Chapter 38: A Small Doubt
“Come on, Lord Nara! One more time!!”
The Knight Commander, a massive man with bulging muscles, shouted at me while brandishing his practice sword, having just sent me flying moments ago.
“Damn it!”
Provoked by the Knight Commander, I picked up the practice sword I had dropped when I was knocked down and stood back up.
The sword in my hand was a real weapon, merely dulled at the edge.
It wasn’t particularly heavy for me now, but since it was still a tool meant to take lives, my movements inevitably slowed.
“Now! There’s no time to hesitate! Lord Nara needs to master his combat skills as soon as possible!”
“I know… here I go!!”
I readied my practice sword and dashed toward the Knight Commander.
I closed the distance at a speed unimaginable from my days back in my original world.
The first time I experienced this speed, I felt invincible, but since the sword training began, that feeling of omnipotence had faded.
Right now, my physical abilities had skyrocketed thanks to this baffling Otherworld Summoning.
However, only my physical abilities had improved.
I had only ever wielded toy swords before.
I had never practiced kendo.
With just my enhanced physical abilities, my swordplay was nowhere near enough to even graze the Knight Commander, the top knight of this country.
He dodged my attacks with fluid movements, deflected my strikes with masterful sword techniques, and sent me flying with overwhelming strength.
Normally, someone like me, a complete novice, wouldn’t even be able to ask for his guidance, yet here I was, receiving direct instruction from the Knight Commander simply because I was the Summoner.
I tried my best to respond to his kindness, but…
“Whoa!?”
Once again, I was deflected and sent flying.
“Haah, Lord Nara.”
The Knight Commander lowered his practice sword and relaxed his stance before speaking to me.
“…What is it?”
Since I was the one seeking his guidance, I replied respectfully.
However, my voice came out slightly sulky, as I still couldn’t land a hit on the Knight Commander.
I really do sound unpleasant…
As I thought this, the Knight Commander smiled faintly.
“It’s only natural that you struggle, Lord Nara. You only just picked up a sword for the first time a few days ago.”
“That’s true, but…”
He was right, but I had been summoned to this world at the request of this country.
The method was terrible, though.
Still, I was being treated exceptionally well, and I was starting to enjoy my life here.
I didn’t have to attend that boring school anymore.
But if I continued like this, I might eventually be abandoned…
As I pondered this, the Knight Commander approached me.
…Now that I looked at him again, he was huge.
As I looked up at the Knight Commander, he reached out and gently patted my head.
“!?”
Surprised by the sudden gesture, the Knight Commander chuckled softly.
“Having a sense of responsibility is a good thing, but… regardless of your strength, swordsmanship isn’t something you can master overnight. If it were that easy, I would have no place to stand after swinging a sword for decades, would I?”
“Ah…”
He was right.
It was indeed far too early for me, who had just picked up a sword, to think I could surpass the Knight Commander in skill.
In manga and anime, summoned heroes often defeat the strongest swordsman in the land right after their arrival, so I had thought that was the norm for Summoners.
But… that wasn’t the reality.
“…I’m sorry. I was too impatient…”
I bowed my head, still feeling the Knight Commander’s hand resting on it.
At that moment, he removed his hand and smiled broadly.
“But your physical abilities are truly impressive. I genuinely envy that.”
“Haha, it’s a gift I received.”
I didn’t want to brag about this power I had acquired without any effort after being summoned.
However, the Knight Commander then began to ruffle my hair roughly.
“Whoa!? Hey! What’s the deal!?”
“Even if it’s a gift, if it’s within you, then it’s your power.”
“But…”
“If we’re talking about gifts, I was born with a large physique. That was beyond my control. Is that unfair?”
“Well…”
That was a talent the Knight Commander had naturally possessed… Ah, I see what he means.
“Lord Nara… even though it was the will of His Majesty, you severed all ties to your original world when you came to this one. So, I think it’s only fair for you to receive such benefits.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. First, accept that fact. If you do, you won’t have to feel inferior.”
“…Understood. Thank you, Commander.”
After expressing my gratitude again, the Knight Commander gave me a light pat on the back.
“That’s the spirit. Now, today’s training is over. Why don’t you hurry back to her side? She’s been watching us with a worried expression for a while now.”
When I turned to look in the direction the Knight Commander was facing, I saw a girl around my age wearing a dress that, while not flashy, looked expensive at first glance.
She was surrounded by her Lady-in-waiting.
It was the princess of this country, Lady Evangelin.
“…Why has she taken such a liking to me when I haven’t done anything?”
It had been about a month since I arrived in this country.
Despite having achieved nothing but training, for some reason, Lady Evangelin seemed to have a high favorability toward me.
Well, she was a beautiful girl and a princess, so I didn’t mind the attention, but I was more confused than anything else.
“Ah… well, she’s at that age. The appearance of a Summoner in our country has her all excited.”
“Is that a good thing? Doesn’t she have a fiancé from a young age?”
From what I knew about otherworldly stories, nobles usually had fiancés, and things would get complicated when they started flirting with a Summoner.
I really didn’t want to get caught up in something like that, and as I was thinking this, the Knight Commander scratched his head and leaned closer to me.
“Actually, just between us, the princess has a rather dreamy disposition… She mentioned that perhaps a legendary Summoner would appear and marry her… Since her right of succession is low, His Majesty has allowed it, and she hasn’t been engaged yet.”
T-That does sound like a dreamy princess…
“So, did she try to approach the previous Summoner too?”
“No, at that time, Lindor had monopolized the Summoner, and they couldn’t even make contact. The princess was quite distressed about that.”
“And now, finally, I, the Summoner, have appeared.”
I see.
So, it seems like she’s drawn to the title of Summoner.
“…Huh?”
Wait, if that’s the case, something feels off.
Just as I noticed this odd feeling, I was interrupted by a voice.
“Lord Mitsuhiko! Has the training ended? If so, would you like to have tea with me?”
Perhaps tired of waiting for us to move, Lady Evangelin approached.
“Ah, yes, I’m sorry. I was lost in thought…”
As I said this, the princess’s eyes shimmered, and her cheeks flushed.
“To take your training so seriously… how wonderful you are.”
“Ah, haha…”
I couldn’t admit that I hadn’t been thinking about training at all but rather about why she was so fond of me.
“Now, Lord Mitsuhiko, it’s important to switch gears. Please allow me to take care of you from here on.”
“Right. Then I’ll take you up on that offer. But first, may I freshen up? I’ve worked up a sweat during training.”
I couldn’t relax in this sweaty state.
“…You could stay as you are if you wish…”
“What?”
“N-No! Please let me know when you’re done bathing! Until then!”
I felt like I had just said something terrifying, but… it must be my imagination, right?
I ignored the princess’s mumbling and returned to my room.
At that moment…
“Oh, Nara-kun. Training again today?”
Ota stepped out from the next room.
His face was slightly flushed.
“Yeah. Did you… bring someone in again?”
When I asked, Ota shrugged.
“Well, she said she’d prepare everything for me. I’m just taking her up on that offer.”
When I was handed over to Admos, he promised to do everything he could as an apology for summoning me indiscriminately.
That included providing services like arranging for women of that sort.
“I actually preferred a maid, but they said the castle maids don’t do that kind of work.”
Just then, a woman dressed as a maid appeared behind Ota.
Unlike the serious maids working in the castle, she was quite an alluring woman.
They probably dressed someone from that line of work in a maid outfit.
“Well, if you’d like, feel free to call me again.”
The woman kissed Ota on the cheek and then shot me a flirtatious glance before leaving.
“Ah… this otherworld is the best!”
“…Aren’t you going to train?”
Ota had completely skipped out on sword training.
He spent all day holed up in his room.
“I’m going to work hard on magic, so Nara-kun, you focus on your sword training.”
“…Is that so? Well, see you.”
“Ah, yeah.”
What the hell is he thinking?
During the initial explanation we received upon arriving here, they said that humans struggle with magic and can’t teach it well.
Still, I was able to get some basic lectures since I can use magic to some extent, but it was really just the simplest stuff.
Even if he says he’s going to work hard on magic…
With a cloud of uncertainty hanging over me, I washed off my sweat in the bath provided in my room and prepared for tea with the princess.
When I was led into the princess’s room, a variety of sweets were laid out on the table.
“Sweets are the best remedy for fatigue. Now, please have a seat.”
I took a seat at the table as the princess encouraged me.
“Hehe. Thank you for your hard work in training, as always.”
“Thank you.”
As I enjoyed tea with the smiling princess and started to relax, I decided to ask her about something that had been bothering me earlier.
“Um, Lady Evangelin. Can I ask you something?”
“Why so formal! I’ve told you to call me Eva!”
“Well, that’s…”
“Hmph!”
“Uh, then… Eva-sama.”
This was a back-and-forth we had gone through many times, but since she kept insisting, I finally relented and called her by her nickname, yet Eva-sama still pouted.
“Hmph, you could just call me without the honorific.”
“That’s a bit much to ask. Anyway, I wanted to ask you something.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“The reason you’re so concerned about me is that I’m a Summoner, right? If that’s the case, do you show the same concern for Ota?”
As I asked this, the cheerful expression on the princess’s face vanished, replaced by a frown that was unbecoming of her.
“That person… I don’t want to say this since we forcibly summoned him, but Ota-sama doesn’t have the best reputation.”
“Oh, I figured as much.”
If he was calling courtesans to the castle like that, it’s no wonder his reputation would suffer.
“It’s not just that he brings women to his room; it’s also questionable whether he’s genuinely training.”
“He said he was working on his magic training, though.”
When I said this, Eva-sama let out a small sigh.
“Who is he learning from? The ones in this castle can only use minor magic compared to the Demon Tribe. Even with a high magic power like a Summoner, I can’t imagine he could grow strong under such instruction.”
“But the previous Summoner destroyed the capital of Lindor, right? You wouldn’t achieve that without using magic. How did the previous Summoner learn it?”
As I said this, Eva-sama’s expression turned sad.
“I’ve heard that the previous Summoner, Maya, was exceptionally talented before she ventured into the Demon Tribe Nation. While in the Human Tribe, she trained seriously in swordsmanship and learned the basics of magic. And that wasn’t enough for her; she infiltrated the Demon Tribe Nation and learned magic from those in the Underworld.”
“She went that far…”
The previous Summoner, Maya, must have put in an incredible amount of effort.
And yet, she fell into darkness.
I guess when people gain power, they change…
“More importantly, why are you asking about this?”
“Oh, well. I thought you were concerned because I’m a Summoner. But I noticed you don’t seem to interact much with Ota.”
When I said this, Eva-sama puffed up her cheeks.
“That’s not the reason! I was indeed excited at first that the legendary Summoner had finally come to our country, but… more than that, I wanted to support Mitsuhiko-sama as I watched you diligently train!”
“Ah, um, I’m sorry.”
What the hell.
So, Eva-sama was concerned about me not because I was a Summoner, but because I was working hard.
Thinking about it that way, my question had belittled Eva-sama’s kindness.
I apologized, but would she forgive me?
As I looked at Eva-sama, hoping for her forgiveness, she turned her gaze away.
Oh no, did I really make her angry…?
“If you keep staring at me like that, I’ll get embarrassed…”
Oh, she wasn’t angry; she just looked away out of embarrassment.
What is this? It’s adorable.
“So, can I count on you to keep supporting me from now on?”
When I asked this, Eva-sama’s face lit up with a bright smile.
“Yes! I would be delighted!”
With that, Eva-sama took a sip of her tea, still beaming.
“Hehe. I never imagined I would have the chance to interact with the legendary Summoner like this; it feels like a dream.”
“Ah, about that, the previous Summoner was summoned three years ago, right? With so many summoning events happening, doesn’t it feel a bit exaggerated to call it legendary?”
I had been curious about her overly grand statements, but I received an unexpected reply.
“No? I’ve heard that before the previous Summoner, it had been quite a long time since anyone was summoned.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Yes. Summoning rarely occurs. That’s why Summoners are considered legendary.”
“So, there were two rare summoning events in such a short period…”
“Now that you mention it, that does seem to be the case. I apologize to those who are summoned, but if they were truly powerful individuals, it wouldn’t be strange for them to be summoned more often.”
As Eva-sama said this, she tilted her head in thought.
It could be said that there was no need for more, but…
I couldn’t shake off a feeling of unease, like a fog had settled in my heart.
That aside, what is Ota going to do from here on out?