More and more people began to gather at the parade ground.
The people who had come running as if there was a big spectacle, chattering loudly, were pushed from the center to the edge, and then back to the center again, and were left speechless at the sight of the Commander of the Knights being beaten until dust flew up.
“Ugh! Wait a minute! Your Majesty! Argh! Ugh!”
“I said it’s too late! Raise your sword and strike! Again!”
“No, just give me time to strike, ugh!”
Erdene was barely visible swinging her wooden sword.
It seemed that Belen was blocking it a few times, and there were times when the wooden swords clashed against each other and made a “clap!” sound.
However, instead of seizing the opportunity, Erdene, who was excited that he had blocked the attack, would press him even harder.
Coincidentally, when Arkan appeared on the parade grounds with Plat, who was gasping for breath, it was right after Belen had blocked another attack.
At the moment when Plat’s mouth fell open at the sight of the knight commander being hit hard, the wooden sword that had been thrown out of Belen’s hand slid across the floor. Silence flowed.
“What the...!”
As Plat, enraged, tried to step forward, Arkan raised his arm to block him.
“No, Your Majesty!”
“Stay still.”
Arkan looked back and forth between Belen, who was lying on the floor with his limbs stretched out, and Erdene, who seemed to be enjoying the most refreshing moment of her life.
She didn’t even notice Arkan or the crowd—or maybe she didn’t care at all—but she kicked Belen’s wooden sword off the floor with her foot and lightly picked it up.
“Did you lie down because you moved it a little?”
Belen looked up at Erdene, rolling his eyes as if he didn’t have the strength to move his head, and gasped.
“That’s right... Today is a holiday, I told you.”
After gasping for breath for a moment, he sat up.
His whole body ached and he let out a groan, but he barely held it back because there were so many eyes watching him. Erdene, who had her wooden sword resting on her shoulder, looked down at Belen and smiled.
She thought that he was indeed a guy who deserved to be raised.
“You have a nice body.”
Belen took a deep breath and lifted his face, which was covered in dirt.
“What did you do?”
“What do you mean?”
Belen, who was about to answer, coughed a few times, spat out the sand on the tip of his tongue, and looked up at Erdene with even more interest.
“That last attack. You swung and hit my whole body. For a moment, I thought I was winter cotton.”
Erdene grinned. She lightly shook the wooden sword on her shoulder, then quickly turned it around with both hands, holding the middle.
Belen’s mouth fell open.
“Are you saying you used the wooden sword as a staff?”
“Is there a reason why not?”
Belen seemed to be floundering, unable to find a response.
He was a great warrior and had led reinforcements several times when Hirschsten was at war with other kingdoms.
However, the way he fought and commanded his troops was somewhat textbook.
In the first place, Belen Wiziard was more honest and practiced what he had learned from his master rather than using useless techniques in battle.
It was impossible for him to abandon that habit just because it was a simple wooden sword duel.
Erdene smiled as if she had seen through Belen’s mind and said,
“They say that those who exert themselves are usually stubborn. Of course, there are cases like that, but if you are going to engage in something that requires exertion, you need to be able to do this well.”
“Ugh! Wait a minute! Your Majesty! Argh! Ugh!”
“I said it’s too late! Raise your sword and strike! Again!”
“No, just give me time to strike, ugh!”
Erdene was barely visible swinging her wooden sword.
It seemed that Belen was blocking it a few times, and there were times when the wooden swords clashed against each other and made a “clap!” sound.
However, instead of seizing the opportunity, Erdene, who was excited that he had blocked the attack, would press him even harder.
Coincidentally, when Arkan appeared on the parade grounds with Plat, who was gasping for breath, it was right after Belen had blocked another attack.
At the moment when Plat’s mouth fell open at the sight of the knight commander being hit hard, the wooden sword that had been thrown out of Belen’s hand slid across the floor. Silence flowed.
“What the...!”
As Plat, enraged, tried to step forward, Arkan raised his arm to block him.
“No, Your Majesty!”
“Stay still.”
Arkan looked back and forth between Belen, who was lying on the floor with his limbs stretched out, and Erdene, who seemed to be enjoying the most refreshing moment of her life.
She didn’t even notice Arkan or the crowd—or maybe she didn’t care at all—but she kicked Belen’s wooden sword off the floor with her foot and lightly picked it up.
“Did you lie down because you moved it a little?”
Belen looked up at Erdene, rolling his eyes as if he didn’t have the strength to move his head, and gasped.
“That’s right... Today is a holiday, I told you.”
After gasping for breath for a moment, he sat up.
His whole body ached and he let out a groan, but he barely held it back because there were so many eyes watching him. Erdene, who had her wooden sword resting on her shoulder, looked down at Belen and smiled.
She thought that he was indeed a guy who deserved to be raised.
“You have a nice body.”
Belen took a deep breath and lifted his face, which was covered in dirt.
“What did you do?”
“What do you mean?”
Belen, who was about to answer, coughed a few times, spat out the sand on the tip of his tongue, and looked up at Erdene with even more interest.
“That last attack. You swung and hit my whole body. For a moment, I thought I was winter cotton.”
Erdene grinned. She lightly shook the wooden sword on her shoulder, then quickly turned it around with both hands, holding the middle.
Belen’s mouth fell open.
“Are you saying you used the wooden sword as a staff?”
“Is there a reason why not?”
Belen seemed to be floundering, unable to find a response.
He was a great warrior and had led reinforcements several times when Hirschsten was at war with other kingdoms.
However, the way he fought and commanded his troops was somewhat textbook.
In the first place, Belen Wiziard was more honest and practiced what he had learned from his master rather than using useless techniques in battle.
It was impossible for him to abandon that habit just because it was a simple wooden sword duel.
Erdene smiled as if she had seen through Belen’s mind and said,
“They say that those who exert themselves are usually stubborn. Of course, there are cases like that, but if you are going to engage in something that requires exertion, you need to be able to do this well.”
Erdene pointed to the side of her head with her finger and pretended to spin it around.
Belen was an unofficial, but he was born and raised in a good family in Vetor, so he was startled again by her straightforward and direct gesture.
“If you think that the battle will proceed only according to the pattern you know, you are very mistaken. If they are the small fry who can push that pattern without any problems, it will be fine, but always keep in mind what to do when you face an opponent who is not like that. I mean, think about what to do to end that guy’s life in one breath.”
At that moment, Belen almost said that the only opponent like that on this continent was Erdene.
He swallowed hard, so his mouth choked. He coughed, and his whole body ached.
Belen, who was coughing, asked,
“Then, did Your Majesty fight like that just now? Did you assume that the duel with me was a war... and try to end my life in one breath?”
Erdene, who looked down at him with a bewildered expression, laughed softly.
“If I had intended to do that, you would have died.”
Belen, who had been gaping, smiled bitterly.
“I would have. But it seems you have at least warmed up.”
“That’s right, it’s really refreshing. I’ll have to come find you often.”
Whether it was because of those words or because the stamina he had been squeezing out of him ran out, Belen collapsed back down and fainted.
While several young soldiers following him ran over and the officers standing around, who didn’t know what to do with their confusion, Erdene threw her wooden sword carelessly as if telling them to put it away and turned around, shaking her hand.
Arkan was standing right across from her.
The moment their eyes met in midair, Erdene pretended to roll her tongue and muttered softly.
“Damn it.”
He’s going to nag me again. Erdene thought.
But surprisingly, instead of jumping up and down, asking what was going on, Arkan pointed to the unconscious Belen being carried away by the soldiers, not with his hand, but with his chin, and said.
“Don’t kill my captain. Even if you do that, he’s a rare sight around here.”
Erdene opened her eyes wide in surprise and then snickered.
“I won’t kill him. Don’t worry.”
She stretched out both her arms and stretched.
Sophia had already brought a handkerchief soaked in cold water and thoroughly wiped Erdene’s face, neck, and hands, which were covered in dirt.
Despite all the vigorous movement, her clothes weren’t even torn.
Arkan said with a hollow laugh.
“You look so relieved.”
“I guess I can catch my breath.”
“You’ve turned the one and only Knight Commander of Vetor and the King’s Guard into a squashed pie dough in front of all these people, and you’re just taking a breather?”
“Why, Your Majesty. If your pride is hurt...”
Arkan’s eyebrows shot up. Erdene blew the tips of her nails and shrugged her shoulders.
“Write it in your diary.”
Plat groaned in vain.
Arkan patted him and made him step back, then took a step toward Erdene.
“Well, I won’t be the one to get hurt. If my pride is hurt, it’s Wiziard who’s going to get hurt, why should I?”
However, his voice couldn’t help but tremble a little. Erdene didn’t go that far and just laughed quietly like a prankster.
She didn’t notice the suspicious smile on Arkan’s face because she was busy.
“It’s perfect timing.”
Erdene, who had raised her head, blinked in bewilderment at Arkan’s action of grabbing her wrist.
“What are you doing, Your Majesty?”
Arkan answered.
“People have to do everything equally. People who only work become fools, and people who only play become idiots. If you only study, you become crazy, and if you only use your body, you become an idiot.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You've moved your body so much, so now is the time to use your head. I was wondering when to bring it up, and now this opportunity has come up.”
Arkan slipped the hand that was holding Erdene’s wrist and held her small hand tightly but affectionately.
Then he started walking ahead.
“No, wait a minute. Your Majesty! Where are you going... Oh, what is it! You're kidnapping me right now, look at this!”
Erdene screamed as she followed him absentmindedly.
The place Arkan took her was a study close to the King’s quarters.
No. Erdene thought. This was a study, but it was actually a kingdom.
It was a place where all kinds of books gathered together to create a damn country.
The high, circular ceiling was cool and open, and there were windows that let in plenty of sunlight, but the sunlight never reached the bookshelves.
The translucent curtains were always closed, blocking out the light so that the bookshelves wouldn’t turn yellow.
The bookshelves were almost twice Arkan’s height, and they were stacked in two or three layers so that they could be moved around.
Every inch of the walls was filled with these.
While Erdene was lost in thought, Arkan ran toward the dark bookshelves and returned with a strangely cheerful expression.
He was holding two books in his hands. One was thick, but the other was a bit thin.
“This is...”
“I don’t like them both.”
At Erdene’s words, which immediately came out, Arkan stared at her with an expression that seemed to doubt his ears.
“I haven’t even said anything yet.”
“Didn’t you think I’d have to choose between the two? I don’t like them both.”
“What are you talking about? This is mine, and this is yours.”
With that, he handed Erdene a thin page of the book.
Erdene didn’t even bother to look at the book, although she felt relieved inside.
Arkan smiled and looked back at the study. Erdene had never seen him this happy...
Although she couldn’t have known that Arkan had thought the same thing when he looked at her at the parade ground earlier.
“I’m glad I can finally show you this place.”
Belen was an unofficial, but he was born and raised in a good family in Vetor, so he was startled again by her straightforward and direct gesture.
“If you think that the battle will proceed only according to the pattern you know, you are very mistaken. If they are the small fry who can push that pattern without any problems, it will be fine, but always keep in mind what to do when you face an opponent who is not like that. I mean, think about what to do to end that guy’s life in one breath.”
At that moment, Belen almost said that the only opponent like that on this continent was Erdene.
He swallowed hard, so his mouth choked. He coughed, and his whole body ached.
Belen, who was coughing, asked,
“Then, did Your Majesty fight like that just now? Did you assume that the duel with me was a war... and try to end my life in one breath?”
Erdene, who looked down at him with a bewildered expression, laughed softly.
“If I had intended to do that, you would have died.”
Belen, who had been gaping, smiled bitterly.
“I would have. But it seems you have at least warmed up.”
“That’s right, it’s really refreshing. I’ll have to come find you often.”
Whether it was because of those words or because the stamina he had been squeezing out of him ran out, Belen collapsed back down and fainted.
While several young soldiers following him ran over and the officers standing around, who didn’t know what to do with their confusion, Erdene threw her wooden sword carelessly as if telling them to put it away and turned around, shaking her hand.
Arkan was standing right across from her.
The moment their eyes met in midair, Erdene pretended to roll her tongue and muttered softly.
“Damn it.”
He’s going to nag me again. Erdene thought.
But surprisingly, instead of jumping up and down, asking what was going on, Arkan pointed to the unconscious Belen being carried away by the soldiers, not with his hand, but with his chin, and said.
“Don’t kill my captain. Even if you do that, he’s a rare sight around here.”
Erdene opened her eyes wide in surprise and then snickered.
“I won’t kill him. Don’t worry.”
She stretched out both her arms and stretched.
Sophia had already brought a handkerchief soaked in cold water and thoroughly wiped Erdene’s face, neck, and hands, which were covered in dirt.
Despite all the vigorous movement, her clothes weren’t even torn.
Arkan said with a hollow laugh.
“You look so relieved.”
“I guess I can catch my breath.”
“You’ve turned the one and only Knight Commander of Vetor and the King’s Guard into a squashed pie dough in front of all these people, and you’re just taking a breather?”
“Why, Your Majesty. If your pride is hurt...”
Arkan’s eyebrows shot up. Erdene blew the tips of her nails and shrugged her shoulders.
“Write it in your diary.”
Plat groaned in vain.
Arkan patted him and made him step back, then took a step toward Erdene.
“Well, I won’t be the one to get hurt. If my pride is hurt, it’s Wiziard who’s going to get hurt, why should I?”
However, his voice couldn’t help but tremble a little. Erdene didn’t go that far and just laughed quietly like a prankster.
She didn’t notice the suspicious smile on Arkan’s face because she was busy.
“It’s perfect timing.”
Erdene, who had raised her head, blinked in bewilderment at Arkan’s action of grabbing her wrist.
“What are you doing, Your Majesty?”
Arkan answered.
“People have to do everything equally. People who only work become fools, and people who only play become idiots. If you only study, you become crazy, and if you only use your body, you become an idiot.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You've moved your body so much, so now is the time to use your head. I was wondering when to bring it up, and now this opportunity has come up.”
Arkan slipped the hand that was holding Erdene’s wrist and held her small hand tightly but affectionately.
Then he started walking ahead.
“No, wait a minute. Your Majesty! Where are you going... Oh, what is it! You're kidnapping me right now, look at this!”
Erdene screamed as she followed him absentmindedly.
***
The place Arkan took her was a study close to the King’s quarters.
No. Erdene thought. This was a study, but it was actually a kingdom.
It was a place where all kinds of books gathered together to create a damn country.
The high, circular ceiling was cool and open, and there were windows that let in plenty of sunlight, but the sunlight never reached the bookshelves.
The translucent curtains were always closed, blocking out the light so that the bookshelves wouldn’t turn yellow.
The bookshelves were almost twice Arkan’s height, and they were stacked in two or three layers so that they could be moved around.
Every inch of the walls was filled with these.
While Erdene was lost in thought, Arkan ran toward the dark bookshelves and returned with a strangely cheerful expression.
He was holding two books in his hands. One was thick, but the other was a bit thin.
“This is...”
“I don’t like them both.”
At Erdene’s words, which immediately came out, Arkan stared at her with an expression that seemed to doubt his ears.
“I haven’t even said anything yet.”
“Didn’t you think I’d have to choose between the two? I don’t like them both.”
“What are you talking about? This is mine, and this is yours.”
With that, he handed Erdene a thin page of the book.
Erdene didn’t even bother to look at the book, although she felt relieved inside.
Arkan smiled and looked back at the study. Erdene had never seen him this happy...
Although she couldn’t have known that Arkan had thought the same thing when he looked at her at the parade ground earlier.
“I’m glad I can finally show you this place.”
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