Chapter 73 – Migratory Birds in Summer.
“…So you want to fight him?”
Usher asked Donnar, glaring at the boy in front of him. Usher, who decided to receive training at his suggestion, followed Donar and came out to a large open space in the castle. According to him, he said that it was not originally used as a gymnasium, but he was using it temporarily with permission. But no one can be seen around.
“Yeah, I thought it would be best to have a match with a similar age group first if you want to take care of you.”
“You mean he’s the same age as him?”
“Yes.”
The problem was that Rogi was the right age, but he couldn’t even look at him properly, as if he felt guilty about his appearance, but from Usher’s point of view, that seemed even more heinous. In fact, this was a decision Donard had in mind for the two of them. As Usher had never done anything like this, he originally thought about choosing more easy-going kids, but he thought it would be more efficient to encourage competition.
“Because you seem to lack awareness.”
Listening to him and following him, it didn’t seem like there was anything wrong, but I felt like I was lacking in that I didn’t train myself first and only realized it after receiving an offer. In that respect, Rogi was a good opponent to Usher in many ways. The children didn’t say a word, but the air that flowed between the three of them was stiff enough that anyone would know if they were together. At first, I didn’t care because the girl was at the level of being wary of strangers or ushers.
But was it because of that? From a certain moment, it had deteriorated to a level that was difficult to see as simply fighting among children. Even more problematic is that it happened not when Pan’s incident happened, but after Pan was abandoned in the wilderness. So he figured out something else was up. Last night he didn’t say anything because the mood was the mood, but when dinner was over today he grabbed Rogi and asked what happened with Usher and Belka.
It should be taken for granted, but Logi kept his mouth shut and didn’t try to talk, but after continuing to question him, he finally opened his mouth. And what he found out was shocking. After hearing that Rogi couldn’t resist the urge and raped the girl again. Then he could understand everything. He wondered whether he should be angry and scolded or he would not say anything like this. He said calmly.
“It’s natural for people your age to be curious about such things. No one can tell you how wrong it is, and it must have been difficult to understand. I can understand to some extent that you fell for Pan’s trick. But this time…”
However, knowing that it was a mistake and a sin, doing it impulsively and forcibly was completely unacceptable for a fiancé who had gone through something similar. Still, he had to give the last admonition as an adult in dealing with a child he had a lot of affection for and from the same country for the last time. Even Donard couldn’t tell if that was really the right way.
“I can’t just let it go. I’ll arrange a place for you first. After that, you do it yourself. I won’t care if you apologize or get slapped.”
And so it happened. At this rate, I thought that even a sword fight would be raw, so I thought about a way to solve it, and this was the result. If it’s natural to fight, let’s set the stage. Rather, it was thought that mediating under the name of Dalian could prevent accidents from occurring. After a fight, the remnants left on each other might be resolved a little. That’s why he rented this vacant lot, separate from the one his colleagues use as a gymnasium. So that the two of us can fight to our heart’s content.
This was also to see Usher’s fighting skills and physical abilities, but no matter which side won, there was some benefit. If Usher wins, he can alleviate Rogi’s guilt, but if Rogi wins, Usher will be alert and train desperately. But Donnar was expecting Logi to win. Usher was a rather strong country boy, but Rogi was a professionally trained and promising boy in Paciphenia.
He brought Usher a protective gear that would fit him in size and put it on. Plate mail, which is mainly used by knights, is only for sturdy adults unless it is made to order due to cost and efficiency issues, but there are quite a few leather guards made for children who dream of becoming knights. Logi was also under the same conditions. The weapon is a sword of a size appropriate to the body of the two.
“…”
Usher glared at Logi without saying anything. At first, there was Belka’s words, and at least it was a mistake, so I was able to move on. But when he told the girl that he was with Rogi with a face that looked like he was going to cry. How did you feel? Even though he had been through Mac and Pan’s work, the situation did not follow him, and his suppressed emotions were facing one of the causes, so it seemed that they would boil and burst out. Still, he waited with minimal patience for Donar’s words.
“Then begin.”
But it was just there. There was no reason to wait as long as the signal was down. He immediately raised his sword and tried to strike Logi in the head, but the guy raised the sword horizontally and blocked his head. The natural appearance, like flowing water, looked quite plausible. The power itself seems to be boiling, so I try to press it with force, but the sword only shakes but does not move.
If it wasn’t for the protective gear he had been wearing beforehand, the shock transmitted to the protective gear was enough for him to know that he would have been very sick. The first match ended so absurdly. If I had hit you one more time, I wouldn’t have been unfair. His sword, which he tried to press with force, could only be seen blocked by the cross guard.
“If you try to press down with force like that, of course you will be swung. Think a little more and move the sword.”
Donar coldly pointed out Usher and ordered him to fight again. He even questioned why he was asked to sparring without basic training, but now all he wanted to do was beat Rogi. This time he swung his sword fast and tried to make it unstoppable. However, when the swords met, Logi’s wooden sword stuck to his sword and did not fall. He tried to swing his sword again, but was hit in the back while he was aghast.
“If you wield it casually, is it a club or a sword? Again.”
After that, I tried several times, but the result was the same. No matter how hard he tried, Usher couldn’t even brush the tip of his sword against Rogi. It was like hitting a tight shield with a club over and over again. Even though they were the same knife.
“Ha, why are you like this?”
Still, as long as he had his stamina, he continued to swing his wooden sword at Logi without Donar’s instructions, but Usher collapsed from exhaustion first without any success. His whole body was numb, and no matter how much he was wearing protective gear, it hurt everywhere he was hit. I had already thought of beating him up, but the reality was like this. He couldn’t stand the growing resentment, and eventually his tears flowed out.
He seemed to be about to spill out if he did something wrong, but thinking that he couldn’t cry in front of him, he clenched his teeth and widened his eyes.
“It’s not strange that you lose. This guy has been training before you since he was younger than he is now.”
Those were the words of Donar, who was watching Usher.
“If you want to travel, shouldn’t you at least beat kids your age?”
Even without him saying it, Usher felt miserably well. What will happen to her as she continues to travel as she is now. He couldn’t beat even the weakest boys his age among those who forcibly raped Belka. That said, if the trip continued like this, the result was obvious. The fact that a girl is beautiful is a fact that can be known without talking about it. Then, are there only three people who will harbor her black feelings over her? It is quickly apparent that this is not the case.
Didn’t someone show interest in Belka even now? Usher felt his muscles scream and sweat all over his body, but he didn’t mind. Being the first to fight is no excuse. Defeat brings the worst results. All I thought was that I had to become stronger. Even for a girl. Even to beat up that kid. The sparring with Rogi today ended with Usher losing unilaterally.
That evening. They planned to have dinner with the people of the upper ranks, but when they heard from the castle maid that their dinner had already been prepared, they had no choice but to endure the burden and head to the banquet hall.
“Usher!?”
But what Donard hadn’t considered was Belka. Led by Medea, she came to the banquet hall first, and was surprised to find Usher, who had barely washed her sweaty body. She is so intense that she grabs his face and looks around, crying. No matter how much she was wearing protective equipment, she couldn’t help the wounds that were caused by being hit once.
“How come this?”
“Uh, this is just training.”
Usher hesitated, but couldn’t help but notice her eyes glancing at Donnar.
‘Ouch! Are you going to kill me?’
Realizing this, Belka’s resentful gaze turned to him, and Donnar jumped inside. For some reason, the girl wasn’t wearing a mask, and that’s how many people looked at her. Thanks to that, he received enough gaze that he would have been pierced to death a long time ago if his gaze had physical power, and he finally pretended that evening. Rogi, who actually made Usher like that, looked at Belka and Usher sticking together in the middle of the crowd, lowered his head, ate quietly, and left the banquet.
“By the way, Belka, what about the mask?”
“That…”
“I’m holding it.”
Before the girl could answer, Medea, who approached her, said happily.
“Hey, why are you holding that?”
As he looks at her bewildered, she chuckles.
“But isn’t it a waste to live with such a pretty face covered? So I asked her to take off her mask while she was in the castle.”
Usher’s dinner wasn’t very comfortable either. I was so hungry that I ate it without even paying attention to whether the food went into my mouth or nose. But the real problem was when to sleep. Although Usher intended to sleep with Belka.
“What? Separate women’s and men’s rooms?”
“I think Heath showed us around lunchtime, but I guess you didn’t hear?”
Medea shrugged her shoulders at Usher’s words.
“It’s troublesome if the population suddenly increases in the castle. Above all, if you do that, people in the next room will hear it. Is it a nuisance?”
He eventually had to convince the girl to share a different room. Here, he wanted to say that he had no intention of doing such a thing, but they couldn’t stand Mediah’s eyes as if he said he knew everything.
“Whoops, then shall we sleep together?”
“That’s real!”
Watching Belka dragged away by Mediah, Usher could only get annoyed. But most of all, she couldn’t stand it.
“”…””
She realizes that he and Rogi are in the same room. He remembered the events of the day and gnashed his teeth. If it was intentional, it was malicious, and if it was just accidental, it was ironic.
