"Huff..."
Rimmer deflected the spatial sword Sif had fired, exhaling a white breath. Just blocking the sword made his arm ache as if struck by iron, and a pain like his insides were being turned inside out arose.
"Are you going to keep blocking that?"
Sif looked down at Rimmer and clicked his tongue briefly.
"Wouldn't it be easier to dodge?"
He shrugged as if to say, why are you just standing there taking hits?
"Damn, you really are a bastard."
Rimmer gritted his teeth as he wiped the blood flowing from his mouth with his sleeve.
"Why? Even injured, someone of your caliber could easily dodge."
Sif shook his head as if he didn't understand.
"Ah, could it be because of those useless lumps behind you?"
He pointed his slender finger at Dorian and Alice behind Rimmer.
"They're both useless, aren't they? One is completely worthless vermin, and Mother is giving me strength just by being in this space."
Sif waved his hand from side to side with his chin raised.
"Just abandon them. Let's make this easier."
He aimed his cursed blacksword again, as if saying let's have a proper fight.
"You talk big."
Rimmer sneered as he spat out the blood pooled in his mouth.
"While just firing spatial swords in this direction."
Sif was only launching slashes towards Alice and Dorian, not in the direction he was moving. Seeing him prattle on like this after exploiting a weakness made Rimmer want to slit his throat.
"Then keep blocking."
Sif slowly swung his cursed blacksword, curling up the corners of his mouth. The sword moved slowly, but the slash he unleashed appeared right in front of Rimmer, revealing a chilling killing intent. Rimmer twisted his leaf sword diagonally to deflect Sif's spatial sword to the lower left.
The ground struck by Sif's slash was carved so deeply it couldn't be seen, and the cavern shook as if it would collapse.
'This isn't easy.'
From blocking Sif's full-power spatial slashes earlier, cracks had formed in the artificial arm attached to his right shoulder, preventing his hand from moving properly. His internal injuries had also worsened, so his artificial energy center wasn't functioning at full capacity either. It was the worst possible situation.
"V-Vice Leader..."
Dorian's lips trembled, his face covered in tears.
"It's alright. I've been through much worse than this."
Rimmer smiled faintly and nodded slightly.
'That's right. I've been through much worse.'
Unlike his reputation as a genius, he had actually experienced many defeats.
'When was my first defeat...'
Rimmer opened his hazy eyes as he watched another of Sif's spatial swords shooting towards him.
'Ah yes. It was that man...'
* * *
Back when I wasn't much different from other elves. A human guest had visited Sepia after a long time.
"Among the humans who entered the sacred land today, there's a direct descendant of the Zieghart family. Glenn Zieghart. They say he's the son of the current head of house."
Erian swallowed dryly as he said the man's eyes were different from other humans.
"Different, you say..."
For Erian, who had no interest in other races, to speak like that - I became curious about what kind of human this was, so I decided to go see for myself. As I waited in front of Grandfather's house, it wasn't long before the wooden door opened and a man with dazzling golden hair like sunlight illuminating the forest walked out.
Despite his young age, I could already sense the completed aura of a martial artist. Just as I was thinking how fierce he seemed, as Erian had said, his gaze turned towards me.
Calm, deep red eyes. As I met those eyes that seemed like they wouldn't waver even in turbulent waters, a competitive spirit I didn't know I had welled up inside me. I became curious. Normally I would have ignored it and focused on my own business, but I wanted to experience the sense of presence emanating from that man through martial prowess.
In the quiet evening hours when the forest grew still, I went to Glenn's lodgings and knocked on the door.
"What is it?"
Despite his young age at the time, Glenn spoke like an old man. Looking back now, it was quite amusing.
"I am Rimmer, Guardian of Sepia."
At that time, as the grandson of the Guardian and a Guardian of Sepia myself, I introduced myself as politely as possible.
"May I request a sparring match?"
"Very well."
Glenn nodded without the slightest hesitation. I had been told I was talented since childhood, and there were even rumors that I might succeed my grandfather as Guardian, so I was fairly confident. However, before we had exchanged more than a few sword strikes, I was on my knees in the dirt. It was a perfect defeat with no room for excuses.
"It was a good match."
Glenn went back into his lodgings without breaking a sweat. I was stunned. It felt like my entire understanding of swordsmanship had been shattered. Even after returning home and lying in bed, eating meals, or standing guard outside, Glenn's overwhelming swordsmanship kept flashing through my mind. I wanted to see him again, to fight him again.
The next evening, I went back to Glenn and requested another sparring match.
"Very well."
Glenn accepted the match so readily it was almost ridiculous. But I lost again. And the next day, and the day after that, over and over. After agonizing for days with my head in my hands, on the day Glenn was set to leave Sepia, I followed him without looking back.
'The Head of House's face was quite a sight to see.'
These days I often see Glenn's surprised expression because of Raon, but that was the first time I'd seen him look shocked. Glenn must have been impressed by my determination and initiative, because he immediately put me in charge of the vanguard. Of course, there were those who opposed it.
"The vanguard? What makes you trust someone you've just met?"
Sheryl. That sharp-tongued woman with a pretty face voiced her complaints from the moment she first met me.
"He may look the part, but he doesn't have the face of someone who can actually get things done!"
She furrowed her brow with an expression not much different from how she looks now.
"...What a noisy human."
Those were the first words I said to Sheryl.
"What?"
"Instead of talking, why don't you prove it with your sword?"
Disliking being dismissed, I immediately issued a challenge to Sheryl. And damn it all, I lost...
"From now on, crawl on the ground in front of me. Don't even think about taking charge of the vanguard."
Sheryl snorted and left the training grounds. It was only later that I realized Sheryl had been treating me as an equal person, not just an elf, from that moment on. She was deeply considerate, but with a nasty temper.
"You lack sparring experience."
Glenn smiled slightly, saying it was a problem that could be solved with time and effort.
"Spar with Sheryl once a day."
As he said, I went to Sheryl every day to request a match, and lost every time.
But as Glenn had said, lack of sparring experience seemed to be the issue, as I slowly began to catch up. About six months later, I defeated Sheryl for the first time.
"You..."
Sheryl sniffled as if frustrated, then fled the training grounds without even wiping away the tears that had formed in her eyes.
"I'll see you later. I definitely won't lose tomorrow!"
It was cute. I hadn't known that the human who had been so critical could show such a side.
"Now you're ready to lead the vanguard."
Glenn patted my shoulder as if to say well done. More than the sense of achievement at growing stronger, I felt a warmth in my chest. Though I still didn't understand humans well, it felt like I had gained a new family. The very next day, Glenn sent the swordsmen who would be under my command.
"It's a pleasure to meet you! I'm Slan!"
A cheerful-looking man with a good impression bowed his head.
"Yuser..."
A gaunt woman with dark circles under her eyes only stated her name while turning her head slightly.
"I am Kureo Zieghart."
A young man who looked to be in his mid-twenties greeted me with excessive politeness.
"I'm Drevin. Leave anything related to money to me."
A middle-aged man with a bit more bulk than most swordsmen smiled and extended his hand. Unlike the elves who all looked similar no matter who you looked at, each of these humans was brimming with individuality. However, unlike with Glenn and Sheryl, building relationships with them wasn't easy.
Superior and subordinate. We spent over 10 years in a relationship of nothing more or less than giving and receiving instructions and orders.
Fortunately, we worked well together since we had been together even after Glenn became head of house, and we never failed a single mission. As always, when we received a solo mission for the vanguard and were camping before reaching the site, Slan broke the silence.
"Leader, do you have any dreams?"
Slan tilted his head curiously as he looked at me.
"...I'm not sure."
At that time, I didn't really have anything I would call a dream. Reaching transcendence was more of a goal than a dream, and Glenn had become head of house on his own without much help from me.
"Then shall I tell you about mine?"
Slan smiled and leaned forward towards the campfire.
"I wish there were no more poor children. So I donate a small amount of money."
He said he was donating his salary to orphanages and childcare centers, hoping there wouldn't be children struggling to grow up like he had.
"Small amount? You're giving away everything you earn!"
Drevin snorted as he looked at Slan.
"That's better than just hoarding money like you do."
Slan frowned at Drevin.
"Why do you save money?"
Having never felt any value in money myself, I was genuinely curious.
"Because money is power. Those who have it don't understand. How hellish life is without money..."
Drevin said his dream was to become the richest man on the continent, waving his arms as he explained how poor he had been as a child.
"I want to gamble to my heart's content!"
Kureo, a direct descendant of the Zieghart family, licked his lips and rubbed his hands together.
"The thrill of the cards is something even battle can't satisfy."
He said he was looking forward to visiting the gambling den after we returned, licking his lips again.
"But you always lose."
"Winning and losing isn't what's important. It's the tension that feels good!"
Kureo laughed, saying gambling itself made him feel alive.
"That's because you're rich. Gambling is fun because you have money."
Drevin frowned as if he didn't like Kureo.
"Yuser. What about you?"
Slan looked at Yuser, who had already started dozing off.
"I just want to sleep..."
Yuser shook her head slightly, barely lifting her eyelids.
"My dream is to be born as a rock and sleep forever..."
She mumbled that she wanted to dream even while dreaming.
"Actually... I'd like to raise some kids too."
Slan smiled softly as he gazed into the campfire.
"You mean get married and have children?"
Kureo clicked his tongue, saying that was ordinary.
"No, I want to become a master. Not just an instructor, but a true master."
Slan smiled faintly as he looked at Rimmer.
"I want to raise children to become excellent swordsmen, caring for them in detail like you do for us, Leader."
"I see..."
Honestly, I didn't understand. Donations, material desires, gambling, laziness. They were all values that had nothing to do with me.
I felt that even after 10 years, I hadn't been able to close the distance with my subordinates.
"Leader, after this mission is over, would you like to come to the orphanage with me? The children love handsome people, so I'm sure you'll be welcomed."
"Forget boring places like orphanages, come to the gambling den with me! I'll treat you to the full course!"
Slan and Kureo waved their hands, inviting me to the orphanage and gambling den.
"Instead of that, leave your money with me. I'll double it for you in a year."
Drevin rubbed his hands together, talking about money even in this situation.
"..."
Yuser had fallen asleep, snoring softly as if she had no interest in anything.
"If I have the chance."
Though I said that, it was a time when dozens of battles were happening every day, so it was difficult to find time outside of missions. Several more years passed like that, and my subordinates and I went to war against the Holy Sword Alliance alongside Glenn. That day that I thought would always be the same.
That day when Slan looked at photos of orphanage children, Yuser lazed about in her sleeping bag, Kureo fiddled with cards, and Drevin counted money as always.
All of my men died, and I suffered injuries that should have killed me, with my energy center shattered. When I regained consciousness, I was in Zieghart territory, and not even the bodies of my subordinates remained. For elves, the death of others isn't such a sad thing. The dead become mana of this world, and we meet again.
But perhaps because my soul had melded with a human life, my insides felt stabbed and my chest ached.
While I was living like a shut-in, staying holed up in my room, Sheryl broke down the door to my quarters and barged in.
"Ugh! Look at all this dust!"
Sheryl glared at me while waving her hand as if disgusted by the filth.
"Hey! Get out so I can clean!"
Without saying anything else, she kicked me out, saying she was going to clean. I stumbled out of my quarters on unsteady legs. Walking aimlessly, I found myself in the bustling district, where I saw a flashy sign. It was the gambling den Kureo had often talked about visiting. I entered with the single gold coin left in my pocket.
I lost it all on the first bet. Kureo had said the thrill of the cards was good, but I felt nothing. I didn't understand why people did this. The next day, I went to the bank to look at the money I had saved up until now. Gold coins piled like mountains in my account. Drevin would have been delighted, but I felt nothing.
Taking 100 gold coins, I went to the orphanage Slan had said he regularly donated to.
Some children were standing on tiptoes, peering over the wall. Not knowing of Slan's death, they seemed to be still waiting for him. When dawn came, I left the gold coins and a letter that looked like it was from Slan before returning. The children were happy, but my heart remained unmoved.
Finally, I entered the room Sheryl had cleaned and tried sleeping for days like Yuser.
No matter how hard I tried, sleep wouldn't come, and my eyes opened on their own in the morning. Donations, laziness, money, gambling. None of it resonated with me. I was still on a parallel track with those guys. Yet I repeated those actions every day. Looking at money, making donations, gambling, sleeping like the dead.
When did it start? I began to feel good seeing the piles of money, my heart raced when the cards were dealt at the gambling table, I felt proud seeing the children's faces when donating, and the more I slept, the happier I became. The day I changed from an elf to a person. The day I became able to comfort my subordinates.
For the first time, tears flowed. And I remembered Slan's last words.
'He said he wanted to become a true master, not just an instructor.'
Slan had said he wanted to become a true master, as if he had realized something by looking at me. After a very long time, I put on my formal attire and went to Glenn, saying I wanted to become an instructor.
"...It took you a long time too."
Glenn gave a bitter smile, as if he had been waiting for a long time. That wasn't just meant for me.
"But an instructor? I can't give the position of Zieghart instructor to someone with no qualifications. Pass the test yourself and earn the qualification."
He said he wouldn't make exceptions for an old comrade, and told me to take the test and come back. Unlike the time when he had fallen into darkness and was indifferent to everything, Glenn had completely emerged from his mental world.
"Hmph."
Sheryl snorted as if I was pathetic, but couldn't hide the welcoming look in her eyes.
"Very well."
I barely passed the disgustingly difficult test Glenn had set and earned the qualification of instructor. And like Glenn who had visited Sepia, I met a child with unusually sparkling red eyes. That was my new beginning, and my greatest happiness.
* * *
Rimmer bit his lip as he felt a twisting sensation in his wrist.
"Ah..."
Had he blacked out for a moment? The pain from his internal injuries seemed to have made him lose consciousness for an instant.
"Where are you looking? You need to keep blocking. Otherwise..."
Sif fired a spatial sword towards Dorian behind him, raising his chin. Rimmer pulled back his legs that wouldn't move properly and deflected the slash aimed at Dorian's neck.
"Huff..."
As Rimmer exhaled to prepare for the next attack, Sif burst out of a spatial rift and plunged his cursed blacksword into Rimmer's chest.
"Gah!"
Rimmer coughed up blood and hunched over.
'Damn it...'
His reaction was too slow. He could feel the cursed blacksword piercing his flesh and crushing bone. A scream erupted from deep inside as he felt his soul being torn apart.
"See? This is what happens when you try to protect vermin."
Sif threw a deep sneer at Rimmer.
"They'll die anyway once you're dead."
"No..."
Rimmer raised his left hand to grasp the cursed blacksword piercing his chest.
"As long as I'm alive, my disciple will live. That's enough."
"...You still have this much strength?"
Sif let out a hollow laugh as he looked at his cursed blacksword, unable to pull free from Rimmer's left hand.
"Vice Leader!"
Dorian cried out and rushed forward. He drew his sword and swung it at Sif's neck while carrying Alice on his back. Dorian's strike was sharper than his usual level, but it melted away like mist without penetrating Sif's aura.
"You trash!"
Sif kicked Dorian away with all his might, displeased.
"Ugh!"
Dorian coughed up blood as he fell, but he tried to get up again and charge at Sif.
'That kid too...'
Rimmer's lips trembled faintly as he looked at Dorian, who had forgotten his fear.
'He's grown so much.'
The Dorian he knew should have been cowering in a corner even in this situation, but to think he would charge at a Transcendent Warrior - it gave him a little strength.
"I'll kill you first!"
Sif pulled out his cursed blacksword and gripped it in his right hand as if to deliver a killing blow.
"Where do you think you're going?"
But Rimmer refused to let go of the cursed blacksword that had pierced his chest, as if he would never release it.
"You crazy bastard!"
As he took Sif's punches with his bare body, Rimmer moved his creaking right arm. The sacred artifact of Sepia seemed to grant his final wish, raising a grand wind that threatened to push back the darkness.
"What is this!"
Sif cried out in shock and lowered his left hand. It seemed he was trying to defend using Alice's aura.
'But I'm still going.'
Strength flooded his entire body as if his lost freedom had returned. Gripping the sword short, he pointed his fingertips. Wrapping the wind of Garunua he had built up and the Gale Wind Style Raon had passed on, he thrust his sword. The wall of distorted aura shattered with a blue-green light, and a deep sword wound was carved into Sif's chest.
"Haa..."
But now he truly seemed to have used up all his strength, unable to hold onto his sword.
"You vermin!"
Unable to contain himself, Sif struck Rimmer's abdomen with the cursed blacksword still embedded. Rimmer felt death drawing near. Even so, he did not release his grip on the cursed blacksword's blade with his left hand. Even if he ended here, he had to protect his disciple and that child's family at least. Though his knees shook and his teeth clenched in pain, he endured.
But there seemed to be a limit even to willpower, as the strength finally left his hand and his vision began to turn white. He had no regrets about this fight. Not reaching transcendence, getting injured while protecting others - it was all fine.
Only that he could no longer protect Dorian, and that he was leaving without seeing Raon and the other children's faces one last time - a faint sigh escaped at those regrets.
"You stubborn bastard! Fine! I won't just kill you!"
Though Sif could kill him right now, he pushed his aura into the cursed blacksword as if to inflict even greater pain. The agony of bone and flesh being torn apart brought Rimmer back to his senses. There was nothing he could do.
Just as he exhaled a blood-tinged breath while waiting for death, space split open and a winged human burst out, spewing blood.
Following close behind, a familiar flame cut through space, and Raon and the Light Wind division children appeared.
"As expected of Raon Zieghart. But you're a little late."
At Sif's mocking words, Raon and the children turned around. The turbulent emotions in the children's eyes as they saw his state pierced Rimmer's heart painfully. There was no need for such expressions. The reason he had lived until now, the reason he had endured with false arms and a false energy center, was all for their sake.
You made me live as a person once again. Ah. He could feel the time given to him running out. What should he say? Should he ask them to brutally kill this unfilial bastard? Should he tell them to pass on a message to Glenn to finally be honest?
Should he ask Raon to become the finest head of house, though he wouldn't be able to see it? His disciples would be able to fulfill any request. But he didn't want to burden the already struggling children with such heavy words. Then the answer was clear.
"Always..."
Rimmer swallowed the blood rising in his throat and smiled. He didn't want his disciples to remember his last face as distorted.
"Be happy."
With the brightest smile of his life, he bid his final farewell. My young king. No, my greatest disciples.