Chapter 18
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Chapter 18
"What do you mean? Everything I said was true, wasn't it? Ah, was I too blunt for a lady to hear?"
He sneered. Watching that expression, I lifted the hem of my skirt slightly, revealing my pale ankles wrapped in stockings. His gaze naturally drifted downward. I felt it and smiled faintly. Then, still smiling, I raised my foot and drove my heel directly into his shin.
"Ugh!"
Caught off guard, he gasped and clutched his shin. Of course, even if he hadn't been careless, it wouldn't have mattered—I could have kicked him regardless. I deftly kicked his hunched back, sending him tumbling beneath the bench.
"Hey, what the hell are you doing?"
He shouted. I answered calmly.
"I'm in a bad mood."
"What?"
"Your words upset me. I lack patience, so when I'm upset, I can't hold back. Please understand."
"You crazy—"
He gritted his teeth and tried to stand, but stumbled. Hidden beneath his trousers, his shin was undoubtedly in terrible condition. I smoothed out my disheveled dress and spoke.
"By the way, I don't know why I was appointed as a Squire, but I do know why I topped the second exam. You asked how I melted everything down? It's hard to explain in words, so... I'll let you experience it firsthand."
"What—cough!"
I swung my longsword, sheath and all, striking his solar plexus. Even though he was braced, he couldn't block it. It was far too fast.
The direct hit felt satisfying. I began speaking in the sweet voice he'd wanted to hear.
"Like this."
I pushed his hunched shoulders with the sheath, and as he staggered, I swept the inside of his ankle.
"Your openings are far too—"
He lost his balance and crashed to the ground. I stepped firmly on his back.
"—obvious, even for a junior knight."
"Tch, ugh... I was nice because you're pretty, and you dare do this to your senior? I'll... hak—!"
With a sharp sound, my longsword, sheath and all, whistled past his ear and embedded itself in the ground. He froze in terror, his mouth snapping shut. I looked down at him and spoke.
"Yes, I think I'll be fine. I read the admission handbook thoroughly before enrolling. There are five grounds for expulsion of military cadets—wait, was it five? Anyway, this situation wasn't among them. I didn't draw my sword, and this is merely a minor scuffle between cadets. How unfortunate for you, Senior."
He thrashed beneath me. But he couldn't escape from under my slender heel. I adjusted my position subtly with each of his movements, keeping him pinned. I crushed the exact direction his muscles tried to move, leaving him helpless.
He was a military cadet too. Outside Agenka, he would be called a genius. Yet he was utterly powerless against me—a testament to the gap between us. Of course, the young freshman, pinned beneath a jeweled women's heel, had lost all reason and couldn't comprehend this fact. His face twisted with pain and humiliation as he cursed.
"Get... get off me right now! If you keep acting like this, your Squire appointment could be revoked! I'm reporting everything to the Commander!"
"Go ahead and report it. I don't mind if I'm not a Squire. But then I'll have to report why I was upset in the first place, won't I? I'll tell the Commander everything you said to me. About the nighttime... duties."
"Th-this...! Do you have proof? There are no witnesses! But everyone saw you attack your senior first! Do you think I'll let this slide?"
He thrashed desperately. Just as I was about to mock him for being beaten by a junior, another voice cut in.
"I'll be a witness."
A dark-haired man entered the Fourth Training Ground, his words carrying weight. His bronze skin and muscular frame made even his casual gait seem heavy, like a lion or leopard prowling forward. His predatory yellow eyes were half-lidded and languid.
I had sensed his presence near the training grounds from the start. That's why I acted so boldly. A decent person would have difficulty criticizing me after hearing what he'd said, and someone like him would be too frightened to do anything—or better yet, he'd spread rumors that I was a crazy woman best left alone. Either way, it worked in my favor.
Still keeping my foot on his back, I turned to face the approaching man.
"Who are you?"
"Baraha Islaf, third year. You're Echinacea Loaz, right?"
"Yes, Senior Baraha."
The man sat on a bench and pulled out a sandwich loaded with bacon. He gestured casually while chewing.
"Ah, keep going. I heard everything he was saying."
"...Thank you."
"Damn it...."
Bread had fallen silent the moment he laid eyes on Baraha Islaf. He buried his head, muttering curses under his breath. I watched him quietly for a moment, then lifted the scabbard I'd been holding and spoke.
"Senior Bread, I'm asking just in case—has some sudden realization struck you? Are you thinking, 'Oh, I was truly wrong. I shouldn't have said those things'?"
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
"I thought as much. Then just leave. And do try to watch your tongue from now on."
I stepped back and withdrew. Bread lurched to his feet, then twisted in pain with a groan. He glanced back at Baraha Islaf for a moment, his face contorting as if he were forcibly swallowing curses that had risen all the way to his throat.
"You... you'll regret this."
He spat those words through gritted teeth before limping out of the Training Grounds. Despite his hobbling gait, he moved quite quickly. Baraha Islaf, watching him go, tossed out a comment.
"You could've hit him more."
"I didn't want to waste time on someone so hopeless. That warning should be sufficient."
"He didn't look like he understood the warning at all."
"If he acts up again, I'll just have to give him remedial lessons. Once his shins get stamped by my heel every time he opens his mouth, pain alone should seal his lips."
At her words, he let out a short laugh. Then he devoured the remaining sandwich in one bite and carelessly crumpled the empty wrapper into his pocket.
"From what I gathered, you were in the middle of conducting preliminary Squire training?"
"Yes."
"Why is that idiot doing it?"
"Is that person famous?"
"Somewhat. There's a Club of sorts—a gathering of fools who think the Military Academy is their own mansion."
My brow furrowed. There was an entire Club of such people? I'd thought the Knight Instructor candidates were only ones like Alice.
'Ah, right. There's someone like Ian Peletro too. The Military Academy isn't anything special after all.'
Baraha Islaf spoke with a sneer, his teeth bared.
"That fool has never even received a provisional appointment. I doubt you asked for this, so who assigned him to conduct your preliminary Squire training?"
"...The Cadet Representative, sir. Originally, the Representative was supposed to do it, but he said he had no time today."
"Hmm."
He seemed to ponder something, resting his chin in his hand, then swept his golden eyes over me. His gaze was calm and measured. His eyes drifted between the cheap longsword I was holding and the abundant ruffles of my dress.
"Echinacea Loaz."
"Yes, Senior."
"Why do you wear a dress all the time?"
"Isn't cadet attire left to personal choice?"
"Ah, I'm not criticizing—just curious."
It was a question I'd be hearing often. I answered readily.
"It's my preference. I enjoy adorning myself."
Apparently finding that answer interesting, Baraha Islaf's lips curved upward. He gestured with his chin toward my shoes.
"Aren't those shoes uncomfortable? Though I must admit, they seemed rather useful earlier."
"I'm used to them, so they're not uncomfortable. Besides, leather shoes wouldn't match well under a dress."
"...And the gloves? They're silk, not leather—they look too slippery to grip a sword properly."
"I dislike my hands getting damaged. And silk gloves are prettier than leather ones, aren't they?"
Baraha Islaf's lips were twitching. He was clearly suppressing laughter.
"If you care so much about beauty, why carry such an ugly, cheap sword?"
"It's too tedious to maintain. When the blade dulls, I'll just discard it and buy a new one."
"Pfft."
He could no longer contain himself and burst into laughter—not a scornful one, but genuine and delighted. Echinacea watched him chuckle with the expression of someone observing something peculiar. A man with unusual tastes. A reaction like Alice's would have been normal.
Baraha Islaf, having regained some composure, spoke with a lingering smile.
"I thought so earlier too, but the more I see, the more entertaining you are. I like you."
"...Thank you for viewing me so favorably."
"Good, then I'll handle your squire preliminary training. I'll inform the Cadet Representative myself, so don't worry."
There was no reason to refuse an offer of assistance. I needed to learn how to conduct myself as a squire anyway. Though his tastes seemed somewhat unconventional, he didn't strike me as the type to spout nonsense like Bread. This arrangement had worked out well. I bowed respectfully.
"Thank you. I look forward to your guidance today."
"Not just today."
"Pardon?"
"I said I'll do this for you going forward. Until you officially become a squire."
Baraha Islaf rose from the bench. His thighs were thicker than my waist. Standing before him, I amounted to little more than a handful. Though he had a handsome face, his considerable height and build created an imposing presence as he looked down at me.
Yet I felt no intimidation whatsoever. My eyes held neither fear nor even tension. Baraha Islaf seemed to appreciate this quality in me as well. He smiled broadly and offered me the Agenka salute.
"Ar Sewattiem."
He raised his elbows to shoulder height, clasped both hands together before his chest as if in prayer, then released them while reciting the sacred words. It was the greeting custom of Changtian, derived from the prayer posture of the apostles.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself. Baraha Islaf, third-year student, vice-commander of the Knight Order, and squire to Baron Tillius, the esteemed Giosa Owner. I look forward to working with you, junior squire."
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