Chapter 297: To Tomorrow (3/3)

“Yurdum-san said that he didn’t have a good reputation, though?” [Ryouma]

“Yes, he was known for being a womanizer, a frivolous young man that didn’t take his education seriously. His classmates disapproved of him often. But his teacher at the time, a junior of mine who retired due to an injury, praised him as someone who ‘paid attention to those around him.’” [Schieber]

According to Schieber-san, the knight’s course may have been full of brilliant noble children, but at the end of the day, they were all still children. They underwent rigorous training every day, always striving for good grades, and if their grades fell below a certain level, they would be expelled. With all the pressure on them from others’ expectations and the weight of their family’s hopes, it was all too easy for them to tunnel-vision, and many of them ended up lacking emotional flexibility.

“Humans need to rest from time to time. Too much is bad, of course, but in his case, rather than the women, it was usually the overly serious peers that he frequently invited to have fun. However, not many of them accepted his invitations. They were just too preoccupied with their training and tasks, so instead they harshly criticized him. Those that were struggling probably couldn’t even consider that he might have been genuinely concerned for them. Of course, having the leisure to enjoy oneself was by no means evidence of being unserious with one’s studies, yet it seems they couldn’t understand that.” [Schieber]

“People that are tunnel-visioning won’t rest even if you tell them to~” [Remilie]

Not sure if she’d intended to, but Remilie-san said that without a care, and those words found their way stabbing straight into my heart like a cluster of needles.

“So that’s his story, huh.” [Ryouma]

“Yes. He’s certainly had his share of affairs with women, but… I’ve never heard of him having any insincere relationships or causing any problems of the sort.

In the first place, the knight’s course was a place to train the mind and body of children so that they might be able to endure the training of the knight order. In other words, it’s a place to build foundation. It’s just one step toward becoming a knight, and the students were merely knight candidates. Hence, the focus was on their basic abilities and loyalty toward the country rather than fostering a noble spirit.

Many believe that graduating from the knight’s course guaranteed a secure future, and in fact, many students and parents shared that belief, but the truth was that even after graduating, they need to spend at least two years in the order as knight trainees, where they would spend their days undergoing rigorous training to correct any issue that might have arisen during their time at the academy. Should they fail to endure that, they will fail to become squires and drop out.

Moreover, to become a proper knight, they still need to accumulate sufficient practical experience as squire and be recommended by several knights, including their direct superior. From what I’ve heard, many of the knights didn’t actually take their training at the academy seriously and just enjoyed themselves instead, saying that it’s better that way.” [Schieber]

“Good will can backfire too. Actions that stem from kindness won’t necessarily be understood… Human relationships are quite complicated, aren’t they?” [Ryouma]

“Yes… In the end, he found a new path and went on a journey. Though it was partly because of his friction with those around him, it was also because of his broad perspective that he didn’t obsess about becoming a knight. In any case, it’s good to see that he’s doing well.” [Schieber]

“In that regard, there’s no need to worry at all. He’s working at my place, so he gets plenty of food and rest. He also trains everyday with me or the other security personnel.” [Ryouma]

“Oh? In that case, I better test his skills the next time we meet. Maybe I should train him when I have the time? I’m moving here anyway, so I’m sure there’ll be plenty of opportunities.” [Schieber]

Huh? Moving? To Gimuru?

“Oh? Did we not tell you? Schieber and I were thinking of moving here from the imperial capital.” [Remilie]

“First I’ve heard of it.” [Ryouma]

“I think it’s because we made up our mind while you were sleeping. Remember how you were sound asleep on the night after we got the Everlasting Darkness?” [Reinbach]

Oh, I see, it was because they took over night duty that time, while I had a good rest that I’m in the dark about it.

“Remilie and I are both retired already, and we’re too popular in the capital to walk in peace. We’ve decided to work as adventurers from here on too, so we figured it would be best to move somewhere else.” [Schieber]

“We’re bound to cause a commotion wherever we go, but there are less people here than the capital, so it should be much better here. Besides, I’m concerned how your curse will turn out too. It’ll be easier to match our stories if I’m around, right?” [Remilie]

That’s true. Having someone with the title of former royal court mage like Remilie-san adds just that much more credibility to our story.

“I’m grateful, but are you sure?” [Ryouma]

“It’s fine. Don’t hold back. Besides, it’s just one year until your curse is dispelled. That’s no more than an instant to a dark elf’s lifespan. Above all, I am technically your master in magic. Helping my disciple is the least I should do.” [Remilie]

“…Thank you so much!” [Ryouma]

That was all I could say as I bowed my head. Isn’t there something I could do to thank them?

“Our interest just happened to coincide, so don’t worry about it.” [Schieber]

“The gods will be the ones to dispel your curse too, so there’s no need for you to go out of your way to thank me. Besides, as someone who traveled with and as your senior, I do feel some responsibility for allowing you to get cursed, so you really don’t have to thank me… But come to think of it, Ryouma-chan, you still refuse to call me master even though we agreed to it already, huh.” [Remilie]

“Oh, I’d forgotten.” [Ryouma]

“You could also call me ‘onee-chan’, you know? Come on! Give it a try!” [Remilie]

Ah, this might be it… The thought of calling her onee-chan gets really embarrassing when she puts it like that. It’s embarrassing no matter how many times she asks. However, I was just talking about thanking her a moment ago, though, so it’s a bit hard to refuse…

“Can we at least make it ‘nee-san’?” [Ryouma]

“Hmm~, you are at that age already, I suppose it won’t do to force you, huh. Alright.” [Remilie]

It was in that way that I started calling Remilie-san Remilie-nee-san, but immediately after…

“Wouldn’t it have been better to just call her master?” [Reinbach]

“Ah, he’s been had.” [Schieber]

Reinbach-sama and Schieber-san’s mutterings made me realize that I’d lost in the negotiations, but alas, the bell has been rung, there was no turning back.

And the entire time until we got to the north gate, Remilie-nee-san messed around with me while looking at me with eyes akin to that of a child that had found a new toy.