Chapter 152: The Ideal Swordsman and the Desperate Knight
The second residence of the House of Count Blanc — within Alice’s private chamber.
The young mistress of the room moved with brisk efficiency, hands never pausing as she prepared for her journey. Drawers opened and closed in quick succession; neatly folded travel garments were placed into a case; polished boots were checked for wear; a whetstone rasped lightly as she gave her blade one final, loving touch. There was no hesitation in her movements — only resolve.
“Alice-sama,” her butler ventured carefully, watching her with a mixture of admiration and anxiety, “might it not be wiser to decline this excursion after all…?”
“Absolutely not.” She did not even look up. “Opportunities to explore a dungeon in the Gran Federation don’t come often. Who knows when the next chance will appear? Besides, Lena will be there. And Professor Ryu is coming as a guardian. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I refuse to waste it.”
Her tone was bright, but beneath it burned a fierce determination.
“Even so… His Excellency may oppose this decision.”
“Father has always been overly protective,” she replied with a faint pout. “So I’ll ignore him this time. I cannot be stopped.”
“Y-Yes, my lady…”
( Since the long summer recess, the young lady has grown bold — in both admirable and alarming ways. Just who said what to her? Who inspired such a transformation? If she seeks to become a great knight, then this zeal is commendable… but she must not forget she is also the future head of the Blanc comital house. )
The butler’s concerns were more than reasonable.
By conventional standards, Alice’s way of living bordered on the reckless — the kind of path that often ended in an early grave.
Worry was only natural.
During the long vacation, she had insisted on taking the vanguard in monster subjugation efforts within the count’s territory. Each evening she returned drenched in blood and caked in mud, earning stern lectures from both parents.
And yet—
Her expression afterward had always been half remorse… half unshakable satisfaction.
The fire in her heart had not dimmed since.
It was only natural that the servants attempted to restrain her.
—
At last, the carriage of House Arden arrived.
But the Blanc servants frowned the moment they saw it.
“They intend to send our lady to the sacred land of adventurers… in that small carriage?”
“The warhorses are magnificent, yes… but surely one ordinary carriage alone is insufficient…”
“I heard the Arden viscount and his eldest daughter are riding in it as well?”
“There are no escort knights. What exactly are they thinking? Is it truly safe to send our lady off like this?”
Doubt hung thick in the air.
Then the carriage door opened.
And every expression froze.
The interior that revealed itself rivaled a noble mansion in both breadth and elegance.
“W-What is that carriage…?”
“I heard that at the recent auction, some wealthy magnate purchased a magical carriage for five platinum coins… could it be?!”
“Five platinum coins⁉ Even our own comital house would hesitate at such a sum…!”
“Perhaps we worried for nothing. Those warhorses alone should have told us this was no ordinary vehicle.”
The servants bowed their heads in silent self-reproach.
Yet they did not know.
The magical carriage was little more than ornamentation.
Within it sat forces capable of toppling a nation with ease.
—
“Aliiiice-chaaaaan! We’ve come to pick you up~~~!”
“Lena! And… Professor Ryu…”
“Why are you making that awkward face?”
“I-It’s nothing…”
It was not nothing.
Once before, she had mistaken Ryu for a mere amateur. In response, he had caught her sword lazily between two fingers mid-yawn — and then, like a merciless flurry of thrusts, pierced through every weakness in her technique with calm, devastating precision.
At school they stood as teacher and student.
But in the realm of the sword, the hierarchy was absolute.
Awkward did not begin to describe it.
Lena sensed the tension immediately.
“Actually, Alice-chan, we have a surprise for you!”
“A s-surprise?”
“Yup! Come on, hurry and get in!”
“O-Okay…”
Alice allowed herself to be pulled along, waving farewell to the servants as she passed through the enchanted doorway.
Inside, seated comfortably as though in their own drawing room, were a familiar pharmacology professor… and a mysterious samurai.
“U-Um… the surprise is…?”
“That samurai over there. Who do you think he is?”
“I have no idea. I’ve never even seen a samurai before.”
“Hint! He’s my brother’s acquaintance! Guess~!”
“He just looks like… a normal samurai…”
And then—
Memory struck like lightning.
The day she had judged Ryu by appearances. The humiliation. The regret.
( Don’t judge by looks. He’s Professor Ryu’s acquaintance? Then… maybe he’s someone incredible. )
Fragments of past conversation echoed in her mind.
‘Again with this “strongest in history” talk… The world of the sword isn’t that narrow.’
‘And didn’t you call that friend of mine uncool, old-fashioned, and ordinary?’
‘Yet you insist he’s the strongest. It makes no sense.’
( When I think about it now… I said such awful things… )
And then—
‘That friend’s name is Sakamoto Ryoma. The strongest swordsman in history — the very one you admire.’
“!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
“Hehe~! Figured it out?”
“Sa… Sakamoto… Ryoma…‼”
“Correct~!”
Alice’s world stopped.
Everything went silent.
The air vanished from her lungs.
Her idol.
The unattainable summit of swordsmanship.
Standing. Right. There.
“Oh? Might you be the famed Alice-dono I have heard whispers of?” the samurai asked warmly.
“Yes, that is the girl. And you are expressly forbidden from laying a hand on her,” Ryu replied flatly.
“What do you take me for…?”
“A noble-lady-loving samurai.”
“That nickname must never reach Ryu’s ears…!”
“Ooooiii, Alice-chan~ Come back to us~”
“………………”
Lena poked her cheek. Waved a hand before her face.
No response.
Alice stood petrified, staring at Sakamoto Ryoma as though beholding a divine apparition.
—
Outside the carriage.
“Viscount Arden,” a Blanc knight addressed Ryu, “if manpower is lacking, the count’s house would gladly assign escort knights. What say you?”
“Ah. To speak plainly? Ordinary knights would just get in the way. That’s why I didn’t bring any.”
“Ordinary… knights…”
The knights behind the speaker bristled.
“Then what caliber of knight would you deem worthy of escort duty?”
“At minimum? S-Rank. Or an Imperial Court Magician. Anything less would be a hindrance. Just more children to babysit.”
“S-Rank… Imperial Court Magician…”
Though Arden was a viscount recognized by Count Blanc himself, the statement sounded like sheer bravado.
They could not back down.
They must not.
Thus began an unspoken battle outside the carriage — knights desperate to protect Alice, and Ryu determined not to be saddled with liabilities.
“Well then, we’ll be off.”
“P-Please wait‼”
“What now…”
“You spoke of babysitting. That logic only holds if you yourself possess S-Rank ability or greater.”
“Well, yes.”
“Then you must demonstrate that strength! Otherwise we cannot accept this…!”
“No thanks. Sounds like a hassle. Anyway—”
“Stop right there‼ We will not let you leave, Viscount!”
All the knights seized the hem of his coat, clinging to him with desperate resolve.
( Their adorable young lady is venturing into the continent’s most dangerous dungeon with a viscount’s family they barely know. Of course they’re frantic. The knights of House Blanc are impressive. For Alice’s sake, they would even obstruct the head of another house without hesitation. )
“UOOOOOOO! STOP THE VISCOUNT!!!”
Several knights latched onto Ryu’s legs. He dragged them forward as he walked toward the carriage.
( What am I supposed to do…? Have Alice persuade them? )
But inside, Alice remained frozen like stone, gazing dreamily at Ryoma.
( No chance. If I just shake them off and have Axel run, it’ll look like a kidnapping. )
Ryu exhaled.
“…Fine. How about you escort us partway? That should tell you everything you need to know.”