Chapter 63

Long time no see^_^

I plan to update daily until this section is complete. Thank you for your support.

It has been about half a year since Alro started living in Pencilnia. He has become quite accustomed to his duties as a valet. Alro wakes up in the morning and eats in the servants' dining room. After that, he works a little with Tan. However, since Tan assists Eidan, he has a lot of work. On the other hand, Alro, who serves Marivel, has less work. It's mostly preparing for Marivel's studies. He is told to spend his free time as he pleases, so Alro usually either trains at the training ground or studies in the library. The library in Pencilnia is managed by a librarian but is also open to servants. The number of books it holds is incomparable to the Zieg family's collection. Alro never ran out of things to do in his free time. The training ground is where sturdy knights train, so at first, Alro was quite intimidated. However, the knights warmly welcomed Alro, who was known as Marivel's favorite. The knights of Pencilnia truly practiced chivalry. Alro was first surprised that such people actually existed. To them, Alro seemed to be another weak being to protect. They encouraged him with smiles as he mustered the courage to start participating in training. For a few months, it was just physical training to build a foundation, but recently, he has been allowed to hold a wooden sword. It's quite enjoyable. Although it felt heavy at first, the wooden sword now feels natural in his hand, and he has become quite absorbed in it.

"——You're quite enthusiastic."

A voice called out from behind. Alro hurriedly turned around and bowed. He was in the middle of rewrapping the cloth around his hand, which had come loose. It was Eidan. He usually finishes his training early in the morning and is not around during the day.

"Marivel told you to build muscle, right?"

"A, ah, yes."

"He seems to think that a knight's physique is the norm."

As he said this, Eidan picked up a wooden sword and swung it a few times, as if checking its feel. Even this simple action seemed flawless, and Alro found himself naturally watching.

"——Want to spar?"

"Eh...?"

Alro was momentarily at a loss, then hurriedly shook his head.

"N-no! I, I can't possibly be a match for you, Lord Eidan—"

"I'm not suggesting a serious match. I heard you've learned how to receive strikes. How about trying to block my strikes?"

"I, I think I'll be blown away..."

"I won't use magic. Tan said you have good potential."

Alro thought the difference in strength was too great. What was Eidan thinking?

"——I'll use one hand. Just a little."

When he said this, Alro felt he had no choice but to agree. Alro silently nodded and tightened the cloth around his hand.

"Please."

Eidan took a stance with his one-handed wooden sword. Alro followed suit, as he had been taught.

"You go first."

Eidan said.

"......"

It would be easier if he came at me first.

Alro thought this as he adjusted his breathing and swung the wooden sword as he had been taught. Eidan lightly blocked it, then immediately went on the offensive. Alro could barely see the strikes. Shoulder, stomach, head... At first, he managed to block them with his wooden sword, but soon his hands began to tingle, making it difficult to block. If he took another hit, he wouldn't be able to hold the wooden sword.

Alro narrowly avoided Eidan's descending sword.

Eidan's eyes widened slightly.

Without blocking, Eidan's movements seemed even faster.

Alro was struggling to dodge, and his breathing became more and more ragged.

"Ah..."

His feet tangled, and he lost his balance. Eidan's wooden sword hit his shoulder.

It didn't hurt as much as he had imagined. Eidan must have held back.

Alro couldn't stand up and sat on the ground, panting heavily.

Eidan, on the other hand, was not even out of breath.

Eidan knelt to meet Alro's gaze.

"——Have you never been taught before?"

"Y-yes..."

Eidan said, "Hmm." His expression was unreadable.

"Make sure to go to the healer for your hand and shoulder."

"Y-yes... Thank you very much."

Alro managed to say his thanks.

"Thank you."

Eidan said this in a formal way and left.

Alro remained in a daze, reflecting on the sparring session.

——He's amazing. In a different league.

Without using body reinforcement and with just one hand, he wasn't even out of breath.

Alro stared at his still-tingling hand.

It made sense that he was said to be stronger than any of the knights.

His movements were flawless, and his speed was incredible.

Still, Alro wondered.

There were many other knights training in the training ground.

Eidan had left after sparring with him.

Thinking about it, he wasn't even in training clothes but in his usual attire, as if he had just dropped by.

What was he here for?

The calluses on Alro's hands, which he had built up from training, had broken. He had thought they would eventually break, and the knights had told him that his hands would become thicker this way. But now, after washing his hands and returning to his room to rewrap them, he found it quite difficult. However, he couldn't leave the bleeding as it was, so he managed to wrap them.

It took longer than expected, and Marivel's class time was approaching.

Alro hurriedly changed and headed to the study room.

"Alro, good morning. You're late today."

"S-sorry. Good morning, Princess."

Marivel was already sitting at the table.

This was the first time she had arrived before him.

Alro placed the reference books he would use today in front of Marivel.

"Did you train?"

"Yes."

Did he smell sweaty? He had wiped his body and changed, but his hair was still damp with sweat.

"Alro, is your shoulder hurting?"

"Eh?"

Perhaps because of his different posture or using his other hand to hold the book, Marivel noticed.

"Show me."

Marivel stood up and approached him.

"E, eh... w-well..."

"——What is this?"

Marivel quickly pulled at his collar. He couldn't escape due to her speed.

The area was already bruised and discolored.

Then, she suddenly grabbed his hand.

"Your hand is bleeding!"

A small amount of blood had seeped through the bandage. It must have been from carrying the books and applying some force.

Alro tried to hold her hand.

"Princess, you'll get dirty."

"Who did this to you!"

Just as Marivel was confronting him, the tutor entered the room and dropped his bag in shock at the sight.

A young, usually timid man who taught social studies.

"M-Marivel-sama...!?"

The door was open, and there were guards at the entrance.

Still, the scene was apparently shocking.

Marivel's hand was pulling up Alro's shirt, and the other hand was holding his.

"W-What are you doing?"

"Teacher, we'll skip today's lesson."

"Huh?"

"Alro is injured. I can't just leave him."

"Princess, that's not right!"

Alro hurriedly stopped Marivel's hand, feeling embarrassed and adjusting his clothes.

"I'm fine. It's not right to waste such an important lesson time on this—"

"Where are you fine? You have a huge bruise and your hand is all bandaged up!"

"This is nothing, it doesn't hurt at all."

"It doesn't hurt...? That's impossible! If I tell your mother—"

"Absolutely not!!"

Alro became even more withdrawn.

"Please don't worry. In training, it's common to get calluses and for them to break. That's how you build a strong hand for holding a sword, I've been told."

"Then what about your shoulder?"

Marivel was not convinced.

Thinking he might be grabbed by the collar again, Alro stepped back.

He was extremely embarrassed to show his scrawny body. After just a few months of training, he still hadn't built much muscle.

The bruises that used to cover his body had all disappeared after just one healing by Cynthia. So, he could now wear lighter clothing, but he still felt uncomfortable exposing his skin.

"Who did this to you?"

"This is also common in training—"

"Okay, then? Who did it?"

The pressure was immense.

At such times, Marivel's eyes had the same intensity as Rias.

"Um... Marivel-sama, the lesson—"

"Teacher, I said we're skipping today!"

"Eh? But—"

"Princess, you shouldn't speak to the teacher like that."

Alro faithfully followed what Tan had taught him. If Marivel did something wrong, he should point it out. That was the most important thing.

Marivel stomped her foot in frustration.

"Ah, fine!—Teacher, I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but can we skip today's lesson because Alro is injured?—Is that better!?"

"No."

Alro immediately answered and shook his head sadly.

"Princess, please... I don't want the lesson to be canceled because of me."

Marivel pursed her lips in annoyance.

She stared at Alro in silence.

Alro looked at Marivel with his usual uncertain expression but showed no sign of giving in.

"Fine."

After a while, Marivel said this with a huff, and both Alro and the teacher breathed a sigh of relief.

"Teacher! Please take care of the lesson."

Marivel said this and made a perfect bow.

Then, she glared at Alro.

"During the lesson, Alro, go to the healer and have your hand and shoulder checked."

"Eh, but, I also need to—"

Marivel would look for missing pages, connect the teacher's lectures to her daily experiences to help her remember, point out typos in her notes, and prevent her from dozing off.

Alro was quite busy during lessons.

When he told Tan about this, she was very surprised.

"——If you don't go, I'll strip you naked and take you after the lesson."

"Eh... E, ah, I, I'll go."

He decided to hurry and return.

Alro bowed quickly and ran to the infirmary.