episode_0183

***

The meal ended more awkwardly than I expected.

I thought it would be a spectacle like the monkeys at the zoo, but I didn’t expect to see it so openly.

A nun walked back and forth in front of me, pretending to pass by naturally.

He didn’t disappear from sight until he finished emptying the stew in the bowl.

“Phew….”

After finishing the meal, I walked around here and there to digest my food with Father Alerio, who ate with me.

To be exact, Father Alerio follows me around and introduces me to places.

this place. So, the Solarium Church headquarters is largely comprised of three areas.

[Solaricia]

The area where the cathedral is located where I drew my sword and proved myself a saint.

It is said that in addition to the cathedral, the Pope’s office and the bishops’ living quarters are located here.

It is also the most important place for the church headquarters.

[Solar Lumea]

The headquarters of the Holy Knights.

The most powerful members of the Solarium Church train and live here.

[Solar Qsia]

The Inquisitor’s headquarters.

It is the smallest of the districts and is said to be located slightly off center.

Sister Maria, whom I have chosen, will also be at the convent in Solacusia.

It’s a convent, but with this type of building layout, it seems like it’s just a lodging.

“The Pope invited you to feel free to look around today. You can go wherever you want.”

“Hmm… which would be better?”

“You can visit Solarizia, where the saint’s room is located, at any time, so why not go to Solarume or Solarecusia?”

Now that I think about it, there is one thing I want to check.

“Father Alerio. You said there was a Paladin Training Center in Solarumea, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. To be precise, we are in charge of the final training of apprentice technicians who have successfully completed training at the training centers assigned to each parish.”

“Then, I would like to go there sometime. I’m curious about what kind of training these so-called swords of God receive.”

As I grinned, Father Alerio looked slightly surprised.

***

I don’t know if Father Alerio had told me in advance, but as I entered Solarumea, I could often see holy knights with their military uniforms high passing through the streets with a restrained look.

Their white armor was so polished that it sparkled in the sunlight.

“Everyone seems to be taking good care of their equipment.”

I hope they didn’t do it because of me coming.

As I approached the training center along the road, I heard a familiar sound.

The sound of various types of weapons intertwining, something I had tired of hearing even in previous dimensions.

In the wide open space, the knights were standing in rows and rows.

“Hap!”

“Hap!”

“Hap!”

The sound of cheers became one, echoing through the dusty vacant lot.

“I think you can take a look here.”

Stand in a place with adequate shade from a tree and watch the training.

There is something I want to check.

“One!”

At the instructor’s shout, the apprentice knights swung their swords.

Maybe I’m not used to the knife yet, but there’s a lot of awkwardness in its shape.

“One!”

Posture where the center of gravity is not aligned.

Not swinging a sword, but being wielded by a sword.

They come into view.

Well, this is knowledge.

Because the memories of what I learned from Master have not disappeared.

I close my eyes.

And quietly observe the inside.

does not exist. There is no bet.

Not filled, not empty.

It is impossible to fill.

“Is there no concept of betting here?”

“Yes?”

“No.”

Well, it would be more common to have no bets.

After spending a long time with the teacher, I mistakenly thought that it was natural to have bets and skills.

Without betting, it would be impossible to strengthen one’s body through betting.

It would be impossible to inflict any meaningful damage with a body like this.

You can perform martial arts, but since you cannot contain internal energy, your body will just move in a funny way.

“Now take a break!”

At the appointed time, the instructor shouted loudly and the trainees lined up and moved somewhere.

It feels exactly like a military training camp.

“Father, may I go over there for a moment?”

I walked away before hearing Alerio’s answer.

You can check it now.

There was a bit of a commotion at the training center during my visit.

The apprentice knights sat in their seats with their backs squared and looked straight ahead, and the instructor’s body was stiff, probably because he was quite nervous.

“It is an honor to meet you. This is Andrea, the training instructor!”

Boom boom.

A sound louder than the sounds made by the apprentice knights earlier hit my ears.

“Yes, nice to meet you. Brother Andrea, the reason I came this way…”

“However, I understand that you are still with the Pope!”

Oh, my ears hurt.

“Oh, I didn’t come to see the leader.”

I glance at his waist.

There is a sword in the scabbard.

“Shall we take a quick walk?”

I walked slowly to the center of the clearing.

Alerio and Andrea followed behind me without knowing what was going on.

Arriving at the center of the dusty clearing, I turned and saw Andrea.

“Brother Andrea. I know it sounds strange, but don’t be alarmed.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Pull out your sword.”

“Yes?”

Andrea asks.

His right hand twitched.

“Don’t be afraid, pull out your sword.”

He looks like he’s hesitating, so he says it one more time.

“Yes? Yes… I understand.”

As if he hadn’t figured out my intention yet, he drew his sword.

Hmm… Certainly, his posture is better than that of the apprentice knights.

“Brother Andrea. Swing that sword.”

Andrea, who was facing me, turned her body to the left at my words.

“No, you have to look at me.”

“Saint?”

Father Alerio, who was behind him, was startled.

“Seo, saint. What do you mean by that?”

Andrea also opened her eyes and turned her head to look at me.

I walked back in front of Andrea.

“Don’t worry. Swing your sword.”

“Ha, but, saint.”

Andrea’s hand holding the sword begins to tremble.

A clanking sound could be heard from the armor he was wearing.

I looked him straight in the eye and smiled to let him know that it was okay.

“Trust me.”

Andrea’s eyes still showed surprise and astonishment, but the initial hesitation seemed to have disappeared a little.

Andrea nodded resolutely and raised her sword upward.

“Brother Andrea, what are you doing?”

“It’s okay, Brother Andrea. Swing your sword.”

I speak again to the man who raises his sword high and cannot strike it down.

“I believe in you, saint!”

Andrea let out a scream-like sound and struck down her sword.

And, I could see.

The process of the sword slowly coming down.

I took a step back.

It was just one step.

– Bang!

The sword Andrea swung fell to the ground.

“Bah, did you just avoid it?”

Andrea, who was wielding a sword, spoke first.

“Brother Andrea’s faith is really deep.”

I tapped him on the shoulder.

It was difficult for me to keep the corners of my mouth from raising without realizing it.

In fact, it feels so good that I want to dance.

My prediction was correct.

What I learned didn’t go away.

It was a significant finding.