TRWTVPS 04

Chapter 04

Ferdin’s gaze lingered as Derek spoke with a serious expression.

“You could die if you’re not careful. Duke Asilly is the strongest Sword Master in the Empire. Karon may be talented, but what we need right now is a knight who can be of immediate use.”

At Derek’s words, Ferdin turned his head away as if uninterested.

Then his expression subtly stiffened when he noticed Erin. He began staring at her intently.

Seeing Ferdin’s reaction, Derek followed his gaze and spotted Erin as well.

Derek spoke in disbelief.

“She actually came?”

He had thought Erin’s declaration about transferring to the Department of Swordsmanship was nothing more than a childish joke.

After all, normal people couldn’t understand the mindset of someone abnormal.

It had seemed excessive even for a joke, but given her reputation as a lunatic, it still felt plausible.

Still, he never imagined she would truly step into the swordsmanship department.

Derek narrowed his eyes as he looked at Erin.

“She really is insane.”

Now that Erin was engaged to Ferdin, her behavior could damage his honor.

Thinking that far, anger welled up in him, and he ground his teeth as he glared at her.

One strange thing was that despite clearly sensing the hostile gazes directed at her, she showed no sign of fear.

For a lady who had been raised pampered in a marquis household, her reaction felt oddly out of place.

An ordinary lady would have burst into tears under such overwhelming killing intent.

“Well, I guess she’s got more guts than I thought.”

Otherwise, she would never have dared step into this training ground.

After all, earning the title of the Villainess of the Rissus family required a certain level of nerve.

Derek scoffed, already predicting what would happen next.

“She’ll definitely cry and say she can’t do it.”

And then she’d collapse on her own.

Contrary to Derek’s expectations, Erin felt no tension about what lay ahead.

In fact, it was almost the opposite—seeing a sword again after so long sent a pleasant thrill through her.

She loved that excitement she felt whenever she faced a blade.

In her previous life, she had held a sword every single day. It had been as natural as breathing.

“If I had learned the sword back then, I probably would’ve lived a life similar to my previous one.”

The Rissus family had produced strong knights for generations. Their swordsmanship was renowned throughout the Empire.

The current Marquis Rissus, though not a master, was still an outstanding high-ranking knight.

And the family had a peculiar trait.

If one generation failed to produce a Sword Master, then the next generation would always produce a child with the potential to become one.

In other words, either Karon or Erin possessed the talent of a master.

“Which one will inherit the family’s swordsmanship—the young master or the young lady?”

“Who knows? It’s still too early to tell who’s more talented.”

That was why the Marquis wanted both children to learn the sword.

Every noble family desired many knights, and having strong knights directly represented the family’s power.

Even if they didn’t become Sword Masters, members of the Rissus family had a high chance of becoming high-ranking knights.

Such knights could imbue their swords with mana and fight at least a hundred low-grade monsters.

So there was no reason for the Marquis not to teach Erin the sword.

There had been many female knights in the family’s history, and Erin had also dreamed of becoming one.

That was, until Corellia appeared.

She disliked Erin learning the sword and even lied to the Marquis.

“It seems Erin doesn’t like the sword. I think she just wants to live as a proper lady.”

The Marquis, busy guarding the border, was grateful to his wife for taking care of the children in his absence.

So he believed everything she told him without question.

As a result, Erin grew up never once being allowed to touch a sword—only watching from afar.

What she told Sir Leken on the way to the academy was partly true.

Though she had never formally learned Rissus swordsmanship, she always watched Karon practice.

In her room, she would imitate his moves using a tree branch.

Even during embroidery or music lessons, her eyes never left Karon.

More precisely, she couldn’t take her eyes off his swordsmanship.

“Why don’t you practice swordsmanship, Sister?”

One day, when Karon asked her that, Erin couldn’t say anything.

His innocent question only made her feel more miserable.

She wanted to do it too. She knew she could do well.

But the words never left her mouth.

Erin wanted to swing a sword more than she wanted to sew or play instruments.

Even movements Karon struggled with, she could replicate easily.

But every time she asked her stepmother to let her learn, the answer was always the same.

“What would a lady do learning something like swordsmanship?”

The punishment that followed would continue until Karon’s training ended and the Marquis returned from the frontlines.

More than physical pain, it was the unfulfilled desire to learn that tormented her.

So when she was tricked into transferring to the Department of Swordsmanship, she had been truly happy.

Even though she knew what it meant to the knights… even though she knew what she would have to endure.

“There’s no place for me here…”

She didn’t look down on them.

She just wanted to say honestly: I want to be like you.

But to others, her actions only seemed like mockery.

That was why no one in the department respected her.

And as if to prove she didn’t belong, her skills had always been terrible.

Erin recalled those days as she lifted the sword.

“It’s heavy.”

Her arm trembled as she held it.

It was just a cheap iron sword—nothing compared to the one she wielded in her previous life.

But her current body, untrained, struggled to even lift it.

Naturally so.

No matter how great she had been before, her current body lacked even basic strength.

Still, that didn’t mean there was no way.

“I can do this.”

Steadying herself, Erin turned her gaze and met Ferdin’s eyes.

He had been here in the past as well.

But back then, she had cried and run away in front of him.

“You must despise me too.”

Yet he had never shown such feelings.

Even if what he gave her was merely pity… or just the kindness he showed to everyone—it didn’t matter.

When she stood before him, she could become not a vile villainess, but simply Erin Rissus.

Did he know what that meant to her?

Erin closed and opened her eyes, then looked down at her hand.

A small, thin hand wrapped in bandages, holding a cheap iron sword.

Looking at it, she made a vow.

For his sake, at least—

This time, everything would change.

Edward Plon, the swordsmanship instructor at Atens Academy, was currently troubled.

“Did Erin Rissus really come?”

It was a problem whether she came or not.

What on earth was Marquis Rissus thinking, sending his daughter to the swordsmanship department?

It was well known that he adored his daughter to no end.

Edward recalled the rumor that Erin had gone on a hunger strike to enter the department.

Perhaps the Marquis couldn’t bear to see his daughter starving and gave in.

There were even absurd rumors that Erin had defeated a horde of monsters.

It was probably an attempt to justify her admission.

Edward scoffed at such ridiculous lies.

He could overlook most things given her infamous reputation, but this was too much.

“And who would even believe that?”

Sighing, Edward walked toward the training grounds.

Still, he respected Marquis Rissus, who defended the nation at the frontlines.

He didn’t want the man to be put in a difficult position.

“I just hope she gives up quietly after a few days. Maybe today will be her last. She’ll make a fool of herself during the evaluation anyway…”

Thinking that, Edward stepped into the training ground.