TYHL 29

~Chapter 29~

Making a barrier with Uncle to protect this place!

“I want to take swordsmanship lessons!”

Uncle’s eyes widened like he’d heard something completely unexpected.

“What?”

“I’m going to learn sword fighting! I’ll become super strong too! Isn’t that what northern men are like?”

Uncle frowned, looking reluctant.
“Well… I guess?”

I didn’t notice his expression because a good idea had popped into my head.

‘If I join the knights, it won’t be strange if I go outside!’

Most sword lessons were held in the training yard, but Boyd often went outside with knights who were on inspection duty.

Of course, he’d also been to the castle walls several times for tours.

‘It’s the perfect excuse to check the walls!’

Uncle looked like he didn’t really want to agree, but he also couldn’t seem to find a reason to refuse.

After taking a sip of tea, he thought for a moment, then nodded.

“Fine. Do what you want. And if you want other lessons, take them too.”

“Okay. I like learning!”

I felt happy and swung my legs, finishing all the cookies.

“Then Ruby, will you… stay here…”

Uncle, who had been watching me quietly, hesitated awkwardly.

“Hmm?”

“Here…”

“What did you say, Uncle?”

“…Forget it.”

Why was he acting so strange today?

It was unusual to see him start speaking and then stop like that. He almost looked like he was checking my reaction.

“I should find you a tutor first.”

“Can’t I just take lessons with Boyd?”

“Well, you could, but it might be hard for you to keep up.”

“Ah, really?”

Boyd was already studying at an advanced elementary academy level. When spring came, the new semester would start, and he was determined to get first place this time.

Well, that was his problem, not mine.

“I don’t care, as long as I can get sword lessons from the knights. I’ll be strong! Strength! Stamina!”

I clenched my little fists.

I wanted to check the walls, but I also wanted to strengthen this weak body. Seeing strong, sturdy people made me admire them.

Uncle chuckled and roughly ruffled my hair.
“They’re not going to leave you alone.”

“Huh?”

“Since you’ve decided, you’d better be ready for it.”

What did he mean? That the knights would bully me?

‘No way.’

The knights liked me.

When we met, they always smiled kindly.

Especially Sir Leon, who always gave me snacks…

Suddenly, I remembered someone talking about “the youngest knight.”

In that moment, the back of my neck turned cold. This didn’t feel good.

“Uncle, I just got curious…”

“Yeah?”

“Has anyone joined the Jebert Knights recently?”

I asked carefully. Uncle leaned on the armrest and looked at the ceiling.

“Hmm…”

Gulp.

“Nope. Not in the past few years.”

What?!

“The last one was Boyd, a few years ago.”

No way! A new recruit after years of nothing?

That was like fresh water flowing into a stagnant pond—meaning trouble for me!

The knights had been kind because I wasn’t one of them.

“I-I’ll just stay as I am—”

“A man never takes back his words.”

Thud. A plate of shiny fruit jelly was set on the table.

A familiar voice came from beside me.

“Sir Leon…?”

When I looked up, there was Sir Leon, who had somehow entered without me noticing.

“Your Grace, I came because there’s an urgent document.”

“Alright, give it here.”

Uncle reached out with a small smile.

While he checked the papers, the blue-haired knight stared at me like a predator eyeing prey.

“So you’ve finally decided.”

“Uh…”

“Welcome, youngest.”

Whooosh.

A dry wind blew. Far away, a small dust ball rolled along the ground.

The barren training yard.

In front of me stood strong knights with bulging muscles. I was nothing more than a small herbivore before them.

“Depending on what you do, I can be an angel or a devil.”

That line sounded familiar…

I gulped. Somewhere, I thought I could hear sinister chuckles.

“Hoho… It’s been a while since we had a rookie.”
“So cute and adorable, I want to train her properly.”
“We’ll make you into a proud northern man.”
“My blood is boiling…”

Please let it just be my imagination.

‘But isn’t it too cold to wear short sleeves right now…?’

Heat shimmered off their bronzed arms like mirages.

“This is the Jebert Knights. Here, ability is everything, and strict hierarchy rules. So here, we don’t use honorifics. Any objections?”

You never used honorifics before anyway…

The knight at the front took a step forward. Boyd stood nearby with a wooden sword, watching with interest.

“No, sir!”

I answered as firmly as possible.

Somehow, it felt like I had to.

Clink.

The knight’s cloak ornament rattled as I moved. The dark blue Jebert Knights uniform felt heavier than expected.

Of course, there hadn’t been one in my size, so they made a brand-new one from scratch…

The knights’ gazes prickled against me. Sir Leon covered his mouth, looking away.

“I’m Oberon, vice-captain of the Jebert Knights.”

“Yes, I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Boyd had mentioned him before. The vice-captain had short curly hair and a long scar under his left eye. He didn’t look easygoing.

“Let’s begin your initiation training.”

“Yes, sir!”

His deep, commanding voice made me instinctively straighten up.

The senior knights moved in sync, their disciplined motions making me tense up.

“First, run two laps around the yard!”

What, two laps?!

“For the children’s course!”

“Yes, sir!”

I ran two laps around the tiny practice yard next to the large one.

Huff… Huff… So exhausting! The path to becoming a physical-type knight was long and harsh!

“Next, wooden sword swings!”

“Yes, sir!”

“But since it’s dangerous, you’ll just watch for now!”

“Yes, sir!”

Sir Oberon pointed to the armory in the distance. I started to walk over, but someone grabbed the back of my neck.

“W-what is it?”

“A knight must ride a horse. You’ll go there on horseback.”

Oh! I was confident about riding horses!

“You there, passing by!”

“Yes, vice-captain.”

“Be the youngest’s horse! Begin!”

“Yes, sir!”

“….”

I blinked. My view suddenly got higher, and the wind hit my cheeks. That’s when my mind caught up.

‘Wait… this is just a piggyback ride to see the wooden swords…’

Anyway, with knight training now part of my daily routine, I started to feel oddly energized.

“Huff… Two laps around the yard, holding the wooden sword, dodging balls, talking to the horse! All done, sir!”

Oberon looked pleased.

“Good. Excellent. Tomorrow is the castle wall inspection.”

I lifted my head quickly—finally, some good news!

Maybe noticing my eyes light up, Oberon’s smile faded slightly.

“You really want to see the walls that badly?”

“Yes, sir! I’ve wanted to, sir!”

“Hmm, good attitude. The commander will be pleased.”

“When you say ‘commander’…”

“Of course, I mean His Grace the Duke.”

“Ah.”

I nodded.

Of course—if we were talking about the head of the knights, that meant Uncle Leviathan.

Oberon gazed into the distance, the blue lion emblem of the knights on his chest.

“So that we never bring shame to His Grace, we must always train and grow stronger. That is the way to truly—”

“Um, what happens if the commander does bring shame?”

“…What?”

The knight, deep in loyalty, snapped back to reality.

I raised my hand and pointed to one corner of the training yard.

“He’s been sleeping over there the whole time…”

“….”

Silence fell heavy in the air.