I Became a Raid Boss

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Should I call it unexpected?

Based on my experience, knights living off their sword usually don’t seem too keen on dueling with real swords.

Of course, I think it’s right to practice with real swords to get accustomed to fighting.

But I know my thoughts stray far from the mainstream opinion.

Some say, anyway, when you go outside, you’ll have to fight amidst bloodshed, so why do it in practice aimed at improving skills?

Others question whether it even makes sense to risk injury.

And some complain that if their sword or armor gets damaged, they’ll have to repair it, and that deters them.

These are somewhat valid points, so every time the knights beneath me said such things, I nodded along.

And then I said,

“Stop talking nonsense and come here. Or should I go instead?”

Discomfort, injury, money—all valid concerns, as long as one is alive.

A body with a pierced heart and a severed neck can’t complain.

Looking back now, other than a few, it didn’t matter to me whether they got injured fighting the enemy or returned as cold corpses.

If someone heard my words, they’d likely ask how I could think of my subordinates like that, as if I had no blood or tears….

They could say that.

But, well.

Is there any reason to look kindly on those who nitpick at every little thing, gossiping behind my back, pointing fingers, and spreading all kinds of slander?

If someone tried to persuade me with, “Still, human life is important,” I’d be willing to scoff right at their face.

Most of those who talked behind my back didn’t exactly value human life, and I wasn’t some saint who willingly offered my other cheek when I got slapped.

Still, the reason I pushed them and desperately tried to save them was simply because I didn’t want to be labeled a useless commander.

“To hear such words from someone who just lazes around in the castle, being a paragon of incompetence?“

That day, it could be said I had saved my sleep.

No, not just that day; I wouldn’t sleep for weeks due to the humiliation.

So, the reason I saved them was my personal selfishness, not that I felt attached to them or because I would feel bitter if they died.

Absolutely not.

“…How did we end up here?”

Having no one to ask, I found myself justifying endlessly, suddenly feeling awkward and scratching my cheek.

Then, after finishing my thought, I passed the responsibility to the person standing before me.

“This is all your fault.”

“?”

The person in front of me, Yuki, blinked blankly, not knowing what I was talking about.

A perfectly normal reaction.

Looking at her, there was nothing in common with ordinary people.

Her hand held a sword, which consumed that feeling entirely.

It wasn’t a wooden sword or a practice sword but a deadly, sharp blade.

When I swung it as a test, it sliced through thick leather easily, so human skin would surely split open and spill red life with just a light touch.

“That doesn’t seem like something Kana should say!”

“That’s right.”

I agreed to Da-eun’s unexpected interjection.

Yet, here I was, holding a strikingly red-bladed real sword in my hand.

Reluctant to admit it, a small girl like me holding a sword taller than herself isn’t the usual sight even in Silia.

Even viewed through the eyes of a Silian, how much more so for someone from Earth.

“I get scared just watching. I worry that someone might get hurt. They should at least wear some protective gear…”

That was what Da-eun said every time I shared a sword practice with Yuki, watching intently without ever training.

“That’s unnecessary worry.”

I dismissed Da-eun’s concerns.

“I’m not going to get hurt.”

I glanced at Yuki since that might be a disheartening thing to say to her, but she didn’t seem to care all that much.

In fact, her reaction was more positive.

Of course, it didn’t concern me if she furrowed her brow out of pride.

“Dueling is a duel in its own way.”

With the difference in level between Yuki and me, getting hurt was nearly impossible.

Unless she deliberately put herself in harm’s way, even if Yuki swung her sword with all her might, it wouldn’t touch me.

When Da-eun heard me, her eyes went wide.

“Huh? I wouldn’t worry about Kana. I’m worried about Yuki getting hurt.”

“….”

I froze.

As I looked at Da-eun, she stared back with a serious face.

But for just a moment.

Her stiff mouth twitched, and she couldn’t hold back her laughter.

“Ahaha! Look at your face! Just kidding, just kidding. Of course, I’m worried about Kana first. Are you mad?”

“…No.”

“It was really a joke. I’ll make something delicious when we get home today, so cheer up, okay?”

“I said I’m not mad.”

…Anyways.

I had the ability to subdue Yuki without injury, so there wasn’t much need for concern about Yuki getting hurt.

Not wearing protective gear was also because of that.

I pushed Da-eun, who kept chirping from the side, out of my mind and resumed the not-so-quiet duel that had lagged a bit due to my wandering thoughts.

How many minutes passed?

I’m not sure how much time exactly went by, but I could tell it wasn’t overly long.

Yuki mainly attacked, while I evaded or blocked her strikes.

That didn’t mean I was just defending.

Swordsmanship is about blocking an enemy’s attack and effectively striking back.

Just attacking without knowing how to defend would mean nothing, so occasionally I would launch attacks she struggled to counter.

Of course, even if I failed to defend against an attack, I didn’t have to worry about losing my head.

Like now.

“…I lost.”

Clang!

The sword fell to the hard floor with a sharp yet dull sound.

Yuki’s red blade was right beside her neck.

The fine hairs on my neck brushed against the blade.

“If you’ve lost, then you’ve lost. Why drop the sword?”

“Because a loser has no right to hold a sword.”

Yuki responded elegantly.

Naturally, it was not a rational answer.

The idea of conceding defeat and lowering my sword was not in my dictionary.

To die or to kill.

It wasn’t that there weren’t scenarios other than those, like the one-armed swordsman who had come to seek me last time, but most outcomes were one or the other.

“Since this is a duel, I won’t say more, but you shouldn’t do that in a real fight.”

Does conceding defeat make your life return?

If that were the case, one would have to fight to the bitter end.

Just like I did when I faced the Monstrous Beast long ago.

This had been something I had said several times, so Yuki shrugged and replied casually.

“Sometimes, I think Kana has a bit of an old-fashioned side.”

“Sometimes? I think it’s a lot.”

“It was just out of courtesy.”

“Ah-ha!”

Before long, Da-eun, revived, joined in on the chatter with Yuki.

Both having contrasting natures, it was odd how they clicked at times like this.

Not understanding it at all, I shook my head.

They treat what I say as nothing but rambling and then at times treat me like a kid….

What rhythm am I supposed to follow here?

“People are originally complex creatures. Judging them by only one side is a bad habit, you know?”

Make sure to take this to heart.

“Nonsense.”

I scoffed at Da-eun as she said this and turned to Yuki, who was fiddling with her sword.

“Aren’t you still getting used to it?”

“Hmm. I’m getting a little more accustomed. But it still doesn’t feel easy.”

Whoosh—

Yuki swung her sword aimlessly in the air.

The sword in her hand was a longsword.

Although typically a longsword is suited for use with two hands rather than one, the sword Yuki held was particularly long and heavy compared to others, so she had no choice but to use both hands.

“It’s a shame.”

“You should have trained hard.”

“Yeah, I know. If I had known this would happen, I would have.”

“…What kind of conversation is this?”

Yuki looked strangely distant.

At the end of her gaze, a greatsword lay lonely in one corner of the gym.

When I began teaching Yuki, I brought over the greatsword she used in Silia.

And with a delighted face, she intended to receive it back, but—

Boom!

“…Huh?”

Her body, weaker than that of a Silian, simply couldn’t bear the weight of the greatsword.

She could barely lift it with effort, but swinging it was impossible.

So, I handed her a suitably weighted longsword instead.

“To be precise, I gave it to you.”

“Yustina said to give it to me. That makes it mine.”

The sword Yustina had given to me and entrusted to Da-eun.

The Crimson Aegis was no longer needed, and that sword made its way into Yuki’s hands.

Once she became more comfortable with mana manipulation, it wouldn’t be impossible for her to wield a greatsword like back then in Silia, but at Yuki’s current level, it was unfeasible.

Still, she couldn’t stop training, so I handed her that at least.

In many ways, I thought a longsword was better than a greatsword.

But when I asked Yuki why she was so obsessed with the greatsword, claiming she’d eventually wield it with clenched teeth and train her body, I got this response.

“I like the weight and how liberating it feels. Plus, being able to chop off a limb with a single swing is great.”

“That’s something you can do with a longsword too.”

“It’s different from that.”

I had no clue what was different, but since she spoke so firmly, I dropped my intention to argue.

She really wasn’t normal, after all.