episode_0034

My heart felt like it was shriveling.

In this moment, one wrong word could mean death.

“……”

In the past, I would have been too scared to even breathe.

But it was different now.

No matter how high the authority or how strong the military might of the knight before her,

it couldn’t be more overwhelming than facing a bear.

Tia answered in a calm voice.

“I came on behalf of Madam. To inform you that your chef engaged in prostitution and didn’t pay.”

The knight looked back at the chef beside him.

He was trembling in fear.

“Chef. Is this girl’s statement true?”

“Y-yes…”

“Why didn’t you pay that prostitute?”

“W-well, actually…”

Excuses started pouring out.

He claimed that although they initially agreed to three days, he intended to pay for four days after one more encounter.

But then the woman unilaterally refused, allegedly breaking the agreement first.

It was a ridiculous story.

The problem was that he hadn’t paid in the first place; what more needed to be said?

Anger surged, but she decided to hold her tongue, assuming the knight would, by common sense, know whose fault it was.

However, her expectation was in vain; a completely different reaction than anticipated returned.

“Strange. According to the chef, there’s no problem. Why does she say she didn’t get paid?”

“…What?”

“It’s something you prostitutes can resolve by sleeping with the chef one more night. Aren’t you best at shaking your asses?”

Roaring laughter-!!

Roaring laughter!

The men burst into laughter simultaneously.

Tia’s mind went blank from the direct insult.

The drunken men’s gazes were not ordinary.

Lewd laughter, eyes that swept over her body, even tongues greedily flicking out.

Tia realized.

They saw her not as a ‘person,’ but merely as a tool for satisfying their lust.

“If you understand, then go back.”

Just as the knight, having come to his own arbitrary conclusion, was about to return to his tent.

“…What if I don’t want to?”

Thud.

The knight’s foot stopped.

He turned his head and glared at Tia.

With a cold gaze that indicated he would no longer treat this as amusement.

Despite that, Tia didn’t cower.

“Is this your ‘honor,’ Sir Knight?”

“How dare a lowly wench…!”

His subordinates sprang to their feet.

Beer mugs on the table toppled, spilling their contents with a gurgle.

“Do you know where you are to babble like that?!”

Clack.

The knight raised a hand once to calm the agitated atmosphere.

Then he scoffed, drawing the longsword fastened at his waist.

Shing-.

It was a metallic sound that sent a chill down her spine.

“Alan.”

“Yes!”

A squire nearby immediately stood up.

He was a man who resembled the knight in many ways.

He handed the sword to Alan and spoke.

“Since she questioned honor, answer her with honor.”

“Understood.”

The air changed in an instant.

A small, low voice.

A thick, heavy gloom settled.

Tia knew this heavy atmosphere.

It was like the atmosphere back then, when her Master, with a serious face, challenged a thug who had stormed into the contact office and caused trouble.

The knight pointed to Tia’s shortsword.

“You too, honorably prove that your sword is not just for show.”

“……”

Clang-.

She slowly drew her Rose Saber.

She didn’t know why she did it.

She hadn’t intended to do this even when she came here.

But her pounding heart instilled courage and ignited a desire to truly fight.

Like a ‘Swordsman’.

The squire, acting as the knight’s proxy, spoke while holding the longsword.

“Alan Orband. I challenge you to a duel.”

This wasn’t practice.

Nor was it a fake duel with wooden swords.

It was a one-on-one battle, holding real swords to kill each other.

“Tia Anshier. I accept.”

As soon as she finished a light bow, Alan approached with his sword held in a challenging stance.

Swish.

Conversely, Tia held her sword back.

She calmly recalled her Master’s teachings.

A duel is instantaneous.

It is decided by a single move.

There are no second chances. It’s over the moment you’re cut or stabbed.

“……”

Sweat trickled.

The knight’s subordinates were drinking, treating this duel as entertainment.

Like laughing while watching fighting dogs.

Their vulgar laughter disturbed her concentration.

She glared at her opponent.

He was big. His body, his sword. Everything seemed large.

It felt endlessly far for her sword to reach.

Yet, it seemed like he could spring out at any moment and stab her head with his longsword.

Whoosh-!

In the blink of an eye.

Alan lunged forward, thrusting his sword.

“……!”

She reacted quickly.

Clang!

Sword met sword.

Just before the powerful impact traveled up her thin arm, past her shoulder, and down to her leg.

Her red eyes sharpened fiercely.

Scratch-!

Following the tangled blades.

Swish!

Quickly crossing her arms, she rotated her sword.

The trajectory of the Rose Saber’s back edge was…

Her opponent’s right hand.

“Kh…?!”

Alan noticed and immediately flattened his sword, but.

It was merely a feint.

Tia lowered her stance for a moment, and

Clang-!

With all her might, she sent the man’s longsword flying upwards.

His front was exposed.

All of this happened in a fleeting moment.

The outcome was decided here.

Only the finish remained.

Whoosh-!

Just as she spun the blade again, intending to strike her opponent’s jaw.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

Suddenly, a shield appeared and knocked her sword away.

Tia was pushed back with a jolt and fell to the ground.

“Stop. It’s over.”

The knight returned the wolf-emblazoned shield to his subordinate and spoke briefly.

“Alan. You lose.”

“Yes. I apologize.”

“No. That young lady was simply extraordinary.”

Saying so, he strode over to the fallen Tia and extended a hand.

“Who is it?”

“……?”

“Who is the Master who taught you?”

“Bin Carlos-nim…”

“As expected.”

His gruff voice softened considerably, and his demeanor towards Tia was completely different from before.

And as if by magic, he resolved all the problems in an instant.

“Chef. Prepare the money and bring it immediately.”

“Yes!”

“Your name is… ‘Tia Anshier’?”

“Yes.”

“I almost injured Master Carlos-nim’s disciple. My sincere apologies, Miss Anshier.”

The knight politely sought forgiveness, as if addressing a noble.

Tia also, caught off guard, replied that she understood.

After that, until she received the money and returned to the tent.

No one mocked her, nor did they interfere.

Everyone was delighted when she returned the money to Eilli Unnie.

Thanks to the chef including roast pork as a token of apology, everyone was able to have a party late into the night.

“Tia-! You were so cool!”

“That’s amazing! I never thought you’d actually fight with a real sword!”

“I almost fell for you, and you’re not even a man, just another woman.”

“Ahaha……”

Well, it seemed to have turned out well somehow.

Falling asleep with her Unnies, Tia felt, for the first time, that this journey was enjoyable.

It was as if she had a feeling something even more interesting would happen tomorrow.

She closed her eyes, imagining the scenery of Deseo, which they would soon reach.

***

Day 5.

As soon as she woke up, she busily prepared for departure.

Clip-clop- clip-clop-.

Today, the sound of hooves was particularly loud.

It seemed the Knight was meticulously inspecting the formation just before departure.

But for some reason, the sound of hooves grew louder and louder…

Whoosh-.

A white warhorse stopped in front of Tia.

She wondered what was happening and felt a little scared.

Surprisingly, the Knight offered a morning greeting in a gentle voice.

“Good morning, Miss Anshier.”

“Oh, good morning- Sir Knight.”

The Knight dismounted from his horse.

“No. My name is not ‘Knight,’ but Von Robert. You may call me ‘Robert’ from now on.”

“Understood, Robert-nim.”

He casually looked around.

At that, the Unnies nearby were startled and fled to another spot.

Robert called out softly.

“Miss Anshier.”

“…Yes!”

“What brings you to Deseo?”

“Ah, well…”

Was going to Deseo alone really that unusual?

People always first asked, ‘Why are you going to Deseo?’

Having said it many times, it was now second nature.

Her precious friend was severely injured, a medicine called ‘Dienbus’ was needed for treatment, and she was heading to Deseo to obtain that medicine.

Robert listened to her story and nodded silently.

And then expressed a brief thought.

“Respectable.”

“W-what?! R-respectable…?”

She thought it was too grand a word, but he spoke indifferently, as if not thinking so at all.

“To think of traveling this far for a friend is indeed respectable. Especially at such a young age, and as a girl.”

Robert’s voice somehow held a hint of loneliness.

“…It seems the camaraderie and devotion that can’t be found in what passes for knights these days, were right here.”

She didn’t know what his story was.

Still, she wanted to offer some words of comfort.

“Um- Robert-nim.”

“Hmm?”

“I don’t think it’s just me. Thanks to Robert-nim leading the tribute convoy, everyone can safely entrust their precious tributes. And other knights also steadfastly guard the borders, allowing powerless people like us to live without worry.”

“……”

“I- I believe all of that is ‘devotion.’”

Robert silently gazed at Tia.

Then, he suddenly began to laugh heartily.

“Haha… Ahahahaha!!”

His inexplicable laughter made her feel like she had said something unnecessary.

“Oh, did I speak out of turn? I’m sorry!”

“Hahaha! No, no. It’s just that I heard something amusing for the first time in a while. I laughed boisterously without realizing it.”

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like she had upset him.

The knight, looking relieved, mounted his horse again.

And then he took out a horn and blew it powerfully.

Hooooonk-!!

As the signal announcing the tribute convoy’s departure blared, the wagons slowly began to move, starting from the lead.

Just as Tia was about to start walking along with the procession.

Whoosh.

“……!”

Suddenly, a large hand shot out in front of Tia.

Robert asked.

“Will you get on?”

“What? I- I don’t know how to ride a horse…”

“It’s alright.”

He wiggled his fingers, as if urging her to grab on quickly.

The moment she reluctantly placed her hand on his.

“Gasp…!”

Her body was suddenly pulled up.

Robert supported Tia with his sturdy arm and helped her sit in front of him.

He extended the reins to the girl, who was just managing to balance herself.

“Hold this.”

“Ah, ah… Yes!”

“Let’s go.”

Neigh-!

With the powerful neigh of the warhorse.

An unexpected horseback riding lesson began that morning.