That sure was pathetic… I need to try even harder next time…)
Fii lay in bed, looking at the ceiling.
“Aah, geez. This kid’s face is saying he’s definitely gunna do this again.”
She didn’t know how long he had been there, but Crow was standing close-by.
“Oh? Crow-san. Wah-, what are you doing!?”
Crow had walked over to her, before suddenly picking her up like a princess.
He laughed impishly after seeing Fii’s bewildered expression.
“I’m here to bring a stupid team member in for a lecture. Captain York is waiting with a steeern one.”
“Captain is?”
A lecture… Did she do something wrong?
Certainly, she was quite pathetic for it. Perhaps the Captain was angry.
Guessing what she was thinking, Crow gave her forehead a flick.
“Ow-!”
“Not for that, idiot.”
“But I haven’t said anything yet…”
“Your face says it all. You’re easy to read, after all.”
Apparently that wasn’t it.
Fii tilted her head in confusion.
“You’re pretty light, huhh. Just like a girl.”
“L-, Leave me alone…”
While Crow was carrying her like a princess, York was standing in a back garden in the Royal Palace, away from the eyes of others.
“So you’ve come…” he said quietly.
Crow sat Fii down on one of the chairs prepared beforehand.
One of his hands was gripping the hilt of the sword at his hip.
(Eh…? Execution…? He’s that angry at me…!?)
Fii watched York’s serious expression as she thought stupid things.
Of course, York had not called Fii here to cut her down. That was actually rather obvious though…
Five wooden dolls were placed in the area.
“Heath. Watch this.”
With those words, York drew his sword.
His swordsmanship was too much for Fii to follow.”
“How was it, Heath?”
“A-, Amazing… Captain.”
It really was.
The speed of the strike was naturally amazing, but the accuracy of his swordsmanship was as well. Even though they were by no means placed close together, each one had been accurately struck.
(Technique this amazing… I’d never be able to see it in Déman…)
Fii felt overwhelmed by the way York handled his sword.
“Heath. Do you think you can learn this in a week…?”
“I-, I can’t…”
It was impossible.
Because Fii didn’t think that even training for her whole life would enable her to do that.
“Naturally. It took me 18 years to learn this.”
“18 years…”
(So it even took somebody like Captain York that long to learn it…)
Realising the significance of being shown this, Fii gullped.
“It goes for your fellow apprentices too. It took them five, ten years to gain the strength they have.”
(I see. Then I have to try even harder…)
“You’re wrong.”
York shook his head to deny the words Fii hadn’t spoken.
“Didn’t I say it? 18 years. If you could gain power overnight, nobody would endeavour for years. If you really think it’s possible, then you’re making light of everybody else around you. I’m sure I told you to learn from the people around you. That means to respect their strength, and to appreciate it as well.”
Hearing this, Fii gasped.
“Let me say this, Heath. Do not focus on beating them now. Spend five years to overtake their current level. Spend ten years to overtake their level five years from now. You intend on being a knight for a long time, don’t you?”
“Y-, Yes…!”
Right. She was going to be a knight for a long time…
Even if she couldn’t beat them now, over the years she could catch up one step at a time.
“If you continue to overdo things, it will simply waste the days you have to catch up. Are you fine with that?”
“I’m not, Captain!”
“I thought not. Overdoing things will decrease the days that you can try your best. That is not a good thing. Do you understand, Heath?”
“Yes, Captain! I won’t overdo things anymore!”
Fii immediately saluted atop her chair.
Seeing this, Crow gave another knowing smile.
York nodded.
“Then I will be going. I’m busy, you see.”
“Yes! Thank you very much!”
Fii stood straight, as she watched York walk away.
She engraved his words onto her heart.
Amazing swordsmanship, and words that cut through her conceit, telling her what was truly important.
(The Captain really is amazing!)
Once again, Fii thought that she was lucky to have joined the 18th, and lucky to have become Captain York’s subordinate.