Chapter 35

—————————————————————–

Translated By Arcane Translations

Translator: FusionX

—————————————————————–

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Somehow, I succeeded in bringing Bayard to the fortress.

However, it was still uncertain whether she would return to full strength.

Forget about trauma and such, the biggest problem was that she couldn’t distinguish between allies and enemies when entering battle.

Moreover, Bayard was a member who had served as the vanguard even within the Royal Knights.

If that tremendous power suddenly turned against our allies, in the worst case, friendly fire could occur.

For now, as the current commander, I couldn’t help but be reluctant to immediately recruit her.

Plus, there were too many issues, such as Helia’s education and Ruby’s past.

“For now, let’s focus on normalizing the Royal Knights.”

Leaving Helia and Ruby alone wouldn’t be a problem for the time being. But Bayard’s issue was different.

In order to somehow utilize her combat power, we had no choice but to provide her with treatment.

If it were just physical wounds, it would be fine.

The problem was that mental illnesses were not so easily cured.

I discussed this issue with the person I could trust the most.

“Unfortunately, we have no choice but to let time heal it.”

“…I thought so.”

“Yes, that’s how mental illnesses are.”

“That’s right. It can’t be helped.”

I sighed at Cluna’s words.

I thought she might have a way, but there seemed to be no sharp solution.

No, let’s think positively now.

At least Bayard had returned to Lionheart Fortress.

For now, let’s give it time and slowly treat her.

As time passes, her symptoms will probably improve.

Now, what remained was training, of course.

The current Royal Knights were nothing more than a defeated army.

To make up for that, we needed to build up our strength now.

Especially in my case, it was a big deal that I found a new way to utilize my ability.

If I stop time for less than 1 second and release it, the cooldown doesn’t apply.

This was a real hit.

Of course, it wasn’t almighty.

After all, it was stopping time for a short period within 1 second.

With my current skills, attacking was impossible; I could barely avoid the opponent’s attacks.

Plus, since I was stopping time anyway, it also played a part in my stamina being drained bit by bit.

But even considering that, this was a technique close to being overpowered.

In fact, thanks to this, I was somehow able to fight head-on against Bayard, who was several times stronger than me.

If my basic skills improve further, the ways to utilize it will also increase.

“Everyone has become weak.”

“Huk, huk…!!”

“What kind of monster is this?!”

In the courtyard of Lionheart Fortress, there was a sparring ground for practicing. And there, Cluna was currently facing Clara and Ruby simultaneously.

Even if they were the lowest-ranked, they were two members who had taken on a part of the Royal Knights.

But she was playing with them like children’s toys.

As expected, Cluna was strong.

Realizing Cluna’s strength anew, I also swung my sword in the same way.

My sparring partner was Helia.

Bayard’s problem could only be solved with time.

Then, the next thing to do was to solve the problem we were facing next.

The normalization of Lionheart Fortress had somehow started to move forward after Cluna joined.

Ruby’s past was a sensitive issue, so I couldn’t approach it recklessly.

Then, by process of elimination, what remained was Helia’s education.

I had no choice but to overlook it before.

But now, we had some leeway.

So, I had to properly educate Helia.

In the original work, Helia was an extreme character who became obsessed with power and ended up betraying even her comrades.

So, at first, I thought she was just a villain.

It was just that Helia’s illustration was pretty, and once captured, she actively dashed towards the protagonist, which was charming, so I let it slide.

“Helia, stop for a moment.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

Fortunately, Helia listens to my words very well.

The problem is that she won’t listen to anyone else’s words even if it kills her.

Anyway, I had to teach her.

“Drawing your sword against your comrades before was wrong.”

“I’m sorry, Teacher.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve reflected a lot. I won’t do it again, Teacher.”

“I-I see. Then, that’s good.”

I ended up letting it slide inadvertently.

When she says she’ll reflect on it on her own, there’s nothing more I can say about it.

But it was true that Helia needed education.

I’d have to discuss this point more with Cluna later.

Anyway, I focused on sparring with Helia.

Helia seemed to have been continuously training with the sword during that time.

Her swordsmanship was honed even sharper than when I last saw her.

Now, with my skills, I could somehow block it, but as more time passed, it seemed like I wouldn’t even be a match for her.

Except for time stop, that is.

I deliberately used time stop to spar.

The important thing was to stop time as close to 1 second as possible. 0.8 seconds to 0.9 seconds.

If I was even a little late, the cooldown would start, and that would put my life in danger in real battles.

Fortunately, I didn’t need to stop it manually.

Since time would automatically stop when my life was in danger.

On the other hand, Helia was swinging her sword, her red eyes shining.

Seeing that made me feel more uneasy for some reason.

“As expected, Teacher’s movements are extraordinary.”

“What?”

“Thanks to that, I gained enlightenment. Thank you.”

“So, what do you mean by…”

“Commander? I think you should come right now.”

I tried to properly correct Helia’s misunderstanding, but before that, Cluna calling me was faster.

My eyes automatically turned to her urgent voice.

What’s the matter this time…?

“What’s going on?”

“Well, an envoy has arrived from the Dwarf Republic.”

“What? The Dwarf Republic?”

The majority of dwarves were excellent engineers, and since they took pride in their skills, they took pride in the name of the nation of artisans.

“Why did those folks suddenly come here?”

“It’s probably because of the recent territorial dispute.”

“Territorial dispute? Ah…!”

Only then did I understand.

Although they were better than the elves, whom they considered arch-enemies, the beastmen and the Dwarf Republic didn’t have a very good relationship to the point of having territorial disputes with each other.

But why did the Dwarf Republic suddenly send an envoy?

The answer was simple.

It was because of Bayard, a beastman.

Regardless of the reason, she was a deserter from the Royal Knights.

They sent an envoy to secure Bayard’s person and gain a politically advantageous position.

When I realized that fact, I found myself clicking my tongue inwardly.

With a common enemy right in front of us, you’re fighting internally?

It was really a sight to behold.

Well, if they had acted properly, they wouldn’t have ended up in such a miserable state in the original work.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

That day, she became aware of responsibility for the first time.

The sight of her teacher lowering his head to others because of her.

Seeing that, Helia felt the pain of her insides twisting.

Because of me, Teacher lowered his head to others.

What should I do?

What do I do?

Ah, that’s right.

I just need to be a good kid.

Her parents had once told her something.

She had to keep her behavior calm and proper.

Otherwise, it would be an act of disgracing her parents.

She now deeply realized the meaning of those words.

“Drawing your sword against your comrades before was wrong.”

“I’m sorry, Teacher.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve reflected a lot. I won’t do it again, Teacher.”

“I-I see. Then, that’s good.”

Let’s show that we realize our mistakes and reflect on them.

Let’s go and apologize to everyone.

Even if we don’t truly think that way.

Let’s show such behavior.

Because she didn’t want to be hated by Teacher.

Fortunately, Teacher didn’t rebuke her any further.

Ah, what a kind person he is.

That’s why she had to be better than anyone else.

That obsession eventually turned into madness.

Helia’s obsessive eyes took in everything about Teacher. And she realized.

Teacher predicts and reacts to movements.

In fact, she tried it a few times.

Attacking in a way that was absolutely impossible to react to by mixing in feints.

She even tried to aim for his blind spots.

However, each time, her attacks were blocked.

“As expected, Teacher’s movements are extraordinary.”

“What?”

“Thanks to that, I gained enlightenment. Thank you.”

Teacher didn’t teach with fancy words.

He only taught with short words and actions.

Of course, that was just her own thinking. But excessive obsession and admiration gave birth to fanaticism.

She, who was already filled with excessive trust in Teacher, couldn’t hear anything else.

If she had been a possessor of ordinary talent, she might have been able to somehow let it slide.

But she was a person with unparalleled talent in swordsmanship, a genius who would be called the greatest Sword Empress in the future.

When such a person reached another realm.

Accurately predicting the opponent’s movements.

And counter attacking accordingly to take their life.

That was the second secret technique Teacher had taught her.

Thunder Dragon Sword Technique, Second Sword: Thunder Dragon’s Ultimate Defense

Vowing not to let anyone lay a finger on Teacher.

The pinnacle of her swordsmanship infused with her obsession.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇