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EP.17 The Noble Female Knight Agnes - 1
Swordsmanship.
The skill of handling a sword is an essential ability for any swordsman in battle.
The problem is, even though I often use a sword, my swordsmanship is terrible.
Up until now, I've relied on brute strength and speed, but there's no guarantee that will keep working.
In fact, during the arena disappearance incident, it was a close call.
If those guys had possessed real skill, I might have been seriously injured.
"The answer is to find a master."
I'm not a genius like those in martial arts novels.
It's impossible to invent swordsmanship on my own and smash everything.
Even if I had that talent, learning from someone is much faster.
Yes. I'll find a master.
Preferably a beautiful and strong female knight.
Learning from a sweaty old veteran isn't a bad choice, but a beautiful female knight is far more motivating.
Seeking beauty and elegance is just human nature.
With my mind made up, I headed to Selena's office.
Creak-
When I opened the door and entered, Selena looked at me with a flushed face and an expectant gaze.
I knew what she wanted, but unfortunately, that's not why I was here this time.
"What brings you here, Master?"
"It's nothing special. Could you arrange for a female knight?"
"I don't think it'll be hard to find one. Why do you need her?"
"I want to properly learn swordsmanship."
Selena, disappointed that my goal wasn't her body, nevertheless diligently shuffled through her documents.
"Then she'll need to be very skilled."
"And it'd be even better if she's pretty."
"Please wait a moment."
Finding a knight is harder than it seems.
Most are tied to knight orders or serve nobles, so they're not easy to summon.
But with Selena's resourcefulness, I knew she'd find a good answer.
As expected, after a short while, Selena spoke.
"There happens to be a knight named Agnes nearby."
"Nearby, as in this city?"
She shook her head.
"She's in a small village a couple days away, sent there by royal order to subdue goblins."
"So she went alone?"
"They wouldn't mobilize a whole order for just goblins."
Indeed, goblins here are among the lowest-class monsters.
At most, they're a nuisance to farmers.
"That makes sense. Still, it's rare to see a knight traveling alone."
"It is unusual, but she's a royal-certified knight. Since she doesn't belong anywhere, she often gets sent on these odd jobs."
"She's not officially with the kingdom?"
"She's basically free. She only has to work for the kingdom about 40 days a year, and even then, many don't fulfill that."
"Anyone would want a job like that."
"Most of those recognized by the kingdom for their skill end up in famous noble houses."
After all, nobles would pay more than the kingdom for just 40 days of token work.
"So there's no need to verify her skills. Any portraits?"
"I have one I received before."
Selena picked up a paper from her desk and handed it to me.
Art is surprisingly advanced in this world, so a portrait gives plenty of information.
On the paper was a beautiful woman.
Her splendid armor and confident expression radiated dignity.
She was the very image of a perfect female knight.
"Approved."
She was as beautiful as Karin or Selena.
"I'll have a servant bring her right away."
"Thanks."
I never planned to just learn swordsmanship and be done.
Having a beautiful master made me even more excited.
Getting stronger and winning a beauty-truly a win-win.
Swordsmanship and a beautiful woman.
And if I succeed in conquering her, I can use my traits to become even stronger.
It would be at least a month before Princess Sylvia visited.
There's nothing wrong with building up my strength until then.
If something went wrong after touching a princess, nothing would be as reassuring as overwhelming power.
And it would help with conquering other beauties in the future, too.
"Screeeech!!"
Dozens of goblins charged at Agnes all at once.
Even goblins can be tricky in such numbers.
But Agnes dodged their attacks with ease and cut down the first one that came at her.
"Kiik!"
The goblins kept coming, trying to use their numbers, but each time, only their numbers decreased.
Their attacks couldn't even scratch Agnes's armor.
"Kiiik! Kiiik!"
At the very back, a rather large goblin was shouting.
'That must be the leader.'
With Agnes's skill, she could easily charge in and behead the leader.
But if she killed the leader, the rest might scatter and cause more trouble.
'Better to go straight for them.'
Her swordsmanship, which had been fluid as water, now flashed like lightning.
"Kieek!"
Goblins fell in an instant.
It was a one-sided massacre.
"Kiiik!!"
Sensing defeat, the leader goblin tried to run, but Agnes, cutting down goblins as she went, was faster.
"Kiek…"
Agnes was one of the kingdom's top knights.
No matter how many goblins there were, they were no match for her.
The leader goblin experienced the difference in skill firsthand as it became a corpse.
'Is that all?'
It took Agnes just two days to clear all the goblin dens near the village.
When she returned to the village, the chief greeted her warmly.
"You won't have to worry about goblins anymore."
"To have it resolved so quickly! Thank you, Lady Agnes!"
Even without checking, the goblin blood on her armor was proof enough.
The chief thanked her repeatedly, then hesitated as if remembering something.
"By the way… you have a visitor, Lady Agnes."
"Me?"
"Yes. Someone sent by a noble from nearby Roern…"
Agnes quickly thought it over.
'What's this? Are there still nobles looking for me?'
As a strong and beautiful female knight, many nobles had tried to recruit her in the past, but she'd refused them all, so things had been quiet lately.
'Well, I should at least meet them.'
No matter how skilled she was, she couldn't ignore a noble.
"Where are they?"
"They're waiting at my house."
Agnes followed the chief to his house, where a middle-aged man awaited her.
His formal attire and composed manner made him the very image of a proper servant.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Not at all. The king's orders come first."
"So, what brings you here?"
"I came because I heard of your great skill, Lady Agnes, and have a request."
Agnes was puzzled by this.
'A request? Not recruitment?'
If it had been about recruitment, she would have refused immediately.
But the servant's proposal was different.
"Lady Selena wishes for you to instruct her in swordsmanship."
"Swordsmanship instruction…?"
"Yes. She wants someone as skilled as you to train her bodyguards."
Agnes thought for a moment.
It wasn't a difficult or troublesome request.
And she had no real reason to refuse, so she was inclined to accept, but something felt off.
'What should I do?'
As she hesitated, the servant continued.
"Regardless of the outcome, you'll be compensated generously in line with your skill. And during the training, you'll have full authority."
"How long is the period?"
"Start with a month, and if you're willing, it can be extended."
A month.
To Agnes, that was a short time.
Refusing to teach for just a month would be unreasonable.
'They're being so polite, I can't just send him away empty-handed…'
In the end, she decided to accept the servant's offer.
"Alright. I'll take it on for a month, to start."
Agnes planned to leave after a month if nothing else came up.
But the thoughts of Yujin, waiting for her at the mansion, were quite different.
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