EMATEC Chapter 141

 

 

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I wiped the sweat from my forehead and let out a breath of contentment.

 

“Ahh, now I can breathe.”

 

While I was feeling refreshed and full of energy, my poor team looked like they were on the verge of death, sprawled across the training grounds.

 

“Ughhh…”

 

“I’m gonna die…”

 

“Commander, how about we just go back inside and rest for a bit?”

 

Their grumbling floated toward me, but I let the complaints pass from one ear and out the other, pretending not to hear as I stared off into the sky.

 

I really did try to rest, just like Grandfather told me to.

 

But I was too restless to sit still.

 

“I don’t know why, but I feel like I’m bursting with energy.”

 

Even though I only rested for a short while, my whole body felt not just revitalized—but overflowing with power. It was like something was churning inside me, so much so that if I didn’t let it out soon, I might explode.

 

“It’s not like this is new. You’ve always been like that, Commander.”

 

“But this time… it’s different.”

 

I lay down among the Emblem Knights, who were collapsed in exhaustion, and closed my eyes to try to feel the energy within me.

 

‘I broke through the wall…’

 

Grandfather said I’d broken through.

 

Does that mean… I’ve truly gained the power of a Swordmaster?

 

From everything I’d seen growing up in the Emblem Order, Grandfather’s strength was beyond imagination.

 

There were times I wondered if he was even human—or if maybe he was actually a god.

 

“Hey… what do you think would happen if I became even stronger than this?”

 

“Well, that’d be great, right?”

 

“But what if I became so strong that the whole world turned against me, just because of that power?”

 

“Then you’d just beat them. If you’re that strong, you could deal with them before they even have the chance to become enemies.”

 

They all answered as if it wasn’t a big deal.

 

But none of their replies did anything to ease the unease stirring in my heart.

 

To become a Swordmaster like Grandfather—to become a knight who’s chosen the path of the sword to its very end—what could be more fulfilling than that?

 

Honestly, if I only focused on the sword, I should’ve been excited—thrilled even—wondering just how much stronger I could become, what new worlds the sword might open up for me.

 

But another part of me kept thinking about the struggles I saw Grandfather go through.

 

“They say great power comes with great responsibility, right? What if that weight becomes too heavy? What if I can’t do what I want anymore… can’t destroy what I want to destroy… can’t strike down who I want to strike down…?”

 

“Commander…”

 

At that, Jack suddenly jumped to his feet, unable to hold himself back anymore, and pointed straight at me.

 

“Commander, you were stronger today than you were yesterday. And you’ll be even stronger tomorrow. But not once—not once—have I ever seen you hesitate when it comes to fighting or breaking things!”

 

“Hey, hey, watch it! That’s insubordination…”

 

“What happened back there? What did you go through in that moment we failed to reach you? What’s got you thinking like this—what kind of messed-up thoughts are these?! Damn it…”

 

“…Are you crying right now?”

 

“I don’t care!”

 

Jack ran off, tears in his eyes. I instinctively reached out, but my fingers only brushed the edge of his coat. I couldn’t grab him in time.

 

I stood there in a daze, watching his back as he ran away. Then I turned to the others.

 

“…Did I do something wrong?”

 

“…If you don’t know, that just makes you more like our commander.”

 

The others awkwardly brushed themselves off and got up.

 

I tried to stand up as well, but Osric firmly pressed down on my shoulder and shook his head.

 

“Commander, you should rest. That guy definitely ran off to train somewhere you can’t see. We’ll go find him. Might as well get some training in ourselves while we’re at it.”

 

“If you’re gonna train, take me with you. Why sneak off after spending all that time together at the training grounds? That’s just cold…”

 

“We’re doing it to get stronger. If we train with you, we’ll just end up leaning on your strength again.”

 

“I’m the commander. Of course you’re supposed to lean on me.”

 

“You are our commander, yes. But you’re also our liege. What knight wants to always be protected by their own lord?”

 

I couldn’t respond to Osric’s words.

 

My head understood what he meant, but my heart hadn’t quite caught up yet.

 

So all I could do was watch as my team walked away from the training grounds.

 

Then, from a short distance, Kane approached me.

 

“You need some advice from your adjutant?”

 

“You want to be my adjutant?”

 

“Why else do you think I’ve been training with you all this time?”

 

“…Because you wanted to?”

 

“Hah.”

 

Kane let out a short, incredulous laugh. But after a brief moment, he closed his eyes tightly, opened them again, and sat down beside me.

 

“If I may, just imagine this.”

 

“Okay.”

 

“Let’s say the commander went on a journey. And while you were away, the Emblem Knights barely survived a dangerous mission without you.”

 

“I’d never leave something like that for my kids to handle alone.”

 

At my interruption, Kane scowled.

 

“Just go with it for a second.”

 

“…Fine.”

 

He looked like he’d quit being adjutant on the spot if I interrupted again, so I just nodded obediently.

 

“You come back and find Henry reading a book. Jack speaks like a robot, ending every sentence with ‘yes, sir.’ Osric responds to others with one-word answers and only swings his sword.”

 

“…What?”

 

“When you return, they greet you formally and politely… and that’s it. No one clings to you like they used to.”

 

I pictured the scene for a moment—my squad, transformed into the perfectly obedient knights I had always half-joked about wanting.

 

“…Ugh. Creepy.”

 

A chill ran from my toes all the way up my spine. I shivered and said.

 

“What the hell happened while I was gone?! I knew I should’ve gone with them! I’m never going on another trip again! Not ever!”

 

“See?”

 

“See what?”

 

“Even just imagining them acting out of character worries you.”

 

I nodded instinctively.

 

Seeing that I was finally getting it, Kane’s face softened, and he continued.

 

“When the commander got swallowed up by that swamp in the Carmedan Jungle, the Emblem Knights had to stand there and watch. Powerless. All they could do was gather the remaining students and contact Emblem headquarters.”

 

“……”

 

“They might look fine now, but that guilt is still eating away at them. And now that you’re back, acting different from your usual self—they start blaming themselves.”

 

“…Why?”

 

“Because they couldn’t protect you. The commander they knew—the one who was simple, reckless, and always followed their heart without a second thought—that person was gone.”

 

I blinked slowly, speechless.

 

I thought I knew my team better than anyone.

 

But it turns out—even Kane, who hasn’t been around nearly as long, could see something I didn’t.

 

It felt… strange.

 

“That was… oddly touching, but also kind of insulting.”

 

“Ah, well—that was just my personal opinion. It might not entirely match how the others feel.”

 

“Hey.”

 

I gave Kane a light punch on the shoulder.

 

Well, I meant to, but there wasn’t much force behind it.

 

I had thought I’d been doing a pretty good job as commander of the Emblem Knights…

 

But clearly, I still had a long way to go.

 

‘Still, I can make up for what I lack as I go.’

 

I looked at Kane with a warm feeling. He’d given me some really solid advice.

 

“You’re already doing a great job as adjutant. Looks like I’ll be able to rely on you a lot from now on.”

 

“I’m starting to wonder if I’ve been hired as your babysitter instead.”

 

“Oh, someone already does that. Her name’s Jessia. You’ll like her when you meet her.”

 

“She sounds terrifying.”

 

“How’d you guess?”

 

“Because I doubt anyone less than terrifying could handle babysitting you.”

 

“Wow, I really raised a great adjutant.”

 

I clapped in amusement, grinning proudly.

 

Kane squinted at me and replied in his usual grumpy tone.

 

“When did you ever raise me?”

 

“Of course I did. With this.”

 

I made a circle with my thumb and index finger, holding it up with a cheeky grin.

 

“…What the hell is that supposed to—”

 

“Money. You were raised on my dime, you brat.”