100 [2-34] Understanding modern physical language (1/2)

Two clanging swords played a fierce tune.

The magic lights embedded in the ceiling shone brightly, dispelling the darkness of the night. In the spacious dojo of the earthen floor, two men were cutting each other.

On the one hand, a man whose missing arm had been replaced by an artifact that looked like a metal skeleton. In addition to his black hair, which should have been groomed but looks stubborn, he now has a genuine stubble. The Second Knight Commander, Bertil Lagerbeck.

Bertil is already nearly forty years old, but his opponent, with whom he would face and slay on even terms, is well into his old age. He was a skinhead who had shaved his nearly bald head. Steam rises from his naked upper body, which is composed of rock-like muscles.

The slash-and-burn battle that goes on forever, like a battle of checks and balances, eventually ends abruptly.

It was a slight flicker that only the fighters themselves would notice.

Bertil is knocked out of his stance. The old man steps in. Bertil chooses to fight back rather than regroup. A silver lining. And then...

And then, with a clear, crisp sound, the fights were joined.

The sword flew from Bertil's hand, spinning and sliding across the ground, stopping at the feet of Kaja, who was watching the battle from the wall.

The old man smiled lowly at Bertil, who had lost his sword.

The old man chuckled lowly at Bertil's loss of his sword, ”Well, you've done it with only one arm.

You're the one who's wasted, aren't you?

”Pull it out!　I'm determined to wield a sword until the day I die. I'm determined to wield it until the day I die. I can't afford to be weak!

The old man laughed gaily as he wiped his body with a hand towel.

This old man was Alfio Jairus Areotti, the previous leader of the Second Order.

He was the eldest son of the Marquis of Arreotti, a court noble, unlike Lawrence and Bertil, who came from commoner backgrounds, but he was an insufferable swordsman and an eccentric who, relying only on his own skills, joined the royal knights and let his younger brother take over the family, and after retiring, opened a swordsmanship dojo in the city of Teiracaines.

As soon as they met again, they talked with swords and sat side by side on a bench by the wall.

”Sensei!　...... for tea.

Put it there.

One of Alfio's apprentices brought the tea and placed it between them with a look of great reluctance.

It's a good idea to take a look at the history of knighthood. It's just a family of knights.

I'm sure you've heard of it. If you are a knight, you should be able to take care of other knights and eventually become a full-fledged knight.

In such a case, a place to learn the culture of knighthood, even if it was only a little bit of a refresher, was the sword fighting dojo opened by retired knights in Ciel-Teira.

”Thank you, please step back.

Yes!

The uchi-apprentice was a clean-cut boy, just under the age of majority.

He seemed to be nervous, but he replied cheerfully and backed away. It seemed that he had been chosen to join the Royal Court Knights. Because of this, he seemed to have been stiffened in front of the current Knight Commander (Bertil) and the former Knight Commander (Alfio), both of whom he admired.

The girl has nowhere else to go?

I think so. ...... You've got to fight harder than that!

That's absurd.

After drinking the tea, which tasted almost bitter, Bertil frowned.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing and how you're doing it.

”I heard about yesterday's incident. I heard that a knight was killed.

Alfio began to probe.

The city of Teiracaines was now abuzz with rumors of last night's incident.

Yes, ......, six of the knights gathered in the castle were attacked at the inn where they were staying.

All six knights were murdered, and the body of one of them was so mutilated that it could not be identified.

Despite his words, Bertil had a strange feeling.

There is no doubt that this attack was carried out by Rene. But if so, what for?

Surely they were knights in the service of the Marquis of Edfelt, who had participated in the coup. It's not surprising that they were targeted by Rene. ......

I'm not sure if it's a 'yes' or a 'no'.

I don't know much more than the rumors circulating around town.

What, you're being used as a decoration?

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What do you think of His Highness Prince Ghislain?

”Oh, His Highness Gislain. Marks, the other day you tried to drag me out to see if I could help you persuade His Highness.

There's a rumor going around that you're going to be crown prince. Marks must have started the rumor on purpose.

Hmm. If His Highness were to rise of his own volition, I'd have nothing to say. ...... I don't like it.

As if to show his annoyance, Alfio sat down and took a swing with his sword.

A thin crack appeared in the ground of the dojo from the pressure of the sword.

I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but I'm sure you've heard of it.

He's a great man with a chivalrous philosophy who respects what is reasonable. However, because of this, he has given up on the idea that he would be able to do anything if he got involved in politics, and has kept his distance from politics, striving only with his sword.

It was precisely because of this that Bertil wondered if there was any way to embrace Alfio.

”Sir. Would you mind listening to my thoughts for a moment? I've been thinking about the best way to proceed.

Tell me .......

Bertil shared his thoughts with Alfio.

To bring together the anti-coup faction and the lords with close ties to the Federation and to appease the middle faction.

To have a different crown prince than Zithlan.

And to become a dependency of the Federation.

While he was listening, Alfio cast a blade-sharp gaze at Bertil.