The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent – 138
EP.138 Secret (6)
Thanks to the training I had been doing regularly, my stamina had improved significantly. However, the problem was that the increased stamina still wasn’t enough to keep up with Leo, the “protagonist,” or Alice, the “heroine with a sword.”
“That’s because you’ve poured all your skills into using firearms,” the Sword Saint said, looking at me with a dissatisfied expression.
“When comparing the skill required to wield a firearm versus a sword, it’s obvious that swordsmanship requires far superior physical ability. Firearms, after all, are tools you can learn to use competently with just a few weeks of training, aren’t they?”
Hearing that, I seriously debated whether to argue back but ultimately decided to keep my mouth shut.
The Winterfield region in the north wasn’t unbearably hot even in the height of summer. But it was still summer. With temperatures in the mid-to-high 20s (Celsius), training under the blazing sun without any shade was anything but easy.
After running around tirelessly under the scorching sun, I collapsed during the break, lying down completely drained. The Sword Saint stood over me, looking down as he made his remark. I wanted to retort, but the thought of wasting energy on pointless arguments held me back. After all, I had sought out the Sword Saint, not the other way around.
Besides, one of his former disciples, Jennifer, had left the mountain as soon as she’d learned enough swordsmanship to be practical in real combat. She had then gone straight to learning how to mix firearms with her techniques. From the Sword Saint’s perspective, firearms must seem like despicable tools.
“Hmm, but still,” he muttered, gazing at me intently. “Your perseverance isn’t too bad.”
Training had been a repetitive process, supported by the ability to turn back time. If my stamina fell short compared to the other two, the only thing I could do was figure out the most efficient way forward. I wasn’t about to slack off or cheat—such actions would certainly land me in the Sword Saint’s bad graces.
As I climbed the hill, I rewound time repeatedly to find the best places to step. I identified spots where my feet wouldn’t slip, where my hands could grab hold easily, where stones wouldn’t dislodge, and where I could minimize the strain on my thighs.
I carefully plotted my route step by step, conserving as much energy as possible while moving forward. Rewinding time didn’t require any physical exertion, after all.
“Hmm, no. Have you been here before or something?” the Sword Saint asked, his tone filled with genuine curiosity.
It was an understandable question. From his perspective, I seemed to move like someone who had already scouted the terrain in advance. Even to someone as disciplined as the Sword Saint, who had lived alone while constantly training, my movements must have seemed peculiar.
“You’re a strange one, that’s for sure,” he remarked. “At first, I thought you were just a talentless kid who happened to be lucky.”
The Sword Saint squatted a short distance from where I lay sprawled on the ground, staring down at my face with a thoughtful expression.
“How did you find your way to where I live?” he asked.
“……”
“At first, I thought one of my former disciples must have told you, but now I wonder if you found another way entirely. Well, I suppose I haven’t exactly taken extraordinary measures to hide myself.”
True to his nature, the Sword Saint seemed to see through me to some extent, just as he had during our earlier training sessions. Judging by the faint smirk tugging at his lips, I had undoubtedly succeeded in piquing his interest. To him, I must have appeared as an enigmatic figure suddenly emerging to disrupt his monotonous life.
“So, what are you, really?” he asked, his piercing gaze fixed on me.
“……”
I seriously pondered.
The image of the Sword Saint from before—who had told me to "come back again"—overlapped with his current expression. Well, the Sword Saint then and the Sword Saint now were not different people. The only difference was that he had met me at a slightly later point in time.
So, should I tell him this time?
The Sword Saint might believe me. He was an extraordinarily quick judge of situations. However…
"If you really want to repay me, seek me out at least once before you die. And when that time comes, I’ll try to figure out who you truly are. I’d rather you not tell me anything. A riddle isn’t fun when the one who sets it gives away too many hints."
That was what the Sword Saint had once told me.
For some people, discovering something like this might make them feel as if their entire life had been invalidated, as if everything they had done had been meaningless. And yet, the Sword Saint had spoken those words with amusement.
A riddle loses its fun when the one who sets it gives away too many hints.
And I was the Sword Saint’s disciple—one he had personally acknowledged. As his disciple, it wouldn’t be right to take away his enjoyment.
I pushed myself up into a sitting position, then looked straight at my "master."
"Are you curious about how I knew this place existed and how I was able to use such a training method?"
"Well, wouldn’t any person naturally be curious?"
However, despite his words, the Sword Saint wore a faintly knowing smile, as if he already expected that I wouldn’t tell him.
"It’s a secret."
I couldn’t just reveal the answer here.
The Sword Saint’s eyes widened briefly at my response.
And then—
"Kuhah…!"
He let out a short laugh, like someone savoring an exceptionally strong yet rare and exquisite drink.
"So that’s how it is?"
With a broad grin, he looked at me.
"You’re saying that if I want to know your secret, I should go with you to the capital? That I’ll understand once I watch from up close?"
"That’s not an incorrect guess."
I met his gaze steadily.
"There are many secrets in the capital—secrets that will be quite enjoyable to discover."
"And, of course, you have no intention of revealing all of them outright."
"Of course not."
The Sword Saint stared at me for a long moment, his lips still curved into that slightly menacing smile.
"Cheeky brat."
But at least this time, he didn’t smack my forehead.
*
"Pack your things."
The next morning, the Sword Saint made that declaration.
We were seated around a worn, small dining table, eating a meal made from rabbit-like game. And just like that, he announced it outright.
"Master?"
Leo, who had been diligently eating his meat, suddenly wore a blank expression. However, the Sword Saint didn’t seem inclined to change his decision even after seeing Leo’s reaction.
"Everyone, we’ll descend the mountain after today’s meal."
…Had I provoked him too much?
Did I come off as too arrogant and end up annoying the Sword Saint?
In the original story, he had a bold and carefree personality, so I thought an intriguing proposal would work better than a purely pragmatic deal. But perhaps that wasn’t the case.
I debated whether I should rewind time to before our conversation, but before I could make up my mind, the Sword Saint continued speaking.
"By the way, Sylvia."
"Yes?"
Without much interest, Frederick, the Sword Saint, shifted his gaze back to his plate and placed a piece of meat into his mouth before speaking again.
"In the capital, is there a house where I can stay?"
"……."
For a brief moment, I was at a loss for words, but I quickly snapped back to my senses. The pause was so short that unless it was Alice or the Sword Saint himself, no one would have noticed it.
…Unfortunately, two out of the three people sitting with me were exactly those two.
"Of course."
Just in case, I had set aside a guest room in the imperial palace. It wasn’t specifically reserved for the Sword Saint, but rather a precautionary measure in case I needed to bring someone to the palace.
Finding him a separate residence was something I could take my time with. For now, letting him stay in that room would be the best option. There likely wouldn’t be much opposition within the palace. In fact, the knights would probably be overjoyed. The Sword Saint himself wouldn’t be too pleased about it, but I decided not to bring that up for now.
"Then I’ll trust you on that."
With that, the Sword Saint resumed his meal.
Alice and Leo both turned to me, clearly expecting an explanation. But, like the Sword Saint, I simply focused on my food.
*
"…S-Sword Saint, sir?"
After completing its supply run, the supply ship followed standard procedure to assess its status before preparing to return to the capital. Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have had the chance to board it. If we had been even a day late, the ship would have already been en route to the capital. However, since the Sword Saint had made up his mind far more quickly than I had anticipated, we were able to secure passage on the returning vessel.
Leo was the eldest son of one of the Empire’s closest noble families, and the Sword Saint… well, he was the Sword Saint. So, it was no surprise that Jayden was utterly shocked upon seeing him.
Having rushed from the front lines upon hearing that his younger sister was returning to the capital, Jayden instantly recognized the elderly man in tattered clothing.
"So, you’re Jayden? I’ve heard about you from Sylvia a few times."
The Sword Saint stroked his chin as he spoke, but Jayden could only open and close his mouth wordlessly, unable to respond.
Realizing that he had to stay on the front lines and couldn’t afford to have a long conversation with the Sword Saint, Jayden’s expression soon turned to disappointment.
"Hmm… Since you’re my disciple’s older brother, I’d like to see your skills sometime."
Upon hearing that, Jayden whipped his head toward Alice and me.
"……."
For the record, I had already decided not to engage in conversation with Jayden. So, I simply averted my gaze.
Jayden slumped his shoulders again, looking even more dejected.
But honestly, that wasn’t my problem.