WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Oblivious
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◈ The Weakest Knight Became a Swordmaster, But Only in Dungeons ◈
Chapter 57: Demon-Breaking Aura (2)
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The White Wing commander stepped away from me and left with Principal Olivia, Secretary Reynald, and the faculty.
Perhaps because the White Wing commander had whispered to me alone, people glanced my way as they passed. I ignored them.
Well, on second thought, it was not that strange.
‘We’re master and squire, after all.’
Yeah, we had a close relationship.
I watched Lucia’s retreating figure. Even from behind, she radiated dignity and presence.
Though the pressure she gave off was just as palpable.
‘If the Round Table Council moved the White Wing commander like this... it’s probably because of the unidentified Swordmaster.’
That was more than enough reason. If things went badly, I might have to face the White Wing commander.
Still, since the White Wing commander was not moving in secret, the Round Table Council apparently did not intend to conceal its purpose completely.
They were likely also warning the unknown force targeting Elise. “The White Wing commander is here, and you still want to make a move?”
‘In a way, it’s a double-edged sword.’
Just then, something lightly pressed against my arm.
“?”
I turned my head toward it and saw Elise smiling brightly.
It seemed she had poked me with a finger.
“Elise, what is it?”
“You looked like you were lost in thought, Ron.”
Elise’s lips were still smiling, but there was no laughter in her eyes.
“You’re getting special treatment as soon as she arrives~ The commander even said she wanted to see you alone. I wonder why?”
She heard that too...?
“Hey, don’t jump to conclusions again.... It’s probably just for instruction.”
“Really?”
“The commander was the one who established the form of the Raging Thunder Sword for me. I’m still adjusting the techniques, too.”
“Mhm, I see~”
Elise gave me a meaningful look, then faced forward as if she understood.
It was obvious she was still suspicious. I just hoped she would not imagine anything strange....
* * *
“Are you asking us to protect Cadet Ron Hazely and Cadet Elise Lorendia?”
In the reception room, Principal Olivia spoke with Lucia, the White Wing commander, while maintaining a soundproofing spell.
Their respective secretaries stood silently beside them.
Lucia answered with a gentle smile.
“I merely wish to establish my priorities. It is also closely related to my mission.”
Steam rose from the teacup before Lucia, but she did not take a single sip.
Until now, Lucia had worried whenever Ron and Elise nearly lost their lives.
However, it was not a matter for blaming the knight academy. They had faithfully fulfilled their duty of care.
For that reason, Lucia had no intention of disrupting the knight academy’s systems or operations.
She merely wished to explain her purpose in advance so that she and the knight academy could smoothly coordinate their positions.
“Principal Olivia, I have no intention of placing a burden on any of you.”
“......”
“If my provisional squires’ safety is endangered again... I will prioritize them above all else. That is all.”
That was the line Lucia had drawn.
Principal Olivia handled the teacup for a moment before replying respectfully.
“I will bear that in mind, White Wing commander. Thank you for making your position clear. If either cadet faces a threat or anything unusual occurs, we will inform you immediately.”
“Thank you, Principal Olivia.”
“Then is there anything else you would like to request from us?”
“Hmm... I will need an instruction room. Would that be all right?”
“An instruction room.... Understood. We have an unused facility, so that will not be a problem. We will prepare it at once and guide you there.”
Before long, the two finished their conversation.
“Then please rest after your journey. Reynald, show them the way.”
“Yes. White Wing commander, I will escort you to your room.”
Following Principal Olivia’s instruction, Secretary Reynald led the White Wing commander and Secretary Karen away.
* * *
The White Wing commander sent a White Wing knight to summon me.
‘The closed training ground?’
A new sign reading “Instruction Room” hung at the closed training ground. When did that get there?
The short-haired secretary stood before the door. She had a calm demeanor. Her name was Karen, was it?
“For the Empire.”
We exchanged salutes.
Secretary Karen knocked on the instruction room door.
Knock, knock.
“Commander, he has arrived.”
“Would you let him in?”
The White Wing commander’s gentle voice came from beyond the door.
Click.
Creeeak.
I entered the instruction room.
‘Oh, what is this?’
The interior was extremely neat. It would be hard to find even a speck of dust. Was this really the place that had been closed down?
The instruction room was spacious and filled with all kinds of training equipment and tools. It even received plenty of sunlight.
In the middle of it, the White Wing commander sat on her knees as though meditating.
Sunlight streaming through the window illuminated her noble form.
‘It looks like the sight I saw at the Campbell Branch....’
As I quietly let out a small laugh, Secretary Karen shut the door behind me.
I heard a soundproofing spell being cast outside. Just as expected.
The White Wing commander and I exchanged salutes.
“Welcome, my temporary disci...”
The White Wing commander paused, then smiled brightly.
“No, my squire.”
That sounded nice.
Thanks to that, the proper form of address was clear.
“It is good to see you again, Master.”
“Hehe, I am glad to see you too. Please sit before me.”
“Yes.”
The same high-quality case I had seen before rested in front of the White Wing commander.
I sat on my knees across from her, with the case between us.
“I heard you have been through several dangerous events.”
“Well, a lot has happened....”
And more would happen in the future....
After that, we exchanged updates. The White Wing commander said she was glad I was safe.
The White Wing commander rested both white-gloved hands gently folded together on her knees. Partway through, she tightly grasped her left hand with her right.
Was it because of the curse?
‘Come to think of it, is this around when it starts getting worse?’
She occasionally acted like that in the original story when she instructed Elise as well.
As the curse gradually consumed her, her body decayed like a withered plant. Grotesque flowers bloomed across her body, and she had to endure such agonizing pain every moment that she could not even make a sound.
Eventually, when she could no longer control her body, the White Wing commander breathed her last in bed, far too helplessly.
That image suddenly came to mind.
“Then, would you open it?”
The White Wing commander looked toward the case.
“Yes.”
I turned the front of the case toward myself and opened it.
Click.
A silver bracer, carefully stored inside, came into view.
Purple demonic energy rose from it like heat haze.
‘The cursed bracer.’
It looked exactly as it had at the Campbell Branch.
The haze of demonic energy distorted intermittently. The highest-grade curse was still cracked.
“My squire. I would like to test how much stronger your signature color has become.”
“Ha... I have been waiting for this moment.”
“...Pardon?”
The White Wing commander tilted her head, looking puzzled by my intense resolve.
This was the special power that could prevent the pitiful death of our fox beastkin big sister and fill the Demonkin with shock and terror.
It was also clear that it would be a great help in the scenarios ahead. Even mere fragments of my signature color had already helped me several times.
That was why I had been desperately curious about how much stronger it had become.
“I will begin right away.”
“Ah, yes. Please do.”
All right, let’s go.
Crackle!
I held out my hand toward the bracer and summoned an aura crackling with lightning.
Then...
Crackkk!
Crumble...
‘Huh...?’
Lightning flared violently, and the highest-grade curse visibly shattered like a pane of glass.
I had not expected it to be this effective...?
“......!”
Perhaps sensing the demonic energy being destroyed, the White Wing commander was already staring at the bracer with a hardened expression.
She spoke in a grave voice.
“Your aura truly has the property of Demon-Breaking.”
The power to destroy demonic energy. The Demon-Breaking Aura.
That was what the White Wing commander called my aura.
Soon, the Demon-Breaking Aura stopped, and silence returned.
Faced with results incomparable to before, I let out a soundless exclamation.
‘Roughly... has about a quarter of it been destroyed?’
The cursed demonic energy surrounding the bracer had greatly diminished. The haze of demonic energy had also weakened drastically.
A sense of accomplishment ran up my spine, and the corners of my lips rose.
‘Good.’
It seemed my signature color had finally begun to outgrow its infancy.
Then surprise and confusion spread across the White Wing commander’s face, as though something unexpected had happened.
“......?”
The White Wing commander turned her head toward her hands.
More precisely, her gaze was directed slightly above them. Was it because she could not see?
The White Wing commander spread the hands she had clasped over her knees, then repeatedly clenched and unclenched them. She seemed to be checking their condition.
‘It seems she feels a little better.’
It was easy to tell. The curse must have developed a large crack.
However, only the surface of the curse had been destroyed so far.
Unless its core was removed, the White Wing commander’s future end and suffering would not disappear.
For now, only some of her pain had vanished, and the curse’s worsening had slowed.
Even so...
‘She must have been in a lot of pain. Thank goodness.’
I felt relieved.
Still, her actions were too noticeable to ignore, so I pretended not to know the reason and asked.
“Master? Is something wrong?”
“Hehe... It is nothing.”
The White Wing commander shook her head and gave me a faint smile.
Her voice held a slight tremble and deep emotion.
“It is only that... I am proud of you.”
Her smile and voice seemed to seep into my heart.
Hmm.... This was rather motivating...?
‘I’m going to get crazy strong.’
I would save the White Wing commander from her fate of death, tear the Demonkin apart alongside her, and prevent the bad endings.
With that, I renewed my resolve.
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