Ch.105Chapter 105: Trigger (4)

#

After parting with my sister, I hastily finished my breakfast.

To pass the time until sunset, I mindlessly swung my sword at the training grounds.

As someone with no distinguishing features beyond being from a prestigious family, I had nothing special to do except train.

Unlike Dan Augustine, who was deeply versed in magical engineering and could tour the mana stone power plant at the center of the fortress to build knowledge about cutting-edge technology.

Or unlike Rufus, Kessler’s heir, who was examining every corner of this northern fortress adjacent to his territory to consider future support measures.

Without such aptitudes, I could only make good use of my time by honing my martial skills, like Excel who was in a similar position to mine.

However, no matter how much I tried to calm my mind while swinging my sword, the emptiness within wouldn’t easily dissipate.

At first, I pondered why while continuing to practice, but soon realized the reason.

[Look at you, losing motivation because the Proxian lady isn’t around. If you don’t see her for about three days, you’ll die of lovesickness.]

‘?? Why are you stating the obvious?’

[…I should just keep quiet.]

As Fafnir teased me while I continued training without enthusiasm, the reason was clear—the absence of the precious person who had been by my side every day since visiting this fortress.

Come to think of it, not just during this subjugation festival period, but since my regression, I had spent most of my time with Shizu while honing my swordsmanship.

Listening to Shizu’s candid observations about my swordsmanship helped me coldly assess my condition.

Through sparring with her, I realized how strong she was and how much effort I needed to put in to be worthy of standing beside her.

And beyond these two reasons, Shizu’s presence alone was enough to warm my dried-up heart from before my regression.

Realizing this made my already low motivation drop even further.

“Sigh…”

I exhaled softly as I sheathed the training sword in my hand.

“This isn’t efficient.”

I muttered words that sounded pathetically inadequate even to my own ears.

“I should go find Shizu.”

Using the excuse of recharging my motivation, I left the training grounds to look for her.

Based on what she said when we parted last evening about having something to discuss with my sister.

And considering that I had been assigned tasks by my sister this morning, if Shizu was having similar conversations and that’s why she hadn’t shown herself to me since morning.

She would likely be at my sister’s office or the quarters where my sister was staying.

If not there, I could search the entire fortress before sunset since I had time to spare.

However, just as I was about to step toward the training ground exit with these thoughts in mind.

“Excuse me.”

My steps were halted by an urgent voice that rang in my ear as soon as I tried to leave the training grounds.

Feeling puzzled, I turned my head toward where the voice seemed to be coming from.

“Young man. Would you grant Eduard the opportunity to cross swords with you?”

I saw an Imperial Knights member with a seasoned appearance requesting a sparring match with me.

I was about to politely decline when.

“Sir Eduard! There’s a proper order to these things, so why are you bypassing me, Joachim, to challenge this young man first? Hey, young man, I outrank him, so spar with me first.”

As if triggered by the words of another knight who interrupted Eduard.

-I’ve been holding back wanting to spar too, but these guys are jumping ahead.

-To hell with it. I’ll take my shot whether it works or not.

Such comments grew louder around me, and soon I was surrounded by a crowd of Imperial Knights members with bloodshot eyes, all wanting to spar with me.

It seemed I was now paying the price for catching the attention of the training ground regulars while sparring with Shizu and Excel these past few days.

[How nice to be so popular.]

‘I’m tearfully grateful for your compliment.’

[If you’re grateful, buy me a meal.]

‘You can’t eat even if I gave you one, can you?’

[I’m just saying.]

While exchanging banter with Fafnir who was teasing me as I looked at the suddenly appeared crowd with resignation, I tried to think of a way out of this situation.

But concluding that there was no escape without sparring.

“Haah…”

After letting out another soft sigh while trying to appear as calm as possible.

“Though I am inadequate, I humbly request to learn from the Imperial Knights members.”

I accepted the sparring requests from the numerous Imperial Knights members with a respectful demeanor.

Well, it was suitable for killing time until sunset.

If it became too much, I could pretend to fight seriously, then lose and escape their attention before going about my business.

With such a light heart, I engaged in sparring with the Imperial Knights members.

However, my initially casual attitude gradually became serious as our weapons clashed…

-Oh… A Ranos is a Ranos, even at a young age.

-Young man, I’ve gained many new insights from crossing swords with you today. I sincerely express my gratitude.

-Let’s spar again when you have time. I won’t lose next time.

With such comments, I ended up facing all the knights who had requested to spar with me.

“Phew…”

Exhaling a sigh tinged with mild fatigue, I turned my gaze to the window to check how much time had passed.

I had clearly entered the training grounds shortly before lunchtime after hastily eating a late breakfast.

After facing the first two knights who requested to spar with me, Eduard and Joachim.

As more and more Imperial Knights members flocked to me like a bursting dam, I faced them one by one.

Before I knew it, it was approaching sunset, when my sister had told me to come.

“Sigh…”

It seemed I would only be able to eat dinner after finishing my business at my sister’s office.

After organizing my plans in my head, I finally managed to move toward the exit while receiving farewells from each knight I had sparred with.

Though they were very brief matches that could hardly be called formal sparring.

Having faced so many knights—I stopped counting after fifteen.

My steps toward the exit were unbearably heavy.

#

Come to my office before sunset, we need to discuss work.

After finishing the “battle” at the training grounds, I visited my sister’s office to wrap up today’s business and found several guests already there.

“Kal, you’re here…”

As soon as I opened the door, Shizu approached me with a bright smile.

“What? You’re here too?”

Excel, who had been standing right in front of my sister’s desk, looked at me with a surprised expression.

“Well…”

“Looks like all the Cradle students are gathered?”

Rubbing his chin with an interested expression, Rufus spoke up, followed immediately by Dan Augustine.

So all five of us Cradle students who were dispatched for the subjugation festival had gathered in the office.

Just as I was thinking that my sister hadn’t just called me but had gathered quite a few people for this “work.”

Creeeeak-!!

The office door opened again.

“Quite a number of people here. Deputy Commander, do you need this many personnel?”

A man entered with firm footsteps, calmly commenting on the number of people in the office.

From his footsteps to his voice, I knew who he was without having to turn around.

Of course, “now” he wouldn’t know me well.

I only knew him well because of our connection before my regression.

As the calm voice came from behind me, my sister rose from her chair.

“In a situation where we don’t know where or what might happen, it’s normal to mobilize all available personnel and prepare, Sir Eckhardt.”

After saying this, she snapped her fingers.

Snap-!

As darkness was gradually settling in my sister’s office at sunset, the artificial lighting on the ceiling turned on at the clear sound from my sister’s gesture, pushing back the darkness.

The scene revealed was simple and modest, hardly befitting an office occupied by the heir apparent of House Ranos, the most prominent of the three pillars supporting the Empire apart from the imperial family.

The man addressed as Sir Eckhardt by my sister strode into the now-illuminated office, extended his right arm fully, and placed it against his chest.

“Löwenhart Eckhardt, reporting back to the main force after two days of rest.”

He introduced himself formally and gave a proper subordinate’s greeting to my sister.

Löwenhart Eckhardt.

One of the three knights attacked by an Adorator who infiltrated the fortress at night a few days ago.

Unlike the other two knights who suffered near-fatal injuries, this young knight only sustained damage to his right eardrum without any other critical wounds.

In the time before my regression, he was the acting commander of the Imperial Knights, standing in for my sister who couldn’t properly fulfill her duties as commander while serving as the head of House Ranos.

Despite the “acting” prefix, he was undeniably skilled.

He’s quite tough though. He took a hit from the second-in-command of the Demon Realm and only had his eardrum ruptured, yet he’s back after just two days of rest.

Well, considering his bloodline, an injury like a ruptured eardrum would heal without much trouble, right?

“How is your injury?”

I wasn’t the only one thinking this, as my sister asked about her subordinate’s condition with a slightly worried voice.

“My ear still rings a bit, but I’m fine. That’s something I should recover from on my own while keeping active.”

Löwenhart lightly tapped his chest with his right hand, emphasizing his well-being.

True to his name, which means “lion heart” in the northern dialect.

Löwenhart’s expression showed no aftereffects from his encounter with the mistress of the Obsidian Palace.

“You’re as tough as ever. As your superior, I quite admire that quality, but do take care of yourself for your father’s sake as well.”

“I’ve already received a scolding from my father via communication magic…”

“It’s only natural for parents to worry about their children. So think of your father and take care of yourself.”

“I’ll take that to heart.”

With that, the conversation between Löwenhart—the only outsider among the five Cradle students present—and my sister concluded.

[Your sister’s attitude toward that ordinary knight seems more cautious than how she’d normally address a subordinate. Who’s his father that makes her act like that?]

‘He’s the current commander of the Imperial Knights, Löwenstein Eckhardt.’

[Oh. So he’s from a distinguished family too.]

‘Though he doesn’t particularly enjoy being treated that way.’

[A young master who wants to succeed without his parents’ influence? Well, he does seem skilled just by looking at him.]

‘In terms of pure swordsmanship, he’s on par with Shizu.’

[Oh…]

As I was satisfying Fafnir’s curiosity about this unfamiliar face.

“Now that we’re all gathered, it’s time to get down to business.”

Tap tap

My sister lightly tapped the desk with her right hand, drawing everyone’s attention to her, so I stopped my chat with Fafnir and turned my head toward her.

“The task is simple. You’ll form a removal team to professionally eliminate the impure marks that keep proliferating throughout the fortress. That’s the job for all of you gathered here.”

As my sister slowly introduced the topic, the expressions of those listening changed moment by moment.

Excel, who always listened attentively to my sister’s words regardless of content, was ready to hang on her every word.

The rest of the personnel also listened to my sister’s words with composed expressions.

Me? Well, it was obvious, wasn’t it?

[Isn’t this using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken?]

‘The consecration priests are currently deployed to reinforce the holy water barriers outside, so we’re short on personnel.’

[Even so. Removing impure marks is something you could do alone, like you did yesterday evening.]

‘That’s only possible on snowy days. If it doesn’t snow, those madmen from beyond the mountains could break in here, as proven a few days ago. They’re assigning this many people to prevent any possible mishaps.’

[I see…]

I was just chatting with Fafnir and preparing for the upcoming task.

My sister’s voice continued without pause as she addressed the gathered personnel about the work.

Though it was simple, she talked about dividing people into groups for efficient mark removal.

As her explanation was coming to an end.

“It’s still snowing heavily outside. For some reason, demonic realm activity noticeably decreases when it snows, and that trend still holds true. But don’t let your guard down. If impure marks appear in the fortress again tomorrow, that’s when you’ll start your activities. For now, go back and rest.”

With these words, my sister sat back down after standing and waved her right hand lightly, dismissing everyone.

Starting with Löwenhart, the most senior person present, who bowed to my sister.

Everyone present paid their respects to my sister before leaving the office.

There was a small incident where Excel tried to approach my sister to ask about having dinner together again today, only to receive a chop on the crown of his head.

With our exit from the office, today’s official schedule came to an end.

“Want to… eat?”

“Yes.”

As soon as I left my sister’s office, Shizu tightly held onto my left arm, and we matched our steps as we headed to the dining hall for dinner.

The white snow, considerably lighter than yesterday but even more pristine, continued to fall relentlessly on our shoulders as we walked toward the dining hall.