Swordmaster Becomes a Failed Student @Second-rate Star
1. The Eunuch Knight, Reincarnates!
King Philip III of the Knight Kingdom Zenas was truly an extraordinary man.
His mind was sharp, mastering scholarship from a young age, and his constitution was excellent, showing considerable talent in swordsmanship as well.
His character was also admirable, and he never neglected his efforts. Before long, he grew into a fine king and accumulated dazzling achievements.
He raised powerful knights and rectified the shaky finances. Thanks to his excellent domestic governance and superb diplomacy, he was loved by both nobles and commoners alike.
When he led the Golden Lion Knights to conquer the Demon King's Castle, his fame reached its zenith. The people of the continent called Philip III the knight among knights, the "Knight King," and praised him.
"Sir Fromhart...."
The knees of such a great king touched the floor.
It was simply to get a closer look at the one lying on the sickbed, but even this was an unthinkable situation.
No matter how ill a person might be, who could possibly make Philip III lower his posture?
Even if it were one of only two dukes in the kingdom, it would be impossible. If not the king himself, the surrounding knights would have been the first to speak of lese majeste.
But not now.
Neither the Crown Prince, nor the Queen, nor the guard knights.
Nor did any of the other figures who could be called the pillars of the Zenas Kingdom blame the sick man's rudeness.
This was because he was Philip III's foremost loyal subject, Sir Ryan Fromhart.
"Sir Fromhart... please, get up. You must spring to your feet and share a drink with me...."
The Knight King's voice was thick with emotion.
It couldn't be helped.
Though he was a knight of eunuch origin in charge of guarding the Queen and Princess, Ryan Fromhart was a greater presence to Philip III than anyone else.
It was he who gave him insight into the sword.
It was he who crushed the loathsome demons alongside him.
It was he who saved his life from the Demon King.
If Ryan Fromhart had not blocked the Demon King's whip, it would undoubtedly have been Philip III lying here, wandering the border between life and death.
'I had intended to bestow upon him the position of commander of the newly created Black Leopard Knights....'
Originally, a eunuch knight of humble origin could not serve as a knight commander.
This held true even if Ryan Fromhart was a Swordmaster. His skills and achievements were so tremendous that no one in the kingdom could match them, but even so, such a decision would clearly invite much opposition.
But it didn't matter. Knight King Philip III intended to push through his decision unconditionally and promise Ryan Fromhart a position second only to himself, above all others.
Of course, by now, it was all utterly useless.
The physician, not daring to even meet his eyes, spoke in a small voice.
"Your Majesty...."
"...."
"It seems... you must prepare yourself."
"Huu... truly the heavens are heartless. Why have you taken from me the brightest star so soon!"
A single tear fell from Philip III's tightly closed eyes.
Yet despite his sorrow, the time of parting was fast approaching.
Those present held their breath even more, and the Knight King, having barely composed his emotions, looked at the sickbed and spoke.
"Sir Fromhart. I apologize. In my foolishness, I send you away."
"...."
"However... I will fulfill your final words by any means necessary. If there is something you have held in your heart, please speak freely."
"It's alright...."
"No. I do not say this lightly. I say this upon my name, my honor, and my sword."
At Philip III's words, everyone including the Crown Prince and the two dukes was surprised.
This was the first time the Knight King had staked his sword. The king, cautious by nature, never spoke lightly, and thus his words now carried even greater weight.
People swallowed hard, waiting for Swordmaster Ryan Fromhart's final words.
Would he seek a posthumous dukedom?
Would he wish for a grand tomb to be built? Or perhaps, would he want his achievements to be immortalized through bards?
Though it couldn't compare to enjoying life, if he received such sincerity from the Knight King, surely Ryan Fromhart would close his eyes in peace.
...Or so everyone thought.
Words flowed from the lips of the knight lying on the sickbed.
"...ss."
"What did you say?"
"...ss."
"I can't hear you clearly, Sir Fromhart. Please speak a little louder...."
"Sex."
"...."
The atmosphere in the room changed instantly.
Everyone including the king was bewildered. Surprised gazes rained down upon Ryan Fromhart's gaunt face.
Perhaps they had misheard?
"I want to have sex. Sex, sex...."
"...."
As if to confirm they hadn't misheard, Ryan Fromhart continued repeating the same word.
Sex, sex, sex, sex. The shameful and awkward word flowed endlessly.
"...."
It was an impossible occurrence.
No one had ever behaved this way before Philip III. Naturally. Anyone so rude could not have an audience with the king in the first place, and even if such a person existed, they would surely hold their tongue for fear of their own life, their family's safety, and the damage to their honor.
But Ryan Fromhart didn't give a damn.
Fuck, he didn't give a damn at all.
His life hung by a thread, and he had no heirs. It was only natural, having no dick.
The only thing that weighed on his mind was the reputation he had built over the years, but even that was laughable to Ryan Fromhart now. It was infinitely light compared to the resentment he had harbored throughout his life.
"I want to do it, I want to. Heuk, I want to...."
"...."
The room fell solemn.
The situation was certainly beyond common sense. It would not have been strange at all for a guard knight to draw his sword on behalf of the king who should have felt insulted.
But the deep resentment of the eunuch knight who had lived his entire life castrated, that overwhelming sadness, pressed down on everyone. Even the king looked down at the sickbed with pity rather than anger.
He hated that even more. Ryan Fromhart closed his eyes tightly, avoiding the sympathetic gazes of the hypocrites.
His last words flowed from his lips.
"I wanted to do it... just once...."
"...."
"...."
"...It was fate."
"...."
Philip III could not rise from his place for a long while.
With a lonely expression, he merely fiddled with the hand of Ryan Fromhart, who had already passed away.
It was only after a full five minutes of heavy silence that he finally spoke.
"...I would like everyone to keep today's events a secret."
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
"I will hold the funeral of the great Swordmaster, Sir Ryan Fromhart. Announce it throughout the kingdom—there shall be no feasts for three days, and no one shall show laughter."
Who would disobey such a command?
The funeral proceeded quickly.
At the news of the death of Ryan Fromhart, the finest knight after the Knight King of Zenas, wails echoed throughout the kingdom. Countless people across the continent mourned the falling of a great star.
But not even one in ten, no, not even one in a hundred among them understood Ryan Fromhart's true sorrow.
It couldn't be helped.
Who could have imagined that he, usually taciturn and expressionless, harbored such pain?
"Huu."
The same was true for Knight King Philip III.
Recalling Ryan Fromhart's final words, he gazed at his wine cup and muttered.
"To think he held such deep resentment...."
It was so tragic.
That he couldn't understand such feelings, that in the end he couldn't grant his wish. The king, heaving a deep sigh, downed his drink and thought.
'May he be born in the next life with a sturdy and healthy member....'
Several days later, Ryan Fromhart's funeral ended.
Even after the funeral, people honored him for a long time. The loyalty shown by the eunuch knight was turned into song by countless bards, and all people of the continent remembered him for a long time.
And as time passed, exactly ten years after Swordmaster Ryan Fromhart's death.
A miracle occurred.
***
"Heuek!"
Fifteen-year-old boy Lumian sprang up from his bed.
His head was dizzy. Frowning, the boy reached out and picked up the cup beside his bed. He thought drinking water might help clear his mind a bit.
But the contents of the cup were not water. Looking down at the dark-colored liquid, Lumian let out an "Ah."
'This was poison.'
There was no doubt. After all, he himself had obtained this poison.
'I bought it for a high price, thinking I could die peacefully in my sleep. Yes, that's definitely what happened.'
The reason was nothing special. The new semester at the Knight Academy that would soon begin. He was simply too terrified of it.
As the son of a rural lord, he had little talent for swordsmanship. His physique was decent, but he lacked persistence and ferocity. Timid and introverted, he was no different from a punching bag for the academy students.
Having his money stolen, being humiliated during class, being beaten up every single day.
And unable to say a single word in response—that was exactly who Lumian was.
'Because of my parents' expectations, I couldn't even leave the academy, and I couldn't properly resist those guys either. My grades hit rock bottom, and the sounds of mockery grew louder by the day....'
Lumian's spirit was too fragile to endure such a life.
In the end, the boy chose suicide. He thought death would take him to a world without any pain or burden.
"How foolish."
Lumian chuckled to himself.
His atmosphere was distinctly different from yesterday. Despite looking exactly the same on the outside, he somehow carried more weight. And even greater ecstasy showed through.
The boy stepped out from under the blankets. Standing upright, he looked down into his own pants and spoke.
"....!"
He didn't know how he had come back to life after dying.
But that wasn't what mattered. Something far more important was right there in his pants.
Ryan Fromhart raised his head and looked up at the ceiling of the room.
A single tear streamed from his eye.
"It's there, it's there...!"