Ch.3111. To Me, You Were Like the Sun.

A sword made of iron.

Even without sharpening, it is undeniably a deadly weapon.

Not to mention those who can wield it freely based on consistent training.

Knight candidates, apprentices.

Even those who have not been formally appointed are undeniably dangerous combat personnel.

Therefore, even practice iron swords are never swung or struck at opponents with full force.

Usually, they are swung in the air, or even during sparring, to develop real combat sense, they stop just before contact or barely touch the opponent.

The point is to focus on training for control, utilization, and application through practice.

And from here again.

When wearing protective gear, movements become more intense.

Direct strikes are allowed, and pretending to cut is permitted without issue.

And once again.

When mana is utilized, the situation changes dramatically.

Therefore, if one wishes to swing and strike with a sword realistically during training,

Without exception, they grasp a wooden sword.

Even then, whether the tip is made blunt, moderately sharp, or thoroughly ground to actually be able to stab,

Is solely the choice of each trainee and the discretion of the sword instructor.

And Kariel…

…particularly disliked and was wary of iron blades.

“Even in lawless territories, you intend to display such a pitiful attitude?!”

That’s why.

Like cutting moonlight, grazing it, deflecting it.

Drawing a large semicircle, yet the sharp trajectory of that sword swinging like a gale,

Would have been terrifying to the original Kariel.

“……”

It’s still frightening.

No, let me correct that.

It’s unsettling.

…Now, it’s just unsettling.

I drew my sword in response, but instead of engaging directly, I evaded.

Unlike her arming sword, a one-handed sword, mine was a longsword that could be used with either one or both hands.

Both swords resembled crosses in form.

In the era before knights emerged.

A certain king thought.

Infantry marching on land had clear limitations.

While excellent for defense, they were insufficient to dominate the battlefield.

So his thoughts turned to.

The necessity of mobility.

And going one step further.

A corps that could control and break the enemy’s mobility.

The king realized the need for a specialized cavalry corps.

Not just those who simply mounted horses.

There were already plenty of those.

One day, the king summoned his vassals and said:

[I will grant you territories where you shall raise horses and livestock, and rule over the people. You will use these resources to raise and train war horses, and you yourselves must undergo rigorous training as warriors.]

Thus, when war calls upon us, your strength will be needed, so respond to that call.

…

Even so, the concept of knights as understood in the current era had not yet emerged.

However, this era was certainly the age of warrior nobility.

Battles and wars between nations expanded the specialization and necessity of such forces.

And later.

When the Demon King and the demon realm invaded.

These warriors performed brilliantly.

But they were few in number.

They were heroes worth a hundred men each, capable of facing a thousand foes.

Yet they remained few.

And then.

When the chaotic turmoil temporarily receded.

Another problem emerged.

Warriors were legitimate and officially recognized armed forces.

They committed atrocities against kings, commoners, and slaves alike.

Even during brief periods of peace, they constantly probed with their spears, eventually turning their spear tips toward their own allies.

They coveted interests and territories.

Some plundered others’ food and valuables.

Some even abducted people from other territories to make them slaves or sell them.

Truly.

It was an age of genuine barbarism.

“Just because times have changed, where is the guarantee that anywhere is safe!”

Elhermina’s sword was extremely nimble.

The characteristic of a one-handed sword is that it can be used more diversely and freely than directions controlled by two hands.

With sufficient strength and depending on the wielder’s proficiency, it becomes an extremely threatening combat tool.

Clang!

“Ugh!”

Swords, by nature, cannot meet lightly.

Even when they do meet, it’s merely the tips overlapping or interlocking.

Unlike knights and warriors in fairy tales and stories.

Calmly crossing swords so close that breaths can be heard, feeling each other’s breath on their skin.

Such a scenario of strength contest.

In reality, it’s extremely unusual.

If one makes even a slight mistake when swords meet, both could be cut and stabbed, or one side could be overwhelmingly disadvantaged.

At extremely close range, even a blunt weapon of appropriate length is impractical.

A dagger or short knife would be more advantageous, and depending on the situation, punches, backhand strikes, elbows, knees, legs,

Headbutts are possible, scratching is possible, even biting is possible.

No matter how evenly matched in skill, a sword ultimately cuts—whether deeply or moderately—and that result never changes.

“Come on, show me, Kariel! Your skill! You chose to resist because you were so confident, didn’t you!”

That’s not it.

But there’s no choice.

The situation has consistently pointed in one direction.

“Urgh!”

But what’s strange is.

My tactics simply don’t work against her.

She doesn’t lose her balance, let alone falter or show any confusion when our swords meet.

Rather, she’s pressing me even more vigorously.

Whenever I move my sword defensively.

She strikes at my sword repeatedly, as if trying to break the blade itself rather than hit my body.

Clang! Clang!

The impact transmitted through the blade travels to my wrist, arm joints, and shoulder… but goes no further.

Instead.

‘What kind of strength…’

The force doesn’t disperse.

It’s not fully absorbed either.

As if concentrated on a single point, stress accumulates in my wrist.

Though she keeps striking at the sword, Elhermina is targeting Kariel’s wrist.

As the impacts accumulate, the fading sensation in the wrist clearly indicates this.

In other words, she’s skilled enough to control her strength.

And if that weren’t enough.

‘Pure physical ability?’

She’s even blocking any mana that might flow unconsciously or subtly, using pure muscle strength and inertial attacks with a well-secured parabolic motion.

Yet each offensive move is definitely controlled at its core.

“I knew it all along! You absorb or exploit others’ mana, don’t you?”

If so.

“If I don’t use mana at all, that’s the end of it, isn’t it!”

Easier said than done.

Just words.

…How is that even possible?

Unless one has a constitutional issue like Kariel,

For most, it’s impossible even if intended.

Yet, she claims it’s possible for her.

And she’s demonstrating it firsthand.

‘As expected, you…’

Suddenly, what the Demon King had rambled about flashed through my mind.

[That woman knew what you’ve only recently realized, long before you did.]

Consider if she had been contemplating and training rigorously in that state.

Moreover, the period was neither casual nor a short-term enlightenment like Kariel’s.

[Before Lueld, you’ll have to overcome her first.]

And that means.

Even if you try desperately.

[It will take at least several years.]

…

…That’s right.

“Isn’t this enough already?!”

But why does it seem like you’re about to cry?

I’m the one being attacked.

Why does the attacker look more aggrieved?

She was always sincere.

And, because of what I heard from the Demon King.

I inevitably realized that she was pouring her heart and soul into every moment.

So I knew her earlier confession wasn’t just lip service.

I felt grateful, but also regret and resentment that it might be too late, absurdly piercing my heart and pressing on my lungs.

But that’s ultimately my fault, my absurdity.

I should blame what deserves blame.

What kind of mentality is it to curse someone for not saving you, for being late?

Clang!

“If you’re thinking of using an extreme move like you did at Patina here! You will never escape my grasp!”

Right.

I know that too.

If I did, I’d be dragged straight to mother.

I’m not thoughtless enough not to understand that.

At Patina, I proceeded with that premise.

I couldn’t harm myself, so I used Patina as a tool.

At the time, I truly believed there was no other way to land a hit or trouble my opponent.

To break myself to trouble the opponent.

How miserable and cowardly a method.

Is it a matter of my weakness?

Or is my mindset, my nature twisted?

‘Truly.’

It’s not the mindset of a knight.

Far from a hero, even further from a warrior.

Screech—

[You’d give up so much for that one thing? How can you do that?]

“Where are you looking?”

A toneless voice struck my eardrums.

“Ugh!”

Even in this urgent moment, my consciousness drifts to a strange place.

Over there.

Across the distant river.

Among children playing on a small yard.

A child grasps a branch.

And raising it high toward the sky.

Isn’t the child shouting?

…Only.

When it was a branch, not a sword.

The child, with a bright smile.

Could shout like this.

I—!

Will become a ●●!

“Won’t you come to your senses!”

I was kicked and sent flying into a tree behind me, rather than rolling on the ground.

“Ugh!”

The tree shook violently, almost breaking.

If I hadn’t spread the impact throughout my body, this blow would have ended the situation.

“Urgh…”

It’s strange to the point of irritation.

Why must I fall into such absurd emotions?

Something scratching at my brain was greatly disturbing.

Why?

I was feeling a very familiar nostalgia there.

“It seems impossible after all. Just give up.”

Eventually.

“Come, show me that mysterious technique you possess.”

If it’s so impressive.

“…Show me once.”

In an instant.

Fire engulfed the entire forest.

Yet the flames didn’t spread or transfer anywhere.

Even that was thoroughly controlled.

If such a scale of fire occurred in this forest, the entire forest would probably be covered in flames instantly.

That would truly be hell on earth.

But.

While this place isn’t hell.

It is a flame blooming with hostility and antagonism directed solely at me.

The whole world turns bright red.

The intense heat makes it feel like my entire body is burning.

‘What is this?’

Yet despite the heat making it hard to breathe, my body remained intact.

In a situation where flames could engulf me at any moment.

The one who caused it.

As if baptized by a fire deity.

Radiant, like something transcendent.

As if a mythical phoenix had descended.

She was burning brightly.

Paradoxically.

Without burning or incinerating anything.

She hasn’t shown such true colors in reality many times.

Moreover, those who have directly witnessed this would be few.

Those chosen by fate to face this head-on.

Even fewer.

Even fewer.

“……”

It’s strange.

Wondrous and peculiar, but.

I was truly moved.

“Finally.”

To me, you were like the sun.

That kind of existence.

Your light was so intense that I couldn’t even look at you, let alone approach you.

It was extremely painful.

Just by you being visible.

Just by always being compared to you.

Just by being measured against you.

I truly felt suffocated.

But.

“I can see you now.”

Elhermina.

El.

My childhood friend.

Only now.