Interlude: The Swordsmanship Dojo Master's Point of View
In the capital city, there was a renowned swordsmanship dojo known for producing many exceptional knights. Young warriors trained diligently within its walls, honing their skills.
The master of the dojo was a man named Lorent, whose long white hair and thick beard left a striking impression. His physique, honed to perfection despite his age, also caught the eye.
At this moment, Lorent was seething with anger.
"This is unacceptable!"
His furious voice echoed through the dojo, now emptied of students after their training session. The one receiving his outburst was none other than Vice-Commander Bellows, who had once trained at this very dojo and had introduced Justin to the Order.
"Your anger is justified… I, too, find certain aspects of this case unsettling."
"Then hurry up and investigate. Bring Justin back. The Order needs men like him right now."
"I completely agree. However… there seem to be some rather complicated circumstances at play."
"Even you, as the Vice-Commander, can't act immediately? That serious, huh?"
"I'm ashamed to admit it, but yes."
At that moment, realization struck Lorent.
If even Bellows, with his position as Vice-Commander, couldn't overturn the situation easily, it meant that someone with even greater authority was involved. However, Justin was still a young Holy Knight. Lorent couldn't fathom why someone so powerful would be so fixated on him.
"Why is the Order so determined to keep Justin out?"
"If I had to guess… a personal grudge."
"A grudge? Justin isn’t the kind of man to provoke such hatred."
"A one-sided resentment, most likely. He had ambition, but he never strayed from the right path… and he achieved results. That alone would have made him a target for envy."
"A disgrace. A true knight should see a strong opponent as a challenge to surpass, not someone to drag down."
Lorent sighed, exasperated.
Watching him, Bellows looked uncomfortable, averting his gaze.
"It is a painful truth. As experienced knights, it is our duty to guide the younger generation onto the right path."
"Well, there have always been cunning schemers. The real question is—what is their goal?"
"Indeed. This may only be the beginning…"
Bellows' eyes gleamed sharply as he spoke.
Sensing that the situation ran deeper than it seemed, Lorent fell silent.
Understanding that Bellows would now move in earnest, he, too, made a quiet decision to take action.
What do you think about this chapter?
