The dining hall building is packed with the morning crowd. Students are crowding the entrance, making it difficult to get through. At this rate, even if we line up, it’ll be a while before we can get a seat.

“It’s crowded, huh?”

“Yeah, a pain.”

Perfect. I’ll make use of this time until the entrance clears up.

It’s not really my strong suit, but I decided to drive a wedge in. To make sure Riona doesn’t step any further into the world of assassins.

“About what we talked about earlier.”

“Hm?”

“The part about you being afraid of Kilpus.”

“You understand that, El-tan?”

I use Riona’s own specialty—psychological manipulation—against her. Naturally, in a way that won’t get noticed.

To make sure she doesn’t open the door to becoming an assassin. To lock it shut.

“You hesitated, didn’t you? What you truly feared wasn’t the adult Kilpus, nor the War Maiden’s swordplay. It was the act of assassination itself—the question of whether it was really okay to take a life. In other words, what you fear is yourself.”

“Me…?”

Even Blythe has struggled with this countless times. Swinging his sword while questioning himself.

That’s why he never wanted to drag Lili into this path. He was always afraid she might lose herself and become a mindless assassin. The only reason Blythe didn’t end up like that was because Kilpus was there.

Back then, Kilpus once told Blythe this:

—Swing your blade. I will bear the sin.

Killing without thinking about the life you’re taking is easy. It doesn’t weigh on the heart.

But if you don’t want to become a wretch who trades death for coin, then you have to swing your blade while thinking, while suffering. Finding joy in swordsmanship is not the same as finding joy in killing.

Crossing my arms, I lean against a tree in front of the dining hall.

“Give it up, Riona. You’re not cut out to be an assassin—or even a knight, for that matter. If you still insist on taking up a sword, then wield it only for yourself and for what you believe in. Killing with hesitation is never a good thing.”

“El-tan, you’re talking like some battle-hardened old man again.”

What the hell is a battle-hardened old man?

“Don’t mock me. Just between us, I may have enrolled in the knight academy, but I have no intention of becoming a knight. I plan to become the strongest, to earn the title of ‘Sword Saint’—a rank that even allows one to defy royal orders on the battlefield.”

The tree leaves rustle in the wind.

“Like Blythe, the hero of Galliant?”

At Riona’s words, I chuckled slightly.

“No, like the foolish beast that was Blythe.”

“Ehh…”

I want to do it over. That era. If it were now, I could handle things better. I was too young back then. Even Blythe was. Barely more than a ten-year-old.

For now, all I can do is hope these words serve as the wedge that closes the door for this girl.

The crowd isn’t thinning out. As I glance around, I notice a tall figure pushing through the throng and heading in our direction.

Riona hurriedly lowers her face and hides behind the tree.

It’s Void.

He spots me and raises a hand in greeting as he approaches. In his other hand, he carries a bulging paper bag.

Just how much does he plan to eat this morning? Then again, my past self probably ate even more.

“Yo, Eremia. Had breakfast yet?”

“Not yet. Came to eat, but after seeing that mess, I gave up. It’s tough being small in a crowd.”

“Kuku, you’d get trampled, huh?”

“…Ugh, I can’t even deny it…”

Back in the day, I didn’t need to push through like Void. The crowd would part just by me approaching.

Wait… was I hated?

Now that I think about it, there was a time when the knights resented me too. It’s kind of sad in hindsight. Apart from Kilpus, I didn’t have anyone I could call a friend. I had disciples, but…

“Eremia.”

Void reaches into the paper bag and tosses me a piece of bread. I catch it with both hands and look up at him.

“Here, take it.”

“O-oh. I’ll pay you back later.”

“You’re way too uptight. Don’t worry about it. I swindled a nice sum out of His Majesty for that stray cat situation.”

Ah, the assassination attempt. If Void hadn’t kicked Kilpus’s desk, the assassination might have been carried out. He should probably be getting a medal, but since Kilpus’s visit to the academy is a state secret, they gave him hush money instead.

He’s got good instincts. As expected of a mercenary.

“I appreciate it.”

“No problem.”

Riona remains hidden behind the tree, suppressing her presence.

I can’t just eat alone. As I’m about to split my bread in half, Void suddenly calls out toward the tree.

“Oi, stray cat. I got some for you too, so come out.”

So he noticed. No, he probably saw her from the start. From outside her detection range. Void has enough experience to do that.

So that’s why he had so much bread. His paper bag is stuffed—literally.

…I’m thinking about dumb things again.

“Ugh…”

Riona groans and reluctantly peeks out—but only halfway. From behind the tree, she reveals just half of her face.

Void tosses a piece of bread toward her. She hurriedly steps out to catch it and looks up at him.

“At least say thanks, dumbass.”

“Th-thank you…”

“Yeah.”

Riona hesitantly returns to my side.

Void sits down right there and starts eating his bread. After exchanging glances, Riona and I follow his lead and sit down.

“...Sorry… Are you mad…?”

Void pulls the ham out from his sandwich with his teeth and glares at Riona.

“Damn it. The ham slipped out. That’s why you’re supposed to stick it down with butter or mustard. It messes up the taste balance.”

“Hey, don’t ignore me.”

“What? Putting aside the assassination attempt on His Majesty, you didn’t get in the way of my work. If anything, I wrongly suspected you. That bread’s my apology.”

…He actually apologized. Even though he didn’t do anything wrong. Despite that thug-like face of his.

“Then why did you make me say thank you?”

“’Cause your pitiful expression is hilarious.”

“You’re such a…”

She hesitates for a moment.

Then, after a brief silence, she asks cautiously.

“Uh… what exactly is your job…?”

“Watching over this guy.”

Void points at me.

For a moment, my blood runs cold.

“Wait, Void, you—!”

“I was hired by Baron Neu to look after him. I owe him a bit of a debt, so I couldn't refuse. The kid skipped grades and entered high school at ten, so he was worried. He hired me the day Eremia’s admission was confirmed. Figured if I was going to the same school, I might as well keep an eye on his son.”

That excuse is pretty flimsy. Though Riona doesn’t seem to have the energy to question it.

“Seriously, what a hassle. Does this look like someone who needs a bodyguard? For a noble, he’s a damn rebel.—Right, Eremia?”

“O-oh…”

You bastard, I swear I’ll deck you. I’m not a noble, I’m royalty.

Still, the way he rattled off that nonsense so smoothly… This guy really is sharp.