erased timelines were remembered, those who had been Giosa Owners would know far better than her. That Squire Baraha would die in the upcoming Monster Subjugation. Then, naturally, they would try to save him. By observing that, she could figure out who still retained their memories. If no one prevented his death, then she would.
'There's no reason to leave him to die when I can stop it. Right, I'll save him.'
Eki closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again. Her violet pupils gleamed with a sharp light.
"Did you wait long?"
Baraha, who had emerged from the dormitory in the meantime, approached her. He was holding a book in one hand. In his large grasp, an ordinary-sized book looked like a small pamphlet. He held it out to her.
"Read this for today. Consider it homework."
Eki took the book. Upon closer inspection, it was less of a proper book and more like a bound collection of notes and memos. The worn leather cover read Squire's Manual.
"It's a book containing the experiences of past seniors. No need to return it. Keep it until you have a junior squire of your own, then pass it on to them."
"Thank you."
"Well then, I need to go see my Lord. Read that, and meet me at the same training ground tomorrow morning."
"Um, Senior."
"Hm?"
"...The Azure Sky Knights' Monster Subjugation happens every spring, right? Would I be able to go as a squire then?"
"This time might be difficult. It's on May 10th, before your probationary period ends. They wouldn't take a freshman still in training, unless you were an official squire."
"Is there really no way for me to participate?"
Eki asked with slight urgency. Baraha studied her silently for a moment before grinning.
"Eager for real combat experience?"
"Ah, yes."
"More proactive than I expected."
"It's only natural for someone who wields a sword."
"You're not actually obsessed with swords, are you?"
Baraha asked nonchalantly. Eki froze. Was it that obvious? She didn't particularly like swords. Given what she'd been through, that was only natural. She simply never let go of her sword because she was good at wielding it—because it was useful.
"Does it show that much?"
"Well, suit yourself. If you want to participate, make sure to place within the top three in the upcoming Freshman Ranking Tournament. Even as a first-year, the top three are taken along as temporary squires."
Originally, ranking tournaments were held without regard for academic year. But for newly enrolled freshmen, there was a special ranking match held right after admission. This was to reference their skill levels when assigning matchups in the next tournament. Admission scores were a composite of various factors, making them unreliable for practical assessment.
"Only the top three get to go?"
"The Blue Sky's monster subjugation isn't for show like in other countries. It's real combat. That level of skill is the bare minimum to avoid being a liability."
"I see..."
"Losing confidence already, top-scoring freshman?"
Baraha's question carried a hint of provocation. His yellow eyes gleamed with mischief as he observed her. Eki curled the corner of her lips into a smile.
"Not at all."
She grasped the hem of her dress, bending her knees slightly before straightening into a curtsy. Then, lifting her gaze to meet his, she replied:
"I look forward to working with you during the monster subjugation, Senior Baraha."
It was a composed declaration. Baraha's eyes sparkled with satisfaction.
"Good. A cadet nominated as a squire on her first day ought to be at that level. I'll be looking forward to the Freshman Ranking Tournament, Echinacea Roaz."
"Thank you."
"Do your homework well. I'll be inspecting it tomorrow."
With a laugh, Baraha took his leave. Eki turned on her heel, book still in hand. As she walked back to the dormitory, the demon sword chattered in her mind.
[Master, didn't you say you wouldn't aim too high? Now you're going for third place?]
"No. First."
[Huh?]
"Now that I've been made a squire anyway, there's no reason to avoid the Giosa Owners."
There was no longer any need to deliberately avoid the upper ranks to evade encounters with the Giosa Owners. In fact, given her unprecedented appointment as a squire, it would be better to overwhelm the other cadets with undeniable strength—silencing their doubts and complaints. Of course, she'd have to keep it within a plausibly reasonable level.
"I'll make sure no one ever dares whisper about 'nighttime favors' again."
As Eki smiled coldly, the demon sword asked, sounding puzzled.
[You're really pissed, huh? But why didn't you just kill him?]
"If I killed everyone who made me angry, I'd be a murderer."
[But that's exactly what you used to do. So you are a murderer.]
Eki abruptly halted. There was no one around—precisely why she'd bothered responding to the sword in the first place. Her warmth completely drained away as she stared down at her right palm with amethyst eyes.
"You don't have the right to say that, Val."
[Hey, I didn't control you! You were the one who embraced the bloodlust!]
"......"
Eki gritted her teeth. Before her regression, after awakening Valdergiosa's consciousness and during her time gathering the Giosa, she had—under the sword's influence—committed acts no different from those of a murderer. Even if it wasn't the hollow shell that had controlled her, those events had made her acutely aware that this was a demon sword specialized in slaughter.
When her rage toward someone peaked, the mana—composed of the bloodlust dwelling within the demon sword—would follow her killing intent and slaughter the target. Her body would move on its own, finding the most optimal path to kill. That was one of the sword's abilities. Every Giosa possessed unique traits.
She hadn't known the sword had such a function at first.
It was thanks to an informant from the back alleys that she first learned of Valdergiosa's power.