Rutten felt as if he had been possessed by a ghost.

That impression refused to fade while Elric carved wounds and bruises into his own body, tore apart the Blade Wolves, and even crushed the neatly severed trees around them.

And even after that, it didn’t change.

“Then let’s part ways here. I’ll be waiting at the cabin.”

Even after Elric, who said this, limped away along the same path they came from, Rutten remained dazed.

A throbbing sensation beat through his entire body.

The dented armor made every movement uncomfortable.

Enduring all of it, he finally returned to the village.

“Ki—Knight!!”

Only then did Rutten regain some sense of reality at the hunters’ voices.

“…Ah.”

“You’re alive! But your condition…”

The hunters’ leader looked on the verge of tears, and Rutten gave an awkward smile.

He couldn’t see his own face without a mirror, but judging from his body alone as he lowered his head, he looked like someone who had just returned from a battlefield.

Thinking of what to say, Rutten eventually replied:

“It’s nothing.”

“Nothing? Your injuries are clearly serious! A-and what about the monsters? We did request backup…”

“I took care of them. Blade Wolves.”

At that moment, the hunters froze.

Their expressions shifted from shock to awe.

“B-Blade Wolves…?”

“Those are high-ranking magical beasts…”

“And you said there were several…”

“As expected of a knight…”

The murmuring spread beyond the hunters.

Even the villagers began to stare at Rutten as if he were some kind of monster.

Unable to explain it, Rutten scratched his head.

What came to his mind was Elric’s single sword strike.

That incomprehensible technique—something he couldn’t even perceive or react to.

Come to think of it, he wasn’t even holding a sword.

Then what—using a staff? Could something be cut so cleanly with a staff?

No, more importantly—how had Elric become so strong?

Ten years ago, he had been outstanding among the village children, but not to the point that anyone would expect this level of absurd power.

Confused, Rutten eventually gave up thinking about it.

He simply smiled faintly and looked up at the sky.

As expected of the captain.

The moment he stopped thinking, he felt strangely relieved.

Well, whatever it was, the job was done. That was all that mattered.

And at that moment, among the murmuring crowd, words began to spread:

“Blade Wolves… aren’t those beasts with blade-like claws?”

“Someone defeated that? Alone? And multiple ones?”

“S-Sword Breaker! Rutten the Sword Breaker!”

Sword Breaker Rutten.

That respectful nickname quietly began to echo throughout the small village of Weebin.

*

Elric and Tiria were rescued a few hours later.

The villagers brought a snow sled and carried Mr. and Mrs. Portman, who had been hiding in the cabin in the valley, back to the village.

It was no secret that Aludio, who arrived late after hearing the news, hugged Elric tightly with tear-stained eyes.

Thus, they returned to the Portman estate.

“The lady’s fever is quite high. She will need rest for a while.”

“I understand. You may return to your duties.”

“Yes, sir.”

After Aludio bowed and left Tiria’s room, Elric silently looked at her lying in bed.

His expression was complicated.

Half worry, half anger at her reckless behavior.

He resolved that once she woke up, he would firmly question her about it.

With a deep sigh, his gaze slowly scanned the room.

It’s rather simple.

It was easy to tell she hadn’t brought in many new things over the past ten years.

A bed, a shelf, a bookcase, and a small door—likely leading to a dressing room behind it.

It was actually the first time he had entered her room, and that made him feel a bit unfamiliar… even awkward.

He looked back at her.

Her usually pale white face was flushed red.

She was sweating slightly, and her breathing was rough.

Elric gently pressed a handkerchief against her forehead.

Each time he did, her furrowed expression relaxed a little.

He chuckled softly.

“You’ve really been through quite a lot.”

Five Blade Wolves had appeared at the worst possible moment, forcing them to sprint through the mountains without care for their knees.

Because of that, his recovered injury had worsened again.

Not only had the recovery period extended, but the knee now ached even while sitting still.

Troublesome.

“Truly troublesome… too much.”

He found himself relieved that his injury gave him more time to stay here—and that was precisely what troubled him.

“I feel like I’m becoming quite shameless.”

At some point, his hand stopped moving.

“I’m getting used to life here… and I find that I don’t dislike it. I even wake up feeling oddly refreshed.”

At that moment—

Tiria’s body flinched.

Her eyes slowly opened.

Elric’s eyes widened.

“L-Lady—agh!”

He stood up too quickly, forgetting his knee, and immediately staggered in pain.

Grimacing, he steadied himself and looked at her.

“…Hmm?”

Her eyes were unfocused, drifting in confusion.

She blinked a few times, then slowly turned toward him.

Their eyes met.

Tiria weakly grabbed his index finger.

There was almost no strength in her grip.

“…Lady?”

“….”

She stared at his finger for a moment, then curled her body and pulled his hand toward her.

Elric, flustered, followed her movement.

His hand ended up held against her chest.

After a moment of observation, he realized she had already fallen asleep again.

He let out a dry laugh.

“So you’re the type who needs something to hug while sleeping.”

Her expression looked far more peaceful now.

*

After confirming she was fully asleep, Elric headed to the office.

Since she was resting, he would handle the estate’s affairs.

He opened the documents, ready to work.

But the moment he picked up the pen, his thoughts drifted elsewhere.

Maybe my senses have dulled a bit?

He recalled the fight in the snowy mountains against the Blade Wolves.

I could’ve cut them more cleanly.

At the time, he had been in a rush, but now he felt his mana control was slightly less refined than in the battlefield days.

Originally, he had intended to cut only the Blade Wolves while leaving the surrounding trees untouched.

Even without a sword, it should have been possible.

After all, it was a technique that shaped mana like a blade and released it outward.

A sword was not necessary.

Elric frowned.

The cause was quickly clear.

My killing intent has weakened.

In sword techniques, killing intent is what sharpens and controls mana.

As it fades, control becomes less precise.

Not the quantity of mana itself, but the refinement of its flow.

Without correction, he might end up indiscriminately wiping out allies and enemies alike.

In fact, in the past, when his killing intent had been unstable, he had once wiped out friendly forces in the middle of battle.

That had created lasting grudges.

He needed to be careful.

Otherwise, the same mistake might happen again.

Should I do rehabilitation training…?

But even as he thought it, he hesitated.

The peaceful atmosphere of Weebin was dulling him.

The thought of returning to the battlefield brought more hesitation each day.

“…Haa.”

He sighed.

At that moment, a knock came.

“Young master.”

“Yes?”

“Sir Rutten is here to say farewell before departing.”

Already leaving?

Elric stood abruptly.

“I’ll be right there!”

He grabbed his staff and quickly headed to the reception room.

“Hey! Captain!”

Rutten greeted him with a loud laugh.

But Elric couldn’t smile.

Rutten’s entire body was covered in bluish bruises, as if he had been beaten senseless.

And Elric had caused them.

…Maybe I should’ve been a bit gentler.

A faint sense of guilt rose in him.