Chapter 31

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Alice opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

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Standing at the classroom door, Xiaoming took a deep breath and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

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I have uploaded new illustrations for Alphonse and the character introductions. Thank you, Ogikatsu.

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I don't dislike battle scenes, but they are difficult.

"Enough!"

Alice, breathing heavily, bowed to Baldo.

"Well, I haven't felt such a thrill in a long time. You're strong, you are."

"Your sword is very heavy with each swing. It's incomparable to me, who is just fast. Thank you for the match."

Baldo, supporting his sword on his shoulder, turned to where Maros and his group were.

"Hans. Why are you using real swords for training?"

Hans, still unwilling to admit defeat, twisted his face and spat out the words.

"If I use skills...! Such a woman...!"

Alice, like Hans, is not using skills or magic.

Before Baldo could say anything, Maros looked down coldly at Hans and said,

"A knight should admit defeat honorably. You're a disgrace to the team."

"Y-Yes, Captain Maros."

Hans hurriedly straightened his posture, but Maros was no longer looking at him.

Baldo sighed and, looking alternately at Maros and Smith, said,

"What about you two? Why didn't you stop them?"

"Sorry!"

"Hmph. I thought it was fine since they both agreed."

Maros's unrepentant words made Captain Smith, who usually has a gentle expression, frown.

"Hey, you."

Maros, for some reason, turned to me. The focus on me made me break out in a cold sweat.

"Is your friend, the guild leader, not participating in the training?"

"I'm just a guild staff member..."

"Hmm. I saw you swinging a wooden sword with the apprentices before. Are you not going to accept my invitation?"

Indeed, I had swung a wooden sword with Sol and the others to get some exercise, not to improve my sword skills.

But for Maros, that probably doesn't matter.

"Then, I'll be your opponent."

"Alice, no need."

I stopped Alice, who was about to step forward.

Thanks to Baldo's victory over Alice, the knight team's honor was preserved. I don't know Maros's strength, but if Alice were to win, it could get complicated.

"Noah, are you going to do it?"

"Well, since it's a good opportunity."

Baldo called out to me as I took off my jacket.

Until now, I had been careful to avoid direct contact with Maros, following the advice of the three apprentices.

Maros had not tried to contact me either. This was the first time we were speaking directly.

"Is it okay to use a wooden sword?"

"Yes, do as you like."

Maros unexpectedly agreed to use a wooden sword.

Since it was a good opportunity, I thought I might learn something about Maros.

I would have to endure some pain, but I could handle it.

I held the wooden sword in a ready position.

Before I start, I don't feel like I can win at all.

Maros and I made eye contact.

I used my skill to read Maros's status.

"Begin!"

At Baldo's signal, the match started.

Maros, not liking the close range, attacked me.

"What's wrong, come at me!"

"Whoa!"

I dodged Maros's right and left strikes.

Compared to Nigel and Tristan, he wasn't that fast.

From what I could see, Maros's status suggested a high aptitude for magic.

His physical stats were lower than Tristan's.

From what I've seen so far, he uses the Aurora style, like Fran.

"You can't run forever!"

Maros, laughing at my attempts to evade, continued to attack.

I deflected Maros's attacks, thinking, "Hmm, I can deflect them."

Maybe it's because I've practiced with Fran and the Aurora style is ingrained in my body.

Or maybe Maros is just being careless and holding back.

Either way, it won't last long. The longer it goes, the more I, with less combat experience, will be at a disadvantage.

Maros seems to like combining several techniques and ending with a powerful thrust. I took a half-step back to prepare for it.

If I can counterattack, it would be at that moment.

"Ugh!"

"Let's end this soon!"

A wooden sword that I failed to dodge hit my thigh hard. It hurt like crazy!

But I didn't have time to stagger.

Maros took a half-step back. Now!

I forced my wobbling foot to plant firmly and stepped forward strongly.

"Shh...!"

My thrust grazed Maros's cheek.

Maros, in shock, leaned back.

I tried to return my wrist to its original position.

At that moment, my raised wooden sword accidentally hit Maros's dominant hand.

Maros, though he didn't drop his wooden sword, turned red with anger.

"You...!"

I blocked the wooden sword swung with all his might, but couldn't stop its momentum and was sent flying backward.

Without time to regain my balance, relentless blows continued to rain down on me.

I was almost on my knees, protecting my head, but finally, my wooden sword was knocked away.

"Stop!"

Baldo shouted sharply.

Even so, Maros raised his wooden sword at the defenseless me.

Baldo stepped between me and Maros, stopping the match.

"Maros!"

Baldo's deep voice hit my ears. Maros, startled, still flushed with anger, glared at me, who was sitting on the ground.

"I won't admit it!"

And with that, he stormed off to the barracks.

His followers hurriedly followed him.

"By not admitting it, you lost, right?"

Sitting on the ground, I was dejected as Sol and the others ran over to me.

"That was amazing! You got a hit on Captain Maros!"

"Really, really. Hey, are you okay?"

"That was just a fluke."

I took Fran's hand and stood up.

By not admitting it, he means he won't admit that I got a hit on him.

"Are you hurt?"

Captain Smith asked, touching my leg.

"A fluke or not, a hit is a hit. Clean up and ice your injuries."

Baldo said, and the training session ended.

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I moved to the water area with Sol, Alice, and the others.

"You've completely made enemies of Maros and his group."

"Well, I kind of expected this would happen eventually."

Gerard sighed and Fran laughed.

"I ignored the warnings from Sol and the others, sorry."

"Even though you're an outsider, you shouldn't have been provoked. I'm sorry."

When Alice and I bowed our heads, Sol shook his head from side to side.

"No! I should be the one to apologize for involving you..."

"Yeah. Maros's team has been tough on us for a while."

Sol touched my shoulder.

Did Maros do this to you?

When I asked with my eyes, Sol shook his head with a wry smile.

"It was Hans."

Maros is a thorough aristocrat and refuses to follow anyone from a lower class.

Sol was a commoner who became a noble through adoption.

He had been targeted from the start, but couldn't bear it once he decided to become a knight.

When the apprentices patrol the city with the knights, they are randomly assigned to different teams.

Sol, who was assigned to Maros's team by chance, was beaten up after the patrol.

Fran and Gerard, who were on patrol with another team, arrived in time to save Sol, but he injured his shoulder.

"Do the other captains know about this?"

"No. The ones who actually do it are Maros's followers. There's no proof that Maros gave the orders."

"But...!"

I swallowed my words. This is wrong.

However, there is no definitive proof that Maros is the mastermind.

The harassment has become worse, and those who can't bear it leave the knight team. This has happened before, Fran says.

"In the end, if you quit, that's it. Those with talent can rise. Be like Sol. Just a bit more patience."

Gerard said.

Sol and Fran fought on the front lines when the new dungeon was discovered. Their skills were recognized, and they are set to become knights.

"Sorry... Gerard..."

"Don't apologize. I'm fine."

Gerard ran to the second gate as a messenger and then provided support from the rear.

His true weapon is a spear, but he only had a sword when he went to the scene, pretending it was just a patrol.

He made a wise decision to retreat, but in other words, he missed the chance to become a knight.

"It's not like we have no allies. Captain Smith, for example, is considerate in many ways!"

Fran said brightly, signaling that the conversation was over.

"Anyway, we should be more cautious from now on. You should tell Luke about the carriage accident and what happened today."

"Right."

Warned by Gerard, I nodded.

Simply telling Tristan about Hans and Maros won't solve the problem.

Fran suddenly had an idea and exclaimed,

"Hey, Alice. If you're staying in the capital for a while, why don't you be Noah's bodyguard?"

"That's a good idea! Alice is strong!"

I was surprised by the suggestion and looked at Alice.

"Okay. Let's do it."

I held my head in my hands at Alice's immediate agreement.

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2015/01/11 Revised