Sir Hero, It’s Time to Train!

“You’re resigning?”

Rakhal, the captain of the squad to which Lena Isban belonged, looked at the piece of paper she handed over, with ‘resignation’ written in large letters, and asked in disbelief.

“Yes. I have decided to leave in search of freedom.”

“No, Dame Lena. No matter how mentally distressing an overwhelming defeat may be, you should overcome it. Although you were defeated by a young boy, announcing your resignation so irresponsibly isn’t right, is it?”

“Indeed. I should drop by your house before leaving, to restore peace to your family by revealing your affair with a young woman and the flirtations towards me. Your family might revert to some normalcy then.”

“… I’m sorry. I didn’t think it through. One should not hamper the steps of a knight seeking freedom. I hope you travel far.”

As Nemea spoke harshly with eyes wide open, Rakhal’s face quickly darkened, and he shrank back.

Still, as a captain reluctant to lose a valuable talent, he hesitated, trying to cautiously persuade her.

“Nevertheless, I urge you to reconsider. With your skills, you could easily become a formal knight of the Miles Viscounty.”

“Weren’t you eager to kick me out?”

“Even as a captain, shouldn’t one distinguish between public and private matters?”

Despite Rakhal’s priorities towards the Viscount Miles’ house over his own family, Nemea looked at him indifferently, holding firm to her decision.

“You have talent. The wave technique you developed is something our commander has paid special attention to.”

“That has crumbled into chaos…”

“Crumbled into chaos?”

“Something like that exists. Though I would honestly prefer to stay here.”

“Then why not do just that? Leaving now will cause significant loss for you.”

“I have personal reasons for leaving. I’ve already made up my mind to resign, so please just accept my resignation.”

“Such a situation…”

After all, she was on a contract basis that allowed her to resign whenever she wished, just as termination was possible at any moment.

However, Rakhal felt it truly regrettable to let go of Lena— Nemea Roblan’s talent.

Someone expected to become a significant asset to the Miles Viscounty, to be strongly recommended for a formal knight position in the upcoming promotions.

But her leaving could not feel anything less than disappointing.

“Do you really have no intention of changing your mind?”

“No. However, rest assured, I won’t divulge Sir Rakhal’s secrets elsewhere, even if I leave.”

“What should I report to the commander…”

In the end, while processing her resignation, Rakhal left an opening.

“I will accept your resignation for now. But if you ever wish to return, you are welcome to do so. I will always have a place for you.”

“Thank you for that. Thank you for everything, Sir Rakhal.”

Nemea bowed her head to Rakhal in gratitude, before leaving his office without a hint of hesitation or regret.

After leaving Rakhal’s office, Nemea returned to her quarters to pack her belongings and returned the knightly attire and equipment she was issued.

Having wrapped up all her affairs, she stepped out of the main gate, only to find someone unexpected waiting for her.

“Where are you off to at this late hour?”

Nemea smiled upon seeing Riley standing at the gate, who should have been bedridden.

“Young master, you finally regained consciousness.”

“Kuh, I already had! More to the point, where are you headed at this hour?”

“I’m curious too, young master, why are you here?”

“… I heard you resigned from the knights. Is that true?”

“Oh my, news travels fast.”

As Nemea laughed slyly, Riley’s expression hardened considerably.

“Was the defeat that shocking to you?”

“That’s not the reason for my resignation, so you needn’t worry.”

“Then why are you quitting so suddenly?”

“I have personal matters to attend to.”

“… I know you met the Worden siblings today. Is it because of them?”

“Did you have someone tail me?!”

“It wasn’t you; it was the Worden siblings we tailed, so I hope there is no misunderstanding.”

It was unpleasant, but, understanding the situation, she overlooked it.

“Yes, it’s true. I plan to stay with them for a while.”

“Don’t tell me you’ve been hired by Count Worden’s house?!”

“Not yet, but there’s a high likelihood.”

“Kuh…!”

It was bad enough to lose a match, but now even losing a person! Riley gritted his teeth in frustration and, with great effort, restrained his irritation as he spoke.

“What offer did you receive from the Worden house? What would it take for you to stay with the Viscount’s?”

Nemea chuckled softly at Riley’s question.

“Young master, you need to learn how to retain people.”

“Intimidation isn’t my style.”

“… It’s not about that. It’s about winning them over with your heart, not money.”

It was a thought indicative of someone from the increasingly complicated and faction-driven Miles Viscounty. Nemea sighed at Riley’s answer.

“Anyway, thanks for everything. It was certainly comfortable staying here compared to others.”

“So you really intend to leave.”

“Yes. But we aren’t cut off forever, are we?”

“Hmm…”

It was an odd statement but perhaps not entirely untrue. Should she join Count Worden’s house, he could always find an excuse to see her.

As long as he retained the name of Miles, they were bound to meet eventually if she stayed with the Worden’s.

“Then I’ll be off.”

“… Head to Marquis Ferdida’s estate.”

As she departed without hesitation, Riley’s words at the last moment caused Nemea’s steps to halt.

“Huh? Why there?”

When Nemea turned around to ask, Riley, as if done with holding her back, added with a hint as he turned to go back inside.

“Until they leave the capital, they are to stay with Marquis Ferdida. They have already relocated there, so you’d go to their previous lodging in vain.”

“Ugh, you should have told me earlier. Almost had to do a pointless hard trip…”

That wasn’t aimed at Riley but more a grumble towards Christian. Leaving behind her grumbling about Christian, Riley disappeared, having said all he needed.

Nemea, muttering under her breath about Christian, watched Riley’s retreating figure with a bright smile and waved widely.

“I’ll come by before leaving the capital! See you then!”

With those words, Nemea also departed the Viscount Miles’ house without hesitation.

*

Upon confirming Christian’s identity, they were promptly shown to a reception room that was quite different from the grandeur of Count Worden’s or Viscount Miles’ quarters.

It was, contrary to the expectation of being from a Marquis family, rather plain.

However, Christian didn’t particularly care about such matters, so he simply sat quietly on the sofa sipping tea.

“Hmm…”

Unlike him, Aira seemed exceptionally uncomfortable, fidgeting slightly.

“Relax. You’re making me uncomfortable just watching you.”

“But I can’t help it, can I? This is your maternal family.”

“What’s that got to do with anything…”

Aira, feeling a surge of frustration, could not help but retort.

Although technically a granddaughter, she was nearly a stranger, and the families were on antagonistic terms, so the tension was natural.

“You should relax; it’s not like anyone will eat you.”

“Coming here looking like beggars and being told not to be tense is absurd.”

Currently, Aira and everyone else looked like they had been through the wringer.

Even Sonya, who was initially relatively clean, had her clothes in tatters after walking for hours.

They worried about being turned away by guards, possibly expelled for their appearance. Even with ‘family,’ basic etiquette and decorum were expected.

“Honestly, we should have freshened up before coming. Changed clothes, taken a carriage. I should have beaten you into doing it if necessary…”

“If you think you can, give it a try?”

“I didn’t because I couldn’t.”

“Sensible surrender isn’t a bad call. Good judgment.”

Was that a compliment?

Though it sounded like one, it certainly didn’t feel like it.

As Aira swallowed her tea like cold water, trying to soothe her thoughts, the door swung open boldly, and inside came an old man, short and stout, with a splendid mustache.

Besides Christian, everyone else showed discomfort at his unexpected entrance, while the old man momentarily appeared stunned, observing their behavior.

“You, you…”

Pointing directly at Christian with disbelief, he slowly approached step by step, constantly opening and closing his mouth.

“Feels oddly familiar, doesn’t it?”

In both past and future contexts, they had clearly never met, yet the old man seemed strangely familiar to Christian, making him tilt his head in confusion.

Who was this… Christian racked his brain, trying to recall, as the old man shouted.

“Oh dear, my dear grandchild!”

“Guh?!”

The small yet hefty old man charged forward and hugged him tightly. Caught off guard, Christian had no time to react and was practically crushed under the weight.

“Gr-grandfather?”

“Grand-grand-grandfather?!”

Christian managed to catch his breath while forcibly peeling off the grandfather trying to smother him. The old man turned pale at Christian’s words as if in shock.

“You promised at the age of five! To call me ‘grandpa’ until you turned twenty!”

… Just like mother, exactly.

And this Christian fellow, did he promise his mother to call her ‘mom’ and his grandfather ‘grandpa’?!

Surely, he couldn’t have been a mama’s boy, could he?!