A Long-Awaited Swordsmanship Duel (1)

I simply ignored Mezlen’s remarks about becoming Eris’s grandmother, despite not even being in a romantic relationship with Harold yet, and after that, we just chatted a bit about what had happened over the past few months.

Seraphine, in particular, had quite a few personal questions for me. She asked in detail about the extent of pain during childbirth, what a mother’s role in childcare was, and so on.

It seemed she was already envisioning her married life with Gyeotmwa Jyosyegigot and asking all sorts of things… As someone who indirectly knew the outcome for the two of them, I could only feel a sense of pity.

‘It would be solved if The Hero just gave up his wish to return to his hometown…’

Since I had heard that wish several times already, I knew best that he would never give it up.

Just as I couldn’t give up my life in this world, he probably couldn’t give up his life in his original world. In my past life, my relationship with my family wasn’t great, and I didn’t have a lover, but Gyeotmwa Jyosyegigot gave off a completely opposite vibe from me.

It wasn’t right to force someone like that to abandon their life in their original world and get used to a life in another. That would be like telling me to give up my current life and return to my original world.

…Of course, I wished he would at least sort out the feelings of the women he had charmed before he left.

After visiting the VIP Room and talking with the three Imperial family members, I stopped by the Academy Church to greet Saint Celista and Gyeotmwa Jyosyegigot, who happened to be there. After that, I visited the Magic Department, Alchemy Department, Swordsmanship Department, and Spearmanship Department in order, meeting Agnes, Lara, Natalie, and Lilia.

After making such a round of the dormitories, five hours had already flown by since I had gone out. This was because I had talked a bit too much at each place I visited.

“Isabel, I’m sorry! I’m so late?!”

“Shhh. Eris just fell asleep.”

“Ah, right….”

Fortunately, it seemed nothing had happened to Isabel or Eris while I was away for so long.

After checking on Eris, who was soundly asleep in her cradle, the three of them quietly organized the childcare gifts Lizzie had sent.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

After returning to the Luminor Academy, which I had missed in many ways, some time passed.

There were a few special events, but the only one related to me was the Hero Party’s graduation ceremony.

To be honest, the Hero Party’s graduation itself wasn’t particularly related to me; only Agnes, Lizzie, and Natalie graduating held a special meaning.

I somehow ended up joining the after-party held in the VIP Room building after the graduation ceremony. I didn’t eat any alcohol or greasy food because of Eris, though….

“Blackwood Prince!! Today, I shall defeat you and prove my strength!!! Come out to the front yard right now!!!”

“…Who gave her alcohol?”

“W-wasn’t this a drink…? Ah, Lady Natalie was holding it earlier, so I thought it was just a normal drink….”

“S-sorry! Na-Natalie, calm down for a moment….”

“……Haa, I’m going crazy.”

In the middle of it, Natalie got drunk and made a mess of herself, causing a small commotion.

Thomas, playing the role of an abused husband, saying, ‘My husband is really kind as long as he doesn’t drink…,’ somehow managed to calm Natalie down, and immediately, a large number of Hero Party members rushed in and forcibly made her drink strong alcohol.

Since everyone now knew that the best way to deal with similar incidents was to just make her drink more and pass out, she, who had offended Ethan, was then forcibly given more alcohol by her party members and collapsed. (She came to apologize with Thomas the next day.)

After finishing the enjoyable yet somewhat regretful graduation after-party, which was also a sort of farewell party for Ethan and me, a few more days passed, and Ethan and I returned to Luminor Academy as fourth-year students.

“Hey, Lillith.”

“Yes, Ethan.”

“…Are you not thinking of buying a new Academy uniform?”

“Why? It’s still perfectly fine. And even if I bought a new one now, I’d only be able to wear it for a year, wouldn’t I?”

“It’s because it has maid frills. Lillith isn’t really a maid anymore, so wearing that makes things a bit confusing.”

“What can I do? I’ve already modified it like this. Besides, I’ve worn it for three years, so it holds memories. I’m also used to this attire during combat, so changing it might make me feel awkward.”

“Then at least take off the head dress you’re wearing….”

That wouldn’t do. If I wore a maid uniform, a head dress was naturally an essential accessory that came with it.

I dismissed Ethan’s somewhat unreasonable request and returned to my maid + Academy uniform attire after a long time. …Though, compared to before, the chest area was a bit tight, so I had to alter it slightly.

Returning to the maid uniform after a long time somehow brought back old memories, so I subtly changed my tone and called Ethan by the title I used to use frequently.

“Does the uniform you’re wearing after a year fit you well, Young Master Ethan?”

“…You startled me. What are you doing all of a sudden, Lillith?”

“Old memories came to mind, so I tried it. Until a year ago, I always called you Young Master Ethan when addressing you, didn’t I?”

“…Don’t. Now that I think about it, I should have made you stop that even earlier.”

“Could it be that you couldn’t do so because Young Master Ethan also preferred our relationship back then a little more?”

“…I said stop, Lillith.”

Yet, seeing him subtly blush, it seemed he quite liked it.

Well, he had grown up seeing Lillith in a maid uniform for more than half his life, so it was only natural that his preference would lean that way.

In fact, most of the time Ethan and I were temporary lovers was when I was a maid.

Still, I decided to only mimic a maid on special occasions, as doing it too often might make it less fun. To be honest, it felt a bit awkward to pretend to be a maid now.

After returning to the Academy, I became a fourth-year student again and attended classes like the other students.

I didn’t miss Harold’s Magic Swordsmanship class, and I quickly completed one of the Exploration Classes in its first week.

Since it was a class that didn’t take place far from the Academy and could be completed in two days and one night, leaving Eris with Isabel wasn’t a big problem.

…My breast milk supply was also increasing day by day, enough to fill about three bottles with one pumping, and these days, Eris was replacing one meal a day with baby food.

-Clang, clank, clang…!!

“Haa, haa, haa…!!”

…At one point, I thought I would never see this sight again.

Seeing the students exchanging sword strikes with Harold, it truly felt real that I was back at the Academy. Although, aside from Ethan, most of the Swordsmanship Department students’ faces had changed over the past year.

Among them, the only acquaintance whose face I recognized was Prince Antonio?

Harold remembered his name, so I figured he had some potential, and indeed, his posture was quite good. It wasn’t on par with Ethan or The Hero, but it was roughly comparable to The Hero’s level in his first year.

-Clang!!

“…That’s enough. Next time, it would be better to use a sword that thrusts more boldly rather than focusing on defense.”

“Yes! Thank you for your guidance, Professor!”

Seeing Prince Antonio showing such meticulous respect towards Harold, both Ethan and I were quite surprised.

It seemed that due to the difference in our academic years, I hadn’t had any classes with Antonio until now. I hadn’t known what kind of attitude he, as a Prince, usually took in class, and I certainly hadn’t imagined he would be so serious.

‘No wonder the class atmosphere seemed unbelievably good.’

When a Prince showed such respect to a mere professor, what student could possibly show discomfort in this class?

Although I hadn’t observed Prince Antonio’s demeanor frequently, he certainly had a considerable talent for wielding his power.

As I thought about that, the sparring order passed one by one, and soon it was my turn. I stepped forward to have a swordsmanship duel with Harold after a long time.

“Please grant me a match.”

“…It’s you. There’s no need to overexert yourself if you’re not feeling well.”

“I will do my best.”

“…….”

It had been quite a while since I had properly wielded a sword due to pregnancy and childbirth, and honestly, I didn’t think I could win a match against Harold in my current state.

Still, clashing swords with a strong opponent was the fastest way to regain my rusty skills.

-Whoosh!

With the signal for the sparring match to begin, I quickly darted forward towards Harold, gripping the daggers I had pulled from inside my skirt in both hands.

Still, I had hunted plenty of monsters with this swordsmanship, and I had sparred quite often with the Paladins of the Ermia Church.

-Clang, clang, clank!!

“Ahem…….”

With that confidence, I exchanged several sword strikes with Harold, and after some time, even I started to get a general sense of things.

-Clang, clank!

“…There’s no need to overexert yourself and move dangerously. Focus a bit more on maintaining your posture.”

“…….”

…that this man had been openly going easy on me since earlier.