episode_0073

“…So you’re telling me to fight him?”

Usher asked Donar, glaring at the boy in front of him. Usher, who had decided to train at his suggestion, followed Donar and arrived at a large open space in the castle. According to him, it was not originally used as a training ground, but he had received permission to use it temporarily. However, no one is to be seen around.

“Yeah, I thought it would be best to have you spar with someone of a similar age to gauge your skills.”

“And that similar age is him?”

“That’s right.”

The problem is that the suitable age is Logi, but he can’t even look Usher in the eye, seemingly feeling guilty, which only makes Usher see him as more hateful. In fact, this was a decision Donar made with both of them in mind. Since this was Usher’s first time, he originally considered choosing easier opponents, but he thought it would be more effective to encourage rivalry.

“I think you lack a sense of urgency.”

Judging by the fact that he followed him after hearing those words, it seems he wasn’t completely lacking, but he felt that he was insufficient in that he didn’t train on his own first and only realized it after receiving the suggestion. In that respect, Logi was a good opponent for Usher in many ways. Although the children didn’t say anything, the air flowing between the three of them was stiff enough for anyone who lived with them to notice. At first, he didn’t pay attention because the girl was just unfamiliar or Usher was just wary.

But was it because of that? At some point, things had deteriorated to a level that was difficult to see as just a children’s fight. Even worse, it happened not when Pan’s incident occurred, but after Pan was abandoned in the wilderness. So he realized that something else had happened. Last night, he didn’t say anything because of the atmosphere, but after the banquet today, he grabbed Logi and asked what had happened between Usher and Belka.

As expected, Logi kept his mouth shut and didn’t try to talk, but after being constantly pressed, he finally opened his mouth. And what he learned was shocking. He ended up hearing that Logi couldn’t control his impulses and had assaulted the girl again. Only then could he understand everything. He debated whether to get angry and scold him or to remain silent, and then spoke calmly.

“It’s natural for someone your age to be curious about such things. There’s no one to tell you how wrong it is, and it must have been hard to understand. I can understand to some extent why you were seduced by Pan. But this time…”

However, even though he knew it was wrong and a sin, to impulsively and forcibly do such a thing was something he could not tolerate, especially as someone with a fiancée who had gone through a similar experience. Still, he had to give his last advice as an adult to the child who was from the same country and with whom he had grown fond. Donar didn’t know if that was really the right way.

“I can’t just let this go. I’ll make arrangements first. After that, it’s up to you. I don’t care whether you apologize or get beaten up.”

And so it came to this. As it was, it seemed like there would be a knife fight, so he thought about how to solve it, and this was the result. If fighting was inevitable, then he would just set up a stage. He thought that mediating under the name of sparring would prevent any accidents that might happen. Once they fought, some of the resentment left in each other might be resolved. So he borrowed this open space, separate from the place his colleagues used as a training ground. So that the two of them could fight as much as they wanted.

This was also to see Usher’s fighting skills and physical abilities, but there was some benefit no matter who won. If Usher won, he could alleviate Logi’s guilt, but if Logi won, Usher would have a sense of urgency and train desperately. But Donar was secretly expecting Logi to win. Usher was just a country boy with some strength, but Logi was a promising young man who had been professionally trained in Pasiphaenia.

He brought Usher some protective gear that would fit. Plate mail, mainly used by knights, was only available for sturdy adults unless custom-made due to cost and efficiency issues, but there were quite a few leather protectors made for children who dreamed of becoming knights. Logi was also in the same condition. The weapons are practice swords of a size suitable for their bodies.

“….”

Usher glared at Logi without saying a word. At first, there was Belka’s word, and he could still think of it as a mistake, so he could move on. But when the girl told him with a tearful face about what had happened with Logi. What was that feeling? Even after going through the incidents with Mac and Pan, the emotions that had been suppressed because the situation didn’t allow it were now facing one of the causes, and it felt like they were bubbling and about to explode. Even so, he waited for Donar’s words with a minimum of patience.

“Then start.”

But that was it. Now that the signal had been given, there was no reason to hold back. He immediately raised his practice sword and tried to hit Logi’s head, but the guy held his sword horizontally to block it. The natural movement like flowing water looked quite plausible. The strength itself seemed to be about the same, so he tried to push him down with force, but the practice sword only shook and didn’t move. Soon, Logi lightly twisted the practice sword, and that alone was enough for Usher to get hit on the head with the practice sword.

The impact transmitted to the protective gear was enough to tell that it would have hurt a lot if he hadn’t been wearing it in advance. The first match ended so absurdly. He wouldn’t have been so upset if he had hit him even once more. His practice sword, which he had tried to push down with force, could only be seen blocked by the cross guard.

“You’re just trying to push down with force, so of course you’ll get swung around. Think more and move the sword.”

Donar coldly pointed that out to Usher and ordered him to compete again. He wondered why he was being asked to spar without any basic training, but all he could think about now was beating Logi down. This time, he tried to swing the sword quickly so that he couldn’t block it. But when the swords met, Logi’s wooden sword stuck to his practice sword and didn’t come off. He tried to swing the sword again, but in a flash, he was hit in the waist.

“If you swing it around carelessly, that’s a club, not a sword. Again.”

After that, he tried several times, but the results were the same. No matter how hard he tried, Usher couldn’t even graze the edge of Logi’s practice sword. It felt like he was constantly hitting an impenetrable shield with a club. Even though they were both using the same practice sword.

“Ha, seriously, why is it like this.”

Still, as long as he had the stamina, he continued to swing his wooden sword at Logi even without Donar’s instructions, but Usher was the first to collapse without any gain. His whole body was numb, and even though he was wearing protective gear, the places where he was hit by the practice sword hurt. His mind had already pictured himself beating the guy to a pulp, but the reality was this. He couldn’t stand the growing sense of injustice, and tears finally welled up in his eyes.

He thought he would burst into tears if he wasn’t careful, but he gritted his teeth and glared, thinking that he couldn’t cry in front of him.

“It’s not strange that you’re losing. This guy has been training longer than you, since he was younger than you are now.”

Those were the words of Donar, who was watching Usher.

“If you want to travel, shouldn’t you at least beat the kids your age?”

Even if he didn’t say it, Usher was feeling it as miserably as possible. What would happen if he continued traveling in his current state? He couldn’t even beat the weakest boy of his age among those who had forcibly assaulted Belka. That meant that if he continued traveling like this, the result was obvious. It’s a fact that the girl is beautiful that doesn’t need to be mentioned separately. Then, would those who harbor ill intentions towards her end with just three people? He could quickly see that it wasn’t the case.

Wasn’t there someone else who was interested in Belka even now? Usher felt his muscles screaming and his whole body soaked in sweat, but he couldn’t care less about that. The fact that it was his first fight was no excuse. Defeat leads to the worst results. He only had the thought that he had to become stronger. Even for the sake of the girl. Even to beat that bastard to a pulp. In this way, the sparring with Logi that day ended with Usher’s unilateral defeat.

That evening. They were planning to cook dinner among the members of the merchant group, but after hearing the news from the castle maid that their dinner had already been prepared, they had no choice but to bear the burden and head to the banquet hall.

“Usher!?”

However, what Donar had not considered was Belka. She had been led by Media and arrived at the banquet hall first, and was surprised to find Usher, who had barely washed his sweaty body, and approached him. She was so devoted that she grabbed his face and looked around, looking like she was about to cry. No matter how much protective gear he was wearing, there was no way to avoid the wounds he had sustained from being hit.

“What happened to you?”

“Oh, it’s just from training.”

Usher mumbled, but he couldn’t help but glance at Donar.

‘Cough! Are you trying to kill me?’

Donar jumped inwardly as Belka’s resentful gaze turned to him as she realized that. For some reason, the girl wasn’t wearing a mask, and she attracted the attention of many people. Thanks to that, he received so much attention that he would have been pierced to death if the gaze had physical power, and he ended up getting indigestion that evening. Logi, who had made Usher that way, watched Belka and Usher who were sticking together in the crowd, lowered his head, ate quietly, and left the banquet hall.

“But Belka, the mask?”

“That’s…”

“I’m holding it.”

Before the girl could answer, Media, who had approached unnoticed, said cheerfully.

“Hey, why are you holding it?”

He looked at her in disbelief, and she chuckled.

“But it’s a waste to live hiding such a pretty face, isn’t it? So I asked her to take off her mask, at least while she’s in the castle.”

Usher’s dinner wasn’t very comfortable either. He was so hungry that he didn’t even care whether the food was going into his mouth or his nose, and he devoured it. But the real problem was bedtime. Usher was planning to sleep with Belka.

“What? The women’s rooms and the men’s rooms are separate?”

“I think Heath guided you around at lunchtime, but I guess you didn’t hear?”

Media shrugged at Usher’s words.

“It would be difficult if the population suddenly increased in the castle. Above all, if you do that kind of thing, it will be heard in the next room. It’s a nuisance?”

In the end, he had to accept that he would be using a different room from the girl. He wanted to say that he had no intention of doing such a thing here, but they couldn’t stand Media’s eyes, which seemed to say that she knew everything.

“Hehe, shall we sleep together then?”

“That’s really!”

Usher could only get annoyed as he watched Belka being led away by Media. But what he couldn’t stand more than anything was.

“”….””

The fact that he and Logi were in the same room. He grinded his teeth as he recalled the events of the day. If someone had intended it, it was malicious, and if it was just a coincidence, it was a truly cruel thing.