From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman: My Hotshot Disciples Are All Grown Up Now, and They Won't Leave Me Alone Volume 1 E-Book

Shigeru Sagazaki

• Herausgeber: J-Novel Club
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Serie: From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman: My Hotshot Disciples Are All Grown Up Now, and They Won't Leave Me Alone
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 271

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Beryl Gardinant, a self-proclaimed “humble old man,” is a sword instructor at his dojo in a rural, backwater village. In his younger years, he dreamed of glory as a master swordsman, but those days are long behind him. Out of the blue, he receives a visit from a famous former pupil who brings him world-shattering news—he’s been appointed as a special instructor for the knights of the Liberion Order! With his life now turned upside down, Beryl travels to the capital and reunites with some of his former students: elite knights, an ace wizard, and even an adventurer who’s attained the highest guild rank possible. But why do they all want his tutelage?! As far as he’s concerned, they clearly don’t need him anymore. Can Beryl live up to his new position? And will he ever get a moment’s peace away from his adoring students?!

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Cover

Chapter 1: An Old Country Bumpkin Goes to the Capital

Allucia Citrus

Interlude

Chapter 2: An Old Country Bumpkin Meets a Wizard

Chapter 3: An Old Country Bumpkin Faces a Dungeon

Surena Lysandra

Epilogue: An Old Country Bumpkin Enjoys a Meal

Afterword

Color Illustrations

About J-Novel Club

Copyright

Landmarks

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: An Old Country Bumpkin Goes to the Capital

Early in the morning, in a dojo in the middle of the remote countryside, my dad started muttering some incomprehensible crap.

“Beryl. When am I finally gonna get some grandkids?”

“What’re you expecting from me out here in the sticks, pops?”

My name’s Beryl Gardenant—I’m an old man. Leaving out the details, I’ve long served as the instructor at a rural swordsmanship dojo that’s been going strong for generations. You might think I’ve omitted the specifics, but there’s nothing else to say. I’m simply an old man in a backcountry dojo who teaches students how to wield a sword. Nothing more and nothing less.

“It’s your day off, and you start meditating first thing in the morning. You’re not gonna meet anyone acting like that.”

“Weren’t you the one who raised me this way?”

Ever since dad retired and yielded the seat of instructor to me, this kind of nonsense was all he ever had to say. Though, he wasn’t alone in thinking that way—I wanted to meet someone too, dammit.

My family being what it was, I’d spent my life messing around with a wooden sword, practically for as long as I could remember. My parents had given birth to a healthy boy, and they’d raised me well, but it seemed I hadn’t inherited my dad’s outstanding talent for the blade. I had, of course, put in the effort. It wasn’t like I hated swordsmanship or anything. And above all else, I’d been unable to find any other immersive hobbies out here in the countryside.

When I started my training as a child, I was filled with curiosity. This extended to the peak of adolescence, through my teens and into my twenties, when my maturity caught up to my physical growth and enriched both my mind and body. Then, in my thirties, I further devoted myself to personal improvement. And with all that accumulation of experience, I’d reached my forties, having poured more effort into my training than was typical.

However, all I’d acquired as a result were somewhat better sword skills than the average person, a physique that at least allowed me to call myself a swordsman, and a reaction speed that could be considered keen for my age. That was about it.

If asked whether I was satisfied with this, I’d have to say no. But I wasn’t particularly disgruntled about it either. This was the end of my road—I was strangely convinced of that fact. Maybe I felt that way because my dad had allowed me to grow and grow without pinning too many hopes on my skills.

“Don’t you have at least one nice girl among your pupils?”

“Come on, pops. The dojo ain’t a place to pick up girls.”

I once more dismissed my dad’s nonsense grumbling. He was likely only acting this way because he was talking to his own son, but frankly, his tact was still pretty lacking.

Incidentally, maybe out of consideration for his old age, my dad had yielded the dojo’s ownership to me. Since then, I’d come to realize something: while I was only so-so with a sword, it seemed I had quite a knack for teaching others.

Even though our village was under the protection of the nation, there were many dangers in the backcountry. Take one step beyond our settlement’s fenced boundary, and you’d find yourself in wildland, home to ferocious animals and dangerous monsters alike. Of course, it was rare for monsters to come all the way to the village, but the world out here was still far from safe.

The capital and other urban areas were protected by splendid walls and patrolled by knights and soldiers. However, in this rural village, our defensive options were more limited. There were guys like me—an average swordsman trying to put food on the table by running a dojo—and then some hunters who delved into the wilds. Occasionally, soldiers, adventures, and the like would stay for some time, but that was about all we had.

Maybe that was why, despite being out in the sticks, our instruction was in relatively high demand. People wanted to acquire a means to protect themselves and learn skills that could lead to a successful career. Unfortunately, magic was foreign to me. I didn’t know the first thing about it. From the moment of my birth, I’d only wielded wooden and metal swords. Though, even across the entire world, wizards capable of using magic were a rarity. The capital apparently garrisoned a magic corps, but wizards were exceedingly few in number.

Oh, right—on the topic of pupils, I’d once taught a pretty girl with glistening silver hair. She’d once looked at me, her eyes earnest, and said, “When I grow older, I’m going to marry you, Master.” Unfortunately, she’d been too young for me to take her declaration seriously, so I’d just let it go.

Ah, we’ve gone off track. I’d been talking about teaching swordsmanship and how I was a little bit talented as an instructor. With a good balance of supply and demand, my dojo had quite a few pupils, despite being nestled out in the country. We taught all kinds—rowdy local kids, the village headman’s daughter, and even nobles from the capital, along with their children. I did sometimes think that there had to be countless other dojos like mine out there, but in any case, the number of students we had was directly tied to my family’s standard of living. We charged a monthly tuition fee, after all. The dojo definitely wasn’t running as some kind of charitable enterprise.

“Well, you know, it’s about time for you to show me some filial piety,” my dad griped.

“I inherited your dojo, enrolled more pupils, and am making us more money. What do you call that if not filial piety?”

“Add grandkids to that.”

“Oh come on...”

He was seriously energetic first thing in the morning.

Anyway, I’d been serving as the instructor here for a good while now. Among the graduates from our dojo, some had found significant success in life by becoming high-ranking adventurers or members of the nation’s knightly orders.

Some former students came back to the dojo pretty frequently to report on how things were going, while others sent letters. Though I had some talent for teaching, I was fully aware of my own abilities. I was grateful—it made me feel warm and fuzzy when my old pupils fussed over me like that—but a part of me thought they didn’t really need to pay attention to an old country bumpkin.

I mean, why’s the commander of the nation’s knights sending letters to me? Doesn’t she have more important things to do? Getting updates from such a VIP, one that was far beyond my station, made me understand that some of my pupils had really made it big. Overall, it was pretty bad for my heart.

If only I’d possessed a little more talent for the sword, then maybe, just maybe, I would’ve left this village too.

“You can at least give me a li’l hope, right?”

“Yeah, yeah. If I ever meet anyone, that is.”

At any rate, leaving here was no more than an impossible dream. I knew my abilities were at their limit, so at this age, I didn’t even entertain the idea.

After my dad left the dojo, I felt a clean breeze brush against my skin. It was the perfect morning for meditation.

“Haaah...”

I gradually focused my mind inward, but I was pulled right back out when I heard what sounded like a visitor. Hmm, who could that be? Today was a day off, so it probably wasn’t any of my pupils. Besides, pretty much all of my current students were children, so they were more likely to charge in without giving a proper greeting.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes, yes, who is it?”

I stood up—my hips had seemed to grow heavier and heavier over the years—and opened the dojo’s door. Standing outside was a beauty with dignified features. Her long silver hair fluttered behind her.

“It’s been a long time, Master.”

“Umm, are you perhaps...Allucia?”

Her noble expression loosened into a gentle smile. “Yes, Master. It’s good to see you again.”

Right. So why in the world was the great commander of this nation’s knights all the way out here in the sticks? Seriously, why? Showing up in person like this was obviously going to shock an old man.

Barely keeping those thoughts to myself, I said, “It really has been a long time. I hardly recognized you.”

“You haven’t changed at all, Master.”

I suddenly found myself in a boy-meets-girl situation in a countryside dojo. How easy life would be if I could only sum it up like that? However, I was far too old to be considered a boy, and Allucia wasn’t so young that she could be called a girl. She was still a beauty, though. I was unfortunately past the age where I could live with such romantic dreams in my head.

In the north of the Galean continent was our nation, the Liberis Kingdom. The capital city was called Baltrain—there, the Liberion Order, which directly served the monarchy, had its headquarters.

And now, the new commander of said Liberion Order, Allucia Citrus, was standing before me.

During her time at our dojo, she’d been diligent and talented, possessing a gentle personality. As a little girl, she’d been good enough to replicate my swordsmanship by watching and imitating me. She’d also had a talent for taking care of others—I remembered that she used to trouble herself with her fellow pupils. All in all, she’d been really put together, which had seemed so refreshingly mismatched to this dojo in the middle of nowhere.

Allucia had attended my dojo for a period of about four years. In terms of age, she’d been here from twelve to sixteen, and during that time, she’d absorbed pretty much everything I could teach her. Looking to further devote herself to her improvement, she’d left this remote region—the village of Beaden—and had made her way to the capital, Baltrain.

“It’s been quite a while since I visited the dojo,” she muttered, a clear air of nostalgia in her voice. “The same goes for Beaden...” She peered past me, looking inside the dojo from the entrance.

“You’re right. How many years has it been now?”

Allucia hadn’t been born in this village. After hearing rumors about our dojo from somewhere or other, she’d made her way to Beaden along with her parents. According to what I’d heard, her parents were merchants, and their nice clothes had offered a glimpse of their wealth. They’d apparently wanted their beloved daughter to acquire the bare minimum skills needed to protect herself. One thing had led to another, and they’d extended their stay, allowing her to attend our dojo for four years.

Of course, it was strange for the daughter of merchants to become a knight commander. I had no clue how that’d happened. Incidentally, I wasn’t one to pry regarding my pupils’ birthplaces and such. If they were minors, I verified what I had to, but fundamentally, I never refused anyone who came to our doorstep. As long as they paid the monthly tuition fee, I had no complaints.

“Oh, yes, have you been reading my letters?” Allucia asked.

“Yeah, I have. Looks like you’ve been enjoying a good life.”

Ever since leaving the dojo, she’d sent me letters once every few months. By reading them, I’d been able to catch a glimpse of her day-to-day. I hadn’t, however, gotten the slightest inkling that she’d pay me a sudden in-person visit. Actually, if she’d been planning to drop by, I would’ve preferred that she inform me in one of her letters. Having such a big shot show up on my doorstep out of the blue was a huge shock for this old man.

She’d grown so much compared to my last memory of her. After giving it some thought, I figured that Allucia was now in her midtwenties—she was likely approaching the age of enrichment in both mind and body. She seemed to have quieted down a lot compared to the young girl I’d first met, even giving off a tranquil impression. Her facial features were more dignified than before, and her body was now that of a woman. It showed how healthily she’d grown since leaving the dojo.

As I observed my former pupil, my eyes fixed on the weapon at her hip. “I see you still have that sword...”

“Yes. It’s the precious blade you honored me with, Master.”

Allucia wasn’t currently wearing the gallant armor of a knight commander. Clad in a leather jacket, her garb was much more casual. Regardless, she kept a sword at her waist as a symbol of her duty—and it was a blade I recognized. I’d given it to her as a farewell gift when she’d left the dojo.

“I’m pretty sure a knight commander can easily get her hands on a much nicer sword,” I said.

“The definition of a good sword differs from person to person. This one’s good for me. This is my sword.”

“I see...”

Oh man. That made me happy, but it was still a bit much to hear. Realizing that my former pupil held such unexpectedly heavy emotions for her sword weirded me out a tiny bit. Still, I guess it wasn’t bad that she had an attachment to my farewell gift.

Pretty much all the kids who graduated from my dojo received a sword. I would’ve preferred to get them a nicer blade, but unfortunately, we didn’t have a stash of high-quality swords out here in the sticks. There was a limit to both quantity and quality, after all. We had a blacksmith in the village, but his skills and equipment were that of a so-so village smith, so I couldn’t expect masterworks from him.

I didn’t remember how many people I’d given swords to, exactly. I’d basically handed them out willy-nilly as farewell gifts. If I saw a former student with one of my swords in person, maybe I’d be able to identify them, but I wasn’t sure—if, like with Allucia, it’d been years since they’d been at the dojo, it would probably take me some time to remember. After all, more pupils meant more money, and I’d made enough money to fund ordering and gifting swords to all of them. It was no surprise that I couldn’t immediately recall every last student.

“S-So? What brings you here today?” I asked. “I don’t believe you ever mentioned anything about stopping by.”

Casting aside my idle thoughts, I focused on Allucia once more. I tried recalling the content of her letters, but I couldn’t remember her mentioning that she was planning a visit. Or, maybe I could. Now that I thought about it, she had written something like, “Now that I have the opportunity to speak with pivotal figures of the nation, like nobles, I’m working a lot more. However, good things have happened too. Please look forward to it.”

I’d figured she would send a follow-up report in another letter, but here she was in person. It was far beyond my expectations.

“Oh, right,” she said. “As a matter of fact, there’s something I simply must inform you of.”

“H-Hmm. What’s that?”

She maintained her smile. Actually, it seemed even deeper than before. It was a truly refreshing smile, without a hint of shadow hanging over it; however, after the ebb and flow of heavy emotions regarding her farewell sword, a part of me sensed something unsettling hiding beneath. Maybe it was just my imagination.

Anyway, what good news might she want to tell me face-to-face? Hmm, I couldn’t even begin to guess. If she’d gotten promoted even further, that was exactly the type of thing to notify me of by letter. But since she was here in person, it probably had something to do with me too—what matter could possibly involve an old man in his forties who lived out here in the sticks?

“To tell the truth, in addition to my duties as the knight commander, I’ve been given the honor of serving as the order’s swordsmanship instructor.”

“Hmm, that’s pretty impressive.”

Allucia was amazing. She’d likely devoted herself to her training even more since leaving the dojo, taking her abilities to greater heights. Frankly, by becoming a knight commander, she’d already proved that she had the skills to match the title.

“Upon my appointment, I recommended you for a position as a special instructor to the order. I’ve now received official approval.”

“Huh...?”

What did she just say?Thought I heard something weird a second ago. Ha ha ha—must be going senile in my old age.

“H-Hang on a sec. Can you repeat that?”

“Yes. I recommended you for a position as a special instructor for the order and have received approval. I’ve come here to inform you of such.”

“Hmm?”

Why? Why a position like that? I was nothing more than an old sword teacher at a dojo out in the sticks. Why would anyone send me to Baltrain as a special instructor for knights who carried the weight of the nation on their shoulders? That was far too much of a burden for me. What a nice joke. I had thought Allucia was the serious type, so it was a surprise to see that she’d throw around a gag like this.

I decided to check just one more time. “Wait...seriously?”

“What do I achieve by lying about this?” Allucia replied, her expression turning just a little peevish. “I don’t believe it’s the slightest bit strange considering your strength, Master.”

Despite her assurance, I still felt like this offer couldn’t be real. “So you say, but my abilities don’t amount to much.”

“Again with the humility.”

It wasn’t humility—I was telling the truth. It’s not like I thought I was weak or anything. If I was, I wouldn’t have any interest in swordsmanship, and I wouldn’t be able to serve as an instructor. Still, it felt far too inappropriate for me to teach the famed knights of the Liberion Order.

I had no idea what exactly a special instructor did, but taking the title at face value, I could at least guess that it involved guiding their swordsmanship. But...teaching swordplay among the elite of the elite? Me? She had to be messing with me. This whole situation came off as a malicious prank.

“Anyway...” I continued. “I’m surprised the order approved something like this.”

Right. Say that Allucia had massively overestimated my abilities. Her recommendation alone wouldn’t be enough to decide the teacher for such an important position. I had no idea how affairs related to a knightly order were managed, but at the very least, the organization wasn’t so simple that she would be able to make changes at her own discretion.

The fact that I’d been successfully approved meant that someone, maybe even the organization itself, had seriously considered Allucia’s recommendation. An enormous part of me wanted them to rescind this decision right away. However, the fact that they’d examined my credentials and cleared the recommendation meant that some tremendous idiot had been making the final call. Going right up to that person and giving them a good punch would be far too unrealistic, but I at least wanted to know how this had gotten approved.

“It wasn’t particularly difficult,” Allucia answered. “A good number of your former pupils have joined the order’s ranks. Besides, your swordsmanship is rather famous. You’ve gained a solid reputation as the Backwater Swordmaster, the man who has turned out many famous knights and adventurers. I’d rather omit the ‘Backwater’ part, but...um, Beaden isn’t exactly prosperous by the nicest standards, so...”

“That’s real funny,” I said, not a hint of amusement in my voice.

I couldn’t even laugh. Who were they calling the “Backwater Swordmaster”? The first half was correct, but the second half was a major inconsistency. I’ll say it again and again: I’m nothing more than a humble instructor at a dojo. Even if I was somewhat more skilled with a sword than the average person, I was no living legend or hero. I was just an old country bumpkin, and I couldn’t possibly become a swordmaster.

But Allucia was insistent, and she seemed to be growing a bit pouty at my denial. “I keep telling you that this is neither a lie nor a jest...”

“A-Aaah, sorry. It just doesn’t feel real to me.”

I wasn’t exactly trying to improve her mood, but she didn’t seem to be lying, so at the very least, there was no point in criticizing her. Though she was, in fact, seriously guilty of something: recommending the likes of me in the first place.

“Mrgh. Master, have you grown timid since I left the dojo?” Allucia asked.

“Not at all. Now, just as before, I’m nothing more than a humble man.”

She seemed to have an awfully high opinion of my skills, but that just didn’t sit right with me. It didn’t exactly feel bad, but when I thought about how she considered me to be better than I actually was...it made me fret.

“Let’s just say that everything we’ve talked about is true. What’ll happen to the dojo?” I asked. “I still have a lot of pupils. I can’t just suddenly move.”

If things had already gotten approved, I couldn’t do much about it. Still, there were many things I had to realistically consider. As mentioned, I’d been running this dojo for many years, and as an institution, this school had been going for generations. Though, because I wasn’t married, it was possible that the tradition would end with me anyway. Regardless, I couldn’t part with the dojo out of the blue. That would be far too irresponsible, and my dad wasn’t at the age to be swinging a sword around anymore.

“I know. That’s why the position is as a special instructor,” Allucia said. “There’s no need to remain stationed with the order. You can simply come to Baltrain a few times a month.”

“I-I see...” Was that really okay for a special instructor?

“So, to work out your upcoming schedule, I’d like you to come to the capital with me. A carriage is prepared for us outside the village.”

“Right now?!”

“It’s a day off for the dojo, isn’t it?”

“Ah, um, it is, but...”

She was right, but still... And also, it was a little scary that she still remembered our dojo’s schedule. Crap. Things were moving too fast. Was it really all right for me to just accept this job? Had I overlooked anything? Was it fine for me to do as Allucia had said and settle into this inexplicable special instructor position? Actually, did I even have the right to refuse an appointment from the order? How much legal force did this recommendation have?

This stream of questions dominated my mind. Allucia was fundamentally a good girl—there was no mistaking that. Even if she’d only been my student for a short four years, I could guarantee her good character. Had she always been this overbearing, though? Among my pupils, she’d been one who’d grown more emotionally attached to me. She’d been easy to teach and had absorbed everything quickly. That was exactly why I’d given her a sword as a farewell gift.

I stared at her, these vague thoughts running through my mind. Suddenly, Allucia seemed to remember something—her expression changed, and she pulled several letters from her pocket.

“Oh, right,” she said, holding them out. “This is a letter of appointment stamped with the royal seal, and this is your employment contract.”

“Ah, yup, okay.”

No doubt about it. That right there is the king’s seal. This is the kinda thing I absolutely have to obey, dammit. No refusing it, dammit. Allucia, you little...

◇

Surrendering myself to the clattering and shaking carriage, I peered out the window. The scenery didn’t really change as we traveled. Gently sloping plains continued alongside the road, and I caught glimpses of mountains far off in the distance. Once in a while, a river or the like freshened up the scene, but this road was a little too long to be admiring a nearly constant view. Beaden was as rural as rural got. We were able to live normal lives, and we didn’t want for anything, but you definitely couldn’t call it lively. As such, the land from the edge of the village to the beginning of the capital’s urban sprawl was nothing but identical backcountry emptiness.

“It’s been a while since I’ve visited the capital,” I mumbled out of the corner of my mouth, immediately bored by the view.

Allucia sharply picked up on my quiet remark. “You’ll have many more opportunities to do so from now on.”

She was sitting next to me, and to be honest, her profile was very picturesque. She had long silver hair and almond-shaped eyes. Her noble features made her seem like a statue that’d come to life. Compared to my last memory of her, she was far more womanly and composed...though that phrasing minimized how much she’d really grown. She’d always had good looks, but now, she was an astounding beauty. I wasn’t going to have any wicked thoughts about my former pupil, though.

My mind turned to the Liberion Order. They were famous for having an extremely strict selection test for recruits. Even living out in the sticks, I knew about it, so that just went to show how prestigious the knights were.

The order was the symbol of Liberis, so naturally, they had plenty of history and social standing. They were also the greatest military force under the kingdom’s command, and taking into consideration their immense skill, they served as a deterrent in the nation’s diplomatic strategy.

In terms of simple martial might, skilled mercenaries or remarkable adventurers were around the same level, but those groups weren’t under the jurisdiction of the kingdom. There were also those who favored Liberis and might help the country out in a pinch, but they couldn’t necessarily be relied on in a time of emergency.

A Liberion knight had a wide range of official duties, from maintaining public order in the city to subjugating large monsters. They were tremendously popular among the citizens. A large number of those who’d knocked on our dojo’s door had done so aiming to join the order. Though, I didn’t know how many of those had successfully gotten in.

Anyway, half the reason a bumpkin like me was so well-informed about this stuff was that publicity about the Liberion Order had reached as far as the backcountry. The other half of my knowledge had come from Allucia’s letters. Each and every time I received a large bundle of paper from her, I questioned where she found the time to write so much. After all, she was the order’s commander.

Because it was a hugely important organization to the country, its commander needed to have outstanding abilities, popularity, and character to suit the position. Was Allucia a woman befitting of such a heroic reputation?

“So, um, about what Mordea mentioned...” Allucia said, perhaps reading the intent of my earlier mumblings.

“Aah, he was just fooling around. Don’t worry about it.” Mordea was my dad’s name. He was in the latter half of his sixties but was still very energetic in both body and mind. His lower back had been bothering him every now and then, though.

The trip to the capital was actually fairly lengthy—it took the carriage half a day just to get there. Even if this was a day off for the dojo, I couldn’t suddenly leave the house for that long, so I’d explained the situation to my dad. There was no point in lying, so Allucia had accompanied me to go over the details, but...

“Ha ha ha ha! Well isn’t that an honor?! Go find yourself a wife in the city while you’re at it. How about that fine beauty right next to you?”

So he’d said. He really lacked any sense of tact whatsoever. Even now, I was truly astonished at how he’d managed to bag my mom with a sense of humor like that. I knew he was worried about me living as a bachelor at my age, but trying to pair me with Allucia was pretty questionable. In terms of looks, status, and abilities, she far exceeded me in every way.

“I see... He was fooling around? I don’t really...” Allucia mumbled.

“Hm? You say something?”

“No. Don’t mind me.”

“That so? Seriously, sorry about my old man.”

After apologizing for my family’s shameful behavior, I once more directed my gaze to the scenery. Not to condone anything my dad said, but this was a rare trip out to Baltrain. It was probably fine for me to let loose to a certain extent.

Setting aside having a fateful romantic encounter or anything like that, it was probably best to buy my parents a souvenir or two. While I was at it, it didn’t sound like a bad idea to acquire a nice sword. I no longer had any opportunities to swing a sword aside from training, but it was still ideal to have a quality weapon. It wasn’t like I had any other real hobbies, and as a boring old man in his forties who’d only ever lived for the sword, I had nobody besides my family to buy gifts for. So, you could say I had no reason to spend money on anything else—no point in tucking away more money in my pocket than I needed.

“Oh yeah, what’re we doing once we reach the capital?” I asked.

“First, I’ll introduce you to the members of the order. After that, we’ll work out your schedule for coming in and teaching lessons. Then, if we have the time, I think I’d like you to watch a little of our training.”

“Got it. My old man will get noisy about this visit, so if we have the time, I’d like to get him a—”

She cut me off. “Let’s work out those details immediately after we arrive. I’ll guide you to the stores.”

“S-Sure.” It felt like she was answering my questions before I could even ask them. Kinda scary...

I was a little nervous at the opportunity to see the knights’ training so soon, but their skill wasn’t something I could get a handle on until I got there and took a look for myself. There was no stopping the hands of the clock, nor was there any way of turning them back. Leaving all future problems to the future me, I decided to focus on the fun stuff.

This was a rare opportunity to be accompanied by a tremendous beauty, one who was practically wasted on me. Honestly speaking, there were the slightest—well, actually, tremendous—hints of some pretty shady things going on, as I still wasn’t convinced that I qualified for the special instructor position. But regardless, she was my cute former pupil.

“Speaking of souvenirs, does Mordea like anything in particular?” Allucia asked.

“Yeah. Despite his age, my old man has quite the taste for steamed buns, so...”

And like that, until our carriage arrived in Baltrain, I indulged myself in meaningless banter with Allucia.

◇

“So, Mr. Beryl Gardenant will be collaborating with us as a special instructor for the order. I expect all of you to devote yourselves to your training even more than before.”

The dignified voice I heard next to me was coming from Allucia Citrus. Unlike when we’d been chatting just moments ago, her tone now was commanding and heavy. Was this what people called a formal voice? It would be hard for me to replicate.

There were dozens—maybe over a hundred—members of the order standing before me. They all wore identical sets of gleaming silver plate armor, exerting an incredibly oppressive presence. The knights were made up of men and women of a wide range of ages, but at a glance, none were as old as I was. That made sense. It would be difficult to be a knight in your forties when your body started to genuinely deteriorate. I’d want to spend my days lazing around in the countryside too, not on the front lines of conflict.

“Mr. Gardenant is strong enough that I’m not even worth considering as his opponent. Be sure to focus all your energy on your training.”

That was really going too far, but I didn’t want to draw any unnecessary attention by cutting in. I was already exposed to all their eyes—interjecting would’ve been far too much for me.

Even among all my pupils, Allucia was exceptionally talented and had learned very quickly. That was why I’d recognized her relatively quickly, despite how long it’d been since I’d seen her. She’d left that much of an impression as a pupil, though I was sure she’d long surpassed me by now.

“Master, if you would, offer a word to the knights.”

After losing myself in a few moments of reminiscence, the conversation suddenly turned to me. Huh? Seriously? I hadn’t come up with any kind of speech. If Allucia had expected me to speak, some advance notice would’ve been nice.

Not that there was any way for me to voice my complaints. So, I did just as Allucia requested. Somehow, I avoided all the eyes that were focused on me and put together a greeting.