saint ch20

Lesson (2)

Shaken by the unexpected remark, I inadvertently voiced my inner question to the Princess.

“Were… were you my bodyguard, Lady Azelia?”

Bodyguard?

Private bodyguards are forbidden within the Academy, aren’t they?

If nobles, who make up more than half the student body, all started bringing in bodyguards and attendants, how would they manage it all?

I thought it was a natural question, but the Princess looked hurt.

Don’t look so hurt!

I’m the one who should be upset!

Who would ever think that an Imperial Princess would break the rules and act as a bodyguard?

“Then, what did you think I was doing here?”

I quickly racked my brain.

There’s no way the Princess would be my personal bodyguard 24/7.

If that were the case, she would have deployed personnel from the Imperial Royal Guard.

So, rather than a real bodyguard, she needs my face and reputation while having an excuse to stick with me.

…

Is it to block others from approaching me to some extent, while also needing a public image to promote that she’s already this close to the Saint?

So, in simpler terms,

“Out of goodwill towards me?”

That must be it!

“That’s… not entirely wrong, but…”

The Princess wore a complicated expression.

Was I wrong?

“Do you find it hard to believe? I did receive a proper knighthood.”

“No! That’s not what I meant.”

The Princess, surprised by my raised voice, forgot what she was about to say and stared at me.

I’m also flustered.

Why is our partnership suddenly being tested?

Isn’t the bodyguard thing just an excuse?

Am I wrong?

“Calling it ‘bodyguard’ sounds too distant. Could we at least be senior and junior?”

The best I could come up with was some meaningless line straight out of a teen manga, like, “Business is too stiff. Can’t we start as friends?”

But considering the Princess’s position, she probably didn’t have many real friends during her school days.

Maybe it’ll work to some extent?

“Senior and junior.”

Fortunately or unfortunately, the Princess completely fell for it.

“Yes. I… I admire you a little.”

To somehow resolve this situation, I said that, and the Princess tried to suppress a smile, repeatedly clearing her throat.

“I’m glad Saint Ronan doesn’t doubt my abilities.”

I’m a little worried about the Princess falling for such words.

“Perfect timing. Now that we’re here, let’s go see the martial arts practice area. Spectating is allowed here, so there shouldn’t be any problems.”

No, martial arts is one of the fields I would never choose.

The Princess, now full of vigor, led me into the Colosseum.

The interior was larger than I expected, and there were many spectators besides the people training in the center.

“Kaliuuuuuuuuul!!”

Inside the Colosseum, Gorg, the leader of the Dwarven Order and captain of royal guard, was sending someone flying high into the sky.

…What on earth is that guy doing there?

“Was Sir Gorg invited as a martial arts instructor?”

“Not that I’m aware of…”

I asked the Princess, thinking it was unlikely, but just in case. The Princess was also staring at the arena with a bewildered expression.

“Oh, young Saint! Are you also interested in martial arts?”

The Dwarven captain of royal guard, noticing us, gestured grandly for us to come down.

No, I just want to watch for a bit and leave.

But with the captain of royal guard’s booming shout, all eyes were already on me.

Reluctantly, the Princess and I went down to the center of the arena.

“Thank you for your guidance, Sir Gorg!”

On the way down, the person who had been sent flying and crashed to the ground earlier had already gotten up and was greeting the captain of royal guard.

He’s quite old for a student, isn’t he?

Wait a minute… his position isn’t student, but…

“Hmm, you had a pretty good spirit. You could be an instructor at this ridiculously large academy.”

He is an instructor.

While I was in shock at the captain of royal guard spouting such nonsense as if it were obvious, the Princess, who had been watching the situation, intervened and steered the conversation.

“What brings you here, Sir Gorg?”

“Self-discipline and training are among the greatest virtues. The youngsters here were worthy of my respect.”

With that, the captain of royal guard thumped his chest armor.

That’s not an answer to why you’re here.

Looking around at the people besides the instructor at Gorg’s words, I saw students who hadn’t shed their childishness, covered in dirt and dust, sending admiring glances towards the captain of royal guard.

So, you’ve already been thrown into the air once.

To be able to admire someone after being subjected to that is a mindset I can’t understand.

“Sir Gorg was passing by and barged in, offering to teach us a thing or two,” the instructor standing next to her added, and the Princess made a complicated face.

“Is there a problem?”

“It’s truly appreciated that a knight of Sir Gorg’s caliber is giving us guidance, but…”

She must be worried that the future pillars of the Empire will pick up bad habits.

He’s preemptively asking if there’s a problem.

Of course, she can’t say she doesn’t trust him because he’s a holy knight, so she’ll have nothing to say.

“By the way, young Saint, what brings you here? If you want to learn martial arts, I can give you a lesson.”

While the Princess was hesitating, the captain of royal guard’s target had shifted to me.

“Lady Azelia is showing me the place she graduated from, so I’m just accompanying her. I have no intention of learning martial arts. Thank you for the offer, though.”

“Training the body also increases faith. Didn’t Orion tell you that?”

Does the Kariul Order measure faith by muscle mass?

It’s probably just the idea of a healthy mind in a healthy body, right?

“That’s true, but I have no talent for physical activities.”

“Hahaha! You’ll learn it all as you practice!”

Why is this guy so persistent?

He’s like a gym bro at a local gym trying to get a newbie to work out.

“Sir Gorg. Even if you are a knight, you can’t force your opinions on the Saint.”

The Princess intervened, sensing my distress.

I’m always getting help from you, Princess.

“Conversely, I don’t think there’s room for outsiders, especially non-believers, to interfere in matters between me and the young Saint.”

“I am currently serving as Saint Ronan’s bodyguard. Furthermore, the Imperial Family maintains unwavering faith in Orion.”

“Hmph, a Princess as a Saint’s bodyguard? Even a dog would laugh.”

The somewhat decent atmosphere cooled in an instant.

“Are you saying that I can take that as a statement disregarding the Imperial Family?”

“Can you prove to me that you have not uttered a falsehood about your faith before me?”

I don’t understand how things can escalate to a breakdown so quickly.

Isn’t having a conversation the way of thinking for intellectuals when there’s something they don’t like?

I, the only intellectual in this era, can’t understand the way of thinking of people from an era where wielding force is natural when things don’t go their way…

I wanted to escape reality, but I couldn’t ignore the fact that a fight might break out right in front of me, and one of the parties involved was the Princess.

Besides, the excuse for the fight was because of me anyway.

Wouldn’t this be the time to shout the line from the “100 Lines a Reincarnator Must Say,” “Please don’t fight because of me!”?

In reality, it seems like a battle of pride between the Empire and the Order.

“Lady Azelia. Sir Gorg. I appreciate both of your concern for my well-being, but please stop. There are many eyes watching.”

Please stop for my sake.

Aren’t you both people with social standing?

After I sugarcoated those words, the Princess seemed to flinch for a moment.

On the other hand, the captain of royal guard…

“No, young Saint. This is quite an important matter. Uttering false faith is a great sin in itself.”

This guy just has a twisted view of the Imperial Family and a fighting spirit!

In some ways, he’s worse than the Cardinals who nitpick with insidious intentions!

“I guarantee Lady Azelia’s faith. Please calm down.”

Whether it was because he had acknowledged me to some extent after our first conversation or not, the captain of royal guard, who was still treating me as a Saint, seemed somewhat shaken by those words.

“If you’re so unconvinced, test it.”

No, why…?

Just as the captain of royal guard was showing signs of calming down, despite my best efforts to defuse the situation, the Princess stepped forward again, saying those words.

“I’ve heard many stories of Sir Gorg’s martial prowess. How about testing the truth while teaching the younger generation?”

I have no idea how you can discern a person’s sincerity through fighting, but whatever part of the Princess’s words pleased the captain of royal guard.

“Good spirit! For the first time, I like the Princess!”

The captain of royal guard, suddenly in a slightly better mood, quietly clenched his fist.

“The conditions will be the same as those I was teaching earlier. I will only use unarmed combat and will not use any holy magic.”

“I will accept your guidance.”

Watching the battle lines being drawn as naturally as flowing water made my head spin, and as I was about to touch my forehead, the Princess turned her head and looked at me.

“I apologize for requesting this duel while claiming to be your bodyguard. But considering the situation, I thought this was the best course of action.”

…The Princess must have her own difficulties.

Without needing to sense her aura, I could feel her sincere apology, so I had nothing to say. Instead of making useless complaints, I assumed the prayer posture that had become a habit.

“Are you confident in your victory?”

“…It will be difficult. Sir Gorg is close to the level of a master. Even with the restrictions, he will easily defeat someone like me.”

What kind of political circumstances force you to challenge someone to a fight even when you foresee your own defeat?

This Princess is living a more difficult life than I thought.

“I said earlier that I would guarantee Lady Azelia’s faith.”

“I apologize for making your efforts futile.”

She knows.

That I tried to mediate.

“Since I am the collateral for Lady Azelia’s faith, there would be no problem in borrowing my faith, would there?”

“What exactly are you saying, Saint Ronan?”

Instead of answering, I closed my eyes and drew out the maximum Divine Power possible within a comfortable range.

Isn’t the most important thing for a cleric, besides summoning angels and wings for show, to buff the party members?

I cast a body buff using my own holy magic on the Princess, and a subtle chill began to emanate from her body.

“This is…”

The Princess herself seemed to feel something, clenching and unclenching her fists once or twice before looking at me.

“Amazing. Is this what it means to be a Saint?”

It’s just a mediocre buff.

Honestly, buffing party members is difficult to visualize, so it felt like I was just covering it with Divine Power.

It felt underwhelming compared to the Divine Power consumed, but this is the best I can do for now.

But there’s no need to say that in front of the person who received the buff.

“If you’re going to fight, shouldn’t you aim for victory?”

Whether it’s a game or a fight, you should win once you start.

There’s a saying: if you’re screwed whether you win or lose, become a screwed winner.

When I said that, the princess, who looked stunned as if she didn’t expect such words to come from my mouth, smiled slightly and took my hand.

A sudden kiss on the Sacred Imprint.

“I will repay the Saint’s faith. Certainly.”

Well, I’m glad you’re motivated, but doing that in front of so many people is a little embarrassing.

“Please step back a little.”

While I was flustered, the princess, who had risen again, turned to the captain of the royal guard and said to me.

“I think it will be a little difficult to control my strength since it’s a new sensation.”

A thought suddenly occurs to me… is the princess the protagonist of this world?

That back view, cape fluttering while delivering lines, screams protagonist.

The next moment, the princess’s figure disappeared in an instant I didn’t even perceive.

Bang!!

A tremendous roar and a strong gust of wind swept through the middle of the training ground.

“Hmm…?”

The princess, who had disappeared, reappeared in the middle of the training ground, bringing her sword down on the captain of the royal guard, who blocked the princess’s sword by raising his hands in an X shape.

I don’t understand anything.

“Just asking, is this your true strength, Princess?”

“I can say with certainty, no. I feel like I’ve become a superhuman.”

“I see… so that’s how it is…”

The captain of the royal guard seemed to glance at me for a moment, then turned his gaze back to the princess and began to smile.

No, I don’t know if you can even call that a smile.

His lips were raised as if he was overjoyed, and even his gleaming molars were exposed, which was not a beautiful sight by any stretch of the imagination.

Rather, it reminded me of a beast about to begin its hunt.

“Sorry for changing my tune so quickly, but I’ll stop holding back. I can’t let such an opportunity go to waste in the name of just testing the waters.”

Look at him, look at him, he blocked it once and immediately changed his mind because it seems stronger than he thought.

“Then are you retracting your statement about the Imperial Family?”

“Hahaha, don’t bother with such trivial things, Princess. Retract? I’ll do it as much as you want. So let’s enjoy ourselves a little. The miracle the Saint has shown.”

After finishing his words, the captain of the royal guard bent his legs slightly, spread his hands accordingly, and continued.

“Let me introduce myself again. I am Gorg, the captain of the Steel Anvil Royal Guard.”

After finishing his words, a hazy smoke began to flow from the captain of the royal guard’s body.

And his body began to expand irrationally.

The physique, which was only up to the princess’s chest as befitting a dwarf, had already passed the princess’s head and stopped only after growing to over 2 meters.

What kind of technique is that?

What is the principle behind that armor?

This fantasy world is too amazing, isn’t it?

“And I am Gorg the Pulverizer!”

With that self-introduction, the fist of the captain of the royal guard flew towards the princess.

Thud.

It was blocked by the princess’s sword with a dull noise.

The difference in size is enormous, but she blocked it.

Is the princess actually an incredible powerhouse?

“Dennis Empire’s First in Line to the Throne. Azelia Dennis.”

Such a calm voice flowed from the princess’s figure, of which I could only see the back.

“And, I am Azelia, the escort knight currently serving as the escort for Ronan, the trainee Saint of the Orion Order.”

“The Saint’s escort knight, huh. That’s a much better title than those clumsy embellishments!”

With that voice as the last, a huge storm began to rage in the training ground.