Status Window Chapter 22 : Vocational Experience at the Knight Order (3)

22. Vocational Experience at the Knight Order (3)

The female knight who introduced herself as Celis spoke to me with a friendly smile.

"So, what is your name?"

"Um... I'm Rio!"

"Rio, huh. That's a good name."

"Thank you very much! Celis-san's name is wonderful too. It feels like someone who's strong and kind!"

"Fufu, strong and kind, huh. You're good at praising. Do you think I'm cool?"

"Yes! You're super cool!"

Female knights are cool! Or is it because it's Celis-san that she's cool? Anyway, it's really good!

Then, piron, a notification sound rang. Surely the favorability for the first meeting has been set, but I don't have time to check right now.

"I was waiting for a girl like you to come."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah! That's why I'm lucky to have met you today. So, today I will convey the magnificence of knights to you with all my might!"

At first glance, she looks reserved, but she's surprisingly a hot-blooded type. A strong passion is palpable, and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed.

"Now, let's experience the training first. Hold up your wooden sword."

"L-like... this?"

I held the wooden sword with both hands and managed to take a stance. However, Celis-san immediately shook her head.

"Hmm, wrong, wrong! You're relying too much on arm strength. Be conscious of your hips as the axis, and straighten your back."

"L-like this?"

"Close! Lower your elbows a little more—yes, that's it. Just like that! Good posture!"

Celis-san nodded happily. Her face seemed to shine, making me happy too.

"Good, regulate your breathing just like that... Don't swing the sword with your arms. Let it flow with your whole body!"

Celis-san took a step back and took a stance with her own wooden sword. Her slender body was streamlined without any waste, like a single line. The next moment, a sound like tearing wind echoed.

"This is what it means to swing."

I couldn't see the sword. The movement was too fast; I just felt the air tremble.

"Hya, fast!? I-I couldn't see that just now!"

"Haha, everyone is like that at first. But, Rio. A sword isn't something you swing with brute force. Only when heart and body become one does it become a blade."

"H-heart and body... one...?"

"Exactly! Even a wooden sword becomes a weapon if you put your feelings into it! That is a knight's pride!"

Celis-san's voice resonated. My spine straightened right up. It felt like Celis-san's heat was transferring to me.

"Now, let's try taking a stance one more time. This time, put your heart into it!"

"Y-yes!"

Putting spirit into it, I gripped the wooden sword with both hands. My arms were trembling... but I have to do my best. Celis-san nodded with satisfaction.

"Good... nice expression. Then, let's try swinging!"

"H-here I go!"

I swung down decisively. But no sound of cutting wind came out. Just a dull whoosh.

"...Ugh, it's totally different..."

"No, not bad!"

"Eh?"

"Your eyes were straight. Eyes without hesitation. That is the most important part!"

Being praised strongly, I felt happy and strength naturally filled my body.

"You put good feeling into it. So, keep it just like that. Now, let's swing again."

"...Yes!"

Looking at Celis-san nodding with a satisfied smile, confidence welled up in me. Holding onto that confidence carefully, I continued to swing the sword.

***

"I-I'm exhausted..."

"You did well."

After swinging the wooden sword for dozens of minutes since then, my stamina ran out. Right now, I'm sitting on the ground, taking a break.

Looking around, other boys seemed tired too, sitting on the ground resting. As expected, we can't beat real knights in stamina.

"I'm sorry I couldn't swing the wooden sword much."

"There's no need to apologize. We expected that. Now is question time disguised as a break."

I see... They anticipated this in advance. In that case, I can rest with peace of mind.

"Question time... what kind of things should I ask?"

"Fufu, nothing stiff. I just want you to know the magnificence of living as a knight."

Celis-san said that and straightened her back a little. Her silver hair shone in the sunlight. That figure was the very embodiment of a knight.

"Rio, what do you think a knight is?"

"Eh? Um... a person who fights with a sword?"

"That is also one answer. But a true knight is a protector."

Celis-san's eyes looked straight at me. There wasn't a fragment of a joke in that gaze.

"Strength isn't for hurting people. It's for protecting someone. Helping the weak, standing against injustice, believing in comrades and swinging the sword. That is the 'knight' I believe in."

There was heat in that voice. Straight, unwavering words that resonated deep in my chest.

"That's why I swing my sword every day. Even if my body hurts, even if my heart is about to break. Because a knight is finished if they lose sight of their ideals."

"...Ideals?"

"Yeah. I want to make someone smile. I want to protect. Those feelings move my sword."

Celis-san lifted the wooden sword lightly and took a stance. Just with that movement, I felt the air change.

"Rio. Earlier you said you were exhausted. But swinging a sword is originally like that. However, if you put a reason to protect into that swing, strangely enough, the body moves."

"A reason to protect..."

I muttered unintentionally. Do I have such a reason...? Listening to Celis-san's words makes me feel kinda anxious.

"A knight's strength isn't physical power. It's the heart."

After those words, Celis-san smiled gently. Unlike the hot-blooded expression during training, her smile now was somehow calm and warm.

Piron

At that moment, a window opened along with the notification sound.

*[I will aim to be a knight]*

*[Actually, I'm interested in adventurers]*

H-here, that choice?! This is exactly that, a route branch!