Didier (3)
Chapter 26
Unable to bear the sight, Matthew placed an envelope over his ear and firmly attached it under his own mouth.
As Jimmy vomited so profusely that it seemed a rainbow formed in the sky, the children continued to run around inside the fence screaming.
Ray, using Matthew as a shield, gathered the children and shouted at them.
“Everyone, be quiet.”
“Eww…”
“It smells.”
“There’s a rainbow in the sky.”
“The rainbow is dirty…”
“Be quiet.”
When Ray intensified his gaze, the children finally closed their mouths.
“You all said you wanted to become knights, didn’t you? A knight isn’t always someone who wears shiny armor and gallantly strides across the battlefield. Sometimes they have to immerse themselves in excrement, and sometimes they must endure hunger for days while carrying out missions. Are you going to cry just because some vomit got on you?”
The children weakly shook their heads.
“No…”
“Pull yourselves together. Don’t make fools of yourselves in front of the knight… …Though, it does smell a bit.”
What exactly did you eat for lunch?
Muttering to himself, Ray shook out a towel and carefully wiped the children’s heads.
After quite some time, Jimmy, whose stomach had finally settled, lay trembling on the ground.
Didier briefly glanced at Ray, then looked at Jimmy with a strange expression.
“Due to improper mana circulation, about 20% of your blood meridians are blocked. Did you use sword aura in this state?”
“Gurk, gurrrk…”
“If you had been properly trained from a young age… Hmm, never mind.”
It was pointless talk.
Shaking his head, Didier added.
“We need to focus on reopening the blocked meridians now. It will take some time, but if you continue to practice diligently, you may reach the edge of expert level.”
Didier increased the density of the mana slightly and injected it into Jimmy’s body.
The reaction came immediately.
“Kreeeeeek!!”
Vomit spewed out once more.
Walking around the shivering Jimmy, Ray asked.
“Wouldn’t it be better to conduct training on an empty stomach?”
“Having food in your stomach is preferable. Otherwise, there’s a risk of damaging the stomach.”
“Ah, I see. Thank you.”
“Yeah.”
Without even noticing the vomit splattered on his face, Didier nodded.
Knights actually undergo training where they immerse themselves in fecal water or dive headfirst into animal entrails.
There was no room for Didier, a highly skilled knight, to complain about mere vomit splatter.
“The children seem to possess excellent talent.”
“That’s fortunate. They’re the aces of the orphanage, so I was worried if their evaluations would be too harsh.”
“…When do you plan to proceed with your lessons? If you wish, we can arrange separate times even at night.”
“I’d like to ask for something else.”
“…? Do you wish to receive guidance in swordsmanship?”
“I’d like to request a sparring session.”
After a moment of silence, Didier stroked his chin.
“I already know you possess remarkable talent. However, to fully unlock your potential, it’s crucial to solidify the basics.”
Didier glanced back and forth between Jimmy and Matthew. A faint trace of regret spread across his eyes.
“These two also possess talents that don’t fall short compared to me. But due to the lack of proper sword training, they remain stagnant. Since you’ve seized the opportunity, I hope you don’t repeat the same mistake.”
Ray felt the time had come to put on a serious face once again.
This was something he had to endure since starting his act of pretending to be a genius.
“Your words are wise. However, that applies to ordinary people. I am different.”
“…”
Didier’s eyes twitched.
Although Ray’s face burned, he clenched his teeth and suppressed his embarrassment.
Mana cultivation methods couldn’t be mastered carelessly, and basic sword skills were already embedded within Harshia’s Spatial Blade.
He could get corrections on a few stances, but it would be far more efficient and urgent to hone his swordsmanship through sparring and gain practical combat sense.
“Hmm.”
Didier pondered for a moment.
‘No matter how smart he seems… he’s still nine years old, isn’t he?’
Didier sensed the characteristic stubbornness and overconfidence of a young child in Ray.
Since Ray had already awakened to mana and defeated adults at such a young age, it wasn’t foolish to feel arrogant toward the world.
However, if he became overly arrogant and refused guidance, even someone with unparalleled talent would delay reaching Master status by over ten years.
‘I need to thoroughly break his pride. Besides, Count has given me a task.’
Accurately assess Ray’s abilities.
That was one of the tasks assigned by the Count.
Didier believed Ray had just awakened to mana, but there might be more to it.
Since things have come this far, he intended to uncover Ray’s limits entirely.
“I’ll accept your request. In return, let’s make a bet.”
“A bet?”
“In a five-minute sparring match, make me use mana. If you succeed, I’ll give you a reward.”
“How will you assist my senses without using mana?”
In knight-level combat, enhancing the five senses with mana is essential.
Didier shook his head.
“I won’t use any mana at all. There needs to be some handicap for the bet to be valid.”
“As long as you don’t enhance your strength, it should balance out.”
Didier slightly furrowed his brows.
Even though Ray showed remarkable talent, this was clearly lacking self-awareness.
Hiding his disappointment, Didier threw out a tempting bait.
“If you succeed, within the limits of my capabilities and without violating the code of chivalry, I’ll fulfill one request of yours.”
“Are you serious?”
“On my honor as a knight.”
“Hmm… If I fail, I’ll faithfully follow your teachings from now on. And similarly, I’ll fulfill one of your requests. Does that sound fair?”
“I’ve pledged my honor as a knight, so you must prove your resolve as well.”
Didier responded teasingly.
Inside, he wanted to see Ray flustered, but Ray answered without changing his expression.
“I pledge my mother’s honor.”
“What? Your mother’s… mother?”
Having learned through prior investigation who Ray’s mother was, Didier narrowed his eyes.
What kind of nonsense is this?
Receiving Didier’s gaze laden with such implications, Ray shamelessly blurted out.
“Even the lowest commoner has honor. I’ve always respected my mother.”
“…”
Didier fumbled for words.
He wanted to say something, but anything he thought of saying would likely end up being countered.
After some contemplation, Didier realized:
‘There’s no way out.’
If he wasn’t going to engage in a serious discussion about the value of honor with a nine-year-old, he had no choice but to nod in agreement.
“Hmm… Fine, I accept.”
“Shall we start right away?”
“Yes, let’s begin.”
Caught in a situation where he had equated the honor of a knight with that of a prostitute, Didier couldn’t shake off the awkward feeling as he picked up the wooden sword.
It feels like being manipulated into starting against his will.
Could Ray have intended this? The absurd assumption made his lips twitch involuntarily.
Meanwhile, Jimmy, who wobbled as he stood up, shook his head while looking at the two people pointing wooden swords at each other.
‘Looks like Ray’s trying to swindle Sir Didier!’
Didier probably thinks:
That unscrupulous guy is relying solely on his talent and talking big! Today, I’ll teach him a lesson he’ll never forget!
‘But things won’t go according to his plans.’
Jimmy gave Didier a sympathetic look.
Unaware of Jimmy’s gaze, Didier focused his energy towards Ray.
“Let’s begin. I’ll let you take the first move.”
“Understood.”
Holding the wooden sword, Ray steadied his breathing.
He debated whether to conceal his true abilities, but it was already exposed to the Count.
To grow properly, he needed someone capable of handling his sword.
If he had to choose an opponent, there was none more suitable than a loyal knight under the Count.
‘I’ll give it my all.’
Whoosh!
Pushing off the ground lightly, Ray appeared in front of Didier in an instant.
Faster than expected.
At the moment Didier thought this, Ray left an afterimage and disappeared.
Swish!
The sound of dirt being scraped reached Didier’s ears belatedly.
Sensing a sharp chill running down his spine, Didier spun around and swung his sword with full force.
BOOM!!
“?!”
Thrown back by an incredible counterforce, Ray rolled on the ground once before regaining his stance.
It was a collision of unexpected power. The wooden sword was nearly half-embedded.
‘What is this?’
Just from one clash of swords, this much damage.
No matter how rigorous the training Didier underwent, it was impossible to generate such monstrous strength without using mana.
Lifting his head, Ray froze upon seeing Didier smiling.
The cold and composed Didier was grinning widely, openly expressing his joy.
Didier swung his arm.
Bang!
Near Didier’s shoulder, a wave of energy burst, sending two swords flying into the air.
After several rotations, the two swords embedded themselves in the ground between Ray and Didier.
Didier pulled out the sword radiating a sharp blue aura.
“I’ve lost the bet.”
With just one strike, Didier realized.
Ray’s speed, agility, sword speed, sword path, sword pressure, and response.
All these aspects had reached the true Expert level.
Didier felt grateful to the Count.
It was truly an honor. To assume the role of a teacher, even for a brief period, to the future Sword Master.
“Come at me now with everything you’ve got.”
Ray also drew his sword.
There was no hesitation.
“With pleasure.”
*
“My bottom hurts so much…”
“You should have learned horseback riding.”
Mohamed chuckled while leading the horse Alesya rode.
“Why did you insist on refusing to learn when you could have practiced earlier?”
“The high viewpoint is scary. If Father hadn’t forbidden carriages for trips to and from the orphanage, I would have never ridden a horse in my life…”
“Then you could have not gone to the orphanage, right?”
Mohamed asked innocently.
Pouting, Alesya muttered.
“My knight is my responsibility to manage…”
The orphanage was in sight ahead.
In no time, Alesya reached the entrance of the orphanage on horseback and wriggled her body on the saddle.
Sighing inwardly, Mohamed helped Alesya dismount.
“I recognize you from last time.”
“Holy cow!”
Zoltan, who was affiliated with the Jimmy Family and responsible for the orphanage’s security, inwardly screamed.
During Alesya’s stay at the orphanage, he suffered silently, unable to express his burden to anyone. Now, meeting Alesya again after such a short time, he felt his heart sink.
Dropping to one knee immediately, Zoltan asked.
“Good day. What brings you here today…?”
“Hmm, I heard Ray is learning swordsmanship, so I came to see his skills!”
“Uh, uh, then please come in.”
Entering the orphanage, the children spotted Alesya and cheered.
Waving at each child, Alesya reveled in the popularity.
From within the fence, tremendous crashes resounded repeatedly.
Clang!! BOOM!!
“Ah! They’re fighting, aren’t they? Sir Mohamed! Please lift me up!”
“Miss, that’s dangerous…”
“Please lift me up quickly!”
“…”
Sharpening his senses to the utmost, Mohamed grabbed Alesya under her arms and lifted her high into the sky.
Her field of view expanded greatly, and the scene inside the fence came into Alesya’s sight.
