It’s just that.
Cheon Ha-rang swung her wooden sword, and the enemy before her vanished.
“Huff.”
What the heck does that old woman expect me to learn from this?
Camilla felt deflated.
Until she met Cheon Ha-rang, she had thought she was the best swordswoman in the empire.
“…What’s this nonsense about being the best in the empire?”
It wasn’t true.
Just look at this scenery.
The mountain, covered in pure white snow, was stained red enough to make one think lava was flowing here.
Did a meteor crash, or what? The spot where Cheon Ha-rang stood was the only place not cratered except for where I had been behind her.
Because of the pressure from Cheon Ha-rang swinging her sword, there wasn’t a single intact place as if a typhoon had just passed through.
“…”
I feel so small.
Of course… even before seeing this, I sensed it a bit when I sparred with Cheon Ha-rang.
But I denied it.
At that time, Cheon Ha-rang used thrusting techniques, common with rapiers or lances.
That just meant my great sword skills were not up to par.
So, I thought like this.
I might not be the best in the empire, but I could handle a great sword better than anyone.
But, it turns out that wasn’t true either.
…It’s a bit frustrating.
I felt like my face might twist with anger, but I forced a smile.
“Old woman, you’re amazing.”
“Hmm.”
I shouldn’t show this on the outside; I always have to be proud.
And I must have the power that matches my pride.
Even if I’m not the best in the empire, I still stand as a shield protecting the empire, safeguarding the people.
I can’t let my guard down.
If I show weakness, hyenas waiting to bite me might come rushing in at any moment.
I can’t show any cracks.
How can a knight who realized the shield has a crack still hold it up?
I must always shine and be a shield where others can find peace.
And so, I smiled.
Yet, that old woman looked at me with a furrowed brow.
Seriously, I should be able to act my age at times like this.
*
I felt something was off with Camilla earlier.
Always showing me her unique confidence while looking down on others, where has that proud expression gone? Now, she’s forcing a smile, and it shows.
No wonder.
Her lips are upturned, but her eyes aren’t smiling.
…I don’t like it.
“Why do you have such a spiteful expression?”
“Me? No way!”
Camilla tilted her head as if she knew nothing.
I sighed deeply.
I want to know what’s bothering Camilla, but I won’t force her to say anything she doesn’t want to.
Like when I first met Nameless, if I wait slowly, won’t she tell me one day?
I shook my head, lowered my wooden sword, and spoke up.
“Camilla, I don’t know why you’re acting like this, but…”
I smiled as I met her round eyes.
“Find me when you have the urge to share something.”
What does it mean to be a good friend?
And we even promised to check out the festival together; if she keeps that tired expression, it’ll ruin my mood too.
So, as I patted her shoulder and turned around, just then.
“Old woman.”
“What is it?”
Camilla’s eyes were fixed on me intently.
I raised my lips.
*
“What does it mean to be a good friend?”
A friend…
At Cheon Ha-rang’s absurd words, I couldn’t help but smile.
When I think of our age difference, we might as well be grandmother and granddaughter!
But still.
If I can be friends with such a monster, then I welcome it; apart from age, we have many similarities.
So, the words I’m about to say to that old woman won’t be as the empire’s shield, but as her friend, right?
“Old woman.”
Maybe it’s time for it to get a bit casual.
“What is it?”
Cheon Ha-rang smiled, as if she expected that.
I felt like I was losing, but I decided to speak anyway.
“When I look at you, I feel really small.”
At my words, Cheon Ha-rang tilted her head for a moment, then opened her mouth with a dazed expression.
“…Isn’t that obvious?”
Is it that obvious…? I’ve been trying my best here.
Feeling a bit hurt, I thought to myself, ‘Why did I even say anything?’ and was about to walk away when.
“…What are you looking at?”
I noticed Cheon Ha-rang’s gaze seemed a bit strange.
Right now, that old woman was looking at me, scanning from head to toe and then tapping her fingers above her head.
“Is it because my small stature bothered you?”
Cheon Ha-rang sighed and shook her head.
What came next was pure gold.
“Well, sure, it is small… but there will be demand for it, so don’t worry.”
Does she genuinely think that’s comforting? She’s smiling!
“…”
I stared at her, unable to say a word.
No, does this clueless old woman actually think I’m talking about my height?
Has she lost her mind?
Does she not believe she’s small?
What is this?
I’m too flabbergasted to even respond.
As I fell silent, Cheon Ha-rang made a shocked expression and looked at my chest.
…This old woman, seriously.
“Uh, sorry about that—Uh, uh!”
“Hey! That’s not what I meant!”
I covered the mouth of the senile old lady.
After that, I couldn’t let her misunderstand it like that, so I spoke up defensively.
“Don’t you know figurative language? Figure of speech! I’m talking about my strength, not my height or my chest!”
“Mmph!”
The old lady struggled, and I sighed lightly and let go of her hand.
After all, thinking about the power difference, she’d probably figure it out by herself soon enough.
“Ugh! What are you doing just suddenly covering my mouth!”
Now free, Cheon Ha-rang shook her head furiously, frowning as she demanded an explanation.
“No! You’re the one saying bizarre things!”
Her injustice sparked my own annoyance, and soon the atmosphere lightened up.
“I went out of my way to think it through and tell you something!”
“No! How can I endure it when you keep saying weird stuff!”
*
So, after we both huffed for a while,
“Wait a minute…”
“What is it, you damn kid?”
Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind, ‘What are we doing?’
Neither I nor this old lady is at an age where we should be hearing, ‘You’re so young’…
No, rather, we’d be the ones getting told we’re old!
Anyway.
The gist is that we’ve strayed far from our original conversation.
I took a few deep breaths to calm down and prepared to continue our talk.
Thanks to this old woman’s misunderstandings—whether intentional or accidental—the mood has lightened, making it easier to speak.
“That ‘small’ means I feel weak.”
I truly feel like nothing,
So much so that when people from Ellen look at me, it feels like they are depending on the gods, not me.
“Hmm…”
Cheon Ha-rang’s expression twisted strangely upon hearing my words.
She frowned as she pointed at me, her frown filled with discontent.
“Are you saying you’re weak right now?”
Is this old woman trying to mock me?
Objectively and subjectively speaking, my strength is infinitely small compared to Cheon Ha-rang.
I bit my lip out of frustration.
“Ugh…”
Cheon Ha-rang, seeing my expression, let out an incredulous laugh and shook her head.
“Fine, for the sake of argument, let’s say you’re weak.”
Cheon Ha-rang’s expression turned serious; I held my tongue, fearing that interrupting her would ruin the mood again, and nodded.
“But what’s wrong with that?”
Cheon Ha-rang, sincerely confused, tilted her head and tapped the ground with a small sigh.
“Sit down.”
“…There?”
“Hey, I’m going to tell you about someone I know.”
With those words, her story began.
*
Knowing that you are weak, knowing that you are small, is a tremendous blessing.
“To realize you are small at that level… I think you’re quite remarkable.”
“…?”
Living without realizing your smallness is wretched, not fortunate.
“Among all the people I’ve met, very few have thought of themselves as ‘small’ after seeing my level.”
Of course, it could be said the number of people I met wasn’t large either.
But most would live like aimless wanderers, unaware of their smallness.
“Ha, what are you saying… that’s because they can’t see your strength properly.”
Even if they did, if they were reminded they are nothing but dust, they would likely despair.
Just like someone I know very well.
“Camilla.”
But.
That someone who thought they were the biggest frog in the well that just realized they are small, seeing they don’t crumble under that knowledge is incredible, something Camilla doesn’t understand.
To comprehend, to recognize, to be humble.
To look up at something greater than oneself, and ceaselessly strive not to be lesser.
“That heart holds you to be not small at all.”
How can one with such a heart ever be small?
