I know Aen when he looks like that.
"Um, Commander."
"Hmm?"
I called out to him and stared intently.
Drip.
Just as I thought.
He was sweating and couldn't make eye contact at all.
'He seems to feel sorry for me.'
Aen looks like that when he feels sorry.
'But what on earth is he sorry about?'
Hmm...
No matter how much I thought about it, there was no reason for Aen to be sorry to me.
In that case.
"Do you have something to be sorry to me about?"
"Cough!"
I just asked him directly.
"H-How did you know..."
"You weren't making eye contact and were watching my reaction. It looked like you felt sorry for me."
"..."
Aen didn't reply, as if I had hit the nail on the head.
Soon.
"Haa... I guess I can't deceive the young lady's eyes."
He sighed deeply and smiled awkwardly, as if he was troubled.
"That's right, I actually feel very sorry and embarrassed to the young lady right now. I wish I could hide in a rat hole."
"Why?"
I got the answer, but I still didn't understand.
What could Aen be so sorry to me about?
He subtly avoided my gaze before parting his lips.
"I told you that I'd take care of it, so you don't need to worry, but in the end, you got involved. You were forced to make a choice and even had to do something unreasonable like a duel."
"...Ah."
"Of course, the young lady was really amazing even in that situation. The way you were confident against the Lord. I should learn from you. Haha."
He tried to smile.
But even though he tried, the complex and troubled look remained.
"..."
Only then did I realize the identity of the guilt that was weighing down on Aen.
He felt sorry for getting me involved.
In the meantime, I negotiated with the Duke...
From Aen's point of view, he has every reason to feel sorry and embarrassed towards me.
But...
'I don't need him to feel sorry about that at all.'
I already expected that Aen wouldn't be able to handle it right away.
It's not that I don't trust Aen, but because I trust the Duke I know.
I was sure that he wouldn't let me learn swordsmanship so easily.
I expected it, so I was able to respond calmly.
But...
'How do I explain this?'
If I just say it's okay, he'll think I'm comforting him and continue to feel sorry.
"Um..."
I racked my brain, but couldn't find an answer.
'I should know if I had comforted someone or received comfort.'
No one has ever felt sorry for me.
I don't know how to deal with such a person.
But I can't leave Aen like this.
After hesitating, I just blurted out, "Oh well!"
"But I was able to endure that place because you were there, Commander!"
"...Huh?"
"Actually, I was really, really scared, but just having you by my side gave me courage. Otherwise, I would have trembled and been kicked out."
"But... you didn't look like that at all?"
"That's right. It's because you were by my side that I could be brave. You are such a person to me. So."
I tightly grasped one of Aen's large hands with both of mine.
He looked at me, startled.
'Don't avoid my eyes.'
Sending a strong signal.
"If it weren't for you, Commander, I wouldn't even have had the chance to learn swordsmanship. Giving me the opportunity and being able to endure that place, it was all possible because of you... Sir Aen Rixus."
"..."
"So don't avoid me because you feel sorry. In this house..."
As I spoke, my true feelings leaked out and my voice trembled slightly.
"You're the only person I can trust and rely on in this house. So if you avoid me, I..."
"Young lady..."
"I'm really alone."
Without realizing it, I squeezed his hand tightly.
Memories of after Aen's death came to mind.
'Don't overdo it.'
Anything that is overdone will only backfire.
Besides, I've revealed too many true feelings than I thought.
'Aen and I aren't that close.'
The feelings I have for Aen are purely my own.
The current Aen has no memory of our past.
To Aen, I am...
'A business partner.'
But Aen is kind, so he'll feel sorry for my situation.
So my actions might be a burden to Aen.
'Restrain myself.'
As I thought to myself, I tried to let go of his hand...
"Young lady."
I flinched and looked up at the sudden voice.
Aen was looking at me with a serious face.
"I'll help you achieve your dream."
"..."
"I'll let you do what you want to do. Of course, I'm just all talk, considering I received your help right after declaring that arrogantly."
"N-No, it's not!"
I quickly denied it.
Aen smiled softly.
"Still, I want to be your strength. So rely on me when you're having a hard time. I'll be on your side."
"..."
I stared blankly at him.
Aen smiled playfully.
"And it's actually a good thing. I wanted to crush Zelac's nose once too. Thanks to you, I have a chance."
"Zelac... What's your relationship with him, Commander?"
What kind of relationship do Aen and Zelac have that they hate each other so much?
I was curious, but I didn't have a chance to ask.
Maybe I can hear it now?
I looked at him with a curious face, but...
"I'm sorry, young lady. That's... not a story for you to hear. Rather, shall we reorganize our schedule first? We don't have much time, so starting tomorrow..."
Anyone could see that he was changing the subject.
'Hmm.'
I'm curious.
But I don't want to make him uncomfortable by asking questions when he hates it so much.
Well.
'I'll know someday when the time comes.'
I quickly shook off my disappointment and focused on Aen's words.
The lesson started early the next morning.
"It's too short a time until the duel in a week, so learning in the orthodox way is inefficient."
Nod.
I agreed with him.
"But we banned the use of magic through negotiations, so you don't have to worry about that."
I wondered why.
'I thought the conversation in the office was getting longer.'
It seems like it took a long time to adjust the duel rules.
'Well, they're skilled and I'm a beginner. It's only natural.'
That wasn't the only condition.
"If the tip of the sword pierces the young lady's neck and chest, the young master wins. If you touch any part of the young master's body, the young lady wins. Of course, your body will be protected by magic, so you won't feel any pain."
Winning by touching just a part of Bansis's body.
It's more generous than I thought.
'Or the difference in skill is that great.'
The latter possibility seems much more likely.
"Originally, we should build up your stamina and develop step by step from the basics, but we don't have time, so we'll build up your stamina and develop a strategy at the same time."
"Strategy?"
Aen nodded.
"First."
He brought a huge cylinder from the inside.
-Thud.
The reverberation that spread out when it was put down showed that it weighed a lot.
Just in case, I tried to touch it, but it didn't budge.
To move this heavy thing so casually.
'Aen is really strong.'
As the commander of the knight, it's natural that he's strong, but he was amazing again.
"Now, can you see what's inside this?"
Aen asked, pointing inside the barrel.
Since the barrel was so big, I had to lift my heels to barely see inside.
"...Yes, I can see it."
"What do you think it is?"
"Weapons."
It was just as he said.
All kinds of weapons made of wood were packed tightly inside the huge barrel.
Wooden swords, staves... even weapons I've never heard of were gathered together.
"That's right. I'll show you something, young lady. Watch closely."
Aen took something out of the barrel.
There was a spiky sphere attached to the end of the staff, but its length was much shorter than a spear.
"This is a weapon called a mace. Like this..."
He swung the mace at a small tree next to him.
Kwaang-!
With the sound of something exploding, a dent was created in the tree.
If it had been a person, their bones and organs would have been crushed.
'...Amazing.'
It looked simple, but its destructive power was enormous.
But I was horrified to hear Aen muttering.
"It's been a while, so the power isn't coming out well."
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