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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Reason the Villainess Took Up the Sword
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The Atenz Academy students couldn't tear their eyes away from a single spot.
Following Ashili Duke, the First Knight Order entered with unhesitating steps.
The Duke, who was leading the way, stopped upon spotting a man walking the same path as him.
"That is Sir Raymond of the Resus Marquisate."
The chief knight beside Ashili Duke murmured.
Raymond was an exceptional advanced knight, one of the Resus Marquis's most trusted knights, alongside Sir Rekken.
However, he was not a suitable person to be at Atenz Academy.
"It seems he's here because of Erin Resus. According to the Marquis's Wife, Erin Resus caused trouble during the monster extermination this time."
"Trouble?"
"Yes. She provoked Sir Amon and dueled him, and Her Royal Highness the Princess, who was an observer there, nearly came to harm."
At the chief knight's words, Ashili Duke's face hardened.
Ashili Duke was a man who maintained composure at all times, but he would quickly lose his temper when it concerned the Princess.
Erin Resus. Ashili Duke had seen her a few times before.
He recalled the small child who occasionally stood beside the Resus Marquis when he met him.
She was a girl who seemed gloomy and lacked confidence. Her physique wasn't ordinary, but as she grew older, even that became poor.
He remembered her hiding behind her father's back, with a frail face that looked like she would never wield a sword in her life.
Moreover, Ashili Duke had not been deaf to the rumors, so he couldn't find a single good thing about Erin Resus.
'Has the Resus Marquisate not been chosen by the sword in this generation?'
Talented knights were always in short supply.
The Resus Marquisate enjoyed power comparable to a Duchy precisely because it was a family chosen by the sword.
However, Karon Resus, whom he had seen last time, also did not impress him, so it seemed the sword's choice, passed down through generations, had ended with this one.
It was a regrettable matter, not as a Duke of the Empire, but as a knight himself.
'They're all terrible. Erin Resus, especially.'
But perhaps it was better that Erin hadn't been chosen by the sword.
It was unlikely to happen, but if someone with Erin Resus's personality became a Sword Master, that would be a huge problem in itself.
Because there was no telling what she would try to do with that power.
If she were to oppress innocent people, he might have to step forward and stain his sword with blood.
He had thought such thoughts years ago. But Erin Resus was in the Swordplay Department?
Ashili Duke's face stiffened. His curiosity was fleeting, and his decision was swift.
"To the training grounds."
At Ashili Duke's sudden words, the knights behind him looked flustered.
Originally, they were supposed to go directly to Ashili Princess. But if the Duke made a decision, they had to follow.
With Ashili Duke's quick pace, the knights also began to hurry.
Since all the knights had attended the Atenz Academy's Swordplay Department, finding the way was not difficult.
The training grounds they arrived at were quiet.
Ashili Duke felt a sense of bewilderment.
Normally, even approaching the training grounds, one would hear the shouts of the Swordplay Department students and the clash of swords.
But the training grounds were utterly silent, as if under a silence spell.
And not far off, Ashili Duke could see two students sparring.
All the students of the Swordplay Department had forgotten their own training, busy watching the two.
One person had a very familiar face.
Amon Hedor. The heir whom Hedor Duke boasted about to the point of annoyance.
Amon was a student brimming with talent, enough for Ashili Duke to acknowledge. A student at Atenz Academy fighting on par with him?
And Ashili Duke couldn't hide his bewilderment when he saw his sparring partner.
As if echoing the Duke's thoughts, the chief knight beside him spoke with a dazed expression.
"Erin Resus?"
Erin Resus was visible, her brown hair tied back, fluttering as she smiled joyfully.
The swordplay unfolding from her hand was beautiful.
Erin Resus's swordplay seemed simple yet was astonishingly refined.
The composure that only one who had swung a sword tens of thousands of times could possess permeated her sword.
The chief knight involuntarily gaped, staring at Erin.
Was this truly the villainess from the rumors he had heard...?
Watching Amon and Erin spar, the chief knight felt an involuntary sense of exhilaration.
It had been a long time since he had seen such an enjoyable-looking spar.
How long had it been since he'd felt an atmosphere where the clashing of swords itself was enjoyed, not for killing?
The chief knight, who had been engrossed in watching the spar, came to his senses because of the Duke's words beside him.
"Remarkable talent."
For Ashili Duke to acknowledge such talent.
'Certainly... Erin Resus, who is evenly matched with Sir Amon, isn't bad, but she's not comparable to him.'
A competitive spirit rose in the chief knight's eyes. He gazed at Amon with intense eyes.
An ordinary academy student had received an acknowledgment that he, serving under Ashili Duke, had never once received.
Yet, the chief knight ultimately failed to notice.
That Ashili Duke's eyes had been fixed solely on Erin, not Amon, from the very beginning.
The Duke's gaze, following her sword path, was intense.
* * *
Sword clashed against sword. Sparring with real blades always brought a certain tension.
Erin loved that sensation. Her entire body felt heavy, but that fact posed no hindrance to her.
Amon's sword, laden with heavy force, struck down as if to shatter her blade. But Erin skillfully deflected the impact.
She instantly noticed that his swordplay had changed. Amon's noble and elegant swordplay now contained vigor.
It seemed he had been trying various things since their last duel.
However, Amon's original swordplay wasn't bad either.
He had only lost the duel because she was simply too strong.
Thinking that, Erin guided Amon's sword. She intended to show him, through their clashing blades, that his swordplay wasn't bad.
Then, bewilderment flickered across his face. It was because the more he defended against her sword, the more he realized the direction his own swordplay was heading.
The Hedor family's swordplay. Amon was unconsciously performing his original sword arts.
How was this possible?
But Erin was not an easy opponent, not one to allow him to think for long.
Even simple cutting and thrusting motions felt different when she performed them.
Amon felt a similar sensation to when he first sparred with Erin.
A colossal mountain appeared before his eyes. He felt as though no matter how much he attacked, he wouldn't be able to pierce it.
But it wasn't exactly the same as before. Erin was showing him. Showing him where his true path of the sword lay.
In that case, he had no choice but to meet that expectation.
Amon gritted his teeth and unleashed the best swordplay he could.
Erin, too, responded to his best.
*Clang.*
Sword met sword, producing a clear sound.
'Was swinging a sword always this enjoyable?'
Amon had that thought for a moment. Erin, swinging her sword before his eyes, seemed to be dancing.
Not an ounce of unnecessary force was present in any of her movements.
How naturally one movement flowed into the next... It was simply beautiful.
Amon's sword, which had been mesmerized by Erin, stopped for a moment.
Erin was not one to miss such an opening. Her sword struck Amon's blade, then stopped right before his brow.
It was the same conclusion as their first spar.
"Sir Amon, to be distracted during a spar."
He had nothing to say. Amon knew how foolish his actions had been. This was an insult to both Erin and to anyone walking the path of a knight.
Amon picked up his sword and bowed his head directly to Erin. At that, Erin's face was tinged with bewilderment.
"It was a good spar, but I have nothing to say."
"...Sir Amon, could you not act like your usual self?"
Erin was speechless at such an unexpected reaction. She had never imagined he would so readily admit his fault.
Amon's eyes, as he lifted his head, were shining.
'Why is he looking at me with those eyes?'
Erin had often seen eyes like Amon's in her third life.
Whenever she happened to provide an insight, the knights who followed her would look at her with such fervent eyes.
Looking at Amon, memories from that time seemed to resurface.
"I can't get used to it, so please just act normally."
"Is that more comfortable for you?"
"Yes, truly."
At Erin's words, Amon nodded. But his shining eyes remained unchanged.
To think that Amon, who had criticized her for lacking honor, now felt more comfortable.
Indeed, today was a strange day.
