A Brighter Future (Kuroinu)

‘Does this world follow the principle of the less armor a girl wear the stronger their defense?’

A question popped into Rhodes’s mind as he observed the female knight in front of him. She was wearing armor but seemed to have specialized equipment only on her shoulders and chest, leaving other areas of her body exposed. He couldn’t understand why she would dress this way for combat and what exactly she was trying to protect.

The female knight noticed Rhodes’s gaze, and from his expression, she could tell he was puzzled and confused. She began to wonder if there was something strange about her appearance.

“Lady Celestine, and is this the messenger of the Goddess Leliantia who caused quite a commotion in Eostia yesterday?”

At this moment, a middle-aged man with gray Mediterranean-style hair, despite showing signs of aging, had a body that even though hidden beneath his armor, still looked impressively strong. He was General Grave, who greeted Celestine first and then turned his gaze toward Rhodes.

The long-standing presence of a battlefield warrior and his sharp gaze made Rhodes instinctively tense up before responding.

“Yes! I am Rhodes!”

“Father, you’ve startled the boy a bit.”

The female knight, observing the situation, couldn’t help but remind General Grave, and at the same time, she turned to Rhodes with a friendly expression.

“Please don’t be nervous. My father didn’t mean any harm. His reaction is quite instinctual by now. I hope you won’t hold it against him.”

After Rhodes realized what was going on, he shook his head and replied, “No, not at all. In fact, someone like General Grave makes me feel safe. Knowing that someone like him protects this place makes me feel like there won’t be any problems.”

Hearing Rhodes’s praise, the smile on the female knight’s face grew even more pronounced, and on General Grave’s stern face, a faint smile appeared. Everyone likes to hear kind words, and especially in Rhodes’s unique position, his words felt different from those of an ordinary person.

“By the way, we still don’t know how to address you?”

Rhodes, once he had regained his composure, asked the female knight in front of him.

“Claudia Levantine, my father’s adopted daughter, and also the captain of the Holy Knights Order guarding the church. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lord Rhodes.”

“To be honest, there’s no need for such formality.”

Being addressed as “Lord” was a first for Rhodes, and he felt a bit awkward hearing it.

However, Claudia shook her head and replied, “No, it’s a matter of courtesy. Lord Rhodes, as the messenger of the Goddess Leliantia, it would be impolite to address you without proper respect.”

Upon hearing this explanation, Rhodes looked at Celestine for confirmation. She understood that he was seeking validation from her and nodded silently.

“Then, how about this? In private situations like this where there are no others present, you don’t need to use such formal titles with me. Would that be acceptable?”

“If Lord Rhodes insists… we understand.”

Seeing that Rhodes genuinely preferred this, Claudia reluctantly agreed. She then turned her gaze toward Grave, who had been silent since the beginning. His behavior had left her somewhat puzzled, and she felt there might be an issue with Rhodes.

“General Grave, you’ve been watching Rhodes since the beginning. Is there a problem?”

Celestine also voiced her confusion. They had arranged this meeting to allow both parties to get to know each other, but Grave’s behavior had raised questions about whether there was an issue with Rhodes.

“No, it’s nothing. Just a minor issue. But I’ll ask anyway, Lord Rhodes, do you have any intention of learning martial arts?”

As Grave spoke, his gaze continued to scrutinize Rhodes’s body, and there was an inexplicable enthusiasm in his eyes. This made Rhodes feel uncomfortable, wondering if Grave had some strange intentions.

“Martial arts? Why do you suddenly bring up that topic? I haven’t even considered it. Besides, I haven’t even touched a proper weapon.”

“None at all? If that’s the case, I hope Lord Rhodes will consider learning martial arts. It might bring you great benefits, and you may even become a renowned general on this continent.”

As Grave described these possibilities, he became increasingly excited, surprising Rhodes and the others.

“Isn’t that a bit too exaggerated?”

Rhodes couldn’t believe he had such extraordinary talent.

“Not at all. My judgment is never wrong. Lord Rhodes, you may not realize it, but you have incredible potential as a warrior. There’s an unbelievable power hidden within you. So, if you would consider it, I’d be more than happy to personally teach you!”

“Lord Rhodes, my father is not someone who jokes around, especially when it comes to matters like this. He holds great esteem for martial arts. So, I can assure you he is serious.”

Seeing that Rhodes seemed skeptical, Claudia assured him. She was particularly pleased with her father’s offer to personally teach Rhodes. The thought of Rhodes becoming the renowned general he described made her feel excited.

“Rhodes, you might want to give it a try. After all, there’s no harm in trying.”

Celestine encouraged Rhodes, thinking that this unexpected opportunity could help build a closer relationship between Rhodes and Grave.

“Alright, I understand.”

Seeing Celestine’s support, Rhodes agreed to the training. He couldn’t help but notice that Grave seemed even more thrilled than Celestine about this decision.