"Alright... enough of the difficult talk. How about we make it time for some light exercise?"
After the war council, at the training grounds within the fortress.
Vareiya Cattleya, formerly the leader of the advance party and now the overall commander against the foreign tribes, gathered the soldiers and made this declaration.
Excluding the soldiers on watch, those resting, and the wounded, the main members were all gathered here.
"For us, who live by the sword, what we must fear most is the 'unknown'. The strength of our allies and enemies, their equipment, the terrain, the capabilities of the commanders... Not knowing can create a huge opening. Therefore, we must never be negligent in gathering information and must always strive to grasp the latest battle situation."
Vareiya glared sharply around at everyone.
Some of the soldiers flinched under his murderous glare, swallowing nervously.
"It is difficult to obtain information on the enemy... but information on our own allies is easy to get. After all, we just need to see it with our own eyes and confirm it."
"In short... a test of skill."
Taking over from his older brother's explanation, Carius Cattleya, standing beside him, continued.
"Well, there's no need to be tense. Think of it as a rite of passage, like when new soldiers are assigned. Let's just take it easy and deepen our camaraderie through a bit of exercise."
"Exactly. It would be pointless if someone got seriously hurt in a training exercise unrelated to actual combat. Make sure you only go as hard as can be healed with magic."
(In other words, a mock battle... I'm not really in the mood for this...)
Hearing the explanations from Vareiya and Carius, Rest let out a deep sigh.
The event itself wasn't particularly strange.
To use an analogy... it was just like a sports club holding a friendly practice match for new members.
However... the problem was that he could already predict what was about to happen. Which was exactly why he was so fed up.
"Alright, then, if it's me and—..."
Figh...
Alright, let's do this, Rest Clover!
A young man wrapped his arm tightly around Rest's shoulder.
The young man was Toya Cattleya, the third son of House Cattleya.
Toya's expression was friendly, and his attitude was overly familiar... but the seething passion burning beneath the surface was no hallucination on Rest's part.
"What's wrong? Don't tell me you're scared. It's just a little sparring."
"I'm not scared... It's just that your grip is a bit too strong."
Rest pulled himself free of Toya's arm.
"And... I don't mean to pull rank, but I am a 'Count,' you know. Would you mind not addressing me so casually?"
"Ah, my apologies. How rude of a mere third son of a Marquis family... Lord Clover, the 'Count'?"
Toya gave a bow that was respectful in name only.
It was a bow completely devoid of respect. If anything, it felt like a provocation.
(He really resents me... This just shows how much they love Yuri.)
Rest knew he should be angry in this situation... but he was more exasperated, and the anger never really arose.
It was probably because he could feel that their actions came from their love for Yuri.
Yuri was an important friend to Rest, too. She was the woman who, without Rest himself even knowing when the decision was made, had become his fiancée.
He didn't bear any ill will toward the brothers who cherished her so much. Even if he did think they were way too sister-obsessed.
(Come to think of it... I've been entrusted with their precious sister, and I haven't even offered a proper greeting. Even if I am protecting a daughter at home, I should have contacted the main house properly... I suppose it's true that I've failed in my social duties.)
They only hate me because I haven't come to formally ask for her hand in marriage.
I was in the wrong too.
That's why I should probably just accept this situation.
Well, be that as it may... I don't intend to lose.
I had my reasons too, but setting that aside, Toya's attitude was the height of rudeness.
Rest had no intention of apologizing.
Toya was the one who picked the fight, so why not take the chance to knock him down a peg?
"Allow me to borrow your chest, Knight of House Cattleya."
"Hmph... bring it on, 'Count'.
My precious little sister...
You'd better pay for defiling her!"
"With pleasure."
Rest laughed defiantly at Toya, who spat the words in hatred, and the two faced off from about three meters apart.
He was stepping into a mock battle against a member of House Cattleya, the Shield of the Kingdom—the realm's greatest knights.
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