Youngest 029
by CristaeEpisode 29
Making a Barrier with Mister to Defend This Place!
“I want to take swordsmanship lessons!”
Mister’s eyes widened in surprise as though he hadn’t expected to hear that.
“What?”
“I’m going to learn the sword! I’m going to get really, really strong! Isn’t that what it means to be a man of the north?”
Mister scrunched up his face with a reluctant expression.
“Well… yes, I suppose?”
A good idea had come to me, so I was too preoccupied to notice his expression.
‘If I join the knights, no one will think it strange if I go outside!’
Most swordsmanship lessons took place in the training grounds, but Void often accompanied the knights on their inspections outside.
Of course, sometimes they also visited the ramparts for observation.
‘It’s the perfect excuse to check the walls!’
For some reason, Mister seemed a little hesitant. Yet he didn’t seem to have any particular argument to counter me with, either.
After taking a sip of tea and pondering for a moment, he finally nodded.
“All right. Do what you want. And if you need other lessons, take those too.”
“Okay. I love learning things!”
I felt upbeat. I swung my legs back and forth as I finished off the remaining cookies.
“Then, Ruby, are you going to stay here…”
Mister, who had been quietly watching me, faltered, uncharacteristically hesitant.
“Hm?”
“Here…”
“What is it, Mister?”
“…Hoo, never mind.”
What’s with him today?
He kept starting to say something, only to swallow the words. It was oddly unfamiliar. Was he watching my reaction too closely?
“First, I’d better look for a tutor.”
As if resigned, he leaned back in his seat.
“Can’t I just attend lessons with Void?”
“Well, that’s possible, but keeping up with him would be tough for you.”
“Oh, really?”
Void was already studying at an advanced level for the primary academy. With the new term starting in spring, he was determined to be first this time, or so he’d said.
Not that it was any concern of mine.
“It doesn’t matter. As long as I can get swordsmanship lessons from the knights, that’s enough. I want to get strong! Strength! Stamina!”
I clenched my feeble fist to show my resolve.
I wanted to check the walls, of course, but more than that, I wanted to train this weak, feeble body of mine. After seeing so many strong people, I guess I’d started to long for that, too.
With a wry chuckle, Mister ruffled my hair.
“I doubt those guys will leave you alone.”
“Huh?”
“Since you’ve made up your mind, you’d better be prepared.”
What does he mean?
Is he implying the knights will hassle me or something?
‘No way, surely not.’
The knights liked me well enough.
Whenever we crossed paths, they always smiled kindly at me.
Especially Sir Leon—he was always giving me treats…
Suddenly, the memory of the talk about a new youngest knight came to mind.
In that instant, a chill ran down the back of my neck. Wait, I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
“Mister, I just got curious about something…”
“Yes?”
“Has anyone joined the Zevert Knights recently?”
I asked carefully. Mister rested his arm on the chair and began counting the patterns on the ceiling.
“Hmm…”
Gulp.
“No. Not for several years.”
Yikes.
“The last one was Void, a few years ago.”
No way! A new recruit after all these years!
A single drop of fresh water in a pool left stagnant for ages!
I could already see trouble looming ahead.
The knights had only been kind because I wasn’t yet one of them—they hadn’t paid me much attention so far!
“Maybe I should just settle for things as they are—”
“A man never goes back on his word.”
Tap. A plate of glistening fruit jelly was set on the table.
Beside me, a familiar voice spoke up.
“Sir Leon…?”
Creak, creak. I looked up to see Sir Leon standing there, though I had no idea when he’d entered.
“Your Grace, I brought some urgent documents,” he said.
“Let me see,” Mister replied, extending his hand with a slight smile.
While he reviewed the papers, the blue-haired knight eyed me quietly.
Those eyes shone with hunger, like a beast that had spotted easy prey.
“So you’ve finally made your decision.”
“Uhh…”
“Welcome, our youngest.”
Fwooo.
A dry wind blew. Far off, a ball of dust rolled along the ground.
The barren training grounds.
Standing before me were knights with bulging, chiseled muscles. In front of them, I was nothing but a pitiful, herbivorous animal.
“Depending on your actions, I, your senior, can either be an angel or a devil.”
That line sounded oddly familiar.
I swallowed hard.
Heh heh heh. Was it my imagination, or did I hear sinister laughter all around me?
“Hoo-hoo… It’s been a while since we had a recruit.”
“So cute and bright, it makes me want to train you properly.”
“We’ll make you into a valiant man of the north.”
“My blood is boiling…”
Please, let it be my imagination.
‘But isn’t it a bit too early in the year for short sleeves…?’
I stared absentmindedly at the way shimmering heat seemed to rise from their bronzed bodies.
“This is the Zevert Knights. Here, the hierarchy is strictly determined by merit. So within these walls, there will be no honorifics. Any objections?”
Not that you ever used them anyway…
The knight at the front took a step forward. Nearby, Void watched with interest, holding a wooden sword.
“No objections, sir!”
I snapped to attention and replied.
Somehow, it just felt like the thing to do.
Clink.
As I moved, the knightly cloak’s decoration clinked softly. The deep blue Zevert uniform was heavier than I’d expected.
Of course, since nothing fit me, they had to make everything from scratch…
The stares of the gathered knights felt scorching. Sir Leon, for some reason, had a hand over his mouth, eyes turned to the sky.
“I am Oberon, vice-captain of Zevert.”
“Ah, yes. I’ve heard all about you, sir.”
Void had talked about him before.
The vice-captain, sporting a short afro, had a long scar by his left eye. He didn’t give off a harmless impression, not even as flattery.
“Then, let’s begin your induction training.”
“Yes, sir!”
The solemn power of his voice made me tense up automatically.
The senior knights moved with precision.
Seeing those disciplined motions, I found myself unconsciously standing at attention.
“First, two laps of the training grounds!”
What, two laps?
“For kids!”
“Ye-yes, sir!”
I replied frantically.
I ran two laps around the tiny practice field beside the main training ground.
Pant, pant, so tiring! Truly, the path to becoming a knight is long and arduous!
“Next, practice swinging a wooden sword!”
“Yes, sir!”
I caught my breath and answered.
“But it’s still dangerous for you, so just observe for now!”
“Yes, sir!”
Sir Oberon pointed at the armory with a thick finger. I’d just started walking in that direction when someone grabbed me by the back of the neck.
“Wh-what is it, sir?”
“A true knight must also ride. To the armory, you’ll go on horseback.”
Oh! At least I was confident about riding!
“You, over there—passing by!”
“Yes, Vice-Captain!”
“Be the rookie’s steed! Begin!”
“Understood!”
“…”
I simply blinked. My view shot upwards, the wind struck my cheeks, and only then did my scattered senses return.
‘Huh?’
This was basically riding on my uncle’s shoulders, off to go look at wooden swords.
In any case, the inclusion of knightly routines in my daily life gave me a strange sense of vitality.
“Pant, pant. Two laps of the training ground, tried holding a wooden sword, dodged flying balls, and conversed with the horse! All completed, sir!”
Senior Oberon curled his lips up in satisfaction.
“Excellent. Well done. Tomorrow you’ll tour the ramparts.”
My head snapped up. That was exactly what I’d wanted to hear.
Maybe he’d noticed the shift in my eyes, because Oberon’s lips suddenly relaxed.
“Did you really want to see the ramparts so much?”
“Yes, sir! Very much so, sir!”
“Hmm, that’s the right attitude. The captain will be pleased.”
“If you mean the captain…”
“Naturally, His Grace the Duke.”
“Ah, of course.”
I nodded.
It made sense. The commander of the knights would obviously be Mister Leviathan.
Oberon gave a far-off stare into the void. Upon his chest gleamed the blue lion insignia of the Knights.
“We must always build our strength and sharpen our skills, so as never to bring shame to His Grace. That is the way of a true—”
“So, what happens if the captain brings shame, sir?”
“Hm?”
The knight, lost in loyalty, snapped back to reality.
I raised an arm and pointed to a corner of the training grounds.
“He’s been napping over there for a while now…”
“…”
A heavy silence fell.