Knight Rosen
A single tall beauty stood at Victor's side.
What might she be thinking now, as he faced his first battle?
Remembering everything since his reincarnation, Victor let out an involuntary sigh.
"Young master, is something the matter?"
The tall, stunning female soldier with golden hair fluttering in the sea breeze asked from her position beside him.
"Nah, it's nothing. Just reminiscing about the old days a bit."
"I see. We still have a ways to go before we reach the target beach entrance."
"Yeah, I'm starting to get a little tense."
"Rest assured, young master. I, Linda, will protect you without fail."
"I'm counting on you, Knight Rosen."
"Yes, sir. But young master... please call me Linda like you used to."
"I can't do that. Father bestowed the title of knight upon you. As his heir, it wouldn't do for me to treat it lightly—it'd set a bad example for the others."
"Young master... thank you for your consideration."
Then, lowering his voice a touch, Victor continued.
"That said... when no one's around, let me call you Linda. Truth is, I don't want to be all formal with you."
"...Yes, young master. Understood. That makes me happy."
Linda smiled brightly.
Seeing that beautiful smile jogged his memory, and Victor said,
"Right, come to think of it—this is your debut as Knight Rosen, isn't it?"
Linda Rosen—Knight Rosen for short—was a tall, slender beauty without peer.
Yet in the art of the longsword, her name rang out even in the capital as a master of renown.
She had inherited her father's mantle as a warrior who amassed countless feats, debuting at age fourteen and charging through battlefields ever since, her favored longsword in hand.
Nineteen years old, with lustrous long golden hair and sharp blue eyes, her figure voluptuously curved where it counted—yet she was a woman of unyielding fortitude, belying her stunning looks.
"Yes, that's right. To think it coincides with your own first battle—it's a great honor."
"And yet you're stuck guarding me this time, so no glory for you. What a shame."
"Not at all! Escorting the young master on his debut should fall to a knight of higher standing. For a novice like me, of low house rank, to do so only on the strength of our old ties... it's more than I deserve."
Linda's father, the warrior Langley, had trained Victor in martial arts since his childhood.
But five years ago, in a local skirmish, he'd held the rear to cover the total rout of an allied force, buying them precious time to withdraw—only to suffer near-fatal wounds that forced his retirement.
Pitying the loss of such valor, Victor's father had allowed his eldest daughter—already famed as a longsword prodigy at fourteen—to succeed him as head of the house. He'd also appointed her as Victor's new trainer, rewarding Langley's loyalty.
Her training was as rigorous as her father's,
but one key difference was her naice bod—those enticing curves bouncing provocatively during sessions, a trial too intense for a healthy boy in the throes of puberty. (Though Victor's knowledge and mindset hailed from a forty-something salaryman in his past life.)
Either way, the harder she pushed to hone the earl's heir, the more her allure stood out—and that sight alone spurred Victor to throw himself into training with gusto. (Though other "essences" leaked out now and then.)
Meanwhile, she'd shone on her debut, racking up feats to rival her father's.
Recently, to repay the devotion of father and daughter across two generations, Victor had petitioned his father to establish her as head of a new knightly house—and won approval.
Of course, it was mostly a pretext to show off for the beautiful Linda.
Initially, she'd firmly refused the knight house.
She wanted to remain a simple warrior, like her father.
Victor, eager to play the dashing lord for her, was stumped.
So he'd written Langley a letter.
To sum it up: Your family's service across two generations far exceeds mere warriors' duty. Please, for the sake of the earl and his heir, convince your daughter to accept.
Langley, the former warrior, had reportedly wept over the letter from his sickbed.
Only then did Linda finally take the name Knight Rosen—Linda Rosen.
"We both know your accomplishments well, my father and I. He chose you for this escort with that in mind—don't worry about house rank."
"I am deeply grateful, sir."
"By the way... how's your father doing?"
"Yes, he's improved a bit—he can stand now, though walking is still a struggle."
"Good to hear. I'll visit once this is over. Got some things to discuss about today, too."
"We'd be honored. Father was thrilled about your debut. You're no ordinary man, he said—you'll surely claim a grand victory."
"Heh, high praise from the warrior Langley himself."
"I share his view. You're no ordinary man, young master."
"Well, here's hoping you two aren't way off base."
Knight Rosen—Linda—let out a soft, amused chuckle.
What a woman. I'll make her mine for sure.
Wait—right, war's about to start.
Victor gazed out at the blue sea ahead. The battlefield was near.
Victor would claim a great victory,
bolstered by Knight Rosen's encouragement on his debut.
What fate awaited them?
Another page turns in the continent's history (lol)