Chapter 60: “After Half a Year of Training”
“Even after half a year of training, only two days have passed outside? I guess we can’t keep the other knights stuck inside like that, can we?”
Matters regarding the Hero and the Holy Sword could be resolved the next time they entered the ruins.
Keeping those thoughts to himself, Elliott quickly changed the subject before Evelyn grew suspicious.
“There’s also a large training room just for the knights.”
At the mention of knight training, Evelyn’s eyes sparkled. As expected, Elliott knew how to get her attention.
“Enough talk, please eat more meat.”
Elliott pushed the plate closer to her. While listening to Evelyn’s explanation, Elliott’s mind ran complex calculations.
“I’m not sure how long we’ll be able to stay inside, but if we can shorten training time in there, it’ll be a big help.”
“Enough to break through a wall in one go,” Evelyn replied with a grin.
“You broke through a wall?”
“Yes. I’ve reached a level where it’s not unreasonable to be called an Advanced Sword Master.”
That must be thanks to the Hero too.
Seeing her proud smile, Elliott chewed on his meat with determination.
“When we get back, I’ll ask for a spar.”
“I won’t lose this time.”
With 7 losses out of 10 matches, it was about time the win rate changed. Evelyn finally felt like she had the skills worthy of the title “Hero.”
‘Though I still need to surpass my limits one more time.’
Better not to overdo it.
Seeing Elliott’s competitive spirit, Evelyn felt happy to finally be someone who could help him.
“Hmm, from now on, if you fall behind, I’ll make sure to stay with you.”
“Huh?”
“You almost ended up in danger alone.”
“But I found a ruin left behind by the Hero?”
Elliott, who had said he trusted her, was now changing his tune. Evelyn shook her head, saying she was fine.
“No, we can’t always count on such luck happening again.”
“As an Advanced Sword Master, I doubt I’ll get hurt so easily.”
There were only a handful of Advanced Sword Masters even on the entire continent. Even being an Intermediate Sword Master was enough to navigate the mid-level of the Snowy Mountains alone.
Of course, the higher you went, the harder it got. But becoming a Transcendent meant surpassing human limits.
As long as one could control aura at will, even the cold of the Snowy Mountains could be easily endured.
Using artifacts was more about comfort than survival at that point.
“That may be true, but we’ve found everything we needed. There’s no need for you to struggle unnecessarily.”
Given that suffering was inevitable, there was no point in adding extra hardship—so said Elliott, and Evelyn obediently nodded.
“I’ll try to avoid situations where I fall behind.”
“Good. Also, please refrain from recklessly throwing yourself in danger to save others.”
Elliott quickly added that last part. He had to be wary of her finding things or people to rely on besides him.
“The Grand Duke’s knights aren’t that weak. They have the skills to survive even being caught in an avalanche.”
Seeing the determined trust in his eyes, Evelyn couldn’t help but be impressed. To believe in something this strongly…
Even earlier, when he said he trusted her, he had that same unwavering look, hadn’t he?
Feeling a bit guilty for acting rashly, Evelyn apologized.
“I’ll be more careful from now on. When Luther hurt his leg, I moved without thinking.”
“Luther? You know the name of a low-ranking knight?”
Elliott asked in a displeased tone.
He knew them all, didn’t he? Why was he acting like this?
As Elliott paused with his fork midair, Evelyn shrugged.
“Of course I’ve memorized all the knights’ names.”
“As expected… you’re diligent.”
Evelyn chuckled quietly at the compliment that came as naturally as breathing. His habit of admiring and praising every little thing she did was both embarrassing and heartwarming.
‘Since we’ve discovered the ruins… Should I tease Raven a little?’
Lying on her bed after the meal, Evelyn thought of her friend who had stubbornly refused to come to the North.
While inside the ruin, she had been too busy running around to think of it.
There was even a space for mages to train there. No doubt Raven would lose his mind over it.
She decided to pretend not to know and wait until another mage was dispatched, letting Raven naturally see the knights’ training ground.
Either way, everyone who’d train in the North would be sent into that ruin eventually.
If even one person grew stronger, it would be worth it.
Blissfully unaware that Raven was already preparing to come North, Evelyn giggled on her bed.
She could easily imagine Raven rushing frantically to the North after hearing the news late.
Meanwhile…
“Doesn’t the Grand Duchess seem… different somehow?”
After the subjugation, knights training at the Grand Duke’s castle glanced at Evelyn and whispered among themselves.
“Her aura seems stronger… And those who’ve sparred with her say she’s definitely harder to deal with.”
Knights who had been thoroughly beaten by the Grand Duchess sat together looking gloomy. In the center of the training ground, the Grand Duke and Duchess were having a rare sparring session for the knights to watch.
Clang!
“Whoa, she can block that now?”
“Before, she used to be pushed back more, but now… she’s almost evenly matched.”
“Whew…”
The senior knights couldn’t stop their admiration.
“Can you see what’s going on?”
“Nope.”
Jahal and Luther sat at the very back, blinking. To be honest, the low-ranking and apprentice knights weren’t faring much better.
The Grand Duke couple’s movements were so fast that their eyes could only catch them when the two Transcendents stopped.
“Should we be worried about this?”
With a sigh, Luther patted Jahal’s back. Ever since the last incident, Luther, who used to dislike the Grand Duchess, had completely changed.
Now he was the first to praise and boast about her.
“I want to become one of the Grand Duchess’s escorts…”
Only senior knights got assigned to escort duties. For Luther, it felt like an unreachable goal. If there was any way to get stronger, he’d do it.
Luther gazed at Evelyn, who was exchanging blows with the Grand Duke as equals, with open admiration.
Just then, there was a rustling sound from behind them—a cape fluttering.
“Hmm. You’ve gotten more useful.”
Raven, stylishly draping his white cloak, stroked his chin while watching. His eyes tracked Evelyn’s movements quickly.
“Gasp?”
Jahal and Luke, who hadn’t been able to take their eyes off the spar, jumped up in shock.
No matter how they looked, he was clearly a mage… yet he was keeping up with the Grand Duke couple’s speed?
“Who… are you?”
“The guy here to fix the garden.”
Raven answered lazily to the wary question.
For a genius like him to be stuck doing garden repairs… He clicked his tongue in annoyance, ignoring the two low-ranking knights eyeing him nervously.
Boom!
“Shield.”
As the fierce clash of aura shook the ground, debris from the training ground scattered in all directions.
With a tired expression, Raven extended his hand to shield the knights. Senior knights who were about to release their own aura let out small sounds of surprise and turned around.
“A mage from the Tower, I see.”
Rain stood up and offered his thanks.
“Here to fix the garden.”
“Ah, the Grand Duchess invited you. Please wait a moment.”
Rain signaled towards the two still-fighting figures who had wrecked the training ground.
“While you’re here, could you fix the training ground floor too?”
“That’ll cost extra.”
“Don’t worry. The Tower has been a long-standing partner of the Grand Duke’s family.”
At Raven’s words, Rain smiled reassuringly. If they called a mage from the Grand Duke’s own ranks, they’d get yelled at for destroying the training ground again.
And if they were going to get help anyway, it was better to let a Tower mage reinforce the floor while they were at it.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
As Rain masked his true thoughts behind a polite smile, the Grand Duke couple’s sparring session finally ended.
“Hey!”
Seeing Evelyn stand up, Raven waved.
“Raven?!”
Evelyn’s eyes widened. She had only checked the letter stating that a mage would be dispatched from the Tower—she hadn’t checked the attached list of names.
She’d been sure Raven wouldn’t come.
“How did you end up here?!”
“Because the Tower Master ordered me to make the Graham family’s garden absolutely perfect.”
At the mage’s annoyed expression, the knights barely held back their laughter. He was clearly someone forced to come by an annoying boss.
So even mages had their workplace struggles.
Nodding knowingly, the knights stood up to clean the area.
“Welcome, Sir Hendrick.”
“Just call me Raven.”
Elliott also greeted the next Tower Master warmly. After all, they had just discovered the ruins, and having a Tower mage around for the investigation would be quite useful.
