We were en route to the castle town of Marquise Larose, the city that never sleeps. Here, I was swinging my sword at the garbage in front of me.

  “Here they go again.” I heard the murmur behind me.

  “Remember this feeling, remember this helplessness. As you are now, you cannot protect anything.” I paid them no mind as I addressed the garbage in front of me.

  “Imagine her standing behind you; by now she would be dead.” That sight… It was too disgusting.

  “…….ahhhhhhhhhhh…….” That garbage tried to get up, but he could only give out a roar, as he could not move his body.

  “Remember this feeling. Never let it happen in the future.” I gave the garbage the final blow after I finished my last message.

  Once again, the silence returned to our group. Then, I walked away from the garbage to the fireplace to have dinner.

  “Why so strict with him? Even the Guardian Knight Order was not this strict with their young recruit.” The high priest asked me.

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  “This is what he wanted. If he wants to reach for the sky, he needs to endure at least this much.” Yes, this was what he wanted. He wanted the impossible, so he needed to go through the impossible. It might be harsh in other people’s eyes, but to me, it was still lukewarm. He needed to put in at least ten times more effort than this. He had no talent, no background, no redeeming quality. If I have to point out one good thing, it was only his perseverance. However, it was not enough. It was not enough to protect her.

  “…. I see. ………..” The high priest stopped talking and looked in the direction of that garbage. “Am I witnessing the Holy Knight in the making?”

  “That garbage, the Holy Knight? Impossible, not even in a million years.” I also looked in the same direction. We were standing there watching Lady Aria heal that garbage. It was a holy sight to behold. I felt that everyone was also looking at that sight.

  “…… Are you being overprotective? Stop acting like you are her father.” The high priest patted my shoulder and then walked away.

  I kept looking at them. It was true that, as he was, he would never become the Holy Knight, one of the two individuals qualified to hold the saintess’s hand. His quality aside, he would never choose to become the Holy Knight. At best, he would remain a guardian knight. He would be a knight only for her, a knight who exists solely to protect her. That was why I was training him.

  I thought back to the day that boy came to me.