Chapter 29

{ Reunions }

There was something about these two that struck her as odd. Perhaps not exactly in a negative manner, but certainly enough to make her think hard about what exactly made them peculiar compared to most people.

Sure, they'd shared enough details about themselves to paint a comfortable picture; two boys who came from Rulid Village, having been tree-cutters prior before switching their tasks to being swordsmen. They'd come here with their mentor and a friend they met midway, and would leave for Centoria sometime soon. That was the basic gist of things.

But they, as individuals, were particularly interesting. Being close to her age (at least, she assumed so), they were rather friendly and nice compared to some other teens she'd seen around Centoria. But beyond that, there was something that Kirito possessed that made him seem more than what he presented.

Not like she had any time to really think things through. At the moment, the group of three were moving towards the meeting venue because the nobleman they'd met earlier had challenged Kirito to a duel. If it was a battle with him, then maybe she'd be less worried. But the fact that it would be his servant who would clash blades with her friend was concerning.

"Considering the fact that he serves a noble family, he'll probably be using a lot of the High-Norkia style."

"Maybe, but just be prepared in case he uses a different style too. After all, Alden mentioned that he came from a village background too, right? So he probably has some other style before this too."

"Hmm… Well, there's no use thinking too hard about that. We'll handle it when it comes."

"You two sure aren't worried in the slightest…" She muttered, drawing their gazes. Kirito simply shrugged back.

"That's just how it is, Edith. No point in worrying too much about things. All we can do is just meet the challenge head-on without any fear. And believe me when I say that I'm excited to finally have someone else to fight. In fact… Eugeo, wanna' take my place? It'd be a good first experience."

The flaxen-haired boy scoffed back. "No thanks. He's all yours."

"If you say so," noting her worry, the boy's smile softened a little. "Don't worry, Edith. Trust me, I won't go down lightly. I'll fight as hard as I always have, so just watch us, okay?"

"I… okay. Just be careful, alright?"

"Yeah, I promise."

Somehow, she felt like she could believe him. Why that was so, she didn't know, but Edith would choose to believe in him. That was all she could do at this moment.

And hopefully, that trust would come through.

Medina didn't think she'd have seen Charlotte looking so distraught. For the short time she knew her, the woman was the very definition of calm, yet now she was moving with a hastened pace and a minor frown on her face as they made their way to the meeting avenue. And not just them either. It felt like almost everyone in town were going there too.

Like wildfire, the news of a boy's duel with the Yureas boy's bodyguard had spread so quickly that she wondered how that was so. Regardless, that had gotten a lot of attention, and many people (themselves included) were making their way to the avenue to witness the match.

"Honestly… We decide to split off for just a day and he's already landed himself in hot waters. Truly, he is as reckless as ever."

"Sounds like this isn't uncommon for Kirito…"

"Oh, you have no idea," amusement and exasperation slipped into her tone. "Even in the three years of training back home, the number of schemes and ridiculous situations he'd been in was enough to drive myself and Fanatio crazy. I'm surprised I haven't grown grey hairs at this point," eventually, she shook her head. "Regardless, let us reach the avenue quickly and find Eugeo. Perhaps he can update us on the situation."

Despite having visited the venue a couple of times, there'd never been any particularly important event or opportunity to test their swords against other swordsmen. It would be somewhat sparse, giving a lot of room to sit and walk around. With this many people heading there, though, she expected it to be half-full. Oh, how she would be wrong\

Too many got curious about the man involved in the incident; Sir Filips Yureas. While he'd done his rounds and terrorized the locals, there were still plenty of people who haven't really seen his face. So this was the opportune time to finally sate that curiosity and see for themselves who they were dealing with.

It didn't take long for them to reach the building. And she had to say, it was every bit as impressive as the first time; a massive rectangular plaza, with high walls of stone that which cast a great shadow over the pavement. The entrance was a tall gate, upon which two guards were situated on either side and working to control the flow of traffic. Charlotte marched towards one of the guards and she followed suit.

"Excuse me," she began, gaining his attention. "Two boys should've arrived here. One with black hair and another carrying a blue sword."

"Hmm? Ah, yes. The one with black hair's the one who'll be fighting against that noble's bodyguard. They already headed inside."

"I see. Well, I am their mentor, and I'd like for us to go see them."

"Ehh…" The man looked her up and down, doubt filling his voice. "I don't know if I can believe you, lady. No offense, but you don't look particularly—"

Without speaking a word, she unclasped his sword from his waist and gripped it by the blade in both hands. As quickly as she had drawn his blade, so too was it easy for her to snap it in half like a twig, to the stupor of the two guards.

She returned both halves to him, then procured a couple of gold coins that she too placed into his hands. "Use that to buy yourself a new sword. Please excuse us."

With that settled, the two entered the venue, which wouldn't be falsely described as a colosseum of sorts; it had the waiting area after the entrance, where a couple of people loitered around and chattered excitedly with one another. A single tunnel in the front connected this area to the battlegrounds, while two stairs on both the left and right would allow access to the audience's seating. Both of them wasted no time to move through the tunnel.

And at the end of the tunnel, briefly contesting the light that filled her vision, she could make out five people in total; the silver-haired noble and his servant off to one side, and the boys on the other… with another girl accompanying them, in fact.

"Kirito, Eugeo," Charlotte's relief was palpable as they jogged towards the two boys, who stared at her with surprise.

"Charlotte, Medina. Glad to see you made it."

"Sorry we couldn't inform you some way," Eugeo chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "But we had to come here right away because he'd been insistent that we get this starter already."

"And I tell you what, I'm excited as hell," snickered Kirito. "Not to say that fighting you was boring, Charlotte, but I'm really looking forward to seeing how far I've come thanks to you and Fanatio's training. And this was just an opportunity neither of us could pass up on."

Charlotte sighed, though Medina could make out a small twitch of her lips, perhaps more amused by his recklessness than anything else. Somehow, it felt fitting that he was more enthused by the challenge than anything else.

"Oh, right. Before we continue, allow me to introduce…" He gestured to the silver-haired girl, who perked up. "Edith. We, uh, met her earlier. And we sort of dragged her into this situation."

"Really, Kirito? Involving someone completely random?"

"To be fair, she's from Centoria, so I was thinking we could all just go there together when the time comes. Thinking about convenience's sake."

"Sure, sure…"

"In any case, the rest of you should probably find someplace a little far away to stand. The duel will begin shortly after this. And Charlotte, watch me for any mistakes that I might make. I'll obviously try and keep track, but having another person's observations will help a lot."

"It's the least I can do," she hummed back, making him grin.

"Nice. I'll be relying on you yet again, my teacher!"

"…Don't call me that, you silly boy."

Medina couldn't have possibly stared at her faster—and just in time to catch the faintest dust of rose upon her cheeks before she looked away, doing her damnedest best not to let anyone spot her embarrassment. Even Eugeo looked surprised. Not like Kirito knew at all, though. He was too busy polishing the Blue Rose Sword with a cloth to even notice.

Far off upstairs in the spectators' seating area, a single man watched the ongoing moment with rapt attention, a relaxed grin upon his expression—and a certainty of who would come out the victor.

Okay, so maybe it was a bad idea to antagonize someone of noble lineage. With the authority and backing that they have, it would be all too easy to make his life a living hell.

Looking back on it now, Kirito was sorely disappointed in his own ability to keep a cool head. How many times had Charlotte and Fanatio drilled it into his head to not let his temper get the better of him? All those meditation he'd done at the rivers seem so fruitless now.

But no. This time, he wasn't going to blindly charge in and let anger cloud his judgement. He'll fight as he always has, but never uncontrollable and wild as he had been as a young boy. They taught him better, and he'll put their lessons to good use.

"So," he said out loud, hopping on his feet to get his blood pumping. "How long have you been a bodyguard for?"

"Eight years, at this point."

"That's pretty long. Been any situation where you had to fight other people or wild monsters?"

"Wild monsters, usually on excursions to wild areas," though gruff as his response were, the fact that he was answering him at all denoted some amount of courtesy, and he appreciated that. "And you?"

"Ehh. Never had any practical experience, unfortunately, so I'm definitely wet behind the ears. All I've ever gotten was training with my mentors."

"They must be really good. Simply looking at you, I can tell that they were very skilled."

"How so?"

"You are confident," he said easily. "Not overly so to the point of cockiness, but you certainly don't seem bothered by the turn of events."

"Definitely. I want to make the most out of this bad situation and learn as much as possible. After all, if I only let myself get bogged down by negative thoughts of how badly I can muck it up, then I'll never be able to make progress."

For a moment there, his stern expression cracks, eyes softening with a gleam of appreciation. "That is… good. You have a very bright mindset."

"Thanks. And, for what it's worth, you're not the bad guy here. Your master's a dick—no offense, but also offense intended—while you're the one who has to fill his spot. Even so!" He grinned. "Don't hold back a smidgen. I promised earlier that I'll fight so hard you wouldn't be able to believe it, so you'd better too."

And once more, that competitive spark relights once more, the man nodding sharply. Good.

Taking their positions on the stage, which had ample space for their duel, Kirito drew the Blue Rose Sword from its scabbard, which he then threw towards Eugeo. He gave it a few test swings, balancing its weight in his grip and getting a feel for it.

Satisfied, he lowered his sword and observed his opponent; and damn, would it be real hard to fight him. Alden was huge of stature, giving him the advantage of reach and power. A surefire way to finish the fight would be with a «Heavens and Mountain Break», which Kirito doubted he could properly deflect unless he really put his back into it, though that sure sounded suicidal.

Then that would mean he'd have to rely on his own speed to outmanoeuvre the man and dodge his attacks. Turning this into a battle of attrition might be possible, though he wouldn't put it past Alden to have reasonable stamina to last long enough.

'Perhaps the best way here, then, is to catch him by surprise.'

With that thought in mind, he prepared himself in a stance to break into a sprint straight for Alden. Rush him down before he could think up a plan, though he surely had something in mind already. And theeeen…

Well, no use planning too much. Time to leave it up to spontaneousness.

A referee took his place upon a podium somewhere off to the side. He'd approached them minutes before the match to ask them for their names and a bit of their backgrounds. Not exactly someone who stands out too much beyond his bright green vest, but the voice that boomed out spread across the colosseum for all to hear, which was the most impressive thing.

"Welcome, one and all to Zakkaria's meeting avenue! The place where our annual tournaments are held, and where fighters from all across Norlangarth come to test their mettle against one another!"

Loud applaud and whistling filled the colosseum. Kirito was almost amazed by how loud it got, and it put into perspective just how many people had occupied the seats.

"And today, folks, it seems like an unexpected development has taken place, and we'll be having a surprise match between two unexpected individuals!" The referee raised one arm towards the veteran bodyguard. "On one side, we have Alden, a skilled swordsman and bodyguard of the Yureas family!"

There was a fair amount of applaud, though whether that was genuine awe for the man or that they were forced to just to avoid insulting the snobby rich douche, that was up for debate. The snobby rich douche in question smirked like the prick he is.

"And on the other, a completely unknown variable! A young boy from the village of Rulid to the north, with nothing to his name but the magnificent sword on his person!"

'Bruh. I know I'm poor, but you don't need to call it out.'

'Technically, you, Eugeo and Charlotte are very well off. Don't mind his words.'

"Now then, contestants! Take your place and get ready for your showdown!"

Kirito wasted no time to take up position, keeping at least five mer away from the gigantic man. The sword in his hand definitely dwarfed his own, but Kirito wasn't one to be intimidated by size. If he was, he'd have shaken in terror years ago.

Too bad. The big bad monster was the one to eat the dirt. This time will be no different.

"Before the match begins, please decide what kind of duel you two will prefer."

"I'm down for anything," Kirito said, grinning. "But I've a feeling the both of us know what we prefer."

The gleam in Alden's eye was unmistakable. "First-blood."

Loud, hushed whispers and mutters broke out among the crowd. It shouldn't be too strange to see first-blood duels though, right? Maybe they were worried since this was a duel between a scary-looking guy and what seemed to be a child. Heh. Well, he'll show them.

"A first-blood duel it is! This will be a match to remember! Well then, we shall begin after the countdown is over… which begins now! Ten!"

And there it goes. Kirito readied himself for a fight, intending to commit to his charge and test the waters. He'll have to act quickly, however, because there was no telling if Alden could switch his tactics on the fly and somehow catch him by surprise.

But looking at him now, there was no denying it; that stance was for «Heavens and Mountain Break». That would be close to impossible to block, so the only way to face that head-on was…

"Three! Two! One! Fig—"

The word barely left his lips properly before Alden practically shot towards him like an arrow let loose, sword a blazing orange that seemed to cast a lasting line in the air. His eyes were focused, muscles bulging and his intent of finishing this fight in a single stroke clear.

And Kirito was not going to give him that.

Meeting the charge, he rushed forwards as quickly as he could, angling his sword back for a «Lightning Slash». Already, he could feel energy flood his blade and his body grow lighter, a blue glow emanating.

And with a roar, he slashed downwards.

And missed by a hair's breadth.

Only for his sword to suddenly slash upwards, striking his opponent's blade in the middle, interrupting its greater momentum and somehow managing to knock him off-balance. Alden staggered and was forced wide open, though he was quick to backpedal and gain distance to avoid any follow-ups.

'A good counterblow!'

'Yeah. But it's only just begun!'

Light dying down, the ravenette charged right back in with vigour, beginning his own counterattack with a flurry of swings and thrusts. Each hit was blocked, but Kirito refused to give up momentum, keeping Alden on his toes as he forced him on the defensive.

Their blades clashed with great impact, showering sparks across the field as they ducked and weaved and swung. Reflexes heightened through years of training allowed him to quickly duck under a horizontal swing, following up that attempt with a thrust of his own that Alden tanks with his sword.

A downwards swing allows him to suddenly channel energy into his blade, enacting an «Azure Wind Slash» that comes so quickly, Alden only managed to dodge narrowly. He followed that up with a «Lightning Slash», opting to cancel the double-hit variant to duck the thrust that came for his head before leaping back to avoid the sudden kick.

'Ho? Looks like he won't shy from fighting dirty to win. Good.'

That certainly made things more difficult, but he didn't mind. Prideful noblemen would likely only ever use their swords in a fight, thinking their image of nobility and grace mattered more than actually winning. Good to know his opponent was a realistic fighter.

With a grin, Kirito darted back towards the man, swinging in every direction but keeping careful watch of what area was left a little less defended—and unfortunately for him, the man was a professional, giving away absolutely nothing for him to take advantage of.

His thoughts came to a halt as the massive blade glowed bright, another «Secret Technique» rearing its head. The man's roar was vicious and heavy, accentuated by the quick downwards slash that came without mercy. Kirito stepped back just in time to let it strike the concrete.

And the impact alone had shattered the ground, leaving behind a splinter formation beneath their feet that spiralled far around them. Dust faded, and all that was left behind were two swordsmen with no intent of backing out.

For just a brief second there, he could imagine it; his body crushed on the ground, bloodied from the impact and close to losing his life. A defeat so quick and brutal that there would have been no coming back from that.

And by the goddesses, he despised the idea of losing just like that.

'We won't get anywhere like this,' that much had been clear for so long. All the tempting and poking, and there was just no gaps to target. 'Alright… Let's pull out all the stops on this one. No more holding back. Let's do this.'

"Kirito's up to something…"

"You can tell?"

"Yeah. He's got that look in his eyes, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not."

Was he getting desperate? Or was he thinking of something so unexpected to catch his opponent off-guard? Eugeo wasn't completely sure, but he could tell that Kirito was trying to switch up his approach this time to control the flow of the battle.

Truth be told, this was probably the right idea. It had only been a couple of minutes, but as Fanatio and Charlotte taught them, every second wasted was a bad one. In a real combat scenario against a horde of enemies, it was necessary to finish a fight as quickly as possible to move on to the next one.

And they could attest to that. Back then, moving from one wolf spawn to the next had been difficult, but it would have been even more unbearable if they were simply ganged up by all of them all at once. And it seemed like he was thinking the same here. Granted, he didn't need to worry about another person jumping in on their fight to back Alden up, but still.

He didn't have time to consider that thought a little longer when Kirito suddenly rushed right back at Alden. The shorter boy initiated a new flurry of strikes, each hit blocked by the larger sword, only to be followed with a «Lightning Slash» that Alden catches with the guard of his sword. He leaps back when Alden tries to kick him, only to then begin defending himself from a combo.

Just as Kirito was about to completely lose control of the momentum, he suddenly reversed it with a «Whirling Current», striking Alden's sword with a double snap that forces him backwards. He follows it up with a quick one-two, and then an «Azure Wind Slash», then going back on the defensive.

"Um. Can Kirito actually beat him..?" Edith asked, sounding unconfident. "It doesn't look like he's making much progress."

"He can. I know it."

"Are you sure, Eugeo? I-I'm not trying to underestimate him, of course! I hope he wins, but…"

Her doubt was understandable, considering the ongoing sequence of events. But this was the same boy who'd defeated a monster the likes of which no ordinary man could—and they'd been mere children at the time.

If a single boy with just a sword and burning determination in his chest managed to defeat such a thing, and even forced an Integrity Knight on the defensive, then Eugeo was certain of his victory.

A glow catches his attention, and he watches Alden charge towards his best friend with a «Heavens and Mountain Break». His battlecry could be heard even from here, and with every muscle in his body tensing tightly, he was prepared to finish this battle with the following attack.

From how Kirito managed to look remotely unconcerned, he could only wonder how he'd managed to muster such courage—

The Blue Rose Sword glowed a brilliant blue before their very eyes, and Kirito didn't seem to move. If anything, he stared at the incoming attack and held his ground, positioning himself to defend.

"Kirito!" Medina yelled beside him, shock in her voice. "What are you doing?!"

"Is he really going to just try and block that? That's insane!"

Everyone yelled his name, some jeers and many more of worry and confusion. Eugeo's gaze did not lift from his best friend, watching his back and the Blue Rose Sword in his hand, responding to his call.

And, in the very last second, Kirito moved.

Metal rang across the battleground, reverberating loud and clear from the first swing. And then another, catching the man off-guard with «Lightning Slash»'s second blow.

But Kirito did not stop there, pushing onwards and continuing the combo with the remaining two. His blade struck true, the impact of his hits enough to knock him backwards. As expected, he lashed out with a kick, which Kirito predicted and sidestepped it. He then moved backwards, and Alden lashed out with his sword. The boy angled the sword close to the left of his waist.

All of a sudden, the Blue Rose Sword glowed a never-before-seen colour; a sickly purple that reminded him of a Clematis flower, bright and deadly. That got both him and Charlotte to perk up.

"What the—What kind of «Secret Technique» is that?!"

"I don't know. I've never seen it."

Not like they had any time to further contemplate on the matter. Kirito charged right back in, sword travelling rightwards—and fast. Much faster than even with «Azure Wind Slash». The next swing came from the right, a single clang resounding despite him being absolutely certain that two impacts were made.

Something cracked.

Eugeo focused on that, and watched carefully as Kirito danced around Alden's range of attack. The man was trying so hard to try and get a hit in that he failed to notice that Kirito was purposely trying to find a timing to strike back.

And strike back he did, for when Alden attempted yet another «Heavens and Mountain Break», that would be his last.

"This is the end!" His best friend roared, wielding the sword with both hands. It bloomed to life in a similar shade of vibrant orange, indicating his usage of the same skill as his opponent. He charged right at the man, their clash imminent. "Hrah!"

The Blue Rose Sword and Alden's blade smashed into one another—and a loud shatter echoed across the field as the man's blade snapped right before his eyes.

Those very same eyes went wide like platters as they watched the fragments scatter to his left and right. And Kirito, vicious as he promised to be, did not hold back.

His fist cocked back, and burned a hot red that was indicative of a «Secret Technique». It shot forwards even faster, slamming right into the bald man's chin—the motion a blur that the only thing that he saw was the man's head practically jerked backwards and him being tossed away like a ragdoll before finally collapsing on the floor.

Eugeo went slack-jawed in disbelief. And he was sure he wasn't the only one, because the whole crowd had gone quiet, as had Edith, Medina and Charlotte.

Eventually, as the red glow dissipated and Kirito swung his Blue Rose Sword to the side, he threw a fist into the air. It didn't take long for a cheer to follow shortly after. And Eugeo found himself laughing.

"Oh, goddesses… My brother is insane…"

He won. He actually won.

Kirito slowed his breathing, trying to keep himself steady and focus on just getting some feeling back into his hands. He nodded back to his friends, unable to do anything about the smile on his face.

'That was amazing, Kirito! I never knew you had such «Secret Techniques» in your arsenal!'

'Yeah, well, it's always nice to keep a surprise or two on hand. I'll have to teach them to Eugeo at a later time.'

Days of experimenting over and over again had born fruit, and he liked to think they were just as impressive as the four-hit version of «Lightning Slash». How he'd forgotten to bring them up with Charlotte and Eugeo, he likened it to him being forgetful as always, so he'll have to make it up to them somehow.

Sighing, he rested the sword on his shoulder and walked towards his defeated foe, who was now sitting upright and with a hand to his chin. Ooh, he could definitely see the bruising now. That punch was a good one, then.

"You fought really well," he said, gaining the man's attention. Kirito shrugged back. "Not as good as my mentors, to be fair, but pretty good. I couldn't really find much of an opening."

"Hngh. And you gave absolutely none in return. Admittedly, I had gone into the fight expecting you to at least be a little more reckless in your fighting style, but you bested me completely. I was wholly unprepared for someone of your calibre."

"Pssh, don't make it sound like I'm a master or something. I'm young and still learning."

"And that is a little annoying," he half-chuckled, half-grunted. "Losing to a boy years younger than myself is a wound upon my pride. I suppose I'll have to double my training regimen to catch up with you."

"Heh, that definitely sounds like—

"Unbelievable! Alden, you lost to a child?!"

Their exchange was cut short when they turned their gaze towards the source of the voice. Mister Long-Nosed marched towards them with the word 'pissed' written all across his face. No, they actually weren't, but it'd be real ironic if it wasn't. He was literally red and close to popping a vein, which he doubted would be good.

Alden grunted, slowly getting up. "Forgive me, milord. I—"

"I don't need excuses from you! You were supposed to win, not give away a win to some brat!"

Kirito huffed. "Don't mock him and say that he gave me that win. We both gave it as best as we could. There was no less in that."

"Rubbish! Alden is a talented swordsman and easily the best in this entire rubbish of a town! You must have cheated!" An accusing finger pointed his way. "Like that «Secret Technique»! Where did that one even come from?! And especially when you punched him!"

"Well, you would know where it was from if you'd just read your books."

Total bull, by the way. He invented it. Probably. He'd love it if he did invent it, but that was probably impossible. It probably exists in a different style and he just managed to input the appropriate posture and movement necessary to activate them.

"Enough! I've had to deal with your disrespect for too long! I will have you punished severely for this!"

"Nuh-uh. The 'punishment' was a duel with your bodyguard, and I won," he scoffed. "It's over. You lost. You don't got any room to do anything to me or my friends. We're leaving."

"As if I'll let you go just like that!"

Urgh. This was a real pain in the ass. Medina was so much sweeter. Why couldn't she be the archetypical noble stereotype, and not some douchebag like him?

Just as he was about to consider throwing sand in the man's eyes and making a break for it, something moved straight for his face. Kirito's instincts roared to life, eyes growing wide and body reacting by throwing himself to the side, sword coming up to defend himself—

A large hand caught a fist aimed right at him, stopping it in the air. Kirito blinked in stupor.

"Careful, boy. I can't let you hurt a future knight just like that."

"Agh..! What the hell is with all these people interrupting me every single moment?!" He snarled, trying to pull his hand out, only to find himself kept in check. "Release me at once!"

"Yeah? Well, that sort of tone might be fine with just about anyone. Honestly, even I don't mind; I'm just some random old man. But I don't know if that's the kind of manner you'd want to pick when speaking to an Integrity Knight."

His friends, who'd noticed the commotion, went silent the moment they reached their side. All around them, eyes were focused on them with utter disbelief. The nobleman did too, looking up into the grinning face of knight Bercouli with growing shock.

"The name's Bercouli. Bercouli Synthesis One, leader of the Integrity Knights. And yeah, I may not have my armour on me now, but this thing is authentic," he patted the hilt of his sword, drawing the noble's wide eyes to the impressive blade. "I could be lying, sure. If you don't believe that, you could come with me to the cathedral, and you can confirm my identity for yourself."

What the fuck.

"What the fuck."

"Language, kiddo."

"Oh, right. Ahem. What the hell?" Not much of an improvement, but he blamed that on the shock. "Seriously, what are you doing here?!"

"Well, I was in town, minding my own business and sampling the street food. You ever tried the meat skewers? Those are really nice," oh, he did. They actually had some with Edith before—Wait, that's not important! "In any case, I heard from some folks that there was going to be a match in the venue. Normally, I wouldn't be all that interested, but imagine my surprise when I heard your name being mentioned. So," he grinned. "Here I am. And let me say, I am surprised by many things. Namely, I can't call you a squirt no more."

"Yeah, me and Eugeo had our growth spurts, I guess."

"I can see that! You used to be little. Now you've become a fine man."

Kirito didn't resist the urge to roll his eyes. "Teenager, Bercouli. I'm only fourteen."

"Eh, manly enough I suppose. In any case," his attention moved back to Filips. At this point, he looked to be shaking. "You may have the right to decide on a judgement or punishment, but physically attacking an innocent outside of a duel is pretty illegal. So? What's your decision here? If we have to, we can take this even further."

Bercouli released his hold, and the man quickly pulled his arm to his chest, stepping back with horror in his gaze. He didn't say anything else, eventually ducking his head before taking his leave. Alden stared at his lord before bowing before them, then joining his lord as well.

Kirito let out a sigh of relief at his absence. Any longer, and he was afraid he might've done something they would have all regretted.

"Thanks," he said to the man. "You saved me back there."

"Hah! Me, saved you? If what I've seen today was real, you saved yourself plentily well enough. And that was a fine fight if I've ever seen one."

"Thanks, but I've still got plenty more to learn."

"Humble. I like that. But hey, just accept the praise every now and then. It won't kill you."

Kirito eventually laughed alongside the man, to the relaxed expressions of Eugeo and Charlotte and disbelief from Edith and Medina. Yeah, this was certainly an unexpected meeting, but he wasn't complaining about it. If anything, it felt nice to see a familiar face.

Three years.

To think that the last time Bercouli had showed up in their village was when he and the pontifex had visited their backwater village, just to meet the slayers of the Million-Eyed. That had felt so long ago, especially with the duel between the two of them.

Sure, he lost that one, but he was eleven for crying out loud. Plus, he did have some crazy ideas back then, and they sort of worked.

Despite all the years, Kirito had never forgotten the kind of man Bercouli was. He was peculiar for being a lot more relaxed than what he felt a typical Integrity Knight would be; more so compared to Fanatio and Deusolbert. He had an easy-going attitude, a kind smile and was open to jests and fun like a regular person.

Oh, and he apparently enjoyed eating good food too. That was a real big plus.

After reconnecting, the group decided to go to a restaurant that Bercouli had visited the day before. Since the workers recognized him, they were more than happy to offer them a table of their own far off in the back, where there would be adequate privacy from the other customers.

Savouring the taste of his crusty bread, he swallowed before speaking once more. "And you're just here because the church actually got reports from that guy's family?"

"Yep. Apparently, they requested us to investigate the matter of 'false accusations' which, after today, I know are absolutely true," the man scoffed. "Seriously… I've had to deal with idiots every now and then, but this one definitely takes the cake."

"Yeah… It was almost a week ago, and we happened upon him causing some trouble at some shop. We reported him to the guards, but we didn't expect it to be this worse, much less the fact that the guards aren't trying to do anything beyond just a stern warning."

"Ah, so you guys are the ones that reported him. Heard he's been going around trying to find out who, eh?" He nodded. "Well, that's just how nobles are, boy. The higher-ranking they are, the easier it is for them to get away with the nonsense they cause. That's just how favourable the laws are for them."

"And it's shameful," Medina muttered sourly. "It's not right for them to abuse their positions to hurt the common folk like this. Our duty is to serve them, not terrorize them."

"That's a worthy notion, girlie, but try and preach that to the majority. I'd bet you that at least eighty percent of the nobles are keen on maintaining this status quo without a care for the normal people's wellbeing," Bercouli sighed. "All they want is their own satisfaction. Nothing less."

Medina's had to deal with that reality for much longer than either he and Eugeo, but hearing it repeated to her must be as uncomfortable as the first. Edith offered her some words, though he doubted they would help much.

Kirito sighed. Though they'd had the whole fight and everything, it doesn't seem like this issue would be resolved any time soon. If anything, Filips might be more determined to go around and get their identities because he's been humiliated out in public—twice, no less; once by him beating his bodyguard, and second by Bercouli.

But knowing that there was an Integrity Knight in town might just be a good buffer to keep him in check, if only temporarily. No guarantee that he wouldn't try his luck elsewhere that Bercouli couldn't cover, so all he could do was hope.

"So," he perked up at the man's voice. "What's your story? How are y'all?"

"We were just visiting here for a bit," Eugeo answered. "We came upon Medina out in the wilds, so we all travelled here together. Thought we'd leave for Centoria shortly after, though with things like this, it feels bad if we left town while this continued."

"And I just met them today," Edith admitted sheepishly. "I come from the cathedral."

"That so? I haven't seen you around. Maybe I was outside and didn't happen to get the chance to meet you yet. Either way, I'm glad to see that all of you are doing fine, despite the circumstances."

"Yeah. And it's… nice to see you again."

"Aw, getting all emotional here. I never thought it possible of you, brat."

Kirito's only response was to stick his tongue out at the man, making both him and everyone else at the table chuckling at his antics. Leave it to him to be the jester of the group.

…He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. At this point, though, he didn't want to care anymore. He just wanted to forget, even for a bit, the dumb situations going on in the background.

But knowing that they still exist was a real downer. Kirito recalled coming to this town with his best friend and mentor, feeling awed at the sights and comparing every single detail to back home. How greater than life the town felt, and how it was something akin to a culture shock for him to step foot into this place.

Having experienced the first upset, and in the form of classism and abuse of authority, was so uncomfortable. And he felt much worse when considering that the people of this town had to live with it for much longer than he had been alive.

Seriously, how were they all okay with this? Did the church not think to check in on them and try solve the matter? Even if the noble system was needed, that shouldn't mean that they have the right to get away with every wrongdoing without any punishment. Where was the justice in that?

"…Hey Bercouli," he found himself speaking up before his thoughts had even formed properly, but he knew that backing out now would only make him regret things even more. "I have a, uh, request of sorts. Basically cashing in that reward from three years ago."

"Ohh? Well, I'm surprised. You said you didn't mind receiving nothing."

"Yeah, well, it depends on the timing, don't you think? And I think it's time I ask for help," with a sigh, he looked at the man. "Listen, could you… do something to help Zakkaria? And maybe look into the other towns as well."

"That's your request, huh..? And you're okay with asking for that?"

"I don't really see the need for anything else when I can work for it. But something like this is just beyond our realm of expertise, and we'd probably face scrutiny since we're just a bunch of commoners. They'll think we're trying to screw with their perfect system. But an Integrity Knight, on the other hand, is a serious manner, so they'd have to respect you."

"Hmm… Yeah, that makes sense. Unfortunately, it's not something I can do anything about," ah… yeah, that's understandable. He doubted Bercouli's duty extended to politics or the like. "Which is why I'll direct this request straight to the pontifex herself when we return to the cathedral."

"Oh, you'll ask the pontifex?"

"Mmhm."

A moment of silence passed.

"Wait, you're gonna' ask the pontifex?"

"Yeah."

"What do you mean 'yeah'?!" He cried out in shock, the others looking no less different. "You can't just bother her with something as dumb as this!"

"Kiddo, listen. In case you didn't know this, but in a way, you two are sort of favoured by the pontifex, so I'm pretty sure she'd be willing to help you guys out."

Eugeo made a face. One that literally spoke his inner thoughts loud and clear. "Would she actually be okay with something like that?"

"Sure I'm sure… Maybe. Probably. Look, I just have a feeling that she'd be willing to humour whatever requests or questions you have. If she'd have to choose between your two parties, I'm sure she'd be biased towards you—especially you, boy."

That last remark was aimed at Kirito, who stared back at him in surprise. "No way. You're pulling my leg here."

"No I'm not. Hell, why else would she have ordered the two of you to join the knighthood? She was obviously impressed by your performance, and she—and I—saw something special in the two of you all those years ago. It'd be a waste to let young talents like you go without any opportunity to prove yourselves, hence why she's adamant about you joining the knighthood."

"…I guess? Still feel kind of bad if we'd have to ask for her help, even though it would be nice."

"Umm. Excuse me, but," all eyes fell upon Medina. She gulped, looking the man in the eyes. "You mentioned something about joining the knighthood. Are you… actually referring to Kirito and Eugeo?"

"Hmm? Oh, you never told her?"

"We, uh, never exactly thought it was that important."

"Wasn't important, huh?" A chuckle came out. "Most people would think otherwise."

"Well, we've got another reason for going to Centoria. This knight matter is just a side thing," Sir Bercouli laughed a little at his words, making him sigh. "Long story short, we were involved in an accident three years ago. Her Eminence the pontifex discovered our involvement in this, and decided that we'd be better off serving as Integrity Knights, hence why we have to go to Centoria."

The redhead gasped. "Really?!"

"But it's as I said; that isn't the primary reason we're going there. We've something else we have to do, and that's something we can't tell anyone—we didn't tell the pontifex either, since it's pretty personal. So that's on us," a look of genuine guilt overtook his features. "I'm sorry for not telling you this, Medina. It's not that we didn't trust you…"

"No! Not at all! I'm not offended in the slightest! If anything, I think it's amazing!" Both boys looked taken aback. She pressed on. "I mean, two commoners becoming chosen by the pontifex herself as Integrity Knights is practically unheard of! It's an amazing achievement!"

"Uhh. Well, I mean, we could end up joining the army, so that's cool. I guess."

His words made everyone pause, and for a moment, she and Edith met Bercouli's gaze, the latter looking just as surprised as they did. The three then stared at the ravenette, who frowned back.

"What?"

"Kiddo… Do you actually know how the knighthood works?"

"No, I don't," he admitted. Both Eugeo and Charlotte also nodded. "We never really gave it that much thought. Why?"

Judging by their surprise, it's probably common knowledge to just about everyone living in the Human Empire. It was the single most sought-after job by everyone, especially by nobles.

But to be fair on them, they live in the far ends of the empire. Not all info travels that far, and though Rulid does get its fair share of merchants coming in to trade, it's not like they talk about the Axiom Church a lot.

"Well, when people say knights, that actually refers to two things," Bercouli began explaining, tapping a finger against the table. "On one hand, you have the army, which is comprised solely of humans. Anyone can enlist in the army if they meet the requirements, and many graduates from the four sword academies often join that."

"Uh-huh. And what makes the Integrity Knights different?"

"When you say Integrity Knights, you're talking about the knights in the fancy armour and the divine weapons, just like Fanatio and me. Many of us are the ones that descend from the Celestial World, as the public knows, though there are few who are humans have performed exceptionally. Enough so that the pontifex would consider letting them in."

"So all this time… Since three years ago, she wanted us to be a part of that?" Bercouli nodded back at Eugeo's question. Both of them recoiled in disbelief. "No way… How many other people have actually become Integrity Knights, then?"

"So far, not a lot. Most join the army, but there have been a few people considered for the positions. And I can safely say that you two would be the first commoners considered for the roles."

"And that's such a big deal!" Edith chimed in, smiling widely. "It just goes to show just how amazing you two are that you've earned yourselves that role in their hierarchy!"

"It is?"

"Of course! All this time, the mere idea of becoming a knight was something that almost everyone considers a possibility for just the nobility and the wealthy. Not like there aren't those from commoner backgrounds who've joined the knightly order, but the misconception still persists. But with you two somehow qualifying as Integrity Knights…"

"It just shows that backgrounds and rank matter little. Ultimately, it's all about achievements," the knight grinned. "And you two proved yourselves well in that regard."

Sheesh. He was definitely laying it on thick. Sure, they'd killed a world-threatening monster… actually, yeah, he doesn't even have a retort for that. That happened, and they succeeded. Full stop.

A grunt of disbelief poured out of his lips, Kirito leaning back with an expression of disbelief on his face. "Well, shoot… I never realized just how big of a deal this was. Shame on us, I suppose."

"Nah, don't worry about it. At least you now understand how much it matters. And because of that, going back to our earlier topic, I'm sure the pontifex would be siding with you to solve this issue. With that in mind, you want to ask for our help?"

"…I mean, it's not like we have any other options, so… please?"

The man nodded, looking verily much pleased by his answer. "Good. All that's left is for all of us to return to Centoria. Look forward to that, yeah? If you thought Zakkaria was impressive, then you'll be surprised by what you'll find in the central city," oh, joy…

Author's Notes:

In case anyone is wondering if I changed anything this chapter, I didn't. I'm merely reuploading this chapter.

Fanfiction has been in a weird state. Taishang Laojun commented that Chapter 35 (this one) has an error and can't be opened. I can confirm that I sometimes can't access it, but sometimes can't, and it's fine on the app. I don't know, other authors complained about this website being funky at times too. Thanks for the notice, buddy.

...

I have to admit that the concept of 'Integrity Knights' in the original story can be a little odd. And, as always, here comes my tangent, so skip that if you're good, lmao.

As you should know, Integrity Knights were originally humans like Bercouli and Fanatio who had their memories of their past lives erased, replaced instead with the idea that they came from the Celestial World—hence the concept of them being supposed higher beings.

There's also the recruitment of ordinary humans to become knights if they succeed in the annual Four Empires Unity Tournament, as proven by Eldrie (as well as Kirito and Eugeo in the side story 32/33, cake-verse). But as shown in the series, those who failed in the tournament do end up joining the regular army, just as Sortiliena did. That can be complicated for some, so for the sake of this story going forwards, I'm going to separate the knights into two clear categories—

The Integrity Knights; the group of powerful knights with holy weapons, granted the 'Synthesis' designation and the like.

The knight / soldiers; no clear term for this group, albeit this is the army of foot soldiers and mages that would make up the empire's defense.

One thing that I'd always felt intrigued by was whether or not Quinella's lie about the Integrity Knights coming from another dimension was also known by the public. After all, those recruited as knights would have their memories wiped, and the older knights would have their memories of the newbies replaced as well so that they don't become suspicious when the people they arrested end up becoming knights as well—and that can be very difficult to deal with when considering how acquaintances could recognize them.

This is certainly an issue to deal with, hence why the massive confusion on this part. I myself am still thinking on how to properly convey this within the story, so hope you pardon me on this bit.