Berserk of Gluttony (LN) - Volume 2 - Chapter SS

Side Story:

Roxy’s Expedition 

THE EXPEDITION BEGAN with an unexpected report from one of my scouts, given to me as our army marched toward Galia. According to the scout, smoke had been seen rising from the old Barbatos estate in the city of Hausen. I couldn’t believe it, so I rode my horse to the location where the smoke was first sighted. 

“It can’t be,” I muttered, though I disguised my surprise behind a cough. I checked closely to make sure that the direction in which we looked was indeed Hausen. 

It was. And there was, no doubt about it, smoke. What was going on in Hausen, which had for so long been an abandoned haven for the undead? Undead monsters couldn’t wield fire, which made me fear that perhaps another creature could have arrived. Were they waging some sort of monstrous turf war? 

Intently examining the smoke columns rising from Hausen more, I realized I knew this type of smoke well. I’d seen the same gentle smoke back at home, rising from the chimneys of homes on the Hart estate when people cooked. 

If that was true, it meant people were now living in Hausen—lots of people—even though it was undead territory. 

“I think it would be wise to investigate,” I said to the scout. “Head back to your commanding officer, and tell him to wait on standby until I give further word.” 

“Understood!” 

For good measure, I also told the scout to send me ten battle-hardened soldiers. He was somewhat shocked to learn that I planned to head to Hausen myself, I suppose because it was unusual for holy knights to conduct such investigations in person. Regrettably, for the most part, it was rare for holy knights to do anything themselves, unless the task was slaying a monster only they could handle. 

That said, I needed to see what had happened in Hausen with my own eyes. As I watched the scout return to the rest of my soldiers, I thought back to what I knew of the current state of the territory. 

Hausen had been governed by the Barbatos family—which, like the Harts, was one of the Kingdom of Seifort’s five esteemed families. However, Hausen had been overrun with monsters and abandoned when the head of the family, Lord Aaron Barbatos, the Blade of Light, had suddenly retired. 

From the stories I’d heard, Lord Aaron’s retirement had been caused by the tragic loss of his entire family. Monsters had besieged Hausen while he was away on a quest to handle a small stampede that had crossed the Galian border. 

As the Blade of Light, Lord Aaron’s strength had been a great convenience for Seifort’s king, who sent him on many quests to hunt and fight monsters. As a result of these ceaseless battles, Lord Aaron had accrued much hate, and from that hate, an awful monster had been born: a lich lord called The Genesis of Death, who bore a focused, unceasing grudge against the Blade of Light himself. 

It was said that lich lords had the power to control the dead. It was also said that, compared to other monsters, they were exceptionally cunning and intelligent, and particularly skilled at manipulating their opponents’ emotional weaknesses. It seemed likely that the lich lord had brought those skills to bear on Lord Aaron so effectively that the result had been a near fatal blow to Lord Aaron’s psyche. Thus, he had put down his sword and retired. 

That was the sum total of my knowledge of the incident. 

“Lady Roxy, the men are ready to move out.” 

“Then there’s no reason to wait,” I said. “Let’s go.” 

The squad accompanying me to Hausen was hastily put together, but it was made up of some of our army’s best soldiers. I’d left the decision to the troops themselves, which meant that each soldier with me now was a volunteer. I was glad for this show of support, but as their commander, I could not let my joy show in my expression. 

At my order, we rode toward Hausen. The journey would take a few hours on horseback. As we rode onward, Miria, from the medic squadron, approached me. She had light-chestnut hair and wore an open, friendly expression. 

“Do you really think there will be people in Hausen, Lady Roxy?” 

“I think it’s likely. However, I’ve heard the city is home to the Genesis of Death, a powerful lich lord. We can’t rule out the possibility that the smoke is a trap of some kind.” 

“Oh, a crowned beast? I’ve never seen one before. Oh, dear. I’m nervous all of a sudden!” 

It was clear from how Miria talked and held herself that she was a new recruit. However, I knew she was exceptionally skilled with a blade. She’d been posted to the medic squadron on account of her inexperience, but there was no doubt in my mind that, within a few years, she would be a commanding officer. 

“Miria, I know you must be nervous, but you mustn’t voice those feelings. Your hesitance will spread to those around you.” 

“Understood. I-I’m sorry.” Miria looked utterly despondent. At this rate, perhaps “commanding officer” was further down the line than I had thought… 

From my left, I heard raucous laughter. It belonged to Mugan, a squad commander in his late thirties or early forties. “Ah, Miria,” he said, “still so green! If one monster scares you so much, perhaps you’d best head home already, hm?” 

“Ugh. You know the whole reason I can’t stand you is because you always say that, Captain Mugan,” Miria muttered. 

Miria didn’t like Mugan, but Mugan had a daughter who was her age. I was sure that he couldn’t help but worry about her in his own way. However, Miria found his “own way” obnoxious. That left me stuck between their bickering, and it was more than I could stand. 

“Be quiet, both of you. Mugan, you’re a commanding officer, are you not? Is it safe to leave your squad without their leader?” 

“Not a problem. My squad’s made up of the finest soldiers. That leaves me free for little expeditions like this!” Mugan’s smug expression said it all: How do you like that, Lady Roxy? 

Miria rode her horse a little closer to mine so she could lean in and whisper. “When we put together the squad to investigate Hausen, almost all the commanding officers volunteered. But if they all went, who’d look after the army, you know? So, they decided that only one commanding officer could join the investigation, and Mugan took the position by force. He’s such a child.” 

“Oh…” 

It made me happy to think that so many commanding officers had volunteered their services. That said, when I imagined Mugan physically bullying his way into the investigation, I couldn’t help but chuckle. 

“That explains why it took so long to put the squad together,” I added. 

“Exactly!” Miria giggled. 

Mugan bellowed from atop his horse. “I can hear you, Miria!” 

“Ugh. He’s got ears like an elephant!” 

Mugan told Miria he’d report her comments to her squad leader, after which Miria looked at me with teary eyes, pleading for help. The soldiers behind us chuckled to see me once again awkwardly positioned at my wit’s end. While I was glad that the troops were amicable with each other, I was admittedly a bit worried about their discipline. 

As our team arrived on the outskirts of Hausen, I noticed something odd. Or, rather, an odd lack of something. “How strange… I can’t sense any monsters around here.” 

Mugan and the surrounding squad nodded. As we drew closer to the city itself, I was shocked to find normal people walking its streets. 

“Captain Mugan, what in the world happened here?” 

“According to Miria’s intel, someone’s cleared the place of monsters. I guess that girl really is good for something, huh? Anyway, since we never saw any reports about this event back at Seifort, I gather it happened after we left for Galia. How shall we proceed, Lady Roxy?” 

“We’ll enter the city.” 

I pulled the reins of my horse and changed direction toward Hausen’s outer gate. The outer walls were crumbling from long years of harsh weather and neglect. They were in no condition to keep any would-be attackers at bay. 

People who I assumed were residents of Hausen noticed our squad as we arrived. They knelt and bowed their heads. I couldn’t tell whether they did it out of respect for my holy knighthood, or out of fear. Nonetheless, the reaction was not what I wanted, so I urged the citizens to stand and raise their heads. 

“I am the holy knight Roxy Hart. I’m here with a few questions. Would you mind escorting my troops and I to the person in charge of the city?” 

“That would be Lord Aaron Barbatos,” said the woman nearest to me. 

“Lord Aaron Barbatos?!” I cried. 

How could that be? He’d abandoned Hausen and retired. He had returned? The soldiers around me looked as baffled as I did. 

The woman seemed a little worried at our shocked expressions, but she continued. “Yes, he’ll be in the central hall. I can show you the way, if you’d like to follow me. But the city streets are still full of debris, so I hope you won’t mind tying your horses at the post over there.” 

The debris meant that it hadn’t been very long since the monsters were driven out. We got off our horses and left them with one of our men by the city walls, then passed through Hausen’s outer gate with our guide. 

“It’s still in such disrepair,” I said. 

“Hm.” The woman didn’t respond. 

Much like Hausen’s outer walls, the buildings inside the city were in terrible shape from years of neglect. They slouched, barely retaining the shape of what they once were. The scars of fierce battle covered the buildings and carved out sections of the streets. It looked exactly like I would expect of a place that, until recently, had been home to only monsters. 

“We’ve only just begun repairs,” said the woman, “and we’re very short of hands. That, and I…” 

She looked at the ground and said nothing, but I knew the meaning of her unspoken words. In a world that revolved entirely around skills, it was impossible to understand the inferiority felt by those who bore skills deemed useless. I knew because my mother bore the same burden, and she’d suffered through that discrimination from those around her. 

I also knew because of Fate. When we’d met as children, he had been so hopeful and optimistic. Then, when we met again years later, time and abuse had changed him. He saw only the inescapable reality of a world governed by skills. Still, it had warmed my heart to see those hopeful parts of the old Fate slowly return when he became a servant to the Hart family. 

I shook my head clear; I was letting my thoughts wander again. I had to be more careful. 

“There’s no need to look so glum,” I said to the woman. “You’re more necessary and important than you give yourself credit for. Without you, who would explain the city to us and guide us through it?” 

“Thank you. I never imagined a holy knight would speak such words to me.” The woman finally raised her head, and I was glad to see a brighter expression on her face as she gazed at me. 

“Now me, Lady Roxy! Say something nice to me, too!” Miria shouted from the back of our procession. She held her hand high and ran up next to me as she chattered with excitement. 

“Huh?” I was unsure of what to do in response to her barrage. 

Mugan appeared between us. “What’re you on about, Miria? You haven’t done anything yet! Well, nothing but pester Lady Roxy.” 

“Eh?! That’s not true in the slightest! Right, Lady Roxy?” 

I said nothing. 

“Lady Roxy? Why’re you giving me the silent treatment?!” 

Mugan shook his head. “You see?” 

Her eyes brimming with tears, Miria clasped my arm and clung tight. 

I’m sorry, Miria, but he’s right, I thought. And I can’t lie to myself, let alone you . 

Mugan watched Miria trap me and burst into laughter. I was certain a new round of their bickering was going to start, but suddenly, an unfamiliar voice chuckled nearby. 

This fresh laughter came from the woman guiding us. “I’m sorry, but you all seem like such good friends!” 

Mugan and Miria looked up in utter seriousness, and their voices cried out in unison. “What?!” 

This response seemed to be exactly what the woman was waiting for, and she burst into another peal of laughter. 

Just as we started to get to know each other better, we arrived at our destination. The central hall was, perhaps, the city of Hausen’s most spacious location. There, we found the old man directing the townspeople. He was not dressed very differently from anyone else, but there was an aura about him, a kind of charismatic charm to his gaze. 

Our guide ran over to him with a smile. “This holy knight requested to speak with you, Lord Aaron!” 

As he heard the woman’s words, the man turned toward me and gave me a polite nod, which I returned. He made sure somebody else could continue his work before he made his way to us. I could tell up close that he was older, but I sensed power in him that more than rivaled any active holy knight. That was the mark of a man who’d earned the king’s recognition and the title of Blade of Light. 

“It’s nice to meet you, Roxy Hart,” Lord Aaron said. “You may already have been informed, but I am Aaron Barbatos, and I govern Hausen. As you can see, we’re busy restoring it to its former glory. My apologies for not greeting you someplace nicer.” 

“No, I should apologize for the sudden, unexpected visit. But why…?” 

“This way, please. I know what you want to ask.” 

As Lord Aaron and I walked, Mugan approached us with his own request. He wanted to take a small group of men to explore Hausen so that he could make a full report to Seifort. Lord Aaron was all too willing to oblige, so Mugan took Miria and the remaining soldiers to investigate the city. Miria clearly wanted to stay with me, but Mugan summarily dragged her off by her collar. Her cries of “Lady Roxy!” echoed, even from a distance. I felt a little embarrassed at this display. 

Lord Aaron simply laughed. “You have a fine group of soldiers under your command,” he said. “It’s clear they’re able to work independently, too.” 

“They’re an indispensable support,” I replied. “But are you quite sure it’s all right for us to investigate Hausen like this?” 

I felt compelled to ask again. Holy knights often considered it insulting to have others inspect their cities and estates. Not long before arriving in Hausen, my army had passed the Lanchester estate, and their horrible treatment of us was still fresh in my memory. The head of the estate, Lord Rudolph Lanchester, hadn’t allowed us entry. We were both members of the five esteemed families, yet he wouldn’t even show us his face. I ended up ordering my soldiers to wait on the outskirts of the estate and set up camp while we arranged to restock our provisions. 

Many of my troops had looked forward to visiting Lanchester’s estate, as they’d heard of the gigantic inn housed within its walls. The disappointment in the air among the men had been palpable. It was so bad, Miria had come to my tent and tried to get me to sneak into the city with her. Naturally, Mugan had foiled her reckless plan. 

The men who delivered our provisions in Lanchester had told us a most curious rumor. Just a few days earlier, an adventurer with a black axe had beaten Rudolph to within an inch of his life. Since then, Rudolph had grown paranoid of all wandering adventurers. If that story was true, it meant he was punishing us for the actions of others. The rumors had seemingly gotten well out of hand; the men even told us that the adventurer who launched Rudolph into the sky was a tiny child. 

In stark contrast, Lord Aaron was happy for us to inspect and investigate Hausen to our hearts’ content. “You see, it’s just as helpful for me as for you,” he said with a smile. 

“What do you mean?” 

“If your men happen to stumble across leftover monsters during their investigation, they’ll take care of them for us.” 

“Are you saying monsters are still lurking in Hausen?!” I hadn’t felt any monsters’ presence, and I hadn’t noticed the slightest hint of fear in the townsfolk, so I had assumed the monsters had all been wiped out. 

Aaron stroked his beard calmly as he took in my shocked expression. “I’m saying it’s a possibility,” he said, then added jokingly, “which means I’d love for your men to investigate every corner of the city.” 

Although the tone of his voice was jovial, there was a certain weight to his words. I wasn’t worried about Mugan or the others, but I was a little anxious about young Miria. 

“You can see the castle from here,” said Lord Aaron. “It’s a bit battered, but it’s ours.” 

“It seems like…only half of it is left.” 

“Ah, yes. That happened when we fought the lich lord. Most of the area is sturdy, though,” he said, and pointed. “Let’s head to the terrace.” 

At the terrace were a table and chairs. It seemed as if they were used often, and when I sat down, I understood why. The view was fantastic. “Goodness. You can see the whole of Hausen from here.” 

“Exactly. It’s also a quiet place, perfect for our private discussion. You’ve certainly grown since I last saw you.” 

“Are you talking about…me?” I had no recollection of ever meeting Lord Aaron. 

It seemed as though that wasn’t true of Aaron himself. “Mason and Aisha are old friends of mine,” he said. “When the two of them brought a child into the world, they asked me to name her. Initially, I declined, thinking it too great a responsibility. But, when I saw your face, your name came to me as naturally as breathing. That name is the one you carry now.” 

“My parents never told me any of this.” It really was the first I’d heard of it. I had no idea the famed Lord Aaron had named me! 

He smiled. “I asked them not to. But us meeting here, like this, feels like a kind of destiny. It seemed like the perfect time to tell you. I hope you’re not disappointed!” 

“Not at all. To be named by one of Seifort’s heroes is a true honor.” 

“Former hero, you mean. I’m sure you heard the details regarding my retirement.” 

“Yes.” I had. Other holy knights often spoke of how the tragedy of Hausen had proved that even the Blade of Light was just a man, in the end. Still, the man standing before me did not look like someone who had lost his will to live. On the contrary, he seemed to overflow with vital energy. 

Lord Aaron once again ran a hand through his beard as he recalled the recent past. “About a week ago, a young man arrived at the settlement nearby. I knew immediately that he possessed great strength. I’m a little embarrassed to admit it, but he reminded me of my son, and I felt the need to know more about him.” 

When I asked, Lord Aaron described how he had taught the young man basic swordsmanship. I was more than a little envious. Only the luckiest people could hope to receive instruction from the Blade of Light himself. 

“From the beginning,” Aaron continued, “it was clear to me that he possessed something unusual worth keeping an eye on. It wasn’t talent, and it wasn’t natural ability, nor the skill he had been born with. Rather, there was…a weight to the swing of his blade, the sort you only see in people who have someone to fight for. I had a feeling that, to him, the person he fought for was very important indeed. He didn’t confess much of this, but his movements reminded me of a past I’d long forgotten.” 

“So, you decided to wield your sword once more?” 

“I never imagined I’d have a change of heart at this age. But, after the two of us fought together to clear Hausen of the monsters infesting it, I felt young again. That young man showed me the path forward and made me aware of my own potential. I’m rebuilding Hausen to give him a place to come home to.” 

“He’s not here anymore, then?” 

“No. He left on his own journey. It was only by coincidence that we met in the first place.” 

I wondered whether I’d ever heard of this young man who’d played a key role in freeing Hausen. “What is this adventurer’s name?” 

“You’ll have to forgive me, but he did not want it known by others. I’m sorry, Roxy.” 

“No, no, it’s nothing for you to apologize for, Lord Aaron. I was merely curious.” Admittedly, I was a little disappointed, but there was nothing I could do about it. 

Lord Aaron stared out at Hausen, then turned to me with a solemn expression. “You’re headed for Galia, aren’t you?” 

“Yes, but how do you know?” I hadn’t uttered a word about it, and the army under my command was stationed well out of sight of the walls of Hausen. 

“It’s simple. What other reason would a young holy knight like yourself have to visit a place like Hausen? It’s clear you weren’t sent all this way just to investigate the ruins, but the pieces fit if you’re on an expedition to Galia. And I wouldn’t put it past the holy knights of Seifort to make such a decision. A man like Mason would never send his beloved daughter to that country of death, so I can only assume the worst. Is he…?” 

I had no words. I nodded. 

“I see,” said Lord Aaron. “A great pity. With Mason gone, there must not be anyone left to stop Seifort’s holy knights from running amok. It seems they’ve already started by sending you to Galia. But perhaps I’ve no right to talk of things like responsibility and obligation. After all, I threw those away when I retired.” 

Lord Aaron looked out at the ruins of Hausen. There was something lonely in his gaze; restoring the city to its former glory would be a long road. After this silence, he turned to me once more. “If you are interested, I could teach you some techniques that will help you on the battlefields of Galia. What do you think?” 

“I… Are you sure?” 

“Of course. I did name you, so in a way you’re like one of my children, aren’t you? If it’s within my ability to do so, I will help you wherever I can.” 

It was an unbelievable opportunity. However, I did not want to hold up our march to Galia for purely personal reasons. As I thought the offer over, Mugan returned; Lord Aaron’s eyes lit up as he saw the captain. 

The Blade of Light turned to me with a modified proposal. “How about this? Leave a squadron here, and have the rest of your army continue their march. They won’t move quickly; they’ll need time to get to the next city and stock up on provisions. While your army is on the move, you can stay here, and I’ll train you. We’ll need about three days, after which you can take your squadron and regroup with the rest of your men. I understand you’ll need to discuss it with your commanding officers, but what do you think?” Aaron’s gaze flicked in Mugan’s direction. 

“I guess that’s decided, then,” said Mugan, immediately exiting. He was clearly heading off to put Lord Aaron’s suggestion into action. 

“I’m sure we can trust that man to see that everything goes to plan,” said Lord Aaron. “So, what do you think, Roxy?” 

Lord Aaron’s proposal was already in motion, and I had no reason left to refuse his offer. 

“I humbly accept,” I said. 

*** 

Mugan returned to Hausen with a squadron. There wasn’t much for them to do in the city, so they helped with repairs while I underwent my training. Mugan and many other soldiers had looked up to the Blade of Light since they were children, and they wanted to help him. Since time was limited, they focused on the outer walls protecting the city. With those repaired, the townspeople could sleep knowing monsters could not easily attack. 

Lord Aaron was grateful for the assistance. Before we started training, he said, “I must thank you again for your aid in Hausen’s restoration. You’re much too kind.” 

“Oh, no, it isn’t me. Please, thank the sheer enthusiasm of my soldiers.” 

“Yes, they’re an admirable bunch, striving hard to give their very best, aren’t they? Their actions prove the trust they have in you, Roxy. Keep it up. Praise them when they do well, and correct their course if they falter.” 

“I still can’t believe it, but when you put it like that, I suppose we really have grown to trust each other.” 

“While leading these troops, you still haven’t seen battle?” 

“Not yet.” 

Aaron nodded and drew his sword. “You’ll know Galia as soon as you reach it. Battles there can turn in an instant, and you’ll feel the importance of trusting the people you fight with. In any case, let’s begin, shall we? Draw your sword.” 

The castle’s courtyard was spacious, well-suited for our practice. Not only was there room to move, but if our sparring grew fierce, we wouldn’t need to worry about breaking anything of value. I could tell from Aaron’s stance that he didn’t intend to hold back. I had no choice but to respond in kind. 

The moment I drew my sword from its sheath, training began. The sharp clang of blade on blade echoed through the courtyard. Lord Aaron closed the distance between us instantly, his sword aimed at my neck. Somehow, I deflected that sudden attack. 

“Looks like you’ve got a good grasp of basic combat if you can defend against a strike like that,” said Lord Aaron. “How about this?” 

As he rained a barrage of strikes down on me, I kept a safe distance and parried each, searching for an opportunity to counter. When he took a long step forward, planting his foot heavily on the ground, I replied with my first counterstrike. 

However, I sliced through air. Lord Aaron had predicted my attack and used it to step behind me. “Your swordsmanship is the very portrait of your father’s,” he said. “Your movements are subtle. No wasted motion. That allows you to move from defense to offense in a blink. In some ways, it’s perfect.” 

“Thank you, Lord Aaron.” 

“Now, let’s pick things up a notch. Are you ready?” 

“I’m ready!” 

In the next instant, Lord Aaron launched a slice at my neck, just as he had earlier. I moved once more to parry the strike, but as I did so, he kicked dirt up from the ground. With my vision momentarily blocked, I had no way to respond. Aaron’s blade stopped just before it would have cut through my stomach. 

“I yield,” I said. 

“You think that was underhanded, don’t you? Know this, Roxy—in a real battle, survival is everything. It will be no sparring match. Your swordplay is honest, and it is beautiful, but for that reason, it may lead you into danger. Don’t think that, because your opponent holds a sword, they will only use their blade to attack you. On the battlefield, you must see everything as a weapon. Let’s go again.” 

We put a little distance between us and jumped into another round. Now, I focused not just on Lord Aaron, but on his surroundings. I parried a strike to my stomach and retreated. Then, to ensure he wouldn’t press my back to the wall, I kicked a piece of rubble near my feet directly at Lord Aaron. 

He wasn’t expecting me to pick up his tactics so quickly, and surprise flashed across his face. He cut the debris in half and moved to close the distance once more, then stopped. 

“What horrid footwork!” he exclaimed. 

The statement seemed a little out of the blue, but the reason for it was his realization that I had kicked not one piece of rubble at him, but two. The second I knew his gaze had been caught by the first piece of rubble, I’d launched another behind it. As such, when he cut down the first, it looked as if another piece came straight out of its middle. He had to stop his follow-up attack to deflect the second piece. 

I did not want to let this momentary pause go to waste, but as I moved in to take advantage of the opportunity, Aaron hit the second piece of debris at my feet. I lost my balance trying to get out of the way, and at the same time I lost my chance to strike. 

I had thought this might turn the skirmish in my favor, but my opponent was the Blade of Light. The battle was never going to go smoothly. 

Lord Aaron seemed to think differently and laughed. “I must say, you got me. You certainly pick things up quickly. It seems that, rather than giving you long lectures, it’s better if I let the sword do the talking. Ready for another round?” 

After that, we engaged in a silent back-and-forth of attack and defense. It was exactly as Lord Aaron said; I barely had time to catch a breath through the echo of our swords clashing. Time flew by, and I suddenly realized I was so exhausted that I could barely stand. The sky above us was covered in a blanket of night. 

“Let’s call it a day, shall we?” he said. 

“Thank you, Lord Aaron.” I felt the energy drain from my body as I sheathed my sword and flopped to the ground, exhausted. 

Lord Aaron watched me as he stroked his beard, worry crossing his features. “Did I overdo it?” 

“Not at all. I’ll be fine. Look.” I quickly got to my feet to prove it, but couldn’t stop my legs from visibly trembling. 

“Hm. Make sure to relax and get a good night’s sleep,” Lord Aaron said. 

He disappeared into the castle, and shortly after, I heard hammering echoing inside it. He was working on repairs again, even though we’d spent the whole day training. His vitality was truly amazing. 

I was utterly exhausted. It had been a long time since I’d worked so hard. Since my father had passed away, nobody had been able to give me this type of intense training. When Lord Aaron had offered to train me, it had filled me with memories of those days. I suspected that was why I had pushed myself especially hard. At the same time, the exercise was refreshing. 

Thoughts whirled in my head—memories of the recent past. The day I became the new head of the Hart family, the first time I beheld the army I now led to Galia, and the person I had left behind in Seifort, Fate. 

What was Fate doing now? Had he made it safely to the Hart family estate? Perhaps my mother was already troubling him with her doting. Imagining Fate’s awkward expression in the face of my mother’s incessant affection made me smile. 

Roxy, you must stop! Keep this up, and you’ll get homesick all over again. 

I shook my head to clear it of stray thoughts, then realized Miria was calling to me. “Lady Roxy! Lady Roxy! Are you there?” 

She was looking for me, and she wasn’t being quiet about it. She’d stayed at Hausen with Mugan and the others, and had volunteered to assist me, since we were both girls. On the one hand, I was happy to have her around, but on the other… 

“Aha! I found you! When people call you, the least you can do is respond to them, Lady Roxy!” 

Miria tried to leap into a hug, which I deftly evaded. 

“What?!” she cried. “Why would you avoid me?!” 

“Look at me, Miria! I’ve just wiped all this sweat off.” That was apparently the least of Miria’s concerns. Still, it mattered to me. Sometimes that girl really didn’t get it. 

She moved closer to me, but I remained on my guard. “In that case, how about taking a bath? It’s all prepared and ready for you!” 

“Oh, really?!” Could there have been better news at that moment? 

I maintained a safe distance from Miria as she explained that Hausen had its own natural hot spring. It was the same as the Hart family estate! My body was so sore that it filled with energy at the thought of a relaxing hot spring bath. 

A little way from the castle, the troops had set up tents in the spacious town square. Miria took me to a tent set up for me; I quickly peeled off my armor and prepared a change of clothes and towel for the hot spring. 

I was a little concerned to find that Miria had done exactly the same thing. “Er, Miria? Why are you carrying a towel and a change of clothes?” 

“I think that’s fairly obvious, isn’t it? It’s because I’m going to bathe with you!” 

“Sorry, Miria, but…no. No, you’re not.” 

“What?! But why not?! What’s wrong with me?!” 

It wasn’t that anything was wrong with anyone, I was just unaccustomed to bathing with others. I couldn’t imagine relaxing with Miria splashing around. That was too embarrassing to admit, however, so I could only apologize. 

“This is the pits. The whole reason I came here was that I was dreaming of this moment…” 

“I think now is a bad time to voice those thoughts, Miria,” I said. 

“Eh? But why?!” 

She still didn’t grasp what I wanted her to understand. I pointed behind her and to the left, where a livid Mugan held back his real rage. 

“When you said you wanted to help Lady Roxy no matter what, Miria, it was so earnest I really thought you were turning over a new leaf,” he said with a dry chuckle. “But you actually haven’t changed a bit, have you?” 

“Ugh! Captain Mugan. What’re you doing here? I’m certain you’re supposed to be at the team meeting right now!” 

“I had a bad feeling that I couldn’t quite place. Call it intuition. And look what I find when I follow it! We’re going, Miria. Lady Roxy’s exhausted, and it’s our job to help her recover by not getting in her way.” 

“Getting in her way? That’s not what I was doing, was it, Lady Roxy?” 

Once more, I was quiet. 

“The silent treatment?! Again?!” Miria called out desperately as Mugan dragged her into the night. 

I averted my eyes. I’m very sorry, Miria, but I just want to take a relaxing bath by myself. 

*** 

The following day, Lord Aaron taught me another way to use the holy sword’s tech-art, Grand Cross. Based on my current level and abilities, he determined I’d be able to execute it. 

The lesson began with a demonstration. “The trick with this tech-art is to hold down its power the moment before release, like so.” 

White light emanated from Lord Aaron’s sword. The light grew, and when it was about to burst from his blade, Lord Aaron held that energy within it, imbuing the sword with holy light. 

“By maintaining this state,” he said, “you can give your sword all the holy power of the Grand Cross tech-art. Naturally, this raises the power and durability of the holy sword itself. This is helpful in situations where the tech-art’s strong point—its wide area of effect—becomes its weak point. That area of effect can make Grand Cross difficult to deploy without harming allies. But, with this, you can channel its power into single strikes, and the holy energy from your blade becomes effective against undead monsters, too.” 

It was a perfect evolution of the tech-art. The question was, could I do it? 

“Relax your shoulders, Roxy. You’ll only make it harder on yourself. The best thing to do first is simply try.” 

“Understood.” I focused my energy into my blade to begin the Grand Cross tech-art, and the holy sword shone. I waited for the light to reach its zenith, then tried to contain the energy as Lord Aaron had. 

It didn’t go according to plan. The energy built up in the sword escaped, bursting throughout the courtyard and cleansing it in holy light. “Oh…” 

I’d failed, but Aaron still smiled. “Nobody gets it right the first time, Roxy. The only way to perfect the technique is to practice until your sense of it sharpens. If you’re worried about the castle grounds, don’t be. They’re battered, and I don’t mind if your practice results in a little more damage. Just focus. Dive into the technique.” 

“No, I can’t add to your burden. I’ll limit my practice to the courtyard.” 

Lord Aaron wanted me to go for it without reservation, but the Grand Cross tech-art took a toll on my Vitality and Magic stats. Practicing one strike after another was nearly impossible. I took five minutes to recuperate before I tried again. The result was the same. Aaron stood by my side, offering encouragement with each failed attempt. I tried and tried, but… 

“Look on the bright side, Roxy,” he said, after what must have been my fiftieth attempt. “All this work has done a marvelous job of weeding the courtyard.” 

“I’m sorry, Lord Aaron…” 

I had a feel for the technique now, but I could only imbue the sword with holy energy for about three seconds. After that, the charge burst from my weapon as the usual Grand Cross attack. Three seconds was not nearly long enough to be useful in battle. It was humiliating to see my sword radiate light for mere moments after I swung it. 

Okay, Roxy, let’s give it one more try! As I channeled energy into my holy sword one last time, my vision went blurry. I fell to my knees. 

At that point, Lord Aaron put a stop to our training for the day. 

“That’s enough for now,” he said. “It’s a tiring technique. You won’t be able to practice at all if you push yourself to the breaking point.” 

“Yes, you’re right. I’ll try again tomorrow.” 

“We’ll get there yet, Roxy.” 

There was plenty of light left in the day, so I busied myself helping with the city’s restoration. We were only staying for a few days, and I feared we wouldn’t be able to repair the entirety of the outer wall in that time. However, at the very least, I wanted to show thanks by trying our best. Even if I couldn’t summon another Grand Cross, I could still use my body just fine. 

Lord Aaron and I headed to the section of the outer wall nearest the entrance gate. Mugan was likely already there, overseeing the repairs. The soldiers had decided that the main gate area deserved immediate attention because it was the face of Hausen. Still, how much work could we really do in just three days? To be honest, my expectations were low. 

However, when Lord Aaron saw the repairs to the gate, he was impressed. “This is just fantastic.” 

“My word…” I said. 

Mugan ran over once he noticed we’d arrived. “Have you finished training already?” 

“We have, so we’ve come to help out.” 

“Music to my ears. We’ll make some real progress with two holy knights here.” 

“But, Mugan, how did you manage to get so much done so quickly?” I asked. 

A sly grin crossed Mugan’s face, accompanied by a boastful gleam in his eyes. “Well, you know as well as I do how important it is to build fortifications for long battles. It just so happens that the soldiers remaining here in Hausen are experienced hands with just that kind of operation.” 

“I see you’ve thought this through. Tremendous work,” said Lord Aaron. 

Mugan bowed. “It’s the greatest honor to receive such praise from you, Lord Aaron.” 

So, that was why Mugan had proposed we repair the outer wall. It seemed his men had also done a good job finding reusable bricks, wood, and debris to make the work easier. 

Lord Aaron and I put our holy knight stats to good use by carrying away the largest pieces of debris and breaking them down into more workable pieces. Just carrying these materials would usually have taken ten men, but for us, the work was simple. These sorts of situations made holy knights’ vast strength very apparent. 

As night fell, we finished securing the necessary materials to repair the main gate. There was nothing further for Lord Aaron or I to do. We left the rest of the repairs to Mugan and his construction specialists. Mugan himself was grateful; he expected that they might even finish the section by the end of our last day. 

“You leave the rest to us,” he said. “You should get yourself some rest for tomorrow’s training.” 

“You’re right,” I said. “I’ll do just that. But that goes for you and your men, too. Don’t work too hard.” 

“All right, all right.” 

I waved and headed for my tent back in the town square. I left Lord Aaron with Mugan, since the two had things to discuss regarding the main gate. My heart fluttered with a touch of excitement when I thought about soaking in the hot spring bath once more. The soothing effect of hot spring water on an exhausted body truly was a miracle! 

I expected Miria to make an excuse to join me in the bath, but she was doing additional survey work around the city. For Hausen to be acknowledged as an official city once again, Seifort needed a report confirming that the monsters had truly been purged. This mission had been given to her specially from Mugan, though he had an ulterior motive; he was worried Miria might disrupt the repairs on the gate. She wasn’t a bad girl, by any means. She was just, well, loyal to a fault, and happened to get herself into a lot of mischief. 

In any case, I was free to enjoy another relaxed bath, all by myself. I quickly stripped off my armor in my tent and got my towel and change of clothes. I felt my body’s desire to once again submerge into the warm bathwater. Hausen’s hot spring was truly impressive. 

*** 

“Ahh, what a wonderful bath…” 

I returned to my tent wrapped in cozy relaxation. I felt so comfortable and warm that I would have dropped into sleep the moment I lay down. Before that, though, my armor and sword needed my attention. I took a cloth and polished them clean of dirt and grime. It had been a while since I had done this. Usually, Miria did this maintenance for me. I never asked her to, but she did it all the same. 

“That’s better,” I said, examining my work. 

With my armor and sword ready, I prepared my clothes for tomorrow. Finally, I placed my pendant by my bed. The blue jewel was a gift I had received from Fate. I’d asked a craftsman to make a pendant for it so I could easily take the stone with me wherever I went. It was only a small thing, but I needed it to remember the days we had spent together, and how much I had enjoyed them. This pendant was my link to Fate. 

“Tomorrow, I’ll show you my very best. I’m going to get stronger and accomplish my duties in Galia so I can come home to Seifort. Okay, Fate?” 

I touched the pendant tenderly, then felt an uncomfortable gaze bore into my head. I turned around and saw a face glare at me through the gap in the tent entrance. 

I screamed in shock, then realized who the eyes belonged to. “Miria?!” 

“What’s the meaning of this?!” She was completely oblivious to the fact that she had just scared the wits out of me. She stormed into my tent and pointed at the pendant. “It can’t be! Did you get this pendant…from a boy?! You did, didn’t you?! And you didn’t tell me a thing about it! Not one thing!” 

I wasn’t sure why I was supposed to have told her anything at all about my private affairs. This was an important memory of mine, and I wished she’d leave it alone. 

“It can’t be! My dear Lady Roxy, she… Someone tell me it’s a lie!” Miria was in shock. She looked like a child abandoned. In fact, she appeared so devastated that I thought it was important to say something to calm her down. However, Miria spoke first. “It’s decided! I’m sleeping over tonight so that I can forget all about this bad dream!” 

“What? How will that help?!” 

“Please, Lady Roxy! I’m begging you!” 

“Calm down, or you’ll pull down the whole tent, Miria! And, please, watch out for the clothes I set out for tomorrow!” I was utterly dumbstruck by her tantrum. 

At that moment, her ever-conscientious babysitter arrived. Mugan’s arm deftly poked through the tent entrance and took hold of Miria’s collar. With one quick movement, he pulled Miria out of the tent. 

Outside, I heard the two begin arguing. 

“If you want to sleep together with someone so badly, you can spend the night by my side.” 

“Huh?!” 

“It might not look like it, but when my daughter was young, I was a master of putting her to bed. Shall I regale you with my vast setlist of lullabies?” 

“No! Absolutely not. I’ll be just fine with Lady Roxy, thank you, Captain.” 

“Beggars can’t be choosers, young Miria. You’ll have to make do with old Mugan.” 

“What?! No! Lady Roxy, help!” 

I felt sorry for Miria, but at the same time, I thought it might be good for her to reflect on invading my privacy. I silently listened to her cries as they faded into the distance, then went to sleep to prepare for the following day’s training. 

My training was for me, yes. But it was just as much for my soldiers, who had provided me the time to take this opportunity. I intended to give it my absolute best. 

*** 

Our last day of training took place in the castle courtyard, which had become our practice ground. I had executed the Grand Cross technique some twenty times, yet I still could not contain its power. 

“You’ve improved since yesterday,” said Lord Aaron. “From three seconds to six. Nothing to be so glum about, Roxy. Progress is progress.” 

My breathing was heavy and exhausted. “But this…like this…it’s…not going to be of any use…” 

There was nothing for it but to keep practicing. I had to believe that, even if I hadn’t mastered the technique, I was indeed improving. I felt as if I was on the cusp of getting it; I just needed a little more time. 

I gripped my holy sword tight once more and readied myself for another attempt. As I did, a great sound echoed from the town square on the eastern side of the city. A building had crumbled, sending sand and clouds of dust into the sky. 

“That…that energy, it’s…” 

“You can feel it, even from this distance? Impressive,” said Lord Aaron. “Yes, you’re on the mark. Monsters.” 

So, monsters were still lurking in the city after all, and they had finally decided to rear their heads. Our exploration earlier had been meant to avert this sort of disaster, but it seemed we underestimated the sheer size of Hausen. 

I sheathed my sword. Lord Aaron and I rushed from the castle toward the commotion. By the time we reached the area, my troops were already holding the beasts at bay. 

Mugan noticed our arrival and brought us up to speed on the situation. “The main gate repairs were proceeding ahead of schedule, so I split the team and had them start clearing debris. Underneath, our men discovered a large hole. We suspect it connected to the sewer system. Monsters just poured out of it. We’re evacuating townsfolk so we can hold the creatures off, but as you can see, we were caught flat-footed.” 

One look at our enemies told me everything I needed to know. We were fighting the undead: skeleton knights and skeleton archers. Against regular attacks, these monsters simply crumpled into piles of bones, then pulled themselves back together. Defeating them meant using either magic or elemental-infused attacks. 

The battle was already underway. Soldiers and skeletons clashed everywhere. Casting spells here could just as easily injure allies as foes. As for elemental attacks, only Miria could use magic swords. 

She ran up to me with her flamberge in hand, the scalloped blade alight with flame. “Lady Roxy, I’m so sorry! If I’d been more careful with my investigation, this never would’ve happened.” 

“It’s nothing to worry yourself about, Miria. I know you did the very best you could. There’s no way you could have known they were hiding in the sewers.” 

“Roxy’s right,” Lord Aaron added. “I’ve been in Hausen since we started rebuilding, and I never noticed a thing. If you’re going to blame anyone, you should start with me. These monsters are more cunning, more ingenious than I ever suspected. But first things first—let’s clear them out. Are you with me?” 

“Thank you, Lord Aaron! I’m right behind you!” 

Empowered by his words, Miria charged with him toward the skeletons. Aaron unleashed his Grand Cross tech-art and imbued his blade with holy power. He was ready to take on the undead. Miria put her flamberge to good use, cutting her enemies into flaming ashes. But the two were trapped in a dogfight against enemies who continued to pour out from the hole in the floor, and they were trapped on the back foot. 

I wanted to join the fray and support them, but I still couldn’t wield Grand Cross as freely as Lord Aaron. If I couldn’t control the tech-art, I knew its explosive effects would do more harm than good. Possibilities rushed through my head. Should I slow the skeletons down using regular attacks, or would I be better off helping the remaining townsfolk evacuate? 

My eyes stopped on my pendant as it slipped from my chest piece. If Fate saw me like this, what would he think? 

“He’d…he’d laugh at me, wouldn’t he?” 

I couldn’t let that happen. I had to hold true to his expectations. I had to be true to myself . I wouldn’t back down. Not here. 

It’s okay. It’s fine. Just focus, and… 

I channeled energy into my sword to charge the Grand Cross tech-art. As the energy peaked, I grasped it. Faces flashed before my eyes. The members of the Hart family…my mother, my father. Lord Aaron, Miria, Mugan, and the troops under my command. And of course, Fate. 

I would not betray their hopes. I would not betray their trust. 

“This…” 

My holy sword was immersed in light. Power circulated through the blade, nestling inside the metal. I had finally succeeded in truly imbuing my sword with holy energy. I knew just what to use it for. I leapt into the fray, joining Lord Aaron and Miria. 

“Sorry I’m late,” I cried. “But I’m here to help!” 

“By the look of that blade…you’ve finally mastered it, haven’t you?” Lord Aaron asked. 

“I never could have done it without your guidance, Lord Aaron. You have my thanks!” 

He ran his sword through another skeleton and grinned. “Think nothing of it!” 

Miria leapt with joy and rushed to me. “Are you really fighting for me, Lady Roxy?!” 

I had no idea how to respond to her. 

“Why the silent treatment again?! Am I wrong?” 

“Miria, I’m not fighting solely for your sake! I fight for all of us!” 

“Woo!” she pumped her fist. “But that includes me, right?! You better look out, because I’m all sorts of fired up right now!” 

Miria cut down skeleton after skeleton, overjoyed at hearing only the words she wanted to hear. I left her as she was. For now, it was better to concentrate on the fight. 

Though we were initially at a disadvantage, with my support, the tide turned in our favor. The townsfolk safely evacuated, and all that was left was to defeat the rest of the skeletons swarming from the hole in the ground. 

But the road ahead was never as smooth as we hoped. The ground around the hole crumbled, and from within the darkness emanated monstrous pressure. 

Lord Aaron seemed to have predicted this. “Roxy, Miria, get behind me,” he said. “Everyone else, take cover!” By informing everybody of the incoming threat, he cleared enough room to fight whatever was coming. “I suspected something else lurked down there. Something that cloaked these skeletons, so we couldn’t sense their presence. Still, I didn’t expect this .” 

A lich lord itself appeared from the darkness. Lord Aaron’s Identify skill told him this monster was not a true crowned beast, merely a smaller spawn of hate, but it was dangerous all the same. I had spent a good deal of time polishing my skills and leveling up on the way to Hausen. However, facing off against a lich lord alone was sheer folly. 

But since I have Lord Aaron by my side… 

“Miria,” I said, snapping the girl out of her shock. “I need you to handle the rest of the skeletons. Lord Aaron and I will take care of the lich lord. Lord Aaron?” 

“Works for me,” he said. “This is quite the opponent. I must admit I’m looking forward to it!” 

We faced the lich lord and closed in, attacking from opposite directions. I struck first, cutting in from the left. The lich deflected my blow with its scythe. However, I had expected that, and my movement left the lich’s right side free for Lord Aaron. He stabbed his blade deep into the beast’s torso, slicing it open. 

Lord Aaron knocked the lich off-balance. I wasn’t going to give it a chance to recover. I pushed its scythe up into the air, then cut deep into its body before jumping back. Our attacks weakened the monster. Since our opening assaults were a success, victory was a matter of keeping the momentum in our favor. 

As I prepared for another attack, Lord Aaron moved toward me. “What is it, Lord Aaron?” 

“Look at it,” he said. “The monster won’t move easily after those attacks. So, let me teach you one last thing before you go.” 

He pointed his blade toward the lich lord in a movement I now knew all too well. It was the Grand Cross, and he aimed at the lich lord’s squirming body. “Place your blade above mine, Roxy.” 

“All right.” When my blade touched Lord Aaron’s, the two holy swords lit up even brighter. 

“This is something the young man I told you of taught me,” said Lord Aaron. “The young man who was also a holy knight. I had no idea it was possible—perhaps because, as holy knights, we are strong enough on our own that we rarely fight alongside others. I realized then that perhaps even more powers are hidden in these techniques we use. But discovering those isn’t a job for an old man like me! No, it’s for the youths who’ll lead us into the future!” 

“Lord Aaron…” 

“I have taught you everything I can, Roxy. Are you ready?” 

“Yes!” 

Our blades simultaneously charged with energy, and we released our blinding holy light with a unified shout. 

“Grand Cross!” 

A colossal pillar of light engulfed the lich. It shrieked and writhed in agony as it swung its scythe and, weapon and all, disintegrated in the cleansing radiance of our attack. 

The brilliance of the Grand Cross quickly faded into the customary quiet of Hausen. 

That moment of calm seemed to symbolize the end of my studies with Lord Aaron. 

*** 

With the main gate repairs complete, our small squadron prepared to leave Hausen and return to the rest of the army. Lord Aaron and his people saw us off at the gate. It made me very happy, but all the same, I felt sorrow to be leaving. 

“Roxy,” said Lord Aaron, with a slightly troubled look on his face, “can I ask you a small favor?” 

“What is it, Lord Aaron? If it is within my abilities, please do not hesitate to ask.” 

The old holy knight hesitated a moment before he went on. “The young man I told you about, the one who made his way here by the hands of fate. He was equipped with a black sword, and he was headed for Galia.” 

“Galia?” 

“Yes. That young man possesses an incredible power, yet I sensed that he struggles to keep it under control. If you meet him in your travels across Galia, I want you to save him. Please, Roxy. Save him before he loses himself to that power.” 

“But…Lord Aaron, why me?” 

Lord Aaron smiled, then his gaze fell firmly upon my own. “Because you are the same, you and that young man. Your personalities and your swordsmanship are worlds apart, but you both carry great emotion in your blades. In time, your feelings will be stronger than any skill you could acquire. That’s what I think, and that’s why I am asking you.” 

I felt awkward to have Lord Aaron, the Blade of Light, bow his head to me, but I accepted his request. I did not know who this young man was who could have had such an impact on the old holy knight. Still, if this mysterious person was truly headed for Galia, then he would most certainly reveal himself to me. This young man had taught the Blade of Light himself the hidden potential of the Grand Cross. And if such a man went to Galia… 

“If it is within my power to do so,” I said, “I will do my very best.” 

“You have my thanks, young holy knight.” Lord Aaron smiled and held out his hand. 

This is not goodbye, I thought. This is a promise that we will meet again . 

I shook his hand, and I left Hausen. 

In my heart, I thanked Lord Aaron once more for all his help and his teachings. Then my thoughts turned to the young man who he had mentioned, the mysterious holy knight who carried a black sword. I had a feeling that somewhere in Galia, that black-clad holy knight and I… 

Our paths were destined to cross.