I had been training diligently, so I had built up some stamina.
However, the problem was that keeping up with Leo, the ‘protagonist,’ or Alice, the ‘sword-wielding heroine,’ was not an easy task with that stamina alone.
“It’s because you’re pouring all your effort into that weapon,”
the Swordmaster said, looking at me with a rather disapproving expression.
“When comparing the skill of using a gun to wielding a sword, it’s clear that swordsmanship requires much better physical capabilities. After all, isn’t it true that handling a firearm only takes a few weeks of training?”
Hearing that, I seriously debated whether to argue back, but ultimately decided to keep my mouth shut.
The Winterfield region in the north wasn’t oppressively hot, even in midsummer. But summer was still summer, and while the temperature was in the mid-twenties Celsius, the sun hung high in the sky, making training in the scorching heat anything but easy.
I found myself lying down, exhausted after running around under that blazing sun.
And the Swordmaster looked down at me, uttering those words.
I felt a desire to counter his claim, but I also thought it wise not to tire myself out by speaking.
After all, I was the one who sought him out, not the other way around.
Besides, one of his disciples, Jennifer, had learned the sword just enough before leaving to immediately start using firearms instead. She thought, “This is enough to be useful in a real fight,” and went off to learn how to mix in firearms. From the Swordmaster's perspective, firearms must have been a rather unpleasant concept.
“Hm, still,”
the Swordmaster said, watching me closely.
“Your tenacity seems decent enough.”
I trained by repeatedly rewinding time.
If my stamina was lacking compared to the other two, then my only option was to find the best way to make it work.
I didn’t plan on cheating by falling back. Doing so would just get me on the Swordmaster's bad side.
As I climbed the hill, I searched for the best footholds, rewinding time to find them. Places where my foot wouldn’t slip too easily, spots that were easy to grip with my hands, places where I could exert strength without the rocks moving, and where I could save my thighs from fatigue.
I looked for those spots step by step, advancing while conserving my stamina. Rewinding time required no extra effort.
“Have you been here before or something?”
The Swordmaster asked, genuinely curious.
It was a reasonable assumption. From my perspective, I was effectively creating the optimal route and running through it by rewinding time, but to an outsider, it probably looked like someone who had already mapped out the area was moving through it.
Having lived alone without neglecting my training, the Swordmaster must have seen it that way too.
“You really are a strange one. At first, I thought you were just someone without talent who got lucky.”
The Swordmaster crouched down a little away from where I lay sprawled out on the ground, gazing at me intently.
“Did you find your way here through someone else’s guidance?”
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“...”
“I thought you must have heard it from one of my disciples, but you seem like someone who could have found my location through other means. After all, I’m hidden away, but I didn’t use any special methods to do so.”
As expected of the Swordmaster, it felt like he could see through my identity to some extent, just as he had back when I trained with him.
Seeing the corners of his mouth turn up slightly, it seemed I had succeeded in catching his interest.
An unknown entity suddenly popping up in his mundane life. That’s how he would perceive me.
“So, what exactly are you?”
“...”
I pondered seriously.
The Swordmaster’s previous expression when he told me to “come again” overlapped in my mind. After all, the Swordmaster now was no different from the one I had met then. It was just that I had encountered him a little later.
So, I thought about revealing that to the Swordmaster but decided against it.
He might believe me. He was quick to judge situations. But...
If I wanted to exchange information, I should have him find me before I die. And at that time, I would see if I could guess his identity. I hoped he wouldn’t give me too many hints. If the one giving the riddle makes it too easy, it loses its fun.
The Swordmaster had said that before.
Even in situations where someone might feel their life was being undermined, or where their efforts seemed meaningless, he had said those words.
If the one giving the riddle gives away too many clues, it becomes less enjoyable to solve.
And, I was also his disciple. Recognized directly by the Swordmaster.
So, as his student, I shouldn’t take away his enjoyment.
I sat up from my previous position.
Then I looked at my ‘teacher’ and said, “Are you curious how I knew this place and how I came to utilize this training method?”
“Of course, anyone would be curious about that.”
But even while saying that, the Swordmaster still wore a subtle smile, as if he already knew I wouldn’t share it.
“It’s a secret.”
I couldn’t suddenly divulge the answer here.
Hearing that, the Swordmaster’s eyes widened slightly.
Then, he let out a short laugh as if he had drunk some bitter but precious liquor.
“So, you mean to say that if I want to know your secret, you’re inviting me to the capital? If I watch closely, I’ll find out what kind of secret you hold.”
“Not entirely incorrect.”
I looked straight at the Swordmaster.
“Besides the secret of how I could move like this, there are many secrets in the capital that would be fun to learn when revealed.”
“And of course, you have no intention of revealing all those secrets yourself.”
“Of course not.”
At my words, the Swordmaster stared at me for a while longer, still wearing that somewhat fearsome smile.
“You’re quite bold.”
But at least this time, he didn’t hit my forehead.
*
“Pack your things, everyone.”
The next morning, the Swordmaster announced.
As we sat around the old, small table eating a dish made of rabbit-like meat, he boldly made that statement.
“Master?”
Leo, who had been eagerly eating the meat, suddenly looked dazed. However, the Swordmaster seemed undeterred by Leo’s expression.
“We’re all descending after breakfast today.”
...Did I provoke him too much?
Had I appeared too arrogant and offended the Swordmaster?
I had thought that since he had such a boisterous personality, it would be better to present something intriguing rather than a practical trade, but perhaps I was mistaken.
I pondered whether I should rewind time to the conversation before this, but the Swordmaster continued.
“By the way, Sylvia.”
“Yes?”
The Swordmaster, casually turning his gaze back to his plate, picked up a piece of meat to eat as he spoke.
“Is there a place for me to stay in the capital?”
“...”
For a brief moment, I was at a loss for words, then quickly regained my composure. The time I hesitated was so short that perhaps Alice or the Swordmaster wouldn’t have noticed.
Even so, out of the three people sitting here, two of them were aware.
“Of course.”
Just in case, I had kept a guest room empty among the chambers in the palace. It wasn’t a room solely for the Swordmaster, but rather one I had left empty in anticipation of bringing someone from outside the palace.
It could wait to find a separate house for him, but for now, it would be best to let him stay there.
I doubted anyone in the palace would oppose it. The knights would probably be thrilled, right?
The Swordmaster wouldn’t be too pleased, but I decided not to mention that on purpose.
“Then I’ll trust you.”
The Swordmaster said that and continued his meal.
As Alice and Leo turned their gazes toward me, seemingly expecting an explanation, I simply focused on my food like the Swordmaster.
*
“Swordmaster?”
After our supplies were replenished, the supply ship, following the manual, would check its status and return to the capital.
Normally, we wouldn’t have the luxury of taking a flying ship. If we had delayed even one more day, the supply ship would have been flying toward the capital by now.
However, the Swordmaster had made up his mind much quicker than I had expected, so we were able to board the supply ship on our way back.
Leo was the eldest son of a family close to the imperial family, and the Swordmaster was... well, the Swordmaster.
Seeing him like that made Jayden’s surprise understandable.
Having heard that his sister was returning to the capital, Jayden rushed from the front lines, recognizing the ragged old man immediately.
“Are you Jayden? I’ve heard news about you from Jennifer a few times.”
The Swordmaster spoke while stroking his chin, but Jayden merely gaped, unable to respond.
Soon, it seemed he realized he couldn’t engage in a longer conversation with the Swordmaster since he had to be here.
“I’d like to see the skill of your brother since you say you’re his brother.”
Hearing the Swordmaster’s words, Jayden quickly turned his head toward Alice and me.
“...”
Just for the record, I had planned not to engage Jayden in conversation, so I simply turned my gaze to the side.
Jayden seemed thoroughly disappointed, letting his shoulders slump once more, but what did that matter?