12. Flowing Star – 07
So, the expedition to subdue the ‘Witch of Winter’ began to head north in earnest. And Iris also, in the end, failed to create an excuse to expel Cain from the expedition for the rest of the time. Except for Iris, the other women did not express any objection to the fact that Cain was participating in the expedition, so unfortunately Cain was also recognized as a member of the expedition.
A month passed just like that. As they all made their way north through the waist-deep snow and through the blizzard, Iris had to spend a good portion of the day with Cain, whether she liked it or not, and as a result, she came to know many facts about the man named Cain.
The Duke of Estelle, a man named Cain von Estel, was as pathetic as Iris had thought, and he was nothing more than a man who was really insignificant and even worthless. Compared to the other women in the expedition, it was the same as non-existent, and she only showed a foolish appearance in front of others, let alone the dignity of a duke, one of only four in the empire. To put it in a good way, he had an easy-going and finite personality, but to get to the point, he was nothing more than a man who did not really appear trustworthy.
In particular, when he first met himself, he couldn’t find where that force had gone even after washing his eyes. Whether it was because she had no belly or if something had happened in the past, the image of her being swung around by Bianca del Castana was only reflected in her eyes pathetically. Well, since it was only a matter of personal circumstances, I had no intention of interfering with the affairs between the two.
To sum up, it was clear that Cain von Estel was a man who was unlikely to succeed in any way. It was also an unmoving fact that he was a man who would never fall in the eyes of Iris, who claims to prioritize skills.
…But that didn’t mean he had only his downsides. If nothing else, Iris couldn’t deny the fact that a man named Cain was someone she could trust.
Early on, he had said this to himself. You please use me as a human being. I can do anything.
His words were never lies. Zira Iris, who could not expect a combat aspect from him, entrusted him with the role of a simple porter, but he quietly performed his role without a single word of muttering. To be honest, I thought you’d say you’d run away to Jedo after falling out soon. Cain was trying hard to keep the words out of his mouth until the end.
At least that one thing, he was a man I liked.
And what day would it be? The very moment when she stepped out of the tent to get some fresh air, unable to sleep due to the cold feeling even though the barrier was put up.
cuneiform-
In her ears, a faint puncture sound sounded as if cutting through the air from somewhere.
“…Well?”
The first thought that came to my mind was that a monster broke through the barrier and invaded. However, common sense made it impossible. Even himself had to expend a lot of strength to break through the barrier, so there’s no way that mere monsters broke through the barrier and entered this place?
Slightly curious, Iris killed her presence and quietly moved her steps to the place where she heard the sound of a hole-in-the-wall-
“…Duke Estelle?”
At the end, I was able to find Cain who was absorbed in swinging his sword in a small clearing. He was so engrossed in training that he was sweating all over his body even though there was a faint chill around him, and he was there, not even noticing that he was approaching.
…Somehow, recently, my face has been filled with fatigue, and the calluses on my hands have gradually worn out. It must have been because I practiced swordsmanship every night. Was it that you were swinging your sword after being spurred on by my words that you were not capable of fighting?
Cain’s expression as he wielded the sword was extremely solemn. Iris, who had reached the level of a master, could clearly hear the sound of Cain’s muscles bursting with a groan of pain. It was unlikely that he was swinging the sword as a joke or with a childish mind. At the very least, he must be wielding his sword with an extremely serious attitude.
However-
‘…It’s meaningless. No, should I say it’s worthless?’
Iris, a swordsman who has risen to the level of a master and has reached the pinnacle of her swordsmanship skills, was sure of Cain’s training. Even if the effort he was making now had meaning in itself, it was only clearly visible that everything, including his efforts, would eventually come to a meaningless end.
Iris was well aware of the sword Cain was wielding.
His swordsmanship is Myungsin, the swordsmanship that symbolizes the Duke of Estelle. It is a swordsmanship that emphasizes extreme basic deception without any irregularities, and no matter how transgressive it may be, if you put in constant desperate efforts, you can overcome the peak level. It was a swordsmanship that constantly tested the
…But at the same time, that word meant the same thing as saying that Cain, who had been living as a writer all his life until now and belatedly wanted to devote himself to the sword, could not see the tip of the sword.
Above all, he did not have the quality to see the tip of the sword.
Perhaps, if he was a genius born with heaven-sent qualities, he would have had the possibility of ascending to the level of a master just by wielding a sword during the expedition, but unfortunately Cain was nothing more than a genius at best.
could be assured If he swings his sword while sweating here, it will never happen that his sword touches the ‘Witch of Winter’. That’s why the sword he wields must be pointless-
After lightly clicking her tongue at the pity, Iris turned and tried to return to her tent.
…To be precise, I tried to do that, but for some reason, my feet didn’t show any signs of coming off the ground, as if they were rooted in the ground.
No, that wasn’t it. The present self did not want to leave that man alone. Looking at that stupid and stupid training scene, for some reason, I couldn’t leave him alone.
‘…why?’
Iris couldn’t understand why she was feeling this way. Whether Cain practiced the sword or not, whether he sweated in vain, what the hell did it have to do with him? Yes, he would have nothing to do with him.
– I am their duke. So, please write me.
Why the hell do I think of you at that time?
Why on earth do you think that that person’s efforts will be useless?
I do not know. I don’t know anything. I really don’t know what the hell I’m thinking or what I’m trying to do. However.
Turbuck-
“…Lowering?”
Didn’t like it. He didn’t like it when his efforts went away without any reward. Just like that.
“Duke Estelle.”
Her mouth opens involuntarily. At the end of it, her tongue begins to utter unsolicited words.
“Would you like to learn the sword from me?”
Even knowing full well that it would be of no use to anyone in the end, there was a self who wanted to participate in a meaningless house play.
****
In conclusion, her prediction was exactly right. However, at the same time, it also missed completely.
A week after teaching him the sword, claiming to be her teacher, Iris realized that a man named Cain was not a genius.
Even if he did seek him out, it was just time to reaffirm that at this rate, he wouldn’t be just a burden, let alone the strength of the expedition.
…In the end, after much thought, the method Iris chose was simple. Even if the swordsmanship proficiency is low, it is to teach the ascendant swordsmanship that can deliver a decisive blow to the enemy if the right situation and luck follow.
That was the trigger for Iris to tell him about ‘Flowing Star’.
‘…I guess I’m completely crazy too.’
Even while teaching him ‘Flowing Star’, Iris couldn’t understand why she was doing this to Cain. Why did he, who knew better than anyone else what it meant to teach non-royal people the ‘Flowing Star’, to make such a sentimental judgment?
If there is one thing that is comforting, it is that he was a very good disciple in his own eyes.
To put it in one word, he was a tenacious man. He was very silent, just following his training.
His daily routine was very monotonous. Even if he had to march towards the north during the day when the snowstorm was less severe, and count the nights when night came, he never let go of his sword.
Sometimes he was hit by the monsters he had brought in for training, and other times he collapsed on the floor unable to breathe properly from his fists, but he never let out a weak sound.
Sometimes, at the end of swinging the sword, his grip would tear and he would miss the sword or collapse on the floor in an ugly manner, but Iris could never laugh at him. No matter how painful it was, no matter how painful it was, Iris felt an unknown sentiment as she watched him stand up and wield the sword again without giving up.
What the hell is making him move like that? What makes him so desperate? Just as he knows, he will know as well. That the end of one’s efforts will end in meaninglessness.
…But he won’t stop. he won’t give up For some reason, she realized that he would not let go of the sword in her hand until the very last moment in order to carry out what she had said.
And before I knew it, Iris was just staring at him as if he was lost. Even if no one in the world recognizes your pain, your efforts, your strength.
Only I am watching your efforts here. I will know who you are
okay. only, as much as me.
…Time passes indifferently and quietly.
At first, the teacher-teacher relationship, which was just a pattern, turned into a genuine relationship at some point.
At first, they only talked about swordsmanship, but at some point, the time to talk about things that had nothing to do with swordsmanship gradually increased.
Sometimes they share precious memories with each other, sometimes they share painful memories with themselves and smile bitterly, and sometimes they talk about meaningless stories and burst into laughter.
So gradually, the time with him gradually increased.
In terms of years, it was less than a year, but I was confident in thinking that spending time with him was ‘enjoyable’.
Alas, yes. I couldn’t figure out what the trigger was or why I was like this.
In a short time of less than a year, the person who is himself has changed a lot.
Before I knew it, the time to teach him the sword had become a precious time. Suddenly, I was just waiting for the time to be with him.
Before I knew it, the self who dreamed of becoming a daily life with him existed.
I still couldn’t figure out what these feelings were all around me. but.
Now, I don’t think I hate you so much.