Chapter 41
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Chapter 41
[One day won't be enough. Hey, you need to train more.]
"I'm doing what I can, you know. I've only been back for two months."
[What? Only two months?]
"I returned on March 17th, and today is May 18th. Exactly two months. For a body that used to do nothing but hold teacups, this is impressive progress."
[Ugh, I don't care! Just get stronger faster! You lying around is so boring! So boring!]
"Be quiet. Close your mouth. You're giving me a headache."
[Whine.]
I ignored the Demonic Sword's whimpering and rubbed my flushed cheeks with a towel. As I did, I drew Nicole's telegram from the back of the drawer using mana.
―Will visit Agenka with a distinguished guest for escort duty. Will discuss the white lion then.
"Who is this distinguished guest, and when are they arriving? Even if telegrams are expensive, how can Nicole leave out the most important details?"
I sighed and set the telegram down. The mana-infused paper fluttered back into the drawer. The matters concerning the Demonic Sword at the Royal House and the Loaz Count Estate were problems I couldn't solve by thinking alone. I abandoned the effort and burrowed deeper into my blankets.
As I drifted between sleep and wakefulness, I sensed someone approaching my room. Two people. I kept my eyes half-open, watching the door. Soon came a knock.
"Echinacea, are you in? May we come in?"
"You knock when I might be sleeping? How rude."
"So should we come in without knocking? Isn't that ruder?"
"...Well, I suppose you have a point."
I heard quiet bickering outside the door. Familiar voices. Fatima and Alice Winterbell. I sat up and propped a pillow behind my back. The door opened, and Alice and Fatima entered, carrying a meal tray.
"Echinacea! You're sick!"
"Hello, Fatima. It's nothing serious."
The moment Fatima saw me sitting up, she rushed over and perched on the edge of the bed. She pressed her forehead and mine with both hands, then shook her head disapprovingly.
"You shouldn't even think about getting out of bed today. Wait here—I'll bring you something good!"
"That's really not necessary..."
"I'm doing this for points, so let me! I haven't given up on you yet!"
Fatima grinned and vanished from the room in an instant. Alice approached with an apologetic expression and set the tray before me.
"I'm sorry, Echinacea. Fatima asked why I was eating alone and where you were."
"That sounds like Fatima. But this is...?"
Alice lifted the bowl lid. A warm stew wafted steam—tender, generous chunks of meat and vegetables in a mild cream sauce. It wasn't on this morning's Common Dining Hall menu, and it was clearly prepared for someone recovering. As I looked at it uncertainly, Alice handed me a spoon and explained.
"Even when resting, you must eat. I asked the Kitchen to prepare this, so eat."
"...You told me to go train, but you went all the way to the Kitchen..."
"Once you finish eating, I'll go train. Don't worry. If you're still concerned, we can spar once you're better."
Alice smiled softly. I lowered my head slightly, spoon in hand.
"It's not worry... Thank you, Alice."
My voice was small, and my face flushed slightly. She was embarrassed. Alice suppressed her laughter.
After that duel and the freshman ranking tournament, except during the monster subjugation, Alice and I had spent most of our time together. Through those days, Alice had discovered that Echinacea Loaz was surprisingly soft-hearted. More precisely, she yielded to those who showed her kindness or treated her gently. She brushed off malice without effort, yet felt shy both receiving and giving goodwill.
And yet, when she was sincere, she was truly sincere—casually saying things like how I'd make a fine Knight Instructor, or how she'd enjoy sharing a blade with me. Alice found herself watching me eat the stew with an unconsciously pleased expression. For a while, only the clink of the spoon echoed. Then the door burst open loudly. It was Fatima.
"Girls, I heard the most incredible news on my way here!"
She spoke with an excited face and hurried into the room. Then she set a small glass bottle on my tray and continued.
"Oh, this is medicinal herbs preserved in honey—brew it like tea. It's a folk remedy passed down in my family. It's good for you, and it tastes great too. Anyway, this is real big news, big news!"
"What is it?"
Alice asked with a puzzled expression. Fatima perched at the foot of the bed, her eyes gleaming as she gazed at me and Alice.
"I'll tell you, so join our Club in return."
"..."
"Didn't we agree before that if you two became close, you'd both join the Club together?"
"I don't believe I ever gave you an answer to that, Fatima."
"You're not budging. Tch."
Fatima pouted at my retort. I alternated my gaze between the glass jar containing honey and medicinal herbs and the nearly empty stew bowl. My parched throat warmed as the comforting stew soothed it. Once I set the stew bowl and glass jar side by side, my heart seemed to soften and unwind.
In the meantime, Fatima opened her mouth as if she couldn't help herself.
"Fine, I'll just tell you. You know the overall ranking tournament is on May 30th, right? On that day..."
"Fatima."
"Hmm?"
"What kind of Club is Wisdom?"
Fatima's sullen face lit up like a lamp had been switched on at my question. She pushed herself forward on the bed, leaning toward us.
"W-well, our Club is! It's a good Club!"
"...So what exactly makes it a good Club?"
"Um, well, first of all it's autonomous! And, um... Wait a moment."
Fatima had kept telling me to join the Club every time she saw me, but she clearly hadn't expected me to ask what kind of Club it was, so she stumbled for a moment. While she pondered and gathered her thoughts, Alice asked me a question.
"Are you thinking of joining a Club, Echinacea?"
"I'm not sure yet. I wanted to hear more first. What about you, Alice? Do you belong to a Club?"
"No. It doesn't particularly appeal to me..."
"Why do you think Clubs are lacking?"
Fatima interjected abruptly. Alice tilted her head before answering.
"Most Clubs at present are closer to social gatherings. People gather according to their origins and families, discuss matters of their home nations, and invite squires or knights of the same rank to receive instruction. I don't think that's a bad thing. However, it differs somewhat from what I'm seeking, so for now I have no intention of joining."
This was information I, who lived a life completely removed from the mainstream of the Military Academy, had never heard. My unusual clothing was eccentric enough, but I had also been designated as a squire on my first day of enrollment and received separate instruction from Baraha.
'Now that I think about it, Baraha mentioned there were also Clubs where fools like Bread gathered.'
I recalled thinking it was absurd that such fools existed, and even more absurd that there were Clubs where they congregated. Fatima nodded at Alice's words, then turned her gaze to me.
"What about you, Echinacea? Why aren't you interested in Clubs?"
"I simply find group activities bothersome. I don't want to be constrained."
"Hmm. I've heard what you both have to say."
Fatima grinned widely. She straightened her chest and declared with certainty.
"For both of you, Wisdom is absolutely perfect! Perfect! So come join our Club, both of you!"
"What exactly is this Wisdom Club? I've heard of most Clubs, but Wisdom is the first I've heard of it."
As Alice asked with her brows slightly furrowed, Fatima answered promptly.
"No wonder you haven't heard of it. I'm the founding Club President of Wisdom, and currently there are no Club members at all."
"...What?"
"It's a Club I created. A select few, autonomous activities, pursuing the ideal of becoming wise knights..."
"Wait, so you're saying there hasn't been a single Club member until now?"
I asked in an astonished tone. Fatima wavered and avoided my eyes.
"Once you two join, there will be two members. Actually, you see, the type of Club I wanted didn't exist at the Military Academy. So as soon as I became a second-year student eligible to be a Club President, I established it."
"What kind of Club did you want, Fatima?"
"For now, it won't be a massive organization like the current clubs with dozens of members. I find club parties tedious, and I don't want to recruit members based on their origins or family connections. I have no intention of establishing some venerable tradition, and I certainly don't want to drag politics into this. I simply want to train with talented individuals, just like when the Military Academy's first club was founded."
"...I see. Politics.... That was the discomfort I sensed. The current clubs have become far too large and carry strong political undertones. While politics matters, the club I envisioned was meant to be a pure training gathering among cadets. Such clubs no longer exist. I find your vision deeply resonant."
Alice tilted her head slightly in surprise. Fatima's eyes rolled thoughtfully before she continued speaking.
"Our club will meet once a week for sparring sessions together. Those who wish to gather more frequently can make their own arrangements, and if anyone wants to invite an instructor for lessons, just tell me. I'll handle the arrangements."
"Is that all?"
"Yes, everything else is voluntary. Different people need different training methods, after all. I'll help if needed, but I don't want to impose mandatory training like the other clubs do. I have no intention of expanding beyond ten members. I think six to eight people is optimal—that way, everyone can spar with everyone else whenever we gather."
The rules were far more lenient than I had anticipated. Since there were no other club members besides Fatima anyway, joining Wisdom with Alice seemed perfectly reasonable. There would be no constraints from group obligations. I also found myself drawn to Fatima, who had paid no attention to the strange rumors circulating about her from the beginning.
'If I join the club, I could help improve Fatima's swordsmanship too. From what I saw during the monster subjugation, just a few adjustments would lead to significant progress. It would be more natural to say my skills improved thanks to the club rather than claiming I developed them alone. Yes, this isn't a bad arrangement.'
I turned slightly to glance at Alice while considering. Noticing my gaze, Alice gave a small nod. When Fatima caught the silent exchange between us, her face brightened.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org