Chapter 18
“What, isn’t everything I said true? Ah, was I being too honest for the Lady to hear?”
He wore a sneer. Eki, seeing his face, grasped the hem of her skirt and lifted it slightly. Her fair ankles, encased in stockings, were revealed, and Bread's gaze naturally went there.
She felt his gaze and smiled faintly. And with that smiling face, she lifted her foot and struck Bread's shinbone with her heel.
“Ugh!”
Bread, caught off guard, groaned and clutched his shin. Of course, even if he hadn't been off guard, Eki would have had no problem kicking him. Eki skillfully kicked his hunched back, sending him tumbling under the bench.
“Hey, what do you think you're doing?”
Bread shouted. Eki replied calmly.
“I felt bad.”
“What?”
“Your words made me feel dirty, Senior. I have little patience, so I can't stand it when I feel bad. Please understand.”
“You crazy…”
Bread gritted his teeth and staggered as he stood up. Though hidden by his pants, the state of his shin, struck by the high heel, must have been very bad. Eki smoothed the ruffled hem of her dress and said,
“Oh, I don't know why I was designated as a Squire, but I do know why I got the top score in the second exam. You asked how I melted it down? It's hard to explain in words… I'll let you experience it firsthand.”
“What… Cough!”
She swung her longsword, still in its scabbard, and struck Bread's solar plexus. Despite being prepared, Bread couldn't block it. It was too fast.
It landed squarely, and the impact was refreshing. Eki began to speak in the gentle voice he had wanted.
“Like this.”
She pushed his shoulder, which was bent over from the blow to the solar plexus, with the scabbard. As he staggered, she kicked the inside of his ankle.
“Too many openings.”
Bread lost his balance and fell to the ground. She stepped firmly on his back as he lay face down.
“They were all too obvious, even to you, Associate Knight.”
“Ugh, cough… I went easy on you because you're pretty, you crazy bitch, do you think you'll get away with doing this to a senior? I'll make you… Hah…!”
With a sharp sound, the longsword in its scabbard grazed his ear and slammed into the ground. Bread, terrified, shut his mouth. Eki looked down at him and said,
“Yes, I think I'll be fine. I read the orientation booklet carefully before entering the academy. There are five reasons why a Military Cadet can be expelled, oh, was it five? Anyway, this wasn't one of them. I didn't draw my sword, and it's just a minor scuffle between cadets. Too bad, Senior.”
Bread writhed. But he couldn't escape from under the slender heel. This was because Eki subtly changed her position to match his movements, pressing down on the exact direction his muscles were trying to move with her heel, making it impossible for him to move.
Bread was also a Military Cadet. He, too, had skills that would have earned him the title of genius outside of Ajenka. Nevertheless, the reason he was being so helplessly defeated was the gap between Eki and him.
Of course, Bread, a young freshman crushed by a woman's shoe decorated with jewels, was too irrational to realize this fact. He distorted his face with pain and shame and screamed.
“G-Get off me right now! You, you, if you act like this, your Squire designation could be revoked! I'll report everything to the captain of the royal guard!”
“Report it. I don't need to be a Squire. But then, I'll have to report why I felt so bad, won't I? I'll tell the captain of the royal guard everything you just said to me? About being a bed warmer or something?”
“Y-You…! Do you have any proof? There are no witnesses either! But the evidence that you attacked a senior first is clear! Do you think I'll let you get away with this?”
Bread struggled. Just as Eki was about to laugh at him for acting like it was something to be proud of to be beaten by a junior, another voice cut in.
“I'll be the witness.”
A black-haired man entered the fourth training ground. His tanned skin and muscular build made his leisurely stride seem as heavy as a lion or leopard approaching. His beast-like yellow eyes were half-closed, as if languid.
Eki had noticed the presence of this man near the training ground from the beginning. That was why she had been even more unrestrained.
Anyone normal would have a hard time saying anything to her after hearing what Bread had said, and if it was a guy like Bread, he would be scared and eat his words. Of course, if he spread rumors that she was a terrifying woman and that he shouldn't mess with her, that wouldn't be bad either.
She turned to look at the approaching man, still stepping on Bread's back.
“Who are you?”
“Baraha Islaf, third year. You're Cadet Ekinesia Roaz, right?”
“Yes, Senior Baraha.”
The man sat on the bench and pulled out a sandwich filled with bacon. He nonchalantly munched on it and gestured.
“Ah, continue what you were doing. I heard everything that guy said.”
“…Thank you.”
“Damn it…”
Bread had been silent from the moment he saw the man named Baraha. He cursed and buried his face. Eki quietly looked down at him, then lifted the scabbard she had stuck into the ground and asked.
“Senior Bread, I'm asking just in case. Has enlightenment suddenly struck you, and do you think, 'Ah, I was really wrong, I said things I shouldn't have'?”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“I thought so. Then just get lost. And be careful what you say in the future.”
Eki removed her foot and stepped back. Bread jumped up, then twisted in pain and groaned. He glanced at Baraha, then his face seemed to force down the curses that had risen to the tip of his throat.
“You, you… You'll regret this.”
Leaving those words as if spitting them out between his teeth, Bread left the training ground. He was limping but quite fast. Baraha, who had been watching him, said casually.
“You could have hit him more.”
“I didn't want to waste time on someone hopeless. This much warning should be enough.”
“He didn't seem to understand the warning very well?”
“If he does it again, I'll have to give him a repeat lesson. If he gets his shin kicked by a heel every time he talks, won't he shut his mouth even if it's just because it hurts?”
At her words, he chuckled. Then he ate the rest of the sandwich in one bite and roughly stuffed the empty wrapper into his pocket.
“From what I heard, it seems like you were doing Squire pre-training?”
“Yes.”
“Why is that idiot doing it?”
“Is he famous?”
“In a way. He has a club of his own. A bunch of idiots who think the academy is their mansion.”
Eki frowned. Not just one, but a club of them. She thought only people like Alice aspired to be knights.
‘Ah, well. There are guys like Ian Pelletro too. Just because it's an academy doesn't mean it's anything special.’
Baraha grinned, showing his teeth, and said.
“That guy has never even received a temporary designation. I don't think you would have asked him, so who assigned him to Squire pre-training?”
“…The Cadet Representative. The Representative was originally going to do it, but he didn't have time today.”
“Hmm.”
He rested his chin on his hand as if pondering something, then scanned Eki with his yellow eyes. It was a candid gaze. His eyes moved between the cheap longsword she was holding and the voluminous ruffles of her dress.
“Ekinesia Roaz.”
“Yes, Senior.”
“Why are you wearing a dress?”
“Aren't cadet uniforms optional?”
“Ah, I'm not criticizing, just curious.”
It was a question she would hear often. Eki answered readily.
“Because it's my taste. I enjoy dressing up.”
Whether that answer was interesting, Baraha raised the corner of his mouth. He gestured to her shoes with his chin.
“Aren't shoes uncomfortable? But they seemed quite useful earlier.”
“I'm used to them, so they're not uncomfortable. And leather shoes don't go with dresses.”
“…Why the gloves? Not even leather gloves, but silk, they seem slippery for gripping a sword.”
“I don't want my hands to get rough. And silk gloves are prettier than leather gloves, aren't they?”
Baraha's lips were twitching. He was definitely holding back a laugh.
“You like pretty things, so why are you carrying such an ugly, cheap sword?”
“Because I'm too lazy to take care of it. If the blade gets damaged, I'll just throw it away and buy a new one.”
“Puh-ha.”
He couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter. It wasn't a sneer, but a cheerful laugh. Eki stared at him giggling as if he were something strange. He was a man with unique tastes. Alice's reaction was normal.
Baraha, who had managed to control his laughter to some extent, grinned and said.
“I thought so earlier, but the more I look at you, the more interesting you are. I like you.”
“…Thank you for thinking well of me.”
“Good, I'll do your Squire pre-training. I'll talk to the Cadet Representative myself, so don't worry.”
There was no need to refuse an offer. She had to learn how to act as a Squire anyway. Even though he seemed to have a somewhat unique taste, he wouldn't be someone who would spout nonsense like Bread, so it was a good thing. Eki bowed her head and greeted him.
“Thank you. I look forward to working with you today.”
“Not just today.”
“Yes?”
“I'll be doing it from now on. Until you officially become a Squire.”
Baraha stood up from the bench. His thighs were thicker than Eki's waist. Standing in front of him, the slender her was only a handful. He had a handsome face, but he was also tall and large, so looking down at her while standing straight was very intimidating.
Of course, Eki was not intimidated at all. There was no fear or even tension in her eyes. Baraha seemed to like that about her as well. He grinned and gave her an Ajenka salute.
“Arse Sebatiel.”
He raised his elbows to shoulder height, clasped his hands in front of his chest as if praying, then separated them, reciting an ancient phrase. It was the greeting of the Azure Sky, derived from the prayer posture of the Apostles.
“Let me introduce myself again. Baraha Islaf, third year, Giosa Owner and Squire of Sir Tillius, the vice captain of the royal guard. Please take care of me, Squire Junior.”
