Vol 1 Chapter 6 (2/2)
In a battlefield, one cannot choose their opponent. If I cannot win against whomever my opponent is, I do not have the qualifications to be a knight.
(Sheesh, what a stubborn guy.)
At these words, Locke looked at the back of his silently working friend. [10]
They had been roommates for three years.
The morning after the entrance ceremony, Locke woke up to find that Wynn was not in bed. If he searched the courtyard, he would find him alone swinging an old bokken.
The n.o.bles and merchant children would gathered school, on the other hand…
That was what occupied Locke while he walked behind Wynn.[11]
After was.h.i.+ng them, he would act as a waiter in the dining hall.
It was his habit.
He would return from work late at night.
That day, while Wynn returned from work without being able to call out, Locke didn’t feel like playing around, and so he returned to the dorm.
He (Wynn) came home as if nothing happened. However, he was drenched in sweat from swinging his bokken.
Ever since the entrance ceremony, Wynn’s swordsmans.h.i.+p surpa.s.sed the rest, and his peers were surprised at his grades, but only Locke accepted it as a natural outcome.
His hard work could be seen in the results.
When he was young, apart learning the basics from the adventurers, Wynn’s swordsmans.h.i.+p was self-taught, unlike the aristocratic children, who were taught by famous masters. [12]
Even then, Wynn struggled in the cla.s.sroom.
Furthermore, he had low amounts of magic power.
During his second year, he prepared countermeasures, but since the test only allowed the practice swords to be used, he was unable to use the countermeasure, and lost like he did before.
On his third year, he failed to find a way to use the practice sword to counter the magic.
After seeing this, Locke approached a teacher for Wynn’s sake, but after the teacher said “Don’t interrupt the test,” they gave up.
Locke was the second son of a merchant house.
With that sort of half-hearted resolution, considering from Wynn’s desperate efforts, his becoming an apprentice knight seems accidental.
Locke felt guilty towards Wynn.
“Ano, sorry.”
After delivering the items to the official at the cathedral, he was about to set out to help with other work on the way back.
“What is it, senpai?”
Looking back, he saw a young girl standing there.
“Oo, a beautiful person.”
Locke unintentionally muttered. though he was an admittedly reclusive person, even was unconsciously charmed by her.
The girl possessed a sort of translucent beauty.
“A, aa, should I be called senpai? Are you a new student?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
She nodded while smiling sweetly.
“If I have finished registration, I need to change into my uniform, but I don’t see the special changing room for n.o.bles here.”
“Ah, if it’s that, then this isn’t the right way.”
The girl was headed for the commoner’s changing room.
“Sorry, but since it is early, there is barely anybody here, and the other people I asked were busy,”
apologized the girl.
“You two senpais seemed to be walking around idly.”
“Eh, well…”
If that’s the case, then, Wynn, you should show her around, since you’ll be heading towards the entrance ceremony anyways.
“But I still have to help out…”
“Aren’t they all ch.o.r.es anyway? I’ll stay behind and do them for you. What point is helping out with preparations if you don’t help her?”
Waving his hand, Lock quickly turned away and left.
“Well then, Wynn. See you later!”
“Thank you Locke!”
After thanking Locke, Wynn turned to face the girl.
“Well, let’s go then.”
“Okay.”
The girl walked behind Wynn, following him.
He felt like he was caught in something. [13]
“I thought you were my senior, but are you also a new student like me?”
“I am your senior, but this is my fourth time attending the entrance ceremony, so I’m essentially a new student.”
“Then, you will become my cla.s.smate?”
“It will be like that. Please excuse me, but since you’re using the n.o.ble’s changing rooms, are you a foreign exchange student?”
Generally, even the n.o.ble children change in the common changing room by the cathedral.
Only royalty and foreign exchange students of prominent n.o.bles were allowed to use the special changing rooms.
“I was born in this country, but there are a few special circ.u.mstances..”
“So it’s like that, huh. Should I speak more respectfully?”
“Nah, I don’t mind how it is now”
The girl let out a giggle.
“After attending for four years, how can you still hope to be a knight?”
“It is because I swore to become a knight.”
“Even if this path is long and hard, I will continue to struggle without giving up.”
Believing in this, Wynn continued to swing his sword everyday.
“Furthermore, an close friend in the past is still trying her hardest alone in a distant place. Even though we probably won’t meet again, if we do, then I want to be able to tell her that I have become a knight.” (TL: four…)[14]
Having said that, Wynn embarra.s.sedly looked away from the girl.
Thus…
“It’s not strange….”
As the girl’s small mutter trailed off, she realized she had become moved to tears.
“What am I saying to somebody I’ve met for the first time?. Anyways, what’s your reason for enrolling?”
When Wynn asked that question, the girl’s face cleared up and smiled again.
“I am– Hmm… There is a person who I want to walk beside. He is my light, and I am still chasing his back.”
At that, the girl’s smile was so fascinating, that Wynn was unconsciously charmed.
(That smile, where have I seen it before?) (TL: three..)
“Ah, it seems that we have arrived.”
Stopping, Wynn watched as the girl gave the private room a knock before entering.
“Leticia-sama!” (TL: two…)
A large middle-aged man came out from within.
It was the Knight School’s princ.i.p.al, Zaunas-s.h.i.+.
“You were so late, I thought you were lost.”
“Please excuse me. I actually was a little lost.”
Leticia lightly bowed her head to the princ.i.p.al.
However, Wynn was not paying attention, since he was paying attention to Leticia’s impish smile.
Ill.u.s.tration (By みてみん)
If I remember correctly, you’re the four time repeater Wynn Byrd-kun. You’ve gone to the trouble of guiding her. ??[15]
“Are… are you Leti?” (TL: one…)
Interrupting the princ.i.p.al, he stepped closer to the girl.
He had a surprised and uneasy expression.
“I just realized it, but is it as I thought….?”
Hands on her waist, Leticia sighed.
“It’s been a long time, Onii-chan. I’m back.” (TL: Zero! Celebrate!)
Leticia flashed a dazzling smile at the dumbfounded Wynn.
Did I write it skillfully?
I am more aware of my writing ability … (TN: lazily translated this line…)
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