"Phew..."
Letting out a soft breath, I lowered my sword.
Some time had passed since I enlisted in the Knight Order. Having steadily carried out my duties, I was currently on an expedition alongside the elites led by the Commander.
"—Leticia."
A low voice called out from behind me.
Turning around, I saw the Commander looking in my direction. Apparently, he had been watching my swordplay for a while.
"Commander."
"Magnificent swordplay. It has grown even sharper than before."
"I am humbled by your praise. However, I am still far from complete. I will ensure I never become arrogant, keep my feet on the ground, and continue to devote myself to my training."
"Hm..."
Though the Commander nodded in admiration, he immediately cast a probing gaze toward me.
"I have been wondering for some time now, Leticia. Why have you changed so much?"
"Changed, you say?"
"Yes. For better or worse, the old you possessed youthfulness. One might call it the arrogance of youth, completely untainted by doubt regarding your own talent. But now, I sense none of that."
The Commander crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes slightly.
"When you enlisted, I had intended to reforge your spirit from the ground up, but it seems there is no need for that after all. Did something happen to prompt this?"
The Commander's assessment was entirely accurate.
I had certainly been arrogant back then. Ever since childhood, I had been superior to everyone around me and assumed that almost no one could ever be stronger than myself.
Truly—a frog in a well that knew nothing of the great ocean.
I had come to know a vast ocean of talent capable of effortlessly swallowing someone like me whole.
If I had changed, the catalyst was undoubtedly—my encounter with him.
"Commander. You are aware that I did not place first in this year's Knight Examination, correct?"
"I have heard the reports, though it is still difficult to believe. Your sword talent is first-rate. It is far superior even when compared to the knights of the past. Could it be that you had some sort of awakening from your battle against the top scorer?"
"...Yes."
Nodding quietly, the scene from that day vividly resurfaced in my mind.
—Leon.
The opponent against whom my sword, my pride, and everything I had accumulated were utterly useless.
An extraordinary genius who wielded swordsmanship that defied common sense.
Was his strength perhaps even greater than Sword Saint Gard, lauded as the strongest in history? It was so overwhelming that it made me wonder.
"His name is Leon. He appears to hail from the remote countryside, yet his talent was simply too overwhelming."
I told him about my battle with Leon. The Commander listened intently, a furrow gradually forming between his brows.
"...Is his skill truly that formidable?"
"Yes. My sword did not work against him in the slightest; I could not even reach him with my blade. He wields his sword with more freedom than anyone else, and to this day, I cannot fathom the depth of his talent. He is surely what one would call a true genius."
"Hm. For you to go that far... Could he truly be the second coming of Sword Saint Gard? But this young man in question did not join the Knight Order and is currently working as an adventurer, correct?"
"Yes."
"It would be a waste to leave such talent idle. To contend with the mages, we want as many exceptional fighting assets as possible. Are you able to get in touch with him?"
"Most likely."
"Understood. I will also investigate his background and whereabouts on my end. If he is an adventurer, perhaps I should ask Rosalia about him as well..."
"Understood. I will also report to you as soon as I learn anything."
Leon.
Just who in the world was he?
I, too, could not easily give up on a talent of his caliber. If we could welcome him into the Knight Order, there would be no ally more reassuring. It would surely grant us a massive advantage against the mages.
However, there was one thing that bothered me.
His left hand during that battle.
He had held his empty left hand poised as if gripping something. It was far too natural a stance to dismiss as a mere habit. There was no doubt that he was an extraordinary swordsman. Yet, was I perhaps overlooking something decisive?
That indefinable sense of foreboding remained unquenched within me even now—.
†
"Phew..."
Letting out a soft breath, I lowered my staff.
Having enlisted in the Mage Order, I was currently on an expedition to subjugate monsters alongside the Commander, the contemporary Sage.
However, the battle had already concluded.
What spread before my eyes was a world of silver. The massive swarm of monsters had been turned into ice statues in an instant by my magic.
"Splendid. As expected of a once-in-a-century genius."
Applause echoed from behind.
Turning around, I saw the Commander looking over the frozen battlefield with a gentle smile.
"I am humbled by your praise."
"Char, your magic is truly beautiful. I am certain you will become the next Sage."
"...Do you really think so?"
"Is something on your mind?"
"I had always believed I was a genius. However, you know this as well, Commander. In the recent Mage Examination, I did not place first, but second."
"...I have heard about that. Even so, it is hard to believe. I cannot imagine there being a mage of our generation who surpasses you."
"He exists. A person whom someone like me could never hope to match."
I began to explain to the Commander.
Everything about the battle I had fought in the exam against that extraordinary mage named Leon—.
"He rewrote the magic formula on the spot after it was activated?"
"Yes. The magic he used was standard and versatile in itself. However, he interfered with the formula after activating it."
"Good heavens... That is just like Lady Irena, is it not?"
"The previous Sage, Lady Irena?"
Lauded as the greatest mage in history, the previous Sage Irena. Her achievements were still passed down to this day.
"Indeed. Rewriting a formula after activation should have been something only she could do. To think a genius like her has appeared... What is he doing now?"
"He is working as an adventurer. However, there is a point that concerns me."
Previously, I had accidentally witnessed Leon talking intimately with a certain knight. His companion was Leticia Clausen. The daughter of a Knight Ducal House, and a genius of my generation.
Why was Leon, a mage, on such close terms with her? That question had remained lodged in my chest ever since.
Of all people, a knight.
And Leticia Clausen of all knights, at that.
Just recalling it made my chest churn, and strength unconsciously surged through me. The surrounding air grew chillingly tense.
"Char? Your bloodlust is leaking out."
"Ah! M-My apologies, it was unintentional... The truth is—"
I explained that Leticia and Leon had been associating with each other. Upon hearing this, the gentle smile vanished from the Commander's face.
"Associating with a knight, you say...? That is certainly something we cannot ignore. To contend with the knights, we want as many exceptional fighting assets as possible. Can you make contact with him?"
"Most likely."
"Understood. I shall also look into his background on my end."
"Yes. Please do."
Leon.
Just who in the world was he?
I, too, could not easily give up on a talent of his caliber. If we could welcome him into the Mage Order, there would be no ally more reassuring. It would surely grant us a massive advantage against the knights.
However, there was one thing that bothered me.
His right hand during that battle.
He had swung down his empty right hand as if gripping something. It was far too natural a motion to dismiss as a mere habit. There was no doubt that he was an extraordinary mage. Yet, was I perhaps overlooking something decisive?
That indefinable sense of foreboding remained unquenched within me even now—.