Chapter 20
The Flower That Bears a Sword - Chapter 20
Translation: godsn
When asked what had become of the Giosas present after Agenka's massacre, the information broker rattled off some useless details before adding an unnecessary remark.
"Yurien? The worst Captain in history. Because that bastard sympathized with a fucking demon, the entire order was wiped out. They kept praising him as the youngest Master, the youngest Captain, until his head swelled so big he started acting however he pleased. And that's why they all died. That fucking bastard, absolute piece of shit. Should've torn him to pieces from the start."
He wasn't wrong. Because of her, Yurien had gone down in history as the worst knight captain—the man who destroyed the Azure Sky Knights.
Yet she couldn't help but burn with rage upon hearing those words. She wanted to kill the old man before her who dared call Yurien a "fucking bastard." Her fury blazed so white-hot it felt like her temples were on fire.
By the time she blinked, the magic sword had already sprung from her hand and sent the old broker's head flying. Black mana, serpentine, slithered from the blade and hacked his corpse to pieces. Stunned, she stared at the sea of blood before fleeing from the guards who came running at the commotion.
It was only afterward that Valdergiosa explained the magic sword's power to her. She realized that whenever her guard was down, when she lost reason, or when murderous intent arose, the sword's bloodlust could seize control of her. Even after learning this, she made the same mistake several times. Through this painful process, she was forced to cultivate self-restraint—to keep one corner of her mind icy calm no matter how furious she became.
Bitterly, she muttered to herself:
"I never want to be stained like that again."
Her efforts weren't in vain. By the time she'd gathered all the Giosas, she hadn't made a single mistake. Now she could control it almost perfectly. Still, she wanted to rid herself of this damned magic sword.
[Well, if you can keep that up forever, you'd be a saint. How can a human maintain reason at all times?]
"Then I'll discard you before that happens."
[Come on, why not use me like my previous owner did? A little taste of blood now and then would be good for venting—and for me too. If killing just anyone bothers you, pick only the bad ones. There's no shortage of people who deserve to die. Ah, what about that Ian Pelletro? He's scum!]
"Shut up."
[Tch.]
Eki resumed her halted steps. From deep within her soul, the magic sword whispered again:
[Do you know how long it's been since you last killed someone?]
"......"
[The bloodlust keeps piling up, with no outlet. I'm giving you serious advice here. Find someone who deserves to die and kill them. Ian, Bread—plenty of suitable candidates, no?]
"I told you to shut up. The decision is mine."
Only when she gritted her teeth did the sword finally fall silent. Eki shook off her troubled mood with a splash of cold water to the face and headed to her room.
Inside, Alice sat at the desk, writing something. She gave a curt nod as Eki entered. Though she disliked Eki, she never failed to greet her properly.
"Miss Roaz, you have telegrams."
Alice handed over two envelopes, her tone begrudging.
"Thank you, Miss Winterbell."
"......"
Alice swiftly turned her head away. Paying no mind, Eki took the envelopes and sat down. As she searched for a paper knife with one hand, she checked the senders.
'One's from home, as expected.'
She set aside the thicker first envelope. The cost of mana telegrams skyrocketed with length—for her parents to send something this bulky, they must've been extremely worried. Of course, they'd be furious too, and utterly baffled. Eki let out a faint sigh.
The second envelope was thin. It was from Nicole. Eki tore it open first.
—Tracking in progress. Cannot confirm with certainty, but the tail of the white lion has been spotted.
Just a single short line. The color drained from Eki's face as she read it. The white lion was the crest used by the Kyrie Imperial Family—the imperial family of the empire to which the Roaz Count family belonged, and to which Yurien belonged.
'The imperial family has ties to the Magic Sword that was in Roaz's possession?'
Eki stared blankly at the paper. Her already tangled thoughts began to ache even more. She crumpled the paper in her hand.
Act 3. The Seen and the Unseen
Time flew by in an instant, and the Freshman Ranking Tournament was now just two days away.
The day after driving Bread away, Ian had heard the story from Baraha and came to apologize to Eki about the incident involving Bread.
"I'm sorry, I had no idea he was that kind of person. I only assigned him because he happened to have free time. Don't worry—you won't face any repercussions because of him. Really, I'm sorry."
He spoke in a voice that sounded genuinely remorseful. Since then, neither Bread nor his club had been seen. She had expected them to swarm her in a group and pick a fight, but it seemed Ian had said something to them.
If Eki hadn't had memories of the past, she might have thought Bread was just a weirdo and that Ian Pelletro was fine. She had seen plenty of people with hidden motives, but he was especially twisted. She couldn't help but suspect he was up to something.
Contrary to Ian's warning, the competition for club recruitment wasn't particularly fierce. Many cadets had questioned how she had been selected as a squire. Suspicious glances still followed Echinacea. Unfavorable rumors seemed to persist. Until she could prove her worth in the Freshman Ranking Tournament, there was nothing she could do about it.
It wasn't exactly a pleasant situation, but it wasn't unbearable either. After all, she had far more pressing concerns than mere academy gossip.
Of course, there were quite a few cadets who didn't believe those rumors. Baraha was a prime example. He had laughed like mad when he heard them.
"Anyone who knows the Captain would never believe some pretty little thing could sweet-talk their way into favor. Now, keep running your hand down like that and check carefully. You need to look for any swelling or areas that feel hotter than the rest."
"Yes, Senior."
Eki was learning how to care for horses from him. Since servants didn't follow knights onto the battlefield, tending to a knight's horse in the barracks was part of a squire's duties. With her gloved hand, she carefully ran her fingers down the horse's leg.
"Next, lift the hoof with one hand... That's it. Now, use the hoof pick to clear out any pebbles stuck in the hoof. Work gently from the heel toward the toe."
"Understood."
As Eki tended to the hoof, the horse merely snorted, shook its head once, and stood quietly. Baraha patted the horse's muzzle approvingly. The large, marble-smooth horse was mostly white, but its coat had a strange golden sheen. It was Yurien's beloved steed, named Sylphid.
"Since squires mainly take care of their lord's horse, it's better to practice with that one from the start. Horses have pretty distinct personalities, after all. Sylphid here is well-behaved, so she's easy to care for."
"Did you also take care of Sylphid, Senior?"
"Before becoming the Vice-Captain's squire, I once served as the Captain's temporary squire. Oh, use the stiff brush for this one. She likes a firm grooming. Start from the neck and brush downward."
Eki carefully brushed Sylphid's mane. Baraha's gaze, which had been observing her, drifted to the hem of her dress. The Blue Sky stables were exceptionally clean, but there were still limits to any place where animals resided. Even though Eki had deliberately worn an outing dress that reached mid-calf, the hem was inevitably soiled with straw and dust.
"Your dress got dirty."
At his words, Eki glanced down briefly before continuing to brush without concern.
"It's fine, this much is nothing."
Baraha rubbed his chin with an intrigued expression.
"You know, the more I look at you, the more you seem different from what your appearance suggests."
"Me?"
"You look like someone who wouldn't set foot in a place like a stable, yet you don't seem to mind. Not that I think your fondness for dresses is a lie, though. It's interesting."
Well, both sides were her. She was the kind of person who wouldn't hesitate to roll in filth if necessary, yet she also loved pretty things and adornments. It was true that her personality didn't quite match her outward appearance.
Baraha was built like a bear but surprisingly quick-witted. He was the type to speak his mind openly and straightforwardly, making his company quite comfortable—though occasionally, his sharp questions could be troublesome.
Eki laughed and steered the conversation away.
"Baraha, senior, can I just brush the mane like this?"
"No, you have to untangle the knots with your fingers first. Otherwise, it'll break. Here, let me show you."
Baraha stepped behind her. He was well aware of the intimidation his size could bring, so he was careful with his movements around women or children weaker than himself. Even men of considerable stature often startled when he moved abruptly—only knights, who were adept at sensing presence, remained unfazed.
But Eki had never once shown a hint of surprise from the very beginning. That was why Baraha continued to move freely around her. Even now, with his large frame pressing close behind her, she showed no fear.
As he drew near, a pleasant fragrance wafted from her—a floral scent, like the mingling of perfume and cosmetics often found on noble ladies. The nape of her neck, visible through her soft pink hair, looked slender enough to fit in his grasp. By all appearances, she was a delicate flower, yet she showed no tension even with a beast like him standing right behind her. She was the very picture of ladylike grace at the academy, yet she seemed the type who wouldn't bat an eye even if a sea of blood unfolded before her.
Interesting indeed.
Baraha chuckled and reached over her shoulder, gathering Sylphid's mane in his fingertips. He moved his fingers deliberately so she could see clearly.
"Like this—loosen the tangles first, then brush."
"I see. May I try?"
"Sure, give it a go. Yeah, like that. Oh, and you're supposed to do the mane before the body—"
A clattering sound came from the entrance. Eki and Baraha, both holding strands of Sylphid's mane, turned their heads simultaneously. There stood a man impossible to miss at a glance. Yurien, dressed in simple attire, stepped into the stable.
Baraha, who had been standing almost protectively around Eki, could feel her senses sharpen with tension. She acts like nothing frightens her, but is the Captain an exception? There's no reason to be afraid of him, though. He found it unexpected.
Meanwhile, Yurien approached them at a pace neither slow nor hurried. His gaze settled on Baraha, who saluted in the Blue Sky fashion.