Side Story: Knight's Afternoon
Today's knights' training grounds are illuminated by the warm spring sun, and the comfortable breeze is blowing, making it a very comfortable place to spend time.
At least the rest area at the end of the training ground is more comfortable than the hall, which is crammed with sweaty men.
I decided to smoke a cigarette before eating lunch today, which I got from the cafeteria.
Normally, I would only smoke one cigarette after a meal, but today I was in the mood for a smoke.
I took a cigarette from the cigar case and lit it with fire magic from my fingertips.
While I was blowing smoke for a while, a colleague called out to me from somewhere.
"Have you finished your meal? Have you not eaten yet? You're being extravagant today by smoking first!"
I was too lazy to respond to that voice, so I waved my hand and answered.
"What? What is it? Are you worried about something?"
Apparently, he thought that I was worried about something because of all that.
This colleague is my colleague, but he is very attentive to his surroundings and often meddles with other knights.
"It's not like I'm worried. I'm just remembering something from yesterday."
My colleague tilted his head a little and came up with the answer.
"What? Are you bothered about not being able to get one from Light-sama?"
"I'm not bothered!"
Then, my colleague smiled wickedly and said teasingly.
"Then you're frustrated?"
When I heard that, I thought about it for a while and answered, hoping to catch him off guard a little.
"Yeah, that's right. It was definitely frustrating. It's frustrating not to get one against a kid who's only seven years old."
I replied with a little exaggeration.
Then, my colleague looked a little dumb, probably taken by surprise. I did it.
"I was surprised. For you to say something like this."
I ignore those words and remember what happened yesterday.
Yesterday was the day when Light-sama came for training.
According to what I heard, Light-sama is busy every day.
I hear that he travels around villages as a healer mage, trains in the Adventurer's Guild, and even practices medicine, alchemy, and blacksmithing.
Under such circumstances, he also participates in the training of the knights.
First and foremost, he's a superhuman.
However, depending on one's point of view, there is a part of him that they do not understand.
Aside from that, yesterday, a mock battle was held at the end of the training. This is something that the Commander sometimes does unannounced to test the skills of the knights.
And my opponent was Light-sama.
The match was evenly matched. The match was a draw, with neither of us scoring a single point.
"It can't be helped that I can't get one point when he is splendidly dodging..."
My colleague heard me whispering that and answered.
"Really? It looked like you were able to handle Light-sama's attack to me?"
"It's true that the attacks were manageable. But most of the attacks were to keep me in check. Light-sama was attacking me with his hands. There were many times when I froze at a blow that caught me off guard during a series of blows."
"That much?"
"Yeah. You wouldn't know it by just watching, but I couldn't afford it."
My colleague seemed to gasp.
"The fact that you didn't have the luxury means that Light-sama's skill is considerable. You're the best swordsman in the group, aren't you?"
"Idiot! There's the Commander! Only the Commander has [Intermediate Swordsmanship]. I'm still at level 7 of [Swordsmanship]!"
I hurriedly denied it, and my colleague laughed in return.
"Don't be so humble! It's true that the Commander is stronger, but compared to the other knights, you're the best!"
This guy really shamelessly flatters me...
"So! What do you think? How is Light-sama's swordsmanship in your match?"
Hearing that, I seriously think about it.
"Honestly speaking, his level of [Swordsmanship] is equal to or higher than mine. Right now, he is simply physically immature, so he is equal to me. If Light-sama has the same physique as me, I will surely lose."
As I expected, my colleague seemed surprised. It is only natural.
He started learning swordsmanship when he was 3 or 4 years old.
I remember that around that time, I would sometimes be Light-sama's playmate on my off-duty days.
In just 4 years, his [Swordsmanship] level is 7 or higher. It is hard to believe.
"I looked at Light-sama as an opponent of the same level, but his swordsmanship is very broad. The sword techniques used in the few times I had a close call were techniques that a knight would not use. They were probably trained in the Adventurer's Guild."
I continued to think and ponder further.
"The current Light-sama is afraid of being attacked by the enemy. So, he basically avoids or parries, and he does not give his opponents an opening to attack with a barrage of attacks. This is because he understands his physical disadvantage. If Light-sama learns how to accept the sword, he will almost certainly be able to grow to [Intermediate Swordsmanship] level."
Hearing this, my colleague is taken aback.
I smoked a cigarette for a while, looking at his dumb face.
"That much?"
He had finally said it...
He still seems stunned.
"That much."
I replied wickedly, and my colleague muttered quietly.
"If that's the case... it's a shame..."
The meaning of those words could be taken in a variety of ways.
The fact that the Baron family treats him coldly despite his talent, the fact that he longs to be an adventurer and not a knight, and the fact that the knight order doesn't have the capacity to develop his talent......
There is no knight who has not dreamed of Light-sama joining the Knight Order.
While possessing that much talent, he was humble and approachable, and his courage in times of need was shown during the monster incident. Above all, he is the grandson of the Knight Commander.
Many knights hoped that he would succeed the Knight Commander.
That's why it's a shame that he longed to be an adventurer instead of a knight......
While I was relaxing with my colleague, the knights who had finished their meal spotted us and got involved.
While I was wondering what was going on, everyone started to get excited about Light-sama's story, and the quiet time I had with my colleague quickly disappeared.
After the lunch break ended because of all the excitement, I realized.
I hadn't eaten. And I hadn't had an after-lunch cigarette.
After that, I will experience hell until the afternoon training is over.
Tftc
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chapter
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