The Tale of Gerald Vader, the Heretic Knightโs Rampage Through Another World
โโฆโฆโฆโฆ..โ
โโฆโฆโฆ.โ
Twina sits seiza-style on the wooden floor beneath the bed.
Of course, she’s in her materialized form.
Her greatest misfortune seemed to be that fear didn’t affect the safety mechanism of the โExposure Talismanโ.
Beside her, naturally, I was also present.
Wait, why am I kneeling too?
The reason was Alissa, standing tall before us, her drawn โSword of Storm and Thunderโ slung over her shoulder.
What else could you call this situation but a battlefield?
โHehe, it’s been a while, Alissa. HHHH-have you been well?โ
She trembled like a Chihuahua, looking up at Alissa standing before her.
The goddess of rubbing hands and forced smiles.
Not a shred of dignity existed there.
โOf course. There’s no time to catch colds at the academy.โ
Alissa didn’t crack a smile, glaring down at our household guardian.
It was a gaze of absolute zero.
โโฆI see. Just as Father told me, it seems my brother receives extraordinary favor from Sword-Master.โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโ
Yeah, I know.
That’s sarcasm.
Incidentally, that old man was, of course, absent on castle duties.
Head Butler Tonio and the maids were all hard at work.
There was no one in this villa who could help us.
Therefore, I could only sit in seiza, nervously watching the two of them interact.
Well, if my sister started causing trouble, I’d throw myself in front of her to stop her, butโฆ
โSoโฆ Lord Swordmaker?โ
โYes!โ
โIs there anything you wish to say to me?โ
Alissa asked Twina that with the same nuance as โIs there anything you wish to say?โ.
At least, that’s how it sounded to me.
It seemed Twina picked up on that nuance too.
She desperately gestured wildly and began speaking rapidly.
“No, it’s nothing! Gerald is a young man brimming with talent. It wasn’t just about bestowing the sword; I needed to personally regulate the protection myself. Andโฆ andโฆ I wasn’t doing anything particularly shameful just now. Let’s make that perfectly clear! โฆYes!ใThis was an experiment! You see, to maintain my physical form on Earth, I need this magical artifact called the โExposure Blessingโ. Well, this talisman was actually a gift from him! How about it? Pretty, isn’t it? But this talisman is a tricky thing. Apparently, if my emotions run too high, its safety mechanism activates and stops its effect. So, to test its limits, I needed to heighten my emotions as much as possible.”
โโฆI see. So that’s why you were straddling my brother without a care for who might seeโfor the sake of this experiment of yours. Well now, what a dedicated deity you are.โ
โPyaaah!?โ
At Alissa’s quiet yet grave tone, Twina let out a small shriek.
โโThump, thump.
My elder sister looked down at Twina while tapping her own shoulder with the greatsword she carried.
The sound was very faintโฆ but with each tap, Twina’s shoulder twitched and jerked slightly.
Perhaps to her, that sound echoed like the blade of a guillotine falling.
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆWell, never mind.โ
After a long, long silence.
Alissa, deep wrinkles etched between her brows, spoke those words.
โโฆโฆโฆโฆHuh?โ
โI said never mind.โ
With that, Alissa sheathed her sword.
โI’m not the sort of woman to interfere in the relationship between my own brother and Swordmaker-sama, if that is his choice. I believe I possess at least that much understanding.โ
โThenโฆ!โ
A glimmer of hope lit up Twina’s previously terrified face.
Glancing at her, Alissa continued, โButโ.
โAs Lord Swordmaker surely knows, my brother is to enter the Royal Knight Academy this spring. That means he’s currently pouring all his energy into his studies and training. Am I right, Gerald?โ
โWell, yesโฆ that’s correct.โ
I nodded.
Alissa was right; the studies and training for Knight Academy admission were entering their final stretch.
It’s true zi take breaks to play with Twina (nothing scandalous, mind you) or go out on the town with Noraโฆ but beyond that, my days are completely consumed by study and training.
Of course, this is all with an eye toward life after enrollment.
As a premise, the Knight Academy essentially requires the sons and daughters of the kingdom’s nobles and knights to enroll.
But the Knight Academy isn’t just any schoolโit’s a military academy in wartime.
In other words, admission doesn’t guarantee a cushy life. Even the highest nobles face rigorous training and advanced education.
On top of that, there’s an exam immediately after enrollment. Results determine class placement based on performance.
This class placement is crucial.
Those placed in higher classes are assigned to relatively rearward positions, like fortresses or logistical support, while lower-ranked graduates are sent straight to the front lines.
Of course, considering โhistorical factsโ, it’s absolutely not true that the former path guarantees safety or a secure future.
Still, it’s likely a better future than being thrown immediately into the front lines to clash head-on with demons and monsters.
After all, even with divine protection, I’m still just an ordinary person.
While I do possess the โGod-Slaying Swordโ as insurance, I have no desire to actively seek glory on the front lines and become a heroโฆ
That role belongs to the story’s protagonist and the named characters surrounding him.
For me to usurp such a major role and take center stage would be utterly presumptuous.
Of course, I wouldn’t force that role onto someone like Nora who’s already been drawn into itโฆ
โTherefore,โ
Alissa crossed her arms, shifting her gaze between me and Twina.
โAt such a crucial time, you two shouldn’t be sneaking around and flirting. Right, Gerald? Swordmaker-sama?โ
โY-Yes, Sister!โ
โOOOOOOf course I am!โ
Glared at fiercely, I answered energetically, while Twina beside me nodded repeatedly like a woodpecker.
Of course, even without Alissa saying it, we spend most of our time studying and trainingโฆ but I didn’t want to argue here and get another lecture.
I’m a knight, so I can read the room.
โHmm, good to know. โฆAnd, Swordmaker-sama.โ
โW-what is it?โ
“Considering both Father’s words and this recent incident, it seems you’re still rather naive about the ways of the world. As a bestower of โBlessings,โ you might be suitable as my brother’s โpartner,โ but to become โfamilyโ of the Knight House, your training is still far from sufficient. โฆThereforeโ”
Alissa paused there, fixing her gaze firmly on Twina.
โYou too shall be โenrolledโ into the Royal Capital Knight Academy. To become a woman of knightly lineage worthy of being my brother’s companion. I will not tolerate any objections.โ