The snow-dusted depths of winter in Polka. Apart from those seeking healing through hot springs, this place lately resembles a training ground where many swordsmen hone their own skills. While most are independently refining themselves under the initiative of Diane’s Special Operations Division and her associates, the practice has inspired elves with strong warrior instincts to impose rigorous self-training on themselves by the forest’s edge.
Even amidst such activity, when heavy snow begins to accumulate, it’s hardly possible for anyone to be seen frolicking outdoors.
While idiom is not “plowing fields in sunshine, reading under rain,” indulging oneself in books at inns’ dining halls under the aurora, like today, might still be considered meaningful in its own way.
“Aurora Captain, what’re you reading?”
“Captain Tetes. Can you read as well?”
The book Aurora had closed revealed the title: Celesta East-West Heroes Chronicle, Issue 22.
“Heroes Chronicle…?”
“It’s a newly updated comprehensive catalog boasting to cover information on famous warriors, centered around Celesta military personnel—officially speaking.”
“So ‘officially’ means…?”
“Even calling it comprehensive, it’s ultimately a civilian publication. Inaccurate data and omissions abound… Well, even an Ace Knight like me struggles to track down certain records; so in truth, one might fairly praise them for thoroughly investigating things while avoiding compromising military secrets. If you’re assessing the average soldier of a Master Knight or equivalent active-duty class, this book covers almost everything.”
“Huh. Are you too aiming to get listed there, Aurora Captain?”
” Hmm. There’s certainly no denying that part of me holds such hopes either.”
Aurora smiled and spread out another stack of books piled on the table.
Titles like Sword Saint Chronicle: Year 39 of King Lyricis, and Continental Knights Encyclopedia, Vol. 7 were printed across them.
“Wow. So many!”
“I’ve cherished these since childhood, so whenever I visit a major city and spot a bookstore, I can’t help but buying them. …There are articles about my brother and Mr. Anzeros too.”
“Oh, I’d love to see those. Just as far as reports entering the Royal Intelligence Bureau of Renfangas, I know their personal info—but I don’t have access to their detailed assessments.”
As Tetes flipped through the pages, Aurora showed him a bookmark.
── The Noble Son of Forest Lands! No blade can sever the Vacuum Edge! ──
General Lucas (32) Master Knight / Belonging to Celesta Army’s Southern Legion · Power ☆☆☆☆☆ · Speed ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ · Technique ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ · Overall Rating ☆☆☆☆☆☆★
The illegitimate son of a Southeast Forest Lands colony leader, hailed as a genius swordsman. His true strength remains incalculable, with some voices suggesting this article severely underestimates him. When his blade slices through the air, it cleaves a massive tree twenty paces away, toppling it with a loud crash; indeed, due to its originality, aspects beyond mere ☆ rating exist for certain.
What’s truly audacious is the combination of this prowess and his striking appearance coupled with elegant bearing—exactly what befits a noble youth. However, though recent motives remain unclear, he recently underwent an audit by the Intelligence Legion and was ordered confinement due to various troubles; this should be duly noted.
── Here stands the authentic Trot-style: “Wind-Cutting Blade”! ── “Wind-Cutting Blade” Captain Anzeros (Age Unknown) Ace Knight / Belonging to Celesta Army Special Operations Unit · Power
☆☆☆☆☆☆ ・Speed ☆☆☆ ・Technique ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ・Overall Rating ☆☆☆☆☆
Until recently, he was the famous escort of Basson’s “Crossbow Corps,” a specialty unit guarding the Trot border. A half-elf swordsman with armor far too massive for his frame and a short sword sharp enough to take down an ogre in a single strike. Despite his handsome appearance, his skill and strength are undeniable—a perfect example where judging by looks gets you hurt. Recent surveys even whisper that he might be female, but details remain classified due to his transfer into a special ops unit.
“Huh, Captain Anzeros seems remarkably quick… is it really a three-star rating in Celesta?”
“That’s because it’s not very accurate. I couldn’t keep up with the fact that Captain Anzeros switched to speed-based tactics last year after losing his armor to his brother. The old data hasn’t been updated. Right now, it’d be a solid six… or maybe even seven.”
“Oh right? That’s good. At three stars, Al would probably only get around five at best, wouldn’t she?”
“The Dance Spear article was in your ‘Comprehensive Knight Encyclopedia of the Continent.’ The info is old, but the rating criteria are almost identical.”
──One of the Afilum Empire’s fastest knight candidates──
“Dance Spear” Almeida An elf paladin. Currently an adventurer affiliated with the Folklore Adventurer’s Guild. Once one of the most renowned paladins in the Afilum Empire, she has somehow severed ties with the Afilum military and is said to be residing in Volklore, the second city of the Kingdom of Trot. Her combat technique is highly balanced on a masterful level, but most notably, her speed leaves even beastkin gifted with incredible leg strength in her dust. Her spear attacks, delivered with a weapon that shouldn’t possess overwhelming sheer damage output, display terrifying movements that completely saturate any defense. Her fighting style resembles a meticulously choreographed dance.
・Attack Power ☆☆☆☆☆ ・Speed ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ・Special Skills ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ・Overall Combat Power ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆★
”…This one’s written a bit stiffly.”
“I believe that’s because the ‘Biography of Heroes East and West in Celesta’ contains more gossip. It feels slightly vulgar too, you know?”
“Indeed. Still, Al’s rating is really high here.”
According to this book, Almeida’s evaluation matches that of a Master Knight.
Though comparing between different books, it’s higher than Lucas’s.
Nodding in satisfaction, Tetes remarks, “As expected,” just then, the actual Almeida appeared.
“That book? …I’m being overrated regarding myself.”
“Al-chan.”
“I certainly have no doubt I can outrun anyone, but there’s a bit too much fantasy from the critics involved. Look at this—if judged strictly by these criteria, I’d be deemed the strongest knight in Afilum.”
“Oh wow, it really is… There’s literally no one in Afilum rated higher than Al-chan, not even the Lord?”
“In reality, if I fought the Lord head-to-head, I’d lose more than half the time. Being fast alone isn’t enough to defeat many opponents.”
“Hmm…”
“Actually, I’d be surprised if you weren’t more than halfway there…”
“After all, I’ve received multiple recommendations for promotion.”
Almeida looked slightly sulky.
“In other lands, it’s not held through matches or trials. Instead, a knighthood selection committee comprised of select officers from each duchy decides who becomes a Paladin or Lord. Depending on the political winds within the Empire, you might never get promoted no matter how many times you’re recommended, or conversely, you could be promoted regardless of whether you’ve demonstrated adequate strength.”
“So… even as a Hornless Ogre, that doesn’t rule out Almeida becoming a Lord?”
“I don’t know if either of us can become a Master Knight or Black Arm, but at the very least, we’ve been on such a track in Affrum. Besides, it also shows that not every Lord I defeated was necessarily strong.”
“Well, there’s still a slight possibility even a Red Arm might not be particularly strong…”
The knight Red Arm of Lencfangs is promoted based on the number of Frontline Medals they’ve earned.
Most are indeed formidable warriors worthy of being described as battle-hardened veterans, yet there exist several medals of equivalent value, and some have managed to secure promotion without ever having made contact with a monster. However, it takes an incredibly long time to reach that point.
“True enough. But in the end, this is just an article written by someone from another land based on hearsay. Besides, I’m already a knight of Lencfangs…”
“Al-chan, the publication date of this book was last year.”
”…Oh. Well, there’s not much we can do about it then.”
Since Almeida had joined Lencfangs just last year, it was natural for the information to be somewhat outdated.
“In any case, among all these books, only Celesta East & West Heroes Chronicle is published annually. The prestigious Comprehensive Knight Record of the Continent, which specifically covers famous knights across the entire land, often goes unfilled for four or five years in a row. Even though information spreads quickly these days, gathering such high-quality data on such a wide scale seems to be quite an effort.”
“Wow… But I’d love to become a knight worthy of being featured in this by the time of the next publication!”
Tetes said it cheerfully. However… once word gets around even slightly that she’s Alex Baster’s younger sister, she’d surely appear in print without much fuss. Surely these books focus on “famous” knights rather than particularly powerful ones… …Such details were left unmentioned by Aurora.
“Nevertheless, the detail in The Legend of the Sword Saint is truly astonishing… They must conduct such thorough research.”
Almeida sighed as she gazed at The Legend of the Sword Saint.
“Probably because it’s edited by the Wartime History Club at the Capital University.”
“A club at a university? Can such an organization publish something so impressive?”
Almeida closed the book with a snap and scrutinized its binding. The fine leather cover certainly didn’t look like the work of an amateur.
“It originally existed as scrolls. Eventually, under the influence of Lord Crawford’s wish to widely publish them for morale boosting purposes during wartime, they took on their current form. It appears the Crawford family continues to provide funding for publication.”
”…Well, if university students are conducting the interviews, even a legendary sword saint cannot afford to disregard such inquiries, so naturally the final product becomes substantial enough. And yet it’s continued even after the Celesta War…”
“As Celesta itself holds no intention of destroying or abolishing the Sword Saint figure per se… Rather, they continue to utilize them effectively as a measure against the Affrum Empire.”
The nation of Celesta is indeed strict when it comes to conflicting interests, yet well-aware that valuable things are easily broken and difficult to replace. They understood the immense trust and longing directed toward the “Sword Saint,” nurtured by Kingdom Trot, and the intimidating influence this holds over neighboring nations… Once destroyed, such power cannot be easily rebuilt. Even if some efforts must be pushed beyond reason, there remains value in making use of it… “Indeed, many children still aspire to become swordsmen due to their longing for the Sword Saint’s myth. It seems such writings are tolerated so long as they don’t express overt opposition toward Celesta.”
“The more you hear, the more you realize how tolerant Celesta truly is. Hard to imagine coming from the blood-soaked battlefield of Affrum Peninsula… Of course, there was once a plan where, taking advantage of the collapse of the Sword Saint Legion, they would seize one-third of Trot’s territory and establish it as a bridgehead against Celesta. But reports say that since Celesta managed to retain more of Trot’s military strength than anticipated, the plan was ultimately scrapped.”
“See, Celesta is primarily a nation of merchants; they’re smart about things that have utility.”
“Affrum… well, if Deep Green had existed too, perhaps…”
Almeida opened the book page by page once more.
“By the way, this book also has quite a lot of bookmarks.”
“Yes. Since many articles feature acquaintances I know personally, checking through them becomes genuinely enjoyable.”
“Acquaintances…?”
“Of course, Lord Arthur Bonaparte—the Sword Saint himself—but also figures like Captain Gilbert Grants and Captain Ector Randall are people I’ve met before. Even the sword saints we encountered in Rennest recently have bookmarks inserted in their sections.”
“Hmm… I only caught a quick glimpse of him when I was at the Gibiri Fortress,” Almida said, turning to a page in her book with Shiori’s guidance.
—The Greatest Sword Saint of All Eras of the Sword Saint Legion; The Living Legend, Supreme Blade Saint—
Arthur Bonaparte Former Commander of the Sword Saint Legion Former Captain of the Royal Palace Guard Much of his reputation as once making the Northwest Plain synonymous with “strongest” stems from his strength and charisma.
Standing at a towering 189 centimeters, he is large-boned even for humans. Those who draw near feel an undeniable aura of dominance that truly overwhelms. Yet, when one looks into his smile, it carries the refinement of a true gentleman, mixed with the bright, boyish energy of a mischievous youth.
His appearance certainly contributes to his charisma, but there was something far more absolute about his true capability. It is undeniable that his superhuman strength could never be bested in a contest of raw power against any Ogre, and beyond that, his swordsmanship is said to have reached the divine realm.
His beloved blade is a greatsword forged by none other than Vicks Valley, the top craftsman among the Capital’s Ten Swordsmiths. Though it was never meant for formal duels, he remains undefeated against every legendary swordsman who has ever faced him. He excels particularly in handling the “Blast Attack,” the symbol of Trot Knights; when he unleashes this move with full force, it spawns a whirlwind strong enough to bring down an average house.
Yet even such a man bears scars from the last war that run deep, and he is currently under medical care. Although his age makes returning to active duty nearly impossible, someday I would like to see this great hero once again hoisting his blade in the Grand Arena—even just once in my lifetime.
Attack Power: 7 Agility: 6 Combat Skill: 10 Overall: S (The above reflects his status during active duty.)
—The Ghost Instructor of the Grand Arena—
“Sensei” Gilbert Grunts Today, within the walls of the Grand Arena, countless young swordsmen sweat under the sun.
Most of them are “Ace Knights,” commissioned only after the Celesta War, yet the man who teaches them is none other than a true and unadulterated Sword Saint. Moreover, nearing fifty years old, he still instills a primal fear in those youthful warriors.
The secret to this man’s strength is often joked as being perhaps descended from long-lived races, but it stems largely from his tireless diligence—practicing without fail every single week—as well as his perfected technique and boundless mental fortitude.
His name is Gilbert Grunts. A truly magnificent Sword Saint who also serves as an Associate Professor at the Capital University. His lectures are renowned across campus for their clarity, matched only by his merciless treatment of absenteeism; if even a sliver of doubt about perfect attendance creeps in, do not enroll. That said… changing the subject.
Originally possessing a scholar’s temperament, he refused recruitment into the Sword Saint Legion during the previous war, detested above all else the idea of leaving university open. Yet his command abilities are considered first-rate for the same reason. Rumors even suggest he rejected a general’s commission from the Celesta army for similar reasons—whether true or false remains unknown.
A true native of the Capital, he also possesses an affable side that goes out of his way to guide lecture students to hidden gourmet shops in the city during breaks off-duty.
While I intended this introduction solely as a Sword Saint’s profile, it seems things have shifted somewhat differently; this is simply how he is. There are facets of him invisible when viewed only through his swordsmanship side. Please forgive any hesitation on my part as the scribe.
Attack Power: 4 Agility: 5 Combat Skill: 10 Overall: B
Ector Randall A genius swordsman who earned the title of Sword Saint at just 15 years and five months; he was known as “The Last Sword Saint” since, shortly after his consecration, Trot suffered defeat and lost both its military command authority and the right to confer the Sword Saint title. He is the legitimate heir and exceptionally talented student of the prestigious noble Landell family. In the capital city university, it’s not uncommon to see him constantly surrounded by women; male friends at school are scarce. Though his blade has been wielded in actual combat only once—during the collapse of the Sword Saint Legion—his skill is highly praised. Rumors persist that he already surpassed ordinary senior Sword Saints and emerged prominently, even falling within range for taking the Master Knight exam. His style is purely orthodox; he has mastered “Blast Attacks” as well, possessing remarkable speed. When a right-wing group at the capital university once caused an uproar, Professor Gilbert Gruntz and Randall worked together to suppress it. With just a single dagger, lifting a table in one devastating Blast Attack, he brilliantly rescued a female student who had been taken hostage—a tale still whispered among students. Students from the school’s art department painted his likeness in oils, which are now on display; there’s even talk that Randall himself wishes to buy back and hide them. The fact that swordsmen like him can still be born within the nation offers great hope to Troit people of the capital.
Attack Power: 6 Agility: 7 Combat Skill: 6 Overall Strength: B
──That movement, soaring as if on wings. That single strike, fierce as a talon’s grip──
“The Griffin of Schrantz” Joseph Bay Former captain of the Sword Saint Legion’s 7th Division. A Great Sword Saint, said to have ranked among the top tier within the Legion itself in raw power. Mentor figure to “Zephyr” Abel Dingil; renowned for his high-speed sword techniques. An expert wielding two swords simultaneously with lethal precision. Known as “Knight of the Griffin” for his elegant move that snaps an opponent’s collarbone, shattering their will to fight, and then instantly disengaging. Later adopted the name of his homeland, Schrantz, becoming known as “The Griffin of Schrantz.” While boasting first-class combat prowess, he also holds considerable reputation as a general. A famous story recounts how the military headquarters of that era struggled greatly deciding whether Joseph Bay as the legion’s lead attacker or Joseph Bay as commander was more useful.
Attack Power: 8 Agility: 8 Combat Skill: 8 Overall Strength: S
──Its hue is that of the azure sky, the color of salvation──
“The Azure Knight” Barthold Dene III Former captain of the Sword Saint Legion’s 11th Division; a Great Sword Saint. Often called “The Idle Aristocrat of the Azure Knight” since he wears his family heirloom—the azure mantle—around him at all times. Even while donning it during battles, strangely enough, not a single stain of blood nor tear can be found on that mantle, which speaks volumes about his immense prowess. An expert in halberds and skillful wielder of Blast Attacks; his tactics leave no room for error, with particular fame for knowing when to retreat. Especially adept at rescuing allied units; many Troit soldiers cannot forget the vivid brilliance of his azure mantle. Some even say, “Only a wicked woman or a sudden storm can soil his mantle,” highlighting just how pristine it remains despite countless wars.
By the way, he was also a timorous husband; from the moment this word reached his wife, he put on enough weight loss to be noticed.
Attack Power: 5Agility: 7Combat Skill: 8Overall Rating: A
──The Rough-Hewn Assault Commander of the Holy Sword Legion──“Penetrator” Kane GoldFormer member of the Second Squadron of the Holy Sword Legion; a Grand Swordsaint.Even within the Holy Sword Legion, where coordinated action is its greatest asset, there are moments when a forceful breakthrough is tactically essential. The dependable man who charges first in such situations is none other than Kane Gold.His ability to break through lines of defense possesses an absolute proximity that no ordinary vanguard unit can contain and that even cavalry charges cannot effectively counterpursue; he possesses an exquisite sense for spotting the fleeting opportunities required to capitalize on such breakthroughs. His breaches have led the Holy Sword Legion to victory on many occasions; aside from formal battle records, he has been credited with creating the turning point for victory seven times, while in surprise encounters, the number is said to be even greater.In terms of battlefield achievements through solo maneuvers, his reputation even rivals that of anyone else in the Holy Sword Legion.However, injuries are by no means scarce.Speaking of the Invincible Holy Sword Legion, it was precisely this hero’s relentless efforts—shedding blood in battle—that underpinned their unbroken streak of victories.
Attack Power: 8Agility: 7Combat Skill: 4Overall Rating: A
“I see… I’d like to test my mettle against Arthur Bonaparte myself someday.”Almeida grunted with interest.”Mr. Artie and Lord Arthur Bonaparte, huh? Yeah, I definitely wanna check ‘em out,“Tetes said nonchalantly.Training or not, Aurora frowned slightly as she smiled sheepishly; even the two of them combined had no way of standing against Anzeros.Just then, Sieg Becker returned from the hot springs, steaming heavily.”Whoa. What a fun bunch gathering such interesting guys together.""Special Forces Captain,“Almeida acknowledged with raised eyebrows.”Wow. I figured there’d be some official evaluation on Lord Bonaparte. Huh, turns out he’s pretty low-ranked then?”Is he really that low?”Almeida looked genuinely intrigued. Sieg grinned crookedly at her.”If I had to rate him… hmm, maybe Attack Power 10, Agility 8? That old guy definitely shouldn’t fall below the attack power of Shranz’s Eagle,“he remarked.”If his attack power is rated as a ten… well, that would be in that special category reserved for figures like General Scott Vincent…”
Aurora pokes with small, tentative curiosity.
Overnight Vincent is Celesta’s General; in Almieda’s open “Sword Saint Chronicle,” he’s a stat they don’t actually use anyway.
But—
“Sure, Vincent’s guy’s got the damage, but if that old man goes all out, I get a feel for him needing to tank it. That kind of attack power ain’t about technique or whatever—it’s something deeper, more fundamental.”
”…Fundamental?”
The hornless Aurora and Tetes looked thoroughly confused; Almieda, by contrast, seemed to have caught on instinctively.
It was a sense only those who’ve spent decades fighting as warriors could truly share.
“Right then—surely there’s an entry for Vincent and the boys too? In that ‘Celesta East-West Hero Chronicle’ volume? …Whoa, 22… that’s last year’s final issue. Pretty sweet hoard you got there.”
“Bought it at Tark just the other day.”
“Ah, yeah, okay… back then, huh. Let me take a look.”
──The “Sword of Celesta”! The King of Lightning, renowned as the strongest across the continent──
“Overnight” Scott Vincent, Special Lieutenant General (41) Overnight / Assigned to Celesta’s Special Lightning Cavalry Brigade ・Power: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ・Speed: ☆☆☆☆☆★☆ ・Technique: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ・Overall Assessment: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
The ultimate ogre warrior embodying Celesta through sheer, unstoppable offensive might. Yes, his terrifying raw strength is impressive—but what truly sets him apart is the lightning capability behind his moniker. While some ogres occasionally manifest a rare trait called “Erecorne,” granting them limited electrical manipulation—usually just enough to make their victim’s skin tingle with numbness—Vincent far transcends such triviality. He draws bolts freely from his own horns and, depending on the weather, can summon storms from above to rain devastation indiscriminately across the battlefield. No foe can withstand such power; if one somehow exists, his proud double axes will cleave them cleanly in two. The terror of seeing this man appear atop a Flying Dragon at any moment has become so potent a deterrent that it stirs hesitation not only within Celesta’s own borders but also among neighboring nations seeking stability. By the way—he’s still single. He claims he’d prefer a wife who’s either a cat or a fox beastkin… though finding someone tolerable seems tricky once their fur starts standing on end around him.
──The “Shield of Celesta”! The sheer dread of an invincible man standing right here──
“Overnight” Ryo Amatsushima, Special Lieutenant General (38) Overnight / Assigned to Celesta’s Special Lightning Cavalry Brigade ・Power: ☆☆☆☆☆ ・Speed: ☆☆☆☆ ・Technique: ☆☆☆☆ ・Overall Assessment: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆★
To be blunt, he’s not all that impressive in terms of combat power. But the reason his overall evaluation is abnormally high lies in his freakish vitality. There’s even an anecdote where a military doctor snapped, “Either declare him a moving corpse or a holy beast!” Yet here we are—he’s been left for dead at least 137 times and still pops back up as if nothing happened. He’s been crushed between a battering ram and boulders; shredded by spear squads; had an entire fortress burned down on him; buried alive; hammered into oblivion with double axes after a fight with General Vincent; drowned in Queenica’s sea, and so on. But in nearly every case, he emerges soaked in blood, screaming things like “I’m going to die you bastard!” only to survive it all. To the enemy, he’s nothing short of pure terror. While rated as minimum level for an Ace Knight, his offensive power is real, so once he’s deployed, the opposing army has no choice but to panic into chaos. He’s considered a trump card in a sense totally different from General Vincent—a veritable secret weapon of the command itself. Famous, yes, but still.
──Here comes the monster bird! What burden does the blue bird carry?──
“Blue Gale” General Clay Kingfisher (42) Ace Knight / Belonging to the Celesta Western Legion ・Power ☆☆☆☆☆☆ ・Speed ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ・Technique ☆☆☆☆☆☆ ・Overall Evaluation ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
The Birdman race is rare even in Celesta. Yet, surprisingly enough, there are multiple Ace Knights of the Birdman kind within the Celesta military forces. He stands out as not only the most famous but also the strongest among them. Though a Birdman, he wields immense leg strength as his primary weapon, using his wings merely for maneuvering direction or jump tactics. Still, that’s the rational strategy allowing these Birdmen to move swiftly and irregularly. His storm-like movements are so fast even other Ace Knights struggle to track him. A well-known story claims that during a Master Knight trial, three Ace Knights didn’t even have enough time to draw their blades once before he was gone. That said, some say he’s quite an attention-seeker and also rather scatterbrained. Because he’s a bird, perhaps?
“Booo-ha-ha-ha! This is awesome! The guy writing this has absolutely nothing to fear! Let’s take him over to Kingfisher’s next time!”
“Please stop. I’m going to get busted if you don’t.”
“Tsk-tsk, that’s a real possibility.”
Sieg laughs hysterically while kicking his legs wildly. Aurora looks deeply annoyed. “Besides, we’ve already gotten scolded by Inspector Becker too.” “Seriously?”
──When it comes to the world’s most famous spy, there’s only one person!──
“Daydream” Special Inspector Siegfried Becker (40) Ace Knight / Belonging to the Celesta Special Intelligence Corps ・Power ☆☆☆☆☆ ・Speed ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ・Technique ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Overall Assessment ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Remarkably, the genius who passed the Ace Knight exams at just twelve is now forty. Time is merciless. He has already proven himself with numerous feats of arms, conquering legendary monsters and countless ruins. In terms of speed alone, he’s rumored to be the fastest on the entire continent—faster even than Affilm’s “Dance Spear” Almida or Trot’s “Zephyr” Abel Dingel. However, his fighting style relies heavily on knives and traps; in fact, some argue that he’d never stand a chance if you actually had to battle him face-to-face. And yet, recently he was caught by an ogre woman—rumored to be because of his instant cheating scandal. Privately, this man is quite the showboat.
“Hey, who wrote this crap? Must have some grudge against me!”
“I can’t really say anything, sir. Also, if you tear this up, please send me a replacement.”
“…gugu-gugu…”
Sieg clenched the book so tightly he looked ready to rip it apart, then reluctantly set it down.
Tetes chuckled softly before suddenly turning his gaze toward Almida.
“Speaking of which, is there anything on Abel Dingel? I’ve been curious about him from the start.”
“There’s something here regarding him.”
Almida quickly flipped through the “Legend of the Sword Saint” she held in her hands.
“I’ve been strangely bothered by the comparisons drawn for about ten years now.”
── Trot’s Fastest Knight ── “The Zephyr” Abel Dingel Former member of Team 7, the Swordsaint Legion. Half-wolf beastkin. The Swordsaint Legion tends to value overall aptitude and teamwork over individuals with exceptionally突出 abilities. Yet, while possessing those traits, he also holds one-of-a-kind, continent-class standout capabilities. Given his wolf-beastkin mother, bloodline influence likely plays a part—but even so, few beastmen in the entire world possess such agility as him. Though rare among half-breeds within the Swordsaint Legion, he is indeed one of only a handful of such individuals—a man unusual in every sense. His swordsmanship mirrors that of his master, “Eagle of Shlants” Joseph Bay, employed during large-scale tournaments: an elegant hit-and-run tactic. Due to his incredible physical prowess, many believe he has already surpassed his mentor in raw combat ability, marking him as an exceptional knight. During the recent war, strategies championed by Celesta that effectively utilized numerous half-breeds eventually overwhelmed them. With Dingel leading the way, Trot is poised to enter an era where half-breeds are finally recognized and leveraged for their power.
Attack Power: 7 Agility: 10 Combat Technique: 7 Overall Aptitude: A
”…………”
“Hey, Dance Spear…I’ve been curious…that guy’s younger than us, right?”
“If he’s younger than you, then he must be older than I am, Sir Siegfried Becka.”
“So compared to our seasoned veterans, he seems oddly popular and overly cocky?”
“I can relate a bit. Honestly, the speedsters like us deserve more proper recognition, don’t you think?”
“Yeah? Yeah?”
Almeida, shrouded in a black aura, and Sieg stand together. Sighing heavily, Tetes boldly—and perhaps foolishly—brings up a new topic.
“Speaking of which, for someone who doesn’t even make the cover of that kind of magazine, how would you rate Diane, Captain Diane, and Ms. Aurora yourself?”
“Hmm… well, let’s see.”
Sieg picks up a blackened board used for writing menus from the corner of the dining hall and begins scratching numbers onto it with chalk.
・Captain Diane Attack Power: 9 Speed: 10 Combat Skill: 10 Overall Performance: God-Tier
・Anzeros Attack Power: 6 Speed: 8 Combat Skill: 8 Overall Performance: A-
・Aurora Attack Power: 7 Agility: 4 Combat Skill: 7 Overall Performance: B+
・Tetes Attack Power: 5 Agility: 5 Combat Skill: 8 Overall Performance:
?
・Naris Attack Power 4 Speed 5 Combat Technique 7 Overall Performance ?
“…that’s about it, right?”
“Anzeros’s numbers are quite… And Tetes’s overall performance is pretty random, isn’t it?”
“Honestly, Captain Anzeros still has a lot of potential left untapped. Depending on how you combine his magic with his Wind-Slicing Sword, he could be pretty formidable lately. I haven’t seen him in a tight squeeze in a while, so I’m not sure, but Tetes, the Righteous Knight—you certainly haven’t shown your full strength to anyone yet, have you?”
“Eh…?”
“You’re driving on cruise control; it’s obvious. There’s no reason why holding back would hurt, but untrained power doesn’t always show up in battle. Don’t get killed because of overconfidence. And as for Naris-chan… well, she smells just like Saimson.”
“What?!”
“Wait, Sieg Becker! Naris is still with Andy…”
“Calm down, Captain Aurora, Dance Spear. I’m not saying I picked up her body odor using some beastly sense of smell.”
Sieg shrugged his shoulders.
“She’s kind of giving off the vibe that if you push her to the limit, she’ll keep yielding a little bit at a time, just like squeezed juice. In a different sense from Tetes, there are depths Naris hasn’t even realized yet… Saimson is the same way. He’s not much, neither in ability nor intelligence, but just look at what he’s done—the Elves’ good treatment of him makes perfect sense. Depending on the situation, things could get interesting with Naris-chan too.”
“Muu…”
“So that’s it…”
A slightly dissatisfied Tetes and Aurora lost in thought.
…Right there.
“I’m not that strong,” a voice spoke up.
Before they knew it, Anzeros had appeared and erased his own presence with a cotton cloth.
“What are you doing?”
“To be honest, I hate weird books like that. Please don’t give me a epithet! Andy laughed at me!”
“That’s just not good.”
“That’s exactly why I’m saying it! I don’t want to become famous in a weird way!”
The swordsmen began chatting excitedly among themselves.
“Well, as long as Andy-chan loves you plenty, even if you’re not strong, that would be fine♪”
“Hmm. For a female slave, that is certainly the correct path.”
“Shouldn’t he come back soon…”
Selen, Irina, and Maya all sipped their tea in unison.