The Sage that the Sword Saint is Obsessed With

29 – 9. The Witch’s Curse (2)

1.

Dawn, with the sky colored in military blue.

Lewyn grabbed her sword and headed to the training ground.

Though she felt a melancholic mood, wanting to crouch in bed all day, the training continued regularly.

Staying still only makes one feel more melancholic.

Moving the body helps to alleviate the mood.

Today, Lewyn was the first to arrive, as always.

Lewyn went to a corner of the training ground and started stretching, swinging her sword.

The basic movement is to strike from top to bottom.

Even just honing the basics greatly improves swordsmanship.

After surpassing a hundred strikes, a warm heat rose in her body.

She felt sweat drops forming on her forehead, and her shirt sticking to her back.

As she was training alone, the members gradually appeared in the training ground, making sure not to disturb Lewyn, who was concentrating on swinging her sword.

“Captain, good morning!”

A soldier approached Lewyn and saluted.

Lewyn lowered her sword and looked at the soldier.

“Yes… Good morning.”

The man with a large build and a lively impression is Bardain, one of the officers of the knights.

“Would you like me to teach you a lesson after a long time?”

Bardain politely requested a sparring session.

He was an original member who joined the Star Knights when they were merely a ceremonial unit and serving as a guard. Occasionally, he would challenge Leuen with a duel.

For Bardain, defeating Leuen with a sword was a goal he wanted to achieve before he died.

Eight years of history: 385 matches, 0 victories, 385 defeats.

Always ending in a dismal loss.

But today, an opportunity presented itself.

While it might be considered cowardly, Bardain believed that now, when Leuen’s condition was not at its best, was the only chance he had to defeat him. Even if it meant being unfair, he wanted to beat Leuen, the swordsman, and gain recognition.

The desire to be acknowledged by someone you respect is a universal human trait, isn’t it?

“Sure.”

“Thank you!”

Bardain raised his practice sword.

“Shall we begin right away?”

Leuen nodded.

“……Yes.”

Members watched in awe as the two officers prepared to spar.

It had been a long time since Leuen had sparred with someone other than Karen. For the new recruits who had recently joined, the duel between the two was a fascinating sight.

Bardain charged like a wild boar.

An intimidating speed that didn’t match his stature.

On the other hand, Leuen completely relaxed his guard, shoulders slouched.

There was no apparent will to engage in the spar.

In that state, it seemed like he would be defeated without a chance to counter.

That was the perception of the members watching the duel.

“Huaaa!”

Bardain swung his sword with a fierce spirit.

A powerful strike.

But at the moment the silvery line flashed, his momentum broke.

Leuen casually wielded his sword.

It appeared leisurely, but it was an unpredictable swordplay that couldn’t be followed with the eyes.

-Thunk-

The neck sword of Bardain was cleanly severed.

The severed neck sword cut through the air.

Naturally, it didn’t touch Leuwen at all.

Bardain, thrown off balance, stumbled forward.

“Ugh!”

Bardain lurched forward.

Leuwen thrust his sword next to Bardain’s fallen head. The blunted neck sword pierced the ground.

Another victory was chalked up.

“Hah…”

Leuwen sighed.

“I must have said it multiple times. Your movements are too predictable. Even if you’re fast, your actions are too visible. And it seems you need more swordplay training. You couldn’t block any of my attacks.”

“I didn’t know how to use the swordplay from the beginning.”

“Do you think such an excuse would work on the battlefield?”

It was foolish to think he could win, having been in a dazed state for the past week. He wasn’t just known as a formidable swordsman for no reason.

“Get up. Today, I’ll train you myself.”

Bardain opened his eyes wide and immediately stood up.

“Understood!!”

It was very rare for Leuwen to personally teach swordsmanship.

Leuwen also addressed the onlookers.

“You all, get ready. Today, I’ll instruct everyone.”

“Yes, sir!!”

They needed time to clear their minds.

2.

On the way back home after finishing morning training, heading for a shower.

Leuwen pinched his shirt with his fingers to ventilate and cool off the sweat.

It had been a long time since he had trained while sweating.

It was somewhat uncomfortable with sweat sticking to his lower chest.

But feeling the wind made him refreshed and uplifted, like coming out of a sauna.

While cooling off the sweat and heading home, Leuwen encountered Evan, who was taking a stroll.

“……”

“……”

They looked at each other in silence.

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When she thought about passing by like this, surprisingly, Evan was the first to speak.

“……Is it bothersome if I keep doing this?”

Luwen tilted her head.

Her shirt was damp with sweat.

It clung to her skin, revealing a faint reflection of her smooth, porcelain-like complexion.

In an attempt to quickly cool off the sweat, she unbuttoned a few buttons, revealing a deep cleavage.

“Uh…”

Luwen hurriedly covered her chest with both arms.

“I’m s-sorry. I’m sorry for showing you something you shouldn’t see.”

With her cheeks flushed red, Luwen bowed her head and apologized to Evan.

The charisma that just moments ago had trained her subordinates like a tiger officer was nowhere to be found.

Luwen quickly left, bowing her head and walking away.

Bowing down and assuming a submissive position, even as she lay on her stomach like a puppy, showing her chest to Evan was even more embarrassing. It was just her collarbone, but still.

“Hey.”

As she thought about quickly going home and kicking the blanket with her foot, Evan called for Luwen.

“……M-Me?”

Evan looked at Luwen intently.

Caught by his piercing blue eyes, Luwen felt herself trembling.

Should they meet gaze for gaze?

No, it’s not allowed!

But still, it’s a chance to meet Evan’s face, right?

Still, it’s not allowed!

Her two selves collided.

In the end, Luwen decided to open her eyes slightly and sneak a glimpse of Evan’s face.

“Mmm…”

She stroked her chin, covering her mouth with her hand and then repeating the motion.

What is this behavior…!

I know.

I know it well.

Evan had taken such actions when Leven had something to say.

…Even though time has passed, the old habits remain.

“…No.”

Evan turned back and continued his stroll.

He had considered talking about the incident with the cookie but decided against it. His conscience pricked, but he believed there was no need to apologize to Leven for such a matter. Besides, it would be awkward to apologize.

Anyway, they had found each other again.

It’s hard to say he completely ignored politeness.

3.

Leven, back home, created a commotion as soon as she finished showering and crawled into the blanket.

“aaah…!!”

She showed Evan a terribly embarrassing sight.

One could argue about the audacity of revealing her collarbone, but for Leven, who felt embarrassed just by wearing a skirt and was quite conservative about exposure, showing Evan her collarbone was a shameful thing.

“…What if he thinks I’m shameless?”

Of course, that wouldn’t happen.

-Bang! Bang!

Leven hit the pillow with her fist.

The pillow, instead of screaming, scattered feathers in agony.

She buried her face in the torn pillow, letting out a scream, lamenting the disgraceful sight she had shown when she should have looked better.

“Ughhh!!”

Creating a disturbance, Leven looked up at the ceiling and sprawled out.

“…Ha, hahahahaha.”

She forced a hollow laugh.

It seemed like she had something to say at the end.

Certainly, she was about to say something like, “You’re a shameless woman.”

“…I can’t deny it, though.”

Until she reunited with Evan, whenever she missed him and couldn’t bear the longing, she would imagine Evan touching her body all over. They were vulgar fantasies she could never speak aloud.

In any way, if Ebe discovers what Leven has imagined, it won’t end in contempt.

“Smart.”

Heh, heh-heh, while emitting a dry laugh and blinking his squinted eyes, someone knocked.

“Captain, are you inside?”

It was Karen’s voice.

Feeling too embarrassed about his own disgraceful state, Leven cleared his throat and spoke in a low voice.

“Just a moment, wait.”

Having jumped onto the bed right after finishing his shower, he was only in his underwear. Leven hurriedly got up and put on his uniform.

“Ha… Hoo…”

Taking a deep breath, Leven managed his expression.

Lately, he had been showing nothing but an unsightly appearance.

Now it was time to gradually pull himself together and return to the dignified appearance of a captain.

Wearing an expressionless face like a mask, Leven opened the door.

“What’s going on?”

Today, there’s no work.

There’s no meeting, and there’s no need to rush to the front lines since the war drums aren’t beating. Besides, judging by Karen’s appearance now, it didn’t seem urgent.

“There’s a guest coming from the Imperial Knights.”

“A guest? All of a sudden?”

“Probably related to the giants from last time.”

Leven stepped out of the room.

“Why? Did they bring a gift or something?”

“I heard they prepared something like a gift…”

“Well, it’s probably just alcohol. Forget about that; I hope they bring some reinforcements or help with the deployment on our side. We need to catch our breath too.”

Even though it seemed like they were taking a break, they couldn’t rest easy.

They didn’t know when the enemy might attack.

“I suggested you take a vacation.”

“I’m not going.”

Leven let out a deep sigh.

“…Where would I even go?”

There’s nowhere to go other than here.