Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Do You Know Why I'm Strong? Because I Deserted! (4)
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Somehow, I managed to bring Bayard back to the fortress.
But whether she could return to full combat readiness was still up in the air. Trauma aside, the biggest issue was that once battle started, she couldn't distinguish between friend and foe.
Bayard was even a vanguard leader among the Royal Knights. If that immense power suddenly turned against us, the worst-case scenario could be friendly fire.
As the current acting captain, I couldn't just hire her on the spot. On top of that, there were too many other issues—like Helia's training and Ruby's past.
"For now, let's focus on normalizing the Royal Knights."
Helia and Ruby wouldn't cause immediate problems if left alone. But Bayard's situation was different. To utilize her full strength, treatment was the only option.
Physical wounds were one thing, but mental ones didn't heal so easily. That's why I consulted the person I trusted most on this matter.
"Unfortunately, time is the only cure."
"...Yeah, I figured as much."
"Yes, that's how illnesses of the heart work."
"Right. It has to be that way."
I let out a sigh at Cluna's words. I'd hoped she might have some solution, but it seemed there was no quick fix. No, better to think positively now.
At least Bayard was back at Lionheart Fortress. For starters, we'd give her time to heal slowly. In time, her symptoms should improve.
That left training as the next priority. The current Royal Knights were little more than stragglers. To make up for it, we needed to build our strength now.
Especially for me—discovering a new way to use my ability had been a huge breakthrough. Stopping time for less than a second and releasing it skipped the cooldown entirely. It was a total game-changer.
Of course, it wasn't all-powerful. Since it was such a short window under one second, I couldn't attack with my current skill. Dodging enemy strikes was the best I could do.
And since it still stopped time, it drained my stamina in chunks. Even accounting for that, though, this was damn near cheat-level.
In fact, it let me somehow stand toe-to-toe with Bayard, who was several times stronger. Once my base skills improved, the applications would multiply.
"You've all gotten so weak."
"Huff... huff...!!"
"What kind of monster is this?!"
The inner courtyard of Lionheart Fortress had a sparring arena. And there, Cluna was currently taking on Clara and Ruby at the same time.
Even as the lowest ranks, they were still Royal Knights. For her to toy with them like kids' playthings... Cluna really was on another level.
As I marveled anew at her strength, I swung my sword as well. My sparring partner was Helia. Bayard's issue would have to sort itself out with time.
So, the next problem on deck was the one right in front of me. With Cluna's arrival, Lionheart Fortress was finally starting to function.
Ruby's past was too delicate to probe carelessly. By process of elimination, that left Helia's education. I'd glossed over it before out of necessity.
But now we had breathing room. It was time to properly train Helia. In the original story, her obsession with strength led her to betray even her comrades—an extreme character.
At first, I thought she was just a villain. But her illustration was gorgeous, and once you romanced her, she came on strong. That charm won me over.
"Helia, hold up for a second."
"Yes, Teacher."
The silver lining was that she listened to me extremely well. She ignored everyone else, which was the problem. Anyway, it was my job to teach her.
"Drawing your sword on your comrades before was wrong."
"I'm sorry, Teacher."
"Huh?"
"I've reflected a lot. I won't do it again, Teacher."
"R-Really? Alright then."
I ended up letting it slide. If she was reflecting on her own, what more could I say? Still, she needed proper guidance.
I'd have to discuss it more with Cluna later. For now, I focused on sparring with Helia. She'd kept up her sword training in the meantime.
Her sword aura was sharper than before. I could barely block it now, but give it time, and I wouldn't stand a chance.
Unless I used time stop, that is. I went all-in, incorporating time stop into the spar. The key was stopping as close to one second as possible—0.8 or 0.9 seconds.
Any later, and the cooldown kicked in, putting my life at risk in a real fight. The one saving grace was no need to manually stop it.
If my life was in danger, it activated automatically anyway. Meanwhile, Helia swung her blade with those crimson eyes gleaming. Watching her only made me more uneasy.
"As expected, Teacher's movements are incredible."
"What?"
"Thanks to you, I've gained enlightenment. Thank you."
"What are you even—"
"Captain? You need to come now. It's urgent."
I was about to correct her misunderstanding, but Cluna called me first. Her urgent tone snapped my head around. What now...?
"What's going on?"
"A delegation from the Dwarven Craftsman Nation just arrived."
"What? The Dwarven Craftsman Nation?"
Note that it's Craftsman Nation, not Principality. Most dwarves were master artisans proud of their craft, wearing the title "Nation of Artisans" like a badge of honor.
"Why would those folks show up here out of the blue?"
"Probably because of the recent territorial dispute."
"Territorial dispute? Oh...!"
Then it clicked. Better than their arch-enemies the elves, but beastkin and the Dwarven Craftsman Nation weren't exactly on good terms, with border skirmishes aplenty.
So why send a delegation now? Simple: Bayard the beastkin. Reason aside, she was a Royal Knight deserter.
They wanted custody for political leverage. Realizing that, I clicked my tongue inwardly.
A common enemy right at our doorstep, and they're bickering internally?
What a joke.
Well, if they'd handled things right, the original story wouldn't have gone to hell.
That day, she realized responsibility for the first time.
Seeing her teacher bow his head to others because of her—it twisted her guts with pain. Because of me, Teacher had to humble himself.
What should I do?
How can I fix this?
Ah, right.
I just need to be a good girl.
Her parents had once told her that. To conduct herself properly and upright. Otherwise, it shamed them. Now, she understood those words to her bones.
"Drawing your sword on your comrades before was wrong."
"I'm sorry, Teacher."
"Huh?"
"I've reflected a lot. I won't do it again, Teacher."
"R-Really? Alright then."
By showing she'd realized her mistake and repented—by apologizing to everyone, even if not entirely sincere. That's what she'd do.
She didn't want Teacher to hate her. Thankfully, he didn't reprimand her further. Ah, what a kind soul. That's why she had to surpass everyone.
That obsession soon turned to madness. Helia's eyes, filled with fixation, took in everything about her teacher. And she realized: he predicted movements and reacted.
She tested it several times. Mixing paints for unpredictable strikes, even aiming for blind spots. Yet every time, her attacks were blocked.
"As expected, Teacher's movements are incredible."
"What?"
"Thanks to you, I've gained enlightenment. Thank you."
Teacher didn't teach with flowery words—just short phrases and actions. Of course, that was her view. But her excessive obsession and admiration bred fanaticism.
Nothing reached her ears anymore, overflowing with blind trust in him. If she'd had ordinary talent, she might have let it slide.
But in swordsmanship, she yielded to no one—a prodigy destined to be called the Sword Empress, the greatest genius ever. And now, she'd grasped a new realm.
Predict the opponent's movements precisely.
Counter accordingly and take their life.
That was the second secret her teacher had taught her.
Thunder Dragon Swordsmanship: Second Strike, Thunder Dragon's Ultimate Guard
No one would lay a finger on Teacher.
Her delusion fused perfectly into the pinnacle of her sword aura.