It didnt even take him two years, right?
I feel like Im talking to myself a lot more lately.
I wonder why.
If I were to ask, I could lose my job as a butler.
Id say, I have to avoid it at all costs.
Well, you never know what life has in store for you.
I never thought Id see the day Id want to keep this s****y job.
Its been about a year and a half since I started teaching that kid no, Master Luke, the sword.
And today, for the very first ti I lost.
How can I not laugh at this?
I feel like laughing out loud.
But Im a butler.
I cant let anyone see like that.
So I held my mouth shut and tried desperately to bite down on the emotions that were rising in .
Really he did it! No, not just that. He went way beyond my imagination!
Ah, not good.
Excuse , I cant let my emotions get the best of .
I was never easy on him.
On the contrary, I was going for the kill
Anyti I had a mock battle with Master Luke, I felt a thrill as if we were really fighting for our lives.
Even though its been a while since he started learning to sword, he really ca to win.
Its been that way ever since the first ti we did a mock battle.
If youre not careful, hell catch you off guard.
Thats what my instinct had told as a swordsman.
And for that reason, I was always serious in every mock battle.
I was not confronting the kid who I taught.
I was facing an enemy I aint supposed to kill.
So I had to take it that seriously.
The title The dorr deputy head of the Royal Knights is not so light.
To be clear, even though Im old, Im still proud to say that Im still one of the best in the kingdom.
And that was now defeated by Master Luke.
He did win, huh!
Ahh I cant get enough of it.
I cant get enough of this excitent.
Master Luke will go down in history, its an inevitable future.
No exactly.
Thats not what Im talking about!
Hes going to be a legend!
And I get the closest look at the man who will be called a legend.
How lucky I am!
Alfred-sama.
Then I heard a voice calling my na.
Its the maids voice.
Im not upset about this.
I instantly repainted my consciousness without any problems.
How can I help you?
Yes, Alfred-sama, you have a visitor.
A visitor?
I pondered.
A visitor for ?
I thought of the many possibilities, both good and bad.
But in the end, no answer was found.
The Lord has sent to see you.
I see. I certainly understand.
Then follow . Your guest is already waiting in their room.
Hearing my words, the maid bowed once and started walking.
Who could it be?
I dont have ti for this.
Ive got to figure out Master Lukes training for the future.
I thought, but the Lord asked to.
I dont have a choice but to et this visitor.
So I followed a little heavier on my feet.
Eruka Ai Sutherland.
Thats my na.
I am proud to say that this na was once so well known in the kingdom that there was no one who did not know it.
Because I was the Chief Commander of the Royal Knights.
This is my pride.
Well, that was a long ti ago.
A woman can never be a match for a man in brute strength.
If you could use magic, it would be a different story, but unfortunately, I was not very good at that from the start.
Even so, I am one of the few won in the long history of the kingdom to have risen to the position of Chief Commander of the Royal Knights.
Thats what Im proud of.
The only one.
Now I have a dojo in the city where I teach swordsmanship to only those I like.
Thats why I ca to see Al. (Alfred)
I really wanted to bring this up earlier.
However, I am not sure if it will work, and I have a lot of personal feelings about the managent of the dojo.
I have no intention of teaching anyone I dont like, no matter how talented they are with a sword.
The reverse is also true.
It doesnt make sense that youd offer up such a prospect.
Thats why it took so long.
I hope hes doing well
I still vividly rember the day Al quit being a deputy commander.
He was really stubborn.
Once he decides, he never bends.
That guy, Al, was too willful a man.
When was the last ti I saw him?
I an so long ago that I no longer rember?
After a while of being imrsed in nostalgia, the door was opened with a thud.
Sorry to keep you waiting. Forr Chief Commander of the Royal Knights, Lord Eruka Ai Sutherland.
Its who cannot thank you enough for accepting my unexpected visit. Sir Gilbert.
I was sowhat surprised to be greeted by the head of the family himself.
Not that there are any bad rumors about the Gilberts, but there arent any good ones either.
For better or worse, the house is supposed to be nobility, aristocratic as it seems.
Nobles, as a rule, dont think well of the Royal Knights.
Most of them think of us as nothing more than a bunch of barbarians who cant use magic.
But what is this?
Sohow, their values toward the sword have changed, I suppose?
Co on in. I got you a room. Ill show you.
Thank you.
Im fine with a third-class room, even though I co from an aristocratic background.
As I knew I wouldnt be turned away, but I expected so nitpicking.
But to my surprise his treatnt was way better.
I cant stop myself from searching my gut to find why that is so.
While I was thinking about that, I got to a room.
I sat down on the sofa as Sir Gilbert urged to do so.
Would you like so tea?
Yes, thank you.
The maid who was standing by poured tea into a teacup.
It has a comforting scent.
Then we had a few conversations, I didnt feel as if there was any malice in him.
Well, I suppose its no point for to stay any longer. Let call Alfred right away.
Thank you.
With that said, Sir Gilbert opened the door and left.
However, I wasnt alone in the room.
I had a maid at my side.
Its still not right.
To begin with, the Kingdom of Myrstia, a magical powerhouse, had a history of being founded by a group of skilled magicians.
That is why the families of the nobility, who are said to be the best, have an aptitude for magic to varying degrees.
In other words, magic belongs to the nobility
There are very few commoners who have an aptitude for magic, but they are exceptions among exceptions.
Those who can use magic and those who cant.
As long as there is a history of magic supporting the kingdom, this discrimination is the only thing that will never go away.
So I was thinking
Why I didnt sense that at all from Sir Gilbert earlier.
In fact, I even felt respect from him.
I really dont understand.
Knock, knock.
Questions after questions were popping up in my mind.
And I ignored that there was a knock at the door.
But the maid who was waiting imdiately opened the door.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
How nostalgic.
The sight of him makes feel the longing Ive had for him for years.
However, he seed to have changed a lot after seeing him for the first ti in a long ti.
Pfft.
Seeing Al bowing reverently, I managed to hold back a laugh that almost spilled out.
Ill take it from here. You may go back.
Yes. Alfred-sama.
The maid left the place.
It was just and Al now.
In silence, Al sat down on the opposite couch.
As usual he lit a cigarette and exhaled the smoke.
And,
Yo
Pfft, Ahahaha. Quite the butler youve beco, Al. Who on earth could believe that? The forr deputy commander of the Royal Knights, who was once feared as an ogre on the battlefield, to be like this.
I was at my limit.
So I burst out laughing..
It was like yesterday, I rembered you still struggling with your manner of speech.
When are you talking about? Dont talk about the past like its yesterday.
Ahahaha, I see. Its already been that long. The passage of ti is frightening.
So? Im not sure what you want from , Eruka. Youre not just here to see an old friend, are you?
Seriously! Youre still the sa. Youve got to learn how to put words in my mouth.
I dont think I can do that. Its not in my nature.
Haha, I bet. Im relieved to see that you havent changed. Then Ill be straight to the point.
I broke off and then quickly continued.
I need your help to train my disciple.
It doesnt make sense to go off the way with Al.
So I told him frankly.
Recently, I picked up an orphan, and Ive been teaching him to use the sword. His na is Abel and he has very good eyes. I think youll like him.
With all intent and purpose.
Nothing fabricated only the truth.
Heh, what about his talent?
Huh?
Does he have a special gift?
The words he brought up were strangely unfamiliar.
The more you know about Alfred, the more you will not believe your ears when you hear him say that.
Al was from a commoner background.
It was also a very poor family environnt to the extent that they were extrely close to being holess.
There was no one to teach him how to use a sword.
But Al pushed through.
By putting in a trendous amount of effort.
He was a man with eyes like a hungry wolf.
He carved his own path by swinging his sword with determination.
He never once said anything about talent.
Until this mont.
But since he asked, I had no choice but to answer.
He doesnt have any talent with the sword. He seems to have an unusual aptitude for magic, but he is not a nobleman, so he will not be able to learn magic just.
How frustrating.
To declare that the apprentice you are taking care of doesnt have any talent.
But it cant be helped.
Its a fact.
But the essence that the boy, Abel, possesses is by no ans sothing trivial such as talent.
So I continued with my words.
He has a terrifying spirit. Im telling you hes frightening. A monster indeed.
Yes, the terrible power I found in Abel.
His crazy spirit.
I shudder to think of it now.
What do you think? Arent you curious?
I asked Al.
I really want to talk about Abel in more detail and carefully.
I have a lot of incidents I want to tell.
But unfortunately, I dont have ti for that right now.
So I asked the question.
Im sure Al would be interested.
But his reaction was a little different than I had imagined.
Als eyes were horribly vacant.
He leaned back on the couch and exhaled his cigarette smoke toward the ceiling.
Hey, Eruka. We used to talk like this. Sword first or heart first? Rember?
Yeah.
Without answering my question, Al began to speak.
Is it because one is skilled with a sword that one has a strong heart? Or is it because the heart is strong that the sword is skillful? Your answer is always the sa. Heart cos first right?
Yes, thats right. A righteous heart cos first and the sword follows. At least, thats what I believe.
It is this belief that sotis I dont make disciples, no matter how talented they are.
I thought so too.
I was relieved to hear Al say that.
I knew it. He was the sa Al I knew
No, thats what I used to think before.
I felt a grip on my heart.
what does that an?
Its simple. Ive had a change of heart.
Sword cos first, you say?
No, thats not quite right. My answer is that the sword and the heart are completely unrelated.
Thats not true!
I couldnt help but raise my voice.
Well, listen.
I stood up and slamd the table with a bang, and Al admonished in a very calm manner.
I too was ashad of myself for being distraught at the question and answer with my friend.
Co here for a minute.
Al stood up abruptly and went to the window.
Why is that, I thought, but I kept quiet and complied.
Look.
I did as I was told and looked out the window.
And all I saw was a beautiful courtyard and a boy.
A boy with blond hair, blond eyes and a very handso face.
I know this boy.
Hes Luke Withalia Gilbert, the eldest son of the Gilbert family.
But what about this boy?
Its almost ti. As usual, Master Luke will start with his form. Watch it and let know what you think.
Huh? Is he learning swordsmanship?
Yeah, He asked to. So Ive been teaching him sword for about a year and a half now.
Hou.
I see, so this is what caused Sir Gilberts respect for .
But still, I dont know what Als intentions are.
A year and a half with a sword is nothing to be proud of.
What on earth does he want to show ?
I looked at the boy thoughtfully.
Then the boy moved.
He took out his sword as it was.
And then my heart shivered at how beautifully he handled the sword.
A terribly sophisticated form.
It was no longer swordsmanship, but an exquisite art.
It was just that stunning.
My brain, which was supposed to be thinking about all sorts of things, was quickly replaced by the word of excitent.
Too beautiful.
Ive never seen such a perfect form before.
The answer does not override the fact that I myself am included.
No, wait.
Wait, wait, wait.
I realized belatedly how impressed I was.
This.
This swordsmanship.
A year and a half you say?
Yes. This is what talent is all about.
Suddenly, I looked at Al.
And I was astonished.
Because there was an incredibly creepy smile on his face.
As if the one who worships the devil had an audience with him.
That was a fanatics smile.
Al you
Ah, excuse . Thats enough, have a seat.
My mind was still reeling.
I sat down, feeling zany.
What do you think? Tell .
Amazing
Thats what I would say if I were shown sothing like that.
I cant find any better words to describe it.
I know. But if you ask if Master Luke is good, he definitely isnt. If a commoner were to bump into Master Luke, he wouldnt hesitate to kick him. Thats the kind of man Master Luke is.
I see, that boy has changed you.
Talent is given out at the whim of God. There are no good guys and bad guys.
Thats
I wanted to deny it.
But I cant say the word.
Theres no way I can say that.
After seeing soone like him just now.
Looking back, the reason I couldnt beat you was simple. You had the talent and I didnt. Thats all it was.
Al muttered with a very distant look in his eyes.
No, youre wrong, Al
You were never that kind of guy
Again, Im going to have to decline your offer sorry.
I expected that.
Hed say so
When he didnt respond to right away.
Well.
I saw it in his eyes, already.
I want to see it up close. I want to see what Master Luke will accomplish. Whether its good or bad, I want to see it up close. Haha, will you despise for that, Eruka?
I had no more words.
I guess hes gone now Al from back then.
Abel was it? The kid may face Master Luke at so point. I sincerely hope he can resist as much as possible when he does.
Hearing those last words, I left the Gilbert residence.
Ive to raise Abel well.
Ill put my all into it.
Otherwise, hell never be able to beat that boy Luke.
I could certainly feel a hot fla bursting forth from deep within .
Pushed by Erukas words, Alfred was to beco a second ntor to the boy nad Abel.
But it didnt happen, and Eruka and Alfred started down different paths.
Needless to say, the reason for this was the incomprehensible talent of the boy called Luke Wizaria Gilbert.
Yes, this story has already started to go haywire
Reviews
All reviews (0)