Rival (4)
Rival (4)
The Masked Woman had vanished before my eyes that day, but she was undeniably somewhere in this world. Even after that, every time I tried to turn back time, I couldn't return to before that moment.
And that restriction still applied now.
I could have tried experimenting again, but the risk was too great.
If I suddenly collapsed in the middle of training, or worse, if I was found already collapsed "before I knew it" without anyone even seeing the process, wouldn't that look far too suspicious?
I'd thought that testing whether I could turn back time or not should be done after training was over, at least—
"You seem especially worn out today."
It had only been a few days since the Sword Saint had met me, but he clearly sensed that my condition was different from yesterday. No, since he was the Sword Saint, it would have been stranger if he hadn't noticed.
On top of that, I hadn't slept properly because I'd been worrying and plagued by nightmares the night before. I'd thought I felt wide awake in the morning, but the body doesn't lie. I was definitely more tired than yesterday.
Even being at this level was only because I'd grown accustomed to the training ground while turning back time yesterday.
"Hm."
But that didn't mean I'd been halfhearted.
I gave it my all, in my own way.
That attitude seemed to please the Sword Saint instead, judging by his satisfied expression.
But that expression didn't last long.
It was when we were all gathered at the training ground eating after morning practice.
The training ground door burst open. If it had been someone's bedroom door rather than the training ground door, the person who opened it and walked in would have deserved being called rude without anyone thinking it odd.
And the person standing beyond the open door was Jaden.
...... Jaden?
His usual immaculate two-to-eight part...... was not immaculate.
A few strands of hair had slipped from the part as if he'd been running urgently. His shoulders heaved up and down, showing plainly that he'd just sprinted here, and his face was slightly flushed.
Jaden met our eyes, then used his hand to sweep the stray strands back into the part and straightened his clothes.
Then he squared his shoulders and walked toward us.
Watching his ragged breathing gradually slow and calm during the walk, I thought to myself that a knight commander was indeed a knight commander.
"What is it?"
The Sword Saint stood tall even before an imperial prince. Then again, I could easily picture him maintaining the same attitude in front of the emperor.
"Captain of the Imperial Gryphon Knights of the Fangriffon Empire, Jaden."
"Did I not already hear that yesterday?"
"Yes, but considering what I intend to say now, I thought it best to reintroduce myself once more."
The Sword Saint openly sighed. Then he shot me a glance.
Well.
I was the one who told him to come, but the Sword Saint was the one who let himself get drawn in and followed. Either way, it wasn't my fault.
...... No, wait.
I couldn't turn back time then.
So how was I supposed to act when Lucas showed up? If that sword cut me as things stood, wouldn't I simply die?
Was the Masked Woman sneering at me yesterday imagining me getting slashed by Lucas's sword and dying?
This time it wasn't goosebumps but a chill. For a single moment, a bone-deep cold swept through my body and passed.
At least it didn't show on my face, which was a relief. Though Alice seemed to have noticed.
"I was under the impression that you had matters to resolve there?"
That was right. Jaden was a knight commander, and his personality was rigid to the core. That was also why he frequently clashed with Lucas.
So there was no way Jaden would have ignored the emperor's orders and returned—
"I borrowed air power and resolved it."
"......."
At those words, all of us lost the ability to speak.
"Jaden."
I called Jaden's name.
But Jaden flinched, glanced at me once, and then averted his gaze.
The gesture looked as if he was refusing to answer me.
No, what's your problem now?
I forcibly swallowed the urge to drag a hand down my face and looked toward Alice. But she, in her own way, averted her eyes from me as if she were sulking.
Can't you just do whatever you want?
That was what her expression said.
......I could guess.
Alice had been so furious about me calling Jaden "Elder Brother" that she'd driven all night in a car and tracked down the Sword Saint's cabin. And seeing how she'd persistently pursued me even though I hadn't told Jaden that I was going to find the Sword Saint, her current attitude was obviously connected to that "Elder Brother" business.
Jaden refusing to meet my eyes was probably a signal that he wouldn't answer unless I used that term "Elder Brother."
I wrapped my hands over my head...... but didn't clutch it. I did clench both fists tightly, using every ounce of strength to hold back.
That Masked Woman. When I met her, I wouldn't let her get away with this.
The future me probably wouldn't kill her, but I had to land at least one solid hit. I meant it.
"...... That battlefield, as I understand it, was one where sending any forces other than infantry was prohibited due to the Autonomous State's request."
"......."
But Jaden, with truly childish obstinacy, didn't answer me at all.
I looked at Alice once more.
Alice apparently had no intention of helping me.
Seeing the three of us—me, Alice, and Jaden—Leo had frozen rigidly again, and Claire, who hadn't been able to see the full situation, was flustered. And the Sword Saint—
—was grinning broadly.
No—if you started the conversation first, then take the lead and finish it!
"......."
In the end, caught between a rock and a hard place, I drew a deep breath.
Fine, whatever.
There was nowhere left to retreat anyway.
Because of the incident where Alice showed up, the fact that I'd used the word "Elder Brother" for Jaden had already been completely exposed in front of Leo, and I'd even called Alice "older sister" right in front of him.
Ah.
Thinking that far actually made my mind feel at ease.
Maybe I should say that once I'd pushed past the critical point of fury, my mind grew tranquil instead.
Maybe I should say that I'd finally accepted that the cause for everything lay with me.
Was this what enlightenment felt like?
...... Though it felt closer to post-rage clarity than enlightenment, anyway.
"...... Sis."
I looked at Alice and said it.
I heard Claire gasp.
"Would you ask Elder Brother on my behalf how he resolved the situation?"
"Ah......."
Alice's expression looked more flustered than pleased.
And the same went for Jaden.
"Ah, uh, um...... sure."
Alice nodded and turned toward Jaden.
"How in the world did you handle the situation that fast? You couldn't have brought armored equipment or air force assets across the border."
Seeing Alice ask in a curt voice as if it were his fault, a furrow formed between Jaden's brows.
"Is it not simply a matter of 'not going in ourselves'?"
And Jaden, in his own way, dropped a bombshell.
"The machine-gun range on a fighter wouldn't reach across the border, would it?"
"Did I say I used fighters?"
Their ability to discuss dead-serious matters while sounding like a bitterly quarrelsome pair of siblings was a talent, if it could be called one.
"I used a Monitor Warship."
Ah.
Only after hearing that did I think I understood what he meant.
I'd known that air power was being stationed at Winterfield. In the original work, it was one stage of the war preparations.
Because building dozens of expensive Aerial Battleships was difficult, the alternative was to take cheaper supply ships and mount exactly one battleship-class naval gun on each. Without any consideration for defense whatsoever.
Supply ships weren't wrapped in cutting-edge technology the way battleships were. Their bulk was also far smaller compared to battleship-class vessels. Even converting a Dreadnought's twin-mounted main gun into a single-gun mount and installing just one was burdensome for them.
But that made them cheap. And the range was long.
...... Right, so that was the reason he'd used supply ships instead of a train. For urgently transporting shells. He'd drawn up a plan to reduce the enemy position outside the border to scorched earth within a single morning.
"And this morning I rode behind a fighter and flew here. The Monitor Warship is far too slow, after all."
"......."
By pressing a hand to her forehead, Alice performed the action I'd wanted to do on my behalf.
"What in the world is Father thinking......."
"He likely wishes to proclaim to the entire world that the Empire is supreme."
"......."
Seeing Jaden state that with perfect composure as if it were only obvious, we lost the words to respond.
"...... Having witnessed that spectacle with your own eyes, you still wish to learn the sword from me?"
"Of course!"
Jaden squared his shoulders as he answered the Sword Saint's question.
"No matter how much weaponry develops, in the end seizing and holding ground is the duty of infantry! The duty of the knight orders! Naturally, should we not raise individual capability as high as it can be raised?"
"Huh......."
Watching the Sword Saint express admiration, I used every ounce of strength to suppress the sigh that was rising.