WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

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Chapter 161: At Winter's End (10)

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“How on earth...?”

Hermann’s eyes were filled with disbelief. He seemed unable to accept what had just happened.

He had lost to Kyle.

That in itself was nothing unusual. Ever since Kyle became Commander, he had barely had any equals within the order. What mattered was how it had happened. Hermann had sparred lightly with Kyle many times, but he had never been defeated so helplessly. In fact, the match had been going reasonably well until the very end.

Then Kyle had read several moves ahead with perfect accuracy.

It felt as though Kyle had seen through every future Sword Path Hermann himself did not even know. By the time he realized it, the sword in his hand had been sent flying far away, as though it were an unavoidable fate.

He had not even been able to mount a proper response.

Was something like that even possible?

“I...”

Kyle trailed off as he tried to answer. Even if he wanted to explain, no clear answer came to mind.

What did I do?

During the spar, he had felt himself deeply synchronizing with Prisia’s mana. Almost as though they had agreed beforehand, Hermann’s Sword Path became visible to him at the same time.

Before he could even think, his body moved on instinct. There had not been a shred of doubt. He pushed through the vision of the future before his eyes.

By the time he came to his senses, Hermann’s sword had already flown far away.

Could it be...?

Kyle looked down at his hand, trying to steady his quickened breathing, then staggered. Walter, who had volunteered to act as referee between them, rushed over in alarm.

“Kyle!”

Walter caught Kyle as he lost his balance and began to fall. By then, Hermann, who had been questioning Kyle, also approached with a grave expression.

Kyle pressed a hand to his forehead, his brow furrowed as though he had a splitting headache.

“Kyle, what’s wrong?”

“It’s just... I feel a little dizzy.”

“Did you push yourself too hard?”

Hermann asked in a tone filled with concern, unlike before.

“No. It’s not that bad.”

“...”

“It’s just that all the strength has drained from my body...”

“It’s the backlash from overusing mana. You said Izra’s Thorn was lifted because of that Progenitor Dragon’s mana too. Did you see something during the spar?”

Once Kyle had barely regained his balance, Hermann pressed him again.

Kyle kept his mouth shut. At this point, denying it would be even harder.

He had seen the near future.

It was probably Prisia’s power, the power said to control time.

The sword embedded in the dirt far away was proof enough. Normally, he could not have defeated Hermann so easily. But if it was Prisia’s Authority over time, that was another matter. If he could clearly read an enemy’s attacks and respond to them, he would hold an overwhelming advantage in every moment where life and death hung in the balance.

Just as Hermann had dropped his sword without even managing to counterattack.

—I understand now that I’ve seen it for myself. You’re synchronizing with the Dragon Heart.

—You may even be able to use Prisia’s Authority.

Alfred’s aged voice, the one Kyle had heard within the gap in time, suddenly echoed in the back of his mind. At the time, Alfred had said Kyle was already halfway synchronized with the Dragon Heart.

But the Dragon Heart was gone now.

If his guess was right, it had been absorbed into Kyle’s body. That would explain why Izra’s Thorn had vanished and why the nature of the mana he used had changed to resemble Prisia’s.

“I could see all of the Deputy Commander’s Sword Paths.”

“...What?”

“I wasn’t simply predicting them through experience. I could see them clearly from beginning to end, as if I were seeing the future.”

“Does that even make sense?”

Walter looked dumbfounded.

Kyle nodded awkwardly.

“Prisia’s Authority is time. I think it’s possible.”

“Huh... So all that worry was for nothing. At this rate, we might end up relying on Kyle instead.”

Walter gave Hermann a sly look as he teased him.

Hermann let out a low groan and looked at Kyle.

“Is there any problem with using it?”

“I’d like to say no, but...”

“But?”

“It’s not invincible. It takes a heavy toll on my stamina.”

“What else?”

“I can’t control it properly. I think I’ll need time before I can use it whenever I need to.”

“Then you’ll have to keep practicing for the time being. It would be a problem if you overused it and collapsed from exhaustion instead.”

Kyle obediently nodded.

“Still, it’s an unfair ability. If you use it well, you might not have an equal. Not even Cassius Mortein.”

Walter spoke, and neither Kyle nor Hermann could deny it.

All three were among the continent’s finest knights, so they understood. In a battle where life and death could be decided in an instant, being able to clearly see an opponent’s future actions was an absurdly powerful ability.

Hermann, who had crossed swords with Kyle himself, felt it more keenly than anyone.

This was only a tiny fraction of the Authority possessed by Progenitor Dragon Prisia?

“To be honest, we were against you stepping forward yourself. We were still against it until just before we came out here today.”

Hermann spoke. Kyle silently listened to him.

“Even if the Chevaliers join us, we don’t know what will happen in Renavik. We planned to keep you in the rear during the actual battle. Walter and I kept it secret from you because you’d be stubborn if we told you outright...”

“Is it because you don’t trust me?”

“It’s not that I doubt your abilities, and it certainly isn’t that I don’t trust you. This is a separate matter. Your external wounds may look healed, but you could still have internal injuries. More than anything, you can’t use mana as freely as before. The curse may be gone, but you still struggled to handle Prisia’s mana.”

He was not wrong.

Ever since Hermann and Walter had rescued him, Kyle had practiced circulating mana without rest. Still, he could not properly control Prisia’s power. It was as difficult to control as it was immense.

“You may not think so.”

“...”

“To us, Kyle, you are still the Commander of the Knights of Ash. We suffered damage close to annihilation, but our line has not been cut off. This matter may be important, but it isn’t more important than you. It would be a serious problem if you were to die by accident.”

“I’ve already died once, so there’s no more dying left for me to do.”

“This isn’t a joke, you bastard.”

Hermann chuckled and ruffled Kyle’s black hair.

Kyle would have hated it in the past, but he stood still without resisting. It reminded him of the old days.

Could we return?

To the past filled with memories. To the days when the people they loved were still alive.

If the Empire fell and we defeated the Emperor.

“Let’s stop here for today and head inside. It’ll be worse if you ruin your condition.”

Hermann turned around, pulled his sword from the ground in the distance, and sheathed it.

Kyle watched his back, then spoke.

“I won’t keep running forever.”

“...”

“I still have things I need to do.”

“...That’s right.”

Without looking back at Kyle, Hermann muttered quietly.

Kyle watched him for a moment, then sheathed Yurian’s sword. There was no ring on his left hand, but he no longer felt lonely.

Not long after, the three of them walked side by side into the manor.

* * *

After finishing his spar with Hermann, Kyle returned straight to his room.

Even to Kyle, the days that followed felt peacefully monotonous.

He woke late in the morning and ate. In the morning, he read in his room. In the afternoon, he went outside to train his mana or exchange swords with Hermann and Walter under the pretense of sparring.

He used Prisia’s Authority while trying to control it as much as possible. The more he practiced, the better a feel he developed for it.

Adrian did not say much about Kyle and the other two training in the backyard. He seemed busier than expected, spending his days buried beneath piles of documents.

Kyle did not pay much attention to that. He would step forward when the time came. Until then, he needed to prepare as thoroughly as possible.

Another week passed.

Early one morning, just as dawn began to break.

“...”

Kyle woke earlier than usual and prepared to leave. Since he had cleaned his room beforehand, it was neatly organized. He had only spent a week there, but traces of his presence and daily life had already settled throughout the room.

Is it almost time?

As he adjusted his clothes, Kyle draped the black cloak Hermann had given him over his shoulders. Yurian’s sword rested in his hand.

He looked down at the keepsake of his closest friend for a moment before fastening it at his waist. Once he had finished preparing, his heart began pounding strangely.

I’m not nervous.

Am I looking forward to this?

It felt different from the pounding of his heart before battle. If he had to describe it, it was closer to excitement. He would soon see the members he had thought were certainly dead, and the fluttering he had forgotten long ago returned to him.

Along with a little fear.

What should I say to them first?

Should I apologize first and tell them I’m sorry?

After standing still for a while, Kyle turned around.

When he stepped out of the manor, the early morning breeze lightly brushed the hem of his black cloak. With spring drawing near, the weather had grown noticeably milder.

Kyle looked around once before heading toward the main gate.

“Ah, Sir Kyle.”

Near the gate stood a suitably old-fashioned carriage and several horses. Gilbert, who had been checking from a short distance away to make sure nothing was missing, called out to Kyle as he approached.

“You’re here. I was considering sending someone for you, just in case.”

“I’m sorry. I had a lot to think about.”

“Not at all. It is enough that you have come now.”

“Are we leaving soon?”

“Yes.”

Gilbert nodded.

Not far away stood Adrian’s escort knights, including Hermann and Walter.

“The preparations are mostly complete.”

“You truly aren’t leaving with us?”

“Someone has to remain in Rier and protect this place. With His Grace leaving for Renavik, who else would take charge of this manor?”

Gilbert smiled warmly.

Unlike Adrian and Kyle’s group, he would not be joining this journey. The Grand Duke had asked Gilbert to watch over the manor.

“Then this is goodbye.”

Kyle spoke.

The aged nobleman silently looked at Kyle. His gaze was calm, but Kyle could sense the countless unspoken words within it.

He could also see a familiar image of himself reflected in Gilbert’s eyes.

“You’ll lead your companions north, won’t you, Sir Kyle?”

“That’s the plan.”

“This may be the last time we meet. The north is quite far from Rier, after all...”

If things in Renavik went well, Kyle and his companions planned to leave for the north immediately with Adrian’s support. After that, they would have no reason to set foot in the Federation again.

They had to restore the north, then turn their blades on the Empire.

“That may not necessarily be true.”

Kyle deliberately left room for another possibility.

“What do you mean?”

“Goodbye does not have to mean a permanent parting. When I return next time... I’ll come with Elysia. I promise you, on my name.”

Kyle spoke in a solemn tone.

Gilbert’s eyes slowly widened.

Confusion, embarrassment, and a faint hope crossed his face.

“That is... something to look forward to.”

Several emotions appeared on his face in an instant. Yet they soon faded, and he composed himself with a gentle smile.

“Waiting will not be lonely.”

“It won’t take long.”

“Yes. I will await that day. Please take care of His Grace.”

That was the end of their farewell.

Kyle gave a small nod and headed toward Hermann and Walter. The two were checking on their horses, the very same horses they had ridden to Rier.

“You’re here?”

“I thought you might’ve died in your sleep. I was about to wake the sleeping princess.”

The two tossed out idle jokes when they saw Kyle.

Kyle let out a small laugh and was about to mount another horse nearby.

“Ah, don’t ride that. It’s not your horse.”

Hermann raised a hand to stop him.

Kyle looked at the two in confusion, and Walter grinned.

“You’re still a patient. Get in the carriage and behave.”

“What?”

“Didn’t you hear me? The weather still hasn’t fully warmed up, so don’t be stubborn and collapse for no reason. Ride in the carriage. I’m not joking.”

Walter spoke firmly.

Kyle turned to look at Hermann. He shook his head as well, showing that he agreed.

“We’ll arrive in a few days. Rest comfortably indoors until then.”

“No...”

“Sorry, but I can’t give in on this one either. You know my personality.”

Hermann nodded toward the carriage again.

With a reluctant expression, Kyle eventually gave in to the two and climbed into the old-fashioned carriage where the Grand Duke was waiting.

“I heard Sir Kyle was quite stubborn himself, but it seems there are people even worse than you.”

Adrian was inside, wearing an amused expression as if he had expected this all along.

Kyle faintly furrowed his brow as he replied.

“It seems Your Grace has a more playful side than I expected.”

“Everyone has unexpected sides to them. Discovering those sides little by little is one of the enjoyable parts of human relationships.”

Kyle did not answer. Instead, he turned his gaze out the window.

“Move out!”

As the main gate opened, the knights at the front began taking up their reins one by one. The carriage Kyle rode in jolted at that moment.

Kyle glanced once at Hermann and Walter nearby, then looked one last time at Gilbert, who silently saw them off from before the gate.

Until the carriage had completely disappeared into the distance, the aged nobleman remained firmly in place.

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