Making the barrier that would protect this place with Uncle!
“I want to take swordsmanship lessons!”
Uncle opened his eyes wide, like someone who had heard something completely unexpected.
“What?”
“I’m going to learn the sword! I’m going to get super strong too! Isn’t that what a Northern man does?”
Uncle scrunched up his eyes with a displeased look.
“That’s……right?”
A good idea had just popped into my head, so I didn’t get a close look at his expression.
*If I go to the knight order, it won’t be strange to go outside, right!*
Most swordsmanship lessons took place on the training grounds, but Void often used to tag along with the knights who inspected the outside.
Of course, I had also been to the city walls several times for observation tours.
*It’s the perfect excuse to inspect the city walls!*
Uncle somehow looked reluctant. But he also seemed unable to find anything to argue.
After taking a sip of tea and mulling it over briefly, Uncle nodded.
“Fine. Do what you want. If you need other studies, do those as well.”
“Yeah. I love learning!”
My mood brightened. I swung my legs and devoured all the remaining cookies.
“Then, Ruby, you’ll keep staying here…….”
Uncle, who had been watching me quietly, hesitated in an uncharacteristic way.
“Huh?”
“Here…….”
“What is it, Uncle?”
“……Hoo, never mind.”
Why was that uncle acting like that today?
It was somehow unfamiliar to see him start to say something and then stop. It almost felt like he was carefully gauging my reaction…….
“We’ll need to find a tutor first.”
Uncle leaned back as if resigning himself.
“Can’t I take lessons together with big brother Void?”
“Well, that would work, but it might be a bit much for you to keep up.”
“Ah, really?”
Void was already studying ahead at the upper elementary academy level. The semester would start again in spring, so he was saying that this time he’d finally get first place, or something.
Well, it was none of my business.
“It’s fine. If I can just take swordsmanship lessons from the knight uncles, that’s enough. I’m going to get strong! Strength! Stamina!”
I clenched my puny fist tightly.
Inspecting the city walls was one thing, but I also wanted to train this frail body of mine. After seeing people as strong as rocks, I suppose I had developed a longing for it.
Uncle let out a short laugh and ruffled my head wildly.
“I don’t think those fellows will leave you alone.”
“Huh?”
“Since you’ve made up your mind, you’d better steel yourself.”
What was he talking about?
Was he saying the knights were going to bully me?
*Come on, no way.*
The knight uncles liked me quite a bit.
Whenever we ran into each other, they smiled at me so kindly.
Especially Sir Leon, who always stuffed me with snacks…….
Suddenly, the voice that had mentioned something about the youngest knight came to mind.
At that moment, the back of my neck turned ice-cold. Wait, this is a bad feeling.
“Uncle, I suddenly got curious…….”
“Mm.”
“Has anyone joined the Zebert Knight Order recently?”
I asked cautiously. Uncle rested his arm on the armrest and counted the ceiling patterns.
“Hmm…….”
Gulp.
“None. Not for the past several years.”
Gasp.
“Void was the last one, a few years ago.”
No way! A new recruit after several years!
Fresh water flowing into a stagnant, rotting pool!
I could clearly see the path of suffering ahead.
The reason the knight uncles had been kind to me was simply because I wasn’t yet a member of the knight order, so they had no real interest in me!
“I-I’ll just stay content with reality as it is…….”
“A man never goes back on his word.”
Thud. A plate of jiggly fruit jellies was placed on the table.
A familiar voice sounded from beside me.
“Sir Leon……?”
Creak, creak—when I raised my head, there was Sir Leon, who had somehow entered without me noticing.
“Your Grace, I have come with urgent paperwork.”
“Mm, hand it over.”
Uncle held out his hand with an amused expression.
While he looked over the documents, the blue-haired knight stared at me fixedly.
His eyes gleamed greedily, like a predator that had spotted delicious prey.
“So you’ve finally decided.”
“Uu…….”
“Welcome, youngest.”
* * *
Whoooosh.
A dry wind blew. Far in the distance, round clumps of dust tumbled about.
A desolate training ground.
Standing before me were powerful knights with bulging muscles. I was nothing but a shabby herbivore standing in front of them.
“We seniors can become either angels or demons depending on what you do.”
I’d heard that one somewhere before.
I gulped.
Oohohohoho. I somehow felt like I could hear dark, scheming laughter from all around, but it had to be my imagination.
“Hehe……. It’s been a while since we had a new recruit.”
“You’re so cute and adorable that I want to train you properly.”
“We’ll make you into a gallant man of the North.”
“My blood is boiling…….”
Please be my imagination.
*But isn’t it a bit much to wear short sleeves when it’s still cold…….*
Watching steam-like smoke rise from their bronze bodies, I stared blankly.
“This is the Zebert Knight Order. This place is rampant with a vertical culture based strictly on skill. Therefore, within these walls alone, we do not use honorifics. Any complaints?”
You weren’t using honorifics to begin with…….
The knight at the very front stepped forward. Nearby, Void was holding a wooden sword and watching with an interested face.
“None whatsoever!”
I answered with as much crisp formality as I could muster.
The atmosphere somehow felt like I had to.
Rustle.
When I moved, the knight order’s cape ornament made a sound. The dark blue Zebert Knight Order uniform was heavier than I had expected.
Of course, there hadn’t been one in my size, so it had to be custom-made from head to toe, but…….
The gazes of the knight uncles who had gathered like clouds were stinging. Sir Leon was somehow covering his mouth and staring into empty space.
“I am Obron, Vice Commander of Zebert.”
“Ah, yes. I’ve heard much about you.”
I recalled Void babbling about him.
The Vice Commander with a short topknot had a long scar near his left eye. He didn’t look easygoing even in passing.
“Then, let us begin the initiation training.”
“Yes!”
A sharp, solemn voice made a martial shout escape my lips involuntarily.
The senior knights moved with crisp motions.
Seeing those disciplined movements, my body tensed up before I knew it.
“First, two laps around the training ground!”
Gasp, two whole laps?
“The child-sized one!”
“Y-yes!”
I answered frantically.
I ran two laps around the bean-sized training ground attached beside the massive training ground.
Huff, huff, this is hard! Truly, the path to becoming a physically oriented knight is long and arduous!
“Next, swinging the wooden sword!”
“Yes!”
I answered while catching my breath.
“But it’s still dangerous, so for now, just observe!”
“Yes!”
Sir Obron pointed to the distant armory with his thick finger. I tried to move my steps briskly when the back of my nape was grabbed.
“Wh-why?”
“Hmm, horse-riding is essential for a knight. You’ll ride a horse to get there.”
Ah, I was confident in riding horses!
“You there, passing by!”
“Yes, Vice Commander.”
“Be the youngest’s horse! Execute!”
“Execute!”
“…….”
I blinked quietly. When my vision shot up high and the wind struck my cheeks, my mind finally returned from its brief absence.
*Huh?*
This is just riding on an uncle’s wooden horse to look at wooden swords?
* * *
Anyway, with knight order life intruding into my daily routine, a strange vitality began to flow through it.
“Huff, huff. Two laps around the training ground, holding a wooden sword, dodging a ball, conversing with a horse! All finished!”
Senior Obron quirked his lips in satisfaction.
“Good. Excellent. Tomorrow is the city wall inspection.”
My head shot up. It was welcome news to my ears.
Whether he saw my eyes light up, the corner of Obron’s mouth relaxed for a moment.
“Did you want to see the city walls that badly?”
“Yes! I wanted to, Senior!”
“Hmm, good attitude. The Commander will like it.”
“By Commander, you mean……?”
“Naturally, His Grace the Duke.”
“Aha.”
I nodded my head repeatedly.
Of course. If we’re talking about the leader of this knight order, it would naturally be Uncle Leviathan.
Senior Obron gazed into the air with distant eyes. On his chest was emblazoned the knight order’s symbol, the blue lion crest.
“We must constantly build our strength and train so as not to become a burden to His Grace. Only then can we truly…….”
“Excuse me, what happens if the Commander becomes a burden?”
“Huh?”
The knight, who had been steeped in loyalty, returned to reality.
I raised my arm and pointed to one corner of the training ground.
“He’s been sleeping there since earlier…….”
“…….”
The surroundings fell into a heavy silence.