Chapter 13
Chapter 13: Are You Deliberately Picking a Fight?
In the early morning, Viktor leaned lazily against the Carriage, waiting for Gwen to come out from inside.
Gwen had just pushed open the door, a slender silver sword in hand.
She was heading out for her morning training.
The moment she stepped outside and looked up, she spotted Viktor's Carriage.
Gwen couldn't help but pause for a moment.
At the same time, Viktor, leaning against the Carriage, gave her a nod.
Gwen: "……"
This early?
Feeling like it would be rude to leave him standing outside, Gwen thought for a moment and called over to Viktor.
"Want to train a bit?"
"I'm a Mage."
Viktor glanced at the slender silver sword in her hand and replied flatly.
Gwen's face flushed red. She turned her head away and let out an "oh."
"Come inside first."
With that, she darted off to the Training Ground to begin her morning practice.
Viktor, a little bored, stood by the side of the Training Ground and watched her the entire time.
A Knight's morning training was nothing more than swinging and cleaving with a sword to build the body.
Combined with practicing various combat techniques, repeated over and over.
Gwen swung her sword for a while, but with him staring at her, she grew a little self-conscious and couldn't help offering an explanation.
"Knights have to train every day, day after day."
"I didn't ask."
Gwen: "……"
And so one watched while the other trained, both in silence.
After finishing her morning training, Gwen was wiping the sweat from her brow, just about to pick up the water pouch sitting beside her for a drink to replenish herself.
A voice drifted lazily over from nearby.
"Drinking water immediately after intense exercise isn't good for you."
"……"
Gwen set the water pouch back down, because she had a feeling that if she drank it anyway, Viktor would only go on about it again.
What had gotten into him today? Was he coming down with something?
Morning training over, it was time for breakfast.
Gwen glanced at Viktor and hesitated before asking.
"Have you eaten?"
"No."
Viktor answered simply.
Gwen: "……Then let's eat together."
The moment Viktor heard her invitation, he moved without missing a beat, and without so much as a flicker of awkwardness, stepped ahead of her into the Manor.
Gwen: "……"
She tried using her Heart of Justice to look at Viktor—but everything he had said and done was perfectly truthful.
"Strange."
Gwen muttered under her breath, shook her head, and chased the baseless thoughts out of her mind.
In the dining room, Viktor elegantly cut his food with a dinner knife and brought it slowly to his mouth with a fork.
Gwen ate her meal while stealing glances at Viktor doing the same.
Not that she wanted to admit it, but Viktor really was easy on the eyes. Even just sitting beside him and watching him eat gave one a strange sense of appetite.
His every gesture and movement was the picture of elegance.
If Viktor couldn't be counted as a true noble, then perhaps there were no true nobles in this world at all.
Comparing herself to him—she was a girl, and yet somehow she looked a little rough around the edges by contrast.
Gwen felt a little put out, but also a little puzzled.
How could someone so proper and refined have done something so utterly thoughtless?
She was of course referring to the confession made to the Duke's underage daughter.
"……"
Forget it. None of it had anything to do with her anyway.
Viktor had said he would handle all of that himself.
Once the 2 of them had finished breakfast, Gwen suited up in her Knight's armor.
The silver-white plating made her complexion appear even more fair and delicate, and her finely sculpted features carried an air of cool, distant composure.
Like a Valkyrie stepping forth from ice.
Viktor, for his part, looked at the White Horse she was leading and asked.
"Do I need to ride a horse too?"
It suddenly occurred to Gwen that Viktor was a Mage—there was no way he could make the journey on foot.
What an oversight! She hadn't thought of that at all.
As far as Gwen could remember, Viktor had never seemed to ride horses.
What to do now—would they have to share a mount?
Gwen agonized over it for quite some time, but in that short span, Viktor had already called one of Gwen's household servants to go to the stable and bring out a horse suited for long-distance travel.
A Knight Family was never short of fine horses.
When Gwen saw him preparing to mount a different horse, she was just about to say something—only to watch Viktor execute a clean, practiced flip and settle squarely onto the horse's back.
"So you can ride. You don't look like a beginner."
Viktor didn't respond. After all, Gwen could tell whether words were true or not.
The more you say, the more you give away.
But Gwen was quite right—Viktor was no beginner.
He was a Power Leveler.
In the game, he had ridden dragons.
The 2 of them set off, one ahead of the other.
Gwen needed to report to the Knight Company first, so Viktor simply followed along behind her.
Not a word was exchanged between them the entire way, and yet Gwen couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
She glanced back at Viktor. That same unreadable poker face. He felt her gaze, turned his eyes, and met hers directly.
Gwen quickly turned her head back around.
Viktor watched her look away, then turned his attention back to the scenery passing by along the road.
By the time they arrived at the Knight Company, the Knights who would be accompanying them on this trip had long been ready and waiting in formation.
Dozens of people stood in a row, awaiting Gwen's command.
At that moment, watching Gwen standing at the front, Viktor found himself thinking back to the powerful and flawless Grand Knight Commander he had once seen in the game.
The same high spirits. The same sharp, valiant presence.
As usual, Gwen first had the Knight Company run drills. When that was done, she stepped up onto the platform and addressed them.
"The accompanying Mage I applied for has been found. Some of you may already know him."
Gwen stepped back and gestured for Viktor to come forward.
Viktor, at his own unhurried pace, walked up to the platform.
Viktor Clavena!
In that instant, that name flashed through nearly every Knight's mind without exception.
His infamous reputation was known far and wide. Not a single Knight who fancied themselves righteous was unaware of it.
Every one of them despised this scoundrel, and if given the chance, each of them would have loved nothing more than to challenge Viktor to a duel.
But there was no denying it—now that they saw him in person, the Knights were a little rattled.
They took back every bold word they had spoken before. This was a 3rd-Tier Mage!
If he were to suddenly go on a rampage right here, who could possibly stop him?
Perhaps Grand Knight Commander Gwen could give it a try.
But rumor had it that Knight Commander Gwen had a Marriage Engagement with him……
The Knights grew even more wary of Viktor.
Seeing the Knights treating him with such reverence, Viktor kept his expression blank, though inwardly he felt a little deflated.
He had expected some kind of face-slapping scenario to unfold—the Knights refusing to accept him, stirring up trouble, and then him conveniently putting them in their place to demonstrate his abilities and establish his authority.
It seemed he had been thinking too much.
As a Villain whose name alone struck fear into people's hearts, his very presence was intimidating enough.
Weija, perched on his shoulder, was quiet for a moment before making a remark.
"You were actually looking forward to something that ridiculous happening?"
"Just wanted a little entertainment. Otherwise it's too dull."
Gwen did a final headcount—all accounted for—and was about to announce their departure.
Suddenly, a young, childlike voice rang out. A small boy in armor, clearly young in both height and age, came running over clutching a sword.
"Big Sis Gwen! You forgot your sword!"
He called out as he ran.
The sword was nearly as tall as he was, with the hilt blocking his view.
And because he couldn't see where he was going, he caught his foot on a stone and tripped.
Thud—down he went.
"Aah!"
The silver sword flew from his grip, its tip pointed straight at Viktor.
Every Knight jolted in alarm. If there was no dodging that thing, it could be lethal!
They were just about to shout a warning—when they saw Viktor extend his hand.
What was he doing? A spell?
"Don't! It has strong magic resistance!"
Gwen shouted urgently.
But Viktor still didn't move.
Under the horrified gaze of everyone present, Viktor's outstretched hand shot out and caught the sword cleanly by its end.
At the same time, his body turned with fluid ease.
The silver sword that should have gone flying was pulled effortlessly back.
The motion was so impossibly smooth that every Knight on the scene was rooted to the spot.
Viktor gave the sword a casual twirl, leaving the members of the Knight Company dumbstruck.
What the—?
Grand Knight Commander Gwen's sword was being casually toyed with in his hands?
He was really a Mage???
Gwen was equally frozen, her body still locked in the motion of reaching out to intervene.
She blinked and stared at Viktor, unable to find words for a long moment.
Viktor played with the sword in his hand for a bit, then returned the silver sword to Gwen, even dipping his head before her with a modest "sorry."
"Haven't touched one of these in a while. Got a little carried away."
Gwen stared straight at Viktor, and suddenly recalled their exchange from that morning. She came back at him with barely concealed irritation.
"You can use a sword."
Viktor spread his hands, expression as blank as ever.
"I'm a Mage."
Of course, he quietly added one more line in his own mind.
A full-time Mage.
Watching the collective shock ripple through the Knight Company, Weija turned its head and shot Viktor a sidelong glance.
It seemed to understand what Viktor was after.
Because……showing off really did feel great.
Gwen snatched the silver sword back and sheathed it, sparing him no further attention, then issued her command to the Knight Company.
"All Knights! Mount up! Move out!"
***
Today was the Mage Item Shop's first day of business, and Leah was full of anticipation—so much so that she had personally come to oversee the store.
She had also brought in a number of "industry insiders" to help spread the word.
The results, however, were not particularly impressive.
She sat inside the shop, watching one Mage after another pass by outside.
A few of them noticed the several bottles of magic potion displayed on the cabinet by the door, and were quite tempted—but when they caught sight of the price, they couldn't help but back away.
"So expensive."
Nearly every passing Mage said some version of those words.
Leah was in no hurry. As long as someone discovered the value of this potion, everything else would fall into place.
Things, however, were not unfolding as smoothly as she had hoped.
Instead, a number of unwelcome guests began to show up.
"This is the place?"
Leah turned toward the voice. Outside the door, a group of rough-looking men covered in various tattoos had appeared.
She let out a yawn.
Here we go again. Thugs.
Leah touched the Mage's Hand she wore on her hand—the one Viktor had gifted her.
Funny enough, every time something like this happened, she found herself thinking that Viktor wasn't so bad after all.
At least back in the Territory, nobody had ever dared to set their sights on the Clavena Family's business.
A cold female voice came from behind her.
"Shall I drive them off, Miss Leah?"
"Please don't."
Looking at the thugs bearing down on them, a flicker of amusement crossed Leah's face. "If we drive them off, who's going to make a name for us?"
A shout rang out from outside.
"Trash the place!"