"Natsuki Subaru, is it? Your character meets the standards of a knight. Once you are granted the title, you may follow me and study swordsmanship."
Reinhard smiled, radiant as sunlight, his warmth infectious enough that Natsuki Subaru suddenly felt he might possess some worth after all.
"Thank you, Reinhard. I'll work hard to learn."
Natsuki Subaru did not use honorifics when addressing Reinhard, and that, in fact, pleased the Sword Saint.
For the most part, everyone around Reinhard—his subordinates and fellow knights alike—addressed him with formal respect. Only a rare few could call him by name so familiarly.
"Very well. Since the person has been found, you should head back. It's time for us to part."
Shendu waved her hand, preparing to bid Reinhard farewell rather than remain any longer.
"Alright. We'll meet again at the Royal Selection."
Reinhard nodded and prepared to leave with Natsuki Subaru.
As for the somewhat arrogant and self-important woman nearby, Shendu had no intention of concerning herself with her.
Judging from the fact that she, dressed in noble attire, had been cornered by street thugs—
And from the way she spoke so rudely—
Shendu was fairly certain that the woman did not meet her standards for friendship.
If she had to sum her up in a single sentence, Shendu could only call her a troublesome woman.
Watching them finish their discussion and prepare to leave, the orange-haired girl could no longer endure being ignored. It was clear these two had not taken her seriously at all.
"Hey, you silver-haired woman over there. What is your name?"
"I heard you're with Emilia—the one least qualified to compete for the throne. What exactly are your intentions?"
The orange-haired girl lowered her folding fan, revealing her delicate face, curiosity written plainly across it.
But Shendu paid her no mind and walked forward on her own. Reinhard did the same, only sparing her a brief glance before quickly heading toward the exit.
"How troublesome. That woman's identity isn't simple, is it?"
Shendu walked side by side with Reinhard. She retained a faint impression from the storyline and knew this Sword Saint was well-informed.
"Yes. As you've seen, she is somewhat arrogant and conceited."
"Her true identity is one of the five candidates—Priscilla, the Bloody Bride."
At the mention of that title, Shendu immediately thought it sounded eerily similar to a black widow. Most likely, she would marry a lord and that very same day the lord would conveniently die.
And just like that, she would inherit his lands and wealth—hence the title.
"What is most unsettling," Reinhard continued, "is that once she takes an interest in someone, she will pursue them relentlessly. It is best not to attract her attention. Otherwise, the trouble will be endless."
Reinhard said so much not out of concern for Shendu, but because he feared that with her temper, she might directly teach Priscilla a lesson.
If that happened, the resulting trouble would certainly be detrimental to the kingdom's stability. There was no doubt about that.
"Understood. In your eyes, do I seem that bored?"
Shendu snorted softly, muttering in dissatisfaction.
"No. But I do feel you might make her shut up permanently."
Based on the two encounters he had already witnessed, along with prior rumors, the strongest Sword Saint understood well enough that Shendu was more than capable of causing upheaval.
With her immense strength, offending certain people would inevitably lead to complications.
"Relax. I will abide by the oath."
Shendu replied expressionlessly. As for how strictly she would abide by it—that was another matter entirely.
While conversing, the two arrived at the alley's entrance. Just as they were about to part ways, footsteps sounded behind them, drawing steadily closer.
Sensing the approaching steps, Shendu roughly guessed that new trouble was about to find them.
...
"Hey, what an ill-mannered commoner. I asked you a question like that, and you didn't respond at all. As a mere civilian in the royal capital, you truly lack manners."
The orange-haired girl, Priscilla, fixed her gaze on Shendu, her displeasure deepening. She felt this woman was looking down on her.
As for Reinhard, however, she had little interest in engaging him. As the strongest knight, he was not someone she wished to provoke.
Though willful and capricious, Priscilla was no fool. She knew very well whom she could afford to offend—and whom she could not.
"Then farewell, Reinhard."
"Farewell, Miss Shendu."
After bidding Shendu goodbye, Reinhard cast a deep glance at the candidate before him, but ultimately said nothing more.
Once Reinhard departed, the smile faded from Shendu's face. She stared at Priscilla instead, her expression gradually turning cold.
She did not care for spoiled, willful girls. The way this one spoke made her particularly displeased.
"Manners are for ordinary people. Since you consider yourself so noble, then I have no need to be polite to you."
Shendu shook her head, speaking to the woman with an indifferent expression.
"Ha ha ha! You are the first person who has ever dared to speak to me in such a manner."
"I have decided. I will uncover your secrets—and then take you as my servant."
Priscilla, brimming with arrogance, pointed her folding fan at the silver-haired girl before her, radiating absolute confidence.
"Hah... how dull. You should go back."
Shendu snapped her fingers.
A spatial gate appeared before Priscilla. Before she could react, an invisible force shoved her straight through it.
The destination was precisely five hundred meters away.
If she could fly, she might have been able to catch up. Unfortunately, she could not. And by the time she ran back slowly, she would never find Shendu again.
That said, Shendu had indeed sensed formidable magical power emanating from the woman just now. It seemed this candidate had studied at least some magic.
But that had nothing to do with her. As long as she tended to her own small plot of land, the rest was irrelevant.
"Phew... that's settled. I might as well head back to the merchant guild and rest."
Shendu stretched lazily, looking rather at ease and quite satisfied.
As she walked along the main street, she began contemplating her next steps.
So far, she had secured two promises from Reinhard.
The first was to grant Natsuki Subaru the title of knight. Once he received it, Shendu would instruct the merchant guild members to spread a rumor.
The rumor would claim that Natsuki Subaru had always been part of Roswaal's faction, and that Reinhard granting him knighthood signified the beginning of cooperation between the two forces.
The second rumor would assert that Reinhard would absolutely never oppose Emilia's faction—suggesting that the two candidates had reached a consensus and were inclined toward collaboration.
Rumors that muddled the waters were extremely effective. Dragging Reinhard into the fray was precisely what Shendu most desired.
Though there had been no substantial progress, the power of rumors could not be underestimated. Regardless of how Reinhard himself perceived the matter, other factions would interpret it quite differently.
"Phew... playing at half-baked schemes seems I'm still lacking."
Shendu shook her head and stopped dwelling on the matter.
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