Chapter 19
Eki's expression faltered. The Squire of Vice-Captain Baron? The moment she heard those words, the only thing that came to her mind was, 'I'm screwed.' No wonder Bread acted like a dog with its tail between its legs as soon as he saw Baraha.
"...You were a Squire?"
"Yeah. Since two years ago. If I say I'll train you, even the student representative won't say anything. You won't get involved with guys like that, and that club of his won't be able to spout nonsense."
Having a club of idiots come and spout nonsense was more comfortable than being trained by the Squire of the Giosa Owner she had beheaded. Eki quickly shook her head.
"I'm fine, senior. You don't have to go that far for me."
"I'm doing it because I need to. If you become a formal Squire, there will be many times when you work with me. My Lord is the Vice-Captain, and you're the Captain of the Royal Guard's Squire, right?"
"...Ah."
She had been so distracted by Yuriene that she had completely forgotten. Becoming Yuriene's Squire meant that she would often encounter other Giosa Owners. And who among them might remember her erased past? Suddenly, the future felt bleakly dark.
Baraha shrugged.
"Seeing that the student representative brought such a moron as his replacement, I think I'll suffer when I work with you if I leave you like this. So I have to teach you in advance."
"T-thank you."
She didn't want to get involved with him, Baron's Squire. Even so, she couldn't refuse. There was no reason to refuse. Even if she avoided him, she would still encounter other Giosa Owners once she became a Squire anyway.
'…I need to get more hats and gloves. And buy some more makeup.'
She needed to dress up more flamboyantly. To the point where she would be absolutely unrecognizable. She thought gloomily. Meanwhile, Baraha counted on his fingers as if thinking about something, then nodded. He turned and said.
"Follow me for now. I have something to give you."
"Ah, yes."
He left the training grounds and started walking. Eki followed behind him. His back looked very broad from behind. He was wearing the student uniform, but he wasn't wearing a jacket, so his well-trained muscles were clearly visible under his taut shirt.
He's so noticeable, and he's even Baron's Squire, so why don't I remember killing him? That man wasn't among the victims of Ajenka that she remembered.
As she followed him, she continued to search her memories. Then, suddenly, something came to mind.
〈Did the Vice-Captain go to the cemetery again today?〉
〈Yes, well. He lost his Squire like that… It seems like he thinks about it when it's stormy with lightning like this.〉
〈It's been about three years since that Monster subjugation.〉
〈The damage was so great at that time.〉
The conversation the guards beyond the double gate were having. It wasn't exact, but it was roughly like that. It was etched in her memory because the same conversation was repeated every time lightning struck and rain poured down, not just once.
Eki raised her head with a pale face. That man didn't exist when she annihilated Ajenka. Because he had already died in an accident before that. And three years before the time she was in prison was this year.
During this year's Monster subjugation, Baraha Islaf dies. And the Vice-Captain, who stood against her to the end to save the citizens of Ajenka, would visit the grave of his dead Squire on days when lightning struck.
Eki was walking blankly when she almost bumped into Baraha's back, who had suddenly stopped. The place he stopped was in front of the men's dormitory.
"Wait here for a moment."
Baraha turned to look at her and said, then disappeared into the dormitory. Eki stood still in that spot.
Her gaze reached the ivy climbing up the red bricks of the dormitory, but she wasn't looking at it. The students entering and exiting the dormitory glanced at her in her dress and whispered, but she didn't hear any of it.
Ekinesia was thinking.
She had turned back time to be happy. She wanted everyone who had died at her hands to come back to life. Other than that, she honestly hadn't considered anything else. It meant that she had never deeply considered the meaning of turning back time.
'It's the same as knowing the future. And if you know it, you can change it.'
She had returned to change the past. By returning, half of the goal she had hoped for had already been achieved. So she hadn't thought about what she could do with the information about the future.
Eki knew about the major events that would happen in the future. She had been busy being swayed by the Demon Sword and then collecting Giosas after overcoming it, so she didn't know the details, but there were definitely big events that even reached her ears. And she had the power to change them.
'As much as I can… shall I try to change it?'
It didn't mean that she would reach out to all those things. Only as far as her hands could reach. Because she didn't want to see the people around her unhappy. Inconspicuously, without getting caught, carefully.
For example, like saving Baraha Islaf, who was about to die.
'I can also test whether the Giosa Owners have memories with this.'
If they remembered the erased times, those who were Giosa Owners before her would know much better. That Squire Baraha would die in the upcoming Monster subjugation. Then they would naturally move to save him as well.
If she watched that, she could find out who had memories. If no one could stop his death, she could stop it.
'There's no reason to leave him alone when I can stop it. Yes, let's save him.'
Eki closed and opened her eyes tightly. Her purple eyes held a clear light.
"Did you wait?"
Meanwhile, Baraha, who had come out of the dormitory, approached her. He was holding a book in his hand. Held in his large hand, the ordinary-sized book looked like a booklet. He held out the book to her.
"Read this for today. It's homework."
Eki accepted the book. When she received it, it was closer to a bundle of memos and notes than a book. The leather cover, stained with use, read 'Squire Textbook.'
"It's a book containing the experiences of the seniors. You don't have to return it. Keep it, and when your junior Squire is born, pass it on to him."
"Thank you."
"Well, I have to go see my Lord. Look at that, and come to the training grounds from earlier at the same time tomorrow morning."
"Um, Senior."
"Yeah?"
"...The Azure Knights' Monster subjugation is every spring, right? Can I go as a Squire then?"
"It'll be difficult this time. It's May 10th, so it's before your probationary period ends. They wouldn't take a freshman in probationary status, let alone a formal Squire."
"Then is there no way to participate?"
Eki asked a little anxiously. Baraha quietly looked down at her and smiled.
"You want to experience actual combat?"
"Ah, yes."
"You're more proactive than I thought."
"It's only natural as someone who handles Mana."
"You're not obsessed with swords, are you?"
Baraha asked casually. Eki paused. Was it that obvious? She didn't really like swords. Considering what she had gone through, it was only natural. She just didn't let go of the sword because it was something she was good at and useful.
"...Does it look like that?"
"Well, never mind. If you want to participate, get in the top three in the upcoming freshman ranking match. Even freshmen in the top three are taken as temporary Squires."
Originally, the ranking match was held in an integrated manner regardless of grade. However, freshmen who had just entered school were specially ranked among themselves once immediately after admission. This was to refer to the freshmen's skills when drawing up the matchups for the next ranking match. The admission score was a score that combined various factors, so it was ambiguous to use.
"They only take the top three?"
"The Azure's Monster subjugation isn't for show like in other countries. It's actual combat. You have to be that skilled to not be a hindrance."
"...I see."
"Not confident, top student?"
Baraha asked provocatively. His yellow eyes observed her with mischief. Eki smiled, raising the corners of her lips.
"No."
She held the hem of her dress and bowed slightly, bending her knees. And she looked up at him and replied.
"I look forward to working with you during the Monster subjugation as well, Senior Baraha."
It was a calm declaration. Baraha's eyes sparkled with satisfaction.
"Good, a student who was appointed as a Squire on the first day of admission should be like that. I'll look forward to the freshman ranking match, Ekinesia Roaz."
"Thank you."
"Do your homework well, I'll check it tomorrow."
Baraha smiled and left. Eki turned around with the book in her hand. In her mind, the Demon Sword chattered.
[Master, you said you wouldn't aim for a high rank, right? But you're going to try for 3rd place?]
"No, 1st place."
[Huh?]
"Now that I've become a Squire anyway, there's no point in avoiding the Giosa Owners."
Now that she had become a Squire, the need to avoid the top ranks to avoid encountering the Giosa Owners had disappeared. Rather, as an unusually appointed Squire, it would be better to silence the suspicions and complaints of other students with overwhelming skill. Of course, she had to maintain a level that was logically acceptable.
"I have to make sure that there are no more rumors about serving at night."
Eki smiled coldly. The Demon Sword asked, puzzled.
[You're really angry. But why didn't you kill him?]
"If I killed everyone I was angry at, I'd be a murderer."
[You used to be like that, though? Then you're a murderer.]
Eki stopped walking abruptly. There was no one around. That's why she had responded to the Demon Sword in the first place. She looked down at her right palm with eyes that had completely lost their warmth and looked like amethysts.
"You have no right to say that, Bal."
[Hey, I didn't control you! You accepted the murderous intent!]
"……."
Eki gritted her teeth. Before the regression, when she awakened Bardelgiosa's ego and was collecting Giosas. In those early days, she had done things that were no different from a murderer. It was different from the shell that had controlled her, but it was those things that made her realize that it was a Demon Sword specialized in slaughter.
When she wanted to kill someone, the large amount of Mana residing in the Demon Sword would follow her murderous intent and kill the target. Her body would automatically find the optimal path for killing. That was also a power that the Demon Sword possessed. All Giosas had special abilities.
At first, she didn't know that the Demon Sword had this function. She first learned about Bardelgiosa's power thanks to an information broker in the back alley.
