Erika: My Friend Is Obsessed with Me
Chapter 46
Erica felt a sudden surge of heat, her temper flaring.
“I was so relieved that I became a Swordmaster right on time that I could practically cry! Just take the Holy Grail and heal already, please!”
If their positions were reversed, her master would have done the exact same thing.
That stubborn old man kept doing nothing but yelling.
“I really wanted to join Tenearha anyway!”
Even if that decision was only made yesterday. Regardless.
“You told me to live an exciting life! You said I should try everything that looks fun!”
“……”
Despite his disciple’s impassioned argument, Pechenik’s expression remained grim.
Looking thoroughly miserable, he dragged a hand down his face.
“It isn’t fun. I’ve done it myself.”
“I’ll try it out first and give you my review.”
“I told you, it’s not fun.”
“Why do you get to decide that? I’m going to try it!”
“You stubborn mule!”
“Who do you think I take after?!”
Looking at the girl who had grown up to be just like him, Pechenik felt the crushing weight of responsibility.
Who on earth had raised her? Erica was strong-willed and utterly fearless.
Without even realizing what she had brought upon herself.
Without understanding just how irreversible and absurd this whole situation was.
Only after a long silence did Pechenik finally manage to speak again.
“I will go meet Marquis Nokbel.”
“I told you, we can’t take it back!”
“I know that!!!”
What was done was done, and there was no turning back.
Gritting his teeth, Pechenik considered what he could do right now.
He had to meet with Tenearha—whom he had turned away at the door all this time—before they left for the Imperial Capital.
There was no time.
“……”
He needed to make it crystal clear that he was Erica’s guardian.
He had to lay down several requests, demand promises, press them on the terms of entrusting his disciple to their care.
And if push came to shove, draw his sword and vent his fury.
Either way, he had plenty to say to Marquis Nokbel.
“You… don’t come see me for the time being.”
“What?”
Pechenik turned on his heel and walked out of the room.
“What?! Hey!”
Left behind all alone, his disciple was left looking utterly wronged.
* * *
Sulk.
Sulk 2.
Erica and Chaud were crouched side by side.
Curled up like small balls, they poked at the dirt with tree branches.
Chaud was the first to confess.
“I’m sorry. I let it slip by mistake.”
“I would’ve been scolded anyway.”
Erica replied dejectedly.
Her master declaring that he wouldn't see her had been a real shock.
She had to leave for the Imperial Capital soon, and she wanted to see his face as much as she could before then.
‘He looked like he collapsed yesterday, too.’
She was worried sick, but she couldn’t even go check on him.
She also wondered whether the Saintess was handling the Holy Grail of Magreta properly.
What if her master hated even that and threw the Holy Grail onto the floor?
‘There’s nothing I can do, either.’
Erica listlessly dug into the ground with a pout.
With two Swordmasters digging, a sizable trench was carved out in no time.
The Priest managing the Sky Garden watched them, tears streaming down his face in despair.
He agonized over how much longer he was supposed to stand by and watch this terrifying excavation project.
Fortunately, they stopped before they could bore a massive crater through the upper floor.
“Ugh, damn it.”
She hurled the twig to the ground.
“I’m going to see him.”
As Erica sprang to her feet, Chaud rose right along with her.
“He’s my master, so why can’t I see him whenever I want? Right?”
“You’re completely right.”
The two of them boldly dusted the dirt off their hands and shouted,
“Let’s go!”
Yet the moment they took a spirited step forward, they froze.
Step.
A man had appeared, planting himself firmly in their path.
It was Count Herace.
‘Gah.’
Startled out of her wits, Erica took a step back instinctively.
She bumped lightly against Chaud’s chest. He caught her by the elbow from behind, half-embracing her to steady her.
‘Whoa, that gave me a heart attack.’
Now that she had enlisted in Tenearha, she would be seeing his face often, so she’d better get used to it.
“So you were here.”
“…?”
Erica glanced around quickly.
Then she looked back at Count Herace. He was staring directly at her.
Erica tilted her head up to meet his gaze.
“Could it be… though I doubt it, did you come looking for me?”
This was practically their first proper conversation.
Until now, Marquis Nokbel had spearheaded every discussion.
“Why would you think that unlikely?”
“Well, because…”
Because you’ve never cared about me.
As Erica hesitated, her lips parting without words, Count Herace clasped his hands behind his back and spoke.
“It has been a long time since we had a new recruit. As the Commander of the knight order, it would be stranger if I did not look after you.”
“…?”
Commander.
Wait, Commander of Tenearha?
“…??”
Wasn’t that green-haired old man, Nokbel or whatever his name was, the boss?
Erica was dumbfounded internally.
If he was the Commander of Tenearha, it meant he was officially the strongest swordsman in the entire Empire.
The sharpest blade of the realm.
He was the father who had sired her, but now an absolute stranger.
Count Herace spoke again.
“We will be returning to the Imperial Capital shortly. I came to inform you of the departure schedule.”
“…Pardon?”
Erica jumped in surprise.
“When are we leaving?”
“Marquis Nokbel is currently conversing with Sir Pechenik, but it seems to be taking longer than anticipated…”
Count Herace said impassively,
“We intend to depart around tomorrow.”
His matter-of-fact delivery flustered Erica even more.
“What? Tomorrow?! That soon?”
“His Majesty is likely eager to meet his new sword.”
Isn’t that just your own assumption? Is His Majesty the Emperor really someone with nothing better to do?
Dozens of retorts surged to mind, but she didn’t voice any of them.
Even making every possible concession, the schedule was far too rushed.
Erica’s eyes flickered with uncertainty before she made up her mind.
“Um, could you perhaps grant me a grace period of about a month?”
She lowered her hands and folded them demurely in front of her.
For Erica, this was an exceptionally polite way to ask for a favor.
“A month?”
“Southern Dangters is my home. There are people there who have been like family to me for a long time, and I want to say goodbye to them.”
Even a brief stop in Dangtus would be enough.
“I beg of you.”
She needed to bid farewell to her guild members.
She had to formally entrust the Guildmaster position to Caron.
And she needed to make up some excuse about her master’s well-being.
The journey to Southern Dangters was immense; just the round trip alone would take a month.
And that was the bare minimum assuming she rode like mad—
“You seem to lack a sense of reality.”
The reply came in a frigid tone.
“Tenearha is not the Academy. It is certainly not a mere Mercenary Guild. It is not a place where you can throw tantrums simply because you are young.”
“I never thought—”
“Consider this an advance warning. I have no intention of tolerating any arrogant fuss just because you are Pechenik’s disciple.”
“I—”
“Keep in mind that if you persist in acting insolently, your life in the knight order will be a difficult one.”
Not a chance in hell.
Erica was left completely speechless.
‘What kind of stubborn old fossil…?’
She was only asking for time to say goodbye to her hometown, and he wouldn't even allow that?
To dress her down like this over such a simple request?
The realization that her stiff-necked biological father was the head of Tenearha made her future in the order seem utterly bleak.
Just as she was about to argue that leaving for the Imperial Capital tomorrow was unreasonable no matter how you sliced it—
Patter, patter!
“Commander!”
A knight wearing the uniform of Tenearha sprinted over.
“Marquis Nokbel is asking for you!”
“Has his conversation with Sir Pechenik concluded?”
“Yes. However, the matter is…”
The knight hesitated before lowering his voice.
“I did not witness it firsthand, but it appeared as though the two of them had a severe altercation.”
“…?”
Count Herace showed a flicker of doubt. Those two were not on such terms.
Their bond went back years. Even if they argued, it would amount to little more than banter.
“Surely they did not draw their blades in the middle of a chat.”
“There were no signs of Aura being deployed in the room, but strangely enough, there was red blood on the floor…”
“…Blood on the floor?”
“Ah, shit!”
Spitting out a curse, Erica took off running at full tilt.
Chaud bolted right behind her.
Whoosh—
“…?”
“……”
Left behind in a daze, the two Tenearha knights could only stare in confusion.
Count Herace remained standing there, watching their receding backs as they sprinted away.
