Chapter 84

After eating lunch, I stayed at the fort.

Usually, when everyone started their afternoon work, I would either go back to Mother or visit Father, but today I was worried about Reika, so I decided to check on her.

In the afternoon, the one-eyed knight was supposed to oversee Reika and the others' training, so I got permission to observe and followed along.

In the wide training ground outside, nearly thirty knights had already gathered, but they were still preparing, taking out their shields and swords.

While waiting, I rubbed my head against the one-eyed knight's boots, when I heard two knights arguing from a distance.

It was Kicks and Reika.

"Why do you grab it like you're snatching it?"

"I didn't mean to do it that way."

Reika was holding a training sword with a blunted edge. It seemed Kicks had given her the sword, but she didn't like how he handed it to her.

"Kicks..."

Tina tried to intervene, but Kicks continued looking at Reika.

"You've been acting weird for the past three days. I told you, it's none of your business what Mil does."

"I understand. I get it. Mil-sama doesn't want special treatment either..."

"Then what's the problem? Did we do something else to you?"

When Reika fell silent at this question, Kicks spoke in a more serious tone than usual.

"I know being a female knight is tough, and I can guess what you're thinking. But don't lump us with the jerks you've met before."

"Kicks, Reika, what are you doing?"

The one-eyed knight intervened, and Reika, with her shoulders slumped, left the scene.

Seeing Reika's dejected back, Tina looked worried and turned to glare at Kicks, who looked guilty.

On the other hand, the knights watching didn't take Kicks' side, but they also didn't criticize him for being too picky about how the sword was received.

Probably, the knights other than Tina had their own thoughts about Reika's attitude so far.

The fort's knights, trying to make Reika feel at ease, often talked to her, despite her being a tall woman and their clumsy attempts. Reika, however, always seemed on guard and responded with few words. It must have been frustrating to be treated with suspicion even when they did nothing wrong.

Even when the tough-looking knights tried to smile and approach her, it was scary, and I was initially afraid of everyone too, so I understand Reika's feelings.

But it's also sad for the fort's knights who are trying their best but getting no results. I want them to get along, but...

The one-eyed knight sighed and seemed to be thinking.

The atmosphere remained tense as the training preparations were completed, and he first called Reika to the center.

"Reika, I've heard you're strong. Let's see what you can do. Your opponent will be... Gregory."

I was worried about pitting Reika against someone in this atmosphere.

Does the one-eyed knight have something in mind?

"Gregory, take your sword."

The one-eyed knight called Gregory, a member of the tough-looking group, with red hair and a beard.

He was taller and more muscular than Reika, who was tall for a woman, and his face was intimidating... I wonder if Reika will be okay.

"Get ready."

When the one-eyed knight said this, Gregory smirked confidently, while Reika took a serious stance with her sword and shield.

As soon as the signal was given, Reika took a large step forward and swung her sword. Gregory tried to block it easily, but Reika seemed stronger than he expected. The sound of metal clashing made him wince for a moment. Even from where I was watching, I could tell Reika's strike was heavy.

Compared to Tina's smooth sword movements, Reika's were powerful, like the one-eyed knight's. I don't think a woman could make such an attack without a lot of training.

"Wow..."

The surrounding knights were surprised.

Gregory still looked confident, but he wasn't smiling as he blocked Reika's rapid attacks. The sound of swords clashing echoed multiple times, and my ears twitched.

Reika was serious.

Even though it was just training, she didn't hold back, swinging her sword with a fierce expression.

Maybe she was worried that if she lost, the other knights would look down on her.

Finally, Reika spotted an opening and successfully struck Gregory's shoulder.

The blade was blunted, so it didn't cut his clothes or skin, but it must have hurt, like being hit with a metal rod.

"That's enough."

The one-eyed knight raised his hand, and Reika, without celebrating her victory, took a deep breath and started to leave.

But—

"Hey."

Gregory stopped her with a low voice.

The training ground was filled with a tense silence, and I felt uneasy, moving my ears around.

Reika, who was about to leave, turned back with a tense and stern face.

"Do you have a complaint?"

It was as if she had defeated male knights before and then faced their sour remarks.

I swallowed hard. My heart couldn't take it.

I thought I should intervene and do something silly to lighten the mood.

Maybe if I rolled over and showed my belly, they would laugh. Or I could run around them with a carefree smile. Digging a hole and getting dirty might be fun.

While I was thinking about these things, Gregory grinned and showed his teeth.

"No, no complaints. I just wanted to say you're better than I thought."

Reika's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected words, and she froze for a moment.

I thought Gregory was angry, but it turned out I was wrong. He wasn't the type to get mad at losing to a woman.

Reika, moving awkwardly, bowed her head and apologized to Gregory.

"Sorry. I didn't want to be looked down on, so I went all out even in training."

"It's fine. I was going to hold back because you're a woman."

Gregory extended his hand, and Reika, though a bit embarrassed, shook it. The surrounding knights laughed, and the atmosphere improved as if the ice had melted.

Gregory was friendly and had the mental maturity of someone in his middle years, making him a good choice to ease Reika's guard, as the one-eyed knight might have thought.

And probably, Gregory understood his role when the one-eyed knight called his name.

"You're strong. You seem to have good muscle for a woman. Do you train early in the morning like the deputy?"

One of the tough-looking group, the chubby Bounts, called out to Reika.

"...No, I'm not very strong in the morning. I just do some training in my room at night."

"At night? You have a lot of stamina."

Bounts, while training, took out some human jerky from his uniform pocket and started eating.

I always thought it smelled good, and now I know where he keeps his snacks. I'll remember that.

"I like training. It calms my mind."

Reika said reflectively,

"You're the same type as the deputy..."

Bounts was taken aback, thinking, "Oh no, here comes another one."

Reika looked around at everyone in the fort, took a deep breath, and spoke.

"I'm sorry for my rude attitude. I heard the northern fort was full of rough people, and I didn't want to be looked down on because I'm a woman, so I got too tense... and became unfriendly. Kicks, I'm sorry about earlier."

Lowering her usually sharp eyebrows, Reika apologized sincerely.

"Hey"

"Hey"

"Kicks"

Encouraged by their comrades, Kicks stepped forward and extended his hand to Reika.

"Ah, I was wrong too. Sorry."

Watching the two of them shake hands awkwardly made me happy.

Tina, who had been worried about the tension between Reika and Kicks, seemed relieved.

When the one-eyed knight put me down, I ran around everyone with a smile.

I felt like skipping, so I occasionally hopped and jumped, hugging the legs of Gregory, Kicks, and Reika.

"Mil looks the happiest."

Kicks smiled.

I'm happy when the fort's atmosphere is good.