Ch.589589. Special Swordsmanship (1)

In the County of Sianella, there exists a man who is strangely never mentioned.

He was the husband of Ainel Sianella and the father of my wife, Sione. Having passed away shortly after Sion’s birth, one would expect that as the husband of Ainel, the head of a high noble family, his life would be thoroughly documented and discussed, whether favorably or not.

Yet the servants of the county, sensitive to rumors and stories, the guards who protected him with loyalty, and even his family members—all maintained strict silence about him.

‘There must be some reason.’

Nevertheless, the fact that Ainel still wore the brooch he left behind on her formal attire suggested she hadn’t forgotten him.

I was curious about what past might be hidden there.

“Hmm—”

Unlike her usual behavior of cuddling up to me affectionately whenever we rode in a carriage, Sione was leaning her head against the window, gazing outside with thoughtful eyes.

‘Even though Siabel asked me to listen to Sione’s story…’

It felt awkward to casually bring it up in this atmosphere.

So to improve the current mood, I started talking about our upcoming mission.

“Sione, you remember about the expedition force, right?”

At my words, her eyes rolled toward me, finally focusing on me.

She finally lifted her head from the window and began to seriously consider our upcoming expedition.

“Of course. We’ll be going to the Empire with the 2nd Expedition Force… heading to the northern front, right?”

“And the important thing is—”

“That the front line is still being pushed back despite the Holy Maiden’s participation? That’s why the Empire wants to send us there, because the enemy’s offensive is so powerful and fierce.”

“Exactly.”

“Ray, you’ve told me so many times. Even if I wanted to forget, I couldn’t possibly forget something you’ve repeated so much.”

After adding that she hears it even in her dreams, our conversation deepened.

“I suppose we should contact the Great Forest before heading to the northern Empire. Specifically, the combat unit where Edelin is stationed.”

“Right, Lady Edelin said she was going to eliminate the remaining threats in the north.”

A hero and monster from the old era, Edelin had expressed a strong determination to hunt down the Demon of Corruption, with whom she had various bad connections in the past. That’s why she headed north.

“Since she has deep grievances with the Demon of Corruption, she’ll be moving to capture it too. If our operation areas overlap, it would be good to coordinate our plans before the hunt.”

Just like we did in the Great Forest.

There’s nothing more reassuring than fighting alongside skilled elves on the battlefield.

The elves led by Edelin might be different to other humans, but at least for us, they can be called reliable allies.

“While it’s important to coordinate with the Holy Maiden’s forces and the Imperial army, in the end, the Great Forest will be the most trustworthy ally there.”

Our relationship with the Order has already begun to deteriorate. As days pass, that friction will only grow larger.

And we can’t ignore the fact that the Imperial army has existed as an enemy of the Kingdom for many years.

For a while, Sione and I continued discussing the northern war and the information I knew about the Demon of Corruption.

During our conversation, I couldn’t help but notice one action Sione kept repeating.

‘She keeps touching that brooch.’

She was unconsciously and carefully caressing the brooch she had received from Ainel.

After finishing our conversation, I carefully broached the subject.

“Sione.”

“What is it, Ray?”

“Can I ask about that brooch?”

“Ah—”

At my question, Sione finally noticed her own hand on the brooch and gave a faint smile.

“Well… it’s a rather obvious story, but if you want to hear it, I’ll tell you.”

She said there was nothing she couldn’t tell me.

As she began to trace her old memories, she removed the brooch from her clothes and looked at it, starting to unfold the story of the old county.

“As you’ve probably heard, this is my father’s keepsake. In my memories, my father always wore this brooch.”

“……”

“My mother and father met at the Royal Academy. Apparently, this brooch was the first gift he received from my mother. Though his face is now faint in my memory… my father always smiled brightly whenever he talked about this brooch.”

Time inevitably flows.

Her face was perfectly calm, having come to accept the pain of losing her father over the long years.

Only occasionally, when her father’s face wasn’t clearly visible in her memory, did a hint of sadness seep through.

“He said this brooch gave him certainty whenever he doubted or regretted his choices. That it gave him strength to believe his thoughts and decisions would never be wrong.”

“……”

“I heard that when my father was wandering, my mother gave him this brooch and told him something. When he doubted himself and felt anxious, she told him to look at this brooch.”

“The brooch?”

“She told him to remember that she always believed in him. Mother was quite romantic, wasn’t she? Perhaps because of that, I think father often looked at the brooch whenever he had something to worry about.”

Sione brightly shared the old story.

“Though I heard this when I was very young, so I might be remembering it wrong,” she added.

“But one thing I remember clearly is that he said he would definitely give this brooch to me someday.”

Her mood gradually sank.

“When I was six years old… he passed away too early, so I don’t have many memories, but my father cherished me greatly. He said I might become as exceptional as my sister, who showed talent with the sword from an early age, or perhaps even more outstanding.”

Like walking on a swamp and gradually being sucked into its damp, sticky depths, the brightness slowly being devoured caught my attention strongly.

“But I completely failed to live up to my father’s expectations. I was dull-witted, and eventually a coward who gave up even trying. I was trash who trampled on the heart of Nanny Herel, who had filled my father’s empty place.”

“……”

“I know very well that people in the territory… no, throughout the Kingdom called me a good-for-nothing. I deserved it. But being a coward, I was afraid to hear those insults… and what scared me even more was—”

The dark stories of the past no longer have a great impact on her.

Sione has changed, and now she’s one of the most outstanding knights in the Kingdom, a woman whose transformation has been recognized.

But regardless, reminiscing about those times couldn’t be entirely pleasant.

“That I had completely strayed from my father’s expectations and trust.”

Her emotions settling was inevitable.

“My father died of an unknown fever. He didn’t get better despite the efforts of skilled priests, doctors, and alchemists.”

It was difficult to deeply recall someone who had already departed.

“Even in the midst of all that, in his final moment, father told me he believed in me.”

Beyond hearing fragments about Sione’s father.

“So I think that’s why… um… after receiving this brooch, I kept wondering about that. Whether I had become the daughter my father dreamed of and believed in so much.”

I now understood what had been worrying her so much.

After closing my eyes briefly to organize my thoughts, I calmly responded to her words.

“If that’s the case, you don’t need to worry.”

“Huh? Ray?”

I carefully took the brooch from Sione’s hand and pinned it to her clothes.

With even more careful hands than when nocking an arrow and aiming precisely, gently.

“Your father’s faith shone until the end. It’s already enough. You’ve overcome and changed.”

“……”

“Sione. The brooch suits you well.”

Having broken through to the level of Master, how could one not be proud?

“You said he looked at this brooch when he was anxious and doubtful. Just like your father did, now this brooch will help you from now on.”

When I said that, Sione silently looked at her brooch.

With her head bowed for a moment, her eyes were hidden by her bangs.

“How is it?”

“It—”

As she raised her head.

“Suits me well.”

Once again, her blue eyes regained their bright light.

And that light was bigger and more immense than I thought.

She had been shining so brightly all this time that it almost blinded me.

Sione gently approached and hugged me tightly.

“……”

Just as I was about to wrap my arms around her waist to return the embrace.

“Ah.”

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my neck.

“…Sione?”

“What?”

“Why did you bite my neck?”

“Oh, just because I’m so happy?”

…That’s reason to suddenly sink your fangs in properly?

Looking at Sione with a puzzled face, she just responded with a broad smile.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Well—”

“I don’t regret what I’ve already done!”

* * *

Shortly before arriving at the baronial estate, after our last camp and a simple dinner.

Sione approached me with quite a serious face.

“Ray. Can you spar with me for a bit?”

“Spar? What do you—”

Sione unexpectedly handed me a sword.

As I took the sword she offered and looked at it quietly.

“Not with a bow, but with a sword. There’s something I want to try.”

An unusual atmosphere.

“With armor on too, to avoid injuries as much as possible.”

Why?

Today’s Sione seemed to emanate the spirit of the first Count that I had seen in the magical realm.