WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Oblivious
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◈ The Weakest Knight Became a Swordmaster, But Only in Dungeons ◈
Chapter 56: Demon-Breaking Aura (1)
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Autumn was brief.
Fallen leaves crunched beneath every step.
The leaves gradually dried up and fell limply, while bare branches filled the campus. The cool wind had taken on a chill.
After the Gate Break incident in Oldern, Elise and Lara received several valuable rewards from the city.
The mayor gave them a sword each, both masterpieces crafted by a renowned blacksmith, and the famous Golden Moon Trading Company promised to sponsor them.
They were unexpected rewards. The course of events had clearly diverged from the original story, but that only benefited me.
After all, whatever benefited Elise and Lara, the leads, benefited me as well.
And I...
Whoooosh.
At Griffin Knight Academy’s outdoor training ground, snowflakes and pale mana bloomed over my hand. It was ice mana.
As I assembled a magic formula in my head, the ice mana gathered into a cluster of light.
I stretched out the hand holding that light and recited,
“Ice Age.”
Crackle!
The cluster of light forcefully released ice mana and froze the air. A narrow sheet of ice formed over the ground.
It was ice-creation magic.
‘Nice.’
Satisfaction welled up inside me.
It felt as though I had become the ice-powered Navy admiral from a famous pirate manga in my past life.
“Mr. Hazely, was that a Word Command just now? A two-Circle spell shouldn’t need something like that...”
“No, it’s about the romance of it.”
“?”
Violet looked completely confused.
Well, she had no way of knowing the grand adventure of the Straw Hat Pirates.... As an otaku, I could only find that regrettable.
After awakening ice mana last time, I had received Violet’s instruction for a while.
There were many branches of ice magic, and I had focused on mastering ice-creation magic.
‘It’s about time I picked up some utility, too.’
I could leave firepower to fire and wind magic.
‘Making icy ground to hinder an enemy’s movement, or freezing their feet enough to make them stumble once I get stronger.... It should help change the battlefield in all sorts of ways.’
More importantly...
‘My idea might work, too....’
An idea had come to me while fighting the Demonkin Azera in Oldern’s underground waterways.
It might be a way for me to dodge the air slash of Air Nadia, the imagined assassin Demonkin, even with my current specs.
“Hmm....”
Violet crossed her arms beneath her ample chest and examined the results of my ice magic, her bent index finger resting beneath her lips.
“I think the way you release mana is a little unrefined. Since you’re Tier 3, Mr. Hazely, you should certainly be able to use magic more efficiently! First, determine the exact purpose of the spell you wish to use, and then...”
Her tone was cool-headed and polished.
Whenever she taught me magic, Violet always slipped into this logical teacher mode.
It was quite different from her usual self, but...
“Teacher, you’re going too fast.”
“Uh, what? Ah, then where should I start explaining again...? W-Wait a moment! It’s a little embarrassing when you call me teacher....”
Once she lost her flow, she panicked, lowered her head, and shyly fidgeted by pressing her fingers together.
That was Violet all right.
“......Anyway, shall we try again while keeping what I told you in mind?”
“Okay.”
Crackle!
Under Violet’s attentive guidance, I diligently cast ice magic.
Act 5 of Chapter 2 was approaching, so I needed to accelerate my growth in strength.
All right. Today, I would become Ron Hazely, the magic-loving mage.
‘Magic, I love it, I love it, I love it!’
Crackle!
“Mr. Hazely, you’re incredibly enthusiastic....”
At my side, Violet gave an awkward smile that showed both admiration and bewilderment.
......
“I have an announcement concerning personal squires!”
After afternoon training, Logan, the black-haired instructor with rough stubble, shouted.
The first-year cadets stood in orderly parade-rest formation before him.
“As you submitted last time, naming who you wish to serve as your master, you will finally gain the status of personal squire after undergoing the appointment ceremony!”
‘It’s here. Act 5 of Chapter 2.’
The period of personal-squire appointments had been the opening of Act 5 of Chapter 2 in the original story.
The three days we spent at the White Wing Knight Order’s Campbell Branch during the first semester had only been a personal-squire experience.
The real beginning was in the second semester.
‘That doesn’t mean I’ll receive the White Wing commander’s instruction just yet, though.’
She was busy.
That was why, in the original story, she had sent someone else to instruct each squire individually. The other commander-level masters had done the same.
Only once vacation began would we be able to receive instruction directly from our masters or serve as squires while carrying out White Wing Knight Order missions.
‘I wonder how much stronger my signature color has become.’
My signature color was neither conspicuous nor versatile.
Without equipment afflicted by the White Wing commander’s highest-tier curse, there was no other way to measure how much stronger it had become.
Well, I would at least see the White Wing commander again at the appointment ceremony. I could find out then.
‘More importantly, will the scenario not get twisted this time?’
There was no reason for it to go wrong, was there?
It was not yet time for other dangerous Demonkin to run rampant.
“Once you become personal squires, you will bear your masters’ honor alongside that of Griffin Knight academy! Remember that weight well! Does everyone understand!?”
“Yes, sir!”
“And Elise Lorendia, Ron Hazely! You two, follow me!”
‘Huh?’
Why Elise and me...?
“That is all, dismissed!”
“Dismissed!”
The cadets dispersed. Elise and I exchanged glances before following Instructor Logan.
We arrived at the instructors’ office.
Elise and I stood side by side at parade rest while Instructor Logan slumped back in his chair, let out a deep sigh, and went straight to the point.
“The White Wing Knight Order Commander will come in person. I hear she has decided to remain at the academy for the rest of the second semester. Know that in advance.”
‘...What?’
Why?
As expected, the original story and scenario had twisted without disappointing me.
* * *
A magic carriage of the White Wing Knight Order traveled along a trade route.
Lucia Silverbane, the White Wing Knight Order Commander, sat in the seat of honor and quietly looked out the window.
White Wing knights sat around her.
Then it happened.
Throb.
Lucia suddenly felt a piercing pain press down on her arm. Her left hand trembled intermittently, while demonic energy ran wild within it.
The silent corrosion of demonic energy. The highest-tier curse was slowly gnawing away at her life.
Without the slightest change in expression, Lucia tightly gripped her left hand with her right.
It would calm down with time. This happened often. It was only that the episodes had become more frequent lately.
“Commander....”
Karen, her expressionless, short-haired secretary, tactfully spoke up. She meant that Lucia should say something if the pain became severe.
Lucia smiled at Secretary Karen as though nothing was wrong and shook her head. Then she turned back to the window.
The pain of the curse had long since become familiar to Lucia.
* * *
“Maybe it’s because of Ron?”
A few days later, during the day.
Elise and I were heading toward the academy’s main gate as instructed in advance.
Along the way, Elise spoke.
“What is?”
“The reason the White Wing commander is coming herself. Someone like her must be very busy, right?”
“We’ll find out when we hear the reason.... But why do you think it’s because of me?”
“Because the White Wing commander cherishes Ron? It was like that last time, too. It really felt like she sees Ron as someone special~.”
...I had nothing to say.
‘Well, it did seem that way.’
During the first semester, the White Wing commander had shown me particular favor.
She was coming because of me.... Of course, at this point, that meant Ron Hazely in his usual state.
That was possible. As the White Wing commander’s hope, I had nearly died several times, so it was understandable that she would be anxious.
But...
‘She can’t stay at the knight academy for the rest of the semester for that reason alone.’
The public justification would be something like instructing personal squires.
What a joke. From the Empire’s perspective, stationing someone of the White Wing commander’s caliber at a knight academy would be excessive and inefficient.
In other words, considering the situation and recalling the original story...
‘...A decision by the Round Table Council.’
I answered Elise while pretending to know nothing.
“Well, I’m sure there’s a reason. Maybe she considers instructing you and me very important, or something....”
“Hmm....”
For some reason, Elise merely stared at me with a meaningful smile.
I narrowed my eyes at her.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I was just wondering whether someone at the White Wing commander’s level can see something in Ron.”
Elise played innocent and turned forward again.
Well... she was probably probing me because she suspected I was a Swordmaster.
Still, she could not have been certain. She had worried greatly whenever I was hurt.
We arrived at the main gate and waited at parade rest.
Soon after, Principal Olivia, an elderly principal wearing a monocle, came to the gate with Secretary Reynald and several faculty members.
“For the Empire.”
“For the Empire.”
Elise and I exchanged salutes with them.
Principal Olivia looked us over, then moved to an appropriate position.
‘Quite the grand reception.’
Still, it was not excessive.
Compared to my past life, it was like receiving a general-grade officer. Of course someone of the principal’s rank would come greet her.
Before long...
Whoooosh.
A large, luxurious white magic carriage arrived at Griffin Knight academy.
It bore the wing emblem symbolizing the White Wing Knight Order and was decorated with golden griffins.
“Attention.”
At Principal Olivia’s calm command, we all assumed attention position.
The driver quickly opened the carriage door.
Rumble.
Eight knights in white uniforms quickly emerged from within the carriage.
They lined up on either side and made a path.
‘Oh, there are people from Campbell, too?’
I spotted a familiar face. In particular, the indigo-haired man with a sly-looking expression stood out.
It was Simon, the knight I had first sparred with at the White Wing Knight Order’s Campbell Branch. It appeared that some of the White Wing knights from the Campbell Branch had joined them as well.
Then a woman in white with fox ears emerged from the carriage.
‘Oh....’
The midday sunlight brightly illuminated her snow-white hair and fluffy white fox tail.
An elegant, refined face. Gently closed eyes. Euchlia, the famed sword that symbolized the White Wing Knight Order Commander, hung at her waist.
The White-Silver Sword Demon, Lucia Silverbane, stepped down from the carriage alongside Karen, her short-haired White Wing knight secretary.
“Salute the White Wing Knight Order Commander.”
Snap!
Following Principal Olivia’s command, we all raised our hands in salute.
‘It bears repeating, but...’
She really was breathtakingly beautiful....
No wonder she had been the character I found hottest in the original story, making me think, ‘Ahh, fox beastkin big sis.’
Of course, I had buried the desires of my past life with that past life. Now, I only felt reverence more strongly.
The White Wing commander acknowledged our salute with a gentle smile.
“At ease.”
Snap.
We lowered our arms and returned to parade rest.
“Welcome to Griffin Knight academy, White Wing Knight Order Commander.”
“Oh my, thank you for welcoming me, Principal Olivia.”
After exchanging brief greetings with Principal Olivia as they shook hands, the White Wing commander approached Elise and me and stopped directly in front of us.
“Your hands.”
Snap.
Elise and I returned to attention position and held out our hands.
The White Wing commander gently took each of our hands.
“Ron Hazely, Elise Lorendia.... It has been a long time, my provisional disciples. I’m very glad to see you.”
Her voice was kind. The White Wing commander’s smile in the sunlight felt warm just to look at.
Since we had not yet undergone the appointment ceremony and were not yet master and squire, it was appropriate for her to call Elise and me her provisional disciples in public.
The White Wing commander released our hands, then stepped closer to me.
“And my provisional disciple, Ron Hazely.”
“Cadet Ron Hazel...! Gasp.”
Suddenly, the White Wing commander leaned close to my ear and whispered softly.
“See you later. Just the two of us.”
Her secretive, gentle voice tickled my ear, and my body flinched on its own.
No, ma’am.... What was she saying the moment she arrived?
“Hmm....”
At my side, Elise’s teal eyes stared directly at me.
Maybe it was my imagination, but her formal smile seemed to carry an odd chill.
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