Chapter 28
“My beloved weapon is crying. It says it doesn’t even remember when its last battle was. I hope this time, this fellow can dance to its heart’s content.”
“I too earnestly hope so, Sir Fermil. The honor of witnessing your spearmanship firsthand is not something just anyone can enjoy!”
Reinhardt scowled as he looked at Knight Fermil and his attendant.
He could have believed it if they were in the middle of filming a skit.
Fermil struck a cool pose, drawing the spear he had slung on his back, while his attendant made all sorts of fuss to match.
‘He’s making a fuss over a supply-issue item.’
Naturally, Reinhardt found the sight ridiculous.
That spear was nothing more than a standard-issue item from the Paganoa Knights.
Being from Paganoa, its quality was probably decent, but it wasn't an item worth making such a fuss over.
Swoosh, swoosh.
Fermil, who had been twirling his spear, turned to look at Reinhardt with a lively expression. He seemed quite pleased by his attendant's compliments.
“Hey, knight of Taton. What interesting things are there in Serigel? Judging by the atmosphere, I don’t think there are any enemies worthy of my spear.”
How should I respond?
At first, he considered treating him like he treated Evangeline, but Reinhardt changed his mind.
“You talk too much, Sir.”
At the words tossed out bluntly, Fermil tilted his head.
“Hm? Are you talking to me now?”
“I’m talking to you. If I had my way, I’d like to beat that mouth of yours shut, but I’ll hold back for Dame Evangeline’s sake.”
“……Hmmmm?”
Fermil tilted his head again.
Beside him, the attendant wore a look of utter shock.
‘A few good smacks should do it.’
Fermil was not that strong yet.
Just as Reinhardt was in the process of growing, the same was true for Fermil at this point in time.
Besides, wasn’t Fermil a late-blooming character?
[Buff Applied: Justice x3]
Reinhardt discreetly checked his status window.
The buff was still in effect. The increased stats were also the same.
“Knight of Taton. You are quite arrogant, aren’t you?”
“It’s Reinhardt. Knight of Paganoa.”
“Yes, I am Fermil, a knight of Paganoa. Wouldn’t it be proper to show due respect?”
“I shall call you Sir. Knight of Paganoa.”
“It’s Fermil.”
“Yes, Fermil.”
Only then did Fermil’s expression crumple. The smile that had been so cheerful, as if he were on vacation, vanished without a trace.
“Not Fermil, Sir Fermil.”
“You don’t seem very knightly, I must say.”
Fermil did not answer and stared intently at Reinhardt’s face.
Then, with a hardened face, he opened his mouth and spoke.
“This won’t do. I shall help you realize your place. I challenge you to a duel. If you have a knight’s honor, you won’t refuse, will you?”
“Prioritizing your own pride over the problem at hand. What a shameful thing.”
Reinhardt mocked him, but Fermil’s lips curled up as if he had expected it.
“Are you planning to run away?”
“Follow me quietly, knight of Paganoa. Out of consideration for your honor, I’ll face you where there are no prying eyes.”
Reinhardt led Fermil to the Taton Knights’ training ground.
Knight Commander Ethan Taton, who had come out with a wide smile, saw the atmosphere between the two and discreetly withdrew.
“Um, if you need anything, please let me know. I shall take my leave.”
If Ethan acted that way, others were even more so.
Sensing the cold atmosphere, other knights, attendants, and even employees seemed to avoid coming near the two.
“To the training ground.”
“I’ll gladly follow. Knight of Taton.”
The Taton training ground was of a considerable size.
As Reinhardt opened the door and entered, a few knights who were about to approach him happily backed away upon seeing Fermil follow him in.
“……We just finished our training for today!”
“Good luck!”
“We’ll close the door! We’ll also control access so there are no interruptions!”
The bustling training ground emptied in an instant.
The door closed, and the unique chill of the training ground was felt on the skin.
“Draw your sword, knight of Taton. I will face you with this.”
Fermil said as he picked up a wooden spear from the weapon rack.
It wasn't very sharp, looking more like a staff than a spear.
“Then I shall use this. Knight of Paganoa.”
At that, Reinhardt also picked up a wooden club.
It wasn't a wooden sword, but a real club. A weapon with which one could beat an opponent without reservation.
Fermil’s eyes twitched with displeasure, but Reinhardt provoked him further.
“I’ll grant you the first move. Try to display your skills to the fullest.”
***
Knight of Swiftness.
The reason Fermil had such a moniker was simple.
It was because he could thrust his spear dozens of times in the blink of an eye.
His speed was such that an ordinary person’s eyes could not even properly follow it, and even a well-trained knight could not read all of his attacks.
That is to say, a fully grown Fermil would have been able to do so.
‘What is he doing?’
Reinhardt looked at Fermil with a puzzled expression.
Right after the duel began.
Contrary to his expectation that Fermil would charge in immediately, he began to glare at Reinhardt without moving an inch.
The wooden spear was aimed straight ahead.
His breathing slowed, and his gaze calmed.
Only then did Reinhardt realize what his opponent was preparing for.
‘A point.’
Fermil’s gaze was aimed at only a single point.
‘This wasn’t his style, was it?’
For Reinhardt, it was a puzzling action.
Fermil’s fighting style was the type to wear down the opponent with relentless attacks.
Thrusting, thrusting, and thrusting again, not even giving the enemy time to properly react.
But now.
‘I think there was a character who fought like this. Was it Pedro?’
A faint memory surfaced.
Knight Pedro.
He was an extra, belonging to the Paganoa Knights.
When he entered battle, he would create his own domain.
‘He used to say that the reach of his weapon was his domain. That if an enemy entered it, he would cut them down immediately.’
But what if the enemy didn’t enter?
He would gradually expand his domain through intense concentration.
So that even a fear-stricken enemy would eventually have no choice but to step into his domain.
‘But why is he doing it?’
Pedro’s method was extremely inefficient.
It was only natural, as he was an extra from the start.
But Knight Fermil was a companion of the protagonist. Meaning he was a character who should not have adopted such a fighting style.
Reinhardt let out a small sigh.
At this rate, the duel would not end for a long time.
Step.
Reinhardt slowly approached, gripping the club.
Fermil did not react. He just stood still in the same posture, as if frozen.
Then, at a certain moment.
When the distance had closed enough.
Whoosh!
Fermil’s wooden spear shot forward, aiming for Reinhardt’s vital points.
A force that could easily pierce a person if it landed squarely.
It was an excessive attack for a duel, but Reinhardt was already reacting.
The club, swung diagonally as if to smack something down, accurately struck Fermil’s wooden spear. The rebound sent Fermil’s posture into a major wobble.
An expression of astonishment spread across his face. Reinhardt’s image was reflected in Fermil’s wide-open eyes.
‘That Pedro guy had this problem too. Once his stance is broken, there’s no follow-up.’
Thinking so, Reinhardt swung the club repeatedly.
Without hesitation, he first struck Fermil’s face, then evenly tenderized the fallen Fermil from head to toe.
Sounds of euk, euk, occasionally burst out.
Fortunately, being a knight of Paganoa, his endurance was good.
‘He’s certainly satisfying to beat up.’
Besides, perhaps due to his pride, he wasn't admitting defeat.
At that point, Reinhardt stopped the club. Fermil, groaning, got up again and barely managed to take a stance.
“Why did you stop?”
“Fermil.”
“Speak.”
Fermil’s spirit was not yet broken. For such a Fermil, Reinhardt offered some sincere advice.
“In my opinion. That style doesn’t suit you.”
“What style are you talking about?”
“The way you handle the spear.”
Fermil’s gaze snapped up.
The look he gave Reinhardt was one of disbelief.
“I suspected as much, but it’s true. A knight of Taton is going to give me advice? Just because you won, no, gained the upper hand in a duel like this……”
“Waiting for the enemy to enter your domain means the opponent can also predict when you will attack. As you are already aware.”
“……”
“Also, the burden of a failed attack is beyond words. Isn’t that so? I believe your current state is the result of that.”
His mouth shut in an instant.
Looking at Reinhardt with eyes that found it hard to believe, he then nodded as if he had a new realization.
“Evangeline told you.”
“No.”
“No? You don’t expect me to believe that, do you……”
“You are being swayed by your personal feelings and damaging Dame Evangeline’s honor. You should reflect on yourself.”
Closing his mouth again, Fermil’s expression turned sullen.
Reinhardt considered hitting him one more time, but he held back.
‘This isn’t a situation to act emotionally.’
He shouldn't break Fermil's will completely.
He was a man who would one day become a truly knightly knight and embark on an adventure to seal the Archdemons.
Only then would Reinhardt himself be comfortable. He would be able to lie in bed in the comfortable rear, cheering on the departing Fermil.
“No, I cannot accept this.”
However, Fermil was uncooperative.
Reinhardt nodded as if he had expected it.
He had already anticipated this much.
‘It can’t be helped.’
Originally, he hadn’t intended for it to drag on this long.
He had only planned to break Fermil's spirit a little so he wouldn't act up too much, but the current Fermil was not in a state that could be left alone.
‘I have no choice but to teach him myself. At this rate, he won’t be able to grow properly.’
If he learned a technique from an extra, he too would have no choice but to become an extra.
Fermil had to walk his own path.
Not by imitating the technique of the extra knight, Pedro.
“Then shall I make you see it again?”
The club rose slowly. At that, Fermil flinched, and Reinhardt did not miss that moment.
‘Just a little more teaching should do it.’
The priority was to make him clearly realize the difference in their skills.
Reinhardt raised the rod of love.
It was a special measure to educate an unruly student.
How much time had passed since then?
At the end of the sound of drumming that resounded noisily through the training ground.
“Wait! Dammit! Stop!”
“The only words you can say are ‘I lost’. I’ll take anything else as you wanting to be hit more.”
“I lost! I lost! You cowardly bastard!”
The delinquent youth Fermil had finally adopted a learning attitude.
It seemed that if only etiquette was firmly instilled, he could be reborn as an excellent student.