Finding the Lennart dojo was a simple task.
The road itself wasn’t overly complicated, but even if it had been, it likely wouldn’t have posed too much of an issue.
““One-two! One-two! One-two!””
Quite noisy, boisterous, and conspicuous guides were showing the way.
However, there was a slight problem.
These sweaty guides, perhaps not properly trained in guiding, didn’t bother to check if the guests behind them were following and just ran off on their own.
[The 'Tin Knight' suggests running along with them!]
The Tin Knight’s solution to this was simple.
Adelaide felt perplexed.
It wasn’t like they didn’t know the way, so why chase after them?
Moreover, didn’t the Tin Knight just say it was inconsiderate to do this on the thoroughfare?
Running in the middle of the street is uncouth for a noble... ah, but then again, I’m a pupil rather than a noble lady right now, so does it matter?
Is this perhaps some kind of training as well?
Numerous question marks invaded her mind, slowing Adelaide’s reaction like a buffering video.
If it were Dorothea, she would have hit him on the head first for talking nonsense, but this was too much to ask of Adelaide, who was still only a beginner in Tin Knight comprehension.
Thus, the Tin Knight began sprinting down the street without restraint.
“W-wait a moment! Sir Knight!!”
Adelaide, who came to her senses a beat late, raised her voice urgently, but the Tin Knight’s speed didn’t decrease at all.
At the noisy sound coming from behind, some of the disciples turned their heads back.
“What the hell is that?”
A knight with something like blue flames flickering through the gaps in his helmet, and a girl with flowing golden hair.
This bizarre duo was chasing after them.
The commotion spread quickly, and within seconds, all the disciples witnessed this strange sight.
What’s that? What on earth is it? Why are they chasing us?
Could it be an ambush? No, that’s impossible. They wouldn’t dare attack in broad daylight with just the two of them.
Are they just crazy people?
The disciples’ gazes turned to their instructor.
Their eyes held a meaning that said, “Whatever it is, do something about it.”
“Hahaha! Excellent! Simply Excellent! Boys! If you’ve been challenged, shouldn’t you respond in kind? Add one more lap to the circuit! Anyone who falls behind that knight forfeits their free time today! As for falling behind the young lady behind him, figure it out for yourselves!”
What are you saying, instructor?
At that moment, the disciples’ hearts became one, but they failed to verbalize their united thoughts.
Clank clank clank clank clank clank!
As if spurred by the instructor’s words, the Tin Knight started increasing his speed like mad.
The disciples could no longer afford the luxury of questioning.
However, it wasn’t just the disciples who had fire under their heels.
[The 'Tin Knight' warns that if Adel doesn't overtake them, from today the running drills will level up to include carrying a backpack!]
Adelaide was shocked.
She was so shocked that even her speech pattern crumbled.
The running she had done so far was already enough to make her see stars every day, and now he wanted to add luggage on top of that?
This was absolutely unacceptable.
The disciples ran, and Adelaide ran.
And the instructor and the Tin Knight both looked on, clearly pleased.
***Total annihilation.
Three in Ten survived.
These were the results the dojo’s disciples achieved against the Tin Knight and Adelaide respectively.
It couldn’t be called stellar by any means, but the instructor didn’t seem to be in a bad mood.
It was a handicap match that started after they had already been running for a while, and the competitor was none other than one of the Lion Duke’s bloodline, so there were excuses to fall back on.
Of course, not being in a bad mood and increasing the amount of training were separate issues. The instructor firmly believed in this distinction, considering it a hallmark of a quality instructor.
Lennart Dojo, reception room.
While serving tea to their distinguished guest who had visited after a long time, the instructor opened his mouth, “Ruben von Lennart. I’m in charge of instruction here. So, you’re Sir August’s daughter?”
Brightening at the friendliness in his tone, Adelaide answered, “Yes. I’m Adelaide von Lennart. Do you know my father?”
“We’re both based in the kingdom and though our ties are distant, we had some exchanges. He was a truly knightly knight, strict with himself and kind to those he needed to protect. I can only say it’s regrettable that he met with an unfortunate accident... Well, it might sound sarcastic coming from me, who’s from the main family.”
“Ah, no. Not at all.”
“I’m glad you feel that way.”
As Ruben took a sip of tea as if organizing his thoughts, Adelaide followed suit.
It wasn’t the warm tea Adelaide usually drank, but a cold tea with a cool sensation.
She felt the sweet yet tangy taste seeping deep into her body.
Ruben resumed speaking, “Do you know what the Lennart dojo’s ‘test’ entails?”
“I heard it’s a custom where disciples recognized by each dojo as ‘good enough to show outside’ are sent to other dojos, and the receiving dojo confirms their skills through appropriate tests.”
“That’s right. However, in your case, you don’t have an original dojo to begin with. In other words, our dojo has to provide the guarantee that ‘this is good enough to show outside’ on your behalf. Do you understand?”
“If our dojo provides the guarantee and you perform miserably elsewhere, it becomes a matter of our dojo’s face. In other words, the test will be as strict as for other disciples. Any complaints?”
While Adelaide answered energetically, her trembling eyes betrayed her unease. Ruben felt newly bitter at this sight.
She’s truly an innocent, naive girl.
In the sense that she didn’t try to use complicated tricks or rely on privileges, she was the type of person Ruben quite liked.
...She doesn’t seem to have the capacity to compete with and win against Giselle.
Ruben glanced at Giselle’s letter he had received from Adelaide.
It contained, in very polite and elegant handwriting, the reason why Adelaide left the domain and a request to allow Adelaide to take the Lennart dojo’s test.
Judging by the state of the seal, there were no signs of it being opened midway, but even if it had been opened, it was a perfect introduction letter that couldn’t be faulted in any way.
That was, if this had been the only letter.
Ruben smiled bitterly, recalling another letter that had arrived via carrier pigeon a few days before Adelaide’s arrival.
The other letter didn’t contain a request to fail Adelaide in the test.
Giselle wasn’t foolish enough to leave evidence that could become a political liability, or worse, a weakness to exploit when necessary.
The content of the letter was about Adelaide.
It detailed what kind of person Adelaide von Lennart was, how she lived when the previous lord was alive, the events she experienced after the lord’s death, and how Giselle had originally intended to treat Adelaide.
Through that letter, Ruben understood what Giselle wanted to say.
Adelaide is not suited to be a lord.
If this greenhouse flower-like girl travels around the continent, she’ll gain nothing but wounds.
It would be best for Adelaide to give up early and return to the domain without letting her entertain these vain hopes.
She’s basically telling me that even if I fail this young lady here, it won’t ruin her life, so don’t feel guilty and do it properly? Haa, really. I’m moved to tears by such delicate consideration.
This was enough to be flabbergasting, but the crowning touch was the part near the end of the letter that said, “Please conduct a fair test without being swayed by emotions.”
Ruben knew all too well how cruel that seemingly just word could become depending on how it was applied.
Having A and B compete under the same rules and selecting the superior one was fair. This was a fair thing.
But if A was a child who had just started walking and B was a healthy young adult, making them compete “fairly” was already “unfair” in itself.
Evaluating a girl who had never undergone proper training in her life by the same standards as disciples who had been rigorously trained for years was cruel no matter how one looked at it.
Therefore, Ruben asked her.
He asked if she had any complaints about being judged by the same standards as the other disciples.
That was enough to settle everything.
Although he didn’t like the feeling of seemingly deceiving an innocent child, he knew how to suppress personal feelings as an instructor responsible for the dojo.
Ruben’s gaze shifted to the knight standing behind Adelaide’s right.
...Except for the initial eccentricity, he hasn’t intervened at all since then. Is he not suited for politics? Or is he simply letting the girl make her own choices?
The eyes that seemed to flicker with blue flames were unreadable, making it difficult to discern what the knight was thinking.
Feeling unsettled at this sight, Ruben rose from his seat.
“Well then, let’s start the test. Get ready.”
***“From now, the test for challenger Adelaide von Lennart will commence. The rules are simple. Repeat one-on-one matches, and if you achieve 10 consecutive victories without losing once, you pass. The first opponent is... Paulo. You’re up.”
Paulo, a disciple of the Lennart dojo, thought.
I’ll teach her a lesson.
Paulo was often evaluated as having excellent talent in swordsmanship but lacking in perseverance and diligence.
It was already annoying enough that the running training he disliked was forcibly extended, but losing his precious free time to additional training was enough to make him grind his teeth in frustration.
Thinking that this was all because of that weird knight and the girl in front of him, heat boiled up inside him.
Her small and cute face might have been endearing under normal circumstances, but having been through a rough time, even that looked displeasing.
Paulo examined his opponent’s appearance in detail.
And he came to a conclusion.
The position of her feet, the balance of her body, the height at which she held the sword—none of it was right.
Above all, her violet eyes full of tension clearly showed that the girl was a beginner who had only just recently stepped foot on this path.
I was nervous because she’s of the Lion Duke’s bloodline, but she’s nothing special.
From Ruben, the representative instructor of this dojo, to the assistant instructors who traveled between the Empire and this city, all the Lion Duke’s bloodline members Paulo had seen so far were monsters in terms of skill.
Compared to them, this girl Adelaide in front of him was clumsiness itself.
There was a rumor that the more distinct the hair and eye color of the Lion Duke’s bloodline, the more talented they were, but judging by her current state, it seemed to be baseless nonsense.
He did lose in the running competition, but that was just a fluke that happened because they tried to run more after already running as much as they could.
Setting that ridiculous can of a knight aside, he didn’t think the girl was superior to him.
It was a bit annoying that his opponent’s status was that of a kingdom noble, but as long as they were competing in this Lennart dojo, there was no need to worry about the aftermath.
As soon as the sound of hands clapping to signal the start was heard, Paulo’s body shot forward.
Judging by how she held her sword, it seemed like a strong side strike with the wooden sword would be enough to make her lose her grip and end the match, but that wouldn’t give him an excuse for additional attacks.
Paulo intended to give the girl a harsh blow, even if he had to force it.
A sharp thrust aimed to pierce the girl’s right shoulder...
Paulo was momentarily flustered.
The girl’s movement to avoid the thrust was surprisingly swift.
Having lost sight of the girl, Paulo turned his body in panic, but contrary to expectations, the girl didn’t dive into his side to launch an attack.
No, far from it, she had instead distanced herself from Paulo and was just looking bewildered.
While both of them were wearing puzzled expressions, the girl’s head suddenly turned to the side.
It was in the direction of the knight.
Paulo, who had become alert after seeing the girl’s unexpectedly sharp movement, felt blood rush to his head when he saw her blatantly looking away during the match.
Fueled by rage, Paulo charged again.
A two-handed downward strike aiming for the crown of her head descended upon the girl.
Instead of raising her sword to block it, the girl pivoted on her left foot, pulling her right side back to let the attack slide past.
Paulo tried to raise his sword again, but before that, the girl’s right foot stomped on the back of his wooden sword.
Paulo stubbornly held onto his sword, but in this instance, that was a mistake.
The girl twisted her waist. The wooden sword swung with her left hand struck Paulo’s temple.
Everyone in the dojo clearly witnessed Paulo’s body momentarily lift into the air and rotate about half a turn.
Twitching on the floor, Paulo could only convulse.
The girl blinked with an expression that said, “Huh? That’s it?”
10 consecutive victories challenge.
1 victory was achieved.