I have no idea how the first training went.
I just moved as instructed and took breaks.
The daily training is divided into morning and afternoon sessions.
After finishing lunch, we had a short break.
It wasn’t until I was returning to the lodging with my classmates that I started to realize what had happened today.
“I really put my life on the line.”
What kind of crazy stunt was that?
But thankfully, I managed to spark Eliya’s interest.
Thanks to that, I received some help.
“Judas, this guy… he’s even more dangerous than I thought, isn’t he?”
Richard said playfully.
“When the time comes, I’ll be like, ‘Hey, just so you know?'”
“I’ll be careful.”
“Huh, not saying you won’t, huh? I’m way ahead of you in rank.”
He spoke as if he was choked up, but the smile on his face didn’t vanish.
It seems that Richard also wasn’t too fond of that guy Kale.
I’m not worried about Richard turning out like Kale.
Even if it’s only been a day, I’ve figured out what kind of person Richard is.
Though he’s younger, he carries himself confidently and doesn’t treat others carelessly, despite being a higher rank.
You could say he’s quite mature for his age.
“Still, thanks to you, I feel much better.”
“Exactly!”
A classmate beside us chimed in.
Sorry to say, I still haven’t memorized all the names.
“Who would have thought Kale would go down like that in one go?”
“Right? But how did you bring him in? He’s taller and has been training longer than you.”
“I broke his… you know.”
“……”
There was a short silence.
After that…
“Ah! Hahaha! Aha-haha!”
“Hey, you…! You’re seriously insane! Uheh-heh!”
Richard laughed, clutching his stomach.
A couple of them were rolling on the floor.
“C’mon, Judas. You’re really the craziest person I’ve seen.”
“Thank you.”
“Why do you speak so well? I mean, what’s a job… or whatever? Where’d you learn that?”
I said whatever came to mind, excitedly.
It was definitely not vocabulary one would expect from an ex-slave.
I couldn’t keep denying it and just mumbled something vague.
“I learned it by peeking over someone’s shoulder back in the day.”
“You’re pretty good at it. Huh.”
Richard patted my shoulder.
“Judas.”
Dillon called my name in a serious tone from the side.
Why is he being serious after just laughing his butt off a moment ago?
“What you did… frankly, it was impressive. Unlike me, who cowardly hid, it was remarkable and brave.”
Why is he being so awkwardly heartfelt now?
“But.”
Suddenly, Dillon lowered his voice.
He whispered softly in my ear.
“You need to be aware that you’ve made enemies along with it.”
That was a bitter truth.
It’s the harsh reality.
When you correct an imbalance, those who lived off that imbalance will inevitably show up.
It’s a familiar scenario.
Richard clicked his tongue from the side.
“Yeah, it’s better to be careful. Not everyone in our room is a good guy like me. Let alone other rooms.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
It must be the case.
They might be friendly to me for now, but they could easily turn their backs on me depending on the situation.
I apologize to those two who have been nice to me, but I couldn’t blindly trust Dillon and Richard either.
That’s just how people are.
When you pretend to trust someone, even if a knife gets thrust into your back, they will betray you.
I wasn’t disgusted by that, though.
I was just used to it.
As always.
However, at least for a few days, I no longer needed to worry about that.
When I returned to the room, I found a box filled with cookies and fruity drinks.
“It was sent by Miss Eliya.”
The butler who personally carried the box explained.
It was Miguel.
“He says it’s a reward for identifying the bugs that have been eating away at the Duke’s family. Please, don’t feel burdened and accept it.”
He was surprisingly polite for just a candidate like me.
He bowed respectfully and then left.
For a while, we just stared at the snacks, looking dumbfounded.
Richard raised his arm and shouted.
“Wooooah-!”
With that cheer, the other kids also started yelling like crazy.
“Judas! Judas! Judas!”
“Judas, he’s a god!”
“Judas has descended upon this land to provide us with our daily bread….”
“From today onward, Judas is the representative of this room! Out with the incompetent room leader Dillon!”
“Out with him! Let’s start a rebellion!”
“Get away! Don’t touch him!”
Another ruckus ensued.
I was pulled along against my will and tossed around.
Eleven guys clung to me in a group.
They seemed intent on throwing me up to the sky.
“Wait, hold on…!”
“One, two-!”
“EEEHHH!”
An involuntary scream escaped me.
Guys, you’re throwing me way too high.
I almost smashed my face into the ceiling.
“Salute to Lord Judas!”
“LOYALTY!”
So embarrassing.
Receiving mindless adoration from kids much younger than me is incredibly embarrassing.
Feeling good just makes it more embarrassing…
“You can stop now, it’s fine. Just enjoy yourselves.”
“Lord Judas has given us permission!”
Then my buddies aggressively tore into the box.
A few of them brought me some of my share back.
With an awkward smile, I accepted the cookies and drinks.
At the same time, I quietly observed those who weren’t smiling in the midst of it all.
‘The ones Richard warned me about.’
I instinctively turned my gaze to check the numbers and pick out their characteristics.
‘Neat postures. Their usual vocabulary is tidy, and their attitudes are stiff yet haughty.’
The answer came quickly.
They were definitely kids from noble families.
On the other hand, those being all friendly, as if they’d give their lives for me, seemed like they shared a similar background to mine.
‘It can’t be helped.’
When you make allies, you end up creating enemies as well.
Sometimes those allies can turn back into enemies.
It’s a familiar truth.
I shook off the bitter thoughts and took a moment to enjoy the present.
Perhaps due to my body being younger, I occasionally found myself feeling simpler.
Eating sweets made me just feel happy.
For now, isn’t this enough?
[Hidden Quest, “The One Who Stands Against Injustice” has been completed.]
‘…Huh?’
[Please choose your reward.]
*
Flick, flick.
A girl lazily flipped through the documents, her eyes half-lidded.
Her gaze darted quickly back and forth.
Was she even reading properly? Yet the girl understood and assessed every single detail of the documents.
Sitting at a red-toned wooden desk, she resembled a doll reading paperwork.
Eliya sighed and broke the silence.
“The captain of this mansion’s knight regiment, Gawain.”
“…Yes.”
“Butler Miguel.”
“Yes, Miss.”
This was the office of the mansion where Eliya resided.
Gawain and Miguel stood in front of her with their hands behind their backs, their heads bowed respectfully.
Like criminals.
Even after summoning both, Eliya stayed silent for a while.
Finally, she put down the documents and spoke.
“Yesterday, a candidate who just joined discovered problems with the training facilities publicly.”
“……”
“What have you two been doing until now?”
“…I apologize. It was my oversight.”
“I’m ashamed, Miss.”
Eliya tapped the desk lightly.
She propped her chin up and tilted her head while looking at the two.
They didn’t dare meet her gaze.
“I know that my family sent you to monitor me.”
“……”
“I understand that it is my responsibility to be concerned about selecting my escort knight, even if you weren’t interested. But isn’t it only right for you both to at least do your minimal duties?”
Eliya smiled sweetly.
Both men swallowed hard, without realizing it.
She was merely a thirteen-year-old girl.
Yet upon standing before her, both adults felt fear.
It wasn’t merely because she was born with the rare qualities of a wizard within the Empire.
Fundamentally, she had an aura that pounded against the hearts of those around her.
This could be a natural result given her living environment.
Gawain hurriedly spoke up.
“I will correct it as quickly as possible.”
“And the deadline?”
“Three days should suffice.”
“Make it two.”
“I shall do so.”
“Now leave.”
Gawain respectfully bowed before exiting.
Only Miguel remained.
“I hear the Earl Havez is starting a welfare project.”
Eliya mentioned while pulling out a paper.
“It should have originally been brought by the Bevel family. I wonder how they managed to win the pre-bid.”
Kale Havez.
A document regarding him, who lost his future offspring plan to Judas, was laid before her.
“Perhaps we can use this as leverage to pressure and obtain the rights to host the project.”
“That is perceptive of you, Miss.”
As she looked over Kale’s document, Judias popped into her mind.
Unconsciously, she smiled without realizing it.
He was an interesting boy.
Though trembling, the way he boldly stated his opinions in front of others was quite refreshing.
A typical child would probably curl up and cry at that moment.
But he spoke as if he was well-versed in it.
Even the noble youth trained in rhetoric and eloquence wouldn’t be able to compete with him.
It had been the same since their first meeting.
He was an intriguing, wonderful specimen.
Had his wishes been fulfilled on Christmas a month ago?
It seemed improbable, but…
Seeing Eliya smile, the butler swallowed hard, perplexed.
Originally, she had no habit of smiling.
Even when she occasionally did, it often felt eerie.
That wasn’t laughter.
It was more like a mask that resembled a smile.
But the smile she had in front of Judas, at least half was genuine.
It was, however, half a mask.
It was a sight Miguel had never witnessed before.
For someone who had watched the growth of many children, Eliya was still a tough puzzle.
The perplexing reactions of a difficult opponent were equally hard to interpret.
However, that smile was still chilling for some reason.
Eliya was learning many things.
Philosophy, literature, mathematics, science, history, sociology, the art of being a sovereign, ethics, and morals, among others.
As a noble, there were moments when she learned to be ‘unethical.’
Eliya always scored perfectly in those subjects.
To her, the notions of morality were merely illusions.
“And regarding that candidate, Judas.”
“Yes, Miss.”
This time she pulled out a document with Judas’s personal information.
“He’s a former slave, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Eliya wasn’t concerned who would become her escort knight.
It didn’t matter in the first place.
It was merely a façade for the sake of face.
The Bevel family was also concerned about creating an image by paying attention to a bastard like this.
More of a show for that facade.
Thus, she had accepted him regardless of his background.
To feel like she was providing equal chances for everyone.
That was why Eliya hadn’t paid much attention, but this candidate Judas was quite intriguing.
That’s why she took the time to visit the far-off training camp of candidates.
Leaving the mansion, which stood isolated like an island, for a personal reason after some time brought satisfaction.
“Dig deeper into him. Something feels off.”
Thirteen years old.
That alone felt strange.
What slave can clearly state their age?
“I understand.”
Miguel had the same thoughts.
How could a slave bought from the streets speak so fluently?
The logical process leading to that conclusion was also extremely impressive.
“Have you delivered the gift well?”
“Yes. It was delivered with the refreshments and drinks chosen by you, Miss.”
“I chose mainly the ones you enjoyed last time; I wonder if he liked it.”
I liked it.
But I swallowed those words internally.
Judas met her interests.
On the surface, he spoke as if it were about the greater good.
Initially, that was indeed the case.
However, as it went on, what he said felt like it was directed at himself.
His subtle yet straightforward attitude wasn’t bad at all.
Wasn’t he rather cute?
“I’m sure he liked it. Those treats are things they wouldn’t even have the chance to see.”
Is that so?
Eliya concluded in solitude.
Even Judas’s sudden behavior was something she would never see anywhere else.
That’s why it could be likable.
Propping her chin on her hand, Eliya stared out the window with a faint smile.
She lived being pushed by inertia.
Like a shipwrecked boat caught in a current.
Studying things she didn’t wish to study.
Bearing powers and authority she didn’t want to enjoy.
Every day, she was pressured and chased around.
It was a life with no excitement whatsoever.
Yet recently, she discovered an interesting and incredibly enjoyable subject.
‘Not too bad.’
*
Late at night, when everyone was asleep.
Lying in bed, I checked the notification that had arrived in my head.
[Please select your reward.]
I didn’t see it earlier since I was so occupied.
[1. Spear Skill (Lv.2)]
[2. Sword Shield Technique (Lv.1)]
[3. Magic Release (1)]
“Hmm….”
I let out a low sigh as I pondered.
All of them seem useful.
‘Let’s go with the process of elimination.’
First, I’ll pass on the Magic Release.
Magic is an important force.
It helps transcend the limits of the physical body, and once mastered, you can even mold weapons from magic.
It’s vital to becoming stronger than the norm.
However, it’s only useful when the magic stat is high.
With just Level 1 magic attributes, there’s not much you can do.
So, I’ll pass on magic.
‘That leaves the Spear Skill and Sword Shield Technique.’
Both pertained to weapons/battle abilities.
The difference was that the Spear Skill was at Level 2 while the Sword Shield Technique was at Level 1.
‘The level of the techniques is quite important.’
Neither was particularly outstanding in a natural context.
It depends on how well the user handles them.
I didn’t struggle with that thought for long.
[Sword Shield Technique (Lv.1) has been added to my skills.]
It’s the skill to wield both sword and shield simultaneously.
This is considered a hidden skill that can only be gained by first obtaining “One-Handed Swordsmanship” and “Shield Technique.”
‘This one has better versatility compared to the Spear Skill.’
A spear is appropriate for soldiers forming a defense line.
It’s not particularly convenient to carry around.
As a guard knight, it’s essential to have a technique that can be flexibly deployed in any situation.
‘If only the spear and shield techniques could come together… Of course, I don’t intend to become a guard knight.’
Today, I solely focused on physical training.
Tomorrow includes weapon skills and sparring.
‘I wonder if Eliya will show up tomorrow…’
Having satisfied my curiosity, should I retreat?
Or will I seek further excitement?
‘I hope she doesn’t show up.’
I appreciate the help today, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s uncomfortable.
She is also quite a frightening presence.
‘In the short term, getting close to Eliya could be advantageous.’
Both today’s incidents and this escort knight test seem to point that way.
In various ways, there’s no two ways about it.
She is the most superior authority in this training camp and the most promising candidate for the future head of the Bevel family.
‘But in the long run…’
She’s historically a psychopathic individual known for having killed her own escort knights and bathing in the blood of young maidens.
If I get too close, I’ll be asking for death.
The conclusion remains the same.
‘Avoid entanglements if possible.’
*
Life doesn’t unfold the way you want.
It’s not that you live alone.
You can’t control others that aren’t you.
Thus, Eliya attending today’s training was something beyond my control.
It was a natural disaster of sorts.
Eliya again sat in a luxurious chair at the front during today’s session.
As before, a maid held an umbrella over her head.
Dressed in a relatively bright blue dress, she looked like a girl of her age.
‘She can look like a child too.’
Curious, I kept watching her, only to find Eliya smiling and waving her hand at me.
I merely lowered my head in response.
The gathered candidates in the training ground buzzed.
“Hey, she just waved at you.”
“Miss Eliya is here again… What on earth is going on?”
“They say she hasn’t shown up for training in other sections.”
“Is there a worthy candidate in our section?”
“There are a few. Like Galliot, who passed up to the seventh test recently…”
Richard poked me in the side.
“Why do you look so pale? The chosen one of the lady seems gloomy.”
“……”
I couldn’t retort against his teasing.
Several had already caught on.
Eliya’s visit was due to me.
“I’m undeserved of such attention, so I don’t know how to react.”
“Oh, come on. There are plenty of wolves who can’t even catch a glimpse of that bit of attention.”
Yeah, I get it.
If given the chance, there aren’t few candidates who wouldn’t want to impress Eliya.
Richard wouldn’t be an exception either.
After all, they’re all training with the goal of becoming Eliya’s escort knight.
At this point, that seems like the best route to climb up.
‘I know it’s a rotten rope.’
How could I possibly look pleased?
Eliya’s gaze was fixed right on me.
Disregarding everyone else trying to appear larger than life with fake coughs and performances.
The uncomfortable training began, regardless of how I felt.
*
Today, Gawain was in charge of the training.
In the morning, we practiced weapon techniques.
We swung weapons through the air, learning offensive and defensive stances while Gawain and other instructors roamed around to give corrections.
Thanks to the Sword Shield Technique, I wasn’t often reprimanded.
I even received a compliment for doing well.
I found myself growing excited over that, only to quickly calm down.
‘Sometimes, my mind can be that of a child, huh…’
I occasionally glanced over at Eliya.
Even while observing, she was shuffling through documents, scribbling something down, and giving instructions to her maids and butlers.
With each moment, I released a breath of relief internally.
It meant her interest was waning in real-time.
Once the weapon training ended, we transitioned into light sparring.
Truth be told, it wasn’t sparring of any proper level.
It was essentially two people pairing up to repeat the moves they had just learned.
What modern training would call “drill training.”
“Group 11, 12, and… pair up with the 13th.”
Under Gawain’s command, those of similar standing were matched together.
My partner was Lindell.
A senior from the 12th class who shares my room.
He’s about three years older? I’m not sure. Anyhow, he’s just slightly taller than me.
“Keep the shield close to your body as you approach, block, then swing the sword repeatedly. Begin.”
The sound of light wooden swords and shields clashed during our training session.
Lindell and I repeated the moves without a word.
Block and strike.
In either case, we weren’t actually exerting much force.
It was simply about repeating the motions.
‘Just building up muscle memory.’
Since I had often done similar training in my previous life, it felt quite fun.
It brought back memories.
Though I hadn’t specifically held a sword and shield before.
Once again, it was my turn to hit.
An opportune moment arrived when the instructor turned his gaze elsewhere.
I swung my sword lightly, as before.
Swing! Lindell blocked with his shield.
He deliberately sent me back forcefully.
Caught off guard by the unexpected resistance, my body staggered.
In that moment, Lindell charged forward and delivered a forceful strike, hitting my shoulder.
There was a loud smack! But with the surrounding chaos, the instructors didn’t notice.
The area that got hit ached.
Without thinking, I shot a glare at Lindell.
“Ah.”
He smiled cheerfully.
“My bad. I’m still clumsy with my control. Did it hurt?”
I suddenly recalled his face.
He was one of those who didn’t smile when the gifts from Eliya were present yesterday.
‘What could he be dissatisfied with…?’
He hadn’t done anything particularly hateful…
‘Then I should give him a real reason to dislike me.’
I bowed slightly in return.
“No, it’s my fault for being inexperienced. I’m sorry.”
Seemingly pleased by my subservience, Lindell smiled even broader.
‘So you enjoy being sneaky like that, huh?’
If he knew how I severed Kale’s line, he wouldn’t be acting like that.
“Everyone starts like that. You only just picked up a weapon, right? You’ll learn gradually. Okay, now it’s your move to block and strike. Let’s do it again.”
Lindell seemed to be enjoying himself.
I gripped the sword and shield even tighter.
“Yes, excuse me.”
Just as I said that, Eliya was smiling again and looking over this way.
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