Chapter 14: Three Days in the Royal Capital (Part 5) – Sword Saint vs. Arcana Kingdom Knight Commander
The girl’s name is Elise Gladius. As the Sword Saint, she is my most devoted disciple and, moreover, the beloved daughter of the man standing against her—the Arcana Kingdom Knight Commander, Ragna Gladius.
Before my eyes unfolds a fierce duel between father and daughter. Watching them exchange blows, I can’t help but notice how astonishingly similar their stances and sword techniques are. While it’s partly due to their shared Sword Style, it seems even more influenced by the fact that Elise has always been acutely aware of her father, the Knight Commander.
Swordsmanship is a culmination of the experiences accumulated by many over the years, a form of ultimate collective wisdom. Both of them are masters of the Sword Style, having perfected its history and made it their own through sheer will and effort. Their battle is a clash of extremes, a testament to the pinnacle of Sword Style’s legacy. They attack fiercely, then defend resolutely; when one goes on the offensive, the other finds an opening and strikes back with relentless vigor. The ebb and flow of attack and defense is so rapid that I can’t tear my eyes away for even a moment.
This father-daughter duo possesses an unyielding physicality, honed to perfection through daily training, and their techniques are like polished jewels, governed by an ironclad mental discipline. They are monsters in their own right.
It’s not just speed or strength that defines them. Both embody the pinnacle of mind, technique, and body, and their combat is a dazzling display of extraordinary skill. Elise’s feints, interwoven with sudden bursts of speed, are met with the Knight Commander’s effortless parries, each refusing to yield an inch as the fierce swordplay continues.
Yet, I have a conviction.
“Elise… show me, and the Knight Commander, your growth.”
The moment I voiced my wish, the Knight Commander unleashed his most powerful and swift strike—but it was met with Elise’s sword technique, fluid as water, completely ensnaring his attack and sending it flying into the air with a resounding clang!
“───”
It was the Knight Commander who lost his words. He stared at his numbed hand before finally shifting his gaze to Elise. His expression was stern, yet he managed to smile gently.
“Elise, I admit my complete defeat. You’ve grown strong.”
Elise’s tense expression, which had been taut just moments before, finally relaxed. She must have been holding her breath throughout the fight.
The Knight Commander approached her and placed a hand on her head, affectionately stroking her hair.
“Father…”
Elise’s eyes glistened with tears, overflowing as she realized she had been acknowledged by him.
“Now, now, don’t cry. You’ve defeated me, so hold your head high.”
“Father… I…”
“It’s alright. You don’t need to say anything. We’ve crossed swords, and that’s enough. I know how much training you’ve put in and how hard you’ve worked…”
He embraced her gently, enveloping her in warmth.
“Elise, you are my pride.”
“Father…”
“It’s strange, isn’t it? Just when I thought my daughter had become an adult, I suddenly feel a pang of loneliness… that little Elise…”
The Knight Commander’s voice trembled.
“I truly am a terrible father. I regret it now, wishing I had cherished our time together a little more…”
“Father, please don’t say that… I respect you so much.”
Words may have been lacking for both Elise and the Knight Commander, but for them, that was more than enough. Tears streamed down the Knight Commander’s cheeks, lost in memories of the past.
“Whenever you return, we’ll continue to cross swords. Not just that, I want to talk to you more.”
“Father, I want to talk to you about so many things too.”
Their words were sparse, and to me, they seemed somewhat clumsy. Yet, bound by the threads of their father-daughter bond and their connection through swordsmanship, it was more than sufficient.
Eventually, the Knight Commander stepped back from Elise and turned to face me. His gaze pierced through me.
“Ichiro, Elise’s blossoming is thanks to you. I can’t express enough gratitude.”
He said this, but it was half true and half mistaken.
“It’s because Elise worked hard.”
That was the truth. Even without me, Elise would have undoubtedly shone and made her prowess known to the world.
“All I did was give her a little push.”
The Knight Commander shook his head at my words.
“That’s not true. Without you, she wouldn’t have shown such growth. It would have been difficult for me… and while it’s a bit frustrating to think about, I can’t help but feel that way.”
Frustrating… I was glad to hear him say that. If he felt that way, he would surely cherish the time spent with Elise even more from now on.
“───Ichiro.”
He gazed up at the sky for a moment.
“What is it?”
As he lowered his gaze, he let out a sigh and bowed his head to me.
“I’m entrusting Elise to you.”
Of course, that was a given. After all, I am Elise’s Master. I understood that without needing to be told.
“Of course. Leave it to me.”
I nodded vigorously to reassure him. Hearing our conversation, Elise quickly walked over to my side.
“I can’t believe you would say that to Father… Master.”
Elise’s cheeks flushed as she tugged at my sleeve.
“Leave it to me. A man’s word is his bond.”
It was only after I spoke that I realized—Elise’s face was bright red! What the heck?! Did I mess up my choice?!
Despite my confusion, Elise clasped her hands together, her expression soaring with joy.
“The number of children I could have would be enough to form a knight order…”
“Children?!”
“But with Sister Sena and the Grandmaster around… I can’t even imagine how many children that would be… Ah, then I’ll need to make the mountain cabin much, much bigger…!”
Oh no! Oh no! What is this girl… I don’t even know what’s happening, but it feels dangerous! The atmosphere is thick with tension!
“Elise, are you misunderstanding something? You’re jumping way ahead! And your father didn’t mean ‘entrust’ in that way. He meant it in the sense of ‘Master,’ entrusting his precious daughter to me.”
Right? Hehe! I turned to the Knight Commander for confirmation.
“No, that’s not it.”
“Huh?”
“I said I’m entrusting everything about my daughter to you. Then you replied, ‘Leave it to me.’ That is the truth and the entirety of it.”
Yikes! How do I even convey my feelings at this moment…?
“C-Come on, Knight Commander, what are you saying? That’s a pretty harsh joke!”
“Call me ‘Father’ from now on.”
I felt like I was asking for help from a robber, only to find out that the robber was the one I was asking for help from… that’s exactly how I felt.
“Not happening!”
Ugh, this father-daughter duo…
Just then, Elise raised her hand with a dreamy expression. In her palm rested a beautiful bracelet adorned with intricate patterns—the very item I had given her.
“Master, you gave me this, didn’t you?”
“Ugh…”
That was indeed true.
“And you said back then…”
“Th-That was—”
The battle (?) between me and the Gladius father-daughter duo had begun. As a result, I found myself mortally wounded, but somehow, I managed to escape with my life.