Scholhart (10)

1.

Lyka van Skolhart.

The great Knight who earned the title of ‘Dragon Slayer’ by subjugating nine dragons.

The only swordsman who can clash swords head-on with the Sword Saint, Adrean, and an individual who can equally be called a war hero.

I remember his appearance clearly.

Long, ashen hair with a reddish tint, tied back in a single braid, and a face with a sharp impression like a blade, embedded with two amber eyes.

A tall figure, about six feet, and on the lean side.

That was my first impression of him.

As time passed and he aged, his lean body began to gain weight, and in middle age, the fat became thick and solid muscle, transforming the gigolo-like fellow into a considerably masculine man.

Recalling his appearance at the last officers’ meeting, he was a mountain-like, steadfast old general.

But now, retired, he had the air of a fisherman enjoying fishing in a quiet village. Despite his affable impression, there was an aura that made him difficult to approach.

“…Saintess?”

His weighty gaze turned to Elia.

Seeing her from the front, I could see his remembered image of her more clearly.

Elia was silent for a moment.

…He’s gotten old.

It was a natural thing, but I felt a bitterness from that obvious fact.

“It’s cold. Come inside.”

Lyka gestured with his chin to a chair next to the fireplace.

“I’ve heard stories from time to time. You’ve been causing quite a stir at the academy. A Demon… a Demon King Army Commander….”

Lyka chuckled softly.

“…Something even that guy couldn’t do.”

Lich, Mortis.

The fact that the young Saintess had defeated someone his friend and rival, the Sword Saint, couldn’t defeat, made him feel surprised and complicated.

The world is indeed vast.

If there is a strong monster, there is always an even stronger monster.

Until I die, I thought a genius who could surpass Adrean would never appear, but that genius is now before my eyes.

Lyka looked at Elia.

Long, dark eyelashes.

Two blood-red jewels embedded in large eyes.

A beauty without a single flaw.

Added to that, her gentle impression was perfect for the image of a Saintess.

Even though Magical power could be used for Body Enhancement, it was hard to believe that she could wield swordsmanship surpassing the Sword Saint with her slender limbs and seemingly fragile body.

Unless it was the Sword Saint himself.

“That’s impossible.”

Lyka snorted, entertaining the absurd thought that the Sword Saint had been reincarnated as this girl.

It was then that the Saintess opened her mouth.

“…It’s been a while.”

Lyka looked at her with a questioning expression at the Saintess’s words.

“It’s been a while?”

Since when did the greeting method of the Holy Nation change?

Different countries have different cultures, but there are universal things. One of them is the greeting method.

Saying “Hello” or “Nice to meet you” to someone you meet for the first time is common in this world.

Semantically, that greeting doesn’t make sense either.

Who wouldn’t find it strange if someone said “It’s been a while” upon meeting them for the first time?

The tone was also irritating.

From Lyka’s perspective, who valued etiquette, being spoken to informally by a woman young enough to be his granddaughter was something he could raise his voice about, saying it was impolite.

“Haa…”

Elia sighed deeply.

My heart is set on not revealing my identity, but I don’t want to hide my identity even from my close friend who is waiting for rest at the end of his life.

I don’t know when I’ll go… I have to say hello.

Otherwise, I think I’ll regret it later.

“It’s me, me.”

I don’t think he’ll understand just by saying this. It’s not actually a word he can understand.

I’m hesitating because I can’t bring myself to speak easily.

“Don’t you know who I am?”

I checked her Magical power to see if someone was impersonating the Saintess, but there was no Magical power using disguise magic.

“Saintess, if you’re thinking of playing a prank, I’m sorry, but I’m a person who hates pranks.”

The wrinkles on Lyka’s forehead deepened further.

“I know. Do you think I don’t know your personality?”

Elia spoke in circles when she could have said it directly. It seems she’s too embarrassed to reveal her identity directly.

“You bastard who’s going to be eaten by this dragon, you can’t even recognize your friend’s face now that you’re old.”

Lyka’s eyes widened in surprise.

“…A bastard who’s going to be eaten by a dragon?”

There’s only one person who has ever called me that in my life.

Adrean Van Reiker.

But he passed away 20 years ago.

“Yeah, I know what you’re thinking right now. It’s me, me.”

Elia pounded her chest.

“We used to bet on who could behead more enemies whenever we were bored, we drank together in the dragon’s nest, and we even bathed together in the Elven Grand Bath. I teased you back then for being smaller than me.”

“Stop with that nonsense! The Elves liked mine more…!”

Lyka burst out, then stopped.

The only people who know this anecdote are a few Elven Elders living in the World Tree Forest and the Sword Saint, who is no longer in this world.

The woman in front of me is not an Elf.

She doesn’t have the pointed ears that are the symbol of Elves.

Then there’s only one possibility I can think of.

It’s really absurd, but.

“…Adrean?”

Elia smiled awkwardly.

“Yeah, it’s me.”

2.

Lyka rubbed his face roughly.

Even after hearing the whole story, it was hard to accept.

Think about it.

Would you be able to believe it if a friend who died 20 years ago returned as a beautiful girl, a Saintess no less?

Lyka raised his head.

Wink☆

Elia pointed at herself with her finger and winked, as if to say, “Do you accept it now?”

Contrary to her refined atmosphere, her behavior was frivolous.

And that behavior was similar to the Adrean that Lyka knew.

“…What happened?”

“I don’t know either.”

“What’s with that vulgar body?”

“Hey! Vulgar! I’m a Saintess!”

Lyka frowned and grimaced.

Knowing that the contents were a white-haired old man, it was quite repulsive to hear her call herself a Saintess.

“It’s not a body suitable for a swordsman.”

“I thought so too at first, but after getting used to it, I feel like it balances my body, or something?”

Elia held up her chest with both hands.

I can feel the weight of the heavy flesh.

At first, it was uncomfortable because it got in the way of my arms every time I swung my sword and it jiggled every time I moved, but now I feel empty without this voluptuousness.

And the plump lower body, along with the chest, balances the weight well.

“There are disadvantages, but if there’s an advantage to having this body, it’s that I’ve become more flexible?”

As if boasting to a friend she hadn’t seen in a long time, Elia stood up and showed off her flexibility.

She lifted one leg above her head like a ballet dancer, creating an I-line.

“You vulgar bastard!!”

Lyka roared.

The Clerical robe, which was already open on the side, exposing her firm thighs, slipped down when she stood in an I-shape, revealing her panties with a fancy ribbon.

“What’s vulgar about it? I was just showing you how flexible I am?”

Elia lowered her leg and straightened her clothes.

“How many times have I told you to have some shame!”

Elia covered her ears with both hands.

Here we go again.

Once a lecture starts, it never ends.

Lyka’s sermon lasted for 30 minutes.

“I get it, I get it, so stop!”

I felt like my ears would bleed if I listened any longer.

“Anyway, you understand that I’m Adrean, right?”

Lyka coughed and nodded.

It was too Adrean to deny.

The way she spoke, the way she acted.

And the fact that she knew things that only the two of them knew.

“I really can’t believe it…”

Elia looked at Lyka with her beautifully shining eyes.

“Don’t look at me with those eyes.”

“What’s wrong with my eyes?”

“They’re disgusting.”

“Huh, my eyes are so pretty. Or are you embarrassed? Have you never had a pretty woman show interest in you?”

“Stop talking nonsense. Women liked me more than you.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? I was so popular in the Knights. There were dozens, hundreds of people lining up to sleep with me once.”

Lyka laughed.

“That bluff is still the same. A guy who couldn’t get married and died a bachelor.”

“Let’s get the words right. It’s not that I couldn’t get married, it’s that I didn’t.”

“I told you to study your grammar. You still can’t distinguish between ‘can’t’ and ‘didn’t’.”

“Look at this?”

Elia twisted one corner of her mouth.

“No matter how much time has passed, I still don’t want to talk to you.”

“Same here.”

“Hey, come outside. Let’s have a fight. This Hyung will teach you a lesson for the first time in a while.”

Rwen stood up as if he were about to clash right away.

“Good, my younger brother.”

Lyka also picked up his sword and stood up.

The two looked at each other.

After a moment of silence, the two burst into laughter.

It’s been a while. Bickering and raising our voices over such trivial things.

It felt like I had returned to my younger days, as if I had been rejuvenated.