episode_0079

Over time, it became apparent that the master preferred those who were comfortable in their approach and speech, including me, as we spent an extended period training together.

I noticed this when Victor joined the training not long after.

Despite the master’s clear reluctance to overtly teach Victor compared to Rachel and me, Victor remained undeterred. He bravely shouted, complained of hardship, yet persevered till the end.

Even when exhausted and collapsing from fatigue during training, he would still manage to engage the master with his unique charm, gasping for breath but continuing to converse.

“Before I enrolled at the Ardente Academy, there was a girl named Amy back in my hometown who ran a flower shop. I plan to confess my feelings to her once I graduate and become a knight. Do you think it will work out?”

“If you succeed and return to your hometown, it would be fortunate if she hasn’t already found another man by then. It might be wise to check if Amy reciprocates your feelings and act swiftly before it’s too late.”

“That’s too harsh! My dear Amy would never look at another man!”

“Even if what you say is true, most customers visiting her flower shop would likely be men. It’s doubtful that the townsfolk would leave an attractive, unmarried woman alone.”

Primarily, Victor tended to initiate trivial conversations one-sidedly, seemingly disinterested, but the master subtly offered advice, not showing disdain, and seemed to enjoy listening to Victor’s anecdotes.

Though not overt, the master seemed to appreciate Victor’s storytelling skills, even though it seemed unlikely that someone like Victor would share mundane stories or village gossip with the Empire’s top swordsman, leading the Astrea noble family.

Eventually, the extent of Victor’s diligence and good rapport led to a change in the master’s attitude during training.

As the training progressed, while Victor improved, the master continued to exert pressure, leaving him no room for relaxation. In the midst of exhaustion, Victor let out a slightly plaintive voice when his chest was grazed.

“Oh, Master, I feel like I’m going to die. Can’t you go easy on me? I haven’t even held Amy’s hand yet…”

“Victor, if you lose your mind no matter how tough the training is, what will you do?”

For a moment, I doubted my ears, expecting Victor to be reprimanded or at least excluded from training. However, to my surprise, the master reacted differently.

As if questioning your own ears, the master paused briefly before bursting into laughter.

“Haha, before reaching this position in my life, both before and after, nobody has ever uttered such nonsense to me like you have, Victor. So, are you prepared for the consequences? Are you ready to face someone like me, who seems okay with death, just like a well-cooked steak?”

“I apologize!! I lost my mind or misspoke! Please forgive me, esteemed Imperial Sword, Your Highness.”

“Calling me ‘Your Highness’? If anyone hears that, they might think you’re preparing for treason, you damn fool!”

“Scream! I won’t do it again, please-”

The master, who accelerated to a level difficult for me to handle and literally beat Victor with his sword, had a gentle smile on his face.

At that moment, Raymond Astrea, my master, seemed to vaguely understand why he liked the rude Victor.

“Despite possessing great power, wealth, and honor, there was loneliness in a corner of his heart.”

As the sole heir of the Astrea Duke, who held the Armenian Empire firmly without wavering, he must have received harsh training since childhood. People around him might have either found him intimidating or approached him with smiles but with intentions to use him.

Perhaps what he needed was someone who would not be swayed by the surrounding circumstances, unlike Victor, who might seem rude.

With such thoughts in mind, I rushed explosively towards the master who was beating Victor.

“If you keep this up, Victor will die. Please let me handle it. How about lending me some money if I last 5 minutes? Originally, I should have prepared tuition and living expenses for the academy during the break, but all those plans were canceled, and you invited me here.”

“Money goes back to Artae; borrow from the bank there! Victor and you, Yukal, both seem to treat the esteemed Astrea Duke like a neighbor next door!!”

To prevent Victor from being too beaten up and unable to speak properly, and also out of a sense of disciple duty, I tried to soothe the master’s loneliness by speaking up like Victor did, albeit a bit arrogantly.

Despite unleashing my full strength and skills to rush at the master, I couldn’t avoid being beaten up like Victor in the end.

Rachel lightly sighed at our foolishness but smiled faintly.

It was quite nice how the atmosphere improved moderately, thanks to Victor’s influence, without getting too loose.

In order to resist the master’s beating, I concentrated my aura on the impact points, blocking them minimally, and soon stopped as the master asked.

“What do you think of Rachel?”

It was awkward to be asked suddenly in front of the person in question, but I spoke honestly about what I usually thought.

“She is an upright, diligent knight who always puts others before herself, even in dangerous situations, a splendid member of the Astrea Duke, a trustworthy student of Ardent Academy, and a colleague.”

Can I explain more about Rachel?

Having watched her efforts and sacrifices for thousands of hours, I believe this is the best I can say.

“The intention behind such a question is already set, isn’t it? It’s asking how you feel about her rationally. Have you ever thought about how pretty Rachel is, or if you want to date or marry her?”

I tried to open my mouth out of frustration at why such a question was being asked, similar to when I first visited the Duke, but Rachel intervened.

“Father!! It would be better if you come with me right now to talk!”

Her face flushed red as she took the Duke’s hand and led him out, shouting something that could be heard from afar.

“Why does the master keep doing this when Rachel clearly dislikes it so much?”

Rachel’s own wishes are always the most important.

As Victor joined us, the noisy training continued, and time passed until the day finally arrived for us to return to Ardent Academy.

“When we leave, won’t it feel lonely? Although it shouldn’t be a problem for a duke, please take care of yourself.”

—

“Ah, it’s good that the noisy ones are disappearing. And who is worrying about whom? Make sure you behave properly in front of them.”

—

While the servants were loading luggage onto the carriage, I came to bid farewell to my master. He maintained a stern demeanor throughout, even until the very end.

—

After exchanging greetings, Victor and the others boarded the carriage first. Just as I was about to get on, my master stopped me in my tracks.

—

“Wait a moment. You were my disciple after all. If I don’t give you a parting gift, wouldn’t it damage my reputation?”

—

With that, he pulled out something wrapped in cloth from his embrace and tossed it to me.

—

Carefully unwrapping the cloth, I could see an impressive sword with no embellishments, a striking blade.

【Mithril Sword for Testing #1114】

【Legendary Grade or Higher】

【Crafted by a Dwarf artisan who reached the pinnacle of blacksmithing skills during his inexperienced years of travel, aided by the Astrea Duke. Enhances magical and aura conductivity significantly. Resistant to easy damage or breakage.】

—

“This item is of such value, may I accept it?”

—

“If you don’t use it, it will remain dormant within the duke’s estate, unseen by the world for many years. Take it.”

—

If a sword of this caliber had such worth, then there couldn’t be many like it even within the duke’s possession. I was deeply grateful for this last-minute gesture.

—

“It’s not forever, but at least when you graduate, make sure to visit the mansion again with Rachel.”

—

Although expressed in words like that, in reality, it was no different than giving it to me.

—

It was more of an excuse to see Rachel and me.

—

“Don’t focus on anything else, concentrate on academy classes and what you want to protect. And take good care of Rachel. This isn’t your teacher speaking, but Yukal, appealing to you as one human to another.”

—

“Understood. No matter what happens, I will protect Rachel and everyone, even if it costs me my life.”

—

Considering our previous discussion about tuition fees, he assured me he would handle financial and other issues, asking me to focus only on myself and those around me.

—

“If this continues after graduation, the debt I owe my master will only grow.”

—

Gratefully bowing once more, I finished my farewells and finally set off towards Ardent Academy as I climbed into the carriage.

—

Whether the sunset visible outside the carriage was short or long, it signaled the end of the journey from the Astrea Duke’s estate.