Chapter 295 – Suspension.

“But what good is it to you, then?”

Still, Usher couldn’t understand Krikaliev. He himself becoming Krikaliev’s apprentice must have been the price he paid for rescuing Belka. If it was a price, it must have been a condition that benefited him. Because he couldn’t understand why it was to his advantage. At Usher’s question, Krikaliev shrugged his shoulders.

“If the teacher takes on the responsibility of the disciple, what do you think the disciple should do?”
“…I do not know.”

Usher didn’t know what he wanted from him.

“I must have taught you a few things, not many, during my coming here.”

He had taught him many things on the way to the Holy Land.

“You made a fire when I hunted.”

He didn’t know how to do it when he couldn’t figure it out, but he showed me how to make a fire and made me do it.

“Learn how to wield a shield.”

It was difficult to even parry his shield-hitting attacks, but he knew how to parry attacks from opponents stronger than himself.

“I’ve gotten used to how to use and manage a sword. I’ve learned how to hunt with both guns and swords.”

He also taught me how to stab and subdue a monster or animal that fell alone sometimes.

“Also, he would have told me that a sword is always a last resort.”

That there are numerous responsibilities in wielding a sword.

“Now what can you do? Tell me, even if it’s just a small thing.”
“You mean you can breathe?”
“Hey man. That’s gone too far. Good thing though. Do you think it’s worth it?”
“No. Everyone knows how to do it.”

If it was a person, if it was alive, the obvious was not special.

“Yes, no one thinks that what anyone can do is valuable. Then what do you think makes a person more valuable?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then let me give you an example. You also learned a sling from me.”
“Ugh, I still can’t handle it very well.”

Sling had already been taught by Donnar, but he gave up because he couldn’t handle it well no matter how hard he tried. But Krikaliev had put the sling on him again.

“Can you imitate it now?”
“But I can’t handle it as elaborately as you do.”
“Yes. But it’s not to the extent that I can’t handle a sling.”

Even then, the hit rate was low.

“But what about a knight who can’t handle a sling?”
“Will it depreciate?”
“Yes, I prefer knights who can use a sling to those who can’t. Now if you become a knight, you’ll be in a better position.”
“…Can I be a knight?”

Usher said he didn’t feel like he could ever be like Donar or Krikaliev.

“If you want me to be worth more than I was yesterday. You said. A knight is a keeper.”

He said he was the one in charge.

“It’s as you said. Knights protect people from monsters and other dangerous people. But that’s what ordinary soldiers know how to do. But why are knights envied?”

Why do knights get paid more than other soldiers and give orders to other soldiers? Usher remembered the figure of Donnar. When he left the forest and felt desolate in the endless wilderness wherever he went, he met a knight who accepted them as family. How did he feel that he was his father?

“Because you’re responsible for more people?”

It was because he wanted to take care of Belka and Usher.

“Yes, because a soldier fights for his family, but a knight fights for his country, not only his own family, but also more people, his comrades and the families of others.”

That’s what the knights call honor. This is why the knight’s death was honored.

“That’s why the knight is the one who takes responsibility.”

Krikaliev knelt down and laid his hand on his shoulder, meeting his gaze.

“So Usher. Become a knight.”

Could it be that his hand, upon his own shoulder, was heavy simply because his hand was like that of a golem? It was when Usher was facing his yellow eyes.

“Ooh, how long are we going to leave it alone?”

Erica’s voice interrupted.

“…Squall.”
“But I want to play with Usher soon!”

Belka tried to stop Erica, but Erica, her cheeks puffed out, crossed her arms and glared at her with displeasure at her gray color.

“Hi. Okay, okay.”

So Krikaliev smiled and straightened her knee, which had been trying to meet his gaze.

“Now go play with those girls.”
“Yes? But.”
“First of all, what you can take responsibility for. That’s your duty.”
“Aha ♪ Let’s go quickly!”

Usher’s steps did not fall easily, but as if she had waited, she was drawn by Erica’s actions to catch herself and follow her to her Belka. Krikaliev watched Usher leisurely as he was being led away by the girls, then opened his mouth.

“How long are you going to be like a shy girl?”
“Aren’t you putting too much burden on that child?”

It was Kayaba who walked out from the back of the tree.

“Which person is not responsible? That’s why it’s more valuable.”
“But I couldn’t fulfill Master’s will. Have I really fulfilled my responsibility?”

His helmet shows no expression, but the lowered head shines slightly in the sunlight.

“Honey. This is a place where even if it rots, it’s tied up for a thousand years. It’s strange that it’s easy.”
“Then, Master, how…”
“The tied roots were cut off and the seeds were sown. There is no need to be in a hurry.”

Krikaliev immediately looked back at him.

“Rather, if you act in a hurry, you’ll buy more people’s backlash.”

Don’t try to take on too many responsibilities at once. Everything builds up step by step.

“Do you remember the first time you held a sword?”
“Yes.”

When Kayaba was still underground. She remembered the first sword she had been handed to him.

“Now, this is your sword from now on. Let’s think about it when the blade is a little bigger.”

Even though it was a bladeless sword, I was very happy because it was something that could be used as a blunt weapon if I wielded it. I always carried it with me, and when it was bad, we hugged each other and fell asleep. What day it was That day, too, he was sparring with Krikaliev with that sword.

-Changgang!
“Uh?”

Suddenly, his sword broke. When Kayaba was idly in an incomprehensible situation, Krikaliev picked up the pieces of the broken sword.

“As expected, it’s got a lot of rust.”
“Why is the sword…”

Kayaba was suspicious. Krikaliev’s sword was the same as his sword used in sparring. While his sword glittered and reflected the light, his own sword was shattered with a lot of rust.

“That’s because they don’t take care of it. What about the cloth I gave you when I gave you the sword?”
“That.”

He couldn’t say anything about Krikaliev’s words. That’s right, the cloth I received while receiving the sword from him had a slightly sticky solid in between. It offended him because he had left it alone and forgot where he put it. When Kayaba couldn’t answer, he picked up the fragments of the broken sword and put them away.

“Let’s leave this sword alone and go to your room.”

The fabric and solids were none other than the things that prevented the sword from rusting, so I hurriedly found them, but the solids between the fabrics melted into black in the fabric, making it difficult to burn my hands.

“Little boy. What do you think of when you see this?”
“But when I come back from training, I’m so tired.”
“Don’t make excuses, man.”

Kayaba got grumpy the night he lightly hit him on the head, but that was all.

“Can you imitate a knight like this? Little boy.”
“Ugh, what does this have to do with the knight!”
“There are many. You said you became a knight, but didn’t you take responsibility for your sword?”

His words coming back were even more shocking. Krikaliev said to throw away the cloth with his own hands and wipe his tracks.

“From now on, clean and manage the sword yourself. No one can take care of you for the rest of your life.”

After that day, Kayaba no longer neglected to clean his sword.

“It’s no different now. Even if it’s just the smallest things, if there’s a better me today than yesterday.”

At his words, Kayaba looked down at the sword at his waist. His armor and sword glistened in the sunlight.

“The beginning, yes, is to accept without hostility when the inhabitants of the underground come up.”
“That.”
“Even if it’s just a name, wouldn’t it work if the cardinal and the saintess persuaded you?”
“But then, when the hell…”

Kayaba wondered if it was too late, but Krikaliev shook his head.

“I entrusted the future to you. I didn’t mean to let go of myself because of it.”

Excess of anything will make you sick.

“You, too, someday take in a disciple. And tell them what you’ve been through. Your responsibility will be a little heavier, but not that heavy.”

Just like you took my responsibility. His hand lightly tapped her on the shoulder, and Kayaba turned around when he saw Krikaliev’s back watching Usher and the girls again. It was because she realized that it was no longer time for her to fool around with her master. Krikaliev’s voice came from his back.

“So I’m a bit late to ask, but how did you feel when you saw the sky?”
“…Really beautiful.”

To the extent that I want to stare at it all the time.

“That’s good!”

His voice was more delightful than ever.