CH 43

Training Site Announcement

“It’s been quiet lately.”

Cody, who was working together with her as usual for the exercises, opened his mouth very happily.

Today was another afternoon of special course training.

The content of the course was sword dance practice, but since the moves originally came from actual combat, there was no harm in learning it. For Sheila, who had been using weapons according to her instincts and her father’s teachings, it was rather gratifying to be able to learn the correct form from scratch.

Not only was the class instructive, but she was also enjoying the hands-on training these days. Cody was right, there had been no more harassment recently.

“That’s right. I don’t know why, so it’s a little worrying, but classes are no longer delayed, and it makes me feel a lot more relaxed.”

“I think it’s because of Sheila’s efforts. You didn’t give in to any kind of harassment, so that must’ve discouraged them.”

After the flexibility exercises, they lined up again.

At that time, there were three students who hurriedly turned away as soon as their eyes met.

She had noticed that they were overtly displeased with her. She didn’t know what kind of change of heart they had, but if they were no longer staring at her the way they used to, it was progress.

As she was quite satisfied, her eyes met Clauschezade’s.

“From now on, I will teach Sheila Danau the basic form. The rest of you should practice with each other as you see fit. Do not get hurt.”

Sheila was less prepared than the other students. When she first entered the school, she thought she had learned a lot of the basics, but it seemed she still needed more individual practice to learn the sword dance.

If she didn’t catch up quickly, she would be dragging others down again, so she took it seriously.

“Keep your center of gravity lower and hold your stance. Be more aware of the opening of your left foot. It is very important to open your left foot wide outward so that you can respond to attacks from the side. It is also the starting point for the next attack. It may be hard to do now, but make sure you have the basics down.”

“Yes!”

Claushezade’s teachings were thoroughly drilled into her until her body moved naturally once she grasped her sword. She liked the feeling of focusing her mind as she moved her body.

“It’s like bringing the tip of your sword down on your opponent’s head. Swing the sword and then step in. ――Yes, that’s good.”

For the time being, she had the basics for the sword dance down.

She thought she learned it pretty quickly, but Claushezade’s expression didn’t change.

“Um, are you mad at me because I’m delaying the class?”

“It’s not your fault that the class didn’t go well. I don’t care about that.”

“Your response was quite fast.”

Sheila, who was involved in the situation, was quite troubled.

Clauschezade sighed.

“Your swordsmanship is completely self-taught, but your speed and sword movements are impressive. However, I was worried that by teaching you the basics, it would affect your speed, which is your strong point…..”

Seeing the worry in his eyes, Sheila tilted her head.

“What… You’re a worrier, aren’t you, Claushezade-sensei?”

Claushezade couldn’t help but sigh at his student’s lack of a sense of crisis.

“Seeking new strength requires boldness and high ability. You must throw away everything you’ve built up until now and rebuild from scratch. It’s not possible to achieve this with ordinary effort…. I have seen many people who’ve become useless in this way.”

She knew how difficult it was to change a familiar way of fighting, and she understood the pain and bitterness that came with it.

Still, Sheila responded in her usual tone.　

“In the beginning, I think there will be times when my movements will be disorganized. In fact, I don’t know how I’ve been fighting until now. If a demon attacked me at this very moment, I wouldn’t be able to move as quickly as I should.”

Claushezade was inwardly surprised by Sheila’s words. Surprisingly, she seemed to be well aware of her current situation.

Sheila, however, wasn’t pessimistic, and even smiled confidently.

“But rather than thinking too hard, the first thing I have to do is to move my body. I realized that this time. If I do that, I may be able to solve the problem unexpectedly.”

“….. It’s not as easy as it sounds.”

“I know, but that’s the only way to get stronger. Besides, knowing two ways of fighting means you can simply become twice as strong, right?”

If you had to work hard, work harder than you had to.

Even if you felt frustrated or annoyed at the lack of progress, you could turn them into your strength.

Whether it was harassment or whatever, she had no choice but to overcome it one by one. Sheila, who had no power to influence people or authority, could only do her best.

Claushezade seemed stunned for a while, but then his surprise was replaced by a wry smile. It was hard to tell, though, because his eyes softened just a little.

“I’m glad you’re so simple-minded.”

“I understand that you’re complimenting me because you’re talking to me, but it sounds like you’re just being sarcastic.”

“I don’t mean it as a compliment either.”

Claushezade snorted.

After that, she joined the students and finally started practicing the sword dance.

Once it started, the class came to an end without Sheila slowing them down. Nor was she harassed until the end of the class.

At the end of the class, Clauschezade announced that the students had been assigned to their field training.

The names of the sixth graders were called out one by one along with their training sites. Those who looked strong and able-bodied were chosen to guard fortresses and the like. Axe, the dorm leader, was one of them.

In the fifth year, His Royal Highness Prince Wilfrecht was the first to be told where he would be assigned. As expected, he was assigned to the Order of the Imperial Knights. Although the number of trainees for that was limited, others such as Regress were also called.

Leidyrune, as she’d heard before, was assigned to the Patrol Corps.

It was the fourth graders’ turn, and more and more destinations were assigned to them.

“Cody Aswan. ――Patrol Corps.”

He let out the breath he had been holding.

“Well, that’s fair enough. I’m glad I’m not on border patrol.”

Then, after a few more interjections, it was Sheila’s turn.

“Sheila Danau. ――Patrol Corps.”

Instantly, she and Cody exchanged a quick glance.

To be honest, Sheila was a little nervous.

But if the destination was with Cody, there was nothing more reassuring. She finally relaxed her shoulders and smiled.

“Cody, I’m with you.”

“I’m so glad I get to go to training with Sheila. Let’s do our best!”

“Yes, I’m looking forward to it, much more than before!”

“Oh, but don’t get too motivated and run wild…”

After the announcement, the students were heading back to their dormitories in a lively atmosphere. The topic of discussion was, of course, their respective training sites.

Sheila spotted Leidyrune’s back walking in front of her.

“Leidyrune-senpai, we’ve been assigned together with you! We look forward to working with you, please take care of us!”

Cody was panicking next to her, but Sheila, feeling elated, casually ran up to him.

She peeked at the tall man from behind, but he didn’t look particularly displeased. His purple eyes, however, looked a little gloomy, and Sheila tilted her head.

“Could it be that Leidyrune-senpai wanted to join the Order of the Imperial Knights rather than the Patrol Corps?”

She asked with furrowed eyebrows, but Leidyrune shook his head gently.

“No. I think knowing about other workplaces is going to be good for my future. It’s just that I don’t know a lot about the lives of ordinary people… so, I’m quite worried.”

Sheila blinked at the sincere statement. She thought about this when he came to visit her, but Leidyrune was surprisingly honest.

She wasn’t quite sure why he was in the royal capital before, but it seemed that he was trying to learn about how the commoners lived in advance.

Sheila was worried about socializing with the nobles, and Leidyrune was worried about jumping into the crowd of commoners. If that was the case, then they should make up for each other’s weaknesses.

“Leidyrune-senpai, why don’t we help each other? If you’re in trouble, I will help you. So, if I give you trouble, please help me, too.”

Sheila smiled broadly, oblivious to Cody’s anxiety behind her. In her mind, it was a perfect plan.

Sure enough, Leidyrune raised his eyebrows in astonishment, but he soon smiled softly.

“….. Then, I’m counting on you.”

His large hand was placed on Sheila’s head. After gently ruffling her hair, Leidyrune left.

He somehow resembled her brother, she thought, and as she was fixing her hair, Cody sighed bitterly.

“Sheila….. are trying to give me a heart attack….?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Cody.”

Before she knew it, Cody was clinging to her back, and Sheila’s shoulders jumped up. There was something strangely powerful about her friend sometimes.

As they jostled each other, a chuckle resounded from behind them.

When she turned around, she saw His Royal Highness, Prince Wilfrecht, standing there with a smile so beautiful it was hard to look directly at it.

His blond hair shone luxuriously in the sunlight and his deep blue eyes exuded a nobility that naturally made her want to bow her head. He was so beautiful that he could easily be mistaken for a woman, and even the movement of his lips was graceful.

“――I’m sorry. You two looked so close that I couldn’t help myself.”

She didn’t expect him to talk to her, so Sheila was at a loss. Cody, too, was so afraid that he almost had a stroke.

Wilfrecht gazed at the two who simply bowed their heads without answering anything, and then walked right next to them. For a moment, that look of loneliness left a terrible impression on Sheila’s heart.

The moment he passed by them, she could smell his perfume.

A clean yet somehow elegant, forest-like scent. It was a scent that put Sheila’s mind at ease.

“…. Eh?”

Beside Cody, who was patting his chest, Sheila looked back at his slender back.