The Sword Master’s Son-in-Law

– Illiterate (2)

‘Count Messiah has invited me to dinner.’

Even a rotten fish smells divine, they say.

Perhaps it was thanks to the title of fiancé candidate.

So, here I was, invited to a dinner that was usually exclusive to the Messiah family.

*Creak-*

I pushed open the restaurant door and stepped inside.

No food had yet arrived, and I was the first to grace the space.

‘That seat must be for Count Messiah.’

Obvious at a glance, the head of the table.

I found a spot as far from it as possible and settled in.

Quietly, I awaited Count Messiah and Asia in the dining hall.

Presently, Asia and Count Messiah arrived, then the food was served, and the meal commenced.

‘How can one eat without a word…’

Not even the clink of dishware against cutlery broke the silence.

A silent repast.

And so, the wordless meal drew to a close.

Thanks to the delicious food, my belly was full, but my insides felt…off.

‘Dining in this sort of atmosphere just doesn’t suit me.’

Patting my full stomach, I sank into contemplation for a moment.

‘Count Messiah must have had a reason for inviting me to this meal.’

Could the mere title of fiancé candidate truly warrant such an invitation?

No.

Absolutely not.

There had to be a purpose behind summoning me here.

And before long, I deciphered Count Messiah’s intention for bringing me to this place.

A test.

Clearly, the reason he had summoned me was undoubtedly for another test.

Well, it goes without saying, I hadn’t managed to escape the ranks of the candidates with the previous trial.

‘It would be rather absurd if I had passed after just that one test.’

Still, it didn’t matter.

I rather welcomed another trial.

No, it was better for both Asia and I if he continued to present tests…

‘It would be much more frightening if I were to gain his favor.’

Someday, the false relationship between Asia and I would come to an end.

Gaining favor now would only make the future all the more terrifying.

‘One might say it’s better than being betrayed by a trusted friend.’

Therefore, I harbored the hope that he would continue to reject me endlessly, just as he was doing now.

‘I wonder what the next test will be?’

I mulled it over, but no other thoughts came to mind.

The only thing that sprang to mind was subjugation.

Monster subjugation was all I could think of.

Lost in thought, I glanced over at Count Messiah.

The Count wore an air of confident arrogance.

‘What sort of difficult trial has he prepared, to wear such an expression?’

I was maddeningly curious about just what kind of test would be presented next.

The Count Messiah, so brimming with confidence.

‘Surely… he doesn’t mean I should hunt something like a dragon, does he?’

Dragons, creatures so common in myths and legends.

I’d never seen one myself, but they were real.

A being powerful enough to be a staple of mythology.

Certainly, not something I could contend with.

Even with the old man’s help…

‘Wait…? Could the old man perhaps manage?’

Lost in these somewhat fanciful thoughts,

Count Messiah finally spoke.

“Arthas, your skill is remarkable. Truly worthy of being your father’s apprentice.”

And so, I exchanged pleasantries with the Count.

Then, the conversation shifted to its true purpose.

“The next trial for you…!”

Trial?

“Is learning! A man, however skilled with the blade, cannot simply become the son-in-law of the Messiah family!”

I was taken aback by the Count’s words.

Learning.

‘Oh, this is bad!’

Before delving into academia, I was illiterate.

Of course, illiteracy wasn’t unusual amongst common folk.

It was practically the norm.

That’s what made this situation so incredibly difficult.

Learning.

How can I discuss scholarship when I don’t even know my letters?

‘Wh-what am I going to do?’

In my panic, my eyes met Asia’s.

Had she sensed my predicament?

Her pupils were trembling wildly.

To Asia, I mouthed my honest truth.

‘I… I can’t read.’

At that very moment.

“Ehhh?!?!”

Asia exclaimed, startled beyond belief.

.

.

.

After the meal, I returned to my chambers.

And not long after.

Knock, knock.

A rapping at my door.

Before it even opened, I knew who it was.

Asia Messiah.

It had to be her.

Without bothering to confirm, I swung the door wide.

And there she stood, just as I suspected. Asia.

Asia marched straight into my room.

Then the scolding started.

“How, how can this be? You… you can’t read?”

Asia seemed as flustered as I felt.

Well, naturally.

If I were to fail the exam already, it would put her in a most awkward position.

To this Asia, I offered a simple, logical explanation.

“I’m a commoner.”

A commoner.

What reason would a commoner, not among the wealthy, have to learn to read?

Literacy was a symbol of nobility, of affluence.

Asia countered, her voice sharp.

“A commoner, maybe, but still Grandfather’s disciple!”

That was true.

I was a disciple of the Sword Saint.

A disciple of the late Count Messiah.

As the disciple of a noble, I should, in all likelihood, have learned to read.

But that was a false assumption.

Especially if one knew the Sword Saint.

“…That Sword Saint of yours never taught me a single letter.”

Truthfully, I had attempted to ask him once.

Back when I still called the old man, “Old geezer.”

‘Old Geezer… would you be willing to teach me to read a bit?’

‘Read? And why would you suddenly want that? Perhaps you aspire to be a scholar?’

‘No, but I will, someday, be wandering the outside world, and wouldn’t it be good to know how to read? Also… that’s right! If Hans Old Geezer, self-proclaimed… ahem! Sword Saint, his disciple being illiterate seems a bit odd, doesn’t it?’

To my question, the old geezer had replied thus.

‘Don’t you worry. If you master the sword, most complicated problems will be solved.’

‘…Is that so?’

‘Haha, yes. Let me tell you an old story. Once I met a barbarian who didn’t speak my language…’

The story he told went like this:

Even if words don’t connect, fists do. Then you can have a conversation.

With such teachings forcibly rammed down my throat, I never learned to read.

Truth be told, I also found it a bit tedious.

Even if I couldn’t write or read, I could still converse.

I figured there’d be no issue.

Such naive thoughts I held, and now, at long last, the aftershocks are reaching me.

Looking back, the old coot probably just found teaching me the script bothersome.

‘Damn old geezer….’

Asia paused, lost in thought for a moment.

Then, as if coming to a conclusion, she nodded.

Seemed she thought her grandfather was more than capable of such a thing.

Asia placed her hands on her hips and said,

“Haa…, I’ll teach you.”

“R-really?”

If I wasn’t mistaken, Asia had just said she would teach me the script.

“Of course, it’d be pushing it in the short term, but the exam’s a month away. Enough time to make something happen.”

“Thank you.”

Asia teaching me the script, huh….

Suddenly, images of the Sword Saint and Count Messiah flashed through my mind.

And their personalities, too.

People who, by any measure, were distant from scholarly pursuits.

Asia was the granddaughter and daughter of such people.

A strange unease began to well up inside me.

“Wait a second… is it possible to have someone else tutor me…?”

“No way! I don’t trust anyone else! So, I’ll teach you properly. During this remaining month!”

For some reason, Asia’s words…

Sounded to me like a harmony inviting me to hell.

.

.

.

Hell.

The past week.

I witnessed hell.

‘So tired….’

I’ve only managed three hours of sleep.

And that’s been every day for the entire week.

But why is it?

Even though I feel dazed from exhaustion, my mind remains sharp.

Having reached that level of mastery, my body is still robust as well.

But somehow, that’s what makes it so agonizing.

“Focus!”

I lost my concentration for a moment, and Asia’s scolding immediately followed.

“It’s only been a week! Don’t tell me you’re trying to slack off because you don’t want to pass the exam?”

“No, not at all. I will work hard.”

It is at times like these I truly loathe myself.

If only my mind would cloud over, or my body turn weak…

‘Then perhaps I could feign illness and rest.’

Not even a nosebleed graces me, so I can’t even pretend to be fragile. It is tormenting.

As agonizing as it is, I can’t allow myself to give up either.

Not that I ever considered giving up in the first place.

‘There’s someone out there working just as hard as I am.’

Right now, I’m only getting three hours of sleep a night.

Which means Asia, who is teaching me, is in the same predicament.

Asia too, must be getting only three hours of sleep.

‘No, that’s not right…’

She must be getting even less.

She needs time to prepare for our lessons.

In truth, Asia has changed a great deal compared to how she looked a week ago.

She tries to hide it with makeup, but it’s still visible, if only for a moment.

Dark circles, long and heavy, draped beneath her eyes.

‘Alright, focus, focus!’

If only for Asia, who is working so tirelessly for me, I must pass this exam.

I sent Asia a glance filled with gratitude.

Asia, catching my eye, said,

“…Why are you looking at me like that? Recess is still far off, so don’t look at me with that expression. I absolutely intend to keep to the scheduled break time.”

My grateful look had been reinterpreted as the gaze of a child desperate for a break.