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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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My expression hardened as I glanced at the documents Elicis was reading. They contained information about someone I didn’t want to remember.
Details about Ludwig’s bloodline.
Elicis, who had tried to hide the documents when she noticed me looking, carefully asked after seeing my serious expression.
“…Did something happen?”
“Those seem to be recent documents.”
“Yes, they are… why, are you interested?”
Elicis said this while handing me the documents. However, I shook my head and declined. I didn’t want to read the details. Below would likely be personal opinions about Kalos’s death, and information about the witch we’d encountered then.
Remembering that witch would make me recall Ludwig whom I’d killed with my own hands, and though considerable time had passed, I didn’t want to dredge up memories that still dampened my mood.
“Well. What if I am interested?”
“I never thought you’d be interested in something like this… but even if you request it, I can’t approve this.”
“Why not?”
“Because we need an instructor to train apprentice holy knights. If we hire some incompetent street rat, they’ll disregard you without me having to say anything.”
“Did you just call the apprentice a street rat?”
Marguerite quickly cut in, glaring at Elicis threateningly, but Elicis glared back just as fiercely, as if unwilling to yield on this matter.
“Yes. I know his abilities well, having seen them firsthand. As a witch’s apprentice, he may be skilled at killing monsters, but fighting humans is different. Dealing with people is in some ways more difficult than facing monsters…”
“I can do it.”
“As I said before, this isn’t something you can just do because you want to-”
“Then we can test it.”
I looked at Elicis. Though she tilted her head as if wondering if I was serious, I was completely sincere this time.
If Kalos’s lineage had been cut short by a witch, I could continue it in his place.
After all, I had learned directly from Ludwig – Kalos’s ancestor and father to all holy knights.
‘If I can atone even this much…’
Though it was close to self-consolation, I felt Ludwig wouldn’t entirely disapprove.
Hearing my words, Elicis let out a heavy sigh and rang a bell to summon her attendant.
To the attendant who entered, Elicis pointed at me and ordered:
“Take him to the training grounds. Ask Lord Toben to test him.”
“A test… you say?”
“Yes, since he wants to become an instructor, have his skills verified.”
Though the attendant wore a dubious expression, he immediately led me to the training grounds.
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“Pleased to meet you, brother. I heard you requested a test.”
Shortly after, while I was warming up in the training grounds, a holy knight trudged over. His very way of walking revealed how well-trained he was.
When I carefully nodded, he said “excuse me” and approached to knead various parts of my body. Then he tilted his head curiously.
“Though small in stature, you’re remarkably solid and sturdy… you must have undergone quite rigorous training.”
“Yes, well…”
“Excellent. If you could use those training methods for our holy knights, God would surely be pleased.”
Toben smiled brightly as he said this, then returned with two wooden swords from the wall. He handed one to me and took a stance with the other.
Taking his stance, Toben asked me:
“If you’ve learned something other than swordsmanship, please tell me now.”
“I can use a sword well enough.”
“That’s fortunate. Then, come.”
Saying this, Toben took a stance covering his upper body with the sword’s blade. A bull-like stance with the sword tip pointed like horns.
Thanks to learning from Ludwig, I knew what this stance was called. I also knew very well how to break it, how to counter the techniques for breaking it, and how to respond to counterattacks.
Though I was practically a beginner who could only respond after seeing the opponent’s swordsmanship since everything wasn’t fully ingrained in my body yet – even if my technique was beginner level, it didn’t matter if my physical abilities were monstrous.
The fearsome aspect of technique only showed when facing those who didn’t know it, not against those who understood it.
“Here I come.”
Since this was practice rather than real combat, I declared my attack before swinging my sword at Toben. A motion to deflect his sword. Toben saw my sword and slightly moved his wrist to shift his blade tip, but I could move in response to seeing that.
Just as one could never lose at rock-paper-scissors if they could see what the opponent would throw and change their own move – one couldn’t lose when they knew what techniques the opponent would use.
Pop- As his sword was deflected pathetically, Toben stared at me with wide eyes as if he couldn’t believe it.
“What is this… unbelievable. May I test your defense next?”
“Of course.”
“Then here I come.”
After saying this, I easily blocked Toben’s charging sword while simultaneously counterattacking. An artistic display of swordsmanship where attack and defense occurred simultaneously.
Seeing this, Toben stared at me for a moment before letting out a thoughtful hum.
“How was it?”
“Hmm… I’m not sure. Though it’s awkward to say this as the loser, rather than feeling like a master, it seems somehow different…”
However, perhaps embarrassed to say more after losing, Toben nodded and acknowledged me.
“Very well. With skills like these, it should be sufficient for teaching the apprentices. I look forward to working with you, Instructor.”
“What should I call you?”
“You may call me Lord Toben.”
After briefly shaking hands with Toben, I left the church. Classes would officially begin next week.
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After Johan left, Toben headed to Elicis’s office. After knocking and waiting briefly, he heard Elicis’s voice telling him to enter.
Opening the door revealed Elicis wrestling with documents. Seeing this, Toben felt fortunate he didn’t hold that position.
“Lady Elicis, the test is complete.”
“How was it?”
“Well… he seems to have basic skills, but whether he can teach them well to the children…”
“If he has the skills, that’s enough. You know our situation, don’t you?”
Elicis said this while looking at Toben. Toben nodded in understanding.
Recently, a witch’s rampage had resulted in dozens of holy knights’ deaths. Considering that each holy knight was an extremely valuable resource and difficult to train, it was an indescribably huge loss.
In this situation, the instructors meant to train new holy knights were being assassinated one by one. The victims all transformed into inhuman monstrous forms, and the church took this as a warning from witches.
Thus, with no one willing to take the position of holy knight instructor now – even if their skills were questionable, they desperately needed instructors.
“By the way, you must bear some grudge. Recommending someone for the instructor position… though he seemed completely unaware.”
“A grudge? What do you mean?”
“Recommending someone for a position where they might be assassinated – doesn’t that imply such?”
At Toben’s question, Elicis let out a slight laugh. Assassinated by the same witch? At least in Elicis’s mind, that wasn’t the case.
‘Him, assassinated…’
Someone cherished by at least two witches couldn’t possibly be assassinated. The witch at his side wasn’t just for show.
What they needed to worry about wasn’t Johan being assassinated, but how to handle it if fights broke out between witches.
“Just be careful about war.”
“War? What do you mean…”
“Anyway, that’s how it is.”
Elicis said this while shooing Toben out. Sensing she might try to dump paperwork on him if he stayed longer, Toben quickly fled the office.
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“No! Absolutely not!”
When I said I wanted to become an instructor for holy knights, Master reacted violently. She was like the leads in dramas who refused to allow marriage before dirt entered their eyes.
I lowered my voice as I looked at her:
“But… I need to repay the debt.”
“What debt? You don’t need to feel guilty toward him. His teaching you was payment for agreeing to kill him!”
“It’s not something that can be divided so clearly…”
“What do you mean not clearly! I’m absolutely right! Even that witch who attacked you – while attacking you is unforgivable even if she died a thousand deaths, killing the holy knight and his son is understandable.”
“Why…”
“They’re holy knights. We’re witches.”
Listening to Master say the instructor who trained holy knights deserved death, I glimpsed the deep hatred between the church and witches.
Though Master hadn’t told me what the church had done to her in the past, I could tell she deeply resented them.
“But… I’ve already decided to do it.”
“Don’t.”
“What if Marguerite and I get branded as witch followers?”
“I’ll protect you.”
“I can’t depend on Master forever.”
“You can. Forever.”
Seeing Master’s continued opposition, I had no choice but to use my trump card. The ultimate move Master couldn’t refuse.
“If you don’t give permission, I’ll run away with Marguerite.”
“…What?”
“If I run away with Marguerite who can use spatial magic, even Master couldn’t chase us, right? We’ll escape to some deserted island and live happily ever after, just the two of us.”
“…Are you serious? Johan?”
Master’s eyes darkened. Though terrified seeing this, this was a time when I needed to show manly courage.
“Yes. I’m serious.”
“- Fine, alright. Do it.”
“What?”
“Go ahead and be a holy knight instructor or whatever.”
Evangeline finally gave permission for me to take the instructor position while puffing out her cheeks.
Though it seemed surprisingly sudden for her, I embraced her and spun her around, thinking it best not to question it.
“Kyaaah!?”
“Thank you! Master!”
“…Johan, do that with me too.”
“Beatrice? Come here too!”
After spinning around hundreds of times while hugging them both, I collapsed onto the sofa feeling dizzy.
I shouldn’t have spun around. I feel like throwing up.
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eehheeh what a dummy