Poruka in the dead of winter, with snow flurries drifting through the air. Apart from the convalescents who came to bathe in the healing waters, the town lately resembled a place where many swordsmen were coming to hone their skills in self-training camps. Most of them were members of Diane’s Special Task Force and their associates engaging in autonomous drills, but inspired by this atmosphere, elves with a strong warrior disposition could be seen imposing rigorous special training on themselves at the edges of the forest as well.
Even so, on days when heavy, soft snow accumulated steadily, there was naturally no one to be found making a fuss outside.
It wasn’t strictly “work in the sun, read in the rain,” but indulging in books in an inn’s dining hall or the like, much like Aurora was doing today, could also be considered meaningful in its own right.
“Aurora Tenth-Rank Commander, what are you reading?”
“Tetes? Can you read as well?”
The book Aurora closed to show him bore the title “Celesta: Biographies of Heroes East and West – No. 22.”
“Biographies of heroes…?”
“It’s a book touted as the definitive up-to-date catalog covering information on famous warriors, centered around Celestan soldiers. At least, that’s what it claims to be in principle.”
“In principle? So…”
“Though it claims comprehensive coverage, it’s ultimately just a civilian publication. It contains inaccurate information and many omissions… Well, since even Ace Knights like myself have track records that are difficult to verify, one might actually praise it for conducting thorough research without touching on state secrets. But if you want a basic assessment of active-duty warriors at the Master Knight level or above, this book covers almost everything.”
“Ha. Is making it into that book a goal of yours too, Tenth-Rank Commander Aurora?”
“Fufu. I suppose it’s not entirely out of the question either.”
Aurora smiled and displayed other books stacked on the table.
Titles like “Biography of Sword Sages: Chronicles of King Yuris III, Year 39 Edition” and “Complete Compendium of Continental Knights – Volume 7” were emblazoned on their spines.
“Heh. I wouldn’t mind having such a collection.”
“I’ve been fond of these books since childhood, so whenever I see them in bookstores in large cities, I end up buying them. …There are articles about my brother and Mr. Anzeros too.”
“Oh, I might want to see that. Technically, given the level at which I’m registered with the Lenfangas Royal Information Bureau, I do know some personal data, but I don’t know the detailed evaluations.”
As Tetes flipped through the pages of the book, Aurora indicated a bookmarked page.
── The Forest Domain’s Young Noble, who has no weaknesses to his Void Blade! ──
General Lucas (32) Master Knight / Affiliated with Celesta Army Southern Legion ・Power ☆☆☆☆☆ ・Speed ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ・Technique ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ・Overall Evaluation ☆☆☆☆☆☆★
The eldest son of the Colony Leader of the southeastern Forest Domain, renowned as a genius swordsman. His true capabilities are said to be incalculable, with some arguing that this article underestimates him. It is claimed that his swordsmanship can sever massive trees twenty paces away, causing them to fall with a thud. Given the originality of his style, there are certainly aspects that cannot be measured by star ratings alone.
Most unfairly, he possesses both exceptional skill and refined looks paired with elegant manners. He is considered the very epitome of what a young noble should be. However, it is worth noting that he has also had some recent troubles, such as undergoing an audit by the Intelligence Corps (of unspecified name) and being ordered to stand down for reflection.
── The Orthodox Style Taught by Trot: “The Wind-Cleaving Sword” Is Here! ──
“Wind-Cleaving Sword” Tenth-Rank Commander Anzeros (Age Unknown) Ace Knight / Celesta Army Special Task Force ・Power
☆☆☆☆☆☆ ・Speed ★★★ ・Technique ★★★★★★★ ・Overall Evaluation ★★★★★
Until recently, Basson’s renowned “Crossbow Corps,” the elite unit guarding the Trot border, employed him as their bodyguard. He is a half-elf boy swordsman boasting an immense suit of armor disproportionate to his physique and a sturdy short sword capable of putting even ogres down with a single strike. Contrary to his pretty-boy appearance, he possesses both technical skill and raw strength, making him a prime example of how judging by appearances can get you hurt. Though recent investigations have whispered rumors that he is actually female, the details remain unknown due to his transfer to a special duties unit.
“Hmm, Anzeros seems pretty fast for being a ten-man captain… Is three stars the highest she gave him?” “As I said, it isn’t very accurate. The source failed to account for Anzeros abandoning his armor after losing it to his brother two years ago and shifting to a speed-based fighting style. It seems they just haven’t updated their old data. Right now? A solid six… no, seven stars would be more appropriate.” “Right? If he were only three stars, even Ar-chan would only be around five.” “I believe the article on ‘Dancing Spear’ was in The Complete Guide to Continental Knights. The information is a bit dated, but the rating criteria are almost identical.”
──One of the candidates for the fastest knight in the Afilum Empire──
“Dancing Spear” Almeida An elf paladin. Currently an adventurer affiliated with the Folklore Adventurers’ Guild. Once one of the most famous paladins in the Afilum Empire, he has somehow since cut ties with the Afilum military and is reportedly staying in Folklore, the second city of the Trot Kingdom. His combat techniques are balanced at a high level, but his speed is what truly stands out; it leaves behind even beastmen renowned for their leg strength. Furthermore, his attacks using a spear—a weapon that should never excel in combination speed—demonstrate terrifying rapidity that easily saturates defenses. His fighting style resembles a meticulously rehearsed dance.
・Attack Power ★★★★★ ・Speed ★★★★★★★★★★ ・Special Skills ★★★★★★★ ・Overall Power ★★★★★★★★★
”…The writing here is a bit stiff, don’t you think?”
“That’s likely because Biographies of Eastern and Western Heroes of Celesta contains a fair amount of gossip. There are parts in that book that feel a bit tabloid-like.”
“Indeed. And yet, Ar-chan’s rating is impressively high, isn’t it?”
According to that book, Almeida’s evaluation rivals that of a Master Knight.
While comparing different sources is apples to oranges, he is still rated higher than Lucas.
Tetes nodded in agreement—‘That makes sense,’ he thought—looking quite satisfied. But then, Almeida herself appeared.
“That book, huh… I’m overrated.”
“Ar-chan?”
“I certainly have confidence that no one can beat me in speed, but the reviewers seem to be adding their own fantasies to that fact. Look, by these standards, I would be considered the strongest among all Afilum knights.”
“Oh, you’re right… I don’t see any Afilum Lord with a higher rating than Ar-chan.”
“In reality, if I fought against the Lords, I would have lost to more than half of them. Just being fast isn’t enough to win against many opponents.”
“I see…”
“No, rather, it is surprising to me that I am considered to have won nearly half of the time…”
“I do receive Lord’s recommendations on a regular basis, at least.”
Almeida looked slightly displeased.
“In their region, it is not matches or exams that determine things; rather, a Knight Selection Committee comprised of field officers from each principality decides the investiture of Paladins and Lords. Depending on the political winds within the Empire, one might receive recommendations multiple times yet never be invested, or conversely, be invested despite lacking the requisite strength.”
“So, you’re saying it wouldn’t be out of place for Almeida to hold the rank of Lord… is that it?”
“I do not know if I could become a Master Knight or a Black Arm, but at least in Aphileum, I was positioned on that kind of tier. …Besides, the fact that I defeated them also indicates that the Lords I beat were not necessarily strong.”
“Well, there is always a slight possibility that even Red Arms are not particularly strong.”
The Red Arms, the true knights of Lunfangas, are invested based on the number of Front Line Medals they have earned.
Most are battle-hardened veterans deserving of their title, but there are several equivalent medals in terms of value, and while rare, there is a trick where one can be invested without ever having made contact with monsters.
However, it takes an incredibly long time to reach the point of investiture.
“Still, after all, this is just an article written by someone who heard about it secondhand. Besides, I am already a knight of Lunfangas…”
“Al-chan, the publication date of this book is two years ago.”
”…I guess there’s no help for it then.”
Since Almeida had moved to Lunfangas only last year, it was natural that the information was outdated.
“To begin with, the only one published annually among these is the ‘Celesta East-West Chronicles of Heroes.’ Particularly the ‘Complete Guide to Continental Knights,’ which follows famous knights across the continent, often has gaps of four or five years between editions. Even though information travels quickly these days, gathering such a wide range of high-quality data seems to be quite laborious.”
“My, my. But I’d like to become a knight worthy of appearing in it by the next edition, don’t you think?”
Tetes said this with complete naivety.
However… if even a tiny bit of it became known that she was the sister of Alex Buster, she would be listed effortlessly. After all, it wasn’t just information on especially strong knights; they were “famous” knights.
Aurora decided to keep silent regarding these circumstances.
“But the detail in the ‘Sword Sage Chronicle’ is amazing… They actually let you interview like this.”
Almeida looked at the Sword Sage Chronicle and sighed.
“That is probably because the compiler belongs to the War History Club at the Capital University,” Celesta replied.
“The university’s club? You put out such a proper book from a place like that?”
Almeida closed the book with a thud and examined the binding intently.
The handsome leather cover did not look like something an amateur would publish.
“I hear it was originally in scroll form. Partway through, due to Lord Crawford’s intention to publish widely for morale boosting, it took its current form, and I believe the Crawford family continues to provide the funding for publication.”
”…Well, if it’s a university student doing interviews, even a great Sword Sage famed as a strongman couldn’t rudely refuse, and the book must have been properly produced. But it is surprising that they continued it even after the Celesta War.”
“As far as Celesta is concerned, we have no intention of destroying or suppressing the Sword Sages themselves. We are still making full use of them as a deterrent against the Aphileum Empire.”
The nation of Celesta was strict about inconsistencies in interests, but it also well understood that valuable things are fragile and hard to obtain.
There was an understanding that the immense trust and admiration for the “Sword Sage” nurtured by the Kingdom of Trot, as well as their deterrent effect on neighboring states, could not be easily rebuilt if scattered once, making them worth utilizing even with some force… or so it was thought.
“They say there are still many children who dream of becoming swordsmen out of admiration for the myths of the Sword Sages. It seems the policy is to tolerate such publications as long as they do not carry an open intent to oppose Celesta.”
“The more I hear, the more tolerant Celesta seems. It’s hard to conceive from the blood-soaked war chaos of the Aphileum Peninsula. …Indeed, there was talk at the time of a plan to seize one-third of Trot by exploiting the collapse of the Sword Sage Legion and use it as a bridgehead for Celesta, but I hear that was halted because Celesta retained more of Trot’s military power than expected.”
“See, Celesta is a nation of merchants. They are wise about things with utility value.”
“Aphileum… no, if Deep Green were the same, it would have been better…”
Almeida opened the book again and flicked through the pages.
“By the way, this book has a lot of bookmarks in it too.”
“Yes. Many of the articles are on people I know, so checking them is fun.”
“People you know…?”
“Not only His Eminence, the Supreme Sword Sage Arthur Bonaparte, but also Gilvert Grunz, the Hundred Man Captain, and Hector Landel, the Ten Man Captain, are faces I am familiar with. I have also placed bookmarks on the Sword Sages I saw in Lennest the other day.”
“Hmm… I only caught a glimpse of him at the Gibli Fortress, but—”
Almeida opens the page, guided by the bookmark.
— The Strongest Across All Eras of the Sword Saint Corps. The Living Legend: The Supreme Sword Saint —
Arthur Bonaparte Former Commander, Sword Saint Corps Former Captain, Royal Palace Guards The man whose power and charisma were largely responsible for earning the Sword Saint Corps the reputation as the strongest force on the Northwest Plains. His stature is imposing for a human at six feet four (189 cm). Standing near him, one is genuinely overwhelmed by his sheer presence. Yet, despite that intimidation, the impression left by his smile is that of the very picture of a gentleman, possessing a refreshing clarity akin to that of a mischievous boy. While his appearance undoubtedly contributes to his charisma, his combat prowess is something truly absolute. He possesses superhuman strength unmatched by any normal being—he never loses an arm-wrestling match against an Ogre—yet his swordsmanship is said to have reached the domain of the gods. His chosen weapon is a greatsword forged by Vicks Valey, the top master among the Ten Swordsmiths of the Royal Capital. Though it is ill-suited for formal duels, he remains undefeated in matches against countless Sword Saints. He is particularly adept at handling the “Burst Attack,” the signature technique of Trot Knights. A full-power Burst Attack released by him is said to generate a tornado capable of leveling ordinary houses. However, despite all this, the wounds he sustained in the last war were not minor; he is currently undergoing recuperation. Given his age, returning to active duty seems increasingly unlikely. Still, as the author, I would welcome the chance—even just once—to see the figure of that great hero raising his sword again in the Grand Arena.
Attack Power: 7 Agility: 6 Combat Skill: 10 Overall Rating: S (Stats from his active days)
— The Demon Instructor of the Grand Arena —
“Professor” Gilbert Grants Today, as every day, many young swordsmen sweat it out at the Grand Arena. Most of them are “Ace Knights,” commissioned following the Celesta War, but the man drilling their skills into them is a pure, bona fide Sword Saint. Despite being on the verge of fifty, he still instills fear in those young swordsmen. There are jokes about him having long-lived blood running through his veins, but the secret to that man’s strength lies not only in his unyielding diligence—he trains without fail every week—but largely in his perfected techniques and unfathomable mental fortitude. His name is Gilbert Grants. Although he is a magnificent Sword Saint, he also serves as an Assistant Professor at the Royal Capital University. His lectures are famously easy to understand, while his zero tolerance for absentees is equally renowned; consequently, if you aren’t confident in your perfect attendance, don’t even think about taking his class… though that’s beside the point. Naturally scholarly by temperament, he is an unusual Sword Saint who refused a position in the Sword Saint Corps during the last war because he disliked leaving his university unattended. Nevertheless, his command abilities are said to be first-rate. Rumor has it that for similar reasons, he also declined a general’s commission from the Celesta Army, though whether that is true or false remains to be seen. He is a bona fide native of the Royal Capital as well, and in his off-hours, he possesses the approachable quality of taking his university students on tours to hidden gems in the city. I had intended this section to be an introduction to him as a Sword Saint, but it seems I’ve ended up writing something quite different. Perhaps that’s just who he is. There are aspects of a person that don’t show through their swordsmanship alone; please excuse my hesitation on the pen.
Attack Power: 4 Agility: 5 Combat Skill: 10 Overall Rating: B
— The Last Sword Saint Possesses Both Beauty and Fertility —
Ector Randall A prodigious swordsman who earned the title of Sword Saint at the tender age of fifteen. He is known as the “Last Sword Saint,” a designation born from the fact that Trot Celesta suffered a defeat shortly after his investiture, resulting in their loss of military command authority and the right to confer the title of “Sword Saint.” The legitimate heir to the prestigious Randall noble family and an outstanding student, he is often seen surrounded by women within the Royal Capital University. He appears to have few male friends within the academic community. Although his sword has been wielded in actual combat only once—during the collapse of the Sword Saints’ Legion—his abilities are highly regarded. It is reported that he has already surpassed his senior peers, distinguishing himself significantly enough to make the Master Knight examination within reach. His style is one of pure orthodoxy, and he is proficient in “Blast Attack,” possessing considerable speed. On one occasion, when a right-wing faction at the Royal Capital University caused a disturbance, he worked alongside Assistant Professor Gilbert Grants to suppress the unrest. His dashing feat remains a legendary tale among students: with nothing but a short sword, he lifted an entire desk in a single Blast Attack and rescued the female student who had been taken hostage in the blink of an eye. The scene was captured in an oil painting by the university’s art club and is currently on display. There are rumors that he wishes to purchase the piece and take it home. The fact that a swordsman of his caliber can still be produced within the nation offers great hope to the Trot Celesta people of the Royal Capital.
Attack Power 6 Agility 7 Combat Technique 6 Overall Ability B
—His movement, as if he were flying. His strike, like claws and fangs—
“Shlanza’s Eagle” Joseph Bay Former 7th Squad Leader of the Sword Saints’ Legion. A Great Sword Saint whose prowess was said to rank in the single digits even within the ranks of the Sword Saints’ Legion. He served as a mentor figure to “Gale” Abel Dingil and is renowned for his high-speed swordsmanship. A master of dual-wielding, he earned the nickname “Knight of the Eagle” due to his flamboyant strike that severs an opponent’s clavicle to crush their will to fight, coupled with his tactic of disengaging instantly. He later adopted the epithet “Shlanza’s Eagle,” incorporating his homeland into his title. While his combat capability is top-tier, he also holds a distinguished reputation as a general. It is a famous story that the military command at the time struggled greatly to determine whether Joseph Bay was more useful as the lead attacker of the Sword Saints’ Legion or as a commanding general.
Attack Power 8 Agility 8 Combat Technique 8 Overall Ability S
—His color is the azure sky, and the blue of salvation—
“Blue Knight” Bart Dean III Former 11th Squad Leader of the Sword Saints’ Legion. A Great Sword Saint. Known as the Blue Knight due to his constant wearing of a blue mantle, a family heirloom. He fights in it even on the battlefield, and remarkably, to this day, not a single stain of blood or tear can be found on the fabric—a testament to his true prowess. A master of the halberd who skillfully employs Blast Attack, his tactics are devoid of openings, and he is famous for knowing when to retreat. He is particularly adept at rescuing allied units, and many Trot soldiers never forget the vivid brilliance of that blue. There is even a saying that only a wicked woman or a sudden storm could ever soil his mantle.
To add, he was also a henpecked husband; after his wife caught wind of the phrase, he reportedly lost quite a bit of weight.
Attack Power 5 Agility 7 Combat Technique 8 Overall Rating A
—The Savage Vanguard Commander of the Sword Saint Brigade—
“Penetrator” Kane Gold Former member of the Second Squad, Sword Saint Brigade. Grand Sword Saint. Even in the Sword Saint Brigade, which relied on coordinated action as its greatest weapon, there were situations where operational breakthroughs were essential. In those moments, he—Kane Gold—was the dependable man who would always charge forward first. His breakthrough power was virtually absolute, making it impossible for a standard vanguard unit to contain him, while simultaneously possessing an uncanny knack for spotting winning opportunities that cavalry units could not fully pursue or exploit. His charges often led the Sword Saint Brigade to victory; even counting only formal engagements, he single-handedly created turning points toward victory on seven occasions, with anecdotes suggesting he did so even more frequently in skirmishes. In terms of results achieved through individual action, there was even talk that he was unrivaled within the Sword Saint Brigade. However, his injury count was by no means small. It was said that it was the unceasing effort of warriors like him, who bled in battle, that upheld the “Invincible Sword Saint Brigade” status.
Attack Power 8 Agility 7 Combat Technique 4 Overall Rating A
“I see… I’d certainly like to cross swords with Arthur Bonaparte sometime.”
Almeida muttered, impressed.
“Al-chan and Arthur Bonaparte, huh? Sure would be fun to watch that, yeah.”
Tetes said something irresponsible.
Aurora, who had been unable to handle Anzeros and her together even during the training exercise, smiled with a troubled expression.
Just then, Sieg Becker passed by, returning from the hot spring, steam rising cozily from his wet hair.
“Oh hey. You guys are putting out some real interesting stuff with this lineup.”
“Special Duty Captain.”
“Huh. So Lord Bonaparte gets an evaluation. Damn, that rating is pretty low.”
“Is it?”
Seeing the curiosity in Almeida’s face, Sieg grinned.
“If I wrote his stats… well, let’s say Attack Power 10, Agility 8. It’s impossible for that old geezer to have lower attack power than the Eagle of Schlants.”
“An Attack Power of 10 is usually reserved for special cases, like General Scott Vincent, though…”
Aurora cut in with a small remark. Vincent was an Overnight and the General of Celesta. The stats listed in The Sword Saint Chronicle, which Almeida had been reading, were essentially useless numbers for him. But still. “Vincent’s dumbass is definitely high on offense, but that old man’s serious one-hit strike feels like it could hold its own against him. That attack power isn’t something you can measure by technique or anything like that. It’s something more fundamental.” ”……Fundamental.” Aurora and Tetes looked completely baffled, while Almeida seemed to have grasped the general idea. It was a recognition shared only by those who had fought for long periods as warriors. “Oh, and of course there are articles about Vincent and the others. Probably in The Biographies of Celesta’s Eastern and Western Heroes. …Oh, issue 22? That must be from last year. You still have it?” “I bought it at the Tark recently.” “Ah, I see. From back then. Let’s take a look.”
──Celesta’s “Sword”! The Lightning King, hailed as the continent’s strongest──
Major General Scott Vincent, “Thunderstrike Overnight” (41) Overnight / Affiliated with the Celesta Special Thunder Division ・Power ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ・Speed ☆☆☆☆★ ・Technique ☆☆☆☆☆☆ ・Overall Rating ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
The strongest ogre warrior, symbolizing absolute attack power and representing Celesta itself. While his immense strength is awe-inspiring, what truly deserves mention is the lightning-strike ability that earned him his epithet. “Eleakorn” is a rare constitution found in ogres, granting them the ability to manipulate electric shock, but usually, it tops out at merely numbing those who touch the user. However, his abilities far exceeded that realm. He could freely discharge lightning from his horns, and depending on the weather, he possessed the outrageous power to strike the surroundings with bolts from the sky itself. There was no enemy capable of defending against this power. And even if there were, his pride, the double axes, would bisect them in two. The terror that he could appear anywhere on the back of a Flying Dragon served as a deterrent not only for maintaining domestic security but also for deterring neighboring nations from provocation. Incidentally, he was still single. Apparently, he had mentioned preferring a cat or fox beastwoman for a wife. It seemed he was having quite a difficult time finding a partner due to his bristling hair.
──Celesta’s “Shield”! The terror of that invincible man standing there──
Major General Ryo Amatsushima, “Steel Overnight” (38) Overnight / Affiliated with the Celesta Special Thunder Division ・Power ☆☆☆☆ ・Speed ☆☆☆ ・Technique ☆☆☆ ・Overall Rating ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆★
Honestly, he’s not much of a fighter in terms of raw combat power. However, his overall rating is abnormally high due to his freakish vitality. There’s an anecdote about a military doctor snapping at him, “Pick one: zombie or holy beast,” yet to this day, he has survived at least 137 instances that should have killed him, only to get back up as if nothing happened. Getting crushed between a battering ram and a boulder. Being skewered by the spear corps. His fort being burned to the ground. Being buried alive. Getting beaten down with a double-headed axe after a brawl with General Vincent. Drowning in Quieka’s sea. And so on. In almost every case, he has returned to life drenched in blood while screaming something like, “That hurt, you bastards!” From the enemy’s perspective, that must be nothing short of terror. Even at the minimum level for an Ace Knight, he possesses decent attack power, meaning his deployment alone will throw the enemy forces into total chaos. He is considered a trump card in a different sense from General Vincent—a true secret weapon of the command headquarters. Famous, though.
— The Ominous Bird Arrives! What Does the Blue Bird Carry? —
“Blue Tempest” General Clay Kingfisher (42) Master Knight / Affiliated with the Western Celesta Legion ・Power ☆☆☆☆☆☆ ・Speed ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ・Technique ☆☆☆☆☆☆ ・Overall Rating ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
The Birdman race is rare even in Celesta. But despite that, the Celesta army boasts several Ace Knights who are Birdmen. He is the most famous and strongest among them. Despite being a Birdman, he utilizes his powerful legs as his primary weapon, using his wings only for directional control and jump maneuvers. But this is actually a rational tactical choice for Birdmen, allowing them to move with the greatest speed and unpredictability. His movements, running about like a storm, are difficult even for Ace Knights to track. A famous anecdote claims that during the Master Knight exam, three Ace Knights didn’t even get a single strike in against him. That said, he’s also known for being an attention-seeker and quite clumsy. Probably because he’s a bird.
“Whahaha! Not bad at all! Whoever’s writing this has no fear of authority, huh! I’m taking it to Kingfisher’s place next time!” “Won’t you kindly stop? I’m afraid it might get damaged.” “Oh dear, that’s a possibility.” Sieg throws his legs up into the air and bursts into laughter. Aurora puts on a face of mild annoyance. “Besides, Captain Bekker is getting teased about it, too, you know.” “No way?”
— If there is only one man who can claim the title of the world’s most famous spy, it’s him! —
“Daydream” Captain Sieg Becker (40) Ace Knight / Affiliated with the Celesta Special Intelligence Detachment ・Power ☆☆☆☆☆ ・Speed ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ・Technique ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
・Overall Rating ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Believe it or not, the genius who passed the Ace Knight exam at just twelve is forty this year. Time is a merciless mistress. His numerous military achievements have been made public over the years, and he has conquered countless legendary-class monsters and ruins. He is truly a man of substance. His speed is said to be the fastest on the continent, even surpassing Alfreida’s “Dancing Lance” and Abel Dingill’s “Gale.” However, his fighting style is pure assassination, relying heavily on knives and traps. It’s true that some argue about how he would fare if it came down to a straight fight. That very man has reportedly been caught by an ogre woman lately. Allegedly, the affair was exposed instantly. He is quite the show-off in his private life as well.
“Hey, who the hell wrote this? I figure the only reason someone’d put out something like this is if they had a grudge against me!” “It’s a bit of a dilemma for me to answer that. Also, please make sure to procure a replacement if you tear it up.” “……Grrr, grrr” Sieg gripped the book so tightly his knuckles were white, looking like he might rip it in half before reluctantly setting it down. Tetes, who had been chuckling, suddenly turned her attention to Alfreida. “By the way, is Abel Dingill mentioned in here too? I’ve been curious ever since just now.” “He’s certainly listed in this one.” Alfreida quickly skimmed through the Sword Saint Chronicle she was holding. “I’ve found it a bit annoying being constantly compared to him for the past decade or so.”
──Trot’s Fastest Knight──
“Gale” Abel Dingill Former member of the Sword Saint Corps, 7th Squad. Half wolf-beastkin. The Sword Saint Corps tends to prioritize overall capability and teamwork over individuals with exceptionally outstanding abilities. However, he possesses both those qualities while also holding standout capabilities at a class considered top-tier on the continent. Presumably due to the bloodline influence of his mother being a wolf-beastkin. But even so, one can rarely find someone with his level of agility, not even among beastkin. Beastkin are rare in the Sword Saint Corps, and he is one of those few exceptions, making him an unusual man in many senses. His swordsmanship employs a hit-and-run tactic strikingly similar to that of his master at the Grand Arena, Joseph Vey, known as the “Falcon of Schlantz.” Due to his superior physical abilities, there are even voices claiming he has already surpassed his master in combat prowess. In recent wars, he was also pressured by Celesta’s tactics, which effectively utilized many beastkin. Perhaps with him as a precedent, the era when Trot acknowledges and utilizes the power of beastkin is not far off.
Offense 7 Agility 10 Combat Technique 7 Overall Capability A
“…………” “Hey, Dancing Lance. This is gonna sound a bit weird, but… isn’t this guy actually younger than us?” “If he’s younger than you, Siegfried Becker, then he can’t possibly be older than me.” “Doesn’t he come off as suspiciously likable and cocky compared to veterans like us?” “I suppose I feel the same way. Besides, shouldn’t we speed specialists be receiving a more proper evaluation?” “Right? Right?”
Almeida and Sieg, wreathed in a dark aura. Aurora let out a sigh. Tetes, who was bold to the point of being audacious, broached a new topic. “Rather than that… what kind of scores do hundred-man leaders like Diane—who can’t ride such things—or you, Ms. Aurora, get from Beckerman?” “Mm… that, huh. Well, I suppose so.” Sieg retrieved a blackboard used for writing down menus from the corner of the cafeteria and began scratching figures on it with chalk.
・Captain Diane Attack Power 9 Speed 10 Combat Technique 10 Overall Performance Strongest
・Anzeros Attack Power 6 Speed 8 Combat Technique 8 Overall Performance A-
・Aurora Attack Power 7 Agility 4 Combat Technique 7 Overall Performance B+
・Tetes Attack Power 5 Agility 5 Combat Technique 8 Overall Performance
?
- Naris Attack Power 4 Speed 5 Combat Skill 7 Overall Performance ?
“……so, that’s roughly it.”
“Anzeros-san’s numbers are quite… and also, isn’t the Overall Performance for you guys arbitrary?”
“Honestly, I think the 10th Squad Leader Anzeros still has a lot of potential sleeping in him. Depending on how he combines them, his magic and Zankyo Ken could become pretty formidable. It’s hard to say for sure since he hasn’t had any recent fights where he was pushed to the brink. And as for you, Right Knight Tetes, you haven’t shown your full power to anyone else yet, have you?”
“E…?”
“It’s obvious you’re just driving safely. Having a trump card isn’t a bad thing, but force you don’t use in training might not come out in real combat. Don’t die from overconfidence. And Naris-chan is… I dunno how to put it, but she has a Smysn vibe to her.”
“Wha—”
“Hold on, Sieg Becker! Naris hasn’t been with Andi yet…”
“Calm down, 10th Squad Leader Aurora, Walt Lance. It’s not like I’ve sniffed out her body odor with my beast-race instincts or anything.”
Sieg shrugged.
“It’s just that… if you corner Naris-chan, it feels like a little more juice would come out bit by bit, y’know? In a different sense from Right Knight Tetes, she’s got an unknown depth to her. ……It’s the same with Smysn. He’s not all that great, whether in terms of ability or smarts. But looking solely at what he’s done, you can understand why the elves treat him so well. In some cases, it might turn into something interesting for Naris-chan too.”
“Mmph…”
“Is that really so?”
A slightly displeased Tetes and a contemplative Aurora stood there.
……And then.
“I’m not actually that high in ability.”
Anzeros, who had appeared out of nowhere, wiped his own section with a cotton cloth.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Generally, I hate weird books like this. Please don’t give me nicknames! Andi laughed at me because of it!”
“That’s fine, isn’t it?”
“I’m saying it’s not fine because it’s not! I don’t want to become famous in a weird way!”
The swordsmen went into a frenzy.
“Well, I suppose as long as Andi gives me plenty of love, I don’t have to be strong, right? ♪” “Hmph. Well, if you’re a female slave, that’s probably the correct line of thinking.” “I wish he’d come home sooner…” Selen, Irina, and Maya sipped their tea in unison.