I waved my hand in front of my face, as though trying to take back my previous statement.

"Sorry, that was unnecessary."

But Lili—

With her brows furrowed, she looked at me curiously.

"Ah, no, just forget about it."

"No. I won't."

Which is it?

"?"

Lili shook her head. Her long black hair swayed from side to side.

"It's strange. Being around you sometimes reminds me of long ago. A very long time ago."

For a moment, a chill ran down my spine.

This girl is definitely remembering Blythe. I have to be careful. If my true identity gets revealed, it will be a hassle down the line. Not to mention, embarrassing.

I set my luggage down next to the closet and pulled out a change of clothes.

The room may be a single space, but it at least has a washing area. After changing and washing my face, I returned to find Lili seated at the desk, busily scribbling with a quill.

She was working on the class roster. She’d always been like this—earnest to a fault.

Teaching swordsmanship was something I’d never been able to do for her. My sword style lacks any form.

If you want a form, observe other schools and absorb what you see.
Just keep swinging your sword.
Swing until the enemy gives up. Don’t stop.
Never stop moving—keep running.
Don’t let your spirit falter. If you feel yourself breaking, roar and rally your own strength.
If your opponent is formidable, carve through flesh and sever bone. Eventually, your blade will reach their life.
Never give up. Until the moment their blade pierces you, crawl on the ground if you must. Keep moving.
Live. There is no form to living.

That was the extent of my teaching. It was all pure, almost absurd mental tenacity.

Yet none of my disciples ever died, no matter how brutal the battlefield.

While other knights, bound by forms and chivalry, mocked us as beasts, they fell by the dozens.

My disciples? Every one of them survived.

That was my pride, left behind in my previous life.

And my disciples, they saved countless lives, even as they took many.

Eventually, I was recognized. As a Sword Saint. As a hero who saved the kingdom. Even a statue was erected in my honor in a park in the capital.

"...Well done… surviving it all..."

I muttered, and Lili turned around.

"What?"

"Nothing. Forget it."

I walked over to the bed, her gaze trailing after me.

Flopping down in the middle of the bed, I heard her speak.

"Could you scoot over a bit? You can move the stuffed animals if they’re in the way."

"Hm? Oh."

Obliging her request, I gently moved the stuffed animals—a collection of dogs, cats, and birds in chubby, exaggerated forms—closer to the pillow. Carefully, of course. I didn’t throw them.

There were so many. How many are there? I picked up a round, plump yellow bird and examined it in both hands.

"..."

If this is the kind of thing she likes, she could’ve just asked me in her past life. By the time I’d earned the title of Sword Saint, I had more money than I knew what to do with. If Blythe back then had known, he could’ve bought her all the stuffed animals she wanted.

In contrast, the current me, Eremia, may be royalty but is still a child. With King Kilpus’ strict policies, I hardly have any money of my own to spend.

I sighed.

The only thing Blythe gave Lili was a sword. In hindsight, he probably took far more from her life than he ever gave. Her chance to marry, for one.

I placed the plump yellow bird in the center of the other stuffed animals.

…They look pretty cute all lined up…

"Is this good?"

"Not just the stuffed animals—you too, Eremia. Move over a bit more. If you sleep in the middle, I won’t fit."

"Ah, right."

The women’s dorm room is Lili’s living quarters as a teacher. Unlike students, teachers don’t share rooms.

Naturally, there’s only one closet. And one bed.

...

I whipped my head toward her with such force I almost snapped my neck. Then I stared again.

"You idiot! Why is it assumed we’re sleeping together!?"

"The bed’s cramped, but endure it until the new one arrives. It’s just for seven days. Oh, are you hesitating?"

"That’s not the point! I mean, well, it is, but also isn’t!"

"If it’s about me, don’t worry. I like cute things."

She said this while pointing at the stuffed animals.

Cute things!?

Is she saying I’m being treated like a stuffed animal!?