Chapter 375

The next morning.

After fully recovering in just one day, I sparred again with the three masters. This time, I faced all three at once, not one-on-one like the day before.

Surprisingly, dealing with their coordinated attacks was trickier than I thought.

Surrounding me from three directions, they pressed on relentlessly like well-oiled gears, clearly trained to gang up on a single target.

When I swung my sword at Karim, whose stance had faltered, Bertrand and Klaus immediately rushed in to exploit my opening.

If I deflected Klaus’s longsword and kicked Bertrand away, Karim would recover and charge again.

The three of them constantly covered each other’s weaknesses and kept attacking without pause.

If I targeted one, the other two would jump in, making it impossible to land a decisive blow.

Sometimes, two would create an opening while the third stabbed from behind.

Their coordination made them more than just three separate threats—it was like fighting a single, seamless force.

This was the coordinated assault of master-level knights.

It seemed like training for fighting Or-han. Were they planning to surround and attack him ten-to-one?

…Even so, they’d probably all end up dead.

From my perspective, it was tricky because I had to hold back and avoid killing them. If I fought to kill, I could win with just minor injuries.

—

Anyway, I had to use a bit more strength than yesterday.

As a result, their injuries were a bit more severe.

After the spar, the three knights weren’t critically injured, but their wounds were too serious to be called minor.

Let’s call it moderately severe.

Karim’s jaw was shattered, and Klaus’s leg bone was broken, sticking out through the flesh.

Bertrand’s injuries were particularly bad.

It was fine until I punched to break his shield, but I got carried away and put too much force into it.

My fist, filled with martial energy, not only pierced his shield but also went through his chest armor.

Of course, his ribs were completely shattered.

If I hadn’t pulled back a little, my fist would have blown through his heart, shattered his spine, and come out the other side.

I really need to be careful. I almost killed him.

The three couldn’t wake up even after Rana’s healing and had to be carried to the infirmary.

“To handle the combined assault of three paladins so easily…! You’re truly amazing.”

Unlike Nigel, who looked worriedly at his seniors being carried away, Ja-han’s eyes sparkled as he praised my strength.

“Big sis, you’re amazing! I don’t know much, but you’ve gotten way stronger than before, right?”

Rana also smiled brightly, happy.

Shouldn’t a healing priest be sad about turning three people into patients…?

—

After the three masters were carried away, Ja-han requested another spar with Nigel.

He said he’d keep repeating it until he avenged his defeat.

“No, fight me. Why are you two always bickering?”

If you want to grow stronger, you should fight strong opponents. Fighting someone of similar skill won’t help you grow much.

“How could I dare raise my blade against my lord…!”

Ja-han stabbed his Crescent Moon Blade into the ground and knelt, pleading dramatically.

Truly the image of a loyal retainer… but didn’t you spar with me just fine on the first day?

Why are you acting like this now?

[Anyway, you’ve always been quick to notice unnecessary things… You’re acting like this because you know you’d get beaten to death if you sparred with me now. I’ve personally trained you like this every time you lost to someone.]

Hersela sighed and explained the reason.

Wait, seriously? That’s the reason?

‘Weren’t the Ka`har warriors supposed to be fierce fighters who never retreat and fight without regard for their lives? Are you telling me they’re afraid of getting hurt in a spar and pulling this nonsense?’

You call yourselves a warrior tribe.

Are you actually just a bunch of cowards who act tough against the weak but cower before the strong?

[Fighting an enemy to the death is honorable, but where’s the honor in being beaten to near-death by your lord? It’s just disgrace and pain combined, so it’s only natural to avoid it if you have a brain.]

So even they think things through before fighting.

I thought they were just sword-wielding monkeys with nothing but slaughter and plunder in their heads.

Not that I’m going to let this slide.

“Sigh… Stop the nonsense and come at me together. Nigel, don’t accept his sparring requests for a while. Got it?”

“Yes, I’ll do as you say!”

Nigel nodded obediently and pointed his spear at me.

After glancing at her for a moment, Ja-han seemed to realize there was no way out and sighed deeply, drawing his Crescent Moon Blade.

He looked like a bull being led to the slaughter.

[Can you leave the control of Life Force to me? It seems like he needs a good scolding after getting so cocky in just half a year.]

Hersela growled, clearly enjoying this.

I silently prayed for Ja-han’s well-being and handed control of Life Force to Hersela, then drew my training sword.

“Let’s skip the introductions and get right to it!”

I charged at Nigel, and what seemed like a one-on-one turned into a two-on-one spar.

—

“Indeed, it’s Sir Klaus’s swordsmanship…!”

“Your quick reactions suggest you’ve faced it before? Well, it’s only natural. You’re from the same knight order.”

I fought Nigel using only my martial prowess, swordsmanship, and physical techniques, without relying on Life Force.

Hersela was busy expending Life Force anyway.

Even with just this, I was able to push Nigel back.

Meanwhile, Hersela transformed Life Force into a spiked whip, relentlessly striking Ja-han with ten whips.

[Think you can dodge this? Try dodging this! Good! You’re blocking better than before. How about this! Ahaha!]

She’s really enjoying herself.

Hersela laughed joyfully, saying things Ja-han couldn’t hear.

About ten minutes later.

“…I’ve lost.”

The spar ended with my sword at Nigel’s throat.

“Ugh… Ughhh…”

By then, Ja-han was already lying on the ground with his limbs shattered.

Knowing he could be healed with divine magic, Hersela didn’t hold back.

—

After entrusting Ja-han’s healing to Rana, I ordered him to learn the Empire’s language while resting.

Eastern language works here, but back in the capital, few would understand Ka`har’s language.

I asked Sir Shane to provide a translation necklace and a servant to teach him, so he should manage.

—

[Hmm… A translation necklace. Come to think of it, you also used such a tool to learn the Empire’s language, didn’t you?]

As I handed the necklace to Ja-han and headed back to my room, Hersela quietly spoke up.

There was a hint of suspicion, or something close to it, in her meaningful question.

‘I did. Why do you ask?’

[Why? You’ve been lying to me all along, haven’t you? How could a soldier of the Empire not know the Empire’s language?]

Hersela sharply retorted.

It doesn’t make sense.

I never actually said I was a soldier of the “Empire,” but Hersela naturally assumed I was.

But well… I expected this question when I told Ja-han to learn the Empire’s language.

I already had an excuse prepared.

Honestly, her asking outright was a relief.

It’s more troublesome if she secretly suspects me while pretending not to notice.

‘That’s a stupid question. Of course, I pretended not to know. It’d be more suspicious if the rude princess of Ka`har spoke the Empire’s language fluently, wouldn’t it? If I had spoken it well, you’d have been even more suspicious.’

I really didn’t know, though.

How could I know another world’s language? I had to work hard to learn it.

But Hersela wouldn’t know that, so I just had to deflect.

If she didn’t trust me at all, this excuse wouldn’t work… but she probably does.

The fact that she’s asking directly shows that, deep down, she doesn’t want to doubt me.

We’ve gotten closer, after all.

[Good heavens, so it was all an act…?]

See? It worked.

Though it was just a simple excuse, Hersela seemed convinced, her voice returning to normal.

When someone wants to believe, even a plausible reason can be accepted as truth.

Not my theory, but something I learned from religious terrorists I interrogated.

—

Anyway, that’s how I spent the week.