The Peaceful Life Of A Maid Who Hides Her Power And Enjoys It - Chapter 197

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 2

Then the Swordmaster’s tightly closed eyes opened. His weary gaze lingered on my face.

“Making such admirable sounds while looking like a complete wreck. I’ll move, so you protect Sir Raphael.”

“No, I should be the one to move. The Magic Legion led by Natasha will join us soon, and my current condition isn’t particularly good.”

Since I had encountered the Swordmaster, the rendezvous point with the Magic Legion before returning to headquarters was definitely somewhere around here. But I had been swinging my sword for three straight days, and for the past half day, my mind had been half-delirious.

—Kill.

Since I didn’t know what kind of trouble might occur, it was right to move as far away from allies as possible. The miserable state of a Black Knight who had lost control… I didn’t want to show it to anyone.

“Count Andert, you are always fearless.”

“…”

“It’s a curious thing. It’s not like you follow clear convictions like Raphael Jenail. Then there’s only one answer… Do you have no attachment to living?”

“Where in the world would there be a person without attachments? I’m just a little fearless, that’s all.”

“I think I understand a bit why war veterans who’ve been through everything get restless in front of you.”

The Swordmaster, who had said something incomprehensible, stared intently into my eyes and asked.

“When the war ends, will you follow me?”

I lacked the leisure to contemplate my future.

“Your words alone are enough honor.”

I turned my back from that unwavering gaze. Strangely, my mouth tasted bitter.

After that, should I call it ironic? For someone who had risen so boldly and disappeared, the results weren’t good.

The key issue was that I had lost concentration due to not getting proper sleep for three straight days. I almost lost an arm, but fortunately, I encountered the Swordmaster on the way back and was able to prevent disaster.

Looking back, I wondered if it was really luck.

“Why don’t you just live as a cripple? I think you’d become more docile if your limbs were a bit crooked.”

“Are you serious?”

“How could I not be?”

Although I had to hear such murderous harsh words… wasn’t it something that I didn’t become a one-armed inspector?

Thus I survived once again and came to enjoy my first rest in 8 years since the war declaration at the command headquarters.

“That day, Sir Raphael reached a supreme realm difficult to attain with human flesh. In such cases, what would a mere 50m be? Surely he would notice even the presence of people beyond 500m? I truly envy you for sharing such a historic moment. Haha.”

500m? At that level, wouldn’t he be not human but just a monster?

“But what words did His Grace Duke Berkley Greytown leave you that day? Today’s question seems to be related to that as well.”

“You saw correctly.”

Could it be that Raphael’s condition that day was the state of selflessness that Count Rosebel mentioned?

It was quite a plausible hypothesis. But that state called selflessness looked extremely dangerous… Had the Swordmaster and Count Rosebel also overcome such crises without my knowledge?

Suddenly, I felt the other party’s burning gaze piercing through my features.

“Why are you scanning me with such a sinister look?”

Count Rosebel, who had been tapping his sparse beard, answered with eyes that traced the not-so-distant past.

“Count Andert, you’ve changed a lot too. It feels like yesterday when you swung your sword like a club… Even when I subtly gave guidance to you who were ignorant about swords, you were always indifferent. Haha. Yet you stubbornly survived and now comes a day when you ask for learning first like today. Time is truly mysterious. Or perhaps war is cruel.”

“Don’t speak like an old man on his deathbed.”

“I’m at an age where it wouldn’t be strange to see grandchildren soon, so what would I be if not an old man?”

He laughed heartily and asked subtly.

“How about it? Do you feel like you have some desire for swordsmanship now?”

“A little.”

“Hmm…”

Once again, tapping his beard.

“Hmm.”

And now even a gaze that was not just subtle but profound.

“Hmmm.”

What was he trying to say while taking so long? It was behavior that was unusually cautious, but rather than urging him to speak clearly, I waited quietly. Fortunately, the wait wasn’t long.

“Ahem. I’m not forcing you, but it’s a suggestion I’m making just in case. If you truly want to learn properly, under me…”

At that moment, air so cold it made my neck tingle rushed from behind.

“Deputy Knight Commander! A messenger has arrived from Jedo!”

Count Rosebel’s brow furrowed deeply at the unexpected intruder.

“Huh? Messenger or whatever, I clearly ordered not to enter without permission when I’m resting…”

“It’s a letter sent by the Countess!”

When the aide held up a pale yellow letter, slight surprise and joy appeared on Count Rosebel’s face, which had been showing displeasure.

The scar-covered commander’s hand briefly asked for my understanding as he received the crumpled letter from his aide. I watched this scene with a strange feeling.

‘A letter.’

So that time had already come.

Every winter. Secret messengers arrived at the Allied Forces’ front lines.

In the quietly arriving messenger carriages were not the Emperor’s edicts but thousands of paper envelopes. Letters that had arrived from the soldiers’ relatives.

However, since letters could only be received and replies were impossible for security reasons, the messengers returned to Jedo immediately after stopping their carriages.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

“…Hmm? It’s fine, Count Andert. I’ll read it quickly, so sit beside me and wait. It’s not even a few pages.”

“No, I’ll visit you again later. Please rest comfortably.”

Count Rosebel nodded without any particular objection to my attitude of disobeying a superior’s order.

He was probably being considerate of my situation. On a day like today, there would be no letters arriving for Andert Pager.

Sure enough, outside the barracks was already as noisy as if the war had ended.

Despite the painful defeats they had experienced, the soldiers’ gaunt faces were filled with nothing but bright smiles like flowers.

I stood blankly on the bare ground, pushing aside those busy reading letters one by one to corners. The soldiers who had unintentionally gathered in small groups shared news from home with faces that couldn’t stop smiling.

There were so many absent-minded fools that one of them even bumped into my shoulder while walking, absorbed in his letter, and fell on his bottom.

“I’m sorry, Count Andert!”

When I casually waved my hand to indicate it was fine, the man saluted and hurriedly left the spot. Such lack of military discipline.

While crossing through the center of the commotion, I suddenly recalled the faces of friends who would be in similar situations. I couldn’t help but smile.

‘I can clearly see what kind of expression they’d have.’

Natasha had surely received a letter from one of her unnamed brothers.

I think I’d heard the name a few times, but perhaps because it was an elegant name that was difficult to pronounce, befitting someone of royal birth, I would forget it after a day or two.

Natasha used to torment me quite persistently about this, for instance.

“Natasha… why do you keep bothering me? Didn’t you hear me say I remember? How could I not know the sender of the letter you’ve been receiving for 3 years…”

“Then don’t dodge it and tell me.”

“…”

“Come on, Andert. It’s the Princess’s command! Quickly state my brother’s name!”

“Ah…”

“Ah?”

“Ah… Ash… Ashcream?”

“…”

“…”

“Ah, ahaha! Ahahaha! He said Ashcream! It’s Ashneike, you know, this rude Andert! How dare you get His Highness the Prince’s name wrong? You should know I’m letting it slide because your stupid expression is cute.”

“How very gracious of you.”

“That aside, it’s absurd. You really are someone who can’t even remember names properly when you’re not interested. When on earth will you memorize my family’s names, honestly.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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