871 – Is this the land of the one-eyed? – 5

While her husband was holding on to a mad prince with all his might, his wife was repeatedly destroying the pride of the knight kingdom.

No. If you use the expression “destroyed,” it seems like we are negatively influencing the Empire-Armenian relationship. Instead of destroying it, let’s say we stimulated their competitive spirit and made Armenia’s future brighter. That seems like the right expression.

‘Great, our Pine.’

Anyway, I gave a generous round of applause to Fine’s outstanding performance. I had the same thought earlier, but I still couldn’t suppress my excitement and satisfaction.

Before sparring with the best swordsman on the continent, the King of Armen declared that they would first spar with the disciple of the best swordsman on the continent. The knights who had been anticipating the sparring with sparkling eyes also thought the king’s declaration was appropriate, and they accepted the sparring with enthusiastic cheers. It seems that they thought it would be better to fight the Four Heavenly Kings below them than to challenge the final boss right away.

And the result was Fine’s winning streak. He was able to achieve 17 consecutive victories that will be remembered in the history of imperial-Armenian diplomacy.

“This is true.”

In other words, this means Armenia’s 17th consecutive loss. Perhaps that’s why Ryutis scratched the back of his head with a bitter smile.

It must be a complicated feeling. It must be unpleasant for the knights of the country to lose to one person in a row, but it is not easy to express anger or regret because I, Fine’s husband, am right next to him. From Ryutis’s perspective, he must be worried that if he says one wrong thing, someone will say, “Is it strange that my wife won?”

When I think about it that way, it’s a little touching. That Ryutis, who boasts a destructive eye, would consider my feelings.

‘You’ve grown up.’

What could be more joyful than seeing the growth of a student who was the most troubled? As a former club advisor, it is touching…

“I’m grateful that time is limited. If we continue this sparring, it won’t be 17, but more.”

“I know very well that the knights of Armenia are brave. However, unlike Fine, who does his best so that I don’t have to step forward, the knights cannot give their all because they are considering the honorable guests of other countries. It is an unfair result, so don’t take it too seriously.”

So I tried to offer some comfort to Ryutus’ words.

In fact, if time were infinite as Ryutis said, and if the duels could continue indefinitely, Fine’s winning streak would only pile up. Unlike Armenia, which had not had any external conflicts for about 30 years, the empire had experienced many conflicts, and Fine was a specialist who had rolled around in the middle of conflicts. The difference in actual combat experience is significant.

However, for a student who has grown up, there is enough comfort mixed with words of wisdom. Anyway, it is true that Fine won, but it was not a proper match. Let’s just leave it at that.

“Haha, thank you very much for your kind words!”

Fortunately, Ryutis’ expression softened somewhat at my words,

“But a fight is a fight. It’s not the way of a knight to make excuses like you were at a disadvantage because of this or that! Winning under any conditions is what makes a true knight, a true warrior! Even in war, you don’t fight while considering conditions!”

“That’s true, but.”

“Although 17 consecutive losses are painful, this pain is also growing pains for a better tomorrow! I am grateful to the best swordsman on the continent and his wife for giving me great teachings!”

I smiled awkwardly at the sight of Ryutus bowing slightly.

When it comes to swords, Ryutis is proud. He is cheerful and cheerful in unexpected places. He even seems to have become more mature as he is about to get married, so he is not the dog-like Ryutis I knew, but a Ryutis who is close to normal.

I wish it had been like this at the academy, but let’s be thankful that he became a prince worthy of being called a prince, even if it was late.

“Enough! Your Majesty has given us enough time, so we will stop the duel!”

After a while, Ryutis walked towards the training ground and declared the end of the training in a loud voice.

“The person who gave you his time is the head of the Imperial Inspectorate’s Special Department and the best swordsman on the continent! He grew up under a master better than you and has gained more experience! So rather than feeling resentful of your defeat, be happy that you can improve further!”

“I’ll keep that in mind!”

“I will work even harder and dedicate myself to the royal family and the kingdom!”

At Ryutus’ shout, the knights who were sitting on the ground and grumbling, as well as the knights who were standing and watching the duel, responded in unison.

“Finally, to the disciple of the best swordsman on the continent! Salute!”

‘ah.’

And then he even forced Fine to do the inspection that he didn’t have to do.

These cruel guys. Even when I was being baptized with Fine, I was terrified, but it was cruel to only use the baptism on Fine. Fine is surprisingly unfamiliar with the gaze of others.

‘…It doesn’t matter.’

But my worries disappeared in an instant.

Fine’s appearance as he received the sword was as majestic as a triumphant general. The knights receiving the sword were not simply others, but those he had destroyed or could destroy with his own force, so it seemed okay.

There was a reason why they said that people become friends through fighting. If it weren’t for this sparring, Fine would still have felt unfamiliar with those knights and would have been reluctant to meet them.

Accommodation during my stay in Armenia was provided by the royal family.

It was an excessive consideration, but it would be rude to refuse the consideration of a person of such a high status. Furthermore, since they were guests who had come to brighten up the wedding, it was only natural that they should be treated by the royal family, so I couldn’t bring myself to refute their logic.

‘To shine.’

He sighed inwardly as he pondered the king’s words. Since when did cutting the sky in the tomb become an act that would brighten a wedding? Rather, it would be a disaster that would ruin the wedding.

Honestly, even now that I’m in Armenia, I still find it hard to understand. Why would they ask for something like a sky-cut? And at a sacred place like Geommyo, and on a monumental occasion like a wedding.

There must be a reason that the criminal’s mind cannot even guess. It must be a reason that I will never understand, and I do not want to understand it. If I understand this, it would be a big problem.

“honey?”

‘ah.’

The sigh I had been trying to keep inside ended up spilling out of my mouth.

“Is something bothering you? Did something go wrong during the training session earlier…”

Fine, who had been feeling slightly elated after the duel, suddenly shrank at my sigh.

It was a sad yet cute sight, so I couldn’t help but chuckle. He achieved an incredible record of 17 consecutive wins in the Heart of the Knights Kingdom. If you’re proud, you’re proud, so how could there be a problem?

Of course, since it was a duel held in the capital of the opposing country and the king arranged it, it could have been a beautiful picture to give them some leniency. However, wouldn’t it be rude to give them leniency for those sword-crazy people? A showdown where they gave their all, a beautiful defeat. This would be a satisfactory result for those sword lovers.

“I feel like I made Fine suffer all by herself. I’m sorry that my husband just watched.”

So I hugged Fine and opened my mouth softly.

I couldn’t possibly say something like, ‘I don’t know what those crazy Armenians were thinking when they asked for the sword to be cut down the sky.’ If I said something like that, it would just spread my worries to Fine.

“Oh, no! I did it because I wanted to! If you want to face the greatest swordsman on the continent, you have to defeat his disciple first, so it was something I had to do!”

He repeatedly patted Fine’s back as he shook his head violently.

I know. I know everything about Fine’s heart. He took up the sword for me, and fought knights for me. If you don’t know that heart, you are not human.

However, if there is one thing that is regrettable,

‘It’s hard.’

His tone became stiff, perhaps because it had been a long time since he had held a sword.

Marrying me, giving birth to Mary, etc. Fine’s rigid and serious discipline was slowly disappearing as she went through various incidents. Sometimes, even when she used Yoza or Tanaka style on me, there was a subtle softness. The 17 consecutive sparring sessions brought back Fine’s lost discipline.

I know it’s an unavoidable situation, but it’s a shame. Still, I guess it’ll all be restored as time goes by, so all I can do is wait.

…No, if it’s restored to its original state by Fine’s standards, is it a time when military discipline was at its peak?

‘no.’

I swallowed without realizing it.

I can’t turn my wife back to her days as a soldier after she’s finally become soft. I’ve worked hard to lower Fine’s amazing loyalty even just a little bit.

“Pine.”

“Yes, yes!”

“If it’s okay, do you want to go out right away? Since we’re in Armenia, we should see a lot of things.”

That’s why I suggested Fine to go out. To quickly erase the heat and memories of the sparring. To give Fine soft memories again.

***

His Majesty the Prince of Rheutis has come to visit.

Since the marriage between Prince Her Majesty and Perosa was decided, I have been visiting you almost every day. It is truly an embarrassing and difficult visit, but as a subject, I cannot dare to stop your steps.

So, whenever His Majesty visited, I put aside my duties as Vice-Captain of the Royal Knights and greeted Him only as His Majesty’s prospective father-in-law. That was what His Majesty wanted.

“The advisor came with a woman!”

‘ah.’

But this time, he came with some welcome, yet unique news.

There is only one being on this continent that Ryutis Hajeong calls a mentor. He was a former Academy inspector and advisor to the pastry club. He is currently the Imperial Inspector General and the continent’s top swordsman.

Maybe it’s because we’ve been together at the academy for 3 years, but even I, who doesn’t have a wide network of friends, can call him a ‘friend beyond borders.’

‘Karl Crassius.’

It was a name I hadn’t heard in a long time, and it was even more so because it was someone I was meeting for the first time in a long time, so a smile came to my face.

“Haha! Looks like Mr. Villar is happy to see you!”

“Yes, Your Majesty. After three years of getting along, we have developed a bond that transcends nationality.”

“I understand. I have made many friends across the border!”

Ryutis, who burst into laughter, touched his teacup, then raised the corners of his lips and continued speaking.

“But I’d like you to avoid coming today. The advisor’s wife has had her 17th consecutive sparring match, so it would be difficult to receive guests today!”

“…yes?”

A question naturally arose in response to Hajeong’s words.

17 consecutive fights? What on earth happened to the minister as soon as he arrived in Armenia?

It has nothing to do with me, but I feel so sorry for causing trouble to my friend who came from far away.