Chapter 87
It was interesting.
"And it wasn't fun."
Xenos, who served as the referee for the duel, lost interest in the utterly deflating result.
Kallias hadn't even properly displayed his swordsmanship. Just basic swordsmanship. And only basic movement.
Thus, Xenos found it utterly uninteresting.
Honestly, he hadn't expected such a gap with the vice-captain either.
Moreover, the minimal movement.
It wasn't that he hadn't seen swords that subdue opponents with minimal force.
Even among the numerous monsters positioned above him, there were those who used such a sword.
One of the kingdom's Masters uses such a sword, but as a consistent impression, there's nothing to gain from him and he's a sly fellow.
'According to rumors, he uses the swordsmanship of Saint Stella. Was it a false rumor?'
Of course, it wasn't that there was nothing to see.
The leadership of insulting the squad members while simultaneously preaching the logic of strong and weak to make them follow him was quite impressive.
However, that was also something that anyone who was one of the Four Great Noble families and had experienced war should naturally do.
Among them, there was one quite surprising point.
"I agree that the cultivation method provided by the Order as a basic standard is trash. But if you've realized that, it's also a tradition to pioneer it yourself."
Not a single word was wrong.
"The Sixth Squad will grow stronger."
The Sixth Squad has no choice but to grow stronger. Since Kallias seems to desire that.
Knock knock.
-Come in.
Opening the door, there was Bishop Milliman with his hair and beard strangely cut.
"Bishop? What happened to your hair?"
"I cut it."
The long hair and long beard were cut in half. Both the long hair and beard were abruptly cut in half, making it quite comical.
Biting his lower lip tightly was a very natural thing, like flowing water.
"His Holiness the Pope scolded me. Still, since I had some attachment to it, I compromised by cutting only half."
"You look exactly half younger."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
However.
"What business do you have?"
"I came to report something."
And.
"His skills were better than expected."
"Yes."
"Then is there anything that could become a weakness?"
Weakness.
Xenos recalled the application documents.
For admission to the Royal Academy.
'Did you have a daughter?'
'Yes.'
At Milliman's question, Xenos blinked and answered.
"Exact-ly."
* * *
Early dawn.
Zerban's villa.
Looking at Kallias leaning against the wall holding his sword above the bedroom, Brans let out a sigh.
"Is it Brans?"
"Yes, that's right."
It had been quite a while since they were together, but Kallias always slept like that. Except when injured, he always sought sleep in a state where he couldn't even lie down properly.
Even when lying down, he never lets go of the sword from his hand.
He says that's the only way his mind is at ease.
Whenever Brans saw that sight, he ended up having many thoughts.
"It's noisy."
"Yes. I've ordered them to train as you instructed. It is noisy."
The scene where the sun peeked out.
An unseasonable smell of sweat was vibrating from Kallias's villa.
"Those bug-like bastards came seeking to grow stronger even after hearing such insults."
The Sixth Squad members were running near Kallias's villa.
'Not all of them came.'
The ones visible now were about fifteen or so.
Since the quota was thirty, only about a third had come to train.
"Not a bad start."
Kallias, who watched them from the window, simply washed with the water Brans brought and changed clothes.
"The mountain terrain is quite rough, so running mountain marches will naturally build stamina. But what's with those little ones."
At the end of the line were tiny figures—Rivan and Rini.
They were running, clinging to the end of the line.
"They say they want to get stronger. Will they get stronger doing that?"
"The beginning is what's important."
There are many who wield swords in the kingdom.
Do all of them not train because they don't want to grow stronger?
No. It's because they compromise.
This much should be enough. This much means I'm working hard. I need to eat proper meals. Just eat snacks. Rest a little.
Because these thoughts are stuffed in their heads, they can't grow stronger.
Because once you start compromising, there's no end to it.
"If you don't train to the point where you think you might die like this, people don't grow stronger. Right before death is the best."
If you can train, it's best to train with all your might until you die.
Because doing so also increases the efficiency of physical enhancement through divine power.
On battlefields or in combat, it's common to live or die by a moment's difference.
With a handful of divine power.
With a handful of stamina, the outcome changes dramatically—such is life, so if you don't want to die, you must train.
"The vice-captain is here too."
"Yes."
"What did he say?"
"He said he'd grow stronger and take revenge."
"It doesn't matter."
Because the more those bastards rush in willing to die, the more methods for experimentation will increase.
"A duel with a strong opponent is what I wished for. I hope they grow robustly."
"But will that be enough?"
"What do you mean?"
"They're just running."
"That's not for someone like you to worry about. If you have nothing to do, run too."
"Haha, no I'm fine."
"What do you mean no? Aren't you going to run? You're the most useless one here."
"Saying such ruthless things..."
"Run. If you don't want to die."
Brans ran off with a crying face.
Orphin, who watched him run out crying with strange eyes, bowed to Kallias.
"Orphin."
"Yes."
"Is the preparation going well?"
"Yes, I've submitted the Academy application under the Count's name."
The Count's name.
Getting admitted to the Academy shouldn't be a big problem.
"Then deliver this to Rivan and Rini."
"This is..."
"A list."
A list of people they should become close with.
Though there are sparse memories, there are definitely people whose connections must be reached in the Academy.
Some are Academy students, and some are their parents.
Anyway, if connections can be made through them, there's nothing bad about it.
Of course, the same goes for those who must be killed.
"But Orphin. Did you come as their babysitter?"
"No, I didn't."
"Then why did you come?"
"I... had my life saved."
Did she come to repay the grace?
Kallias sneered.
"The majority of the North owes me their lives at least once. You can repay that by doing things for the North. You don't need to come find me directly like this."
Allen and Aren.
And the knights who came out of the North and fought—it's not that they don't want to come find me.
Ultimately, because the North is the place I must return to, they protect that place.
"I want to serve by your side. The only one I wish to offer my sword to is you, Lord Kallias."
"Hmm."
Behind Orphin was Riofeng.
Originally, she was a female knight who would even play a part in killing Kallias.
Yet for her to say she wants to become a sword like this, it feels somewhat new.
"Orphin."
"Yes."
"Stay still."
"Yes. Hup!"
I placed my hand on Orphin's lower abdomen.
Orphin, wondering what in the world was happening, flushed red but soon calmed her excitement and began to tense up.
"Have you trained in Zerban's cultivation method?"
"Yes, ye-? Ah... that's right."
Kallias removed his hand and tilted his head.
Unlike those experimental subjects who didn't matter, it would be reasonable to treat Orphin seriously.
'Shall I do this properly?'
He only planned to beat up those bastards, but by properly teaching Orphin, he would accumulate data.
"Quit it."
"Yes?! But..."
"Constitutionally, Zerban's cultivation method doesn't suit you. Your growth has likely hit a wall long ago anyway. Right?"
"...How did you..."
The Orphin I knew was an ordinary knight, but one whose skills suddenly advanced by leaps and bounds due to certain circumstances.
The reason for that lies in the cultivation method, and the day comes when she realizes that Zerban's cultivation method doesn't suit her.
Thus, Orphin develops a new, independent cultivation method and changes everything to a style that suits her.
"Throw it away. And try making one. A cultivation method that suits you. I'll help you."
She has talent.
Even with just a little help, she'll do well on her own.
She's a knight who trained in the harsh environment of the North.
With a woman's body at that.
The physique is already complete.
"Change your sword too."
"To what..."
"Use a heavy sword."
Her disposition is calm and composed.
This point works as quite a strong advantage when discussing swords, but she uses a thin longsword and learns swordsmanship that emphasizes speed.
Due to the fundamental difference in skeletal structure and physical strength between men and women, the majority of female knights use fast swords.
It could be an inevitable choice.
However, a heavy sword suits Orphin better than a fast sword.
"Consider it being deceived and do as I say. It's better for you to shift toward defense rather than attack and aim for openings."
Telling someone to change the sword they've trained their whole life with is truly a difficult thing.
But she's going to change anyway.
Whether she changes now or later, she'll change eventually, so it's better to change from now. There's still time.
There's still time before the kingdom's civil war occurs, and Kallias is delaying it by capturing and killing nobles.
"If it's difficult, you may return. If you're becoming a knight of Zerban rather than my knight, you don't have to do it."
However.
If you're trying to become my knight.
If you're trying to stay by my side, you must do it. You must accomplish it.
Otherwise, you'll just die a dog's death.
A knight is originally one who protects their lord.
But in her current state, let alone protecting, she's at a level where she needs to be protected.
I can't entrust my back to such a person.
"Will you do it, or will you give up?"
Orphin clenched her lips tightly.
Then, gripping her fist tightly, she answered.
"I understand. I will do it!"
The corners of Kallias's mouth went up.
* * *
Smack! Tap! Smack!! Clang!
"I, I lost."
"Try running your mouth one more time. It won't end at just this then."
A girl speaking imposingly holding a wooden sword, and a sniffling boy.
The boy's gang fleeing hastily.
And.
"Wow! The boss won again!"
The girl's gang celebrated victory with their swollen faces.
In Karpe, also called the Kingdom of Swords.
There, kids brawling with wooden swords are always found everywhere.
The girl called boss as well.
One of the sprouts dreaming of becoming a knight.
It was Flora.
"What's our daughter doing there!"
"Ah, Dad!"
And she was also the only young daughter of a lonely father.
"Did you get into another fight?"
"It was a duel! A duel! I won, of course! I didn't even get hurt this time!"
She smiles, showing both her hands and arms.
Flora's father hugged his daughter tightly with a face that looked like he could die from cuteness.
"Oh~ Amazing, isn't it? Is our daughter really planning to become a knight when she grows up!"
"Of course! Ve-ry! I'm going to become an incredibly strong knight! Like the Light-haired Pilgrim, I'll become an amazingly strong knight and buy Dad delicious food and everything!"
"Oh~ Dad's going to live comfortably in his later years thanks to his daughter. Thank you~ Now let's go home."
"Yeah!"
But the girl's father suddenly stopped walking.
His expression instantly stiffened, but Flora couldn't see her father's face.
"Why? Aren't we going home?"
"Dad just forgot something. Can you go home first, our daughter?"
"What is it? Let's go together then."
"No, Flora. Dad will go quickly and come back. Can you go ahead?"
"U-um... Okay! Come quickly!"
"Yeah. I'll be right back."
The father's expression, watching the child wave her hand and disappear, instantly turned cold.
Immediately after.
A figure hiding in the shadows at the entrance of the alley appeared and spoke.
"Your daughter has grown a lot. Has it been over 12 years since you came here?"
"Yes."
"They say your daughter wants to enter the Academy... It seems she has exceptional talent, taking after you."
"...What business do you have here?"
"There's a task you need to handle."
"As always. Please handle it. I see you've already made contact."
"..."
"It's unfortunate about your wife. There was nothing I could do about her being caught by the Inquisitor either."
"I know."
"I'm glad you understand my feelings."
Unfolding the documents, what was written there was the personal information of the assassination target.
[Kallias von Zerban]
"He's a Count."
"He's a troublesome fellow. Once you finish this task, you can return to the home country regardless. Your daughter should also be raised properly in the Empire rather than a ruined country like this."
Isn't that right.
"Pedro."