Chapter 2

"…It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? You look different."

"Mr. Sensei, you seem unchanged."

In a rural swordsmanship dojo, a sudden boy-meets-girl scenario unfolded.

If only it could be summed up so simply.

Most importantly, I’m far too old to be called a boy, and Alushia is certainly not a girl in the traditional sense. Well, she is beautiful, though.

However, for her to appear just as I was reminiscing about her.

To call this fate, I’m a bit too old for that.

I’m no longer the age to live a life of romance. Unfortunately.

The Kingdom of Reberis, located in the northern part of the Gallea continent.

The capital, Bartlane.

The Reberio Knights, a royal direct-affiliated knight order based in the capital.

And the current leader of the Reberio Knights, Alushia Citrus, is the woman standing before me.

I remember her as a serious, beautiful, and gentle person since she started coming to our dojo. She was so talented that she could almost replicate my sword techniques just by watching.

She was also very considerate and often cared for her fellow students. Truly, she was a remarkable young woman, far too refined for this remote swordsmanship dojo.

Alushia attended our dojo for about four years, from around the age of twelve to sixteen.

During that time, she absorbed almost everything I could teach her. Seeking further refinement, she eventually left this small village—Biden Village—and headed to the capital, Bartlane.

"It’s been a long time since I’ve come to this dojo. And Biden Village, too…"

"Yeah, it’s been years…"

Alushia gazed into the dojo from the entrance, her voice tinged with nostalgia.

She wasn’t originally from this village.

She and her parents came here after hearing about our dojo. Her parents were well-dressed and turned out to be merchants. They wanted their beloved daughter to learn at least the basics of self-defense.

One thing led to another, and she ended up attending our dojo for about four years.

Well, it’s a bit odd for a merchant’s daughter to become the leader of a knight order.

I have no idea how that happened.

By the way, I don’t usually pry into the backgrounds of my students.

I do the minimum necessary checks if they are minors, but generally, I welcome anyone. As long as I get the monthly fee, I have no complaints.

"By the way, did you read the letter?"

"Yes, I did. It seems you are doing well."

I would read the letters she sent every few months after she left the dojo, learning bits and pieces of her life.

I never expected her to show up suddenly. If she was coming, I wish she had mentioned it in her letter. I was quite surprised to see such a big name show up out of the blue.

She has grown a lot since the last time I saw her.

She must be in her mid-twenties now, a time when one is truly in their prime. The girlish appearance she had when we first met has long since faded, and she now exudes a serene aura.

Her face is more dignified, and her figure more womanly, indicating that she has continued to grow healthily even after leaving the dojo.

"…You’re still using that sword, huh?"

"Yes. It’s a precious sword given to me by Sensei."

Looking at her, I said one thing.

Alushia is not wearing the imposing armor of a knight leader but rather a leather jacket, more like casual wear.

Still, she is carrying a sword, which I recognized.

It’s the sword I gave her as a parting gift when she left the dojo.

"As a knight leader, you could easily get a better sword, couldn’t you?"

"A good sword is different for everyone. This one is perfect for me. This is my sword."

"…I see."

What should I do? I’m happy, but it feels a bit heavy.

It seems my former student has more intense feelings than I expected, which makes me a bit uncomfortable. But I don’t mind that she has a fondness for the parting gift.

I used to give swords to students who completed their training at my dojo.

I wish I could have given something better, but unfortunately, there weren’t any high-quality swords in this remote village. The supply and quality were limited.

There is a blacksmith in the village, but he’s just a village blacksmith with average equipment and skills, so I couldn’t expect anything extraordinary.

I don’t remember exactly how many people I gave swords to. I handed them out quite casually as parting gifts.

I think I could recognize them by their faces, but it might take some time to recall, especially after so many years like with Alushia.

I had quite a few students, and I had enough income to order and distribute swords.

"So, what brings you here today? I don’t remember reading anything about this in your letter."

I put aside my extra thoughts and turned back to Alushia.

As I spoke, I tried to recall the content of the last letter she sent, but I don’t remember her mentioning anything about coming to this village.

Well, I do remember her writing something like, "I’ve been talking more with the nobles and other key figures in the country, which is challenging, but there are good things too, so please look forward to it."

I thought it would just be a follow-up letter, but I didn’t expect her to come to this remote village. This is completely unexpected.

"Oh, right. There’s something I really want to tell you, Sensei."

"Hmm, what is it?"

Her smile didn’t waver.

If anything, it seemed even deeper than before.

Her smile was genuinely bright, with no hint of cloudiness, but after the slightly heavy feeling, I couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy.

And the good news she wanted to tell me directly.

Hmm, I can’t even guess.

If it was about her further promotion, she could have just mentioned it in a letter. Since she came in person, it must be something that involves me, but what could it be for a middle-aged man living in such a remote place?

"Actually, in addition to my role as the leader of the knights, I have also been appointed as the swordsmanship instructor of the order."

"Hmm, that’s quite an achievement."

Alushia is amazing.

She must have continued to hone her skills and developed remarkable abilities. She must already be a formidable swordsman to be the leader of the knights.

"I have recommended you as a special instructor for the knights, and it has been approved."

"…Huh?"

What did she just say?

The prologue, or rather, the stage for the story will be set in 13 episodes.

I plan to post them at a faster pace until then.