Chapter 53

Chapter 53

From that day on, Leasis seemed to be looking forward to mess with the knights of the 1st Division. Of course, she showed the best cleaning skills of a maid. But in every training session, she also had the top performances and pushed around the other knights.

Karma worked tirelessly to break Leasis’ nose. He stayed up all night studying and even introduced trainings that other empires had never heard of. Of course, Leasis lightly stepped on him with her outstanding skills.

It reminded him of Hizen when she was fiercely chasing her opponent. The members of the 1st Division tried to use anything out of anger, but there could not do anything about it. Eventually, they were repeating the process of being forced to accept her.

Time passed and the day of the global training came. It began in broad daylight, so the knights were a little puzzled because it was unusual. It was usually conducted at dawn or early in the morning.

Still, Hizen’s training was a great help in improving their skills, so most of them were convinced that there was a good reason behind it.

In particular, Leasis’ expectations were high. She had waited for this training until she went to sleep the night before. It was not a training alone with Hizen, but she was still excited to train with him. She wanted to go to the training place in advance and greet him.

Leasis looked around the Imperial Palace, searching for the road leading to the global training ground. Even a maid who knew well the Imperial Palace had no choice but to wander, looking for the training ground like in a maze.

Leasis sighed. Come to think of it, it seemed that Karma had distributed a map to the new knights in advance. Her share seemed to have been cleverly eliminated by someone.

It would be nice if anyone showed her the way, but there was no one. She could not believe there was no passerby. Leasis only circled in the same place. It was the first training ground that was not even shown on the secret map of the Imperial Palace.

At that time, one of the members of the 1st Division, who was heading to the training ground belatedly, approached her. He was a calm young man with brown hair.

“There. Are you lost?”

“Ah, yes!”

“May I help you?”

In her memory, his name was Furgin. He was an ordinary knight who did not gossip about Hizen or bothered her.

Fortunately, it did not seem to be a trap. Furgin stretched out his arm with a slight smile.

“Go straight this way and you’ll find it.”

“Thank you.”

Furgin scratched his head as he spoke. Going to the training ground was not long if one knew the way. Of course, the other knights would not have left her a map, and it would be impossible for her to find it alone.

He felt a bit sorry for some reason. Maybe it was because he had heard about Leasis from Jason every day.

So he decided to help her, although the other knights would hate it when they see her.

“Would you like to come with me? I’ll take you there.”

“Really?”

“What’s the matter?”

At Furgin’s favor, Leasis bowed her head with gratitude. The two walked together and headed to the training ground.

Leasis was very pleased with Furgin. He seemed to be the kindest member of the 1st Division. His friendly smile, warm words and actions reminded her of Max.

After a while, Leasis met Setchen at the entrance of the training ground. When Setchen saw her, Furgin naturally joined the other knights.

Leasis tried to thank him, but closed her mouth when she saw the eyes of the other knights.

“Noona, long time no see!”

“How are you?”

The two greeted each other and joined hands. The leaders told the knights to wait during the preparation time, and so Setchen kept talking. The training of the 2nd Division was so hard and tight, and Grien kept sending letters to him, asking to come back and saying she was uncomfortable.

Leasis remembered one person by touching Setchen’s dark blond hair. It was Blix, who would sometimes soothe the sulky Setchen.

“Max-nim said there was no one named like that, but Setchen would remember him.’

“Setchen.”

“Huh?”

“Do you happen to…”

It was then. She was going to ask Setchen about Blix’s whereabouts, but saw Hizen in the distance.

Even among countless people, his appearance was clearly noticeable. Hizen went through the Imperial Knights, instructing the other leaders to do a few things.

Leasis looked at him with her mouth opened unknowingly, and bowed her head.

She covered her burning face with both hands.

Hizen’s smile was cool, but his passion for work was a little cooler. In addition, she thought it was better because Hizen was alone, without bringing a new maid.

Leasis was worried and pleased that he had no maid. She did not want anyone except her to serve Hizen.

‘…I don’t want it?’

Leasis’ lips, surprised by her own thoughts, opened slightly. She shook her head and hit it.

What a disrespectful idea not to want him to be comfortable. She squeezed her own head for her continued naughty thoughts.

Meanwhile, Hizen, who was giving Max instructions, clicked his tongue. From far away, he could see Leasis, hurting herself and making a fuss.

‘Something else must have happened.’

He tried to look away, holding back his worries. All Hizen had to do was train the totality of the Imperial Knights. He lined up the knights and led them to a long bridge behind the Imperial Palace.

It looked like ruins to Leasis, who saw it for the first time. The long bridge was old and cracked from place to place.

Seemingly dangerous shadows wriggled on the bridge as if they were alive. She stepped back and forth to avoid the mysterious shadows here and there. The other knights were doing the same thing.

However, Leasis’ shadow was especially long. She wondered about it.

There were two pairs of eyes looking at her. Karma was glaring at her disapprovingly, and Hizen was looking at her lovingly.

She’s going to wear out. Max smiled softly and tapped Hizen on the back. Thanks to that, Hizen started to inform the knights about the training.

“This bridge is called the shadow bridge. It was sealed for many years, but recently got unsealed thanks to a new spell invented by the imperial wizards. It is a mysterious magic bridge where you can fight your own shadow, and where you can kill shadows. Today’s training will be about killing shadows.”

Killing shadows? Everyone was puzzled by the training method they were hearing for the first time. But Leasis was very happy.

When he felt her sparkling eyes, Hizen turned his head to the other side on purpose. He was so conscious of her that it was killing him.

Today, his voice seemed to be lower, and he was worried about his rough skin in the aftermath of the chores he did all night. Hizen, who usually did not care much about it, had changed.

He took out a scabbard after trying hard to pull himself together. His shadow began to move on the floor as he drew his sword.

The graceful curved shadow fluttered like a burning torch and grabbed Hizen’s ankles.

“I’ll demonstrate. Look carefully.”

The shadow crept up to his thighs. Everyone watched the scene breathless.

Hizen had a calm face. In an instant, a white glow flashed on his legs, and the shadow gradually disappeared.

No one could take their eyes off the mysterious scene. When the sharp tip of Hizen’s sword struck the center of the shadow, the shadow quickly disappeared.

It looked like a walk in the park. It was easier than ever, so the knights held back their laughter.

After putting his sword back, Hizen glanced through the knights. Then, he called a man with purple hair among them.

“Sir Alain, will you demonstrate?”

“Yes.”

Alain came out with a confident look. Alain Mune Yopin. He was the Vice Commander of the 3rd Division of Imperial Knights and was quite skilled with a blue sword.

With a sleek physique, he quickly pulled out a sword.

“Go ahead.”

At Hizen’s signal, Alain gave strength to the sword. As the blue light became intense, cheers came out from around. Leasis and Setchen were also watching his performance with sparkling eyes.

As they did to Hizen earlier, shadows fluttered greatly under Alain’s feet. And at that moment, Alain staggered a lot. This was because the power of the shadow that caught his ankle was stronger than expected.

Alain stumbled several times and fell to the floor. When the shadow tried to cover his whole body, he held his breath and gave more strength to his sword.

But the power was eaten up by the shadow. Hizen looked at Alain and said coldly.

“This shadow is a monster that eats the power of its owner. The more you use it, the stronger it gets.”

And you say that now! Alain’s face frowned immediately. As Hizen said, the more he struggled, the more the shadow tied up his whole body.

Hizen drew his sword as the shadow was covering Alain entirely. At the same time as the sword spat out a bitter cry, the shadow over his body disappeared.

Alain could not get up and was spitting out harsh breaths. Max, who was watching silently, lifted him up.

“Now, let’s have two more demonstrations. Who will do it?”

Hizen put his sword on the floor and spoke with a cold voice. The knights bowed their heads, fearing that they would become a demonstrator.

They had to fight the shadows anyway, but they still lacked information. What if they faced such a public disgrace by doing something wrong?

The blue eyes, which were looking through the knights, stopped in front of the ranks of the 1st Division. Hizen spoke in a low voice.

“In the 1st Division, I’d like you two.”

Hizen was pointing at Karma and Leasis who were at both ends of the line. When the two looked at each other with surprised faces, Hizen ordered low.

“What are you doing? Not coming out.”

Leasis and Karma, who was faltering, stepped up. The members of the 1st Division were only shouting Karma’s name. It was such a discrimination that Max, who was treating Alain, frowned upon. Angry, Setchen put his hands around his mouth and shouted Leasis’ name.

Leasis, who wanted to look good to Hizen, felt a little uncomfortable in this situation. She was afraid of how she would be seen by Hizen, but it was because of the reactions of the other knights and not the shadow-killing problem. As she lowered her head like a sinner, Hizen’s eyes became cold.

But he did not show it. Hizen spoke in his usual dry voice.

“I hope you two can demonstrate. Do you agree?”

“Yes.”

Unlike Leasis, who hesitated, Karma answered confidently. Alain failed because he was careless, but he could not be defeated as the Vice Commander of the 1st Division of Imperial Knights. Even if he was not as good as Hizen and Max, he was one of the best knights in the Empire. He did not want to miss the opportunity to press on Leasis.

At Karma’s confident expression, Hizen turned to Leasis.

“Sir Leasis.[1] How about you?”

Leasis looked up as she heard the title ‘Sir’. Dark blue eyes were directed at her. His eyes were so strong and beautiful that she felt like they had wipped her heart.

Like a lie, all her thoughts flew away. She answered vigorously at him staring at her.

“Yes!”

“Good.”

The demonstration started with Karma. As he was about to show his skills in front of Hizen, everyone’s idol, he was more excited than nervous. He put strength in his sword, more serious than ever.

Was it because he had put too much energy from the beginning? As soon as the blue sword sparkled, Karma’s shadow grew out of control.

Frustrated, he stepped back and tried to press the shadow with the sword, but the power was swallowed. The black shadow greedily surrounded his body.

Karma managed to avoid the shadow attack and tried to win using his physical strength, but even that was useless. Even when punching it, the shadow did not waver.

Hizen, who was silently watching the process, said briefly.

“Stop.”

Next to him, Max stabbed the shadow as if he had waited. As the shadow disappeared, Karma, whose legs had loosened, sat down on the spot.

Thick sweatdrops fell on the ground where the shadow had disappeared. He wiped off his cold sweat and breathed in a harsh breath.

Hizen’s blue eyes turned to Leasis. Watching this process up close, she was smiling with a bright face. She was like a puppy waiting for Hizen’s order.

You’re not scared. Hizen looked at Leasis with his warm eyes. Her red eyes burned brightly and set fire to his heart.

“Sir Leasis.”

“Yes!”

“Now it’s your turn.”

TL notes

[1] I chose to use the same title for Leasis as for the other knights, ‘Sir’, as it is gender-neutral in Korean.