My name is Lytus—Lytus All-A.
My talent was first recognized when I was ten years old. I spent the following decade in rigorous training, finally becoming a knight of the Korin Religion at the age of twenty. I served my order with unwavering diligence, and by the time I turned forty, I was honored with the title of Silver Knight.
While I suspect luck played its part, I like to believe it was the culmination of my ceaseless efforts.
I turned forty-three this year. It was only recently, just as I was finally growing accustomed to the weight of my title, that I received word regarding the whereabouts of the Sword Saint.
The Sword Saint is a title bestowed upon the world’s strongest blade—a singular, peerless existence. I had always heard the title was passed down through a lineage of those who endured the most grueling trials to prove their worth.
Twenty-some years ago, the former Sword Saint visited the Reiwight Kingdom to pay his respects to the royal family and the headquarters of the Korin Religion. I was fortunate enough to witness his techniques firsthand. It was overwhelming. I didn't feel like I could have bested him even if there were a hundred of me.
Yet, my spirit didn’t break. On the contrary, that display gave me a true goal to strive for. Looking back, witnessing those techniques was likely the catalyst that allowed me to eventually earn the rank of Silver Knight.
Sadly, the former Sword Saint passed away over a decade ago. After a ten-year vacancy, I heard the title had finally been inherited by a woman named Pirika. Information on her was vague, primarily because she had gone missing. The dojo established by her predecessor was located in the Fullhart Kingdom, but they never responded to our inquiries. When we pressed the kingdom directly, they gave nothing but evasive, non-committal answers.
I was just starting to feel indignant about the situation when I received word of her location. Lady Pirika was in Village Five, within the borders of the Demon Kingdom.
It all made sense then. The Fullhart Kingdom is currently at war with the Demon Kingdom; they could hardly admit the Sword Saint had crossed the border. Furthermore, several students from the former Sword Saint’s dojo were with her. Had the Sword Saint truly defected? I had heard rumors of a falling out with the Fullhart Kingdom, but I hadn't realized the situation had soured to such an extent.
Was it right to simply leave things as they were? The Sword Saint’s style is said to originate from the legendary techniques of Hero Queen Urulbraza. Should such a legacy be allowed to reside within the Demon Kingdom?
I didn't intend to force her back to Fullhart, nor was I demanding she come to Reiwight with me. I simply wanted to suggest she relocate somewhere—anywhere—outside the Demon Kingdom.
She turned me down flat. She stated she was already employed there and didn't have the slightest intention of leaving.
I was at a loss. As I stood there troubled, the Bronze Knight and the Iron Knight began to provoke her. These two were men whose reputations were comparable to my own, and I had happened to encounter them here in the Demon Kingdom. Like me, they had come to seek out the current Sword Saint.
However, seeing that Lady Pirika was a woman in her late twenties, they clearly decided she was unworthy of the title. It didn't help that she herself claimed the title was still too heavy for her and refused to use it. While they might have simply wanted to see her true strength, I couldn't condone the way they belittled her.
I was about to tell them to stop—especially since their insults toward the former Sword Saint were starting to irritate me as well—when a thunderous crash echoed through the air.
The Bronze Knight’s upper body was suddenly buried in the wall of a nearby house. I blinked, unsure of what had just happened. He certainly wouldn't have lunged into a wall on his own, which meant Lady Pirika had put him there.
I drew my sword. I still felt I could never best the former Sword Saint, but what about his successor? I hadn't been idling my life away. I wanted to see how my skills measured up.
"Iron Knight, step aside! I’m taking the lead!"
I lunged at Lady Pirika, but instead of meeting my blade, she planted a fist squarely in my face.
My nose shattered instantly. My consciousness flickered for a second.
Wait, hold on. Lady Pirika, draw your sword! You’re the Sword Saint, aren't you? Are you saying I’m not even worth the effort of unsheathing your blade?
She finally drew her sword, to my immense relief. I moved to reset my stance, but then she threw the sword at me. I was stunned—utterly bewildered. As I dove out of the way, she closed the distance and slashed at me with a second sword.
"Wh-hey!"
I rolled across the ground to avoid the strike, my silver armor becoming caked in dirt. This was no time to worry about my appearance. Was she not taking this seriously? Or was this chaotic style her actual serious form? If so, I was deeply disappointed. She was making a mockery of me!
I steeled my resolve and readied my blade. No more surprises. I would parry every attack she threw. I didn't want to kill her, but I was determined to teach her a painful lesson.
Just as I prepared to counter, she caught me with a low kick. What foul footwork! It didn't hurt much, but it broke my balance. I cursed my own lack of focus. I had to remember her attacks weren't limited to the sword.
Before I could recover, she pressed her advantage. Surely she would use her blade this time. I watched her hands, but the sword was gone. She was using her body to mask the weapon's position, holding both hands behind her back so I couldn't tell which one was armed.
How underhanded. But it wouldn't matter. Whether she attacked from the left or the right, I would block it. Playtime was over.
The sword in her right hand came down from above. It was fast, but I could intercept it. Don't underestimate me!
Then, a sword in her left hand whipped upward from below.
What?
I knew she had a second sword, but who had decided she didn't have a third? It was my own fault for making assumptions.
In that moment, I thought I was dead. But her blades didn't cut me. Before I realized it, the weapons in both of her hands had been swapped for wooden swords. She beat me to a pulp—so thoroughly that I felt dying might have been more dignified.
Still, my defeat wouldn't be in vain. The Iron Knight had surely been watching her tricks and would avenge me. He was a veteran whose skill rivaled my own. Now that he had seen her methods, he would surely prevail. I’m counting on you, Iron Knight...
Or so I thought, until I realized the Iron Knight had fled while I was being pummeled.
I will never forgive him.
A few days later, I found myself integrated into the Village Five Security Team’s training regime. It was brutal. It was exhausting. And the sympathetic gazes from the Elves watching us were maddening. My only solace was that the Bronze and Iron Knights were suffering right alongside me.
The Iron Knight, in particular, looked like he was on the verge of collapse, likely due to his age. I had to respect him for one thing, though—his spirit didn't break. He kept up a tough act to the very end. I could admire that, even if I still hadn't forgotten him running away.
During a break in our training, I watched a sparring match between Lady Pirika and a beastman named Galf.
Lady Pirika was fighting properly now, displaying techniques truly worthy of the Sword Saint title. Her bladework was beautiful, easily the equal of her predecessor's.
Or rather... was she creating clones? Her movements were so blindingly fast it looked as if there were two of her. Yet, Master Galf dodged every one of those phantom strikes with ease. Lady Pirika mixed in her punches and kicks, but none of them could touch him.
With a casual flick of his wooden sword, Master Galf halted her movements entirely. He was utterly overwhelming the woman who had just made a fool of me.
I see. Even the Sword Saint has opponents she cannot best. If that’s the case, I can understand why she finds the title heavy.
Once again, I was reminded that there is always a higher peak. The summit of true strength is a distant thing. I wonder if I’ll ever reach it? Even if the top is beyond my reach, I’d like to at least stand at the base of that mountain.
To do that, I suppose I’ll have to learn to handle this security training without breaking a sweat.
Heh. Fine then. Let’s do this.
"Bronze Knight! Iron Knight! Break time is over! Move it!"