Chapter 48: 48
It was the least bit of courtesy and a firm will.
Barhen had mastered swordsmanship, but it was thanks to those two who inspired him. If it weren’t for their influence, it would have taken him years to learn.
“Oh… I appreciate your words, but I hope you will perform your duties diligently as a Royal Knight.”
“If you ever need my help, I will even seek permission from His Majesty the King.”
“There’s no need to go that far…”
“I must apologize to Zion and express my gratitude to Miss Hanette. I may not always be able to help, but I want to make a pledge here and now.”
“Hmm…”
Hanette lost her words and fell into deep thought. This was the first time she had met Barhen, and there was no other connection between them. She only knew him as the eldest son of Marquis Laird and a promising swordsman.
If only she knew the reason behind his words, but now, she could only guess.
“Brother, I understand what you’re saying. But my fiancée and I won’t ask for your help for your sake. We can’t.”
“…I know that. That’s why I’m making this pledge. Even if neither of you asks for help, I’ll be ready to come to your aid.”
“And what kind of help did you receive, brother? Could you explain that?”
“If it’s you, you should know without me saying it. And Miss Hanette, you must know as well.”
“……”
“……?”
Zion and Hanette glanced at each other in the ensuing silence. Neither understood Barhen’s words, but he responded earnestly, maintaining the solemn atmosphere. There seemed to be something, but without a clear explanation, they could only remain quiet.
“I’ve said what I needed to, so I’ll be leaving now.”
Barhen stood up and adjusted his clothes. He had let go of his regrets and guilt, leaving the rest to Zion.
“Brother, at least have some tea…”
“I don’t want to intrude on you and Miss Hanette. You need time to understand each other. It’s better for me to leave.”
“We’re not that close yet…”
“Zion, never forget your resolve. Talent is important, but without resolve, you won’t progress.”
“Yes? I don’t understand…”
“Miss Hanette, please take care of my brother. He needs you by his side.”
“Oh… I’ll try my best.”
“Until we meet again.”
Barhen nodded and left the reception room. Zion and Hanette followed, mulling over his words.
‘I don’t get it.’
‘Trusting me won’t do much good…’
—
Marquis Frandique’s mansion, indoor training hall.
Zion moved swiftly, countering Halfnon’s wooden sword. He felt lighter than during their first spar, and he could easily predict his opponent’s moves. Though using magic would help him learn more, it seemed premature.
‘Using magic in sparring is too dangerous.’
Even active knights seldom unleashed their magic during training. While physical attacks could be countered with protective gear or armor, magic required one’s entire body to be shrouded in energy, necessitating a high degree of mastery to sustain for any length of time. Zion knew he lacked such mastery, so he focused solely on swordsmanship.
‘I need a strong foundation.’
Swordsmanship training, enhancing and controlling magic, adapting to Exceed Rain, and mastering abilities. For now, this was enough to build a solid base for the future. He didn’t have to fight monsters or assist the protagonist immediately.
‘I chose a good sparring partner.’
Zion stepped back to catch his breath. Halfnon was a strong opponent and an excellent teacher, matching Zion’s level and helping him improve his skills with each bout.
“Phew…”
Halfnon also stepped back, briefly sighing. Zion was gradually adapting to his swordsmanship and persistently targeting his openings. At this rate, Zion might soon surpass him, requiring a new training partner.
‘I need to keep him a bit longer.’
Halfnon found sparring with Zion stimulating. While Zion fought with instinct, Halfnon responded with calculated precision. Their differing approaches allowed him to gain new insights.
‘I still haven’t grasped swordsmanship.’
The news of Barhen Laird mastering swordsmanship had spread throughout high society. It happened only about a month after he announced he wouldn’t join the Royal Knights. Zion Laird must have played a role in it.
‘If I miss this opportunity, it will be harder to meet later…’
“Shall we take a short break? I’m fine, but…”
“No, I’m fine if you are, Mr. Zion.”
“Then I’ll go first this time.”
With a sharp gaze, Zion lunged at Halfnon. Halfnon swiftly readied his wooden sword and countered.
“My brother seems to be trying harder today.”
“Really? My fiancé seems to be working harder.”
Hanette answered calmly, turning her head. Beside her sat Halfnon’s sister, Rayna Frandique, her light blue eyes sparkling with a gentle smile.
“Perhaps it’s because your fiancé is good with the sword. My brother seems to be keeping up.”
“Hmm… Using swordsmanship might help.”
Hanette subtly acknowledged this without showing it. Just because Zion received praise didn’t mean she had to share in it. They were merely engaged, and displaying emotion might seem conceited.
“It’s okay to see it positively. My brother is quite skilled. If he’s busy keeping up, your fiancé must be very good.”
“…It’s good to improve skills, but I hope he doesn’t get hurt. Getting hurt is just a loss.”
“You’re right. But once you pick up a sword, you can’t avoid getting hurt. And you can’t stop them from becoming a swordsman.”
Hanette agreed, falling into thought. Being strong didn’t eliminate the risk of injury. This was true for Zion and herself. Although she considered this while planning her escape, now it seemed reckless.
“Hmm… I suddenly wondered, will you ask your fiancé to stop using the sword after marriage?”
“Oh… I haven’t thought that far ahead.”
“It might be good to decide quickly. You could argue over things like that.”
“True. I don’t want to interfere, but…”
Hanette trailed off, looking at Zion in the distance. Worry clouded her mind at the thought of Zion getting hurt. Whether they married or not, she might still care.
“Did I say something unnecessary? Are you worried about your fiancé?”
“No, it’s fine. You’re not wrong.”
“Still, if you trust him, it might be better to let him be. If he’s using swordsmanship, he won’t get hurt.”
“…That’s true.”
Zion continued to move dynamically, wielding his sword. He appeared rough and fierce, yet captivating. Whenever his silver hair fluttered and his violet eyes sparkled, her heart seemed to skip a beat.
‘If I become stronger, I can protect him.’
Whether they married or not didn’t matter. She just wanted Zion to be safe. If she could properly learn magic, she might be able to help.
‘Maybe I shouldn’t run away?’
Running away only promised an uncertain future. She wasn’t even sure if she could fight monsters properly. It might be better to stay with Zion and learn magic slowly.
‘I must be losing my mind. I’m considering not running away because of him.’
Hanette chuckled, resting her chin on her hand. They had grown too close to push away now. If they got even closer, what would happen?
‘I don’t like him that much. I’m just… worried.’
—
Duke Adelaira’s mansion, Zion’s room.
The sun had set, and the dark night sky stretched out. Zion changed into his nightclothes and looked out the window. He should be in bed, but he felt too restless to sleep.
‘…Not much time left.’
Zion sighed, closing the window. The protagonist was set to arrive in the capital in about a week. When that happened, Hanette would meet the protagonist and part ways with him.
Even though he knew this, why did he feel so stifled?
‘I have to let her go. I have to…’
Zion walked towards his bed in the moonlight. He was sleeping less and less each night. He would fall asleep late, wake up suddenly, or rise too early. What was making him so anxious?
‘I must be overly sensitive.’
Zion pulled the blanket over himself and closed his eyes. He needed to set aside personal feelings and focus on his original goal: leave everything to the protagonist and his companions and live peacefully. Anything more was greedy and would disrupt the balance.
‘If I secretly follow…’
Suddenly, the window opened, and a gust of wind blew in. Zion felt something and immediately drew upon his internal magic. Nothing was visible, but it wasn’t a coincidence. The window had been locked, and a faint presence had just appeared.
“…Who’s there?”
Zion kicked off the blanket and summoned Exceed Rain. Instantly, he channeled magic into it, preparing to use swordsmanship. His training and enhanced magic had increased his speed in focusing his energy.
“Oh… trying to use swordsmanship?”
A shadowy figure began to emerge from the darkness. Zion adjusted his stance, quickly determining a direction. At this distance, dodging was impossible, but blocking was conceivable. Given the stealth and speed, this was a formidable opponent.
“Wonder if you’ve heard of the Silver Rogue?”
“…Setinos Quasar?”
“I heard about your romance and thought I’d take a peek. Can you spare a moment?”
A masked figure stepped into the moonlight, approaching slowly. Zion recognized the mask and attire but remained cautious. It could still be an imposter.
“The real Silver Rogue wouldn’t be doing this.”
“Oh, you think I’m a fake? I’ve dealt with those already.”
“You have no reason to visit me.”
“The King mentioned you… risking your life for your fiancée? Very romantic.”
If he spoke that much, the likelihood of him being the real Silver Rogue increased. There were still no widespread rumors about him and Hanette. Only the King and the Royal Knight Captain knew about it. Moreover, few masked individuals spoke of romance.
“Let me make you an offer. A friend who understands romance deserves to be my apprentice. Pass a few tests, and I’ll take you on. What do you say?”