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Chapter 24
Crossing the training grounds, Rune spotted Ellen sitting under a tree.
“Good evening, Cadet Ellen.”
Ellen briefly lifted his head to glance at her, but gave no reply. His hands moved busily, wiping down a blade with an oil-soaked cloth.
It was the greatsword she had seen earlier that day.
“Are you tending to your sword?”
As Rune stepped closer, Ellen scowled and snapped curtly.
“Mind your own business.”
Rune narrowed her eyes. Ever since earlier in the day, his manner of speaking had been irritating.
“Why do you keep talking down to me?”
“If you don’t like it, drop the honorifics yourself.”
Rune furrowed her brows, placing a hand on her hip, standing crookedly. Somehow this fellow seemed even less socially adept than she was, despite having been cooped up in the castle all her life.
Did he think she couldn’t stop being polite if she wanted?
“A greatsword must be hard to maintain. But its condition looks good.”
Though the leather binding on the hilt and the scabbard showed signs of wear, the blade itself was well cared for.
“Must be a cherished sword, huh?”
Ellen raised an eyebrow and clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“Wrong. I was just about to sell it off.”
At his suppressed, almost bitter voice, Rune tilted her head and asked.
“Sell it? Why?”
“No reason to use it here anyway. If you like it, why don’t you buy it?”
With that brusque reply, Ellen slid the freshly cleaned blade into its scabbard and stood up, brushing off his clothes. A medal tied to the hilt with a worn strap dangled loosely.
Rune’s eyes widened. The round medal bore the raised emblem of the Gotham Guild—a gray crow.
“You really were a mercenary of the Gotham Guild?”
“What, is it funny to you too? That a lowly mercenary dares to become a knight?”
His sharp retort made Rune click her tongue inwardly. Why did he twist every word into something like this?
What’s wrong with this guy anyway?
Ellen looked like someone with as much baggage as herself, only his personality was not just rough but warped. He clearly carried a deep grudge against the world.
“Funny? Not at all. If someone loves the sword, what’s so wrong about learning it?”
At her calm answer, Ellen’s face immediately twisted.
“I never loved it.”
His reaction was as sharp as a feral stray cat. Rune shrugged. It was an obvious lie.
A blade revealed how its owner treated it. And his spoke clearly.
“The academy will issue you a new sword, but after graduation, you’ll need your own again. You’d better keep this one safe until then. Finding a sword that truly fits you isn’t easy.”
“If you’re not buying it, then stop bothering me and get lost.”
Lifting the greatsword onto his shoulder, Ellen walked past her coldly.
Then don’t make such a gloomy face. Obviously, you care about that sword—yet you say you’ll sell it?
Rune’s nosy streak flared. Folding her arms, she turned her head toward his retreating back.
“You’re not going straight to the shop, are you?”
“Stay out of it.”
Ellen shot her a sharp glare with his hazel eyes. One more word and he looked ready to swing at her.
Fine, fine. Clicking her tongue, Rune slung her towel over her shoulder and headed to the washroom.
“I hope you at least get a fair price for it.”
The communal washroom was, as expected, empty. Rune entered the last stall in the corner. There was a lock she could slide from inside, but the loose fittings were shoddy at best.
“This is hardly better than nothing.”
Since anyone might show up, it was best to wash quickly and leave.
Shhh—
Warm water gushed out as she turned the tap.
Rune lathered her hair with soap first, quickly scrubbing down her body. The facilities were poor, but she was thankful at least that hot water came out.
Bang!
The door rattled violently, as if it would break. Rune almost screamed and fell over from the shock.
“Come out.”
It was Ellen.
Are you insane?! She swallowed a curse and shouted.
“What the hell are you doing! Don’t tell me this is about earlier?”
“What?”
As if offended, Ellen let out a short exasperated sigh.
“You’d better come out now. The senior cadets returning from dispatch missions will be here any moment.”
Creak. Hastily shutting off the tap, Rune roughly dried herself and asked.
“What are you talking about? And even if so, what’s that got to do with you?”
The same guy who told her to mind her business had barged in acting all concerned—she couldn’t make sense of it.
“Does that matter right now? Hurry up and get out!”
He wasn’t wrong—this wasn’t the time to argue.
Rune quickly wrapped a towel across her chest and slipped into her tunic. The damp fabric clung uncomfortably to her skin.
Voices echoed through the vent, growing nearer.
“Hurry up! What’s taking so long?”
Ellen shook the door roughly, the weak lock rattling dangerously.
“Damn it, wait! I’m dressed!”
Just as she was pulling on her undergarments, the lock finally gave way, and the door swung wide open.
“You—!”
Shhh! Ellen rushed in and clamped a hand over her mouth.
Mmmpf—this lunatic!
Just in time.
“Damn it, that was the worst mission ever!”
A boisterous group of cadets stormed noisily into the washroom.
Their voices, worn from fatigue, spilled curses in every sentence.
“Why is it always us stuck on the outskirts while 1st Company gets city patrols?”
“As if this is new. Cleaning up monster corpses isn’t our first time.”
“They could assign it to regular soldiers. Even with sergeants, they treat us like grunts. Damn it, just wait until graduation—I’ll join the Royal Knights in style.”
“Forget it, unless you cozy up to Sir Alfonso. Even if you handed over your family’s entire domain, it wouldn’t be enough.”
Shhh— Water ran, mingling with coarse laughter that filled the washroom.
So… do we just have to endure until they leave?
Veins bulged on Ellen’s tense arm braced against the wall. In the cramped space, they were practically pressed against each other.
Rune frowned at how desperately he tried not to let their bodies touch. She wasn’t thrilled either.
More than anything, he could take his hand off my mouth already.
As she glared at him, Ellen whispered with a pained expression.
“Quiet.”
Fair enough. Rune nodded slightly, and only then did he lower his hand.
First, let’s lock the door again.
Whispering softly, she reached around him toward the lock. Her hand brushed his waist, and he flinched.
So sensitive.
She slid the lock back into place just as someone outside rattled the door.
“Huh? Is someone in there?”
“……!”
Rune froze, glaring at the shaking latch.
Guess I take back what I said. Better this lousy lock than none at all.
Once she got out, she’d go straight to Phone and demand improvements to these pitiful facilities.
Luckily, the cadet soon gave up, muttering as he walked away.
“Why lock the door anyway? Who still insists on washing alone like some noble?”
“Must be one of those highborn brats.”
“Tch, then use the private baths in your room.”
Leaving? As the voices faded, Rune let out the breath she’d been holding.
“Ah, by the way, did you hear? Cailian Herace is coming as the new owner.”
Rune stiffened at the name, lifting her head.
“Don’t remind me. Professor Lankersk is bad enough—now we’ve got cursed luck before graduation. He’s not going to run us like Dark Knights, is he?”
“That’s not the issue.”
Clicking his tongue, the speaker continued.
“Word is, one of the new recruits was personally recommended by Duke Cailian.”
Rune cursed inwardly. She had expected the recommendation letter to come out eventually, but for rumors to spread before the entrance ceremony…
“As if a noble’s letter is such a big deal. The Grimaldi family’s second son re-enrolled, so it must be for him.”
Rune’s eyebrows shot up.
So far, no one seemed to know it was her who had received the letter.
But… Grimaldi?
The Grimaldi Count’s house—that was Sir Ethan’s family, longtime vassals of the Herace dukedom. No wonder there was confusion.
I never heard Sir Ethan had a younger brother. Looks like some poor guy is taking the heat in my place.
Rune held her breath, listening keenly. The cadets’ talk shifted to the supposed second son of House Grimaldi.
“What, that guy came back? Didn’t he register in the general division last year and then run off?”
“The Count took in that half-blood out of pity, and look how it turned out—stabbed him in the back.”
Their voices were half-drowned by water, but Rune leaned closer to the door where Ellen stood. His jaw clenched, teeth grinding.
Stay still, will you.
She smacked his restless arm, and his body went rigid.
“They say he left home after that?”
“Yeah, swore he’d live with the sword in hand, but ended up working as a mercenary.”
Mercenary…? Something about that struck Rune as familiar.
“Ha! And the Count still let him apply again?”
“No, listen to this—it gets crazier. That thief actually stole the acceptance letter sent to the main house!”
“What? For real?”
“When the Count found out, he rushed over and canceled the admission immediately.”
“Hah! Comedy gold!”
Encouraged, the storyteller boasted even more.
“During the new cadets’ assembly drill, he raised hell when he learned his enrollment was canceled. Turned the whole administration upside down.”
“Insane. Not enough to shame his family—now he tarnishes Lepium too.”
“Born in the gutter, what else would he know besides stealing and brawling?”
“Should’ve stayed a mercenary. So then what, he got another recommendation letter instead?”
“Crazy, right? What could Duke Cailian possibly trust in him?”
“Well, they say he didn’t just pass—he got a special-class rank in the entrance exam. One of the instructors at the drill said he’s good with a sword.”
“So what? He’s still a bastard no one wants. Might as well use him for target practice.”
Puhaha! The cadets laughed crudely, finishing their showers and storming out as quickly as they had come.
Drip. Drip.
The sound of water dripping from a half-shut faucet echoed quietly.
In the heavy silence, Rune cautiously glanced up at Ellen.
Looks like… the poor guy taking the blame instead of me is him.
