Chapter 318: Breakdown and Repair (6)
Physical training and magic polishing were the daily routines that I had to follow. Even if my Iron Man body slowly collapsed and the weight of my life gradually became lighter, my principles would support it. Even if my body died, I could live and move.
…But.
“…”
I looked at Julie. She approached with a calm look and asked about my swordsmanship and fighting skills.
“Spar?”
I asked briefly.
“Yes. This is the second time I’ve seen the Count’s swordsmanship.”
“Second time.”
Julie nodded.
“I saw it in the Imperial University.”
Raphael, next to her, smiled kindly.
“…She’s Yuri, a junior knight. She seems to have many questions, being an energetic knight from Freyden. By the way, what was that move just now?”
Even though he talked like that, Raphael seemed curious. It was just a warm-up for me right now, but the knights would recognize it at a glance. This move was designed to be more efficient and natural than any other swordsmanship.
I responded as I put away my sword.
“It’s just a part of my physical training.”
“It was too perfect to be just for training. The linkage and composition of movements are clear.”
Raphael intervened. I frowned.
“Don’t get me wrong. I’m not coveting it. My swordsmanship is already one with me, so even if I wanted to change it, it wouldn’t. However, your moves are famous even among knights.”
“…Famous?”
“Yes. There are quite a few people who have witnessed your physical training. At Reccordak, I saw it too.”
Reccordak. There I had broken Julie with a sword. Raphael grinned.
“But you seem to have improved from that time. Enough for me to want to compete.”
“You don’t have to.”
I cut him off and looked into Julie’s eyes for a moment. She tried to evade my gaze.
“…You’re young.”
She was young. She became young. She was not the Julie I knew. The current Julie was the one only Deculein knew. In my memory of being both Deculein and Kim Woojin, this version didn’t exist.
“Yes. She’s a young knight, and like you and me, she’s from the Imperial University.”
“…”
“By the way, Deculein. Aren’t you curious? About what Julie is doing now.”
Raphael asked. Julie was surprised. As always, it seemed that she wasn’t used to hiding herself.
“It’s been months since she went missing… people say Julie is dead, but I know she’s not. You don’t think so either, right?”
Raphael’s voice was somewhat sentimental. Was he getting old?
“Julie is alive, Deculein. Gwen and I, and all of our colleagues, believe so.”
Raphael glanced at Julie while he spoke. Right now, to Raphael, Julie was nothing more than a young knight who resembled her. Thanks to that, only Julie was restless.
Raphael smiled bitterly.
“Oh. I said something strange while introducing my junior. I guess I’m too old. Are you okay?”
“…Yes. It’s okay.”
She lowered her head, then slowly looked up into my eyes again and said.
“However, Count. I want that move. It seems like it suits me somehow, so I want to spar with you now. I want to learn from you.”
“…”
Julie was adamant. The personality displayed by Julie from the past, and the way she asserted herself, was very different from that of the distant future. Was it because there was no stain called Deculein?
“There is no need to spar, and I’ll ask the secretary to do it.”
I said. Julie’s eyes widened, and she tilted her head.
“I recorded the move.”
“Yes?”
Just as Julie said, as she felt it like an instinct, this move suited Julie more than anyone else. It was designed to fit her body from the start and even considered her mana’s nature and characteristics, personality, and habits. Therefore, it was natural to leave it as a record for her. It was just for Julie in the first place, and it was a move meant to be delivered to her.
“I’ll give it to you if you want.”
“…Is that okay?”
Julie looked genuinely surprised. Then Raphael beckoned softly.
“Junior. It’s not up to you to decide what’s okay. You just have to say thank you-“
“You don’t even need to thank me. It is useless to me since I’m a wizard.”
I interrupted Raphael.
“I’m going to have someone deliver it to you today. Don’t bother me more than this.”
I turned away, leaving the two in the garden.
* * *
“…Really? Deculein?”
The Imperial Garden. After finishing the match with Raphael, Julie ate refreshments with Lia, who appeared later.
“Yes. The Count said he would give me a record of his swordsmanship.”
“What else?”
The reason why Julie dared to take the risk of revealing her true identity and contacted Deculein was, to some extent, to reveal it.
“Nothing. He left before I could say anything.”
“Huh…”
Stroking her chin, Lia was still lost in contemplation. Since she returned from Sanctuary, she hadn’t been able to sleep, and every moment of her time had been wasted on her worrying.
“Don’t worry too much.”
Julie said.
“The Count must have a reason. The Deculein I know, of course, is a famous person, always caught in gossip, but he wasn’t someone who would destroy the continent.”
“…What if it’s true?”
“What?”
“What if Deculein had a huge change of heart and decided to do it?”
Even as she replied like that, Lia scoffed. Two of the biggest causes that led to Deculein’s apostasy — if it was — were having a conversation like this.
“We can stop him. You’re strong, Lia, aren’t you?”
“…”
Julie’s answer was simple.
“That easily?”
“It will be difficult. But there’s a way.”
“…What is it?”
“It’s a rally.”
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