04 - A Friend Who Has Changed

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Chapter 04: A Friend Who Has Changed

“It didn’t even take him two years, right?”

I feel like I’m talking to myself a lot more lately.

I wonder why.

If I were to ask, I could lose my job as a butler.

I’d say, I have to avoid it at all costs.

Well, you never know what life has in store for you.

I never thought I’d see the day I’d want to keep this s****y job.

It’s been about a year and a half since I started teaching that kid… no, Master Luke, the sword.

And today, for the very first time— I lost.

How can I not laugh at this?

I feel like laughing out loud.

But I’m a butler.

I can’t let anyone see me like that.

So I held my mouth shut and tried desperately to bite down on the emotions that were rising in me.

“Really… he did it…! No, not just that. He went way beyond my imagination…!”

Ah, not good.

Excuse me, I can’t let my emotions get the best of me.

I was never easy on him.

On the contrary, I was going for the kill…

Anytime I had a mock battle with Master Luke, I felt a thrill as if we were really fighting for our lives.

Even though it’s been a while since he started learning to sword, he really came to win.

It’s been that way ever since the first time we did a mock battle.

— If you’re not careful, he’ll catch you off guard.

That’s what my instinct had told me as a swordsman.

And for that reason, I was always serious in every mock battle.

I was not confronting the kid who I taught.

I was facing an enemy I ain’t supposed to kill.

So I had to take it that seriously.

The title “The dormer deputy head of the Royal Knights” is not so light.

To be clear, even though I’m old, I’m still proud to say that I’m still one of the best in the kingdom.

And that me was now defeated by Master Luke.

He did win, huh!

“Ahh… I can’t get enough of it.”

I can’t get enough of this excitement.

Master Luke will go down in history, it’s an inevitable future.

No exactly.

That’s not what I’m talking about!

He’s going to be a legend!

And I get the closest look at the man who will be called a legend.

How… lucky I am!

“ ───Alfred-sama.”

Then I heard a voice calling my name.

It’s the maid’s voice.

I’m not upset about this.

I instantly repainted my consciousness without any problems.

“How can I help you?”

“Yes, Alfred-sama, you have a visitor.”

“… A visitor?”

I pondered.

A visitor for me?

I thought of the many possibilities, both good and bad.

But in the end, no answer was found.

“The Lord has sent me to see you.”

“I see. I certainly understand.”

“Then follow me. Your guest is already waiting in their room.”

Hearing my words, the maid bowed once and started walking.

Who could it be?

I don’t have time for this.

I’ve got to figure out Master Luke’s training for the future.

I thought, but the Lord asked me to.

I don’t have a choice but to meet this visitor.

So I followed a little heavier on my feet.

＋＋＋＋＋＋＋＋＋＋

Eruka Ai Sutherland.

That’s my name.

I am proud to say that this name was once so well known in the kingdom that there was no one who did not know it.

Because I was… the Chief Commander of the Royal Knights.

This is my pride.

Well, that was a long time ago.

A woman can never be a match for a man in brute strength.

If you could use magic, it would be a different story, but unfortunately, I was not very good at that from the start.

Even so, I am one of the few women in the long history of the kingdom to have risen to the position of Chief Commander of the Royal Knights.

That’s what I’m proud of.

The only one.

Now I have a dojo in the city where I teach swordsmanship to only those I like.

That’s why I came to see Al. (Alfred)

I really wanted to bring this up earlier.

However, I am not sure if it will work, and I have a lot of personal feelings about the management of the dojo.

I have no intention of teaching anyone I don’t like, no matter how talented they are with a sword.

The reverse is also true.

It doesn’t make sense that you’d offer up such a prospect.

That’s why it took me so long.

“I hope he’s doing well…”

I still vividly remember the day Al quit being a deputy commander.

He was really stubborn.

Once he decides, he never bends.

That guy, Al, was too willful a man.

When was the last time I saw him?

I mean so long ago that I no longer remember?

After a while of being immersed in nostalgia, the door was opened with a thud.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Former Chief Commander of the Royal Knights, Lord Eruka Ai Sutherland.”

“It’s me who cannot thank you enough for accepting my unexpected visit. Sir Gilbert.”

I was somewhat surprised to be greeted by the head of the family himself.

Not that there are any bad rumors about the Gilberts, but there aren’t any good ones either.

For better or worse, the house is supposed to be nobility, aristocratic as it seems.

Nobles, as a rule, don’t think well of the Royal Knights.

Most of them think of us as nothing more than a bunch of barbarians who can’t use magic.

But what is this?

Somehow, their values toward the sword have changed, I suppose?

“Come on in. I got you a room. I’ll show you.”

“Thank you.”

I’m fine with a third-class room, even though I come from an aristocratic background.

As I knew I wouldn’t be turned away, but I expected some nitpicking.

But to my surprise his treatment was way better.

I can’t stop myself from searching my gut to find why that is so.

While I was thinking about that, I got to a room.

I sat down on the sofa as Sir Gilbert urged me to do so.

“Would you like some tea?”

“Yes, thank you.”

The maid who was standing by poured tea into a teacup.

It has a comforting scent.

Then we had a few conversations, I didn’t feel as if there was any malice in him.

“Well, I suppose it’s no point for me to stay any longer. Let me call Alfred right away.”

“Thank you.”

With that said, Sir Gilbert opened the door and left.

However, I wasn’t alone in the room.

I had a maid at my side.

… It’s still not right.

To begin with, the Kingdom of Myrstia, a magical powerhouse, had a history of being founded by a group of skilled magicians.

That is why the families of the nobility, who are said to be the best, have an aptitude for magic to varying degrees.

In other words, magic belongs to the nobility

There are very few commoners who have an aptitude for magic, but they are exceptions among exceptions.

Those who can use magic and those who can’t.

As long as there is a history of magic supporting the kingdom, this discrimination is the only thing that will never go away.

So I was thinking…

Why I didn’t sense that at all from Sir Gilbert earlier.

In fact, I even felt respect from him.

I really don’t understand.

───Knock, knock.

Questions after questions were popping up in my mind.

And I ignored that there was a knock at the door.

But the maid who was waiting immediately opened the door.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

How nostalgic.

The sight of him makes me feel the longing I’ve had for him for years.

However, he seemed to have changed a lot after seeing him for the first time in a long time.

“… Pfft.”

Seeing Al bowing reverently, I managed to hold back a laugh that almost spilled out.

“I’ll take it from here. You may go back.”

“Yes. Alfred-sama.”

The maid left the place.

It was just me and Al now.

In silence, Al sat down on the opposite couch.

As usual he lit a cigarette and exhaled the smoke.

And,

“… Yo”

“Pfft, Ahahaha. Quite the butler you’ve become, Al. Who on earth could believe that? The former deputy commander of the Royal Knights, who was once feared as an ‘ogre’ on the battlefield, to be like this.”

I was at my limit.

So I burst out laughing..

“It was like yesterday, I remembered you still struggling with your manner of speech.”

“When are you talking about? Don’t talk about the past like it’s yesterday.”

“Ahahaha, I see. It’s already been that long. The passage of time is frightening.”

“So? I’m not sure what you want from me, Eruka. You’re not just here to see an old friend, are you?”

“Seriously! You’re still the same. You’ve got to learn how to put words in my mouth.”

“I don’t think I can do that. It’s not in my nature.”

“Haha, I bet. I’m relieved to see that you haven’t changed. Then I’ll be straight to the point.”

I broke off and then quickly continued.

“I need your help to train my disciple.”

It doesn’t make sense to go off the way with Al.

So I told him frankly.

“Recently, I picked up an orphan, and I’ve been teaching him to use the sword. His name is Abel and he has very good eyes. I think you’ll like him.”

With all intent and purpose.

Nothing fabricated only the truth.

“Heh, what about his… talent?”

“Huh?”

“Does he have a special gift?”

The words he brought up were strangely unfamiliar.

The more you know about Alfred, the more you will not believe your ears when you hear him say that.

Al was from a commoner background.

It was also a very poor family environment to the extent that they were extremely close to being homeless.

There was no one to teach him how to use a sword.

But Al pushed through.

By putting in a tremendous amount of effort.

He was a man with eyes like a hungry wolf.

He carved his own path by swinging his sword with determination.

He never once said anything about talent.

Until this moment.

But since he asked, I had no choice but to answer.

“He doesn’t have any talent with the sword. He seems to have an unusual aptitude for magic, but he is not a nobleman, so he will not be able to learn magic— just.”

How frustrating.

To declare that the apprentice you are taking care of doesn’t have any talent.

But it can’t be helped.

It’s a fact.

But the essence that the boy, Abel, possesses is by no means something trivial such as talent.

So I continued with my words.

“He has a terrifying ‘spirit’. I’m telling you… he’s frightening. A ‘monster’ indeed.”

Yes, the terrible power I found in Abel.

His crazy spirit.

I shudder to think of it now.

“What do you think? Aren’t you curious?”

I asked Al.

I really want to talk about Abel in more detail and carefully.

I have a lot of incidents I want to tell.

But unfortunately, I don’t have time for that right now.

So I asked the question.

I’m sure Al would be interested.

… But his reaction was a little different than I had imagined.

Al’s eyes were horribly vacant.

He leaned back on the couch and exhaled his cigarette smoke toward the ceiling.

“Hey, Eruka. We used to talk like this. Sword first or heart first? Remember?”

“… Yeah.”

Without answering my question, Al began to speak.

“Is it because one is skilled with a sword that one has a strong heart? Or is it because the heart is strong that the sword is skillful? Your answer is always the same. Heart comes first… right?”

“Yes, that’s right. A righteous heart comes first and the sword follows. At least, that’s what I believe.”

It is this belief that sometimes I don’t make disciples, no matter how talented they are.

“I thought so too.”

I was relieved to hear Al say that.

I knew it. He was the same Al I knew───

“… No, that’s what I used to think before.”

I felt a grip on my heart.

“… what does that mean?”

“It’s simple. I’ve had a change of heart.”

“… Sword comes first, you say?”

“No, that’s not quite right. My answer is that the sword and the heart are completely unrelated.”

“That’s not true!”

I couldn’t help but raise my voice.

“Well, listen.”

I stood up and slammed the table with a bang, and Al admonished me in a very calm manner.

I too was ashamed of myself for being distraught at the question and answer with my friend.

“Come here for a minute.”

Al stood up abruptly and went to the window.

Why is that, I thought, but I kept quiet and complied.

“Look.”

I did as I was told and looked out the window.

And all I saw was a beautiful courtyard and a boy.

A boy with blond hair, blond eyes and a very handsome face.

I know this boy.

He’s Luke Withalia Gilbert, the eldest son of the Gilbert family.

But what about this boy?

“It’s almost time. As usual, Master Luke will start with his form. Watch it and let me know what you think.”

“Huh? Is he learning swordsmanship?”

“Yeah, He asked me to. So I’ve been teaching him sword for about a year and a half now.”

“… Hou.”

I see, so this is what caused Sir Gilbert’s respect for me.

But still, I don’t know what Al’s intentions are.

A year and a half with a sword is nothing to be proud of.

What on earth does he want to show me?

I looked at the boy thoughtfully.

Then the boy moved.

He took out his sword as it was.

And then── my heart shivered at how beautifully he handled the sword.

A terribly sophisticated ‘form’.

It was no longer swordsmanship, but an exquisite art.

It was just that stunning.

My brain, which was supposed to be thinking about all sorts of things, was quickly replaced by the word of excitement.

Too beautiful.

I’ve never seen such a perfect ‘form’ before.

The answer does not override the fact that I myself am included.

… No, wait.

Wait, wait, wait.

I realized belatedly how impressed I was.

This.

This swordsmanship.

“… A year and a half… you say?”

“Yes. This is… what ‘talent’ is all about.”

Suddenly, I looked at Al.

And I was astonished.

Because there was an incredibly creepy smile on his face.

As if the one who worships the devil had an audience with him.

That was a fanatic’s smile.

“Al… you…”

“… Ah, excuse me. That’s enough, have a seat.”

My mind was still reeling.

I sat down, feeling zany.

“What do you think? Tell me.”

“… Amazing…”

That’s what I would say if I were shown something like that.

I can’t find any better words to describe it.

“I know. But if you ask me if Master Luke is good, he definitely isn’t. If a commoner were to bump into Master Luke, he wouldn’t hesitate to kick him. That’s the kind of man Master Luke is.”

“………”

— I see, that boy has changed you.

“Talent is given out at the whim of God. There are no good guys and bad guys.”

“That’s…”

I wanted to deny it.

But I can’t say the word.

There’s no way I can say that.

After seeing someone like him just now.

“Looking back, the reason I couldn’t beat you was simple. You had the talent and I didn’t. That’s all it was.”

Al muttered with a very distant look in his eyes.

“………”

No, you’re wrong, Al…

You were never that kind of guy…

“─── Again, I’m going to have to decline your offer… sorry.”

I expected that.

He’d say so…

When he didn’t respond to me right away.

Well.

I saw it in his eyes, already.

“I want to see it up close. I want to see what Master Luke will accomplish. Whether it’s good or bad, I want to see it up close. Haha, will you despise me for that, Eruka?”

“………”

I had no more words.

I guess he’s gone now… Al from back then.

“Abel… was it? The kid may face Master Luke at some point. I sincerely hope he can resist as much as possible when he does.”

Hearing those last words, I left the Gilbert residence.

“… I’ve to raise Abel well.”

I’ll put my all into it.

Otherwise, he’ll never be able to beat that boy Luke.

I could certainly feel a hot flame bursting forth from deep within me.

＋＋＋＋＋＋＋＋＋＋

Pushed by Eruka’s words, Alfred was to become a second mentor to the boy named Abel.

But it didn’t happen, and Eruka and Alfred started down different paths.

Needless to say, the reason for this was the incomprehensible “talent” of the boy called Luke Wizaria Gilbert.

Yes, this story has already started to go haywire───