Chapter 49: Change (4)

“Our lovely and wise sister must be so busy with affairs of state that it’s really hard to even catch a glimpse of her face. Don’t you think so?”

Behad shook his head from side to side and muttered in complaint.

In his hand was a letter, and it contained nothing more than a single line.

For several days, he had tried visiting her in person, asked others to deliver his words, and even left a letter himself—yet the only reply he received was a mere one-liner.

He sighed and read the letter once again.

― I too have matters I must ponder over with deep consideration, so until I come to you, stay quiet and maintain your dignity.

If he tried to interpret it as gently as possible, the meaning was like that.

The original, however, was filled to the brim with curses and foul language—things one could never imagine a princess of a nation would write.

To cover an entire line with nothing but profanities—if that was a talent, it was truly remarkable.

‘That bothersome habit of hers just had to flare up at a time like this.’

Behad clicked his tongue softly and shook his head.

Because if it was his sister, there really was no choice but to wait without complaint.

It wasn’t the first time this had happened, so giving up came quickly.

‘I wonder how many days it’ll last this time.’

If it were anyone else, maybe not.

But if it was his twin sister, Mercedes, then she would truly abandon everything else, pouring herself wholly into her newfound interest.

That meant he could forget about sharing opinions or seeking advice from her until she was finished with her business.

“Well, more importantly, she really is alive, right? She wasn’t secretly dead with no one knowing? Please tell me that’s not the case.”

“There was definitely a presence. It was the Princess’s presence for sure. Even the scent matched.”

When Behad asked with a sigh, having resigned himself, the one who answered was the werewolf beside him, Harira.

She was the only female among them.

“I tried to sneak closer to confirm, but unfortunately, I couldn’t get any nearer.”

“What, was there a guest-refusal plaque hanging or something?”

“No, but the people around said they smelled a beast and wouldn’t let me near.”

At that, Behad fell silent.

Even if they didn’t care about mockery or contempt from others, when it came to insults targeting their race itself, Behad was especially sensitive.

Harira, realizing her slip, saw his brow twitch and quickly changed the subject.

“Anyway, where did the others all disappear to?”

“……Since when did we ever all stick together like a herd?”

Behad played along with her attempt to redirect the conversation.

“Cruyak is probably training as always, and Konafa ran off somewhere saying he found a definite clue for ascension. The others also said they had their own things to do and left.”

“That salamander is always making a fuss about finding the path to ascension.”

Harira shook her head.

“If he keeps lying all the time, he won’t become a dragon even after ascending.”

“Exactly. Everyone’s so heartless.”

Behad pretended to sob exaggeratedly as he spoke.

“To think my sworn brothers and sisters would abandon me like this, leaving me to mourn all alone… How am I supposed to endure such sorrow? Harira, won’t you please hold me tight in your arms?”

“Sure. But you don’t mind if I use all my strength, do you?”

Harira opened her arms wide as if inviting him in.

Remembering that she once hugged someone in armor and crushed their bones, Behad shook his head slightly.

At that sight, Harira let out a small laugh.

“Hmm?”

Then, catching some sound from somewhere, she glanced around and gave a small nod.

“Hey, Behad. Look down there. Something you’ll like is happening.”

“What?”

Behad followed her words and looked down, and his eyes immediately lit up.

Because if he had missed it, he would have been very regretful.

Lian Gwendil and Allen Amiel.

The two he had been interested in were dueling right before his eyes.

“Oh.”

Behad leaned against the railing, staring at them.

Worried that he might topple over, Harira reached from behind and held tightly onto his collar.

“Hmm……”

Behad focused intently on their fight.

He looked as though he wouldn’t let even a single hair escape his sight.

“Using a spear and a sword at the same time.”

A spear in the right hand, a sword in the left.

Dual-wielding itself wasn’t rare.

Even he himself sometimes wielded a spear and sword together depending on the situation.

The principle of dual-wielding was usually to give each hand a different role.

In other words, to divide attack and defense.

In such a case, the long-reaching spear would be for offense, while the short sword would be for defense.

Yes, that was the ordinary way to do it, but……

“Well, this is something.”

Behad let out a chuckle, as though finding it absurd.

Just like with Cruyak, even if he couldn’t immediately tell what school or weapon someone had trained in at a glance, he still prided himself on having a fairly discerning eye.

Because of that, watching Lian Gwendil’s way of fighting made him let out a chuckle without realizing it.

“What the… what a complete mess.”

Swordsmanship and spearmanship.

Both were jumbled together in such a mixed way that he couldn’t tell which school or style was the foundation.

Moreover, perhaps because it wasn’t systematically trained, he could easily spot gaps and critical flaws here and there.

In such cases, it was usually one of two things.

Either someone who hadn’t received formal training—like mercenaries or adventurers who picked things up after countless battles.

Or literally just swinging things around haphazardly, guided only by instinct according to the situation.

Either way, it was rare to see anything proper come of it.

“……”

But despite that, it was sharp enough to overshadow those flaws.

Judging by Allen’s actions, it didn’t look like he failed to notice the gaps—he simply couldn’t find an opening to exploit.

In other words, Lian had the experience and ability to more than compensate for those flaws.

Behad quickly realized that this wasn’t raw talent, but the product of countless experiences.

“Hm……”

To build such strength, he must have gone through an immense number of battles.

But that man was around his own age—how could he possibly have amassed that much experience?

And above all, wasn’t he supposed to be a priest, not a warrior?

‘Hm, I really don’t get it.’

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t figure it out.

Shaking his head, he muttered the one thing he was sure of.

“I don’t know the details, but at the very least, Cruyak’s words seem to have been right.”

That Lian had accumulated as much experience as a seasoned mercenary.

That much was certain.

As said before, Cruyak’s eyes had been accurate.

No doubt, he must have shed blood countless times in pursuit of it.

“That’s true.”

Harira gave a small nod.

Since she too was a warrior, she could tell from the duel unfolding that Lian possessed a considerable degree of skill.

For him to have the kind of seasoned experience Cruyak had claimed……

‘To think my instincts would be wrong.’

Harira felt rather shocked at the current situation.

Though she hadn’t lived an especially long life, she had always trusted her instincts—so this shook her even more.

According to her senses, Lian’s body should have clearly been one that had seen “almost no real battles,” with nothing particularly noteworthy.

Soon, in a somewhat dejected voice, she muttered.

“But to be wrong two times in a row……”

“What? What do you mean by that?”

When Behad looked puzzled, Harira nodded and explained.

“That red-haired man. The one you said had something about him.”

“Allen?”

“Yeah, that human man named Allen.”

Harira pointed her chin toward Allen.

He was struggling to fight against Lian, but anyone could see the tide was clearly against him.

Unlike the seasoned sharpness Lian displayed, Allen looked clumsy no matter how one looked at it.

“There’s definitely something about him… though I can’t tell what.”

From the most basic stances and grips, to swordsmanship, responses, and movements…

There wasn’t a single part that looked decent.

But after being wrong several times these past few days, Harira still spoke in a subdued voice.

“Yesterday, while that Allen guy was training, Professor Deiáre was watching him very closely.”

“Professor Deiáre?”

The Centauros Deiáre was far more famous among non-humans than among humans.

No, she wasn’t just famous—she was practically considered a legendary figure.

Since Behad frequently interacted with non-humans, he knew well about Deiáre, which was why he couldn’t help but be surprised.

“Yeah, she’s watching even now.”

Harira tapped her nose lightly as she spoke.

“From a bit… no, quite a distance away. She’s been staring this way from about the same distance since yesterday. Probably using something like clairvoyance or a similar spell to observe us.”

“Heh.”

Behad let out a small exclamation at her words.

‘Focusing more on Allen than on Lian…….’

Ironically, he too had been feeling a peculiar pull toward Allen rather than Lian.

And by following that pull, he had met Cruyak, then Br Riik Konafa, and also Harira.

This time would likely be no different.

That was his conviction.

“……”

While Behad was lost in thought for a moment.

“Mm.”

Harira let out a small sound.

“It’s over.”

“Looks like it.”

Behad nodded.

There, Allen had already dropped his wooden sword, and Lian was pressing the shaft of his spear toward him.

“I lost. I’ve learned a lot.”

Straightening his posture, Allen slightly bowed his head as he spoke.

I too straightened myself and returned the bow toward him.

“Well fought. I’ve also learned much.”

Once the formal exchange of courtesies ended, Allen’s stiff expression loosened, and he wore his usual relaxed smile again.

He shook his head and began rolling his shoulders, as though loosening up his body.

“…Wow, Lian, you really are strong. Dual-wielding… I had only heard about it before, but this was my first time experiencing it.”

“Really? Then I guess I was lucky to win against you.”

“No, it’s because your skill is exceptional. Even if I had faced it several times before, the result would have been the same.”

Saying that, Allen walked over to pick up his wooden sword that had been knocked away.

Watching him, I tidied up the area and quietly used the Miracle of Healing on my wrist.

‘It almost felt like it was going to shatter.’

It was only because I had reinforced my body before the spar that I managed.

If I hadn’t, I might have ended up back in the infirmary so soon after being discharged.

“By the way, where did you learn swordsmanship?”

“Oh, didn’t I mention? My second-eldest brother is in the Imperial Knights. When I was young, he used to play with me and taught me all sorts of things.”

“He must be a good brother.”

At his answer, I realized I had slipped.

‘That was careless.’

Maybe it was because the spar had been so intense.

I cursed myself for letting such words slip, but Allen only smiled and shrugged his shoulders in an exaggerated way.

“It’s fine, Lian. You don’t need to worry about it so much.”

He said as he picked up the wooden sword from the ground.

“Honestly, I can understand my brother’s… no, the young master’s perspective. If I were him, I probably would’ve acted the same way. Maybe even worse.”

…So he had noticed, at least to some extent.

I was at a loss for words, fumbling awkwardly, when he laughed cheerfully.

“If you really feel that sorry, would you spar with me a few more times later? I feel like I learn a lot from crossing blades with you.”

“I should be the one thanking you. I think I’ll learn plenty from sparring with you too, Allen.”

Saying that, I checked the time.

It was getting dangerously close to the appointment I had with Cecilia.

I glanced at him and began laying the groundwork for what I really wanted to ask.

“Since we’re talking about it, how about making this a regular thing? Tomorrow, for example—I only have one class, so I’m pretty free.”

“Would that really be alright?”

Allen asked back, more delighted than I expected.

When I nodded to say it was fine anytime, he smiled brightly.

“Then please come find me here whenever you like, Lian. I’m always training in this place.”

“Alright, then.”

Just as our talk seemed to be wrapping up—

“Oh, right.”

“What is it?”

I suddenly remembered something and spoke, and Allen looked over at me.

“It’s nothing big… Do you remember before the spar, when I mentioned going out to see the merchant groups run by demons?”

“Ah.”

“Since it came up again, I thought maybe tomorrow we could take a look.”

“Not on the weekend?”

“We can go on the weekend too, but why not tomorrow as well?”

When he looked as though to ask if that was really necessary, I quickly explained.

“They’re proper merchant groups—we’re bound to see more than just one or two things. And on weekends it’ll be so crowded with people like us that we won’t get to enjoy it properly.”

“Now that you say it, that makes sense.”

After a short pause, Allen nodded in agreement.

I smiled in satisfaction at his response.

“Good choice.”

Knowing what kind of events would soon begin happening at the Academy during this period, I couldn’t have hoped for a better answer.

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