Common Sense of a Warrior

Back! And as promised, this week we have a double release~

This chapter was a bit wordy……it might be a bit clunky, so I’ll apologize ahead of time for that.

"……excuse me, General. May I have a bit of your time?"

Kuroitsu spoke thus in front of Gazelle, who was doing the official duties of the Anderson Marquis House.

"You"ve come at a good time - it"s just about calmed down for now. So, what"s up? Kuroitsu."

Though Gazelle had a cheerful smile on, Kuroitsu"s serious face did not falter.

It was a seriousness in which one could not feel a single ounce of hesitation in it.

"It is about Mel."

"Did Mel do something?"

At his daughter"s name, Gazelle"s expression also changed to a serious one.

"Rather than Mel, it"s more about the General…….is the General aware of what Mel is intending on doing?"

"I don"t understand the meaning of your question."

"I, today……thought that she was scary. Seeing that girl"s mock battle……"

"She has quite a splendid talent, don"t you think?"

Hearing Gazelle"s words, Kuroitsu gave a wry smile.

"……just a little before the mock battle, it felt like the aura that surrounded her changed. She was clad in a thick bloodthirst that was like the one you would feel on a battlefield. It"s unbelievable for such a small girl to be able to release such a bloodthirst."

Without affirming or denying Gazelle"s words, Kuroitsu simply reported what he had felt himself to Gazelle.

"In reality, watching the mock battle from the beginning, she was wielding her blade with a swordsmanship whose purpose was to kill people without fail. Without thinking about the dangers, her entire defence was paper-thin. She entered her opponent"s bosom without any hesitation at all. It was as if she enjoying the risk that she might lose her life……no, to begin with, it was a fighting style that seemed to say it was okay even if she lost her life."

He had simply…….feared her.

That was the reason why Kuroitsu had made a serious face and strangely had a hard time weaving words while speaking to Mellice.

Kuroitsu was a soldier of the Army. Naturally, he had experienced places where lives were exchanged.

However, even so……no, that was precisely why he was scared.

Of that bloodl.u.s.t that had a sharpness which seemed to conceal a blade within it, and of her fighting style.

Her superiority in all of that was unfamiliar, to the point where it felt as if he was looking at someone from another world.

It was because it was foreign that he was afraid.

And at the same time, he was uneasy.

For such a small girl to get that far, just how much time and experience……as well as resolve; just how much was required?

"……that is Mel."

Quietly, Gazelle spoke as if to admonish him.

"Rather, ever since coming to the Capital, her sword had lost what made it hers. That is the original her, and her sword."

"……why is the General teaching her the sword? That is……in my humble opinion, it is a talent that should have never been awakened. That bloodl.u.s.t and resolve……if she takes a single step wrong, it wouldn"t be strange for her to go mad. Could you not have allowed her to proceed on a gentler route?"

"……it was my ego."

Gazelle murmured that softly.

"I had also lost my wife due to bandits. When she said that she wanted to learn the sword, I was honestly relieved. If she was to learn the sword, then she would be able to act as my daughter"s guard and protect her well-being."

In the Capital, even if it was to one of his own subordinates of the Army, the truth that Mel was his daughter was a secret. As such, Gazelle spoke while mixing in a lie.

However, it was the truth that he was relieved.

The moment his daughter started to say that she wanted to start learning the sword……what resided in his chest was relief.

He had caught a glimpse of his daughter"s talent in the sword through instinct during the funeral service. That being the case, he wondered just how far he could make it grow.

If she learned under him, then she might be able to become a top swordswoman.

If she did, then he wouldn"t have to be afraid of losing her.

"……however, her talent was beyond what I had antic.i.p.ated. I taught her the basic stances and then had her engage in mock battles with me repeatedly, but……even without teaching her, she had created that style by herself before I knew it."

"……why did that change when she came to the Capital?"

"Probably because she experienced real combat…….though after I stimulated her, she quickly returned to normal."

"In other words, the reason why her sword returned to its previous state was the General. Even though it was possible for her to go back. For her, who became afraid of the sword, why……!"

"…….what she was afraid of was not the sword. She was afraid of her own talent."

"Her own…talent?"

"Her own talent that allowed her to easily steal people"s lives. Ever since she came to the Capital, she was quite stiff compared to when she was back in my domain. In matches that she"d be able to win if she swung her sword to her hearts content, she unconsciously put a stopper. During this time, prior to training with everyone, I competed with her but…..the fact that she didn"t have much of a stopper during that time is good proof. Having seen the future in which she"d easily be able to steal the lives of her opponents, she repressed herself. In other words, those of the Army that I was training were not adversaries for her. Though saying that to you might be a bit harsh."

"……no…way……"

"…….as you said, she is a step away from madness. Even if she had to throw everything away, she took up the sword for the sake of a revenge from which there is nothing to gain. To her, the sword is everything. That is exactly why we must give her an outlet. If holding back her abilities were to become a habit, then in the future it may become an unforeseen trap for her. That being the case, she must be allowed to wield the sword the way she desires. Looking at the position she is standing in right now, there is but a single method that would allow her to step down from this path."

"……incidentally, that method is?"

"Marriage."

Even if Gazelle were to kill the object of her revenge, as long as she was the daughter of the Anderson Marquis House, people aiming at her would appear.

That was something that Duke Armelia had suggested to Gazelle. It was said simply for the purpose of convincing Gazelle.

If it was true……no, as long as the possibility existed, she would have to protect her own well-being.

It would only become unnecessary once she no longer possessed the t.i.tle of "the hero"s daughter" - the moment she joined her husband"s family.

"Is there really anyone that could take her reins? It"d be impossible if he"s some half-hearted guy."

"You are truly watching her carefully."

Gazelle said that and laughed.

"Honestly speaking, I have no idea. More than her wishes, more than anything, as long as she has a person whom she regards there is no limit…….earlier you asked what I wanted to do with her. The answer is: I do not want to do anything. I only wish for her to become happy in her own way. Just that. It is only that, but just that alone is quite a difficult thing to do."

"……you speak like a father."

"I think of myself as her father."

"…….I understand the General"s feelings well. I deeply apologize for trying to test you."

"That is fine. In the future, please continue to watch over her."

At those words, Kuroitsu lowered his head to show his acknowledgement.