Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord

It seems that Van also has a talent for swordsmanship.

Perhaps because he was able to hold his own against the boy soldiers, this rumor began to spread among the soldiers.

“Lord Van, may I ask you a question?”

A burly man with a thick beard took off his armor and asked. The middle-aged man, soaked with sweat in his simple cloth clothes, was none other than Dee, the deputy commander of the knight order and one of the strongest members of the marquis family.

Even over his black cloth clothes, you could see his muscles packed tightly. Well, it was also because the sweat made the clothes stick tightly to his body. The clothes were originally gray, but the color had changed due to the sweat, which was a bit distracting.

“What is it?”

I asked back while drinking water, and Dee seriously stretched out both his hands.

“I would like to see your hands.”

“O-okay? What are you going to do?”

Feeling a little uneasy, I held out one hand. Dee respectfully took my hand with both of his and carefully examined my palm.

“…No calluses. The skin is still soft. Hmm, your nails are long.”

“S-sorry about that. I’ll start training once I’m an adult.”

When I pulled my hand back and said that, Dee frowned deeply.

“I thought you might be losing to our trainees and having intense training sessions every night, but there’s no sign of that at all.”

“I’ve been busy with studying. I’ll do it when I have time. I like swordsmanship too.”

I made that excuse, thinking I was being scolded, but Dee narrowed his eyes and looked up at the castle.

“…I’ve heard rumors that Lord Espada has instructed that Lord Van must study three times as much as usual. If you want to learn more about swordsmanship, I will petition immediately.”

“Eh, really? So that’s why I have so much studying to do… I thought it was strange that I’m the only one studying from morning till night.”

Hearing this shocking news, I hung my head, and Dee nodded deeply.

“That big-headed person is too obsessed with academics. From someone who can judge people fairly like me, Lord Van should pursue the path of the sword. You have a natural talent. First, learn the forms, and then build your muscles. After that, we will conduct daily training based on practical experience. I will make you the best swordsman in the kingdom.”

Dee spoke with strong determination. He was serious, totally serious. By the way, calling Espada ‘big-headed’ was a sign that Dee himself was a muscle-brained guy. Both academics and swordsmanship were skewed in their own way.

“I like swordsmanship, but I also like studying. I’ll work hard at both.”

When I answered that, Dee’s mouth turned down into a very disappointed frown.

“…Mmmph, it can’t be helped. At least, while you train with the sword, I will personally instruct you. Is that alright?”

Just like Espada, now even Deputy Commander Dee voluntarily offered to be my instructor. Dee leaned in close, waiting for an answer, and I responded with a half-forced smile.

“Ah, haha… Please be gentle when you teach me, okay?”

“Hahaha! Of course! Lord Van is still just a child after all.”

Dee was in a good mood after hearing my response.

But, that was a complete lie.

“Alright, alright! One hundred strikes from above, one hundred middle-level parries, one hundred thrusts! Let’s go!”

“P-please, let me rest… I just finished running…”

“What are you saying, Lord Van! You can rest after! Now, together!”

He was like a demon.

After barely finishing the swings, I plopped down onto a chair to rest, and Dee looked like he had a great idea.

“That’s right, Lord Van. You must be bored while resting! Don’t sit on the chair; rest while in a half-squat!”

He wasn’t a demon — he was an idiot. Who can rest doing an air squat? This idiot.

Thinking that, I had no energy to complain and just hung my head.

And then, a year passed.

At six years old, I rarely lost to the boy soldiers anymore. At six compared to twelve or thirteen, the size difference was significant. Not just reach, but muscle mass was different, too. Strength and speed favored the others.