Chapter 31: To Me, You Were Like the Sun

An iron sword.

Even without sharpening the blade, it is strictly a lethal weapon.

Much less for those who can wield it freely based on steady training.

Knight Apprentices, trainees.

Even those who have not received formal investiture are undeniably dangerous combat personnel.

Therefore, even a practice iron sword is never swung or struck with full force toward an opponent.

Usually, they are swung in the air, or even during sparring, for the purpose of gaining a sense of real combat, they stop just before contact or halt at the point of barely touching.

The point is that the significance lies in training for control, utilization, and application through proficiency.

And here, once again.

When wearing protective gear, it connects to more violent movements.

Direct strikes are permitted, and simulating cuts is allowed without issue.

And once more.

When Mana is employed, the situation changes abruptly again.

Therefore, if one intends to swing and strike a sword realistically for training purposes.

Without exception, they hold a wooden sword.

Even then, whether the tip of the sword is blunted or ground to be appropriately sharp so that it can actually pierce.

That is solely the choice of each trainee or the discretion of the swordsmanship instructor.

And Kariel.

…He particularly hated and felt uneasy about blades made of iron.

“Do you intend to show such a pitiful attitude even in the Lawless Zone?!”

That is why.

Like cutting the moonlight, grazing it, or deflecting it.

The sharp trajectory of that sword, swung like a gale while drawing a large semicircle.

To the original Kariel, it would have been terrifying.

“…….”

It is still terrifying.

No, let me correct that.

It is uneasy.

…Now, it is simply uneasy.

He responded by gripping the sword he had also drawn, but instead of clashing, he pulled his body away.

The Arming Sword she held was a one-handed sword, unlike his, which was a Long Sword capable of being used with one or two hands.

The shapes of both swords resembled a cross.

In the era before the birth of knights.

A certain king thought.

There was a clear limit to having only infantry marching upon the land.

They were excellent for defense, but to dominate the battlefield, that was not enough.

Thus, his thoughts turned to a specific need.

The necessity of mobility.

Going one step further.

A legion that could control and break down the mobility of the enemies.

The king realized the need for a professional Cavalry Legion.

Not simply those who could mount a horse.

There were already many of those.

One day, the king gathered his vassals and spoke.

[I shall grant you Lord’s Domains; there, you shall raise horses and livestock and govern the people. You shall utilize this to breed and train warhorses, and you yourselves must engage in rigorous training as warriors.]

Thus, the moment war calls us, your strength will be needed; respond to that call.

…….

Even so, the concept of a ‘knight’ as spoken of in the current era had not yet emerged.

However, this era was certainly the age of the Warrior Aristocracy.

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

And later.

When the Demon Realm, including the Demon King, invaded.

They played a pivotal role.

But they were few in number.

They were Heroes who could take on a hundred or a thousand alone.

Nevertheless, they were a minority.

And.

Once the fragmented chaos and turbulent times briefly receded.

Another problem surfaced.

A warrior was, in essence, a legal and recognized armed force.

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

Even during a fleeting peace, they incessantly eyed the spearheads of others, and eventually, the tips of those spears pointed toward their own allies.

They coveted interests and territories.

Some plundered the food and valuables of others.

Some even abducted residents of other domains to make them slaves and sell them.

It was, truly.

An age of genuine barbarism.

“Just because the era has changed, where is the guarantee that anywhere is safe!”

Elhermina’s sword was extremely agile.

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

Provided there is enough strength and depending on the wielder’s proficiency, it serves as a highly threatening means of combat.

Clang!

“Kh!”

Swords are not originally meant to meet so lightly.

Even if they do meet, it is usually just the tips overlapping or interlocking.

Like the knights and warriors in fairy tales and stories.

Clashing swords calmly to the point where they can hear each other’s breathing, feeling the other’s breath on their skin.

Engaging in a contest of strength in such a posture.

In reality, that is highly exceptional.

If one made even a slight mistake at the moment of contact, there was a high chance of being cut or pierced, or one side being unilaterally overwhelmed.

In ultra-close quarters, even a blunt weapon of moderate length is impractical.

Short swords and daggers are more advantageous, and depending on the situation, punches, the back of the hand, elbows, knees, and legs used in hand-to-hand combat are preferred.

Headbutting is possible, scratching is possible, and even biting is possible.

No matter how equal the skills are, in the end, a sword—whether it cuts deeply or shallowly—the result of being cut does not change.

“Show me now, Kariel! Your skill! Since you were so confident, is that not why you chose to resist!”

That’s not it.

But there is no other choice.

The situation had been pointing in one direction all along.

“Urgh!”

But the strange thing was.

His techniques simply did not work on her.

She didn’t lose her balance, nor did she stagger or feel any confusion at the moment the swords clashed.

Rather, she was pushing him even more vigorously.

Every time he moved his sword for defensive purposes.

Instead of striking his torso, she repeatedly hammered the sword as if she intended to shatter the blade itself.

Clang! Clang!

The shock transmitted through the blade traveled up the wrist, arm joints, and shoulder… but.

It did not go further.

Instead.

‘What kind of strength is this….’

The force did not disperse.

Nor was it fully absorbed.

As if concentrated on a single point, the burden accumulated in the wrist.

Though she was repeatedly striking the sword, Elhermina was aiming for Kariel’s wrist.

As the shock accumulated, the fading sensation felt in the wrist clearly indicated this.

In other words, she was an expert who knew how to control her strength.

And not stopping there.

‘Pure physical ability?’

She was attacking using inertia, utilizing a fully secured parabolic trajectory and pure muscular strength, while blocking even the Mana that might unconsciously or minutely flow.

Yet, every single move of her offense was perfectly controlled in its center.

“I came knowing everything! You said you absorb or counter-utilize the Mana of others?”

Then.

“Is it not enough to simply not use Mana at all!”

Easier said than done.

Just words.

…How is that even possible?

Unless one has a constitutional problem like Kariel.

For most, even if intended, that is a reality that is impossible.

Yet, she says it is possible.

And she was demonstrating it personally.

‘As expected, you….’

Suddenly, the words the Demon King had muttered flashed through his mind.

[That girl knew long ago what you’ve only recently realized.]

Imagine if she had gone beyond deep contemplation and engaged in agonizingly hard training.

Furthermore, that period was by no means lax, nor was it a crash course of sudden realization achieved in a short time like Kariel’s.

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

And that.

Even if you strive desperately.

[It will take several years at least.]

…….

…So that’s how it is.

“Is it not already enough?!”

But I don’t know why it feels like you’re the one about to cry.

I’m the one being beaten.

Why does the one striking have a more aggrieved expression?

She was sincere, as always.

And because of what he heard from the Demon King.

He was forced to realize that she was pouring in her sincerity and whole soul at every moment.

Therefore, he knew that her confession from earlier was not just sincerity in words.

There was gratitude, and a sense of regret and resentment—wondering if it was too late—that absurdly pierced his heart and pressed down on his lungs.

But in the end, that was his own fault, his own absurdity.

He should resent who he needs to resent.

What kind of mindset is it to pour out curses, saying she didn’t save him or that she was too late?

Clang!

“If you intend to use extreme measures here, just as you did with Patina! You will never escape my grasp!”

Yes.

I know that well.

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

I’m not so thoughtless that I wouldn’t know that.

With Patina, I proceeded with that premise.

Since I couldn’t self-harm, I simply used Patina as a tool.

In fact, at the time, I believed there was no other way to land a blow or put the opponent in a predicament.

Breaking myself to put the opponent in a predicament.

How miserable and cowardly a method is that.

Is it a problem of my weakness?

Or is it because my heart and nature are twisted?

‘Truly.’

That is not the mindset of a knight.

Far from a hero, and even further from a Hero.

Screeech—

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

“Where are you looking?”

A toneless voice struck his eardrums.

“Kh!”

Even in the midst of urgency, his consciousness floated to a strange place.

Over there.

Across the distant river.

Among children playing in a small garden.

One child gripped a tree branch.

And with a flash, raising it high toward the sky.

Did they not shout?

…Only.

When it was a tree branch and not a sword.

The child, smiling brightly.

Could shout like this.

I will—!

Become a ●●!

“Will you not wake up!”

Instead of being kicked and rolling on the ground, he was sent flying and collided with a tree behind him.

“Kh!”

The tree shook violently, swaying as if it might snap.

It was a relief that he managed to spread the impact throughout his entire body; otherwise, this single strike might have ended the situation.

“Ugh….”

It was beyond strange; it was infuriating.

Why did he have to fall into such an absurd emotion so suddenly?

Something that kept scratching at his brain was deeply bothersome.

But why?

He felt a very familiar nostalgia toward it.

“As I thought, it’s no use. Just give up.”

Eventually.

“Now, try using that mysterious technique of yours.”

To see if it was truly that great.

“…Show me once.”

For a moment.

A Flame Demon enveloped the entire forest.

Yet, the flames did not spread or transfer anywhere.

Even that was thoroughly controlled.

If a Flame Demon of that scale occurred in this forest, the entire forest would probably be covered in flames in an instant.

That would likely be no different from Hellfire.

However.

This place was not Hellfire.

It was a flame that bloomed solely from hostility and animosity directed toward him.

The whole world turned crimson.

He felt as if his entire body was burning from the intense heat.

‘What is this?’

Nevertheless, even though the heat choked his breath, his body remained intact.

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

The person who caused it.

As if she had received a baptism from the God of Fire.

Radiant, like something transcendental.

As if a Fire Phoenix from myth had descended.

She was burning brightly.

Truly paradoxically.

Without burning or incinerating anything.

There probably weren’t many times she had shown this true side of herself in reality.

Furthermore, there probably weren’t many who had witnessed this directly from the front.

And those chosen by fate to face this head-on.

Even more.

Even fewer.

“…….”

It was strange.

It was a mysterious and peculiar thing.

But he was truly moved.

“Finally.”

To me, you were like the sun.

You were such a being.

Because that light was so intense that far from approaching, I couldn’t even look at you with my eyes open.

It was deeply painful.

Just by seeing you.

Just by always being compared to you.

Just by being measured against you.

I truly felt my breath being choked out.

But.

“I can see you now.”

Elhermina.

El.

You, my childhood friend.

Only now.