Chapter 13
――As I thought, Sensei is incredible.
The spar had started out of nowhere with Hembritz’s unreasonable challenge, but in the end, that had worked out for the best. It gave Sensei the chance to show everyone just how strong he was.
"That was an impressive performance, Sensei."
"Thanks, Allucia."
I approached with a towel in hand to tend to Sensei, who had been trading blows for a full ten minutes.
He was drenched in sweat, but his breathing wasn’t labored at all. He still seemed to have plenty of energy left.
Hembritz, on the other hand, was breathing hard, his shoulders heaving.
The match had been almost entirely one-sided.
I called it “almost” one-sided despite Sensei not taking a single hit because he had consistently let his opponent make the first move, then taken control of the exchange. Given his strengths, that style made perfect sense.
From the first blow to the torso, to the next diagonal cut, and all the exchanges that followed...
Sensei had watched each one first, then deftly and decisively dealt with it.
This man’s reaction speed and dynamic vision were beyond anything ordinary people could manage.
His other skills were also at a very high level, but those two were clearly extraordinary.
Even I couldn’t have kept countering my opponents with such perfection.
And he was a genius who pulled it off with an unruffled expression.
That was the remarkable Beryl Gardinant.
"Still, I’m glad there might be something I can teach you after all."
"You’re being modest again. There’s so much everyone can learn from you, Sensei."
But the man himself was so humble that he seemed unaware of his own strength.
It was almost comical that someone at this level thought of himself as a decent swordsman at best, but I chose not to point it out.
He didn’t flaunt his strength, nor was he condescending.
I also admired how he had come to terms with his own strength and remained entirely at ease.
There was still so much I had to learn from Sensei.
That feeling had never changed since the day he gave me a sword as a parting gift.
◇
"Allucia, I’d like you to have this."
"What is this...?"
――How many years ago had that happened?
It felt like a long time ago, and yet somehow like yesterday.
I had studied the sword under Sensei for four years.
I could tell that I was growing stronger day by day, to a degree that surprised even me.
But even then, I couldn’t reach him. I was still nowhere near that summit.
A sword that saw through everything.
Movements stripped of every last bit of waste.
A stance embodying the ultimate in natural ease.
I still had a long way to go before someone like me could reach Sensei’s level.
Or so I had thought.
But the sword he handed me that day was a parting gift marking my full transmission.
"You’ve grown plenty strong. There’s almost nothing left for me to teach you."
"But, Sensei! I still..."
I was genuinely happy to have earned his recognition.
But if you asked whether I was satisfied with my current skill, the answer was unquestionably no. I wasn’t even fit to stand at Sensei’s feet. How could I possibly have mastered everything in this state?
"Of course, it’s up to you whether you leave the dojo. But there really is almost nothing left for me to teach you. I hope you understand that."
"............"
His voice and expression conveyed a trace of regret, but also the utmost sincerity. At the same time, I realized something.
Ah, this man surely didn’t understand his own strength.
He piled humility upon humility, deciding for himself where his limits lay.
Beryl’s stature was, to put it bluntly, far too great to be contained by the role of swordsmanship instructor at a dojo in some country village. But in that limited setting, he hadn’t even been given the chance to realize it.
"...I understand. I accept it with gratitude."
And so, I left the dojo in Bidden Village.
So I could find a place more befitting him.
After that, I naturally found myself heading for the Leberio Knights.
A place where I could pursue the finest path of the sword in the kingdom.
As far as I could tell, it was the best choice.
"The practical portion of the Knights’ selection exam will now begin!"
The stern voice of a knight who seemed to be acting as an instructor rang out.
First, the candidates sparred among themselves. Those who performed best were selected, then faced the instructors in sparring matches. That was how the practical examination proceeded.
Joining the Knights was almost anticlimactic for me.
Everyone’s sword was far too slow. Sensei was at least three times faster. Even the seasoned knights acting as instructors were more than twice as slow to react as Sensei.
Having grown accustomed to Sensei’s speed and believing it to be the pinnacle, this place was nothing more than a stepping-stone along the way. There was no way I could struggle here.
The result?
I passed both the practical and written exams with perfect scores, and soon after leaving Bidden Village, I became a member of the Leberio Knights.
From there, quite a few things happened before I rose to the position of Knight Commander.
As I expected, climbing the ranks wasn’t as simple as having a strong sword arm when you served an organization directly under the crown. Fortunately, having a merchant for a parent meant I was somewhat familiar with that sort of political maneuvering.
"...Hehe. That man really hasn’t changed at all."
I mused alone, rereading his reply.
Even after leaving Bidden Village, I sent Sensei letters regularly. Mostly, I wanted him to know how I was doing—and, selfishly, I wanted to keep our connection alive.
And he always made sure to write back. I worried a little that he might think me a shameless, overly attached woman. That was the one thing that troubled me.
His letters gave no sign that he resented me, but only he could say for sure. I still lacked the courage to ask.
Sensei’s humility seemed unchanged even after I left his tutelage.
And yet, that was exactly what made him Sensei.
When I closed my eyes, I pictured him holding a sword, a cheerful smile on his face.
My fingers naturally reached for the sword at my waist.
"At long last, I’ve received approval, Sensei."
Please wait just a little longer.
I’m going to prepare a stage worthy of your strength.