Chapter 171

After returning to the knight order’s branch, Jericho fell into deep thought.

It was only natural.

– Who are those that lose in the deadly mind game of the battlefield? They are no fools.

The conversation he had with Professor Antorelli continued to stir in his mind.

– Fools only know one thing, Jericho.

– What do you mean?

– They think, ‘How can I lose in this mind game?’

This made Jericho very uneasy. He sighed as he lay on the large bed custom-made for his build.

Jericho’s eyes slowly closed. To prepare for any potential ambush, he always walked around in unseen thick armor.

This armor was called ‘tension.’ When the body constantly maintains a state of tension, it can detect even the slightest movement, and when captured, the body can react instantly.

However, for some reason…

‘…the fools.’

At this moment, the tension that had tightly wrapped around his body began to fade away.

He carelessly discarded the black coat of the Imperial Knight Order, which concealed the weapons he normally carried, and slowly relaxed on his large frame, now clad in dress pants, suspenders, and a black shirt.

It was an uncharacteristic sight. If Nina were to enter this room, she would probably be very surprised.

But Jericho could not help but feel the heavy fatigue he hadn’t felt in a long time, his breathing slowly calming.

Jericho’s eyes half opened. Outside, the sun was still up, bright as ever, but the ceiling of his room, having no light on, was endlessly dark.

– And those fools leave behind seeds in the hearts of those who survive.

– …What does that mean?

– The name of that seed is ‘a better future,’ Jericho.

Jericho mulled over his conversation with Professor Antorelli. For quite a while, he worried if that memory would wear away endlessly.

‘Is it a seed…?’

In the end, Jericho could not endure the accumulated fatigue in his body and simply let his eyes drift shut.

‘I need to tend to my sword…’

Unable to resist the encroaching sleep, Jericho surrendered to it.

Dreams came to him without warning.

* * * * *

‘……’

It had gone away. Completely gone away.

Like holding an unfortunate fetus that could not be born, it failed to see the light outside the world.

Why was this so? Because this enigmatic and intricately coiled emotion was driving me to a certain place in my mind.

You taught me life. You taught me my life and guided me through this ‘life’ you illuminated.

When I quietly entrusted my body to that guidance, I sometimes reminisced about riding a sled as a child. Back then, I was very young. My age back then was merely five years, by the count of years.

From the following year, I began to wield a sword. But it was as if I had deferred staining my hands with blood for a whole year.

According to my father’s parenting plan, I should have started wielding a sword at the age of five.

The parenting plan! What my father and mother meticulously planned always twisted in some way. Like the mystical swordsmanship you first showed me, my father had a tendency to flip-flop, being quite indecisive.

My life was destined from birth. You never spoke of your path with the sword throughout your life, but seeing how easily I speak of it, perhaps I wasn’t that serious about the sword after all.

When the mouth is heavy, the weight of the wielded sword is even heavier.

If I can only swing it, I can directly translate that weight into strength. I refrained from doing so because I was afraid of it.

But you showed me that it is possible. Right in front of my eyes.

Was it when I just turned ten? Following my father’s orders, I had to learn more serious swordsmanship. I needed someone to teach me.

However, those who approached me claiming to be my masters could not endure even ten exchanges and fell away. Perhaps they thought my talent reached the heavens.

No, I actually thought so. I was arrogant back then.

Perhaps because I effortlessly took down adults much older than myself. After being harassed by my father and mother, I had developed a sense of hostility towards adults.

And then, you came to find me around that time.

I still remember. It was when the autumn leaves dyed the world in vibrant colors. You came abruptly to meet my father and soon dragged me out to the training grounds.

Back then, you were truly young. In your early twenties, if I recall correctly. My father praised you as a ‘peerless genius swordsman who reached the peak in their twenties.’

Do not feel too embarrassed. I indeed heard it.

So… how many exchanges? Ten? A hundred? Two hundred?

None of those. I fell after just five exchanges. I remember the overwhelming sweat pouring down during that short time. It was truly a disgrace.

I still remember. Your sword, which effortlessly cut down the gently falling maple leaves in the blink of an eye.

That day, you became my teacher. I became more dedicated to swordsmanship.

…

…

Yes, I devoted myself to swordsmanship. I trained diligently to join the Imperial Knight Order, striving until the skin on my hands peeled off.

And in the end….

…

…

Perhaps I should not have met you.

If you were to ask, “Why is that?” I would reply: “Perhaps I have not matured entirely.”

Then you would respond: “It’s not that you haven’t matured; you remain a child—” At that time, I would have shown an unpleasant expression, but…

…perhaps you were right. I have come to be this broken.

You spoke amidst the flames, blood, and the metallic stench of steel scattered among the pile of corpses on your final journey. “Do not rest; keep fighting, Brendal Warren Jericho.”

Ah… I also remember what you said afterward: “Fight for what you seek to protect.” My memory is quite remarkable.

And as you can see, I keep fighting. For the Empire you devoted your life to protect. And… to defend this land where you lie asleep without yielding even an inch.

…So, I hope you are a little satisfied now.

Please, be satisfied. Is this not enough to be satisfied with?

Seeing blood now scares me. Meeting you every night in a dreamlike manner terrifies me now.

Continuing to fight without rest has exhausted me; I can’t endure it anymore.

However, I have no choice but to continue fighting. The one who guided my life is already gone from this world. I have nearly lost my life.

Now, the only thing that leads my life is your last words. That ghost wanders the world, dragging me along.

Keep fighting. Fight for what you wish to protect.

…Then, I must fight.

Farewell, my life. Farewell, my existence.

I won’t see you off. Just, please take care on your way.

Then, goodbye. I enjoyed my time. I only wish for that.

Farewell. I will ask for this from you.

…

…

I know it is shameless.

But I want to ask just one favor.

This me.

This disgusting me….

Please, guide me again.

Please.

…

…Please.

* * * * *

Unlike the time his eyes were closed, they burst open with a flash.

In a room that had become dimmer than he remembered, Jericho’s golden eyes shone even sharper. Those beast-like eyes carefully surveyed the surroundings.

“……”

His suspenders had somehow come undone, and the shirt with torn buttons was soaked with cold sweat. Jericho felt as if he had faced a long nightmare.

The window, previously bright with the sun overhead, was now overshadowed by darkness, bringing in a cool breeze.

Jericho’s body, drenched in cold sweat, was robbed of warmth by the chilly air. It was a mistake to sleep with the window open.

“Phew…”

Sighing, Jericho nervously scratched his disheveled hair. His hair, usually slicked down with oil, was now in a serious mess from how much he rolled around on the bed.

He sat up with a great effort. The bed creaked, and his massive body groaned as well.

The clock’s hands pointed to ten-thirty in the evening. Suddenly, Jericho couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

“Ha….”

Having accidentally taken an unplanned nap, it was far too late. At this rate, there would be no time to tend to his sword, and to walk around healthily tomorrow, it would be wise to either sleep again or try to stay awake all night.

“…What a fool I am.”

Jericho felt extremely foolish for worrying about such things.

– Knock knock.

A gentle knock tickled his ears. Jericho slowly approached the door and placed his hand on the doorknob.

– Creaaak.

“Uh… Senior?”

“…Nina.”

It was Nina von Valdek, a clingy junior knight who wouldn’t let go no matter how much he wanted to. Stuck in a knocking state, Nina stared blankly at Jericho.

As he was about to struggle to understand the situation that made no sense, suddenly she exclaimed.

“Se-senior! You’re finally awake?!”

Nina suddenly hugged Jericho tightly. Jericho looked down at her, utterly bewildered.

“Senior, you’ve been lying down like you were dead for almost a month! Did you know?!”

“…A month?”

“Yes! A month! A month!”

Jericho’s head swirled. The sudden blow of shocking information crashed into his still groggy mind, causing his thoughts to falter and grow confused.

“N-Nina. Answer calmly. Are you telling me I’ve been asleep for a month?”

“……”

“…Nina?”

“…Pffft!”

Suddenly, Nina buried her face into Jericho’s chest and burst into laughter. Jericho could only blink in confusion.

“Pffft!… Ah, hahahaha! Senior! It’s a joke! A joke!”

“……”

“Hahahaha!! Senior, your expression is hilarious! You fell for such a silly prank—.”

– Bang—!!

As Jericho’s hand shot out like lightning, the wide-open door slammed shut with a strong gust of wind. Nina’s body, suddenly trapped in Jericho’s room, stiffened.

“…Nina.”

“……”

“Respond. I’ll give you three seconds.”

“Yes, Senior.”

“I plan to ‘take my time’ showering, so in the meantime, you will do push-ups without stopping. Understood?”

“Uh, no, Senior.”

“If your arms are not naturally trembling… I will make them tremble forcibly. No objections.”

Jericho’s ‘leisurely’ bath lasted a full hour.

The shouts from outside the bathroom were a fine performance for Jericho.

It was an incident that occurred on an autumn night.