Chapter 3: As Long As I Win

Chapter 3: As Long As I Win

It had been about a year since I started learning swordsmanship from Alfred-san.

I really wanted to start studying magic, but even if you start many things at once, youll end up halfway through everything.

It would be better to concentrate on swordsmanship until one step is completed.

What a load of c**p!

Swordsmanship is damn fun!!

I cant really say what its about, but its interesting anyway.

I work up a good sweat, and I sleep much better at night ever since I started practicing swordsmanship.

And the more I do it, the more I feel like Im improving.

That feeling is really addictive.

But Ive never beaten Alfred-san in a mock battle.

Every time I lose, Im struck with an unbearable sense of humiliation.

That I was defeated by a mere butler.

That fact is inexplicably annoying.

On many occasions, I have been so frustrated that I have hurled abusive language at Alfred-san and myself.

But its great that I got to experience these emotions early on.

The fact that Ive been defeated before must have had a tremendous effect on me, or rather on Luke.

I mean, its no surprise that Im going to lose.

As I have been dealing with a former deputy commander of the Royal Knights.

In fact, its inherently weird to have feelings of regret.

And whats that?

Youre a little too stubborn for your own good, arent you, Alfred-san?

Especially lately.

Ive only been holding a sword for a year.

And I lost again this time, as expected.

Im just saying, he could cut a few corners

Only one year. In just one year, Master Luke has mastered almost everything from the basics of swordsmanship to its application. On the contrary no, nevermind.

Eh, when did that happen?

Its true that the frequency of mock battles has been increasing a lot lately.T/his chapter is updated by nov(ê(l)biin.co/m

Alfred-san looked up to the sky.

Like hes thinking about something.

Like he gave up on something.

He had a look on his face that could be read either way.

Then he turned to look at me as if he was blown away.

I was the Deputy Commander of the Royal Knights

This is my personal belief, but I believe that no matter how dirty the methods used, it is better than absolute defeat, which is death.

Hou.

At the sudden transformation of Alfred-san.

I was helplessly puzzled, but his one word just hit me.

It was defeat.

Im very sensitive to that word.

Not me, actually.

Its the Luke in me.

Over the past year, I have suffered many defeats.

Over and over again.

Every time we had a mock battle, I lost.

Still, it didnt lessen my self-esteem in the least.

But just now

Dont you dare look down on me.

Ill be right over there.

Im gonna drag you down for sure.

Such a voice echoed in my head.

And perhaps for that reason

Kukuh Ahahahaha!

I started laughing.

Well, yes. Better than defeat. Youre right. Theres nothing wrong with it. As long as I win in the end, thats all that matters.(E/N: Kiyo-kun is that you?!)

!! Thats right thats all that matters!

I said it as it was natural for me to.

And I didnt stop there.

Youre no exception, Alfred. Dont think you can look down on me forever. Im going to beat you, one day.

Yeah, maybe its in Lukes, no, maybe its in my nature now.

Im sure I wont be able to change until I die.

There is no way to curb this overweening self-esteem, and the only way to satisfy it is to win.

I just have to keep winning.

What a troublesome way of living.

Really a pain.

But, yeah.

Its not that bad.

So Ill just do it.