A Polka in the dead of winter, with snowflakes drifting down.
The place, once solely a retreat for those seeking healing in its hot springs, had lately taken on the air of a training ground where many swordsmen came to hone their skills.
Most were self-disciplined exercises by members of the Diarne Special Forces and their associates, but inspired by them, warriors with strong elven tendencies could now also be seen imposing rigorous training upon themselves in the forest’s edge.
Even so, on days when a proper blizzard raged, there wasn’t a soul to be found recklessly training outdoors.
Not exactly sakugen yodoku—farming in sunshine and reading in rain—but indulging in books at the inn’s dining hall like today was arguably just as worthwhile.
“Commander Aurora, what are you reading?"
"Tethes. Can you even read it?”
The book Aurora closed had the title Celesta East-West Hero Chronicle – Issue 22.
”A hero chronicle…?"
"It’s supposed to be the latest definitive catalog, covering information on famous warriors, primarily Celesta military personnel… at least, that’s the official line."
"Official line, you say…"
"Even if it claims to be comprehensive, it’s still just a civilian publication. Full of inaccuracies and omissions… Well, even among Ace Knights, there are those like myself who struggle to keep up with their achievements, so perhaps it’s fairer to praise it for being well-researched without compromising military secrets. For active Master Knights or those of similar rank, this gives you a pretty good grasp of their standard evaluations.”
“Huh. Is Commander Aurora aiming to be featured in it?"
"Fufu. I wouldn’t say that’s entirely untrue.”
Aurora smiled and spread out the other books piled on the table.
Their titles included Sword Saint Chronicle – Yulis III King 39th Year Edition and Continental Knight Compendium – Volume 7.
“Wow. You’ve got so many."
"I’ve been an avid reader since childhood, so whenever I see a bookstore in a big city, I can’t help but buy them… There are even articles on my brother and Anzelos.”
“Oh, I might want to take a look. I know their personal information well enough to be admitted to the Royal Information Bureau of Renfangas, but I don’t have their detailed evaluations.”
As Tethes flipped through the books, Aurora marked her place with a bookmark.
──In the Forest Territory, the Prince of Nobles, the Void Blade, is unconquerable!──
Lucas General (32)
Master Knight / Celesta Southern Army Division
・Power: ★★★★★
・Speed: ★★★★★★
・Technique: ★★★★★★★
・Overall Rating: ★★★★★★
The eldest son of the Southeastern Forest Territory’s colony leader, and a swordswoman hailed as a genius.
Her true capabilities remain immeasurable, and some voices claim this article underestimates her.
It is said that when her blade is swung, even a giant tree twenty paces away is severed with a resounding crash—a testament to the originality of her technique that defies simple star ratings.
But above all, it is her combination of skill and her looks, coupled with her elegant demeanor, that makes her truly despicable. She is the very embodiment of how a noble prince should be.
However, it should be noted that he has a slight tendency toward trouble, having recently been subjected to an audit by the Intelligence Brigade (under dubious pretenses) and ordered to refrain from duty.
──Trotta-style orthodox “Wind-Slicing Blade” – Behold!──
“Wind-Slicing Blade” Anzelos, Captain of Ten (Age unknown)
Ace Knight / Celesta Special Forces
・Power: ☆☆☆☆☆☆
・Speed: ☆☆☆
・Technique: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
・Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Until recently, he was famous as the escort for Basson’s famed “Crossbow Corps,” guardians of the Trotta border.
A half-elf swordsman boy whose massive armor belies his physique and whose mighty blade can fell even an Ogre in a single strike.
Despite his handsome appearance, his technique and strength are undeniably solid—a prime example of why judging by looks alone is a mistake.
Recent rumors suggest he may be female, but his transfer to Special Forces has left the matter unresolved.
“Huh? Captain Anzelos seems really fast… Does Celesta really only give him three stars?"
"That’s because it’s not very accurate. It hasn’t been updated since Anzelos lost his armor to his brother two years ago and switched to a speed-focused fighting style. The information is outdated, I suppose. Now he’d easily get six… no, seven stars, definitely."
"Right? Good, because if he only got three stars, even Al would be around five."
"The article on Maido Yari should be in that Continental Knights Compendium of yours. The information is old, but the evaluation criteria are almost the same.”
──One of the top candidates for the fastest knight in the Affilum Empire──
“Maido Yari” Almeida
An Elven Paladin.
Currently affiliated with the Folklore Adventurers’ Guild.
Once one of the most renowned Paladins in the Affilum Empire, he is now estranged from the Affilum military for some reason and is said to be residing in Folklore, the second-largest city of the Trotta Kingdom.
He possesses highly balanced combat skills, but his speed surpasses even beastmen known for their agility, and his spear attacks—despite not being particularly numerous—exhibit a terrifying fluidity that easily overwhelms defenses. His fighting style is akin to a well-rehearsed dance.
・Attack Power: ☆☆☆☆☆
・Speed: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
・Special Skills: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
・Overall Strength: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆★
”…This one’s a bit too stiff in the writing, isn’t it?”
“I think it’s probably because Celesta’s East-West Heroic Tales has a lot more gossip in it. It feels a bit…tasteless, in places."
"True. Still, Al’s evaluation is pretty high in there.”
According to that book, Almeida’s evaluation rivals even the Master Knight.
It’s comparing different books, but still higher than Lucas’s.
Figures, Tetez nods, looking satisfied, when Almeida herself appears.
”That book… I suppose I’m being overrated."
"Al…"
"I certainly have no doubt about my speed, but the reviewers are letting their fantasies get in the way. Look—if their criteria were applied, I’d be the strongest knight in Affilm."
"Ah, that’s true… There isn’t anyone rated higher than Al even among Affilm’s Lords."
"In reality, if I fought a Lord, I’d lose more than half the time. Speed alone isn’t enough to beat everyone."
"I see…"
"No, rather, it surprises me that I win nearly half the time…"
"I’ve received several recommendations for Lord status, at least.”
Almeida looks slightly displeased.
”In Affilm, it’s not just trials or exams—knight selection committees composed of high-ranking officers from each principality decide who becomes a Paladin or Lord… Depending on the political winds within the Empire, you can be recommended a dozen times and still not get appointed, or get appointed without being particularly strong."
"So, Almeida-san could have easily been a Lord…?"
"I don’t know if I’d make Master Knight or Black Arm, but at least in Affilm, I was in that league… And it also shows that the Lords I beat weren’t necessarily the strongest."
"Well, there’s a slight chance even Red Arm isn’t that strong.”
Red Arm, the official knight of Renfangas, is appointed based on the number of Frontline Medals they’ve earned.
Most are seasoned veterans worthy of the name, but there are several interchangeable medals of value, and it’s not unheard of for someone to be appointed without ever actually encountering a monster—a backdoor method, so to speak.
Though it takes an excruciatingly long time to get appointed that way.
“Well, it’s just an article written by foreigners based on hearsay. Besides, I’m already a knight of Renfangas…"
"Al, the publication date of this book is two years ago."
"…I suppose there’s no helping that.”
Almeida only joined Renfangas last year, so the information was naturally outdated.
”Besides, Celesta’s East-West Heroic Tales is the only one published annually. The Compendium of Continental Knights, which follows famous knights across the continent, often has gaps of four or five years between editions. Even with faster information flow these days, gathering such widespread and high-quality info is a monumental task."
"Oh dear. But I want to be a knight worthy of being in the next edition!”
Tetez says cheerfully.
But… if even a little more about her being Alex Buster’s sister gets out, she’ll likely be featured easily enough. It’s not like they only include information on particularly strong “famous” knights.
…Aurora decided to keep quiet about that.
“But the detail in Sword Saint Chronicles is amazing… How do they get access to so much?”
Almeida sighs, looking at Sword Saint Chronicles.
”That’s probably because the editors are from the War History Club at Royal Capital University."
"A university club? They made such a magnificent book?”
Almeida snaps the book shut and examines the binding closely.
The leather-bound cover looks far too professional for a book put out by amateurs.
“Apparently, it was originally a scroll. Lord Crawford insisted it be widely published to boost morale during the war, which is why it took its current form. The Crawford family still funds its publication, even now.”
”…Well, even a Sword Saint can’t outright reject an interview request from a university student, I suppose. And the book itself would be well-made, too. Still, it’s remarkable they kept it going after the Celesta War.”
“As for Celesta, we have no intention of destroying or dismantling the Sword Saints themselves. We still find them quite useful as a threat against the Affilm Empire.”
The nation of Celesta understands that while conflicting interests are strictly enforced, valuable things are fragile and hard to come by.
The immense trust and admiration for the “Sword Saint” cultivated by the Trollot Kingdom, along with its influence over neighboring countries, is something that, once shattered, could never be easily rebuilt. Even if it meant bending the rules a little, it was worth exploiting… or so they believed.
“Even now, many children aspire to become swordsmen, still drawn to the Sword Saint mythos. As long as there’s no outright opposition to Celesta, it seems they’ll tolerate these kinds of publications.”
“The more I hear about Celesta, the more tolerant they seem. Hard to imagine coming from the blood-soaked Affilm Peninsula… Though, I do recall a plan to seize a third of Trollot while the Sword Saint Brigade was collapsing, using it as a foothold into Celesta—but it was scrapped thanks to Celesta’s unexpectedly strong remaining forces.”
“Celesta is a nation of merchants, after all. They’re sharp when it comes to things of value.”
“Affilm… or rather, Deep Green should have been too…”
Almeida flips through the book again.
“By the way, there are quite a few bookmarks in here.”
“Yes. Since there are so many familiar faces mentioned, I enjoy checking them out.”
“Familiar faces…?”
“Of course, His Excellency Arthur Bonaparte, the Supreme Sword Saint, but also Gilbert Granz, the Centurion, and Hector Randall, the Decurion, are acquaintances of mine. I’ve even marked the pages for the Sword Saints I saw in Rennest the other day.”
“Huh… I only caught a glimpse of them at Gibli Fortress.”
Almeida opens the book to a page marked with a bookmark.
──The Supreme Sword Saint, the strongest in the history of the Sword Saint Brigade, a living legend──
Arthur Bonaparte
Former Commander of the Sword Saint Brigade
Former Captain of the Royal Palace Guard
His power and charisma were largely responsible for making the Sword Saint Brigade the strongest force in the Northwest Plains.
His physique is imposing even among humans at 189 centimeters tall. Up close, he exudes a presence that truly overwhelms. Yet, his smile gives off an air of pure gentlemanliness, coupled with the refreshing innocence of a mischievous boy.
While his appearance certainly contributes to his charisma, his skill was absolute.
His strength is superhuman—he could wrestle with ogres without losing—and his swordsmanship is said to reach divine levels.
His beloved greatsword was forged by Vicx Valley, the top swordsmith of the Royal Capital, and though it’s not suited for sword duels, he remains undefeated in all his matches against other Sword Saints. He excels at wielding the “Blast Attack,” the symbol of Trollot’s swordsmen, and when unleashed at full power, it creates a tornado that ordinary houses cannot withstand.
However, the wounds he suffered in the last war were not minor, and he is currently recuperating.
Given his age, a return to active duty seems unlikely, but I, too, would like to see the great hero raise his sword in the Grand Arena once more—if only once.
Attack Power: 7
Agility: 6
Combat Skill: 10
Overall Power:
S (Active Duty Version)
──The Arena’s Demon Instructor──
“Sensei” Gilbert Granz
Even today, countless young swordsmen sweat within the Great Arena.
Most are “Ace Knights” appointed after the Celesta War, but the man who teaches them technique is a true, pure-blooded Sword Saint—a man nearing his fifties who still strikes fear into the hearts of these young warriors.
The secret to his strength, often joked about as being due to long-lived blood, lies not only in his unwavering diligence—he trains without fail every week—but also in his perfected technique and bottomless mental fortitude.
His name is Gilbert Granz. A magnificent Sword Saint who also serves as an associate professor at Royal Capital University. His lectures are renowned for their clarity, while his mercilessness toward absentees is equally famous—so much so that anyone lacking confidence in perfect attendance should simply stay home… but I digress.
Originally a scholar at heart, he was the oddball Sword Saint who refused to join the Sword Saint Brigade during the last war, preferring to remain at the university. Yet, his command abilities are said to be top-tier. Rumors suggest he also declined an offer to serve as a general in the Celesta Army for the same reason—whether true or false remains unknown.
A true Royal Capital native, he’s also affable, often leading his students on outings to the city’s hidden gem restaurants during his free time.
I may have strayed from the intended Sword Saint introduction, but that is simply who he is. There are aspects of him not visible through the lens of just “Sword Saint,” so I ask for your indulgence in this digression.
Attack Power: 4
Agility: 5
Combat Technique: 10
Overall Rating: B
──The Last Sword Saint is a Flower and Fruit All in One──
Ector Randall
A genius swordsman who earned the title of Sword Saint at the tender age of fifteen, he came to be known as “the Last Sword Saint” after Trott’s defeat shortly after his appointment—Trott having lost both military command and the right to bestow the “Sword Saint” title.
The eldest son of the prestigious Randall noble family and an outstanding student, he is constantly surrounded by women at Royal Capital University. He seems to have few male friends within the school.
Though his sword has only been wielded in battle once (during the collapse of the Sword Saint Brigade), his skill is highly regarded. Rumor has it that he has already surpassed many senior Sword Saints and is even eyeing the Master Knight exam.
His style is a pure orthodox, and he is proficient in “Blast Attack,” with considerable speed as well.
Once, when a right-wing group caused an uproar within Royal Capital University, he worked alongside Associate Professor Gilbert Granz to quell the disturbance.
His brilliant feat of wielding a single dagger, using a single Blast Attack to sweep a desk away and swiftly rescue a female student held hostage, is still spoken of in awe.
A painting of him hangs in the university’s art department, though he supposedly wants to buy it and keep it private.
The fact that such a swordsman can still be born within the nation gives the Trott people of Royal Capital great hope.
Attack Power: 6
Agility: 7
Combat Technique: 6
Overall Power
B
──That movement, like a soaring flight. That strike, like fangs and claws──
“The Vulture of Shulantz” Joseph Bay
Former commander of the 7th Squad of the Sword Saint Brigade.
A Great Sword Saint, said to have ranked in the single digits even within the Sword Saint Brigade itself.
Considered a master to “Gale” Abel Dingle, renowned for his mastery of high-speed swordsmanship.
A skilled dual-wielder who wields swords in both hands, he is known for his elegant strike that severs an opponent’s collarbone and shatters their will to fight, as well as his ability to instantly disengage. For this reason, he was called “The Vulture Knight.” Later, taking the name of his homeland, he became known as “The Vulture of Shulantz.”
His combat prowess is top-notch, but he is also highly regarded as a general.
Joseph Bay as the Sword Saint Brigade’s lead attacker, and Joseph Bay as a commander—how much more useful one was over the other was a well-known dilemma for the military command at the time.
Attack Power
8
Agility
8
Combat Technique
8
Overall Power
S
──His color is the azure sky, a blue of salvation──
“The Blue Knight” Bartholomew Dean III
Former commander of the 11th Squad of the Sword Saint Brigade. A Great Sword Saint.
A dashing figure known as the Blue Knight because he always wears his family heirloom: a blue cloak.
Even on the battlefield, he fights while wrapped in it, and terrifyingly, there are no bloodstains or tears to be found on that cloak—testament to his skill.
A master of the halberd and adept at using Blast Attacks. His tactics are flawless, and his sense of when to retreat is legendary. He excels at rescuing friendly units, leaving many Trot Troops unable to forget the vividness of his blue.
There’s even a saying that only bad women and sudden storms can stain his cloak.
Incidentally, he’s also a henpecked husband, and after this saying reached his wife, he lost quite a bit of weight.
Attack Power
5
Agility
7
Combat Technique
8
Overall Power
A
──The Sword Saint Brigade’s fierce vanguard commander──
“Penetrator” Cain Gold
Former member of the Sword Saint Brigade, 2nd Squad. Grand Sword Saint.
Even within the Sword Saint Brigade, where coordinated action is its greatest weapon, there are times when a tactical breakthrough is necessary.
And the reliable man who charges into those situations first is him—Cain Gold.
His breaking power is almost absolute, impossible for an average vanguard unit to contain, and he possesses a knack for sensing the perfect moment to strike that even cavalry cannot respond to in pursuit.
There have been many times his breakthroughs have led the Sword Saint Brigade to victory. Official records alone show he initiated seven decisive victories, and there are tales of even more in skirmishes.
In terms of battlefield achievements achieved through solo action, he is considered the best within the Sword Saint Brigade.
However, his injuries are far from few.
Even the invincible Sword Saint Brigade owed its constant victories to the tireless efforts of warriors like him who fought and bled.
Attack Power: 8
Agility: 7
Combat Technique: 4
Overall Power: A
“I see… I’d also like to spar with Arthur Bonaparte once.”
Almeida grumbled.
“Al and Arthur Bonaparte, huh? Yeah, that’d be kinda interesting to watch,” Tete said, nonchalantly.
Aurora, who had been unable to even scratch Anzalos even with two people during training, smiled wryly.
Just then, Sieg Becker, steaming from the hot springs, passed by.
“Whoa. You guys got a pretty interesting group going on here."
"Special Forces Centurion."
"Huh. So there is some kind of evaluation for Bonaparte? And… wow, that’s pretty low."
"Low?”
Seeing Almeida’s intrigued expression, Sieg grinned.
“If I were to write it… hmm, Attack Power 10, Agility 8, maybe? There’s no way that old guy’s attack power is lower than Schrantz’s eagle!"
"Attack Power 10 is like, a special case for someone like General Scott Vincent…” Aurora interjected quietly.
Vincent, an Overnighter, is a general of Celesta. The numbers in the Tales of Sword Saints Almeida has open are practically unused.
But…
“Vincent’s attack power is high, sure, but I bet he could hold his own against one of that old guy’s serious hits. That attack power isn’t about technique or anything like that—it’s something more fundamental."
"…Fundamental.”
Aurora and Tethes looked bewildered, while Almeida seemed to have some vague understanding.
It was a recognition only those who had fought as warriors for a long time could share.
“Right, the articles about Vincent and the others should be in that ‘Celesta East-West Heroes Chronicle,’ huh? …Oh, issue 22 from the end of last year. How’d you get your hands on that?”
“I purchased it at Taruk the other day.”
“Ah, I see, that time. Let’s take a look.”
──Celesta’s “Sword”! The Lightning King, renowned as the strongest in the continent──
“Overnight of Thunder” Scott Vincent, Special General (41)
Affiliation: Overnite / Celesta Special Lightning Brigade
・Power: ★★★★★★★★★★
・Speed: ★★★★☆
・Technique: ★★★★★☆
・Overall Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★
The ultimate warrior of the Ogre race, symbolizing Celesta with his absolute offensive power.
His immense strength is impressive, but what truly stands out is his lightning ability, which earned him his nickname.
The “Electrode” trait, rarely manifested in Ogres, grants the ability to wield electricity—though usually only enough to numb those they touch.
But his power far exceeds that, allowing him to freely unleash lightning from his horns and, depending on the weather, strike the surroundings at will from the heavens.
No enemy can defend against this force. Even if they could, his prized double axes would cleave them in two.
The terror of him appearing anywhere on a flying dragon serves as a deterrent not only for domestic security but also for surrounding nations.
By the way, he’s still single.
He supposedly wants a wife who’s either a cat or a foxkin—apparently, his fur stands on end so much that finding a suitable partner is proving difficult.
──Celesta’s “Shield”! The terror of an invincible man standing before you──
“Overnight of Steel” Ryo Amatsushima, Special General (38)
Affiliation: Overnite / Celesta Special Lightning Brigade
・Power: ★★★★
・Speed: ★★★
・Technique: ★★★
・Overall Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆
To be blunt, he’s not much of a fighting force.
But the reason his overall rating is absurdly high is due to his bizarre vitality.
There’s an episode where a military doctor snapped, “Make up your mind—are you a walking corpse or a holy beast?” Yet he’s been through at least 137 situations where he should have died and come back as if nothing happened.
Bombed by siege hammers. Pinned between rocks. Riddled with spears. His fortress burned to the ground. Buried alive. Beaten to a pulp by Vincent General in a brawl, then crushed by a double axe. Drowned in a Quieca Sea. The list goes on.
And yet, in nearly every case, he’s survived—covered in blood, screaming something like “What the hell!”—as if nothing happened.
From the enemy’s perspective, there’s nothing more terrifying.
Even at his minimum level as an Ace Knight, he has some attack power, so when he’s deployed, the opposing army is left in utter chaos.
He’s a trump card in a way different from Vincent General—a true secret weapon of the command. And he’s famous for it.
──Behold, the Monstrous Bird! What does the blue bird carry──
“Blue Storm” General Clay Kingfisher (42)
Master Knight / Celesta Western Army
・Power: ☆☆☆☆☆☆
・Speed: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
・Technique: ☆☆☆☆☆☆
・Overall Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Birdmen are rare even in Celesta.
Yet, despite that, the Celesta Army has several Ace Knights who are Birdmen. He’s the most famous and strongest of them all.
A Birdman who wields immense leg strength as his weapon, using his wings primarily for directional control and aerial maneuvers. But that’s a perfectly rational tactic—allowing them to move faster and more erratically than any other warrior.
His movements, like a raging storm, are nearly impossible for even an Ace Knight to track. There’s a famous tale from the Master Knight exam where three Ace Knights couldn’t land a single blow before he was gone.
However, he’s also said to be quite attention-seeking and rather clumsy.
Maybe it’s because he’s a bird.
“Hahaha! Nice! The guy writing this must be fearless! I’m taking this to Kingfisher next time.”
“I don’t know if I should. It’ll probably get torn up.”
“Oh, yeah, that’s possible.”
Zieg laughs uproariously, flapping his arms. Aurora looks annoyed.
“And Becker’s already getting flak for it too.”
“Seriously?”
☆☆☆☆☆
・Speed
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
・Technique
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
・Overall Rating
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Even a genius who passed the Ace Knight exam at the age of twelve is now 40 this year. Time is merciless.
His numerous martial achievements have been revealed, and he has conquered many legendary-level monsters and ruins. A truly skilled warrior.
In particular, his speed is said to be the fastest on the continent, surpassing even Almeida’s “Dancing Spear” from Affilm and Abel Dingle’s “Swift Wind” from Trott.
However, it’s also true that some argue how he’d fare in an actual fight, given his assassin-like reliance on knives and traps.
Apparently, he was recently captured by an Orc woman. And immediately caught cheating.
A flamboyant man even in his private life.
“Hey, who wrote this? It’s like they’re out to get me!"
"I’m afraid I can’t help you with that. And if you break it, please replace it."
"…Gugigigi…”
Zieg reluctantly put down the book he was clutching so tightly he looked ready to tear it in half.
Tetes, who had been chuckling, suddenly turned to Almeida.
”By the way, is Abel Dingle mentioned here? I’ve been wondering about him since earlier."
"He’s listed here,” Almeida said, quickly flipping through the Sword Saint Chronicle he was holding.
”I’d been oddly compared to him for the past decade or so, so it’s been on my mind.”
──Trott’s Fastest Knight──
“Swift Wind” Abel Dingle
Former member of the 7th Squad of the Sword Saint Brigade. A half-wolfkin.
The Sword Saint Brigade tends to favor overall strength and teamwork over exceptionally outstanding abilities.
But he possesses both, along with some of the highest-level exceptional abilities on the continent.
Perhaps it’s due to his mother being a wolfkin, but even so, few beastmen possess agility like his.
Subhuman races are rare in the Sword Saint Brigade, but he is one of the few, making him an unusual man in many ways.
His swordsmanship resembles the hit-and-run tactics of his master, Joseph Bay, “The Eagle of Schrantz,” from the Great Arena. Some say that due to his superior physical abilities, his combat prowess already surpasses that of his master.
In the last war, he was somewhat overshadowed by Celesta’s tactics, which effectively utilized many subhuman races. With him as a starting point, the era where Trott acknowledges and utilizes the power of subhumans may be just around the corner.
Attack Power: 7
Agility: 10
“Combat Skills”
7
Overall Power
A
”……"
"Hey, Dance Spear. Something’s been bugging me… Isn’t this guy younger than us?"
"If he’s younger than you, it’s impossible for him to be older than me, Sieg Becker."
"He’s got this weirdly high approval rating compared to us old hands, and he’s not even that humble, is he?"
"I think so too. I mean, shouldn’t we Speed-types get a fairer evaluation?"
"Right? Right?”
Almeida and Sieg, radiating dark auras.
Aurora sighs. Tete, ever the bold one, tries to steer the conversation in a new direction.
”More importantly, what kind of score would you give someone like Diarne, the Centurion who doesn’t appear on these lists? Or Aurora-san?"
"Hmm… that, huh? Well, let’s see.”
Sieg picks up a black slate from the corner of the cafeteria and starts scribbling with chalk.
・Diarne, Team Leader
Attack Power
9
Speed
10
Combat Skills
10
Overall Performance
The Strongest
・Anzalos
Attack Power
6
Speed
8
Combat Skills
8
Overall Performance
A-
・Aurora
Attack Power
7
Agility
4
Combat Skill
7
Overall Rating
B+
・Tetes
Attack Power
5
Agility
5
Combat Skill
8
Overall Rating
?
・Naris
Attack Power
4
Speed
5
Combat Skill
7
Overall Rating
?
”…That’s about right."
"Anzerous-san’s numbers are pretty… And the overall ratings for Tetes-san and the others seem kinda arbitrary, don’t you think?"
"Anzerous, the Ten-Commander, honestly, I think he still has a lot of untapped potential. Depending on how he combines magic and his Wind-Cutting Sword, he could be a real force to be reckoned with. He hasn’t been in a tight spot lately, so who knows? And Tetes, the Knight, you haven’t even shown anyone your full strength yet."
"Huh…"
"I can see right through your cautious driving. It’s not like I’m saying you don’t have any tricks up your sleeve, but the power you don’t bring out in training might not come out in actual combat either. Don’t get overconfident and die. And as for Naris… well, she reeks of Smisson."
"What?"
"Hold on, Zeke Becker! Naris is still just like Andy…"
"Chill out, Aurora Ten-Commander, Dance Spear. I’m not saying I’m sniffing her body odor with some beastman-level sense of smell or anything.”
Zeke shrugged.
”It’s just… when Naris gets pushed into a corner, she seems like she’ll slowly, little by little, squeeze out all her juice, you know? A bottomless well in a different way than Tetes, the Knight. …Same with Smisson. He’s not that great, ability-wise or head-wise. But if you just look at what he’s done, you can see why those elf guys treat him so well. Depending on how things go, Naris could be interesting too.”
“Muuu…"
"Is that so…”
Tetes looked slightly dissatisfied, while Aurora pondered.
…And then—
“I’m not that powerful.”
Anzeros had appeared seemingly out of nowhere and was wiping himself off with a cotton cloth.
”What the hell are you doing?"
"Well, I hate weird nicknames like that. And Andy laughed at me!"
"It’s fine, isn’t it?"
"That’s why I’m saying it! I don’t want to become famous in such a strange way!”
The swordsmen were making a fuss.
“Well, as long as Andy loves me plenty even if I’m not strong, that’s all that matters♪"
"Hmm. As a female slave, that would be the correct path, wouldn’t it?"
"I wonder when he’ll come back…”
Seren, Irina, and Myia sipped their tea together.