Chapter 28
Early morning.
Knight Commander Lloyd is out earlier than training time, warming up in advance.
The knight order of the Archduke Akion’s family is not a famous group. For a knight order of an archduke’s family, there is no title attached to it.
From the beginning, since the owner of the archduke’s family, the hero Heros Akion, is called the empire’s top swordmaster, the knight order under him rarely receives attention.
What did those guys accomplish? Anyway, the hero probably did it all. Are they anything special? Without the hero, they’re probably a ragtag bunch?
The knights who entered with bold pride, saying they would stand by the strongest swordmaster, couldn’t endure such sneers, and in the end, more than half would quit without lasting a year.
No one wants a life where efforts go unrecognized. For that reason, even those who remained in the knight order had their motivation broken and only moved sluggishly during training.
At such a time,
Daphne Akion appeared.
It’s a well-known fact that the archduke’s youngest daughter is ill. To the extent that the recent rumor of almost holding a funeral made sense, Daphne looked truly frail and seemed so weak that she might collapse with a poke.
But such a Daphne, ran.
She circled the training ground without missing a single day. Even if she collapsed from exhaustion while running, she ran the next day, and even if she coughed up blood, she ran. Every single day.
While doing so, she shouted.
-Hero……! Herooo!
Yes.
This fragile Daphne wants to follow in Heros’s footsteps.
Even if everyone says you can’t, even if they say you can’t compare to Heros, she wants to succeed the hero!
The moment they confirmed that will, all the knights, including Lloyd, could feel an overwhelming emotion.
Why did we enter the Archduke Akion’s family?
To protect Heros Akion’s side. To allow that noble sword to extend forward.
But why have we been idle all this time? Even that small child, even that sick child is making an effort!
They lifted their feet that had been stopped for a long time and stepped forward.
From that moment, the knight order began to change.
Thanks to just one child, Daphne Akion.
‘I heard they stopped a black magic terror recently.’
Lloyd thought while stretching his legs fully.
‘What an amazing person. To save people twice with that body.’
Including the previous bandit extermination, even stopping the terror.
Daphne was a much greater person than he had concluded. Tenacious, passionate, unyielding, and moving forward.
He suddenly recalled the words he had said to Daphne in the past.
-Lady’s talent is already a fully bloomed flower, but the vase holding it has a crack, so it can’t supply nutrients to the flower.
-It’s a pity. She could have succeeded the master.
If he went back to the past, he would punch himself for saying those words.
Because now, knowing Daphne’s tenacity, he wouldn’t say that.
Instead, he would say this.
Lady’s vase is excellent…….
‘I need to train more so that she’ll be surprised when she comes back.’
Lloyd stretched his waist while resolving to really push the knights hard today. It was then.
“Uh, what. You’re already out?”
A voice that was slightly hoarse but revealed a youthful tone was heard. Lloyd turned his head in surprise. There was Arius walking leisurely with a wooden sword slung over his shoulder.
“Young master is up early too!”
“Umm, yeah. Couldn’t sleep.”
Arius answered while scratching the back of his head. While doing so, he subtly avoided Lloyd’s gaze, because he felt like his uncomfortable feelings would be revealed.
But Lloyd seemed to already know Arius’s feelings a hundred times over. His eyes curved into crescents.
“Are you frustrated?”
“Huh? What, what do you mean?”
“I’m asking if you’re feeling frustrated seeing the lady who successfully stopped this terror.”
Arius felt his face heat up instantly.
“Ah, no? I only thought Daphne is the best? I was going to praise her. Why would I be jealous of her? Absolutely not?”
Looking at Arius who was still avoiding his eyes while replying, Lloyd let out a chuckle.
The Arius that Lloyd saw today came to the training ground earlier than usual, and his eyes were burning more intensely than before.
Just from these simple facts, he could tell what Arius was feeling right now.
He must be confused why, despite learning the sword longer than Daphne, training longer, he feels weaker than Daphne.
If his youngest sibling achieved a great feat, he should congratulate her, but instead of congratulations, a strange anger seeped into his heart first, making him flustered.
Am I this narrow-minded, and yet envious of Daphne…….
Lloyd knew that feeling very well too.
So he could give Arius the answer.
“You should be jealous.”
“……Huh?”
“That way, young master can climb even higher.”
Lloyd said while fixing Arius’s disheveled hair.
“Right now, the lady’s talent may seem overwhelming, but talent cannot beat effort. Recall the time young master has put in effort so far.”
“That…… thing.”
“Was that effort in vain?”
“…….”
Arius pursed his lips and dropped his gaze downward.
Yes.
For now, he might lose to Daphne.
For now, he might be inferior to Daphne.
But in the future……!
‘I’ll stand by father’s side.’
As a proud knight!
Arius’s lifted face had a bright smile as if he had never felt ashamed.
“Shall we run?”
“Sounds good.”
“Once warmed up, spar with me later! Got it?”
“Yes.”
Arius stepped forward.
Thinking that someday he could overtake Daphne’s back while running.
***
“Hmm?”
Daphne tilted her head while adjusting the blanket wrapped tightly around her body.
“Huff, huff…… Can’t, can’t run anymore…….”
“Commander, are you determined to kill us…… Ah, I feel like throwing up.”
“Ughhh.”
Why are the knights collapsed on the dirt like this. Sweating profusely at that.
Somehow, it seemed like it would smell if she got closer, so Daphne took a slight step back.
“Lady?”
At that moment, Lloyd, who spotted Daphne, approached.
Lloyd wasn’t as messed up as the other knights, but he didn’t look as neat as before either.
“Are you here for training? Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet.”
“No. I came because I have something to ask.”
“Then that’s a relief.”
“But…….”
Daphne glanced at the knights with her eyes.
“Why are those fools sprawled out so stupidly?”
“Ah.”
Lloyd smiled awkwardly and scratched his cheek.
“We did a bit more training than usual. Since the lady struggled so much, we can’t just sit idle. We’re training harder for the future ahead!”
I don’t know what he’s saying.
But if these guys are making effort, that’s a good thing. If these guys get stronger, they can use their full power to smash those specters or whatever.
“Yeah. You’re working hard.”
“Right?”
Lloyd’s face brightened. As if unable to contain his overwhelming emotion, he stomped his foot and pointed to a spot.
“It might not be visible well over there, but young master Arius is there too.”
“That idiot?”
Daphne narrowed her eyes and looked at the collapsed knights.
Then, as Lloyd said, Arius was visible lying among them, panting. Sigh?
“He said he couldn’t keep up with our training volume, but he followed with fire in his eyes. It was an astonishing tenacity.”
“I see.”
“If he continues like this, he’ll become an incredible swordsman in 5 years.”
“Yeah. Good.”
“Yes. Look forward to it.”
Daphne, who had been listening with hmm, hmm sounds, suddenly lifted her head.
“But wouldn’t it be better to say such praise to the hero instead of me.”
“……Yes?”
“What’s the point of me hearing it? What use is it?”
Lloyd blinked his eyes, spaced out for a moment, then slapped his forehead as if realizing.
“Now that I think about it, you’re right. Why did I think I should report to the lady?”
Since Daphne is overseeing Arius’s swordsmanship, and Arius sees Daphne as a rival, it seems there was a desire to show the results to Daphne.
Lloyd felt embarrassed and let out a small laugh.
“Whatever. I came because I’m curious about something.”
“Yes, please speak.”
“There are black mages, right.”
“Yes.”
“Where can I meet them?”
“……Yes?”
Lloyd asked back, wondering if he heard wrong.
“I asked where I can meet black mages.”
But he hadn’t heard wrong. Lloyd barely held onto his fading vision.
“You mean to meet black mages on purpose? I heard you barely survived this time, why those guys? Don’t tell me to confront them?”
“Then do you think I want to meet them to become friends?”
“No!”
Lloyd shouted loudly.
“They are dangerous! This time you got lucky and got through, but next time who knows what will……!”
“Lucky?”
Daphne’s expression crumpled instantly.
“Luucky? Lucky?”
This bastard is saying something very amusing? Daphne rolled up both sleeves.
“Fine. Let’s see if it’s luck or skill. I’ll drive you to the brink of defeat.”
“No, lady! Wait, wait!”
Lloyd shouted while backing away from the charging Daphne.
But Daphne was already heated up.
“I’ll show you my true skill!”
“No, no!”
“Yes!”
It was right then.
“D, D, Daphne!”
Someone called Daphne as if wailing.
It was a voice that seemed familiar yet unfamiliar, so Daphne stopped charging at Lloyd and turned her head.
There was a small child with a hood pulled deep over their head. It was Viperra.
“Wh-why are you ou-outside! Aren’t you supposed to stay in your ro-room?! Is your bo-body okay?!”
Vipera, who ran to Daphne, panted heavily and shouted with an excited face.
No, that’s what I should say. Why are you here?
“What.”
Arius, who had approached unnoticed, frowned and said.
“Why are you out here?”
I mean, that’s what I was going to say.
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By Anna 💓
