I glanced at the document Elesis was reading and my expression hardened. It contained information about a person I didn't want to remember.
It was about Ludwig’s bloodline.
Elesis, who had been about to hide the document as if to ask what I was looking at, saw my serious expression and asked cautiously.
“...Is something wrong?”
“That—it looks like a recent document.”
“It is... Why, are you interested?”
Elesis said, handing the document to me. But I shook my head and declined. I didn't want to read the details. Below, there would be personal opinions on Carlos's death, and information about the witch I met back then would surely be written there as well.
Remembering that witch would make me remember Ludwig, whom I had killed with my own hands. I had no desire to dredge up a memory that still managed to depress me after so much time had passed.
“Yes. What if I said I was interested?”
“I didn't know you’d be interested in this sort of thing... but even if you ask, this is a request I cannot grant.”
“Why not?”
“Because we need an instructor to train the apprentice holy knights. If we hire some worthless common ruffian, they’ll ignore you without me having to say a word.”
“Are you calling my disciple a common ruffian?”
Margaret quickly interjected, glaring at Elesis as if threatening her. But Elesis, as if she couldn't back down on this matter, glared right back at Margaret with wide eyes.
“Yes. I, who have seen his skills firsthand, know them very well. As he is the witch’s disciple, he seems to have some talent for killing monsters, but man-to-man combat is different. In some ways, dealing with people is more difficult than dealing with monsters....”
“I can do it.”
“As I said before, this isn't something you can do just because you want to—”
“Then you can test me.”
I looked at Elesis. She tilted her head, looking at me as if asking if I was serious, but this time, I was.
If Carlos’s line was severed because he fell to a witch, then I would continue it in his stead.
I was Carlos’s ancestor and the father of all holy knights. I had learned directly from Ludwig himself.
‘If I can atone, even in this small way...’
It was an act that was little more than self-comfort, but I had a feeling Ludwig wouldn't have disliked it.
Hearing my words, Elesis let out a deep sigh and shook a bell on her desk, summoning her attendant.
When the attendant opened the door and entered, Elesis pointed at me and gave an order.
“Take him to the training ground. Ask Sir Tobin to conduct a test.”
“A test... you say?”
“Yes. He says he wants to be an instructor, so have him verify his skills.”
Though the attendant wore a dubious expression, he immediately led me to the training ground.
“A pleasure to meet you, Brother. I heard you requested a test.”
A short while later, as I was warming up in the training ground, a holy knight came walking toward me. He was a man whose gait alone showed he was considerably well-trained.
When I cautiously nodded, he said, “Pardon me,” and approached, beginning to press and knead various parts of my body. Then he tilted his head in confusion.
“You’re small, but to be this firm and sturdy... You must have undergone some incredibly harsh training.”
“Yes, well...”
“Excellent. If you would use that training method for our holy knights, God would be very pleased.”
Tobin smiled brightly and returned with two wooden swords that had been mounted on the wall. He handed one to me and took a stance with the other.
Holding his stance, Tobin asked me.
“If you’ve learned something other than swordsmanship, please tell me now.”
“I know how to use a sword, more or less.”
“That’s a relief. Then, come at me.”
Tobin took a stance that covered his entire upper body with the flat of his blade. A bull-like stance, with the tip of the sword aimed like a horn.
Thanks to learning the sword from Ludwig, I knew what that stance was called. I also knew very well the method to break it, and how to counter the technique that countered the method to break it.
I was no different from a beginner who hadn't fully mastered the techniques and had to react after seeing the opponent's moves—but even if my technique was that of a beginner, it didn't matter if my physical abilities were monstrous.
The terror of a technique is only revealed when you don't know it exists; it doesn't work as well against an opponent who already knows it.
“Here I come.”
Since this was a spar and not a real fight, I announced my attack beforehand and swung my sword lightly toward Tobin. A motion to bat away the opponent's sword. Tobin saw my sword and slightly moved his wrist to shift the tip of his blade, but I was able to see that and move accordingly.
Just as you can never lose at rock-paper-scissors if you can see what your opponent will play and change your move—you cannot lose when you know what technique your opponent will use.
Thwack. Tobin, whose sword was knocked away anticlimactically, stared at me with an expression of disbelief, his eyes widening.
“What in the... I can’t believe it. May I see your defense this time?”
“Of course.”
“Then, here I come.”
With those words, Tobin rushed forward. I blocked his sword nonchalantly and attacked at the same time. A festival of artistic swordsmanship where offense and defense occurred simultaneously.
Seeing this, Tobin stared at me for a moment and let out a low groan.
“How was it?”
“Hmmm... I’m not sure. It’s a bit much for the loser to say, but rather than feeling like a master, it felt like... something else.”
However, as he said himself, it was probably embarrassing to say much after losing, so Tobin nodded and acknowledged me.
“Very well. With this level of skill, you are more than sufficient to teach the apprentices. I look forward to working with you, Instructor.”
“What should I call you?”
“You can call me Sir Tobin.”
I shook Tobin’s outstretched hand lightly and left the church. The official classes were to begin next week.
After Yohan left, Tobin headed to Elesis’s office. He knocked on the door and waited a moment before Elesis’s voice told him to come in.
Opening the door, he saw Elesis wrestling with a pile of documents. Seeing that, Tobin thought it was a good thing he didn't have that position.
“Lady Elesis, the test is finished.”
“How was it?”
“Well... he seems to have the basic skills, but as for whether he can teach the children well...”
“If he has the skill, that’s enough. You know the situation, don’t you?”
Elesis said, looking at Tobin. Tobin nodded as if he understood.
Recently, a certain witch had gone on a rampage, resulting in the deaths of dozens of holy knights. Considering that each and every holy knight was an extremely valuable resource and difficult to train, it was a loss beyond words.
On top of that, the instructors meant to train new holy knights began to be assassinated one by one. The victims were all transformed into inhuman, monstrous shapes, and the church took it as a warning from the witch.
As a result, no one was willing to take the position of instructor for the holy knights. In this situation—even if his skills were questionable—they were desperate for even a single instructor.
“By the way, it seems you hold a grudge against him. Recommending him for the instructor position... He seemed completely unaware.”
“A grudge? What are you talking about?”
“Recommending someone for a position where they might be assassinated, doesn't that mean something like that?”
At Tobin’s question, Elesis let out a smirk. Assassinated by a fellow witch? At least, that’s not what Elesis thought.
‘That guy, assassinated...’
There was no way a guy favored by at least two witches would be assassinated. The witch by his side wasn't just for decoration.
The thing to worry about wasn't Yohan being assassinated, but how to deal with a fight breaking out between the witches.
“Just be wary of a war.”
“A war? What’s that supposed to...”
“Anyway, there’s that.”
Elesis said, shooing Tobin out. He looked like he might be saddled with a pile of documents if he stayed any longer, so Tobin quickly fled the office.
“No! Absolutely not!”
When I told her I wanted to be an instructor for the holy knights, my Teacher reacted vehemently. She was like a lead character in a drama, declaring she wouldn't permit the marriage over her dead body.
I looked at her and lowered my voice.
“But... I have to repay her kindness.”
“What kindness? You don't need to feel guilty about that guy. He taught you as payment for you agreeing to kill him!”
“It’s not something you can divide up so neatly...”
“What do you mean, it’s not! I’m absolutely right! Besides, that witch who attacked you—while it’s unforgivable that she attacked you, I can understand her killing the holy knight and his son.”
“Why...”
“They’re holy knights. We’re witches.”
Listening to my Teacher say it was fine for the instructor who trained holy knights to die, I got a glimpse of the deep-seated grudge between the church and the witches.
She never told me what had been done to her in the past, but I could tell she resented the church immensely.
“But... I’ve already decided to do it.”
“Don’t.”
“What if Margaret and I get put on a wanted list as witch sympathizers?”
“I’ll protect you.”
“I can’t depend on you forever, Teacher.”
“You can. Forever and always.”
Seeing my Teacher continue to object, I had no choice but to use my ultimate move. An ultimate move she could never refuse.
“If you don’t give me permission, I’ll run away from home with Margaret.”
“...What?”
“If I run away with Margaret, who uses space magic, even you won’t be able to catch us, right? We’ll run away to some deserted island and live happily ever after, just the two of us.”
“...Are you serious, Yohan?”
Her eyes darkened. The sight terrified me, but this was a time when I had to be a man and show some courage.
“Yes. I’m serious.”
“—Fine. I get it. Do it.”
“Huh?”
“That holy knight thing, or whatever. Go ahead and do it.”
Evangeline pouted and finally gave me permission to take the instructor position.
I thought it was an unusually sudden change of heart for her, but what’s good is good. I hugged her and spun her around and around.
“Kyaaah!?”
“Thank you, Teacher!”
“...Yohan, do that to me, too.”
“Beatrice? You come here, too!”
After spinning around with both of them in my arms for what felt like a few hundred rotations, I felt dizzy and collapsed onto the sofa.
I shouldn’t have done that. I think I’m going to throw up.