Chapter 2: Sid the Instructor

On the northern tip of the Alfeed continent, there was a vast land of permafrost surrounded by steep, towering mountains. It was entrapped by hellish freezing air, snow, and ice all year round due to its geography and spirit veins. In the era of legend, this land—known as the demon kingdom of Dachnesia—was ruled by a single human who was called the demon king. The capital of the former demon country is now an abandoned city where no living thing exists and only frozen, decaying ruins spread endlessly.

In the throne room of Dachnesia Castle, which stood in the center of the city, towering like a horrific giant, there was a somber figure who sat on a cold stone throne in the darkness. It was a girl with long silver hair, clad in a gothic dress. She was about fifteen or sixteen years old. Her devilish beauty would send shivers down a person’s spine if they looked at her closely, and her aura of intimidation sucked all the life out of the air just by her standing there. This uncanny presence didn’t belong to a person—or perhaps even to a living being. As someone who had given up their humanity for extraordinary power, the word demon fit her perfectly. She was an abnormality, and human in shape only. She wore a crown, and her somber regality certainly gave her the presence of a “king.”

“Unbelievable! How could he fail?!” the girl wearing the crown shouted. Her expression was twisted in frustration as she pounded the railings of the throne. “The sheer incompetence! The Dark Order of Opus is more useless than I thought!”

“Oh my, such harsh words when you were the one who mobilized a dark knight of the Order all by yourself.” A single shadowy figure emerged from the darkness near the throne, and her bewitching figure was obvious even through her robes. It was difficult to determine her age since over half of her face was hidden by her hood.

“So what?! The Dark Order of Opus are my loyal servants, aren’t they?!”

“Yes, of course we are, my adorable master,” said the witch.

“Then I can use you all how I want!” the girl wearing the crown shouted hysterically at the witch, who only chuckled. “It was the perfect chance to kill Alvin too! I won’t stop until I make his life a living hell!” The girl wearing the crown shook as she bit her nails. It was a mystery what kind of fate could have caused her to be so consumed by such a dark and heavy hatred.

“Master, I understand your hatred for Prince Alvin very well. However, now is an important time for us and our plans for the royal capital. So please refrain from getting swept up by your impulses and acting so rashly in the future,” the witch said to the girl as if to calm her down.

“B-But!”

“Don’t worry. There will be plenty of opportunities to kill him after the plan is completed. Also, wouldn’t you prefer to do it yourself rather than have someone else do it for you, my master?”

The witch’s admonishment caused the crowned girl to go silent with a bitter look on her face. Before long, the girl said, “Hmph. It’s as you say.” Surprisingly, the girl turned her head and backed down easily. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I was being a bit rash.”

“You are very wise indeed, my master.” The witch smiled suspiciously at the submissive girl. “However, there is something that concerns me.”

“What is it?”

“The knight who saved Prince Alvin...” The witch traced her lips with her fingers as she thought about it. “Even though the knight you sent to kill the prince was the least powerful of the dark knights, he should have been more than the present era’s weakened knights could handle, so I’m curious about the one who defeated him.”

“That’s true. That forest is a sacred ground for the royal family, isn’t it? There shouldn’t have been anyone there in the first place, so a knight just showing up to save the prince is too convenient. Do you know who the knight is?” the girl asked, and the witch once again smiled faintly and answered.

“I can think of one person...”

“Hmm? Who?”

“There is an old legend that has been passed down in the Calvania royal family.”

“Legend? What kind of legend?”

“Deep in the forest of Shaltos, there is the tombstone of a certain knight. Should a descendant of the royal family’s founder, Arthur, offer their blood onto the tombstone, the knight shall once again awaken from his slumber...or so the legend goes.”

“Reincarnation magic? You’re saying he revived a dead knight from the past? And? What’s the name of the knight in that grave?” the girl wearing the crown asked—surprisingly, with stars in her eyes—and the witch answered her question solemnly.

“Sid. Sid Blitze. The famous Sir Sid the Barbarian.”

At that moment, the girl went into a panic. “What?! Sir Sid the Barbarian?!” she said, standing up abruptly and giving the witch a fierce look. “That’s impossible! There’s no such thing as magic that can bring the dead back to life in the first—”

“We can’t say that for sure,” the witch replied calmly just as the girl was getting excited. “The founder of the royal family, Arthur, is one who has received the blessing of Éclair, the fairy god of light. During the legendary era, Arthur may have secretly received some kind of special magic from this god.”

The girl wearing the crown gulped upon hearing the witch’s suggestion.

“The truth is still unclear.” The witch paused. “But if that knight is indeed the legendary Sir Sid and he’s joined Prince Alvin, then he could be a considerable threat to us.”

“Wh-Why does Alvin get all the good stuff?!” The girl wearing the crown bit her nails, her face full of rage. It seemed like the hatred that poured out of her was so venomous it could kill. “Hmph! Even if he is the real thing, a knight from ancient times is no match for us!”

“It’s fine to get upset, but finding out the truth is our top priority,” the witch said, calming the girl as she became more enraged. “First, let’s find out whether or not that man is actually Sir Sid and if he is a threat to us. I’ll look into this knight while I’m preparing for the ongoing plan.”

“I’m counting on you.”

“Yes. Everything is for your sake, my master, and I will spare no effort,” the witch said and smiled. For a second, the witch’s eyes, which had been concealed by her robe, became visible. Those eyes held a dark, swirling emptiness, the bottom of which could not be seen.

It was daybreak after Alvin and Sid’s hapless meeting. They relied on the morning sunlight filtering through the trees, and Alvin led Sid as they walked. During their journey, they discussed much.

“I’m truly very sorry for forcing you to awaken,” Alvin said as he stared downward. “There is a secret magic that has been passed down in the royal family from my ancestor, the Holy King Arthur. It says to turn to you should misfortune ever befall the royal family.” Alvin looked back and forth at the sword crests on both of their hands. His was full of a strange mana and gave off a slight glow.

“I see. So that magic is what shook me awake from my thousand-year deathly slumber,” Sid said jokingly as he walked next to Alvin. “Still, to think that there’s magic that can revive the dead. I can’t believe it.”

“I think there is probably some kind of ancient magical contract that was made between you and Lord Arthur before you died. Do you have any memory of it?”

“Nope, none at all. My memories of the past are a little fuzzy.”

“I see.”

With a sidelong glance, Sid could see that Alvin was a little listless, so he changed the subject. “So, what was the deal with that guy who attacked you?”

“He was a dark knight from the Dark Order of Opus. They are an order of knights and a forbidden, heretical religion dedicated to Opus, the fairy god of darkness. They’re from the northern demon kingdom of Dachnesia that was once ruled by the demon king.”

“Jeez, they’re still going at it even though we crushed them in the past, huh?” Sid said, annoyed and shrugging his shoulders.

“In recent years, their order has suddenly resumed activities. It seems that they’ve been hiding underground this entire time,” Alvin said with a pained expression.

“They’re like cockroaches.”

“The order has restored the demon kingdom of Dachnesia, once again established a demon king in the north, and is trying to take control of the world.”

Sid was silent.

“They are enemies of this world, and their revival is a matter of national importance. Now is the time for the nation to come together and fight them but...unfortunately, our kingdom isn’t aligned.”

“What do you mean?”

“The three major dukes, namely the ducal families of Durande, Ortol, and Anthalo are the worst kind of people, preying on this country with their greed and ambition,” Alvin said with a quiet anger. “The Kingdom of Calvania has been supported by the royal family and the three dukes. However, now that the previous king has passed away, the royal family is weakened, and no one sits on the throne of Calvania. The current heads of the three ducal families are now trying to control the country by themselves and are keeping each other in check. Right now, the Ladies of the Lake are acting as representatives of the king based on the ancient pact they have with the royal family. However, their authority is limited, and they can’t completely keep the power of the dukes under control. I’m the only member of the royal family now. If I take over the throne, I can suppress and consolidate the power of the dukes to protect this nation, but for generations the king of this country has traditionally been a knight. According to the law, in order to be crowned king, one must first be knighted. In two years, I’ll graduate from the Calvania Royal Fairy Knight Academy and officially receive my knighthood. My very existence is an obstacle for them, so in the meantime, the dukes will most likely try to prevent my knighthood at any cost. Sir Sid, I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Yes, I know. Don’t worry. I’ll protect you from all kinds of trouble,” Sid said as soon as Alvin looked at him.

“I-Is it really all right, Sir Sid?” Alvin blinked in surprise as he looked up at the side of Sid’s face. “I mean, even though I didn’t have any other choice, I selfishly brought you back to life.”

“‘A knight speaks only the truth.’ I’m sure it’s what Arthur wants.”

“Oh, thank you! I’m so happy to have a knight like you!” Alvin suddenly had a huge, joyous smile on his face.

“However, I’m sorry, but I’m protecting you because I’m Arthur’s knight,” Sid said with a bold smile, killing the mood and shocking Alvin. “It’s not like I swore loyalty to you or became your knight. I’m doing this because my lord, Arthur, asked me to. You understand?”

Alvin went quiet.

“The only person I’ve ever wanted to offer my sword to is Arthur. In other words, I don’t acknowledge you. Also, I don’t plan on spoiling you because you’re a descendant of Arthur either, okay?”

These harsh words made Alvin feel depressed. “Y-You’re right. You’re Lord Arthur’s knight, Sir Sid. Just having you protect me is extraordinary enough,” Alvin said and sounded somewhat sad, looking at the ground and slumping his shoulders in disappointment.

Sid chuckled as he gave Alvin a sideways glance.

“S-Sir Sid?”

“Hey, come on, Alvin. What’s wrong? You’re going to become the king, aren’t you? This is a good opportunity to call me an insolent fool and take a slash at me. I mean, the king was just told off by some random knight, you know?” He laughed.

“Ah...” Alvin was suddenly at a loss for words, but Sid placed his hand on Alvin’s head and ruffled his hair.

“So, I’m guessing you didn’t want me as just a bodyguard but as a knight, huh?”

“W-Well, I...” Alvin gulped and nodded sadly.

“You’re quite the strange one. Would you usually want a knight you just met to swear loyalty to you? Though, if that’s what you want, then show me the path you take as king,” Sid said and gave Alvin a gentle smile. “If the time comes when I truly wish to dedicate my sword to the path you, the king, are taking, I’ll be your knight. That is, if you’re okay with your knight being the Barbarian.”

Suddenly, Alvin’s face lit up. “Y-Yes! I’ll do my best! I would love to have you!”

“Come on. A king shouldn’t bow his head so easily. Your crown is going to slip off, you know?”

“Oh?! Y-Yes! I-I’m sorry!”

“Ha ha ha. It looks like you got your work cut out for you—an apprentice candidate to be my future lord.”

“I-It’s going to be that hard to prove myself?!” Alvin said with tears in his eyes.

As they talked like this, the two of them proceeded through the forest. Eventually, the forest came to an end, and they arrived at a cliff where their field of vision suddenly opened up.

“Oh, Sir Sid, I can see it. That’s Calvania Castle,” Alvin said and pointed to the horizon. Some distance from the cliffs, there was a huge castle built between a series of mountains and a vast town spread out around it. It all shined in the dazzling light of the dawn. Calvania Castle was made up of several towers, buildings, and walls. Its imposing majesty was beautiful.

“So this is Calvania Castle, huh?” Sid mumbled as he gazed at the castle and town in the distance.

“I heard that the castle has been around since your age, Sir Sid. Are you feeling nostalgic?”

“My memories of the past are so vague. I’m not sure. It’s just...” Sid narrowed his eyes as if he was thinking about something far away and important. “I had a king I served, allies I stood shoulder to shoulder with, people I protected...and I guess they were all in that castle. That’s all in the distant past now, though.” Sid’s face became somewhat sullen as he talked. Sid’s lord and his friends were no longer alive. Now he was all alone. Alvin stood close to him, somehow knowing what he was thinking.

“Is it lonely?”

“I’m not sure.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Heh, you have nothing to apologize for,” Sid said and ruffled Alvin’s hair.

“In that case, at least let me thank you. For now, I’m just infinitely grateful that someone from the good old days of legend, from a world of spectacular stories woven by strong and noble knights, is by my side.” For a little while, Alvin and Sid continued to gaze at Calvania Castle. Alvin then turned to face Sid again and said, “Sir Sid?”

“What is it?”

“The truth is...I have one more request for you, Sir Sid.” Alvin started to say something when just then—

“Alvin!” The sound of many horses’ hooves was coming closer and closer from their right side. A platoon of about a dozen soldiers on horseback were flying the Kingdom of Calvania flag and were coming toward Alvin along the cliff road. Being precautious, Sid moved quickly to protect Alvin by keeping him behind his back. However, as soon as Alvin saw the girl on horseback at the head of the platoon, his expression brightened.

“Tenko! Oh, you’re here!” he shouted. The girl at the front of the group hurried to his side, jumped off her horse, and gave Alvin a flying embrace.

“Alvin!” she said, sobbing. “I’m so glad you’re okay! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry I’m late! I’m so sorry I couldn’t do anything for you when you needed me the most!”

Tenko was a girl whose white hair, which looked like the finest silk thread, was tied up at the nape of her neck, and her golden eyes were slightly slanted. She was around the same age as Alvin—fifteen or sixteen years old. She was a demi-human, a Cerian, and was probably from the group known as the noble-tailed people. Tenko had long ears and a tail reminiscent of a fox. Despite her wild appearance, in the place of savagery, there was a cold beauty and nobility that seemed to shut out others and gave her an air of royalty. She wore the same uniform as Alvin and was a squire just like him.

“I’m all right. I’m sorry I made you worry.” Tenko was in tears, and they hugged each other.

“Prince! You’re safe!”

“Now, let’s return to the castle!” The soldiers surrounding them also expressed their joy one after another. They were all happy that Alvin was safe, but their attention eventually turned to the stranger at his side. Sid looked calm and composed, radiating mystery.

“Relax, everyone. He saved my life. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be alive,” Alvin quickly explained as everyone looked suspiciously at Sid. “I would like to invite him to my castle as a guest, so everyone please be polite.”

“If you say so, then it shall be as you wish, our Prince,” a soldier said, and without any particular arguments against Sid coming, brought spare horses for both of them. It seemed only Tenko remained suspicious of Sid, and she peeked over at him and whispered to Alvin.

“Um...Alvin? Just who is this person?”

“Ha ha. I’ll explain more later but that man is...” Alvin gave a slightly mischievous laugh as he answered Tenko.

After being escorted by Tenko and the kingdom’s soldiers, Alvin and the others arrived at the capital of the Kingdom of Calvania, the royal city of Calvania. In the castle town that spread beyond the gates of the city walls, stone houses and buildings with sharp-angled roofs stood side by side, and open squares were scattered here and there. There were temples, universities, assembly halls, trading companies, markets, plazas, taverns, and bathhouses all over the city. The main street leading to the castle was lined with various shops, stalls, and food stands and bustled with people coming and going. Alvin’s group proceeded down this road toward the center of the royal capital where Calvania Castle stood towering like a mountain.

Calvania Castle was composed of countless towers, annexes, and walls arranged around the huge main castle building in the center, and its structure was divided into four broad layers. The upper level functioned as the center for national politics and contained the royal quarter, imperial court, and audience hall. The middle level contained the temple of the Ladies of the Lake, courtrooms, military facilities, the hanging gardens, and the residences of the knights and ministers in charge of state affairs. The Royal Fairy Knight Academy of Calvania—where future knights were trained—and its training grounds, dormitories, courtyards, gardens, moats, waterways, stables, and other facilities were located on the lower levels. The basement level contained a warehouse, archives, a jail, an execution site, an arena, and other facilities.

It is said that when the Kingdom of Calvania was founded, the Ladies of the Lake and the artisans of the Titan race joined together to build this castle, and through ancient magic, its insides were transformed into another world whose area was much larger than what it appeared to be. It was as if the castle itself was one huge city. After crossing the drawbridge over the moat, Alvin immediately invited Sid to the temple of the Ladies of the Lake.

“No matter what you say, Alvin, I’m absolutely against it!” Tenko’s shrill voice echoed through the space. Alvin and the others were at the temple’s ritual site, which was made up of several stone pillars and arches with an altar at the back.

“Now, now. Calm down, Tenko,” Alvin said.

“No, I will not calm down! You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Even though Alvin tried to pacify her, Tenko stubbornly refused to calm down. “I mean, he’s Sir Sid ‘The Barbarian,’ isn’t he?!” Tenko said, aggressively pointing her finger at Sid, who looked like he was having fun watching her.

“He’s cruel and inhumane! He’s a fiend who, in the end, was punished by the Holy King Arthur! I don’t care how strong he is. I am against having such an evil person by your side! What’s more, I can’t believe you want to make him an instructor knight for our class at the Royal Fairy Knight Academy of Calvania!”

Alvin had explained the details and circumstances surrounding Sid and expressed a desire to make him their instructor knight. However, since he said that, Tenko had been completely opposed to it.

“Wh-What are you saying, Tenko?!” Alvin said, raising his voice. “I told you many times! The real Sir Sid isn’t like that! The real Sir Sid is—”

“That nonsense again?! It’s obviously a bald-faced lie!”

“I-I told you that’s...” Alvin gave Sid an imploring look. “Sir Sid, please say something! You weren’t that kind of person, right?!”

“Was I a villain, or wasn’t I?” Sid chuckled and folded his arms. “Hmm. I wonder what I was really like. I don’t really remember, after all. What do you think, Alvin?”

“S-Sir Sid?!” Sid dodged the question for some reason, and just as Alvin was about to ask more, there came a voice.

“Come now, what are you two doing? You’re making Sir Sid uncomfortable.” A woman appeared, so beautiful she was almost like an illusion or a dream. She looked to be about eighteen or nineteen years old. She had long, shining blue hair and clear marine-blue eyes. She had pointed ears, and her skin was as white and translucent as fresh snow. It was as if a divine sculptor spent their entire life finely carving the shape of her countenance. Her bewitching body was the gold standard for the womanly form, lacking for nothing and possessing no excess. She wore an ultra-thin dress and an angel’s raiment that was like feathers and barely concealed the lines of her graceful body. She also exuded a mystique that couldn’t be hidden.

“I heard about what happened, and I apologize for the unpleasantness.” The woman bowed her head in front of Alvin and Tenko, who were now silent after being reprimanded. “Also, thank you so much for saving the prince. With neither Tenko nor myself by his side, it truly was a dangerous situation.”

“Oh? Are you a Nimue?” Sid asked as if he were feeling nostalgic about something.

In spite of the rude question, she smiled and introduced herself without hesitation. “Yes. I am Isabella, the current head of the Ladies of the Lake. I am the protector of this country in accordance with the ancient pact with the holy king, Arthur.”

There are many different races: humanity; demi-humans known as Cerians; the race of giants known as Titans; and the half-human, half-fairy race known as Nimue...among others. The half-human, half-fairy Nimue are considered to be the apostles of Éclair, the fairy god of light, and are a mysterious race of only women, with beauty, mana, and longevity unmatched by humans. Those among the Nimue who have made an ancient pact with the Holy King Arthur and lend their strength to the royal family and the kingdom are called the Ladies of the Lake.

“I see. So the pact between the royal family and the Ladies of the Lake is still in place?”

“Oh my. I heard that your memories of the past were limited, but you still remember?”

“Yes, partially.” Sid glanced at Tenko and somewhat amusedly asked Isabella, “Am I really seen as such a bad guy in this era?”

“It’s way worse than bad!” Tenko interrupted. “It’s said that Sid was cruel and inhumane. He was a fiend, a disgrace to chivalry who tormented the weak, had his way with women, caused pointless slaughter on the battlefield, and left heaps of bodies in his wake. If you listed all of the terrible legends and anecdotes passed down about Sid ‘The Barbarian,’ there’d be no end to them!” Tenko asserted.

“Ha ha ha.” Despite her words, Sid only laughed and seemed somewhat happy.

“Wh-What’s so funny?!”

“No, it’s just that during the time you all call the legendary era, we knights fought with the dream of having our names left for posterity and having our exploits celebrated by poets but...” Sid looked at Tenko with a bold smile and said, “It’s a dream come true.”

That instant, Tenko’s face turned red with anger. “I can’t believe someone who calls themselves a knight is proud of such infamy and wrongdoings! I understand now! I hate you! I don’t know if you’re the strongest knight of the legendary era, but as a fellow knight, I will never accept you!” With a terribly menacing look, Tenko started to come at Sid, who was acting aloof. That’s when a determined Alvin intervened with a stern expression.

“I believe you,” Alvin said firmly to Sid, his words filled with a strong will.

“Oh?” Sid said with amusement as Alvin looked straight up at him.

“There’s a reason that you can’t confirm or deny what’s been said about you, isn’t there?” Alvin asked.

“Who knows?” For a second, Sid was at a loss for words, then he shrugged his shoulders and replied. “It could be that I’ve simply forgotten all about my past.”

“Even so, I don’t believe you’re the kind of person they talk about in such a slanderous way,” Alvin said and Sid was silent. “Last night, you answered my call when I was at the edge of despair, Sir Sid. You awoke from your deathly slumber and fought for my sake. I believe in you, and I believe that you are a knight among knights!” Alvin expressed his innermost feelings directly to Sid, who blinked in surprise. “And that’s why I want you to teach me.” Sid continued to blink as Alvin stared at his own hands with zeal and frustration. “In recent years, monsters have become more active, and the threat from the demon nation to the north has left the people of the kingdom in a constant state of fear. This peace is nothing but a tower in the sand that could crumble at any moment,” Alvin said, and Sid still remained silent. “Eventually, I will become the king of this country. I must protect it and its people from every kind of hardship. So, I want to become stronger. Not just me, but each and every one of us must become stronger to protect this land. That’s why I’m asking you! Please become our instructor! Please train us!” Alvin desperately appealed to Sid and stared at him. Alvin believed in Sid. Even if no one else believed in him, Alvin of the royal family of Calvania would believe in Sid. He had his reasons.

Sid stared back in silence at Alvin. Eventually, the resurrected knight grinned and in a nostalgic tone said, “Yeah. You really do resemble Arthur.”

“What?”

“Jeez, be careful though, okay? If you trust people so easily, you’ll get duped by some nasty woman just like Arthur did.”

“What?!”

“He was good looking, but on top of having the absolute worst luck with women, he was gullible. If I wasn’t around, he’d be taken advantage of right away.”

“Th-That’s a side of my great ancestor that I never wanted to know about!”

“Still.” Sid placed his hand on Alvin’s head and caressed it gently. “Thank you, Alvin.”

“Oh...”

Sid’s smile was as gentle as it could be as he looked at Alvin. “If I didn’t help you after being told all that, it’d hurt my reputation as a knight. All right, just leave this instructor business to me.”

“Th-Thank you. I’ll be in your care.”

“Come on now. I told you, didn’t I? A king shouldn’t bow their head so easily.”

“Even so, I want to,” Alvin replied with a smile that he felt deep in his heart.

Isabella, who had been watching the two of them, gave a wry smile and looked over at Tenko, who was right next to her. “Well, it looks like it’s been decided.”

Meanwhile, all Tenko could do was growl and grind her teeth in frustration.

It was a moonless night in a certain corner of the southern district of the royal city of Calvania. In a deserted alley, there was a man walking unsteadily while holding a lantern.

“Weee! Hicc.” The man was Ivan Stad, a skilled member of the royal city’s stonemason guild. He was a stubborn but magnanimous and caring man who was passionate about nurturing the growth of his juniors. As such, many people adored Ivan. His dedication to his work resulted in him remaining single for most of his life, but he recently took a young and beautiful wife. His life had been smooth sailing, and his days were happy and content. That was why he forgot that darkness awaited just around the corner.

Ivan noticed something as he walked with a drunken stagger. Normally, after he turned right at the intersection ahead, the house where his lovely wife was waiting for him was just around the corner. It was a road he knew well, and no matter how inebriated he was, there was no way he could mistake it. However, today for some reason there was a dead end.

“Wh-Wha? Am I drunk or something?” Suddenly, a fog had settled around him and the scenery became strange. Ivan wondered if the alleys in this area were always this complicated and mazelike. Then he noticed something else. There was something written on the wall of the dead end. “Wha? What is this?” Ivan pointed the lantern at the wall. Drawn there was a Torah-style magic circle with a triangle in the middle and some kind of spell written in the old fairy language. It wasn’t just the wall in front of him either. Countless magic circles drawn in multiple layers on the walls on both sides of him—and the floor—created a terrifying scene. There were still empty spaces here and there with half-finished magic circles. Ivan had no idea what they could mean. “M-Magic? Hicc, oh, it’s the thing that those Nimue ladies always use. Hicc, what’re they doing here?”

Just then...

Without warning, there was a cold voice whispering in Ivan’s ear. “Thank you for coming, little lost lamb of the night.” A hand suddenly reached from behind, covering Ivan’s mouth, and he felt a searing pain in his back. It was a sword, and its bright red blade, stained with his blood, stuck out from his chest. Blood sprayed from the wound, coating the magic circles. It was all so sudden. Ivan had no idea what was going on. Then, without a single yell, his life came to an early end.

“You shouldn’t go out on a night with no moon. The night is a different kind of world. The kind of world of deep abysses where inhuman beings wriggle about rampantly. That’s how you get summoned by bad witches—like me.” A witch stood behind the fallen Ivan. She was wearing a jet-black hooded robe that covered her entire body. She looked down at the now dead Ivan with no emotion, just a cold gaze. “But don’t worry. Your death won’t be in vain. You shall become sustenance and sacrifice for the great secret arts of ancient times.” The witch then said in the ancient fairy language, “Gifuth Yus Lams,” which meant “I offer you the flesh of the lamb.” Then a thick darkness like a swamp spread out underneath her feet. From it, countless hands emerged and pulled Ivan’s corpse below. Then, from the swamp’s darkness, came the repulsive sound of something being chewed. However, the witch showed no interest in the man who had been dragged into the dark. She placed her finger on the wall and began to finish the incomplete magic circles. “I’m almost finished with this as well. The more I toil, the more joyous it shall be.” The witch giggled with a cold smile as she continued to draw the magic circles. “Now, after tonight’s work is done, the next step is...”

The Calvania Royal Fairy Knight Academy was located in the lower levels of Calvania Castle and divided into several classes. There was the Durande class, which respected strength and honor; the Ortol class, which respected wisdom and intelligence; and the Anthalo class, which respected law, order, and virtue. Traditionally, students of the Knight Academy would be divided into these three classes and live together in the dormitory as they trained and studied every day in the hopes of becoming knights. However, a fourth class was newly established starting this semester. It was the Blitze class, a place for students who—for various reasons—couldn’t get into any other class. It was inferior to the other classes and ridiculed as the “garbage-heap class.” The Blitze classroom was located in a small remote mansion that faced the castle’s courtyard. Currently, just before morning drills, the classroom held six students dressed in squire’s formal wear. Among them was Alvin, who was talking with his classmates.

“Hey, Alvin. Starting today, this class is going to be getting an instructor knight too, right?!” one of the students said.

“Yes, that’s right,” Alvin said.

“All right! Now we can finally begin training seriously to become knights!” an excited boy with short brown hair said.

“That’s true,” a girl with gray hair in pigtails replied sullenly. “It’s already been half a year since we entered the Knight Academy, but we’ve basically just been practicing on our own or with Lady Isabella when she takes time away from her political duties.”

“Thanks to the three dukes, this class hasn’t had a single instructor knight until now,” the boy with short brown hair replied.

“And we even have the prince in class too. This country’s corruption runs deep,” the girl with gray pigtails said.

“Well, that doesn’t matter anymore, right? Either way, we have an instructor now!”

They talked until another girl joined in. “U-Um, yeah, but...I don’t really like scary people!” the girl said in a frightened voice. She had flaxen hair in loose waves.

“What are you saying, Lynette? We’re going to be knights, aren’t we?! Anyone is welcome to teach us as long as they’re strong! Right, Theodore?!” the boy with short brown hair said to another boy sitting in the corner of the classroom.

“Hmph, I wouldn’t count on it,” a sarcastic voice answered. Everyone’s gaze shifted to the boy wearing glasses who was resting his chin on his hand and facing away.

“Our sword ranks are low, and everyone has a reason for being here. There’s no way a knight who’s coming to a place full of garbage-heap failures would be a decent person.”

“B-But,” the boy with short brown hair said, still clinging to hope.

“Theodore’s right. We can’t get our hopes up,” Tenko the noble-tail said haughtily, leaning against the wall with her arms folded. “In any case, our instructor’s name is Sid Blitze. As in, Sir Sid the Barbarian.”

“Huh? Sid?” the students said in unison, immediately confused.

“W-Wait a minute. When you say Sir Sid the Barbarian, you don’t mean that Sir Sid, right?”

“Ha ha ha, of course she doesn’t. He’s been dead for a thousand years.”

“It’s not another person with the same name, is it?”

“Jeez, he sure is bold, calling himself Sir Sid like that.” Every student was trying to make sense of the situation in their own way.

“Unfortunately, he’s the very person from that legend. It seems that he came back to life after a thousand years just the other day,” Tenko said, thrusting the reality of the situation on them.

After a brief silence: “What?! You’ve got to be kidding?!”

“Alvin, what does she mean?!” The students suddenly made a commotion as their gazes turned to Alvin all at once.

“U-Um, well you see...ha ha. Where should I start?” a troubled Alvin said and scratched his cheek.

“I’m interested in that story as well.” A gentle voice came from near the entrance of the classroom, drawing everyone’s attention to it. Standing there was a girl of breathtaking beauty, with luxurious blonde hair, eyes as red as blood, and white skin.

“Good morning, everyone, as always.” As Alvin and the others blinked in surprise, she greeted them all with a small yawn and rubbed her sleepy-looking eyes.

Alvin narrowed his eyes in annoyance and let out a sigh. “You’re late, Flora. The eight o’clock bell has already rung.”

“Oh, really? Sorry, I’m not really a morning person.”

“What kind of carefree talk is that for an aspiring knight? You’ve been like this ever since you enrolled here!” Tenko said and put her hand on her sword.

“Come on, you two. She’s always like this, right?” the boy with brown hair said.

“Yes, I don’t think there’s much you can say to Flora at this point,” the girl with pigtails chimed in. While everyone talked about her, Flora remained completely unfazed, smiling as she casually walked among the other students and took her seat. Then, with a somewhat mischievous smirk, she clasped her hands and urged Alvin to continue his explanation.

“So? What were you saying about Sir Sid?” Flora said.

“Oh, yes. That’s right. I’m sure you know that a dark knight attacked me the other day. Well, a lot happened and...” So, with a smirk on his face, Alvin told the story.

“H-He’s really the real Sir Sid the Barbarian?!”

“Th-This is way too unexpected.”

“Yeek! Th-This is so scary!”

As Alvin finished his story, the students began to tremble with fear.

“Sid the Barbarian. According to popular belief, he was a fiend, a disgrace to chivalry,” the boy with glasses said, looking slightly tense.

“Yeah, there are too many terrible stories about him to even count,” the pigtailed girl said and nodded, looking a little pale.

“I-I heard that S-Sir Sid killed all the innocent people in a village just to try out a new sword! Yeek!” the flaxen-haired girl said as she trembled just from remembering the story.

“That’s still one of the tamer stories. I heard that he cut down a hundred enemies on the battlefield and slayed a hundred captive women with the sword below his belt,” the brown-haired boy said and gulped.

“A sex drive like that is just too much. Are knights from the legendary era monsters or something?” The boy with the glasses moaned as a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

“H-Hey, everyone! You’re being rude!” Alvin puffed out his cheeks and began to protest. “Sir Sid is not like that! He’s a true knight among knights!”

“And here Alvin goes again with his delusions,” an exasperated Tenko muttered. “Why is your image of Sir Sid so out of sync with the rest of society?”

“Th-That’s because...” Alvin stopped talking and didn’t object.

Tenko didn’t dig any further into the issue and instead sighed and said, “Well, putting that aside for now, isn’t Sir Sid running late? I’d say it’s been quite a while since the eight o’clock bell. I mean, it’s almost nine o’clock.”

“N-Now that you mention it...” Puzzled, Alvin tilted his head to the side. “Hmm, I wonder if he’s lost. This castle is as big as a town. I wonder if I should have come with him.”

“What are you going to do?” Tenko asked.

Alvin thought for a moment and then said, “I don’t have a choice. I’ll summon him.”

“Summon?” Tenko inquired.

Alvin showed everyone the sword crest on the back of his right hand. “Isabella said that Sid is like my familiar. So, if I think hard enough, it seems I can summon him with the power of magic,” Alvin said.

“Th-That’s convenient, having him come when you summon him,” the girl with flaxen hair stammered.

“It’s almost like a knight and their fairy sword,” said the girl in pigtails.

“Just as a sword serves a knight, a knight serves their king. I see. That’s a good way of putting it,” said Theodore.

“Hmph.” Tenko blatantly frowned at the students’ chatter.

As he gave the endlessly upset Tenko an awkward smile, Alvin stretched his right hand forward with the back facing up, then prayed silently.

I, Alvin Noll Calvania of the lineage of the Holy King Arthur, beseech you.

Suddenly, the soft light of mana danced around Alvin, and the crest on the back of his hand began to glow with heat. Fluffy dancing particles of light poured onto the floor, forming a Torah-style magic circle with a triangle in the middle. Gradually, the presence of mana grew in that place, and a miracle from ancient times manifested before their very eyes, and everyone watched with bated breath.

“Sir Sid the Lightning Knight, answer my call. Show yourself before me!” Alvin called out intensely. “Now, appear!” At that moment, a dazzling white light burst from the magic circle that formed on the floor and blinded everyone temporarily. Then, when the light subsided...

“3,843! 3,844! 3,845!” Sid had appeared. “3,846! 3,847!” He was swinging an iron stick—that looked more like a log—with all of his might. He readied the stick, adjusted his breathing, relaxed, and slowly raised it straight above his head. He smoothly transmitted his energy from his shoulder to his elbow and then his wrist, took a step, and then swung down sharply with a piercing energy. All the while, he never relaxed his guard. He repeated this rough, yet somewhat sophisticated, style of sword strike over and over again. Each stroke was filled with a tremendous amount of concentration. Sid’s entire body was drenched in a waterfall of sweat, making everyone wonder just how long he had been immersed in his exercise. The series of swings was like a beautiful dance that one could watch forever. However, the biggest and only problem was...

“Um, excuse me, Sir Sid?” Alvin called out to him apologetically.

“3,975! Hmm? Alvin?” When Sid finally realized what was going on, he stopped his swinging practice and looked back at Alvin and the others. “Is this? Shoot. Is it time for class already?” Sid said as he wiped the sweat from his forehead and lightly caught his breath. “Ha ha ha. Sorry about that. I’ve always had a bad habit of losing sight of my surroundings when I’m focused on one thing.”

“No, it’s fine. More importantly—”

“Oh, you want to know what I was doing? Well, it’s just like what it seems. I was practicing my sword strokes. Maybe it’s because of being reincarnated, but my body has become pretty weak, so I thought I’d try to get some of my strength back.”

“No, that’s fine too. It’s just...why?” Alvin’s face turned red as he looked at the ground with his shoulders and fists shaking. Eventually, he couldn’t take it anymore and screamed out, “Why are you naked?!”

“Hmm?” Yes, it was as Alvin pointed out. Sid was completely naked without a thread of clothing on him. His body was thin, but well conditioned. He lacked any reservations, as his beautiful body looked like an ancient sculpture made with the proportions of an inverted triangle. Sid was silent as he looked down at himself for a moment and then said, “It’s just common sense to practice sword strikes naked, isn’t it?”

“On what planet is that common sense?!” Alvin immediately retorted, blushing red like a tomato.

“Y-You pervert!” Tenko’s face had also turned bright red, and her eyes swirled around in confusion as she screamed. She then pulled out her sword, kicked the floor and lunged at Sid, stabbing with her left hand.

“G-Get away from Alvin!”

“Whoa there.” Sid grabbed the oncoming point of her sword with the fingers of his left hand and in a fluid motion turned his body to the right, disorienting the trajectory of the thrust. At the same time, while he grabbed the back of Tenko’s neck, he swept her legs out from underneath her, pulled her to the ground as he wrapped his body around hers, and straddled her.

Tenko let out a small shriek as she was rolled onto her back, completely immobilized while Sid held down her hands and feet with his own.

“Oh no, I ended up using my wrestling skills,” Sid said as he looked down at the pinned Tenko. “Tenko, that was pretty dangerous, wasn’t it? Slashing at someone out of nowhere isn’t okay. If it was anyone else, they would have gotten really—” Sid started to give a very sensible lecture, but...

“Ahhh! No, someone save me!” Pinned down and unable to move, Tenko was in no mood to be lectured. All she could do was shake her head and flail about in a half-crazed frenzy with tears in her eyes.

“Um, please stop,” Alvin said to the two of them as he sighed and slumped his shoulders. As for the other students...

“Th-This is the legendary Sir Sid?!”

“The first thing he did when summoned to the present day was push down a woman. They were right about his sex drive.”

“No! This guy is just a perverted sex fiend!”

“At this rate, it’s seeming like the stories might be true.”

The students were saying anything they wished as Flora watched the whole chaotic scene. “Ha ha ha. Sir Sid is quite the interesting person.”

“Flora, as always, you’re way too casual about this,” an exasperated Alvin said as Flora just smiled brightly, unaffected.