Common Sense of a Warrior Chapter 13

Just a heads up, but this chapter is pretty much Chapter 10 from the previous version.

“Melly, I have something to talk to you about. Come to my study.”

After finishing my warm-up exercises plus my training to improve physical strength, father said that to me.

Just what kind of business he has with me, I wonder?

While harbouring such a doubt, I headed towards father’s study.

It has been a while since I last walked inside of the mansion during the afternoon of such a sunny day.

After all, other than on rainy days I was basically outside doing independent practice or training, and on rainy days I was also in the indoor training arena doing some sort of training.

Full-blown training was done twice to thrice a week.

On the other days, father was also busy, so I did independent practice on my own.

From morning to evening, there were plenty of things to do – from basic strengthening, to reaffirming the stances, and various other tasks.

Although I had previously been training together with elder brother, lately after finishing with the usual training, he has been holing up in his room studying.

It seems that on top of studying the many topics he had to learn as the next Head of the House, elder brother was also studying battle tactics.

When I asked him not to work so hard to the point of collapse, I was told, “You too”, as he gave a troubled laugh while pointing at my wounds.

Ever since mother died, all of us have been like this.

It was as if a part of our hearts had frozen over.

And in order to cover that up, we each threw ourselves into doing something.

……for me that something was training.

Just how long has it been since I last smiled from the bottom of my heart?

Even as time passed since the loss of mother, none of our wounds healed, and we continued to carry them. Not only that, but it was as if they had begun to slowly fester.

When I went to the study, father was making a stern face.

“……I have made you wait, father.”

“No, it’s fine. Sorry for bothering you while you were training.”

“No…….what business might you have with me?”

“Umu…….I was thinking of giving this to you.”

What he passed me after saying that, was a sword.

It was slightly slender, but upon examining it, one could see that it was unlike the dulled blades of training swords. One could feel a certain weight in its pointed tip.

Carved on the handle of it was the crest of the Marquis house.

“This sword is……”

“It’s something I had ordered for you…….can you become someone worthy of wielding this sword?”

Father’s sharp gaze shot through me.

A chill rushed through me, and something cold began to run down my spine.

Unlike the swords that I had used up until now for training, this was something for causing harm to others.

He was likely asking whether or not I had the resolution to wield something like that.

……however, what of it.

What I have been learning up until now, no matter what kind of pretty words you try to use to describe it, was something for hurting other people.

“……if it’s father, then you have probably already realized, but from the start, I picked up the sword to settle my own grudges. That is why, this crest…….I cannot swear upon the name of the Marquis house.”

It was not such a noble desire to protect someone.

I had, for my own sake, taken up the sword, and begun to learn it.

“That is why, I shall swear upon my name. I have pride in the things learned from father, and the many seniors who have taught me up until now, as well as the swordsmanship that I have built up. I will take responsibility so that I do not stain my own pride, and swear to wield my sword by it.”

“You spoke well…….never break those words.”

Offering up the sword, I lowered my head to father.