Chapter 11: Regeneration (3)

Turbok-turbok.

A woman, who was always ready to strike at any moment, appeared, walking leisurely.

She merely had a single sword at her waist, without any other weapons. If her skin wasn’t made of stone, the arrow I was aiming could pierce through flesh.

Yet, she showed an unguarded vulnerability, as if to say she wanted me to shoot an arrow at her if I were going to do something pointless.

With her relaxed demeanor, I became even more curious about what she might be hiding.

“Step back.”

“…Yes?”

“Isn’t it the case that a woman should protect a man in situations like this?”

Shione stepped forward on her own.

“Moreover, that person has sworn loyalty to Sianella, so she’s not the kind of scoundrel you’re thinking of. You can rest assured.”

“Is that so?”

“Have you not heard of Sir Diolia of the Sianella family?”

“I have heard of him. However, since I was with you every day, I have never seen his face.”

Diolia? If it’s Diolia…

He was a knight who had reached the sword expert level of the Sianella family.

Despite having had the opportunity to join the royal guards, he chose to serve as a knight of the Sianella family and was quite favored by the head of the family, Ainel Sianella.

Moreover, he was known for his excellent conduct, so sometimes I even heard praises about him.

“Look closely now and memorize her face. For now, lower your bow.”

“…Understood.”

I lowered the bow I had aimed at her.

As I released the tension I had been holding while pulling the string, I retrieved the arrow.

At least, as a knight who had dedicated my sword to Sianella, I would not strike at Shione, who bore the direct bloodline of the lord here.

Of course, I was a bit scared to aim my bow at a knight who was an actual sword expert, and my heart was racing…

Fortunately, she didn’t seem at all inclined to find fault with me for that.

On the contrary, she seemed surprised as if she never expected to see Shione Sianella at the shooting range.

“……Sir Diolia, what brings you to the shooting range at this early hour?”

The expert knight bowed gracefully to Shione and spoke.

“There have been strange rumors circulating among those training here recently, so I came to verify them today.”

“Rumors, you say?”

“They say that the positions of the bows change daily, that the number of arrows has decreased, or that one or two arrows have fallen to the ground. They whisper that it’s because a ghost appears at night.”

“Hmm… I thought I had cleaned everything properly. It seems I can’t underestimate the keen eyes of those who come every day.”

“They are like hawks, watching for distant prey.”

Despite taking care of the clean-up every day, it seemed someone had noticed that someone was coming and going after a month.

I never expected the rumors about ghosts would spread.

“Do I look like a ghost?”

Diolia shook her head.

“How could Lady Shione Sianella possibly look like a ghost?”

“I have been holed up in my room like a lingering spirit.”

“Haha…”

Diolia chuckled awkwardly.

Perhaps finding Diolia’s reaction amusing, Shione’s expression softened.

“Since Sir Diolia has personally verified the reason today, I hope you can tell them well so that the rumors do not get misrepresented.”

“It has been quite a while since the rumors began… How about you personally come forward to clarify that it is thanks to you rising early every morning to practice?”

Shione’s head shook back and forth.

From her deliberately small smile, a hint of self-deprecation could be seen.

“Even if I were to bring it up myself, would they really believe it? It would be much more convincing if you told them instead.”

“That is…”

Diolia seemed unable to respond to Shione’s words.

It was obvious that Shione knew her own evaluation well. Even though my master had lived as a hermit until now, she was not someone who would ignore others’ voices enough not to hear her own criticism. It would be strange to say she had never heard her own criticisms or current reputation when her ears were perfectly fine.

Seeing Diolia seemingly unable to respond easily, I decided to step in here.

“Then shouldn’t we make it so they can believe Lady Shione’s words?”

The gazes of Shione and Diolia were solely focused on me.

Shione began to concentrate on my words as if she were accustomed to it.

Diolia quietly observed, intrigued by the sudden interest of the previously unknown attendant in the conversation.

“What we need to inform them is simply that Lady Shione has been practicing with the bow for just over a month. So, if we approach them first and show them that Lady Shione has been practicing all this time and continues to do so, they will have no choice but to believe it, even if they don’t want to.”

“Are you saying I should reveal what I’ve done to them?”

Hearing something with their ears and seeing its reality with their own eyes— which one would Lady Shione trust more? Let alone the rumors that had spread…

A scarecrow with arrows stuck in it like a porcupine.

It was clear to anyone that most of the arrows were embedded in vital spots; no one could achieve that in just a day or two.

“Isn’t the morning a bit short on time? Moreover, with that level of skill, they would have to acknowledge that Lady Shione’s words are indeed true.”

“But…”

“You don’t have to reveal it right now. Just remember to not hesitate when you think the time has come to show yourself.”

“…Understood.”

Honestly, the reason I brought this up was partly to defend Shione, but I also had my own personal desire mixed in.

Damn… How long do I have to keep waking up at this crack of dawn to go back and forth to the shooting range…

If I could come to the shooting range during the day, then I could shoot at a more reasonable hour instead of this early morning time.

I want to be able to wake up after the sun has risen, too.

Fortunately, Shione seemed to be pondering over my words.

Meanwhile, Diolia, who had been tapping the hilt of her sword with her finger as if she found our conversation interesting, met my gaze.

Diolia was an impressive knight with long black hair that resembled the clear night sky and cold, deep eyes.

She smiled slightly and asked, “I heard that the head of the family has given Lady Shione a new personal attendant, and it seems that’s you. So, how long has Lady Shione been practicing her archery here?”

“About a month now.”

“Every day?”

“Thanks to Lady Shione’s interest, I come out to practice at this time every day.”

As she was someone with almost no connections to other people… it was hard to believe that it was you who taught her archery…

Diolia cast a sideways glance at a scarecrow, the first one I had shot at today. The arrows, each embedded in places that would cause fatal wounds if hit, were proof of my archery skills.

“It was probably not long after you arrived that Lady Shione began to hold the bow, right?”

I quietly nodded in agreement.

Then, an unexpected voice broke in.

“Thank you.”

“…Yes?”

“Once again, I see the old vigor returning to Lady Shione’s eyes, which had been fading. It’s as if she has finally returned to square one. All of this is thanks to you, isn’t it?”

“That—”

Seeing me flustered, she quickly continued to speak as if to finish her thoughts.

“As someone who taught her swordsmanship, I could not bring myself to stop her from putting down her sword. I sincerely hope you will guide Lady Shione well, even if she does decide to retire.”

Diolia bowed her head to me.

I quickly waved my hands.

“…Please raise your head. I can’t handle this.”

It felt as though my insides were falling apart from sincerity.

A sword expert, and a knight at that—at the very least, she must be a noble of some standing. It doesn’t make sense for such a person to bow their head to someone as lowly as me.

If someone were to see this, it would feel like I was being dragged off to an unknown place and would be beaten to death the next day.

Damn… How did I become so overly sensitive about someone bowing their head to me? It seems I know my place too well. I wonder if I’ll be able to live with how tired I feel.

“Haha, what are you so afraid of? Just a moment ago, you had your bow aimed at me! Rest assured, I won’t eat you.”

Diolia placed her hand on my shoulder.

Tap, tap.

She gently patted my shoulder and whispered.

“The head of the family appointed you as Lady Shione’s attendant because of your exceptional archery skills, of course. But if you go towards the Sianella family… be careful, as they won’t hesitate to take your head.”

“…Understood.”

Is this what it feels like to be under pressure from someone so far above me?

I never even thought about it in the first place.

My heart raced wildly under the inexplicable pressure directed at me.

Diolenna smiled, seemingly relieved now that she saw my reaction.

It took quite some time for my heart to stabilize.

The sun was high in the sky.

As usual, Shione had just finished her morning exercise and was taking a short break.

Under normal circumstances, this would be the time for her to complain about wanting to bury herself in her bed, but this time, she hesitated for a moment while sitting up and began to stare at me intently.

She was staring at me so intensely that it felt as though she might pierce right through me.

Even though she held the position of a personal attendant, she was still of a slave’s status.

What does she intend to do if I get pierced and have nothing left but my body?

Reluctantly, I responded to her gaze.

“Do you have something to say?”

Only then did she seem to gather her resolve, regaining her composure from her earlier uncertainty.

“I think I will go outside.”

“Are you saying you want to go out right now without resting?”

“I’m getting bored just staying in this room now.”

“Really?”

“Would I lie about that?”

What’s gotten into her? Is she actually suggesting going out during broad daylight?

Except for the time she went to see the flowers in the garden, I’ve never seen her attempt to go out on her own at this hour.

Could it be because of what was said this morning?

Before she could change her mind, I quickly followed her as she headed for the door.

“Are you planning to go to the garden?”

Shione shook her head.

“I’ve been spending less time shooting as exercise,” she said.

“So you’re planning to go to the shooting range?”

“…Lady Shione.”

She stopped in her tracks and turned toward me.

“You don’t have to force yourself.”

Startled, she flinched slightly at my words and then smiled softly.

Her smile, complemented by her silver hair shimmering in the sunlight, was the most beautiful one I had seen from her so far.

“I told you not to hesitate when the time came for me to reveal myself. So as I thought about it slowly, one thing came to mind.”

“It’s not that the time comes when my archery skills and appearance are enough to avoid mockery, but rather, it comes when I resolve to do so.”

“Upon further reflection, I feel that today is the day they will start seeing who I really am. What do you think?”

With her former self gone, Shione had become capable of saying such things.

It was hard to believe that the Shione I knew would say something like this.

I couldn’t help but nod in approval, feeling a sense of pride and admiration.

The old, awkward Shione had disappeared, replaced by my now competent master.

“Very well. I think this is indeed a sufficient time.”

Now, as she transforms internally, I would soon be able to boast about Shione.

Of course, I had put in the effort to create that Shione.

Shione and I shared a laugh.

Now, the only ones left to scrutinize us would be the archers under her command, who were higher-ranking than me.