020 – Knights Standing
The next day, Tigris got up at 4:50 a.m. as usual and went out to the gym.
In the gymnasium, Linia was meditating with her eyes closed while taking a pause.
Linia read my signs and opened her eyes.
“Oh, bro. good morning.”
Linia smiled brightly and greeted Tigris in the morning.
“Good morning.”
On Linia’s pure white wrist, a bracelet with red jewels was visible.
It looked like a bracelet for fashion that added to her sister’s beauty, but it was an artifact for training.
It was a gift from Tigris to Linia yesterday.
“Are gravity bracelets useful?”
Linia nodded her head.
“yes. I’m using it right now and it definitely looks good.”
Linia asked me to buy a sandbag for training, but I had no intention of buying it as a gift.
That bracelet was an artifact worth five gold coins, and it was a training artifact that could add gravity to the body and objects in contact with it.
By the way, thanks to buying that, Tigris’ balance almost ran out.
However, there was no money problem for the time being, as Beowulf filled the account with 30 gold coins to congratulate him on becoming 4 rings.
“Then let’s share the sword after a long time, are you all relaxed?”
“yes.”
Linia took a deep breath and raised her sword.
Although there was only one Auror ring, the implied momentum was not strong enough.
Zeng-!
The swords of Linia and Tigris collided.
Linia’s sword was definitely heavier and faster than it had been a month ago.
There, a sense of battle also began to show.
While Tigris was sharing the sword, she stepped on her foot, and Linia pulled her foot out without panicking.
Even while retreating, the balance did not collapse and the center of gravity was well maintained.
Tigris continued the anomalous offensive.
He tried to steal the timing of the attack and planted a weed.
However, Linia did not panic and blocked Tigris’ attack in a way that was close to the correct answer.
‘You’ve grown up.’
You can’t grow up like this all at once just by training your sword alone.
Although Linia’s swordsmanship has also improved, her combat sense itself has also improved.
After splitting the sword for a while, as Linia’s breathing became heavy, Tigris retreated.
“It has definitely improved. Have you battled with the Black Wolf Knights?”
Linia nodded her head.
“yes. you’re right.”
“Why did you think of competing?”
“What I lacked is swordsmanship, but I thought it was experience.”
Linia never shared a sword with anyone.
The black wolf knights did not even share a sword with their father.
It was because he was afraid of being compared to Tigris.
But now, Linia was correcting her passive personality.
It could be guessed that it was because Tigris’ attitude toward Linia had changed a lot.
“Linia.”
“yes.”
“Would you like to go to Victoria with me?”
“yes?!”
Linia’s eyes trembled in fear.
“The word is . . .”
“Individual training is important, but having a variety of experiences is also very important. You won’t be able to attend the Imperial University because of your age, but you will be able to enter the swordsmanship academy. When you meet a variety of people at the academy and gain knowledge, your sword will grow further.”
Linia wiggled her feet.
It looked like something was bothering him.
“What are your concerns?”
“…I am worried that I will be a nuisance to my brother.”
Linia revealed all of her secrets.
“I am far worse than my brother Tigris. But if it becomes known to the public, I think it will be a big inconvenience to Tigris brother.”
“Did you think I would be angry if the rumors that your swordsmanship skills were bad?”
Linia lowered her head.
“…and that too. To be precise, I don’t think I can stand it.”
“But you applied for a match with the Black Wolf Knights. Why?”
“It was because the black wolf knights felt like a family. And after sharing the sword with my brother Tigris, I keep thinking about fighting with someone else…”
“Linia. Look into my eyes.”
Linia carefully raised her eyes to meet Tigris’s eyes.
“Nobles should not be afraid to be judged. Not because we were born nobler than those who enjoy more than the common people, but because we live as their idols.”
“Are you talking about idols?”
“People look at us and try to become like us. They try to wear the clothes we are wearing and buy the shoes we wear to wear them. To die like a nobleman, he wanders the battlefield of honor, doing good deeds, making donations, and taking the lead in protecting the weak.”
Why seek honor on the most miserable battlefield for mankind, practice swords and magic, and do good deeds?
This is because the nobility is inconvenient and vulnerable to survival, but they are aiming for an honorable life.
“So even if you are lacking in swordsmanship right now and lose in duels and countless battles, the reason you have to accept defeat and criticism boldly and proudly is because your existence itself is a dream and a goal for commoners.”
Tigris said as he looked at Linia, who had a terrified expression on her face.
“Is your burden heavy?”
“···yes. That’s right.”
“If you are having a hard time, lean on me and your mother and father. If something is hard for you to bear, tell me all about it. If you have any conflicts in your mind, ask me. I was born earlier than you for that.”
“then···. Whom do you lean on when your brother is really struggling?”
Tigris remembered the last war filled with regret.
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Just before being eroded by loneliness and despair, I remembered the feeling I had when I found Rakan.At that time, Tigris was relieved.
“It will be a comrade.”
Linia’s eyes changed and she clenched her fists.
“I’m going to the academy.”
Linia made a decision today.
I will grow up as a knight, not as Tigris’ younger sister, and become a supporter when Tigris is in trouble.
* * *
The new year has dawned.
As promised, Tigris held a knighthood ceremony.
The Ordination Ceremony of the Knights of the Norbert family was not grandiose.
Now, it is said that Norberd is running a golden age due to the mining business, but in the original Norberd was poor because it was a barren land where it was difficult to grow a single crop.
Ogres and orcs came down there from time to time and made a riot, so there were almost no grand festivals.
The vassals still suggested that Tigris’s knight inauguration be held in a grand way, but Tigris stepped in and refused.
The reason was that there was no reason to break the tradition handed down from the time of the ancestors, and if we set a precedent, the funds for the later knights’ ceremonies could become unnecessary and luxurious.
Even so, there was a small backlash…
– We are at war now.
With a single word from Tigris, the ceremony for the knighthood proceeded in the same way as that of the black wolf and white wolf knights.
Tigris knelt down on one knee in the dance hall filled with dry dust.
Beowulf drew the ‘Dwin’s Sword’, a treasured sword handed down to the Norberd family.
The sword’s face was placed on Tigris’ left shoulder.
“The Tigris di Norberd recites a prayer.”
Tigris immediately remembered the prayer ‘Song of the Prosecutor’ that he had recited in front of the emperor before his return.
As a knight and swordsman, it was about training the sword to reach the highest level.
But Tigris decided not to recite the prayer.
Tigris began reciting ‘Battlefield Barley’.
“O God, I beg you with your sword.
ears to hear the cry of a child
Eyes to see a woman trembling in fear
A hand that can cut demons
Give me legs that will not succumb to fear.
the day my life ends
Let the rotting body remain as manure on the battlefield.
Give me a handful of barley on a battlefield full of blood and bitterness.”
Every time Tigris recites each word, he remembers the battlefield full of red from that day.
The final battlefield that became polluted, where plants could not grow forever.
He hoped that the battlefield Tigris wanted would not be a barren land with no promising future.
He hoped that one day the smell of blood would be blown away by the wind and his flesh would rot and become a barley field where his descendants could cultivate.
When the prayer containing Tigris’ resolution crossed the theater, the vassals, knights, and family members who watched it were all swept away by a wave of emotion.
Beowulf moved Dwin’s sword to his right shoulder.
“Do you swear that the Tigris di Norberd will be spent solely for the sake of Norberd and the people, not for personal gain and gain?”
“yes. That’s right.”
“Do you swear that you will be proud even when death approaches?”
“yes. That’s right.”
“Do you swear to follow the chivalry thoroughly?”
“yes. That’s right.”
Dwin’s sword was removed, and the horn beside him handed the new sword to Beowulf.
Pommel had a wolf symbolizing the Norbert family, and the guard had sharp teeth reminiscent of a wolf’s sharp mouth.
It was a wolf sword that was given only to knights of the Norberd family.
Tigris raised his hands high and politely accepted the wolf sword.
Beowulf exclaimed in a loud voice.
“I hereby declare that Tigris di Norverd has become a knight of the wolf!”
A thunderous cheer erupted.
It was so loud that all the birds sleeping on the tree were startled and soared into the sky.
It was much more shabby than the knights ceremony that the emperor had received and many things were omitted.
Tigris stood up without a fuss.
Beowulf grabbed Tigris and patted him on the back.
“Congratulations. Tigris. You are now a full-fledged knight.”
“thank you.”
Tigris closed his eyes.
Rakan’s words kept ringing in my ears when the one I thought would never be solved was released.
– Good job. baby it’s your last chance
Tigris clenched his fists.
‘It will be much better than the battlefield of that day.’
Tigris did not doubt that much.
* * *
The next day, Tigris left Norverd immediately.
I had a day or two more to spare, but I wanted to avoid becoming dull in my comfort zone.
Tigris got off the magic train.
After that, Linia followed.
Linia had already decided to sit down with Tigris as he went down.
Linia couldn’t help but be amazed by the huge platform.
“Wow… ah.”
Linia lowered her head, feeling embarrassed that she was acting like a village girl without realizing it.
Looking at it now, Linia seemed as emotional as Lenny.
‘I think my personality has changed a bit…’ No. This must be his original personality.’
Tigris has been treating Linia warmly recently, and Linia is also slowly revealing her own lively and emotional side.
It was nice to see Linia like that, so I thought I should treat her more warmly.
“Let me take a walk today and introduce you to Victorie. As it is a huge city, there are many things to see and eat that are different from Norbert.”
“Is that true?”
“okay. That way, you won’t be embarrassed when you go out to the city with your friends from school.”
Linia was very moved by Tigris’ consideration.
Tigris came out on platform 4.
Baiton was waiting in front of him.
“Prince Tigris. Princess Linia. Welcome to Victory.”
“I am going on foot today. Only Lenny and Karen will get in the wagon and head to the penthouse.”
“Yes. All right.”
Lenny and Karen also wanted to see the city in their hearts, but they quickly fell in love.
Tigris and Linia walked the streets leisurely.
“This place is called Middletown. In the imperial family, the Middle Town was planned as a commercial district, so there were a lot of shopping malls. There is so much to see.”
“Oh~”
The streets were full of dazzling signs, and some wizards from the academy promoted the shop with magic.
And the roadside was full of delicious food.
Among them, there was one that caught Linia’s eyes.
A street food with sweet cream and chocolate syrup on top of thinly baked pancakes and topped with strawberries and blueberries.
It was crepe.
Gentlemen and ladies and even those who looked like nobility were walking while eating crepes in one hand.
When Tigris saw Linia’s gaze on the crepe, she turned and headed to the crepe shop.
“What would you like to eat?”
“uh···.”
There were dozens of crepes on the menu.
Plain yogurt crepe with yogurt instead of cream, double chocolate crepe with double chocolate syrup…
Linia’s eyes went round and round.
Then the shop owner recognized Tigris.
“uh? Aren’t you Confucius Tigris?”
The store owner said with a big smile.
“I really enjoyed the game last time. And thanks to that, I made a lot of money. Heh heh heh!”
“is it?”
“Because I am a personal fan, can I ask for your autograph? I will present a special crepe.”
Linia’s eyes widened at the word ‘special’.
Tigris nodded and said.
“I’ll sign it. Instead, it should be one. I hate sweets.”
“Oh, I see! It feels good to have something to brag about to my wife today.”
When the shopkeeper signed the paper handed over to him once, the shopkeeper rejoiced like a child.
“I’ll make the crepes in no time! Wait a minute!”
Linia looked at the crepes the store owner was making on the spot with curious eyes.
Linia felt so cute for some reason and smiled.
“Here you are! This is a special crepe!”
The crepe was so big and heavy that I had to lift it with both hands.
Linia smiled brightly, as if she had received a bouquet of flowers on her graduation day.
Tigris took one silver out of his pocket and gave it to the boss.
“Gosh! no. Just getting an autograph is enough.”
“It’s a tip, so take it.”
“Still, that special crepe only sells 5 cooper…”
Compared to Linia’s smile, even 1 silver was less.
Tigris just put it on the table.
The president gave a shy expression and received 1 silver.
“I will take it. Next time you come, we will do our best to serve you as much as the tip you received.”
After leaving the crepe shop, Linia was happily thinking about how to eat it.
Then I glanced at Tigris and handed him the crepe.
“Oh, bro. Please eat first, brother.”
“You eat a lot.”
When Tigris didn’t even look at him, Linia took a bite at the end of the crepe without suggesting further.
The soft and sweet cream contained in the chewy crepe filled Linia’s mouth.
And the chewy nuts and the fruits that spit out sweet juice when chewed were pleasing to the tongue.
“Ugh!”
Linia trembled at how delicious it was.
“Wow! Too! So delicious!”
Seeing Linia smiling brightly, Tichrist smiled a little.
As Linia looked like she was going to bump into citizens while eating while walking, she headed to the riverside park.
The blue river was flowing gently in the riverside park, and the scenery was very good.
Tigris and Linia sat on a nearby bench and watched the scenery leisurely.
The Gold Bridge that connects Middle Town and Treasure Town crossed, and children were playing water swallows on the riverside.
It was a pity that this kind of peace was only a few years away, but that’s why this moment felt so precious.
It seemed like he did a good job of taking Linia to tour the city.
“Tigris…”
At the sound of someone calling, Tigris turned her head to the side.
It was Charlotte di Friedharden.
Charlotte was looking at herself on the Gold Bridge with a look of great contempt for Tigris.
Charlotte’s eyes looked wide open, as if eaten by anguish.