Chapter 135 (1/2)
Having accepted a uard, Rudel stood before Eht
(Even if they're official knights and soldiers, how truly unreliable for a princess' guards)
While that wasn't the best way to put it, it was one knight and three soldiers
… From Rudel's point of view, it wasn't an assortment that made him feel much motivation
In the room he had been perned to be her guards had to think about their roles henceforth A lady servant prepared tea for everyone Within all that, Rudel called over to E at him
”Euard detail, I'd like to decide on the division of labor”
”… That should do just fine But even if I say that, the departure is in two days, so ourYou don't oon requires sleep to exhibit his strength?”
It was a provocative phrasing, but Rudel understood his sentihts of his own country In a situation where he had to follow the orders of a foreign knight, there was no helping his irritation What'sto do his job
For now, that was enough… no, thinking of the mission period, it was plenty
In that -room like space, the nine of Courtois and Celestia sipped their tea in an inexpressible at with Izumi and Millia
In front of the entranceway, the nervous soldier party of three stood to the side of the door
(They're too tense They're not going to hold out to nightfall…)
Froreat degree of training He looked at Emilio Emilio was reputed to be proficient, and on the way here, he had spoken of how he saved Cleo in the incident
Perhaps he was a trustworthy knight
”We will be fine Your worry is uncalled for But if it's possible to increase the nuhts and soldiers, then I must make the plea”
Without an incentive to oppose, Rudel thought of nothing uard success rate He simply tried to handle it with numbers
But Emilio shook his head
”That will be ihts have been spread out to the limit to provide security for the fortress city The soldiers as well”
As Eht
(This is your country's princess we're talking about But still…)
Rudel looked at Cleo While she did seeine she had received education as a member of the royal family She was kind at heart, but he heard much too n diplomacy As seen as a princess, she was a failure, as a person, a kind and beautiful woman
(A life lived just for death, eh)
Rudel recalled Sakuya
He recalled the Goddess who cast ahat little reon While the reborn Sakuya carried on her name, her memories didn't remain
He suddenly ended up seeing Cleo overlap with the Goddess
Rudel closed his eyes and suppressed his emotions
(That is this country's probleuard her until the day comes Don't waver, Rudel)
Re himself of it, he returned to his discussion with Emilio
”It would probably be best for a woman to enter the princess' private quarters I shall station Izuuard her when on the move, and defend the perimeter while she is asleep Of course, the soldier at the door will be deployed on rotation”
Erit his teeth at Rudel's words He was also aware the party of three didn't have the stauard duty for two days
Listening in, the three raised their voices
At their cry, Cleo was surprised as well
”We're not chopped liver!”
”T-that's right! An all-nighter is nothing”
”With an afternoon nap, I think it'll work out?”
Following on from stubble Ben's loud voice, Pano weakly voiced the saht out
Erit his teeth at that reply Perhaps he wanted to tell them to shut it, but before Rudel and the others, he held it in
”You lot, we don't need your input for now Once matters are decided, I'll relay the orders”
”I-I mean, captain…”
While Ben hesitated, Elare Rudel evaluated hiht with some experience under his belt
(He's skilled And unlike me, he has experience)
Rudel himself could easily tally up his own real combat experience Even so, as he looked at E close to home
Froiven to hion… with Sakuya Perhaps it was precisely because he knew that, that he could act so calmly
But Emilio didn't take kindly to his composure
”Then how about it? Why not use this opportunity to discern one another's level of ability?”
”… I have no problem with that”
He brought the match to Rudel
Cleo brought her feet to the training grounds used by the knights
It was her first visit, and she did feel a soround build indoors was lined ooden swords, spears, and logs to use as targets
When Rudel's and co were the only ones ere supposed to be there, the place reeked of men Perhaps the way the room was constructed to hold in heat was to blame
”I-it feels a little peculiar here Are the knights always training in a place like this?”
Cleo struck up conversation with Izuht to her And the dignified Izu off a reliable iined they would surely give off such a feeling
”It varies by country and knight brigade, but when it's built indoors, it can't really be helped”
Izu anymore From how muddled her words were, Cleo understood it was pretty much the same wherever you went
It was true that she was a little excited, co to such a place for the first time
But…
”Unacceptable! You're nowhere near up to par!”
”Ow!”
”Not enough training!”
”Geh!”
”No technique to speak of!”
”Bubrah!”
As she saw Rudel take down the three co at Izu unconcerned faces
Defeating the three challengers in an instant, Rudel brushed off his hands as he spoke At his feet were the forling to their feet And Ben had clutched onto Rudel's ankle
”But your resolve alone gets a passing grade”
Hearing of their success, the three of theht out
”I-is that a dragoon? That all happened too fast for my eyes to follow”
While Cleo was troubled, Millia explained
”It's fine Rudel is outside of the norht As long as you ree one, you won't have any problems”
”I-is that so He's strange? I don't know anything when it cohts”
The troubled Cleo looked at Rudel He was hoisting up the three, and putting them to sleep on the benches Emilio took off his overcoat and tossed a wooden sword at Rudel
Catching it, Rudel took a stance with the left side of his body protruding forward
”I don't see a shi+eld”
Ehed
”I just don't want to changehit”
On Rudel's provocation, the two of the at Emilio on the ht who could keep up with Eenius was surely a marvel
Seeing her expression, Izumi spoke up
”Neither side is particularly serious, so there won't be any injuries”
”I-is that so?”
As Cleo looked at two knights violently swinging their wooden swords, it see full force There, E, Rudel tried to leap in, only to instantly jump back
Giving pursuit, Ethened his offensive
Seeing the superiority of a knight of her country, no matter how much she detested violence, Cleo was relieved The fact that her country's knight could stand his ground against a knight of Courtois was an important fact
But Izumi made a bit of a conflicted face
”The world sure is fast To think he would have a move like that”
Cleo couldn't' understand what she was saying
In hisand tried to dive in But he found hi end of an attack
The wooden swords caht, but there were a number of slashes that faded away as if they had only been afteri
”You use so moves”
He found hisstep back and used his left hand to cover his face Through the gaps in his fingers, he could see Emilio's haste Even if neither side had been serious, that was h to measure the other's competence
(This is bad I want to fight more)
His erip on the wooden sword in his right hand This tio on the offense to probe out the identity of his enemy's move