“Um, have there been any Grand Masters of the Knights’ Order who primarily used spears, bows, or other weapons?”
Probing further, Gilbert placed his hand on his chin and thought for a moment.
“…As far as I can recall, no. There have been dual sword users, rapier specialists, and greatsword users, but none.”
Raze felt a chill run down her spine.
“Could it be…an unspoken understanding that one cannot become the leader of the Order unless excelling in swordsmanship…?”
Raze asked apprehensively.
Seeing her anxious, wavering gaze, Gilbert averted his eyes for a moment, as if searching for the right words.
“There is no such rule…but the weapons issued are swords, and training is conducted with uniformity, so knights who don’t use swords as their main weapon are exceedingly rare. Simply put, with their small numbers, their chances of becoming the leader of the Order are low, and since the leader of the Order needs to be someone the knights look up to…”
His hesitant words made Raze want to bury her face in her hands.
(Is an eccentric knight who uses different weapons at a disadvantage when it comes to becoming the leader of the Order…?)
Having ignorantly given Ian advice about switching to spears,
she felt she might have made a grave mistake.
Addis asking about spear techniques might have been related to this as well.
(I really shouldn’t have said anything unnecessary…)
Ian had only recently switched to using a spear. If she apologized now, it might not be too late. If she didn’t, she would regret it forever.
“…Thank you, Sir Hein. I may have made a big mistake. I’ll go talk to him now.”
“I’m glad I could be of help…However, what’s most important for a knight is an unwavering resolve to protect the weak. I don’t think the choice of weapon matters in that regard.”
“I feel relieved to hear that.”
Raze shrugged. What she had said was not necessarily wrong.
Every organization has its own customs, after all. Changing the wisdom cultivated over years and years is not so simple. If Ian understood that and still made his choice, Raze wouldn’t have to be plagued by guilt.
“…By the way, what kind of person tends to become a high-ranking officer in the military?”
Gilbert asked, seemingly in an attempt to change the subject, and Raze pondered her answer.
“Well…there’s no specific requirement in the military either, but I’d say it’s someone with the resolve to be a shield for the nation, perhaps.”
Since Raze didn’t hold as high a rank in the military as Gilbert, she gave a safe response using a common metaphor.
And in her mind’s eye, the face of the prime minister known as the Grim Reaper came to the fore.
Those who could attain higher positions in the military were people who held power and could issue harsh orders without hesitation.
There were times when she was given cruel missions that filled her with fear and resentment, but Raze still supported Wellraine one way or another. He too was in a difficult position. It was a role she would never want herself.
Considering such circumstances, Raze had no interest in further advancement. The title of “leader of the Knights’ Order” might symbolize strength, but it didn’t necessarily apply in the military.
(The military may not attract as much attention, but it’s larger in scale. With more people, there’s more diversity, and their values don’t always align with those of the virtuous knights…)
Unlike the Knights’ Order, where the nobility tended to congregate and uphold a shared noble ideal like “chivalry,” there was no such lofty common philosophy in the military. There were only taboos that must not be broken; otherwise, any means were acceptable as long as the mission was accomplished.
Raze was a soldier. Not a knight.
To her, knights were among those she was meant to protect. While their professions were similar, she realized anew how completely different they were.
It had been reckless for a soldier like her to advise Ian, who aspired to become the leader of the Order of the Knights’ Order, just because they both practiced martial arts.
“Well then, I should get going.”
“Yes, until we meet again, Colonel.”
As dinner time was ending, Raze bowed and left Harrens’s room.
“It seems the colonel is struggling with the unfamiliar academy life as well.”
After she left, Gilbert remarked to Harrens in the now quiet room.
“Yes…I had intended for her to simply enjoy student life, but it seems I’ve been causing her trouble.”
Heaving a deep sigh, Harrens drew a wide-eyed look from Gilbert.
“Aren’t you here at the academy as bodyguard, Colonel?”
“Outwardly, yes. …No, that’s not quite the right way to put it. That’s what she believes.”
Harrens gave a wry smile.
“What’s your take on young Orphan, Lord Haine?”
“My take…?”
“Simply put, what did you make of her?”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
Though puzzled by the abstract question, Gilbert answered.
“When discussing work, it felt like dealing with an adult. She seemed grounded, giving off a sense of abundant experience.”
“I see… To be honest, at times I feel trepidation towards her. I had Orphan san enroll hoping she would indulge in an age-appropriate school life out of concern. But now I worry I’m forcing a contemporary civilian’s ordinary life upon her.”
That he was going too far, failing to align Raze’s perspective with those living the same era at this academy.
Harrens found himself thinking this whenever he saw Raze’s other side. He felt responsible for having invited Raze-Shes-Orphan as a student here.
Caught off guard by such candid talk, Gilbert was at a loss for words.
“Ah, my apologies. I’ve put you on the spot.”
Sensing this, Harrens tried to change the subject.
“No… I think I’m overthinking things. A place of learning inevitably has that function. There are many other unique students here too, so it’s not something limited just to you, Colonel.”
This was Gilbert’s first real conversation with the Imperial Prince, but through it he came to understand – Harrens was too kind.
He felt he could now see why the succession had proceeded without overt conflict.
“–!”
Harrens likely had no one to confide in.
As if Gilbert had hit on his blind spot, Harrens’s eyes went wide.
“You may be right… I might have been overly conscious of Orphan san.”
He readily admitted it.
Raze had reported nearly being eliminated at the summer tournament, as an unwanted interloper not meant to be in Carne ‘s foretold story.
If her life was indeed targeted, it made sense to be concerned. But perhaps he had been worrying in the wrong way.
Then suddenly, Harrens realized something.
Raze’s contact with the imperial agents must have occurred while time was stopped.
Which meant she had heard the woman out and understood, even while her physical movements were halted.
According to Raze’s explanation, the time-stopping magic worked by freezing the body and mind.
But if her mind alone remained active, didn’t that seem odd–?
Could the spell selectively leave the target’s consciousness intact?
Harrens glanced at the seat Raze had occupied until recently.
Truly, she was a puzzlingly captivating girl.
“If she can just find some enjoyment in school life, that will be enough…”
Raze Granoli remained unaware of the Academy Principal’s tender wish.
“It’s pitch black out. I better hurry or the dining hall will close.”
Raze scurried out of the Clock Tower in a panic.
Glancing up at the tower’s clock face, the time was already past 6:30pm. Perhaps due to the impending tournament, aside from herself there didn’t seem to be any other students heading back to the dorms from the Clock Tower at this hour.
Just as she considered simply teleporting to get there quickly…
(……I’m being watched.)
She feels someone is watching her.
She sensed the same feeling as when she was targeted for sniping.
Was she being viewed with suspicion for holing up in the Clock Tower right before the tournament?
Feigning ignorance, Raze walked under the streetlights towards the dorms. She wanted to identify her watcher, but how?
Deciding against teleporting, she walked the path where snow lay in places.
(It’s like…more than one person…?)
The first presence felt skilled at tailing, making it hard to pinpoint. But the second was so ham-fisted it almost stood out more.
Not the carefree school life she had planned, and she felt vexed at being swept up in such a suspicious situation. Entering a side alley that was a shortcut, the lighting grew dimmer in the increased darkness.
Then, just as she stepped onto a downward staircase–
“–!”
Something forcefully shoved her in the back with a dull thud.
Turning around, Raze instantly took in the culprit’s form.
(Earth magic?… Who is it?)
It wasn’t a person, but rather the ground that had risen up like an arm and pushed her.
Behind where she fell were some twenty steps of stairs.
(Well, this works…)
Having decided this, Raze intentionally let herself fall rather than using magic to avoid it.
She had wanted an excuse to sit out the winter tournament due to injury. Carefully protecting her head, she went rolling down in a showy tumble.
If luck was on her side, she could get properly banged up. But intentionally breaking bones was no easy feat.
Bracing for some pain in her little stuntwoman act, Raze casually tumbled all the way to the bottom.
“Kyaa!!”
Then she heard a girl’s scream that wasn’t her own.
Thinking it should have been her screaming, Raze pretended to have passed out in order to see who would come to her aid.
(Think I broke my left arm?)
Sprain and fracture. Plus some scrapes, maybe.
If it was a student’s doing, she hoped this would make them reflect on their actions.
In this world of magic, a trip to the infirmary and such injuries could be healed right up, letting her move again in no time. Having spent so long in the military, she had unconsciously become desensitized to injuries. Since she had done this intentionally, she didn’t cry out in pain.
On beast-infested continents or infiltration missions, that single cry could mean life or death. Remaining silent through pain was a force of habit.
(……Someone’s coming)
Sensing the presence heading her way, she lay still, holding her breath.
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Thanks for the chapter
BTW,
– “Aren’t you here as bodyguard, Colonel?” Not sure of the original text, but it’s probably should be something like, “Wasn’t the Colonel posted here as bodyguard?”
– I heard/read on NU that the WN already started it’s part 2. Any chance you gonna pick it up?
No, I’m only doing the LN