Chapter 23: A Mercenary’s Teachings

“You said you wanted to be taught.”

After classes ended, Bisus and Naber stood facing each other in an empty training ground, each holding a sword.

Naber had promised to serve Bisus like a vassal as a condition of becoming his disciple.

It was an uncharacteristic proposal for someone as proud as him, but it proved how much he respected Bisus.

On the other hand, Bisus accepted, thinking Naber’s strength would help him survive and prevent the “apocalypse” in the future.

“Since I’ve agreed to teach you, I won’t go easy.”

Of course, Bisus had never taught anyone, nor had he properly trained in swordsmanship himself.

But perhaps because of last night’s dream, he felt confident in teaching Naber.

“I’ll give you one free shot. Come at me.”

“I won’t hold back, then.”

Naber charged at Bisus with incredible speed.

Clang!

“That was a sharp attack.”

Bisus effortlessly parried Naber’s strike.

Zing! Clang!

Naber unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks.

“But…”

Thud!

Bisus seized a fleeting gap in Naber’s assault, tripping his leg.

“Urgh!”

Naber stumbled and fell.

“You focused too much on attacking and exposed a vulnerability.”

Bisus extended a hand, helping Naber up.

“I’ve got a sense of your level now.”

“My level?”

“Yeah. Your swordsmanship is impressive. It’s not just raw talent—there’s clear effort behind it. If you keep growing like this, becoming a Sword Master isn’t a pipe dream. But your weakness is real combat experience. You’ve only sparred with knights, haven’t you? Never fought in a real battle.”

Bisus’s tone had shifted, echoing the mercenary V from his dream.

“Experience…”

Naber fell into thought.

“It’s not a big deal. It’d be weirder if you had a ton of real combat experience at your age.”

“…You sound like you’re not my age.”

“Oh. Yeah, why did I…”

Bisus felt a strange unease at his own words slipping out.

“Real combat experience… If I gain a lot of it, could I become as strong as you?”

“As strong as me? Hmm… Thinking back to when I was a mercenary, you’re already stronger than I was at your age, so it’s definitely possible—uh.”

What am I saying?

Mercenary? In the past?

That’s not my past.

It was the past of V, the legendary mercenary and Bel’s master from the dream.

Why am I talking like him?

Did living his life in the dream make me inherit some of his memories and personality?

“I see. A mercenary. That explains your strength,” Naber said.

“Uh? No, I mean—”

Mercenary? I don’t even have a basic iron mercenary badge!

“It seems you didn’t want others to know, judging by how you cut yourself off. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”

Naber smiled faintly, tapping his chest with his right hand.

“I swear on the honor of Naber Schreig. I won’t speak of your past to anyone.”

He’s completely misunderstanding!

But how do I explain this?

“I’m saying I was a mercenary in a dream” or “I was someone else in a dream, and their personality lingered”?
Both make me sound insane.

“I used to think all mercenaries were scum.”

People who didn’t care about honor.

Who took pride in fighting dirty.

Who showed no respect to their opponents and lived only for the moment.

But Bisus was different.

He respected Naber, who challenged him with hostility, and even offered to teach him.

More honorable and merciful than any knight Naber had ever met.

“Probably because I’d never met an honorable mercenary like you.”

Honorable mercenary?

Bisus was flustered by Naber’s words.

What’s he talking about?

Honorable mercenary?

What’s that supposed to mean?

“Living as a mercenary from such a young age, and as a baron’s son no less. That adventurous spirit must be why you reached such heights.”

I don’t know about that.

What is he on about?

“I respect you, Bisus.”

He’s really misunderstanding.

…Whatever.

If it’s good, it’s good.

Who cares?

“Ahem. Now that I know your skill level, I’ll teach you about practical swordsmanship you can’t learn through sparring alone.”

“I’m all ears.”

“When wielding a sword…”

“Thank you, Bisus. No, my master. I’ll never forget this kindness.”

Yeah, sure. Just don’t forget to help me stop the “apocalypse” later.

If you get stronger, it benefits me too.

After training Naber for a while, Bisus parted ways with him and approached the two women waiting in the corner of the training ground.

“Sorry for making you wait!”

Sofia greeted him first.

“Done already, Bisus? Making someone as important as me wait—you’ll pay for that,” she teased with a smile.

“But as expected of a hero, your teaching skills are remarkable. To think you could improve an already polished swordsman like him,” she added.

It’s not my hero memories but my mercenary ones that made it possible.

Explaining that feels too complicated, so I’ll just let it slide.

“My lord husband, you were so cool!”

Whoosh

Artoria hugged him from behind.

“Wha—?!”

What’s with her today?

She’s been bolder since I healed her finger.

“You! Are you breaking our agreement?” Sofia gritted her teeth at the sight.

“Pfft. I’m just healing our hardworking hero,” Artoria retorted, channeling holy power to relieve Bisus’s fatigue.

“That feels… refreshing.”

Artoria shot Sofia a smug look.

…This girl.

Sofia couldn’t argue since it was for Bisus’s sake.

“Uh, Artoria, I’m sweaty from sparring. I probably smell, so maybe keep some distance.”

“Smell?” Sniff sniff

Tilting her head, Artoria buried her face in Bisus’s neck.

“Hey!”

“Your scent is wonderful, my lord husband. I love it.”

“I can’t take this anymore.”

Sofia grabbed Artoria by the collar and lifted her.

“Eek!”

“What are you doing?!”

“W-What do you mean?”

“What kind of perverted nonsense is this?!”

“P-Perverted…”

Artoria realized her actions might have seemed strange.

“Uh… my lord husband, it’s not weird! It’s… an angelic expression of affection!”

“Angelic expression of affection?”

“Y-Yes… hehe. Angels show love by nuzzling the necks of those they care about. You and I used to do it all the time!”

This is totally a lie, but it’s true!

Artoria blurted out whatever came to mind.

What if he regains his memories?

Well… he’d forgive this little lie, right?

“…Angels are such filthy, lustful creatures,” Sofia scoffed.

“No, they’re not! There’s no soul purer than ours! Why don’t you try it yourself?!”

“Me?”

“Yes!”

Gulp

Sofia swallowed hard without realizing it.

“Well… just to check.”

She leaned in and sniffed Bisus’s neck.

“…It is a nice scent.”

Her face turned beet red.

“D-Don’t get the wrong idea, Bisus! I was just curious, no ulterior motives!”

“Both of you, stop.”

This is going to give me some weird fetish.

I might end up dreaming something really perverted tonight.

…I’m a little curious about that kind of dream.

Student Council Room

Only Diabel and Robina remained in the darkened room.

“The first step, huh?”

Robina murmured, eyeing the box Diabel had brought out.

“Yes. The preparations for the first step toward the world’s destruction.”

To infect the academy’s students.

To turn them into her pawns when the time came.

“Don’t hold back when it comes to surviving. Honor? That’s for foolish knights. Would you rather die honorably or live dishonorably? Got it?”

Diabel recalled her master’s teachings.

Honor…

Living is better than honor.

No.

Living is hell.

If it weren’t for this oath etched into my soul, I could’ve met you.

I’ll do whatever it takes to reach you.

“Did I teach you to act like this? When did I tell you to do that?”

I miss you.

Diabel chuckled, imagining how her master would react in the afterlife to her actions.

“Uh… President?”

“Oh, just a funny thought. Don’t mind me.”

“Understood.”

“The plan will be executed next week, during club recruitment week.”

Diabel closed the box on the desk.