The Unyielding Trio
I am Dan, a knight of the Sanctuary.
Though I was nominally a low-ranking noble, I have already abandoned my family name.
I belong to one of the knight orders of the Sanctuary, the Fire Spirit Knights.
The Fire Spirit Knights not only consisted of humans, but Beastkin as well. Unlike the Earth Spirit KKnights, Wind Spirit Knights, and Water Spirit Knights which were comprised of singular races, the Fire Spirit Knights had members of various backgrounds, including both nobles and commoners.
My childhood friends Bill and Madd were also in the Fire Spirit Knights.
The spark that started the establishment of the knight orders was undoubtedly Madd, Bill, and I.
Our activities received the endorsement of the Great Spirits, and with the permission of Iruma-sama, the guardian and keeper of the Sanctuary, we were able to establish a knight order in the Sanctuary.
And so, under the guidance of one of Iruma-sama’s wives, Sophia-sama, and her father, Dante-dono, we began training to become knights who would protect the Sanctuary.
It started with the three of us, but young candidates were selected by the Great Spirits from the entire continent and started gathering.
Then Sophia-sama transformed into a hellish drill sergeant.
We were made to run relentlessly in formation, and after a brief period of rest, we had to do combat sparring.
Sophia-sama became our sparring partner, and everyone lined up in front of the peerless beauty that she was, but alas, everyone regretted it.
I really thought I was about to meet my maker.
She redefined our perspective of strong people.
In a spar with her, we were crawling on the ground without having been able to land a single hit.
「Body techniques serves as nourishment for other martial arts. Furthermore, it would also help in acquiring the Body Control skill in the future.」
Sophia-sama informed us of such, however, I believe half of the cadets had passed out and weren’t listening.
Despite the harsh training, we had gotten used to it after several days.
Among them, Madd, Bill, and I prided ourselves of being a step ahead of the others.
But about that.
Someone who threatened our existence had appeared.
「You oniichans sure are slow~ Sara, Shirona, and the other kids are fine with this much.」
「Guh, losing to a child…… how vexing.」
To think we couldn’t do a thing against the Catkin young man, Wappa-dono……
「Dan, were you beaten as well?」
「Are you implying the same, Madd?」
「It wasn’t just me, he got Bill too.」
「Wha!? All three of us were defeated by Wappa-dono……?」
One day, I will become a knight that protects everyone.
Declaring so, a teenage Catkin boy, who could still be called a child, began participating in the training.
This young man known as Wappa was one of the orphans that Iruma-sama sheltered in the early days of the Sanctuary.
He speaks quite amicably with Sophia-sama.
Perhaps due to that, Sophia-sama had no hesitation in allowing Wappa, still a mere child, to join the training.
「Dan, you will spar with Wappa in hand to hand combat. Go all out, no hesitation.」
「……understood.」
Being told to go all out against a minor had me questioning this order.
I’d like it to be reconsidered. Wappa-dono isn’t even tall enough to reach my shoulders. As a beastkin, he likely grows faster. He had a better physique than a Human of the same age, but to me, it was still an adult versus a child.
However, once the mock battle began, I understood exactly what Sophia-sama meant when she said to go all out without any hesitation.
I stood facing Wappa-dono, maintaining a distance of five meters.
「Both parties, ready. Then, begin!」
At Sophia-sama’s signal, I tried to close the distance between Wappa-dono and I, but I lost sight off him.
And the next instant, I took a heavy blow from the side and then I was on my hands and knees.
「Gufu」
Shaking my head in confusion, I frantically looked around and saw Wappa-dono standing calmly at his starting position.
「Done already!? If you can stand, then get up quickly!」
「……y, yes!」
At Sophia’s orders, I rose unsteadily, and this time, I watched Wappa-dono without letting my guard down.
I don’t know what he did, but I won’t fall for the same trick twice, so I readied myself properly this time, but all Wappa-dono did was take a single normal step forward.
The next instant, I found myself looking up at the sky.
Then I lost consciousness.
When I regained consciousness, I was lying on the edge of the training ground, and I saw Madd and Bill lying beside me in the same way.
It was then that I realized that the Sanctuary was far more extraordinary than I had ever imagined.
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