Chapter 98 : Chapter 98
Chapter 98
As I came out of the room with my luggage and sword.
I saw four or five knights and the King coming this way from the other end of the corridor.
The knights were surrounding the King, blocking him from all sides to prevent him from escaping. It definitely didn’t feel like an escort.
It felt like they were arresting a criminal.
‘It was in the <Future Diary>. The knights didn’t like the King.’
The King who had given up everything and gone into seclusion, ruining the kingdom.
The knights disliked such a King and mocked and sneered at him. Perhaps the reason they were bringing the King to me like a criminal was for that reason.
Flicker—.
The King, who had spotted me, managed a smile and raised his hand to me. Then the knight walking in front blocked the King’s path.
He was openly interfering with the King greeting me.
‘Hmm… should I just let the knights treat the King like that?’
To be honest, it didn’t matter to me. Since I held the power in this kingdom, it didn’t matter what insults the King suffered…….
‘……That’s not quite right either. I feel uncomfortable for some reason.’
Was it because the King had stroked my head and treated me like his real son before?
I felt a bit strange.
‘That person is not my father. He’s the enemy who made me go through a lot of trouble by ruining the kingdom, and who will continue to make me suffer. ……But to him, I am his son.’
I felt like there was a duty I had to fulfill as a son.
‘And well… I have to learn the sword from the King now, so it would be good to make a good impression.’
I have to learn the sword from the King, so I have to make a good impression.
I gave myself a trivial excuse to play the role of a son to the King.
Even though I just wanted to do it.
“You’ve come, Father.”
-……?!
-……?!
-……?!
As I approached and spoke, the knights surrounding the King hurriedly made way to either side. Their faces were clearly flustered, perhaps because they hadn’t expected me to approach so suddenly.
Maybe they never imagined I would be so friendly to the King.
“……?”
The King was also momentarily taken aback, perhaps not expecting me to show such a friendly attitude. But it was only for a moment; the King nodded and replied.
“Yes, Leonardo. Did you sleep well last night? I was so excited at the thought of going on a journey with you that I couldn’t sleep a wink.”
It felt sincere. He really looked excited.
I decided to play along.
“The same goes for me. It’s not a journey we’re going on to enjoy without any burdens, but I’m really happy to be going with you, Father.”
After saying that, I turned around and spoke to Jereuth.
“Commander. Since it’s a journey with just the three of us, you, me, and Father, I think it would be fine to dismiss the knights now. If there are any officials or servants preparing a send-off, I would like them to be dismissed as well.”
“I understand. You all, do as His Highness says.”
-Yes!
At Jereuth’s words, the knights immediately saluted me and disappeared from the corridor.
The knights’ actions were swift and consistent, but their expressions were still quite flustered.
It seemed my respectful treatment of the King was quite a shock.
After the knights disappeared down the corridor.
I spoke to Jereuth and the King.
“Shall we go then?”
***
We each chose our horses from the stables and went outside the royal castle.
As I had said, the knights must have dismissed everyone who was going to see me off, because unlike when I went to Misty Port before, there was nothing like a ‘departure ceremony.’
Thanks to that, it didn’t take much time to leave the royal castle.
***
Thud-thud-thud-thud—.
Jereuth led the way on horseback, guiding us. The King and I rode side by side behind him.
None of the three of us spoke much. It was difficult to talk while riding fast.
After following Jereuth for about 30 minutes, Jereuth slowed down and asked me.
“Your Highness, are you alright? This is the first time you’ve ridden a horse for so long, so you might be in pain.”
“Ah… haha, it was a bit tough. My back is a little sore.”
Actually, there were many other places that hurt. My butt, my groin, and my back, there wasn’t a single place that didn’t ache. The part that directly touched the saddle felt like it was bruised.
Nevertheless, the reason I rode without a word was because I didn’t want to mess up Jereuth’s travel plans.
Jereuth looked at me for a moment and then spoke.
“Let’s take a short break first. We left the royal castle earlier than expected, so we have some time to spare.”
After saying that, Jereuth took out a water bottle and handed it to me.
For reference, I was riding the horse Jereuth usually rode, ‘Kartum.’ Jereuth had lent it to me, saying, “Kartum seems to like Your Highness more.”
I glanced at the King while drinking water.
‘The King doesn’t seem to be affected. Was he really healthy?’
As if sensing my gaze, the King smiled at me and spoke.
“You ride well. It must be thanks to Victoria… your mother.”
“My mother?”
“Yes. Your mother rode better than any knight. Not just animals like horses, but she could ride any monster that could be tamed. She even rode a ‘Death-Bull,’ a monster that looked like an ox, well.”
“……What do you mean, it’s thanks to my mother that I ride well? I thought Kartum was a famous horse, so it was easy to ride.”
“Kartum, a famous horse…. Haha, of course, Kartum is a famous horse. A famous horse like no other in the world. But it definitely doesn’t let just anyone ride it.”
The King said something strange and then looked into the distance and continued.
“Your mother was not only a good rider, but also a natural archer. She could hit a flying arrow while riding that wild Death-Bull.”
“……She hit a flying arrow while riding an ox?”
“It was a simple task for your mother.”
The King spoke casually, but I couldn’t take it that way.
‘Hitting a flying arrow while riding an ox… isn’t that harder than hitting the camera repeatedly in an archery competition? In the first place, is it even possible to hit anything while riding an ox?’
Although I had such doubts, I decided to keep listening to the King’s words. Not only was there no reason for the King to lie, but he didn’t seem to be lying.
“You will probably be good at archery too. Since the blood of humans and elves… ‘Elder Elves’ flows in you-.”
As the King was speaking, Jereuth spoke.
“Your Highness, I think we should start moving again. If we rest too long in the middle, it will only make us more tired.”
“Ah, yes.”
I couldn’t ask the King because I was answering Jereuth.
‘Not an elf, but an Elder Elf? What’s an Elder Elf?’
I decided to ask later and got on Kartum. As I tried to get on, Kartum knelt down and lowered its body to let me ride.
Every time I see it, I feel that it’s a really smart horse.
But the reason Kartum was doing this… was not because it was a famous horse, but because of my mother.
***
After that, we moved in a similar pattern. We rode fast to the northwest for about 30 minutes and then rested for about 10 minutes.
I wasn’t that tired until the morning. But in the afternoon, I couldn’t help but be exhausted.
Still, since I couldn’t show that I was having a hard time, I rode without complaining as much as possible.
As time passed and the sun began to set, Jereuth slowed down, looked at the map, and spoke.
“We can camp here. Please rest for a while. I will go and get water from the river.”
“Ah… yes, I understand.”
I wanted to help Jereuth get water. But my body really wouldn’t listen.
‘……My back feels like it’s broken. It’s hard to even stand. It’s even harder to sit.’
I tried not to groan and put my luggage on the ground. When I opened the bag, I saw the clothes Elly had neatly folded and a paper package containing a sandwich on top.
However, the sandwich was completely squashed. It was only natural, considering it had been in my backpack all day.
The <Future Diary> would be somewhere in the middle of the backpack. I had secretly put it in in the morning.
‘Should I change my clothes? ……Forget it. I’ll just sleep in them today.’
It would be fine to wear the same clothes for one day.
“It must be the snack that maid packed for you.”
The King appeared out of nowhere and spoke. I wasn’t trying to surprise me, but I was startled by the King’s unexpected appearance.
“Yes. If I knew Elly had prepared it, I would have eaten it first, but I didn’t know.”
“It will take some time to prepare dinner, so if you’re hungry, eat it now. I’ll teach you the sword after you eat.”
“The sword? Ah……”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s just……”
My body hurts, so I want to rest today.
—That’s what I wanted to say. But since my desire to learn the sword was also quite strong, it was difficult for me to say I wanted to rest.
The King spoke as if he had read my thoughts.
“Is it because your body hurts from riding a horse for a long distance for the first time?”
“Um, yes. To be honest, my body hurts a little.”
“That’s even better.”
“……Pardon?”
“I said, that’s even better. Anyone can swing a sword when their body is in perfect condition. But using a sword when your body hurts is not something anyone can do.”
“……”
“In the future, you will have more occasions to use a sword when you are weak rather than in perfect condition. Physically or mentally. So it will be helpful to learn the sword in a situation where your body is uncomfortable. The opportunity to practice swinging a sword when your body is uncomfortable is also rare.”
The King’s swordsmanship lecture that started suddenly.
Honestly, I didn’t know what he was talking about.
“Have you heard anything about that sword, ‘Cardania,’ from Jereuth?”
The King picked up a random twig that had fallen nearby and pointed to my sword—a pure white short sword, as he spoke.
“No, I haven’t. So the sword’s name was ‘Cardania.’”
“Yes. It’s a famous sword like no other in the world. There is nothing it cannot cut, and there is no attack it cannot block. Draw the sword.”
“Ah… yes.”
As instructed by the King, I drew the sword from its scabbard. It was just a simple act of drawing the sword, but every muscle in my body from the center of my back to my head and toes screamed.
‘……The saying that horseback riding is a full-body workout wasn’t for nothing.’
At least the sword was light enough for me to hold. But I didn’t know if I could swing it.
“As for the basic things like the stance for holding a sword and etiquette, learn them from Jereuth later. I don’t have time to teach you all that.”
“I don’t know anything about the sword, so I think I need to learn from the basics… then what will you teach me, Father?”
“How to defeat an enemy with a sword. That’s what I’ll teach you.”
Isn’t that too difficult for a beginner?
“Swing the sword with all your might, with the intention of killing me.”
“……You don’t have a sword, Father, and you want me to swing mine?”
“Your sword won’t reach me now anyway. And as for a sword, I’m already holding one.”
The King said, waving the twig he had picked up from the ground at me. It was a twig about the thickness of two fingers.
Is that twig a sword?
‘Jereuth said the King was a better swordsman than him. Is that why he’s looking down on me like that?’
From the King’s perspective, I was a novice, so it was understandable.
Still, it was a little unpleasant. I had stood up for the King in front of the knights to save his face, but the King himself was speaking to me in a condescending manner.
‘He’s so confident, so he’ll probably be able to dodge it somehow.’
“Then I will do my best.”
I said with a rather spiteful mindset.
Then, I immediately swung the sword at the King with all my might.
“Ugh……!”
As I suddenly put strength into my body, all the muscles in my body screamed. Still, I was able to swing the sword towards the King’s thigh as I had intended.
But at that moment.
Thud…….
The King brought the twig to my sword. I didn’t know exactly where he brought it.
But what I did know was that as soon as the King brought the twig to my sword, I lost my balance.
“……Huh?”
As if I had tripped on a stone while walking, I fell forward, dazed and powerless.
Thump—.
‘……Why did I suddenly fall?’
There were too many things I didn’t understand.
From the fact that I swung a sword made of ‘steel’ and the King blocked it with a twig made of ‘wood,’ to the fact that I suddenly lost my balance and fell, there was nothing I understood.
‘Did the King use magic? I don’t think so.’
Perhaps because I thought of ‘magic,’ Jereuth’s words suddenly came to mind. The words, “The King’s swordsmanship is like magic.”
As I was thinking blankly, the King spoke.
“You look like you don’t understand why you fell.”
“……”
“You’ll understand if you keep experiencing it. The blood of the Elder Elves flowing in your body, it will make my swordsmanship and your mother’s various abilities bloom. Just like how you easily rode Kartum and received the love of the plants. Leonardo, you have the talent to become a hero beyond a king.”
“……What does that—.”
“Get up. This time, I will attack. Try to block it.”
“Wai, wait—.”
“Get up! The enemy will never wait! Never!”
Without even giving me a chance to answer, the King swung the twig. Just a moment ago, the King’s attitude towards me was that of a ‘kind father,’ but now he was like a ‘merciless drill instructor.’
The King swung the twig at me as I was lying on the ground. I hadn’t even gotten up properly yet.
Whoosh—.
Unlike the force with which the King was shouting at me, the King’s attack was not that fast. So I thought I could block it.
But.
Rustle—.
What I saw in front of me was the leaf on the King’s twig. It tickled the tip of my nose. I was sure I had blocked it.
“The enemy’s sword is faster than the eye. On the battlefield, there are times when you can’t see it. So you must not look with your eyes, but with the opponent’s movements, the atmosphere of the battlefield itself.”
“……”
“Again. This time, you attack.”
I couldn’t understand the movements the King was showing, let alone his words.
But one thing I could understand was why Jereuth had told me to learn the sword from the King, not from him.
‘……The King’s swordsmanship is really like ‘magic.’’
Perhaps because I was so focused on the King’s swordsmanship lecture, the muscles in my body no longer hurt.
‘I don’t know if I’ll ever be on a battlefield in the future… but if I am, the King’s swordsmanship will definitely be helpful.’
I focused more than before. And I changed my goal.
Not to hit the King with my sword, but to break the King’s sword—the twig.