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The Male Slave of House Sianella - Chapter 83
🕑 Added 2025-04-05 16:38:41 +0000 UTCChapter 83: At the Training Grounds (4)
Every knight of the Royal Guard possessed exceptional combat skills.
Tasked with protecting and serving the royal family, the core of the kingdom…
They were all Sword Experts, not just novices, but those who had fully mastered and refined their skills. Only such individuals were allowed to join the Royal Guard.
And Diolia, I’d heard, had once had the opportunity to join their ranks.
The title of Royal Guard Knight alone spoke volumes about one's abilities.
It came with not only the honor of protecting the royal family, but also a generous salary.
If given the choice, most knights would prefer to serve in the capital, their names echoing through the halls of power, rather than remaining in a remote County on the western edge of the kingdom.
But Diolia had rejected this prestigious opportunity and chosen to remain in the service of House Sianella.
At the mention of Diolia and Siabel, Sione fell into thought.
“Asking Diolia about Siabel’s swordsmanship…”
After a moment of contemplation, she seemed to agree with my plan.
“That’s not a bad idea.”
I nodded.
Diolia wasn’t just a skilled warrior; she also sparred with Siabel almost daily.
Even before our journey to meet Evan Feiosha, I’d often seen them crossing swords in the training grounds.
And Diolia had always been able to parry Siabel’s attacks with ease, offering guidance and instruction.
‘With Diolia’s help…’
I could familiarize myself with Siabel’s fighting style and techniques before our spar.
‘The quest requires me to exceed her expectations.’
To awaken her Authority and improve my mana efficiency…
I needed to understand my opponent.
After all—
‘…I have no idea what Siabel is expecting.’
I couldn't gauge her expectations for our spar.
If she was simply expecting me to demonstrate the ability to kill a wolf…
Then exceeding her expectations would be relatively easy.
But Siabel knew I’d killed an arachne, not just a wolf.
Though it would be less dangerous than fighting those demon worshippers who'd tried to kill me…
I had a feeling my spar with Siabel wouldn't be easy.
Sione, as if reading my thoughts, looked at me with a worried expression.
“Even if it’s just a spar, Siabel’s swordsmanship is quite formidable. It would be best to seek Diolia’s guidance regularly.”
Sione’s tone was overly cautious.
And her expression…
She was looking at me as if I were being sent off to war.
Her excessive concern made me uneasy.
“…Is she really that ruthless?”
Sione shook her head.
“I’m sure she’ll go easy on you…but our family is descended from a hero who slew demons.”
“Yes, your ancestor was granted the title of Count for his service, when the kingdom was founded…”
“Indeed. And because of that…our family’s swordsmanship is quite…aggressive.”
“Ah.”
I understood what Sione meant. I'd seen it before. The fighting style of someone wielding the Demon Slaying Authority.
It was—
“Whew…”
—relentless. A single-minded focus on destroying demons, no matter the cost.
Though it was just a spar…
I couldn’t shake my unease.
***
Sione began practicing mana imbuement.
She channeled blue mana into the arrowhead, but it dissipated before she could fully condense it. It seemed she still had a long way to go.
But she'd completed the quest to mend her relationship with Noah Beleia, earning the reward of accelerated growth. So perhaps she would master the technique sooner than I’d initially anticipated.
I watched Sione, a thoughtful expression on my face.
“Hmm…”
Was she truly pushing herself so hard just to earn a kiss?
Sione practiced tirelessly, beads of sweat trickling down her forehead despite the cool autumn air.
I couldn’t just deny her the reward she’d been working so hard for, especially after I'd made that promise, which seemed to be a big motivator. It was undeniable that my teasing comment was a significant factor in her current training regimen.
The thought of what would happen if she finally claimed my reward filled me with a vague sense of dread, but I pushed it aside.
I would worry about her feelings and our future relationship later. I would address it properly, setting clear boundaries.
‘Well, I’ll think about that later.’
There was no point in dwelling on it now.
I cleared my head and left the archery range.
I saw a group of women training in the courtyard.
“Anna, your arms are already trembling!”
“N-no, they’re not!”
“And you, Heril, standing next to her!”
…They were working hard.
The soldiers of House Sianella, armed with wooden swords, were practicing their swordsmanship and building their strength under the watchful eye of their instructor.
Given the recent demon worshipper incident and the increased monster activity near the territory, their training seemed more intense than I remembered. They were pushing themselves hard, their bodies glistening with sweat.
“Their training has gotten more rigorous.”
I silently prayed for a cool breeze to offer them some respite, then,
Turned my attention towards the sound of clashing steel.
“There they are.”
A group of knights were sparring with blunted steel practice swords.
Their refined movements, their honed skills, and their imposing auras set them apart from the ordinary soldiers.
They were the knights, those who had awakened their mana.
I searched for Diolia among them.
“There she is.”
Diolia, who usually stood beside Siabel, discussing swordsmanship,
was alone today. Siabel hadn’t been seen in the training grounds for the past two days. Perhaps she was busy with Ainel, discussing matters of the County.
Diolia was either sparring with other knights or practicing alone.
And right now, she was practicing her basic forms, her sword moving with fluid precision.
–Swish!
I watched her movements as I approached.
“Lady Diolia, greetings.”
“Hmm? You’re…”
Diolia’s sharp, discerning gaze fell on me. She studied my face for a moment, then nodded in recognition.
“Ah, Lady Sione’s attendant. It’s been a while.”
“Yes. I trust you’ve been well, Lady Diolia.”
“Of course. There haven’t been any major incidents since our encounter with the demonically empowered human in the Beltrin Mountains. I’ve been sparring with Lady Siabel as usual.”
We exchanged pleasantries. It had indeed been a while since our last conversation, after returning from our journey to meet Evan Feiosha.
After a brief exchange, Diolia asked, her expression curious,
“By the way, what brings you here today?”
I nodded eagerly.
“I have a rather…bold request, Lady Diolia.”
“A request? I’ll hear you out.”
If she was willing to listen…
I explained my situation.
I told her about my upcoming spar with Siabel, my desire to meet her expectations, and my need to understand her swordsmanship.
As I spoke, a smile began to spread across Diolia’s face.
“Given your recent exploits, protecting Lady Sione with a single sword and even slaying an arachne, it’s not surprising Lady Siabel has taken an interest in you.”
“So you mean—”
“I’ll help you. Go fetch a sword.”
Diolia pointed towards a corner of the training grounds where various practice swords were neatly arranged.
“The best way to learn swordsmanship is through experience.”
I walked over to the weapon rack.
Longswords like those used by Diolia and Siabel, short swords like mine…
A variety of weapons were available. Thankfully, I was able to find a familiar-looking short sword.
I picked it up and returned to where Diolia was standing.
–Shing.
Though the blade was blunted, it was still made of steel. A metallic ring echoed through the air as I drew the sword.
I assumed my stance, and…
“Let’s begin.”
–Whoosh!
Diolia’s sword thrust towards my throat without hesitation, as if unwilling to show any mercy just because I was a man.
–Clang!
I parried her attack, deflecting the long blade with a swift, precise movement, and Diolia, her eyes widening slightly in surprise, looked at me.
I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at her rather aggressive approach.
What was the rush? Why try to take my head off the moment I picked up a sword?
