"..."
"..."
Elianna just stood there and stared directly at me, and I found myself doing the exact same thing to her. I honestly did not know what I was supposed to do or even how I should react in a situation like this.
And seeing how the two of us were just silently staring each other down—
"Uhh, do you two happen to know each other?"
One of the five armored knights that had first arrived at the clearing asked that.
Elianna and I both turned our heads to look at that specific knight at the same time, then we looked back at each other again... I just frowned and decided it was best to keep my mouth shut for now.
"Ah, we just happened to see each other in the library yesterday and shared a small talk... I think we are just both very surprised to see each other out here in the forest."
Elianna answered the knight, providing a convenient cover story.
"Ohh, that is quite fortunate then."
The knight responded with a nod. Then, facing me properly—
"We are the paladins of [The Radiant Church]."
He stated that firmly, introducing the official identity of their group. After that, he gestured toward Elianna, and opening his mouth—
"And this young lady here is Elianna Soleil Xanthe, the saintess of [The Radiant Church] herself."
He proudly declared that as if he were presenting a treasure.
’Uhh... I already know that.’
I thought that to myself, but instead of actually saying it out loud; I put on an act of being shocked and widened my eyes as much as possible. Then, bringing my full attention back to Elianna—
"I had no idea that you were of such a high status, so I sincerely apologize if I showed any discourtesy to you yesterday at the library."
I said that while slightly bowing my head, pretending to be worried about my past behavior. I saw Elianna’s face turn into a small frown for a tiny fraction of a second, but I didn’t pay much attention to it.
"You really don’t need to worry about that, you did no such thing. Also, it was I who approached you first in that instance."
She said. I suddenly felt several prickling stares directed at me from the other knights after she said that.
Anyway, I raised my head back up, then looking at all of them collectively—
"If I might ask, what exactly are you all doing way out here?"
I asked that as casually as I could.
The knight then spoke up to answer me again.
"We are currently in the middle of a long journey, and we arrived in this forest not very long ago. As we were planning to find a place to rest for the day, we saw a source of fire coming from this spot and that is why we came to investigate."
He explained. I just nodded my head in understanding.
"If it is not too much of a trouble for you, would you mind us staying in these premises as well for the night?"
And then, he went ahead and asked that.
’Oh, I would mind it a lot, and it’s too much trouble.’
I thought that as I secretly glanced over at Elianna, but there was no way I could actually say that out loud. So instead—
"Oh, it’s really no worries at all. It’s not like I actually own this part of the forest to decline you guys."
I said that with a polite smile fixed on my face.
*****
After our short conversation ended, Elianna and her companions immediately started setting up their own camp. It was placed just a few meters away from where mine was situated.
I just stayed where I was and stared at them, not offering any help with their tents.
I was busy roasting [Ironhide Boar] meat after all.
’I’ll just offer some of this to them later so I don’t end up looking like a total jackass.’
I don’t really want to associate with them if I can help it, but it would be even more suspicious if I started actively avoiding them now.
Also—
’I already decided that I will be a neutral force in this world, so they are neither my enemies nor my allies.’
I reminded myself of that fact.
It seems like Elianna is the only one in the group who suspects me of being a vampire, so I have to stop being too wary or I might just raise the guards of everyone else.
’So the information about common appearance traits of vampires really isn’t known to many people after all.’
I really have to thank the albinos for existing for that.
Anyway... Elianna and the others finished preparing their camp before long. I was also done with roasting most of the boar meat I had managed to get.
"Here, have some of this."
And so, I approached their group and handed over some of the cooked meat.
"Oh, thanks a lot."
The knight that had been doing all the talking earlier said that.
"We haven’t had any dinner yet, so we really appreciate the gesture."
Then he followed up with that. He even went as far as asking me to join them at their fire, but I declined... telling them that I had already eaten and was quite full.
After that, I went back over near my own tent, and there— SWISH!
I continued with my training again, trying my absolute best to ignore all of them.
’We will just be together for tonight, and I just need to mind my own business so this whole night will pass by peacefully.’
I thought.
SLASH- FWOOSH- FWISH—!
I swung my sword repeatedly, focusing myself entirely on the movements. Everything around me was eventually drowned out as I entered a deep trance state.
I can feel it right now... my [Integrated Swordsmanship] is about to evolve into something else.
I am just missing one little bit more to reach it.
I don’t know exactly what that missing piece is— but I just know that I can already grasp it if I try.
’What is it that I actually need to do?’
I asked that in my head, closing my eyes tightly. And then, at that exact moment—
"Don’t think too much about it, you are already capable of jumping to the next stage... just trust your instinct."
I heard a calm voice speaking from behind me. I didn’t know who it was at first, but I decided to trust their words.
"Fuhhh~"
I cleared my head of any unnecessary thoughts and stopped thinking too much about the form. And much more confidently...
SLASH-! SWISH-! WHOOSH—!
I swung my sword; vertically, horizontally, and diagonally.
I noticed it immediately, my swings became much more fluid, and my attacks naturally flowed into each other smoothly.
The delay that used to exist between my thought and my action had completely disappeared.
And then, opening my eyes wide— SLASH!
I felt it happen.
[Integrated Swordsmanship] has successfully evolved into [Unified Swordsmanship].
"..."
I turned around to look behind my back, and there— I saw the owner of the voice that had helped me reach the next stage.
It was the knight that I had been talking to, the very first one who had arrived in the clearing.
"Congrats on finally getting to the next stage."
He said as he looked at me with a wide smile.
"Thank you very much for your help."
I replied to him.
"Haha, I really just said a few simple words... it is you who did all the hard work."
The knight responded, casually waving his hand.
"By the way, I haven’t properly introduced myself yet; my name is Kael Edmund... a Paladin Captain."
He introduced himself, extending a hand out toward me. I looked at his hand, then without any hesitation—
"My name is Verc, a wandering knight. It’s nice to meet you."
I shook his hand and introduced myself back to him.