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Chapter 13
“…You.”
Zenon wore an expression of disbelief. His lips moved slightly as if he wanted to say something.
And just as Kata was about to respond—
He suddenly turned away.
“Ah—”
Kata stared at his retreating back.
The mop handle sticking out awkwardly behind his broad shoulders stabbed into her vision.
It was clear.
Zenon had decided to ignore her.
With every step he took, droplets of water fell onto the dirt path.
“I’ll see you at training later!”
No answer came back.
Kata stood still, unmoving.
Watching Zenon’s back, something strangely painful pressed against her chest.
The Count Korel household in the southern region had been warm, and that shining boy had always been someone she had stubbornly followed around—much to his annoyance.
At eleven, Kata had chased after that sulking boy’s back endlessly, until eventually he gave up and accepted her presence.
But Kata was no longer eleven.
And neither was Zenon.
She still had the courage—and the shamelessness—to follow him, but she no longer had confidence that he wouldn’t come to hate her. Nor certainty that he wouldn’t be troubled by her.
So this was how the end of three years without farewell felt.
“Go back.”
The sunlight stung her eyes as she blinked.
Her mouth felt dry and bitter, and her cheek was still numb.
Then—
The figure walking away suddenly turned back.
Each blink brought him closer.
His footsteps matched the pounding of her heartbeat.
A frowning face approached until it was right in front of her.
“….”
Zenon, who had retraced his steps entirely, stared at her—almost glaring.
“Zenon?”
Silence lingered.
The bucket in his hand swayed, its water level visibly reduced.
“W—”
He struggled to speak, his expression grim.
“Who did it?”
“Huh?”
“Sir Soran? Sir Lea? Perinem Alcazar? Who was it?”
Kata blinked in confusion.
Zenon Korel was asking about the reason she was injured.
Whether out of lingering duty as an old friend or simple curiosity, she couldn’t tell—but it was so very like him to ask.
As the corners of Kata’s lips began to lift unconsciously, Zenon’s expression darkened further, like rotting soil.
“It happened during cleaning. A fight with Zellus Aragon.”
“…Zellus?”
Zenon frowned.
“Of all people… you got hit by him?”
“Don’t worry, I got one in too.”
Kata said sheepishly.
“Sir Arthur arrived right after and handled everything.”
“…That sixth-year knight?”
“Yeah. I see him often during dawn training, so he’s been kind to me.”
Zenon’s expression stiffened slightly, clearly displeased.
“How empty is your head?”
His tone turned sharp.
“What’s the difference between that man and Soran? Even if you don’t have any sense of self-preservation—”
“It’s because I don’t have sense that I’m like this with you.”
“….”
“…I was joking.”
Zenon’s face turned even colder, and Kata awkwardly stopped smiling.
“…Fine. It’s not my place to interfere.”
He spoke flatly.
“Don’t wander off anywhere else. Go straight to the infirmary.”
“Okay.”
Even as he turned away, Kata found herself smiling.
Her cheek still throbbed, and the healer would probably scold her—but so what?
Zenon was still Zenon.
In the end, Zellus received three weeks of confinement.
According to Arthur, the reason was:
“He threatened an unarmed Kata and drove her to the brink of death.”
‘It wasn’t that serious.’
Still, the long spring-cleaning campaign finally ended.
All knights except Zellus returned to training.
And on the first day training resumed—
“From here on, we’ll use real swords!”
Knight Garyon shouted in a stern voice.
A former mercenary, he was famous for his bald head and heavily ridged brow that gave him a fierce appearance.
Screeeeeech!
Behind the training ground, captured monsters howled as they struggled inside sealing restraints.
Several knights flinched as the creatures twisted violently.
Garyon shot them a sharp glare.
“What, scared of monsters already? Any rookie like that can leave now. I have no intention of training the hopeless!”
Kata ignored the knights glancing at her.
Garyon thumped his chest.
“Humans have cores, and so do demons and monsters. From their cores emerge tendrils of condensed mana—so-called ‘roots.’ These creatures have strong regenerative abilities, so to kill them, you must pierce the core.”
He turned his gaze.
“Be careful—these ‘roots’ are not just weapons. This year’s top recruit… Zenon Korel?”
“Yes.”
“What do monsters steal using their roots?”
Zenon paused briefly.
His blue eyes glinted coldly.
“…They steal ‘life flashes.’”
“Correct. Every human sees their life flash before their eyes before death. Key memories of their life.”
Even though this was basic knowledge, Garyon spoke seriously.
“Monsters that consume those memories evolve into ‘demons.’ They are reborn using human flesh. Demons possess explosive mana and can control monsters. The more memories they consume, the stronger they become.”
He continued firmly.
“So if you are ever about to be killed by a demon—”
“….”
“Kill yourself instead. If you can’t move, bite your tongue off.”
If you die by your own will, you won’t see your life flash.
A heavy silence fell over the training ground.
“Now, we begin training. Katarenia Donovan.”
Kata raised her head.
“Yes.”
“Bring your sword still in its sheath. You go first.”
As Kata stepped forward, Garyon signaled to the waiting knight.
A released monster roared and leapt.
“Graaaah!”
Dark, dense tendrils erupted from its body.
At the same moment, Kata drew her sword.
Shhk!
The blade pierced its core.
The monster froze instantly.
Kata twisted the sword half a turn and pulled it out.
Black fluid splattered, and the body began crumbling into dust.
In an instant, it was over.
The knights murmured.
“Was it always that easy?”
“She didn’t even faint this time.”
“Her face looks a bit pale though…”
Garyon cleared his throat.
“Hmph! Not bad, Katarenia Donovan. Step back.”
He pointed at the ashes.
“As you can see, monsters are defeated once their core is destroyed. Even ordinary people can handle them with training.”
Then Zenon, the top recruit, was called.
Before stepping forward, he briefly looked at Kata—
Then turned away.
That evening, Luna unexpectedly spoke to Kata first.
“Hey, take this.”
Kata caught what Luna tossed.
“It’s candy made by boiling sugar. The outer layer is starch-based oblaat, so you can eat it whole without peeling.”
“…Luna.”
“What.”
“Are you cleaning right now?”
“If you’ve got eyes, you can tell.”
Kata opened her mouth slightly.
She was almost moved to tears at her roommate’s sudden change.
“I’ll help too!”
Instead of thanks, another piece of candy flew toward her.
