Chapter 38 (2/2)
“Because Zaunas and you commoner knights did such a stupid thing, we went through such pointless struggles, you know?”
Those words were preposterous. He must have drunk a lot.
His attendants were also quite drunk, and rather than trying to stop him, they were egging him on.
“In the end, you commoner knights will immediately run away when the enemy appears, right? Okay. The esteemed me, a real, full-fledged knight, will tell you guys what to do.”
The drunk knight drew his sword.
“W-wait a minute. It’s not a joke anymore if you draw your sword. Aren’t duels during a campaign against regulations?” Reeno asked, fl.u.s.tered.
“It’s just a lesson. You guys are students right? The esteemed me, your senior, will give you studious students a swordplay lesson, that’s what we’ll say.”
“Hey, don’t do it. You’ve drunk too much.”
Locke shook his head, appalled.
“What should we do? That’s technically a superior’s order, right? But if we follow it, it’s also bad.”
Reeno looked around for somebody to stop it, but all the knights were staring at them, and wouldn’t want to stop it. They were all agitated, since they could possibly encounter the enemy the next day. To those who weren’t already asleep, this must have seemed like a good way to kill time.
“Hey, what’s wrong? Stand up. I said that I would teach you a lesson.[2] Let’s start with this young lady here. How bout that?”
“&h.e.l.lip; you drunkard. Cut it out.”
Reeno badmouthed the drunken knight under her breath.
Even if Reeno wasn’t a knight yet, she was proud of being an apprentice knight. She was offended by his insulting words.
The drunk knight and his attendants wore repulsive smirks. The knight brandished his sword.
Judging that they wouldn’t be able to avoid a fight, Wynn and the others stood up and drew their swords.
The tension increased between them.
Suddenly, they felt a fierce sword pressure, and the surroundings fell silent for a moment.
“Wha&h.e.l.lip;what happened&h.e.l.lip;”
Reeno’s whisper was heard in the surroundings.
“What are you doing?”
There stood Lieutenant Kelvin, smiling peacefully.
His calm voice was not particularly forceful. He wasn’t carrying a sword. He still seemed like he couldn’t harm a fly, but his whole body exerted an intense sword pressure.
“Haven’t you had a bit too much? You should be resting your body before the campaign tomorrow. It is your job to rest in preparation for a fight, and aren’t the students already being taught by instructors?”
n.o.body spoke up. Everybody there was overwhelmed by the pressure Kelvin, a mere lieutenant, exerted.
“If I wanted them to train daily, as their deputy officer[3], I would do it. You have a higher rank than my subordinates. They can’t refuse your invitation because of that.”
Speaking calmly, Kelvin slowly walked in front of the drunk knight.
“Now then, is that fine with you?”
Kelvin still did was not wielding a sword.
However, despite being only in his twenties, Kelvin’s calm demeanor gave off the impression of a seasoned warrior. The drunk knight and his attendants, seemingly sobered, froze in place.
The knights around them, who were watching the commotion while drinking, took over half a minute to get up.
Among them–
‘Oh?’
Kelvin was intrigued.
Despite the fact that the full-fledged knights around them all showed disgraceful appearances, only Wynn’s and Locke’s expressions didn’t change. They were still limber and on guard while all the other knight’s bodies had stiffened.
Since Wynn and Locke had sparred with Leticia again and again, so their ability had rapidly improved. They experienced Leticia’s extraordinary pressure countless times. They were not even agitated in the least bit.
“No&h.e.l.lip; we&h.e.l.lip; um&h.e.l.lip; we didn’t want to trouble you, Lieutenant&h.e.l.lip;”
Where did all the energy from before go? The drunk knight backed away while stammering.
“Thank you, you drank quite a lot, didn’t you? Would you like to stay in the detention barracks for a while?”
“No thank you. Wait&h.e.l.lip;”
“Hey, go.”
“He hurriedly sobered up, and when he returned to where the other knights were, he looked their way and saw Kelvin shaking his head in resignation[4]”
“I thought they were n.o.ble-born, but they’re so recklessly violent. They don’t have the ability to be a knight.”
He said the latter part in a soft whisper, and let out a sigh.
“Sheesh, even though we depart for battle tomorrow, they’re so lively. We took great pains to let liven up the atmosphere, by having all the officers above the rank Lieutenant stay in a separate tent. I can understand that you are excited before a battle, but If if you can’t control your own emotions, you won’t be able to use your strength when you need it most.”
Speaking to n.o.body in particular, Kelvin nonchalantly walked to where Wynn and the others were.
Despite the commotion around them, they saluted to the Lieutenant.
Kelvin returned the salute, and straightened his back.
“Tomorrow, we will go ahead of the battalion as scouts. That’s why, Royce says to hurry up and take a rest. You got it? Don’t forget that resting when it is time to rest is also part of your duty.”
Translator Notes
not sure if I used the right sense of the word -- back Literally:teach you. I added the “a lesson”&h.e.l.lip; but don’t take it idiomatically! (or do so&h.e.l.lip; it still fits) -- back as in Kelvin is the vice-captain -- back yareyare-ness? -- back
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