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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: The Reason That Villainess Took Up the Sword Chapter 20
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All the students seemed somewhat excited in their interactions with her.
"Erin, I heard you almost got hurt!"
"They say the Extermination Squad would have been wiped out if it weren't for a Sword Master suddenly appearing. Is that even possible?"
"Are you okay? Why are you walking like that?"
"I heard a rumor that you dueled Amon Sir and won. Is that true?"
"How could that be true? Amon Sir is who he is! There's no way Erin won."
As soon as she entered the training grounds, a barrage of questions poured out.
The story of Erin confronting the monster horde during the monster subjugation had spread widely.
The eyes of the Swordplay Department students, who were already becoming more favorable towards her, sparkled.
Erin shivered, as those eyes somehow resembled the Princess's gaze upon her this very morning.
She found it utterly unfamiliar how students, who initially disliked her, were now approaching her so warmly, as if all those who hated her had vanished.
Of course, there were still some among them who looked at Erin with disapproval.
"No matter how skilled she is with a sword, to like a murderer so much."
"Where has a knight's honor gone, tsk tsk."
"Leave her be. Someone like her can never reach the threshold of an Advanced Knight anyway. You all know it, don't you? To become a Sword Master, one's mental state must also reach its peak. Erin Resus won't even become an Advanced Knight."
These were words that might have hurt her in the past. But Erin ignored them.
She vaguely answered the other students' questions and walked to a corner of the training grounds. Then, she frowned upon seeing an unexpected person.
Why is that person here?
The person warming up in the training grounds was none other than Amon.
She could see the surrounding Swordplay Department students continuously glancing at him.
Since Amon was famous for being a future Sword Master, it was understandable that the Beginner Class students looked at him with sparkling eyes.
Most knights were obsessed with swords, so their thoughts revolved around 'swords'.
Therefore, Amon Hedor, despite being a peer, was inevitably an object of admiration due to his exceptional sword skills.
Upon spotting him, Erin walked in a different direction.
She wanted to avoid getting involved with him, as her goal was to act as a moderately talented genius in the Swordplay Department, one who seemed neither here nor there.
However, Amon approached faster than Erin could avoid him.
As soon as the Atenz Academy Knight Order meeting concluded, Amon heard the news that she had woken up.
He wondered if Erin would really come straight to practice, and indeed, she did.
A look of dissatisfaction clouded Amon's face.
"Erin Sir, is it truly alright for you to be out already? I heard you only regained consciousness this morning."
Erin shivered. Amon Hedor was speaking to her with honorifics?
Erin briefly looked up at the sky. Had the sun risen in the west?
But the sun was exactly where it should be. Then what on earth was going on?
Erin pondered the reason for a moment and soon concluded. She thought Amon might have injured his head during the monster subjugation.
Faced with a completely unexpected situation, Erin was speechless. Was this also something that happened because she changed the future? If so, how should she fix Amon's head?
"You look uncomfortable moving. You could have rested a bit longer before coming out."
His tone, though still somewhat sharp, was distinctly different from before.
Erin looked at Amon, bewildered.
This, too, was different from the future.
Amon Hedor was already in the Advanced Class of the Swordplay Department.
So, there was no reason for him to come to the Beginner Class taught by Edward.
Except for the first-day sword assessment, the Beginner Class and Advanced Class never encountered each other during class time.
Even her fiancé, Ferdin, hadn't been seen since that class.
This meant that Amon was here because he had transferred to the Beginner Class, Edward's class. Why on earth?
To move back to the Advanced Class, one had to complete a mission given by the Emperor, according to Atenz Academy tradition.
Erin, who knew what hell Amon Hedor went through in the past to advance to the Advanced Class, had no idea why he had come to the Beginner Class.
Moreover, there was a significant difference in skill between the Beginner Class and the Advanced Class.
Amon's level was too high; the Beginner Class students would be no match for him.
Of course, it wouldn't be much different in the Advanced Class, but still, to train even a little, it would be better to be in a class with a similar skill level.
"Why are you here?"
Amon closed his mouth at Erin's question.
Then, he silently stared at the sword at her waist.
"When you've recovered... would you be able to spar with me?"
"Pardon?"
"...Never mind."
Amon, who had started speaking, closed his mouth again upon realizing Erin's physical condition. His face reddened.
He was embarrassed for making a rude request, unable to control his emotions. Moreover, Erin, standing before him, had only woken up this morning.
Yet, Amon couldn't take his eyes off her sword.
Erin sighed at his fervent gaze.
Knights were always difficult to deal with because of this. It seemed she had fought Amon Hedor too seriously.
Should she have gone easy and still won?
But that 'going easy' was always so difficult. Besides, Erin was always weak to those who looked at her with such eyes.
The eyes of a knight seeking strength.
As someone who once yearned to be a knight more than anyone, she could understand their earnestness better than anyone.
After their duel, Amon must have gained some realization.
And having found a clue to grow stronger through that duel, he must have come all this way to quench that thirst.
'He wants it so much, I guess I have to do it.'
Erin raised her sword.
There was no need to wait until her body recovered.
Since she knew what Amon wanted, she intended to show him definitively.
'If I do it moderately, it won't stand out too much.'
Wouldn't it be fine to fight somewhat equally? She just needed to not be too overwhelming.
Even as she thought that, Erin knew.
As long as she sparred equally with Amon, her ordinary life in the Swordplay Department was already a lost cause.
But some things, even knowing, one cannot stop.
Erin herself didn't dislike crossing swords with Amon.
It was always a joy to guide a talented individual with potential.
"It's fine to spar now, Amon Sir."
Erin said so, drawing her sword.
* * *
Ronald Ashili.
He was more often called Duke Ashili than by his name.
One of only three Sword Masters in the vast Lexia Empire. A man who had achieved the pinnacle of swordsmanship and earned the respect of all knights.
However, no modifier could fully describe him.
His steps were hurried.
Behind his bulky figure, numerous knights followed. It was the Empire's First Knight Order, led by Duke Ashili.
Most of the knights belonging to the First Knight Order were Advanced Knights, consisting of some of the strongest individuals in the Empire.
This knight order primarily guarded the area near the Southern Mountains, where monsters were rampant, and was renowned as the elite of the elite within the Empire.
Therefore, it was perfectly natural for Swordplay Department students attending Atenz Academy to aspire to join the First Knight Order.
His chief knight approached Duke Ashili. He had just arrived after completing a mission Duke Ashili had assigned him recently.
The knight bowed his head and placed his fist over his chest.
Placing a hand over one's heart was the highest courtesy a knight could offer.
"Fortunately, Her Royal Highness the Princess is said to be unharmed."
"Did you also find out how that was possible?"
"Pardon?"
"Even you, Sir, have encountered a monster horde mixed with Advanced Monsters. It's not a level the Atenz Academy's Extermination Squad could handle."
"That was a passing Sword Master who..."
The knight couldn't continue his words. Duke Ashili looked at him with chilling eyes.
Though he said nothing, the pressure choked the knight.
"Don't talk nonsense."
At his single word, the entire Knight Order tensed up.
The chief knight standing before Duke Ashili felt cold sweat trickling down his back.
At this moment, the chief knight felt the man before him was more terrifying than encountering an Advanced Monster horde.
"Do you know what it means to become a Sword Master, Sir?"
"..."
"Do not commit the arrogance of speaking about a Master, you who have not yet reached that realm."
Simultaneously with his words, Duke Ashili clenched his fist.
A faint mana gathered in his hand, visible even to the knights' eyes.
Even in the tense moment, some knights' eyes sparkled as they witnessed the wondrous sight.
The realm they desired was right before their eyes. The stage of covering one's body with mana, not just their sword.
Those who had transcended human limits, capable of cleaving mountains with a single sword and single-handedly defeating Advanced Monster hordes.
The knights swallowed hard in tension. The chief knight also realized what mistake he had made.
At first glance, it might seem like an arrogant remark, but no knight thought so.
Duke Ashili was more than capable of uttering such words.
"Becoming a Sword Master is not a realm easily achieved. One must cross the line of death dozens of times and cut down countless monsters to reach it. Someone of that caliber would surely have already made a name for themselves."
As Duke Ashili said, all past Sword Masters had become famous beforehand, even if they didn't wish to.
So, if a truly new Sword Master had appeared, it would have been impossible for them not to know.
However, no Sword Master had moved into this vicinity recently. Then who was it who confronted that monster horde?
Duke Ashili thought so and looked straight ahead at where he stood.
Atenz Academy.
He was heading to that place, which he originally would have visited a month later, precisely to find out the reason.
