Kingdom of Avangarde – Port
“A regular ship to the continent where the Wizard Kingdom is located, huh? It was damaged during the recent attack, so repairs will take some time.”
Roel felt relieved that the regular ship was still operational, but without knowing when it would be fixed, there was little we could do. Still, it seemed we could at least make a reservation for tickets, so we took care of that before leaving the port.
“I need to make sure I don’t lose this.”
With that, Roel placed the ticket under her careful watch. I understood her concern; I could be a bit unreliable. However, with so much time on our hands, I started to feel a bit lost. But then again, there was only one thing we could do.
Kingdom of Avangarde – Guild
As soon as we entered the Guild, all eyes turned toward us. I heard whispers about the Combat Tournament, so perhaps these were people who had watched my match. Still, the intensity of their gazes was overwhelming. I couldn’t tell if they were praising me or criticizing me, and the fragmented remarks like “That girl, Rua…” pierced through me.
A group clad in armor approached us with a commanding presence.
“We are the Royal Knights. Your performance in the Combat Tournament was truly remarkable.”
“Ah, thank you.”
The sight of their heavy armor made it hard to breathe. Five members of the Royal Knights stood in a neat line, and while I appreciated the compliment, I couldn’t help but wonder why they were suddenly here.
“Moreover, your actions during the recent attack were commendable. We would like to formally welcome you to the Royal Knights. What do you say?”
“I’m not really interested in that…”
“I see, but we will always welcome you. Please visit us if you ever change your mind.”
He handed me a piece of paper with the location of the town where the Royal Knights were based. It didn’t seem too far from here. However, now was not the time to be thinking about that. Despite my disinterest, the Royal Knights marched away, their armor clanking as they exited.
“They felt a bit suffocating, didn’t they?”
Roel shared my sentiment. Just as I was relieved, another group closed in on us.
“Please! Join the Forest Archery Club!”
“If you’re with us, the Black Thunder Spirits will be saved!”
“If you want to know how to unleash your true potential, come with us! If you’re serious about aiming higher, that is.”
Their desperation was palpable, and while some of them had an air of arrogance, I could only continue to decline. I was a bit more accustomed to this now, but I had always struggled to interact with strangers. I felt ten times more nervous than when I was fighting, and my words stumbled. Roel looked overwhelmed by the crowd, so I forced my way out.
“Ha… ha… um, we already have a party formed.”
“You can still join us! You’re cute!”
“C-cute?! That’s not true!”
Roel blushed, cupping her cheeks, clearly flattered. But more than that, I was annoyed at how they treated her like an accessory.
“Roel—”
“Whoa, what’s all this commotion?”
Just as I was about to speak, Kirkton appeared at the entrance of the Guild, observing the crowd surrounding us with a puzzled tilt of his elongated head. What was the captain of the kingdom doing here? The unexpected presence seemed to surprise everyone, and they dispersed.
“Did I interrupt something?”
“Kirkton-san, hello!”
As we greeted him in unison, Kirkton smiled broadly, as if he had been waiting for us, opening his arms wide to embrace us. I wondered if he wielded two swords. The sheaths were attached to either side of his waist, and for some reason, I suddenly became curious about them.
“Kirkton-san, are you here for the Guild?”
“No, I came to make a request today. After the recent disaster, I reflected on our lack of training. It is our duty to protect the kingdom, and relying solely on adventurers is not fitting. I thought that if we could receive practical training from skilled adventurers, it would be more effective.”
“Ah, so you’re still relying on adventurers, huh? Ha ha ha!”
I understood that he wanted to train the soldiers with the help of adventurers. But did he really need to register that as a request at the Guild? Curious, I decided to ask.
“Um, can’t you ask the Five Elites instead?”
“They’re busy with their own matters. Of course, I would be delighted if they could help.
Ah! You, would you be willing to assist us?”
“Me?”
“Yes! Having you, who single-handedly defeated a high-ranking member of the Neo Demon Lord Army, would surely boost morale!”
I was taken aback, struggling to find my words as he leaned in closer. For some reason, I found myself distracted by Kirkton’s cloak, wondering if it would get in the way during battle. No, more importantly, did this mean I would be teaching others how to fight?
The ship repairs would likely take a while, so I made my decision.
“Hey, Roel. Is it okay if I accept Kirkton-san’s request?”
“Eh? Sure, but… I might not be able to participate. I haven’t improved enough to teach anyone, and as a healer, I wouldn’t be much help against soldiers.”
“Oh, right. You’re a healer.”
“But if you want to do it, don’t worry about me. Just watching could be a learning experience for me.”
Roel’s kindness always brought me to the brink of tears. It might sound exaggerated, but I truly felt that way.
“Okay, if I’m good enough.”
“Oh, really? You’ll take it? That’s a relief!”
He clasped my hands tightly, clearly overjoyed. After that, Kirkton was quite insistent, urging me to hurry up and finish the paperwork. I hadn’t spoken much with him before, but somehow, my impression of him had changed. He seemed surprisingly childlike.
“Alright, that’s done. Now, let’s get going.”
We decided to head to the castle with Kirkton. Some buildings were in ruins, but this area seemed relatively untouched. I remembered that the Five Elites had defeated the monsters that attacked the town. Even the monsters in the Coliseum had been too many for me to handle alone; those people were truly impressive.
A-Rank, I wanted to take the promotion exam soon. Of course, going to Ikana Village was my top priority, but having learned about the world, my perspective had shifted.
“I feel like we’re being watched…”
Roel glanced around nervously, and when I looked too, I noticed some passersby turning to look back at us after we crossed paths.
“You’re quite the celebrity now, thanks to your victory in the Combat Tournament. I imagine you’ve been approached at the Guild as well.”
He was right, but I still wasn’t satisfied with the finals. I wanted to fight Tiferia again. For that, I needed to recover from my illness quickly. I wished I could do something, but nothing came to mind. I wondered if Cynthia had any good medicine.
Avangarde Castle
“Well, we’ve arrived. The training area is just beyond the courtyard. It’s a bit of a walk.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing Rua teach someone something!”
Roel seemed oddly excited. Now that we were here, I was starting to feel nervous. Teaching someone was a first for me, and I was particularly apprehensive about interacting with strangers.
As we approached the castle courtyard, I suddenly thought of Tiferia again. I knew there was nothing I could do, but I wished I could help her somehow. I would ask Kirkton later if I could meet her.
“This is the entrance to the training area.”
When I opened the door, the ceiling was high and open like the courtyard, revealing a spacious area. Numerous soldiers were shouting incomprehensible battle cries as they clashed swords and spears, doing push-ups and other exercises. Despite the open sky, the heat seemed to be trapped in this space. I instinctively fanned my face with my hand.
“Since the other day, their enthusiasm has been remarkable. It’s a wonderful thing, but we can’t neglect the reconstruction efforts. We don’t have much time for training.”
“Wow, that’s impressive… um, can I just watch from the sidelines since I’m just accompanying you?”
“Of course, that’s fine.”
Roel seemed overwhelmed by the heat and intensity, and she quickly scurried to find a suitable spot to sit. She sat cross-legged, intently watching the scene. It was kind of cute.
“Alright! Time for a break!”
A voice boomed from somewhere, echoing throughout the training area. The previously intense training came to an abrupt halt. Everyone stopped their movements and greeted Kirkton in unison. The harmony of their voices felt oddly satisfying.
“Yesterday, we discussed the training. As you all know, Rua, the champion of the Avangarde Combat Tournament, will be providing guidance. You’ve all heard about her impressive performance during the recent attack.”
The explanation was rather vague, but all the soldiers’ gazes were fixed on me. I had never felt this sensation even during the Combat Tournament. My heart raced, and even though I wanted to say something, the words just wouldn’t come out. I really wasn’t good at this kind of thing; it was utterly frustrating.
“That girl is going to lead us? She certainly has incredible skill, but…”
“Hmm, the captain seems to be losing his touch.”
“What are you saying? Did you not see her godlike strength? This is an opportunity we can’t pass up!”
What was this atmosphere? It seemed like only Kirkton was enthusiastic about it. Could it be that he was pushing this forward without everyone’s agreement? Things felt a bit off.
“Um, how should we proceed with the training?”
“Well, first, let’s have a sparring match and let Rua watch. I want you to observe their movements and feel free to point out anything you think needs improvement.”
I see, that makes sense. But from what I saw in the earlier bout…
“Alright, let’s get started! Blu and Skin! You two go first!”
“Y-yes!”
The two responded simultaneously and quickly took their stances with their swords. Everyone gathered around, their attention fully on them. The earlier noise faded into silence, replaced by a serious atmosphere. It seemed they were genuinely committed to this. Of course, they would be.
“Haahhh!”
“Not on my watch!”
The clash of metal echoed as their swords met, accompanied by their spirited shouts. It was an evenly matched duel. The intensity of their training was evident; they were already sweating profusely and showing signs of fatigue. After a few minutes of back-and-forth, Skin emerged victorious, his sword pointed at Blu’s nose.
Ah, right, since this is training, they shouldn’t actually hit each other.
“That’s enough!”
“I-I give up…”
Blu, who had fallen on his backside, acknowledged his defeat. Skin remained expressionless, not even showing a hint of pride. Was he not happy about winning?
“That was a good fight. Now, Rua, what do you think?”
“W-what do you mean?”
“After watching those two, please point out any areas for improvement without holding back.”
“Uh, um…”
The two, still catching their breath, looked at me. Their gazes made me even more nervous, and I wished they would look away. Was it really okay to point out their flaws? Because in a real fight, they would have been killed in the first floor of the Abyss Cave. I struggled to articulate my thoughts, but I had to try.
“Um, it felt a bit slow.”
“Slow? The movements?”
“You need to close in and strike with a bang!”
“Ga, bang?”
“Like this, swoosh!”
Everyone stared at me with their mouths agape. Oh no, this was bad; I wasn’t getting through at all. What was wrong? They were definitely slow!
“Um, Stan’s wind-up motion is really slow.
If there’s that much of an opening, Blu could just stab him straight on and win.”
“…It’s Skin.”
Skin corrected me with an annoyed tone. I had only mixed up the names, yet he seemed genuinely angry.
“Indeed, for both of you, there is too much wasted motion. Be aware of the connection between your movements. In battle, a split-second can mean life or death. Especially you, Blu, don’t wait to react to your opponent’s movements; always anticipate. That’s what you were lacking, which is why you were late to respond with your final strike.”
“Yes!”
In the end, Kirkton explained everything. What was this feeling? It was uncomfortable, almost awkward. Yes, that was it—awkward.
“Alright, next! Anje and Ritta!”
“F-fine!”
Ritta? Right, she was a soldier here too, so it made sense she was present. I hadn’t noticed her among the crowd. Upon closer inspection, I saw there were quite a few women among the soldiers. They wore lighter armor that seemed easier to move in, and their swords and spears were slender, making them manageable for anyone.
“What are you doing? Hurry up!”
“F-fine!”
“What kind of response is that?”
“Yes!”
Kirkton had shifted from his earlier demeanor. He was now spitting as he yelled at Ritta with a fierce expression. At this point, Ritta looked like she was on the verge of tears. Her hands trembled as she held her spear, resembling a newborn fawn. In contrast, Anje faced her with a calm demeanor.
“Begin!”
But there was no contest. Anje’s initial thrust sent Ritta’s spear flying far away. Ritta stood there, dazed, as if she couldn’t even comprehend what had just happened. Laughter erupted in the training area, breaking the earlier silence.
“Um, the match is over, right?”
“Ah, yeah.”
Even Kirkton seemed taken aback, nodding vaguely at Anje’s prompt. Did I need to give advice here too? What should I say? I genuinely had no idea. I felt sorry for Ritta, but I couldn’t think of anything.
“…Ritta, come here.”
Ritta approached Kirkton with hesitant steps. This was getting ridiculous; he was probably going to comfort her. I realized that since I couldn’t offer any advice, Kirkton was handling everything, but maybe that was for the best. He understood these people better than I did.
Just as I convinced myself of that, a sharp slap echoed through the air. Ritta fell backward from the force of the blow.
“If you lack motivation, get out!”
“Eh…?”
“Can’t you hear me? I said get out!”
“W-wait a minute! That’s too harsh, Kirkton!”
Even when I stepped in to intervene, Kirkton’s angry expression didn’t waver. It was as if he couldn’t even hear my words. He was solely focused on Ritta, who stood behind me.
“Now, Rua, what do you think Ritta needs to improve?”
“W-well…”
“Her very existence.”
A voice rang out from among the soldiers. I couldn’t tell who said it, but someone spoke with clear malice. At that moment, Ritta dropped her spear and bolted toward the exit of the training area. She was definitely crying now. I felt more anger toward the one who had whispered that than toward Kirkton, who had slapped her.
“We’ll continue. Next…”
“Wait, what about Ritta?”
“We don’t need to chase after those who run away. Next.”
Kirkton stated matter-of-factly. Until now, I had thought he was an interesting person to talk to.
So this was who he really was. As I watched the sparring matches he directed, I found myself completely lost in thought.
Alleyway in the Kingdom of Avangarde
Ritta had abandoned her training and was walking alone. Since the day she joined, she had never once slacked off. Regardless of the outcome, she had always given her best effort. Even if Kirkton scolded her or some of the others mocked her, she had persevered. She believed that hard work would always yield results.
But now, she had reached her limit. Something inside her had shattered. Being serious? She had just discarded that notion.
There was no point in holding onto something useless. After all, she lacked the talent.
The reason she had even become a soldier was her admiration for Master Knight Tiferia. Rather than becoming an adventurer and walking the same path as her, she thought it better to be a soldier and stay close to her while guarding the castle.
With such a ridiculous motivation, it was no wonder she couldn’t continue. Now, self-loathing consumed her.
“…I want to run away.”
With unsteady steps, she stumbled into the alley, unable to walk straight, like a drunken person.
She had no particular destination in mind. Ritta simply lamented her own powerlessness, feeling utterly disheartened.
Even the soldiers of the Kingdom of Avangarde, who couldn’t defeat a single monster, had tarnished the kingdom’s reputation. If her brother hadn’t shown up, she would have surely died. She had always relied on someone else to survive.
Ritta found herself trapped in a cycle of self-hatred.
“…Why did I even become a soldier?”
She kicked a discarded box, sending it flying farther than she expected, crashing against a distant wall.
This alley, likely behind some shop, was littered with trash cans filled with rotten waste, not exactly a clean place. She hadn’t come here with a purpose, and only now did she begin to feel disgusted by her surroundings.
“I want to go home.”
“Hey there, young lady.”
Suddenly, she was called out, and she turned slightly to find the source of the voice.
Sitting cross-legged was a suspicious-looking middle-aged man. He had a bushy black beard, a turban on his head, and wore a robe-like garment. In this deserted alley, he stood out even more. Ritta decided to ignore him and walk past.
“Do you want to become stronger?”
That word made Ritta flinch. She hesitated, still not turning to face him.
The middle-aged man didn’t move from his spot, continuing to speak.
“I have the power to help you protect what’s important to you.”
His overly polite tone made her consider ignoring him, but for some reason, she found herself stopping to listen. He was definitely suspicious, and she knew that logically, she shouldn’t engage with him. Yet, he seemed to possess something she desperately needed. If she were in a sound state of mind, she would have ignored him entirely, but given her current state, a small part of her wondered if he might be able to help.
“Would you like to see? Hohohoho!”
Finally, she turned to face him.
Before the middle-aged man in the turban lay a gleaming black spear—
Baltz, the Sky-Ruling Bird King
HP: 17,900
One of the Twelve Demon Generals of the Neo Demon Lord Army. He has the appearance of a birdman, with large wings sprouting from his back. His claws can effortlessly grasp and crush a human head along with its helmet.
He excels in a combat style that involves soaring freely through the air, slicing his opponents with blades of vacuum from all directions.