As arranged by my father, the emperor, I was placed under Duke Willow’s guardianship.

  He was also tasked to train David and me.

  At first, it was only I who needed his training.

  However, since David was appointed to accompany me, he could no longer train under his father, Duke Raven.

  So, it was decided that Duke Willow would also train David together with me.

  We could not block David’s future.

  According to his father, it was expected that David would become a swordmaster in the future.

  That was why he needed to undergo training with Duke Willow, one of the strongest sword masters and the only person who can rival Duke Ellon, our enemy.

  Yet, a month into the training, Duke Willow suddenly stopped giving me guidance.

  He only focused on David.

  And instead of Duke Willow, it was Bishop Leon who stepped up to train me.

  That was what made me panic.

  Did I do something wrong?

  Perchance, did I upset him?

  These thoughts have been with me since then.

  However, unlike the first day when I was told about that arrangement, I could come to accept it to some degree as a dedicated instructor was assigned to me over time.

  As for my training, I was placed under the guidance of Bishop Leon.

  He was the legendary Leon, the lionheart.

  He was the saintess's right hand.

  During his active duty, before retiring from his knight’s duty and becoming a high priest, he was widely known as the strongest senior guardian knight.

  They even said he was stronger than the current Lady Iris.

  The only person who was well-versed in both swordsmanship and divine art.

  And most important of all, he was also sent by the saintess to teach Lilia about divine art.

  That was why I was also kind of welcoming this new development.

  With him being ‘our’ instructor, I could find more excuses to be with Lilia.

  My time with her has also increased.

  With this, Luke and Rick would no longer be able to find room to intervene in my time with Lilia.

  However, it did not sit right with me that Duke Willow ‘gave up’ on teaching me.

  What did I fall short of for him to decide that?

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  That was why I began to set aside some time to observe David’s training.

  I really wanted to know what I was lacking compared to him.

  Why did Duke Willow only want to teach him?

  Yet, on the first day, although it was not my turn to use it yet, I sneaked into the underground training ground.

  It was after Duke Willow left the room.

  Then, the moment I stepped in, I saw him conducting an imaginary training.

  Yet, his opponent was not his ‘peer.’

  It was something else.

  It was like a natural disaster.

  It was like a devil itself.

  It was an unstoppable force.

  Even I, who was standing outside and only observed it, could feel my powerlessness in front of that something.

  When I looked at David, I found that he could not even last for a move.

  Yet, he kept on persisting in fighting that opponent.

  He failed many times.

  I lost count of how many times he ‘died’ to that opponent.

  And he kept on trying many times, too.

  It was only that it was about time for me to use the underground training ground that he stopped.

  It was only that time that I stepped out and asked him in a dash.

  “Who are you fighting with?”

  Receiving my question, he did not look surprised, as if he had known that I was there.

  Then, while covered in sweat, without looking back at me, he said this heavily.

  “The monster.”

  At first, I was at a loss with his short answer.

  Then, I suddenly remember the news that Duke Raven passed on to me on the day I met my father in the sanctuary.

  He spoke of an individual who was capable of dual-wielding divinity and aura.

  Duke Raven also called that individual ‘monster.’

  So, I quickly drew a conclusion that the person David spoke of was the same person.

  Therefore, I hesitantly asked David to confirm my hypothesis.

  “... are you referring to that individual?”

  After he heard me mention that individual, David immediately looked at me.

  Then, with a frowning face, he expressed his dissatisfaction to me—no, to Duke Raven.

  “It appears that my father broke his promises again.”

  Seeing his reaction like that, I came to accept that what Duke Raven had told me that day was not a lie.

  That person was real.

  There really was a person who could dual-wield divinity and aura.

  It was not a lie or a fairy tale.

  Since David used that individual for his imaginary training, he must have met that person.

  So, I asked David excitedly to tell me more about that person.

  “Have you met him? How was he?”

  Yet, meeting my enthusiasm, David flatly replied.

  “... He is a monster.”

  I could feel his reverence for that individual in the way he said that.

  Yet, I could also sense a bitterness underlying his tone.

  Seeing him like that, I could not help but ask.

  “Why did you try to fight him?”

  However, he did not answer me immediately.

  I silently stood there as I was waiting for his answer.

  Then, David tried to dismiss me.

  “It is for my personal reasons.”

  However, I could understand it was truly his personal reason.

  It might relate to his personal life.

  And he truly wanted to beat that individual.

  Then, suddenly, I remember something.

  I remember his word to me before I met my father in the sanctuary.

  He talked about a competition.

  He also talked about his weak position in that competition.

  So, the reason he tried to fight with that person might be related to it.

  Thus, I carefully asked him.

  “Is he one of the contestants you spoke of?”

  With this question, I could see David’s emotions ripple greatly.

  Then, David looked at his open palm.

  And with a self-mocking tone, he said.

  “Calling him a contestant is nothing but an insult to him. It is we who try to contest with him.”

  That was when I found out that that individual was also one of her suitors.

  No wonder many people, my father included, tried to please her.

  When I thought of that point, I subconsciously blurted out.

  “She manages to tame a monster, huh?”

  Then, even before I could finish my word properly, David suddenly grabbed my collar.

  Then, as he pulled my face closer to him, he said to me in a threatening tone.

  “It is for your safety. You can provoke me as much as you want. But you must never try to provoke him.”

  After he said that, he pushed me away and walked out of the training ground.

  I wanted to retort to him; however, I could not muster up the courage to do it.

  The back he showed me gave off a sickening, killing intensity.

  He would no longer hold back if I tried to escalate it further.

  So, I gritted my teeth and accepted his great discourtesy.

  He might be a rough person.

  He might lack courtesy.

  However, I came to understand that he was someone my father trusted greatly.

  He also tried to take care of me in his own way during our journey.

  That was why I could find my heart to forgive him.

  I also wished he and I could at least become friends.