episode_0059

Professor Brianna’s greatest joy these days is teaching Gilbert, whom she recently took on as her second student.

As much as Brianna changed her mind about not accepting disciples after Seraphina, Gilbert’s talent sometimes surprised even her.

There is a saying that if you know one thing, you will know ten. She was able to feel the same emotions she felt when teaching Seraphina for the first time.

Of course, even if it was teaching, it would have been more correct to say that it was guidance sparring since he had already been completed to some extent as a swordsman.

In particular, the physical training part was so perfect that she left nothing to be touched, and the foundation for building up her swordsmanship was also excellent.

At this point, it would be normal to not feel like teaching, but there was no time to feel that way as I watched Gilbert grow more and more through tutoring sparring. Although I didn’t teach Gilbert for a long time, his growth was excellent even by Professor Brianna’s standards.

It was difficult to find any unnecessary movements or bad habits that were observed when I first started teaching.

I thought it would be difficult to change since I had already perfected my swordsmanship style to some extent, but it turned out to be a pleasant misjudgment.

That means he is serious about swordsmanship.

Otherwise, it would have been difficult to achieve such explosive growth.

It goes without saying, but the moment you stop trying just because you have talent, it will stay there. In particular, the moment when one’s swordsmanship skills reached a certain level and one became lazy was the most dangerous.

For someone as talented as Gilbert, one thing he had to be especially careful of was laziness. Indolence leads to pride, and pride leads to identity.

While working as a professor at Demeia Academy, Brianna saw many cadets who never blossomed due to laziness and pride. Among them, there might have been a cadet who had the potential to surpass her.

From her perspective, I couldn’t help but feel truly sorry. Still, although Sera Pina, who was accepted as an exclusive student, had talent and passion that could be counted on one hand, it was difficult for her to devote all her time to swordsmanship.

Seraphina’s status was that of a princess, and the possibility of becoming the heir to the throne was very high, so even though she was an academy cadet, the amount of official duties given to her was a significant amount. Unlike before, time could not be invested only in swordsmanship.

Nevertheless, Brianna was eyeing Seraphina as someone who could surpass her. I don’t know how long I will be known as the strongest swordsman on the continent, but I thought that if I had to give up that title someday, it would be Seraphina.

Of course, all of this was before I met Gilbert.

After meeting him and teaching him, I had no choice but to change my mind. Needless to say, he was talented, and I was confident that Gilbert, who was a hard worker, would be able to take home the title of the strongest on the continent before Seraphina.

“Has something good happened?”

Gilbert, who had been meditating before sparring, suddenly opened his eyes and was looking at her.

“There is nothing like that.”

“You were smiling.”

Was he smiling happily without even realizing it?

Brianna quickly corrected her expression. It was because I was worried that pointless praise would be poisonous to him.

I think Gilbert, who has been watching me so far, will not change, but I still don’t know. Because a gap in one’s heart can form the moment one lets one’s guard down.

Brianna vowed to always remain a strict teacher for Gilbert.

“Useless talk. Let’s start sparring in the morning. Raise your sword.”

“Okay.”

Despite his cold remark, Gilbert’s expression did not change. I was worried that there would be resistance because I was being stricter than necessary, but fortunately there was no sign of that.

As always, I just drew my sword and assumed the stance of the Winter Sword.

Gilbert’s eyes, which were usually indifferent, lit up the moment he held the sword. The difference that was clearly visible to the eye seemed to be a passion for the sword.

Brianna smiled inwardly at the obvious change in Gilbert’s appearance. When I looked into his hot eyes, I felt like a fire was lit in my heart.

As Brianna became the best swordsman and lost her rivals, her passion for the sword cooled slightly.

It wasn’t that I was lazy in training, but it felt like the goal had somehow disappeared.

I felt that there was still a higher level of sword skill, but it was impossible to go on such a long journey alone. I needed a partner to walk that path with me.

This was impossible even for Seraphina. Although she enjoyed practicing swordsmanship, as a princess, swordsmanship was just a tool. Like Brianna, she was not someone whose goal was the sword itself.

Born into a noble family, it was a life with many things to bear. Seraphim was in a position where she could not be forced to live a life full of swords like Brianna.

Even if it was possible, it would be meaningless. The path she had to take was not one that could be taken by force.

But if it’s Gilbert…

Brianna stood facing Gilbert and drew her sword. Likewise, he adopted the winter sword designation.

These days, I have a strong feeling that if he has a great desire for the sword like me, we might be able to go down that path together. There was no one like Gilbert as a companion on the journey to the end of the sword.

I wasn’t reaching my level yet, but I didn’t think it would last. If he is growing day by day, he will reach her position sooner rather than later.

The moment when we become equals. Brianna’s journey will begin again. With your one and only companion.

“Come.”

I will do my best for that day. Brianna greeted Gilbert, who was approaching with a sword.

***

Brianna and Gilbert’s sparring could not end until an hour had passed. Even that only stopped midway because Gilbert’s mana was starting to run out.

If his mana hadn’t run out, the sparring might have lasted longer.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

I showed my respect by forcing my body, which had become as heavy as wet cotton, to move. Although he was still physically fit, his low mana was also affecting his body. I was more tired than I was after sprinting.

“It was good in the end. I never thought I would immediately apply what I said last time.”

“If you don’t use what you’ve learned, I think it’s meaningless.”

“Good attitude. Embracing what you have learned is the most important thing.”

In a rare moment, Brianna praised Gilbert. Basically, I tried to show the appearance of a strict teacher, but I couldn’t help but praise this consistent attitude.

“I don’t think I was mistaken.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think Master is in a good mood today.”

“He said it was useless.”

Brianna’s face, which had relaxed slightly, hardened slightly. Gilbert began to understand why Professor Brianna was so damn popular in the community even though she was an unrivalable character.

The cuteness hidden in her cool-headed image and even the willingness to die for the cadets.

It must be because the images that arise from that difference shook the hearts of gamers.

Gilbert didn’t like Brianna like that either. On the contrary, it was a good thing, as he desperately planned and intensively trained to save her.

“There is something I should tell you more than that.”

“Are you talking to me?”

Gilbert, who was wiping his sweat with a towel and tidying up the training room, looked at Brianna. Suddenly, it occurred to me that I had something to say.

“Okay. You probably know that the Lion King Birthday celebration is coming back soon.”

“I know.”

“Then the story will be faster.”

What on earth is it that talks so fast?

Gilbert got an ominous feeling from Brianna’s satisfied expression.

It might not be as life-threatening as Brianna said, but it felt uncomfortable.

“The Lion King Parade is always a part of the commemorative events hosted by Demeia Academy. And in most Lion King parades, the role of the Lion King is determined by the winner before the competition.”

“Master.”

“There is no distinction between men and women. However, in general, the honor is given to the winner of the competition.”

Gilbert’s head began to spin at an unprecedented speed.

To summarize the situation simply, it seemed like the winner of the competition had to play the role of the lion king of the lion king parade.

As it was a famous festival of the empire, it was clear that it was a very honorable position to serve as the lion king of an important parade event. Moreover, since only the winners of the competition enjoyed the benefits, it was a way to let the entire empire know that they were the best in their grade.

Any cadet at Demeia Academy would want to take up that position, but Gilbert was a little different. I wasn’t very used to receiving that kind of attention, but I had already done something that was more noticeable than necessary.

With the Academy attack so close, I didn’t want to take another step forward.

A parade when it’s not enough to quietly prepare for an attack?

Gilbert had to somehow hand over that position to someone else.

“Master. I have something to tell you.”

“No.”

“I haven’t told you yet.”

“Are you saying you have something else to say to me besides saying you won’t?”

I swallowed back what I was going to say after seeing Brianna’s sharp gaze, which said she would not accept any objections. He said it was impossible because of the symbolism and legitimacy of the parade.

Gilbert tried to organize his suddenly complicated mind. Then I suddenly realized one thing.

The role of Lion King in the parade was not the winner of the first grade competition. Because of the symbolism of the Lion King, the honor always went to the final winner, including in event competitions.

And right before the gamer won the event, it was none other than Serafina who took on that role. Has it changed from the settings in the game? That question raised its head.

“It’s not like that. As far as I know, didn’t the final winner, including the event match, take on the role?”

“It was like that originally. However, it was decided to change the regulations starting this year.”

“Suddenly… . What do you mean?”

“You probably know the reason best. Considering what you did as a first-year cadet, it wouldn’t be unreasonable.”

Oh, I see.

Gilbert barely understood Brianna’s words. In the end, it seemed that the reason was none other than himself.

Gilbert, who was heartbroken, couldn’t help but sigh, perhaps knowing Brianna’s proud gaze.