I looked at Camilla with an expression of disbelief.
“D-d-did you say virgin…?”
What on earth is this weirdo talking about?
Still…
I should probably ask again, just in case I misheard.
Rationally speaking, no matter how old a single woman in her 30s she is, where in the world would you find someone who says something so insane?
It’s simply impossible by my standards.
“…What do you mean by that?”
I jerked my head to face Camilla, barely managing to turn it due to my creaking joints.
Her eyes reflected my own dilated pupils shaking like they were caught in an earthquake.
“…?”
Camilla tilted her head in confusion, as if she couldn’t grasp the meaning of my question, and opened her mouth with a look of disbelief.
“Wait, grandma, you don’t even know what a virgin is?”
“I-I know that much….”
Of course, I know, embarrassingly enough… it refers to a man who hasn’t experienced… that kind of thing!
But she’s offering to help me escape that fate?
Does that mean that witch Camilla is actually… ugh! How disgusting!
Shaking my head, I watched as she burst into her signature annoying grin, which sounded like a hissing balloon.
Every time she makes that face, she always says something ridiculous, so I narrowed my eyes at her.
“Don’t tell me you’ve been like that creepy old knight all this time….”
“Hey! That’s enough!”
I hurriedly raised my arms to cover Camilla’s mouth and turned my head to look at the Nameless.
Luckily.
It seems he hasn’t caught what Camilla just said, still staring blankly at us.
I let out a small sigh and glared at Camilla.
“What on earth are you saying?!”
My voice rang out louder than I intended due to my surprise, but with a barrier up, no one else should be able to hear our conversation now.
I calmed myself down and waited for her answer, but Camilla just poked my hand with her finger.
Hmm, I realized I couldn’t respond since I was the one blocking my mouth.
Rolling my eyes in embarrassment, I slowly pulled my hand away.
“Hey, can’t you take a joke?”
Camilla seemed to find the whole situation hilariously funny, chuckling to herself.
Speaking of jokes… Hmm, I guess friends used to pull such pranks on each other back in the day…
“Just where does the joke begin and end?”
I felt a bit uncertain since I hadn’t made any friends since coming here.
But if I think of it as Camilla’s way of expressing friendliness, then I could somewhat accept it…
If that’s the case, isn’t this a back-and-forth joke between friends?
A smirk crept onto my face.
For nearly ten years, I had borne the misunderstanding that Nameless had no friends, but now I could proudly say otherwise.
Just as that thought suddenly popped into my head, I leaned in to await Camilla’s reply, but she only smiled wider without saying a word.
Could it be that every word she had spoken until now was the truth and not just a joke?
A wave of betrayal washed over me, and I leaned in closer to Camilla.
“Was it not a joke?!”
“A joke…? Of course, it was a joke.”
With a sly smile, Camilla shrugged her shoulders dramatically.
“Do you really think I’d be interested in that creepy knight?”
“Hmm….”
It feels strange to hear that she’s not interested, but at least it’s something.
Well, good is good, right?
I nodded and removed the barrier I had set up.
At that moment, as if waiting for my signal, a knight rushed in with a pale face toward where I was with Camilla.
Hmm, I wonder what’s going on?
I felt a flicker of curiosity, but the conversation had already wrapped up… and no matter how friendly we were, too much interference wouldn’t look good.
It seemed I could slowly go back to the Nameless now.
With that thought, I raised the corners of my mouth and was about to create some distance when Camilla grabbed my arm.
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Just stay for a bit, it seems to be about you, grandma.”
Why on earth would that knight feel the need to rush in all flustered because of me?
I tilted my head in confusion, and the knight swallowed hard before speaking.
“Sir, the worrying thing we feared has happened.”
“Oh really?”
In stark contrast to the pale-faced knight, Camilla answered casually, maintaining a smile.
Is it not as serious as I thought?
When I checked the knight’s reaction, he too seemed puzzled as he tilted his head.
Hmm, what’s going on?
If the situation isn’t serious, why did she pull me back, and if it is serious, how can she look so calm?
The knight, still stammering, finally looked down.
“Sir, there’s not much time left.”
“Hey, don’t sweat it.”
Waving my arms, Camilla turned to look at me.
“Grandma is here, after all.”
“Hmm?”
Me?
I tilted my head at the sudden mention of me by Camilla.
Her smile had deepened.
*
“…So you’re saying it’s my fault, and I should fix this?”
“Looks like you’re not completely clueless about your age, huh? That’s right, grandma.”
I buried my face in my hands.
“…”
“Are you going to do it?”
I had certainly helped the knights and Camilla to take down the light, but…
How did it end up like this?
Camilla had explained to me the following.
When Lucius and Elia were chasing the Jackal, they couldn’t offer assistance because of an impending monster attack.
To sum it up briefly, every year around this time, monsters spawn in large numbers, forcing those who lose their territory down to the villages.
Because of that, Camilla, responsible for protecting the territory, couldn’t be absent for long and, therefore, couldn’t help Lucius and Elia.
It wasn’t just a coincidence that Camilla was called the Empire’s greatest swordsman and Elen the Empire’s shield; Elia’s sarcastic remark was trivial.
…How was I supposed to know that, when I didn’t even know who the current Emperor was?
Then Camilla continued.
“Grandma, do you really think I didn’t spar because I didn’t know its efficiency?”
“…”
“If I got hurt while sparring, we wouldn’t be able to fend off the monsters.”
So that’s why we sparred…
Feeling an unwarranted sense of grievance rise within me, I wondered, ‘Why didn’t I refuse the spar when I had the authority?’ but she cut me off.
“Being cooped up like you was a rare opportunity, besides, we, the knights, can handle it, so you should be fine on your own.”
With that, she left me speechless.
Now, looking back at the current situation.
“…This is annoying.”
I found myself standing in front of the mountain where Camilla said the monsters would attack.
Fortunately, it looked like I discovered it quickly, and it was a bit far from the village, so no one else was around.
But on the bright side, if I handle this properly, I can settle my debts and could even end up owing Camilla instead…
“Well, thinking that way isn’t so bad.”
I sighed deeply, just as I heard Camilla’s voice from behind me.
“Grandma.”
“…What is it?”
When I turned, I saw Camilla reclining in a very comfortable-looking chair she somehow found, smirking.
…Is she really alright?
Pouting my lips, I wondered if she sensed my thoughts.
“Oh, suddenly feeling dizzy.”
“Tsk.”
Camilla suddenly claimed dizziness, trying to act weak, which seemed out of place.
When it’s just us two, the things I see are getting weirder and weirder.
Realizing I had strayed off-topic, I exhaled softly.
“More importantly, why did you call me?”
Camilla, fidgeting with her lips, looked around nervously before speaking.
“About what you said you’d show me… is it true?”
About what I said I’d show her?
Ah.
Camilla, normally so arrogant, was now looking innocent, filled with anticipation in her eyes, which made me smile.
“Don’t worry about that.”
The reason why there wasn’t anyone but me and Camilla here.
It was because I wanted to offer her some assistance after her unexpected display of skill.
Not so much as repaying a debt of gratitude but really just a simple kindness.
It’s only natural since just a little push from me would rapidly elevate her ability.
How could I not help her as a martial artist?
Some may say I’m being too generous to Camilla.
Yet, without being a Hero or a Saint, I certainly don’t seem to be under a god’s favor, and I don’t see her showing any signs of revering that damn god, so I have no choice but to take a liking to her.
Of course, I also called the Nameless to this place as my disciple.
The Nameless told me to go off and rest while he would spar with Lucius.
He probably picked up something from watching our spar.
In any case.
Right now, I need to focus on teaching Camilla.
“Hmm, I don’t use a great sword, so it might not help that much.”
A broadsword is a technique that maximizes destructive power through weight.
“Take a good look with your own two eyes.”
It’ll be helpful.
