Ch.242EP.54 – The Knight Hate Messy Affairs (5)

…what kind of drift is this?

“……”

“D-don’t look at me like that.”

“What’s wrong with my eyes?”

“Y-you’re looking at me like I’m a criminal.”

“You’re quite perceptive.”

“!!?!”

It’s all the more shocking because I was quite immersed in her story.

Is this what it feels like when a child reading a heartwarming fairy tale suddenly meets an adult who shows them the original, disturbing version?

In other words, in many ways…

‘This is historically bad.’

Child abuser—in a way, it’s a cliché that appears in romance fantasies like stock soup, but hearing it for real was simply nauseating.

Ihan seemed genuinely contemptuous.

“W-wait! I understand there might be some misunderstanding, but stop! It’s all a misunderstanding!”

“That sounds like a typical criminal’s line…”

“It’s not! Though I can’t deny I was an inadequate parent, there were valid reasons for everything. Please listen to me a bit more.”

“……”

“…Thank you for listening, but could you please do something about that gaze? It feels wounding…”

Felinshia made a truly wronged expression and continued somewhat grumblingly.

“-Isn’t it strange not to retire after consuming all of one’s heavenly mandate?”

* * *

– *Cough*…

Felinshia was dying.

Her coughing fits increased, her arms trembled too much to wield a sword, and her eyes grew dim, making it difficult to even see ahead.

She was 65 years old at the time.

Considering that the ‘average life expectancy for Pendragon women was 55 years,’ it was no exaggeration to say she had lived a long life.

…However, longevity was not necessarily a blessing.

Rather.

– Urrrgh…

– Madam!!

– E-Elza, bring me the medicine.

– But that’s…

– Hurry.

– …Yes, ma’am.

She was a knight who had rolled in the dirt of battlefields for many years and bore over a hundred scars. She was also an adventurer and hero who had prevented conflicts while exploring countless dangerous areas.

It was a proud history for Felinshia personally, and it had been the foundation for her growth. Unfortunately, like the backlash that comes after pushing one’s body too hard in youth, her body was completely broken down.

Additionally, with the onset of aging that no living being can prevent, her body deteriorated even faster.

Even Felinshia, called the “Immortal Felinshia” or the “Knight of Strong Fortune,” couldn’t overcome the heavenly mandate… meaning the flow of time.

Every day was a struggle, and even breathing was painful—days when death wouldn’t have been surprising.

Nevertheless, the reason Felinshia endured without dying was none other than.

– Ah, I want to swing a sword just once more.

…It may sound crazy, but she wasn’t fighting to live for her family or children.

Only for the ‘sword.’

She wanted to swing her sword even once more before departing.

So she lived by taking medicine mixed with painkillers.

Even knowing it would further damage her body, she didn’t stop. And when even the drugs could no longer suppress her excruciating pain.

– Iliad, I’m sorry.

– No, Mother. You’ve suffered enough.

– Hehe, I’m not dying yet.

– Th-that’s not what I meant…

– Never mind, my son. Let me embrace you.

– ……

– I’m sorry for being an inadequate mother. I’m truly sorry…

– …To me, you are more than worthy and admirable as a mother. I hope you continue to live as yourself until the end. That is the mother I admire and love…

…She finally passed the family headship to her child and went into seclusion.

Though called seclusion, she was like the last leaf that might fall at any moment, settled in a separate building.

– …I’ll be coming to meet you soon.

Finally, without even the strength to move a finger, she thought of her husband who had gone to Avalon before her and with a happy smile…

“-Suddenly, I had this thought. Do I truly not have the strength to swing a sword?”

“……”

“Yes, if I couldn’t swing a sword with my body, couldn’t I continue to swing it with my mind? Shouldn’t I keep pursuing the sword endlessly? That’s how I wielded the sword through ‘will.'”

“……”

“And at some point, I became an ‘Aura User.'”

“…Where did the middle part go?”

“Hehe, I recommend not hearing it. I don’t want to see a likable young one like you die making ‘futile attempts.'”

“……”

* * *

Felinshia became an Aura User.

She was 71 years old at the time.

Among the countless Aura Users recorded in history, she became one at the latest age, and she was none other than the first female Aura User.

The war god sought her out again, and Baltar Grace and John Ray Albert crossed swords with her, proving that Felinshia was indeed an Aura User.

– Wow! Is this what they call a human triumph? Senior, you are truly remarkable.

– I don’t know if we’ll ever see a case like yours throughout past, present, and future.

An unprecedented female knight.

No one would be able to imitate her life, and no one would be able to become an Aura User like her.

This was the sincere evaluation from two Aura Users toward her, and it became a continent-wide sensation.

Afterward…

– Lady Felinshia, I wish to learn from you.

– How can I become a knight like you?

– C-can I also become an Aura User?!

For a while, she had to endure countless followers, and the Ophen family’s fortunes began to grow rapidly at a tremendous pace.

After all, weren’t they a family that had produced an Aura User?

It was natural that disciples increased exponentially, and merchants begged her to take their money just to have some connection with her.

To add a bit of humor, the Ophen family’s prestige at that time rivaled even the royal family.

…And knowing that this was not at all a good trend, Felinshia…

– I am still retired and have no intention of returning to active duty. Therefore, anyone who wants something from the Ophen family should leave. You will not receive any compensation from me.

After she uttered this sincere warning, the Ophen family finally returned to normal.

Well, due to the Aura User effect, they had already succeeded beyond the family’s golden age, so it wasn’t entirely a return to normalcy, was it?

Anyway, as the family stabilized through this period, and having rejuvenated to her prime appearance of her 40s rather than her 70s due to the life force (aura) filling her body, she immediately…

– I can train with the sword again…!

…She was happier about being able to “directly” wield a sword again than about regaining her youth or becoming superhuman.

“Isn’t it funny? Though my life was betrayed by the sword, I never let go of it and loved it until the end, so I was called a great swordsman despite being unworthy. It’s ironic.”

“Aren’t you being too harsh on yourself? You’re a superhuman after all.”

“Hehe, I can’t help it. My swordsmanship is still woefully inadequate.”

“…That level of deception is criminal.”

“I-I’m only stating facts! Ah, you’ve experienced my sword too, haven’t you? You know that my sword is far from those of geniuses.”

“Was it?”

“…You weren’t talented either, were you? I guess I found the wrong person to sympathize with.”

“…Damn it.”

…Though it might sound like deception to others, Felinshia’s swordsmanship, which she had honed throughout her life, wasn’t actually that special.

It was natural, if you think about it.

Why else would she be called the worst talent in Ophen family history?

She was a dullard among dullards, a swordswoman with a cursed comprehension who could barely digest 0.1 of a teaching when given 1.

Yet, the reason she was called a sword master and became a hero in her prime during her 40s was simply because “she as a person” grew stronger by overcoming countless battles.

It wasn’t that her swordsmanship was strong…

In a way.

“You’re similar to me.”

“…Hmm.”

A swordswoman who trained endlessly in simply cutting and thrusting, developing cuts and thrusts that no one could block.

That was Felinshia’s identity as a swordswoman, and it remained unchanged even after becoming an Aura User.

Therefore, Felinshia was still a challenger, a seeker advancing toward the endless path of the sword.

But…

– Mother, is this how you perform your swordsmanship?

– ……

– M-Mother?

– …So this is what a genius is like.

– Pardon?

Felinshia felt both emptiness and pride seeing her son catch up to her 70 years of experience in just “ten days.”

The person who received the love of the sword more than anyone else was her son, Iliad…

“It was amazing. My son imitated the most ideal swordsmanship I performed after seeing it just once, understood the meaning of swordsmanship in less than a week, and after two weeks, he had absorbed all of my swordsmanship and created a new style.”

“…You’re not exaggerating because he’s your son, are you?”

“Absolutely not. I witnessed it in real-time, and there are many witnesses in the family, so you can ask anyone.”

“…He’s an incredible person.”

“Yes, he was incredible.”

At that time, Iliad had just turned twenty, perfectly handled the duties of family head, and in the meantime, sought advice from old records and Felinshia’s former comrades, even publishing ‘fairy tales’ on an insane schedule.

He created the great masterpiece later known as the <Female Knight Series> while learning family head duties and swordsmanship.

What a magnificent talent!

Felinshia believed that perhaps her child might become the greatest swordsman in history.

He had already surpassed her swordsmanship, would be among the top ten in the kingdom in just 10 years, and she was certain he would be the best after 20 years.

It wasn’t just because he was a genius or because she was biased as his mother.

– Mother, is this how I should do this?

– You can already handle willpower like that! Amazing! Amazing, Iliad!

– Th-thank you.

Yes, Iliad also learned swordsmanship enthusiastically.

He had not only talent but also diligence and effort, and at some point, he even learned to handle willpower, which was truly remarkable.

– Try learning this too. It’s a copy of swordsmanship obtained from an ancient temple in the past.

– I-I’ll give it a try.

– Yes, you will surely become a great swordsman. Even this talentless mother succeeded, so how could you not!

– …Yes.

Iliad as a swordsman became increasingly complete, and the family swordsmanship he recreated and supplemented numbered more than dozens.

Felinshia was proud and impressed with such a son.

Then one day.

– Mother, …how does one become an Aura User?

Iliad asked how to become an Aura User.

– Hmm? Ah, do you already want to reach where your mother has? You could take it step by step.

– I’m not being greedy. I’m just curious about the ‘method’ of becoming an Aura User. It’s not recorded in any documents, is it?

– There’s a reason for that. To become an Aura User, you must risk your life.

– Life…

– Hehe, think of it as the process of a caterpillar metamorphosing into a butterfly.

– Then, could you just teach me how? I want to record it.

– Hmm…

– Mother.

– …Alright, you wouldn’t act foolishly.

Felinshia trusted her son.

He was a son far more excellent than herself.

He was her pride, always exceeding her expectations.

So she thought nothing would go wrong.

And this choice-

“…became the moment I regret most in my life.”

* * *

– I-Iliad! P-please come to your senses, Iliad!

On the day she saw her dying child, Felinshia nearly went mad.

Her whole body trembled, and her judgment was clouded by fear.

– Why, why did you make such a choice…?!!

Yet she couldn’t find the reason.

Why did her son make such a foolish attempt without saying anything to her?

How could that wise son…?

But finding the reason could wait.

Felinshia,

“…I just recklessly poured aura into him. Fortunately, I had an ocean of aura, the purest and strongest life force contained in human energy. Barely delaying Iliad’s death and employing ancient elixirs obtained from various temples, Iliad finally survived.”

“That’s a miracle.”

“A miracle, yes, it was a miracle. That day, for the first time, I became grateful to the existence called god.”

“……”

“But was it the price for defying death? Iliad became unable to wield a sword anymore.”

A disabled body.

Iliad would never be able to use his legs again, which could be considered a cheap price for survival.

“It was the day Iliad died as a swordsman. But… somehow Iliad seemed relieved to hear that. As if he was glad it turned out this way, and I thought, perhaps Iliad didn’t really like swords that much.”

“……”

“Because of me, because of an inadequate parent, did he forcibly learn swordsmanship? Such doubts and guilt kept haunting me.”

“…Did you ask him directly?”

“…No, I couldn’t. Even after waking up, he didn’t give me any answers and just acted as a wise family head and creator. I also thought this was enough.”

“You’re a coward.”

“Hehe, young one, you’ll understand when you become a parent. All parents inevitably become cowards when it comes to their children’s matters.”

“……”

She smiled sadly, and Ihan no longer reproached her.

…Or rather, to be precise.

“But why did he really do it? Why did that intelligent and brilliant child choose such an option? I still don’t understand at all.”

“W-what…?”

Though he tried not to reproach her, he couldn’t help but continue as he listened to her lament.

“Why don’t you know that?”

“Huh?”

“Do you really not know? Or are you pretending not to know?”

“??”

“…This is maddening.”

Even he could understand why, yet the person directly involved showed an attitude of knowing nothing, which was frustrating.

And he realized.

“You might be a great hero, but you could never be a good parent.”

“…?”

As a person, she was an utterly inadequate human being.