The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent

Though the masked woman disappeared in front of me that day, I knew she was still somewhere in this world. Even now, I couldn’t turn back time to that moment.

This was still true at the present moment as well.

I could have experimented further to see if I could turn back time, but the risks were too high.

Imagine if I collapsed suddenly in the middle of training—especially if it happened so abruptly that one moment I was standing, and the next, I was lying on the ground without anyone seeing me fall. That would look suspicious, wouldn’t it?

I figured it’d be better to test my ability to rewind after training ended, but—

“You seem especially exhausted today.”

The Swordmaster, who hadn’t known me long, could easily tell that I was in a worse state than yesterday. Then again, he was the Swordmaster—he would be able to sense such things.

Plus, I hadn’t slept well last night, plagued by worries and nightmares. Though I thought I was fully alert in the morning, my body wasn’t lying. I was certainly more worn out than the day before.

The only reason I was managing at all was because I’d rewound and familiarized myself with the training ground yesterday.

“Hm.”

Still, it wasn’t like I was slacking off.

I was giving it my all.

Perhaps the Swordmaster found this effort satisfactory, as he seemed pleased.

But that expression didn’t last long.

After morning training, while we were gathered in the training hall having a meal, the door suddenly burst open. Had it been a private room, the person who entered so abruptly would have been considered extremely rude.

The one standing beyond the open door was Jaiden.

...Jaiden?

His usual flawless 2:8 part... was a little disheveled.

It looked like he’d run here in a hurry; a few strands of hair were out of place, and his shoulders were rising and falling heavily. His face was flushed as if he had just rushed over.

Upon meeting our gazes, Jaiden pushed his stray hair back into place, adjusted his uniform, and straightened his posture as he walked toward us.

Seeing his breathing calm and steady as he approached, I couldn’t help but think, “Well, he is the Knight Captain, after all.”

“What is it?”

The Swordmaster, as always, spoke with confidence, even in front of a prince. I could easily imagine him having this same attitude in front of the Emperor.

“Jaiden of the Imperial Gryphon Knights.”

“Haven’t we already heard that yesterday?”

“Yes, but given what I have to say now, I thought it best to introduce myself again.”

The Swordmaster sighed openly and glanced at me.

Well...

I had been the one to invite him, but the Swordmaster came of his own accord. So technically, it wasn’t my fault.

...Wait, hold on.

I can’t rewind time right now.

What if Lucas appears? Won’t I just get cut down without any way to avoid it?

Could it be that the masked woman was laughing at me yesterday, imagining me being sliced to pieces by Lucas?

This thought sent a chill through my bones, cold and sharp, though I somehow kept it off my face. Alice seemed to notice, though.

“I was under the impression you had matters to resolve there,” the Swordmaster said.

Indeed, Jaiden was the Knight Captain, and his personality was rigid and uncompromising. He clashed with Lucas often because of it.

There was no way he’d disregard the Emperor’s orders and return without reason, but—

“I borrowed air support to get it done,” he replied.

“...”

We were all speechless.

“Jaiden.”

I called to him.

But he flinched, then looked away, clearly intending to ignore me.

What was his problem now?

I held back the urge to run my hand over my face and instead glanced at Alice, who was also avoiding my gaze, looking somewhat resentful.

“Do as you like,” her expression seemed to say.

...I had a guess.

Alice had driven all night to find the Swordmaster’s cabin, furious over me calling Jaiden “older brother.” I hadn’t even told her I was going to find the Swordmaster, yet she’d tracked me relentlessly, so her current attitude was probably connected to that “older brother” incident.

Jaiden, too, was likely refusing to make eye contact because he wouldn’t respond unless I called him “older brother.”

I didn’t run my hands through my hair, though I sorely wanted to. Instead, I clenched my fists tightly to restrain myself.

When I see that masked woman again, I won’t let her off.

If she’s a future me, I won’t kill her, but I’ll definitely give her a smack. Seriously.

“I was under the impression that the territory’s request forbade the deployment of any forces beyond infantry support,” I said, trying to reason with him.

But Jaiden, immaturely, refused to respond.

I looked back at Alice.

It seemed she had no intention of helping.

Watching this exchange, Leo looked stiff, while Claire, who hadn’t grasped the situation, was confused. Meanwhile, the Swordmaster—

—was grinning.

If you’re going to join the conversation, at least take charge and help resolve it!

“...”

Stuck in a predicament, I took a deep breath.

Fine.

There was no further to fall back to.

Alice’s appearance had already exposed the fact that I’d called Jaiden “older brother” in front of Leo, and I’d even called Alice “sister” in his presence.

Ah.

Oddly enough, realizing this brought a sense of calm.

It was as if I’d passed the threshold of frustration and reached a point of inner peace.

Perhaps this was what enlightenment felt like.

...Or more like resignation, actually.

“...Sister.”

I said, looking at Alice.

I heard Claire gasp.

“Could you please ask ‘older brother’ here how he managed the situation?”

“Ah...”

Alice looked more surprised than pleased.

Jaiden looked equally taken aback.

“Oh, um, alright.”

Alice nodded and turned to Jaiden.

“How exactly did you manage it? You shouldn’t have been able to bring in armored units or air support beyond the border.”

Jaiden’s brows furrowed as he gave Alice a curt response, as if this were somehow my fault.

“It’s only an issue if we physically cross the border.”

And with that, Jaiden dropped a bomb.

“But wouldn’t a fighter plane’s range fall short of crossing the border?”

“Did I say I used fighter planes?”

The serious exchange between these two hostile siblings sounded more like an argument than a discussion.

“It was a monitor ship.”

Ah.

Hearing that, I finally understood what he meant.

I knew they’d stationed air support at Winterfield. It had been a preparation step in the original story.

Instead of building expensive warships, they equipped cheap supply ships with just one naval gun each, with no consideration for defense.

Supply ships didn’t have the high-tech features of battleships and were much smaller in size. Just mounting a single gun like the dual-mounted main cannons on a dreadnought was already pushing their limits.

But they were affordable. They had decent range.

...So that was why they used supply ships instead of trains. It was a rapid plan to bombard enemy positions just outside the border.

“And then I flew here on a fighter jet in the morning. Monitor ships are a bit too slow.”

“...”

Alice pressed a hand to her forehead, mirroring what I wanted to do.

“What is Father thinking...?”

“Probably trying to show the world that the Empire is the best,” Jaiden replied confidently.

We were all speechless at Jaiden’s obvious and smug response.

“After seeing all that, do you still want to learn swordsmanship?” the Swordmaster asked.

“Of course!”

Jaiden straightened his shoulders proudly.

“No matter how much weaponry advances, infantry is the core of occupying and holding territory! It’s a knight’s duty. It’s only right to raise one’s personal skills to the fullest, isn’t it?”

“Ha...”

Seeing the Swordmaster’s impressed reaction, I fought hard to suppress a sigh.