Chapter 12
Tap… tap…
“Leona Everrock here.”
Inside the residence of the Ather Grand Duke.
Leona, who had spent the entire day searching the sewers for missing persons and only returned after sunset, came to the duke’s office late at his summons.
“Come in.”
Creak—
She opened the door and stepped inside at the voice from within, stopping quietly at the doorway as she watched the Grand Duke continue his work without even glancing at her.
Austin Ather.
The head of the Ather Grand Duke family, a living legend of the Empire.
A great hero who had cultivated more land than anyone since the founding of the nation, unmatched even by the strongest warriors, and admired by all knights.
Even when she was first assigned to the academy as Eric’s instructor, Leona had not met him. She wondered nervously if she had been summoned to be reprimanded for her son’s injuries, waiting tensely for words.
Though it had been Eric’s choice, it was clearly her fault that she hadn’t stopped him from leaving the residence and entering the slums alone, resulting in injuries so severe his hands nearly melted away.
Ahem.
“I heard from the commander. There were monsters in the sewers, yes? Judging by the amount of materials gathered, they said there were at least a few hundred.”
A moment later.
Leona blinked in surprise at the words as the Grand Duke, setting down his pen, looked at her.
A few hundred? True, the sewers were swarming with ratmen, but the number couldn’t have been more than about one hundred fifty.
It seemed the figure had been exaggerated because too many materials had come from the monsters Eric had defeated.
He certainly couldn’t have imagined that an incompetent, barely one-month-old swordsman would have hunted ratmen… alone, and dozens at a time.
“…They were all ratmen, so it wasn’t very dangerous.”
She didn’t bother correcting him.
It was advantageous for both her own advancement and Eric’s reputation if the accomplishment was slightly exaggerated.
“Even among ratmen, not all are the same. Occasionally, mutants surpass the species’ limits.”
At her humble reply, Austin recalled the report he had received from the commander.
The bag had been heavy, with materials that seemed to belong to Named monsters mixed in. Considering that one typically sees only one material per Named, this meant she alone had fought at least three or four Named monsters.
And she had done it while accompanying his incompetent son.
“I believe that those with talent should be given opportunities that match their abilities—regardless of status, race, or gender. Only when one is evaluated purely on skill can true talent emerge.”
She had accomplished something that even seasoned knights and heroes known across the frontlines rarely achieve.
A genius who graduated early at the top of an academy known for gathering the continent’s finest talent. Leona had always thought she might be overqualified as Eric’s instructor, but she hadn’t realized just how exceptional she truly was.
“…I heard you originally wished to serve on the frontlines.”
Her talent was far too great to waste as merely a teacher for a delinquent.
Austin, staring quietly at Leona, then spoke softly, getting to the point.
“Do you have a place you wish to go? If you want, I can write a recommendation for you.”
He had brought her along a little selfishly at Eric’s request, hoping she could learn something, but he could not let a promising young talent, who might one day shine on the battlefield, languish.
“I…”
Leona clenched her fist in surprise at Austin’s offer.
This was an opportunity.
A chance to secure a key position anywhere.
A recommendation from the Grand Duke himself.
While other academy graduates spent their first year as mere knight trainees, she could, if she wished, take a post among the most prestigious positions for knights—perhaps even the Emperor’s personal guard.
“Before I answer, may I ask one thing?”
“Go ahead.”
Hesitant due to the shock of the offer, she continued cautiously.
“If I go… what will happen to His Highness?”
Austin looked at her in surprise.
Apparently, no one had ever seen her actually teach Eric swordsmanship before.
Had the two grown attached after leaving the residence together today?
“There are plenty who can teach swordsmanship. A greenhorn who has barely held a sword for a month only needs a trainee knight to guide him.”
“Trainee…”
Leona lowered her head with a bitter expression.
Trainee.
Finally, she understood the unease she had felt.
Since entering the office, the Duke hadn’t asked a single word about Eric.
Even though the legitimate heir of the family had returned with hands melted to the bone, he hadn’t scolded her as a bodyguard, nor had he shown any concern.
“Does His Highness even realize his own status? Of the Grand Duke family…”
“Yes.”
She recalled the events in the sewers a few hours ago.
“Yes, and yet he struggled all the same.”
Unlike the unshakable composure he had shown during endless criticism at the training grounds, his voice had sounded uncertain.
The answer to why he had fought so desperately, even against a Named, lay right here.
If the Duke had cared even a little for his son, he would never have assigned a mere trainee to teach swordsmanship.
To face a true genius who had defeated a Named in just one month.
“I apologize.”
At her polite refusal, Austin narrowed his eyes in disbelief.
It was an opportunity any knight—or anyone—would envy.
Why did she choose to stay here?
Her resolute eyes made the doubt she had shown moments ago seem like a lie.
“I’ll stay… a little longer.”
A faint smile of anticipation appeared on Austin’s face at her determined expression.
“There is something I want to see with my own eyes.”
Eric, incompetent in the eyes of the family and the public, had defeated a Named on his own. She wanted to see how far he could rise from there.
If possible, she wanted to witness it firsthand.
Today.
Just as he had risked his hands to trust her.
“Very well. If you refuse, I cannot force you.”
Seeing her resolve, Austin nodded without asking further.
“If you change your mind later, tell the commander. I will instruct him to grant your request at any time.”
Her talent was a shame to waste, but he couldn’t force her to leave.
He didn’t understand why she wanted to stay, but it had only been her first year since graduating from the academy.
Even without urgency, the opportunity would come again—for her, and for him.
Click.
“Grand Duke.”
As he turned back to the pile of papers on his desk, Leona opened her mouth quietly, holding the door handle.
“You said that talent should be judged solely by skill.”
Even in this moment, there was one person she hadn’t mentioned.
“Does that include the incompetent as well?”
Perhaps his wish wasn’t entirely impossible.
“Anyone with skill can achieve it.”
Creak—
Satisfied, she opened the door.
That was enough.
Even if it seemed impossible on the surface, Eric had shown he could manage effortlessly.
At least, that was what she had seen in the sewers today.
Thud.
Whoosh—
Early morning.
Eric arrived at the training grounds and began stretching slowly in preparation for the upcoming duel.
The duel would use real swords rather than wooden ones, so the weight felt different. But thanks to his improved strength, it was manageable.
He had already used real swords during the fight in the sewers.
“Are you really going through with this today?”
“Of course! It’s a duel. No matter how reckless, no one would run from a duel. Though it’s laughable that an incompetent faces the youngest prince in a duel… well, he brought it on himself.”
Time passed.
Knights entered the training grounds one by one, forming a circle around the center.
Mockery and scorn rained down from every direction.
A familiar sight since awakening in Eric’s body, but one thing had changed.
Some were now looking at him with a newfound sympathy.
“Your Highness, are your hands okay?”
“Ah. Lady Leona.”
In nearly a month, the treatment he received had improved significantly, bringing a brief satisfied smile.
He noticed Leona approaching him and nodded.
“After two days of rest, they’re not bad. That cleric is truly skilled.”
“That’s good. Your efforts weren’t wasted, then.”
Eric lowered his swords briefly to show his hands, fully healed, and Leona smiled with relief.
“So, you didn’t run away after all?”
Behind their warm exchange, Ivan appeared with a cocky voice.
“Not sure what confidence an incompetent has to show up, but I’ll give you credit for guts. I was worried you wouldn’t even show.”
Already confident of victory, his tone showed no interest in the duel.
He glanced at Eric with disdain, then turned to Leona.
“You, girl.”
Leona frowned at the address.
Not a name, not a lady knight—just “girl.”
It reminded her of unpleasant memories, of being dismissed as not a knight at all.
“I hear you’ve been busy over the weekend. Don’t waste your time under this incompetent. Come to me instead. I’ll grant whatever you want.”
Leona scoffed at Ivan’s presumptuous command.
“Your Highness, can you promise me more than the Grand Duke?”
“…More than my father?”
Ivan frowned in confusion.
Had the father promised something separately? Just to take care of that delinquent?
“Never mind.”
Turning away, Leona spoke seriously.
“Your Highness. Make sure to hit him hard.”
Her voice was sharp, thorned with intent.
“Don’t worry.”
Eric chuckled and picked up his sword, as if to say it was no problem.
“Not just one hit—I’ll beat him completely.”
