Butlerh's fist sent Michael reeling into unconsciousness.
Even though the Northern Archduke was known for his unpredictable antics from time to time...
Even the knights accustomed to his eccentricities widened their eyes in shock.
"Raise your hand if you understood the principle behind the swordsmanship this man just demonstrated."
Butlerh asked the knights as if it were no big deal.
"Swordsmanship... principle?"
"He didn't even swing his sword, though..."
"Can you even call that swordsmanship?"
"Shh, His Grace is asking."
"Still..."
The knights all shushed one another, but not a single one raised their hand.
The knights gathered in this training ground were mostly rookies or those with short careers.
Even accounting for that, Butlerh swallowed a sigh at the fact that no one had grasped Matthew's swordsmanship.
"Matthew, I'm sorry to ask, but could you show your sword once more?"
"Hmm... I can, but is it necessary?"
"I want the knights to witness your blade. Please."
"It's a humble technique, but if that's the case..."
Butlerh picked up his spear and lightly thrust it toward Matthew.
Matthew dodged it while shaking his staff.
At that moment, a dull thud echoed belatedly from Butlerh's arm.
Matthew's sword hadn't touched him, yet the impact was transmitted.
"Sorry, but could you make the aura a bit thicker to show them?"
"Ah, that's not difficult."
"Aura...? What the hell is..."
"Huh?"
"L-Look there!"
Mana began to cling to Matthew's sword, which they had thought was empty.
Simply cloaking a blade in mana was an advanced feat known as an 'Aura User.'
But the true value of his sword lay not in the aura around the blade, but in the thread-like aura unfurling around Matthew.
Three or four strands of thread-like aura extended from Matthew's sword, floating in the air.
"It's not just using aura—he draws it out thin like thread. That's this man's swordsmanship."
"Is... is that even possible?"
"I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself."
Butlerh looked down at Matthew with newfound respect.
'He should still be around my daughter's age. And yet this level of skill...'
A knight's stages are commonly divided into three.
Sword User: One who reinforces their body with mana.
Sword Expert: One who can cloak their sword in mana.
And finally, Sword Master: One who can cut or block anything, unbound by the sword itself.
Matthew had reached a considerably high realm even among Sword Experts.
He didn't stop at reinforcing his sword—he honed it thin as thread and wielded it like a weapon.
Considering that even the talented Michael was merely a Sword User, this was absurd skill.
"I'm impressed. You figured out my swordsmanship just from watching it a few times..."
"I didn't notice at first either. I had to enhance my eyesight with mana to barely make it out."
"Hahaha, so that's the trick."
"Forgive the rudeness of my knight. It must have been little more than post-meal exercise for you."
Boom!
Butlerh slammed the butt of his spear into the ground.
The force made the earth rumble faintly.
He grinned ear to ear as he gazed at Matthew.
"Well then, shall we begin the real match? I'll use aura too, so no need to hold back."
"Ah, you mean a proper spar."
"Exactly. Though I'm using a spear, as a swordsman I'd be a Sword Expert... It won't be as boring as with that last fool!!"
His roar-like shout sent shivers through everyone around.
A full-force duel between Sword Experts, no less.
Just watching with the naked eye would surely be invaluable study.
They set aside their doubts about Matthew and focused their gazes on him.
Under the weight of all their stares, Matthew—
"Sorry, but that might be impossible."
"...What?"
"Unfortunately, I've run out of mana."
Shing—click!
Matthew smoothly sheathed his sword with fluid motions.
What appeared before their eyes was not a sharp blade, but an ordinary staff.
He bowed with a refreshing smile.
"We should postpone the spar. I'd also like to do a bit of sightseeing in the North."
"Wait..."
"I'll take my leave then! Thanks for the enjoyable experience."
Matthew hurried out of the training ground as if afraid someone might stop him.
The knights could only blink at one another in confusion.
The first to move was Heckenroze.
She followed after Matthew, pondering.
'...Out of mana?'
Unlike the knights, Heckenroze had learned a bit of magic from her tutor and could tell.
The faint mana leaking from Matthew.
It wasn't much different from before the spar.
Lack of mana was just an excuse to avoid the duel.
But what on earth was the reason—
"Ah, Lady."
"...I watched your spar, Mr. Matthew."
"Heh, embarrassing. It was hardly impressive. Haha."
"I doubt anyone thinks that..."
Matthew spun his staff casually and laughed.
"More than that, I'd love to sightsee the North! Scenic views unique to here, or local culture—something like that."
A duel was already the furthest thing from his mind.
He had a pronounced my-pace temperament, oblivious to others' reactions.
If it were anyone else, people might suspect ulterior motives for wandering the North.
But...
"Sure."
"Oh ho! Thank you for graciously allowing it."
"I'll assign Ferris to you. Could you wait in the guest room?"
"Perfect! I'll wait there."
Matthew strode off triumphantly.
Heckenroze stared blankly at his retreating figure.
'If he's already reached Sword Expert at that age...'
Even children from knight families receiving elite education from youth struggled to achieve this.
Considering Imperial Academy swordsmanship freshmen were mostly Aura Users.
She couldn't even fathom how lofty a mature Sword Expert truly was.
'Father seemed quite taken with him too.'
Butlerh had a willful streak, but he admired the strong.
Honey practically dripped from the look in his eyes at Matthew.
Father clearly liked him too.
Compared to forcing a marriage hunt at the Imperial Academy—
"Oh, sorry, Lady."
"Yes?! W-What's wrong?"
Snapping back, Matthew stood before her.
"I almost got lost on the way to the guest room and came back. That was close, haha."
"..."
"Why the surprise? Is my face that scary?"
Matthew scratched the back of his head innocently.
Come to think of it, he had a history of getting lost in the mountains.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Do we really have to go just the two of us?"
"There's no one else to ask but Knight Ferris."
"Ugh..."
A moment later, Ferris appeared in the guest room with a sullen expression.
"Why are you in knight armor?"
"Because I'm a knight."
Clank.
She tapped the hilt of her sword.
Polished during her break, her armor gleamed shiny and new.
Ferris subtly puffed out her chest.
Matthew tilted his head at the sight.
"You could change into casual clothes. Armor is heavy and cumbersome, isn't it?"
"Knights don't mind that."
"And you haven't changed underneath for three days..."
"Sh-Shut up! I changed properly under the armor! You're the one wearing the same outfit!"
Matthew fiddled with his suit.
"This is special material. No need for laundry just from wearing it."
"You expect that nonsense to fly?"
"I've worn this for three days straight, and it's not dirty."
"Well... true."
As he said, Matthew's suit showed no dirt.
Thinking about it, he'd braved the North's chill in just this.
It was certainly enchanted like an artifact.
But enchantments like that would cost as much as a house.
"You... you're rich?"
"Who knows. Hard to say without knowing the bar for 'rich.'"
"That answer screams 100% rich!"
"Knight Ferris, you're making Mr. Matthew uncomfortable."
Heckenroze looked a bit worried.
She'd assigned Ferris to guide sightseeing and prevent misunderstandings.
But the two didn't seem to get along.
"Knight Ferris, don't get so heated. Part of your role is ensuring Mr. Matthew avoids weird misconceptions."
"...Understood."
"Mr. Matthew, have a safe trip. Avoid back alleys if possible."
Heckenroze straightened Matthew's collar as she spoke.
His prior duel had rumpled it slightly.
Ferris watched with an odd look.
"Miss, might be my imagination, but you seem close to Mr. Matthew."
"Cl-Close? Stop with the strange remarks."
Heckenroze flinched but kept a straight face.
It was a motion others might overlook.
But—
"Miss, you don't... have feelings for Matthew, do you?"
"..."
"Right?"?
Her partner was Ferris, her exclusive guard for years.