One day before Satoru and Karina set out in search of the giants' home, Liza remained in Muno, carrying out the task her master had left to her.
The edge of the dagger passed beside Liza's face with a low whistle.
It was not a real attack, but the shadow of one. An imaginary line traced by a dagger that did not exist, but in her mind, it had already cut through the space where her neck would have been a moment earlier. Liza twisted her torso, lowered her center of gravity, and answered with a short thrust toward the point where Hans should appear.
The wooden tip struck the air.
Too late.
Hans would already have been behind her.
Liza tightened her fingers around the shaft and corrected her posture. The weights tied to both ends of the spear pulled at her arms when she withdrew the weapon, and those on her wrists and ankles made even a simple movement feel heavier than usual.
Every step demanded strength.
Every turn reminded her that her legs could not relax.
Every thrust had to remain firm, even as her shoulders began to burn.
It was not a comfortable way to train, but comfort served no purpose.
She moved again.
This time, she imagined Hans entering from the left. Not like a normal soldier, not like an enemy advancing with clear intent, but like a shadow choosing the worst possible moment to appear. Liza turned the spear, blocked an imaginary dagger, and swung the opposite end toward his side.
Too late again.
If it were Hans, he would have already slipped beneath her guard.
Liza took a deep breath.
She had trained with him enough to understand that she could not measure him by normal standards. Hans was not only fast. His danger lay in the way he guided his enemy into making a mistake before attacking.
When she believed she had closed one route, he had already found another.
When she tried to maintain distance, he entered her guard as if the spear did not exist.
When she managed to block him, a second threat was already in motion.
Against Hans, her spear always arrived late.
Liza stepped back, changed her grip, and attacked again.
This time, the enemy in her mind was not Hans.
It was her master.
The spear advanced, but her body stopped before completing the movement.
Even in an imaginary training session, it was difficult to place her master as someone she could reach. He did not need to move like Hans, hide, or look for angles. He needed none of that. His presence alone was enough to make distance seem meaningless. A gesture from him could stop an attack, a spell could change the entire terrain, and a single blow was enough to remind her that strength did not always follow the shape of a body.
Before meeting him, Liza had believed she understood what it meant to be strong.
A great warrior, a skilled hunter, a fighter capable of protecting his tribe and defeating more numerous enemies.
For someone of her race, strength was a natural measure of worth, but after meeting her master, her understanding of that word changed.
Hans was also strong, far more than she could evaluate, but unlike her master, the ninja possessed a set of specific talents, talents she could focus on in an imaginary training session.
But her master… possessed a body weapons could not harm, knew terrifying magic, and was even capable of fighting with both weapons and martial arts.
For her, imagining only one side of her master to face was complicated, because she could never stop herself from thinking that afterward he would attack her with something completely random from his repertoire.
Liza controlled her breathing, then returned to her initial stance and attacked, this time against a figure she could imagine clearly.
Zen.
A dark presence, surrounded by whip-like shadows.
The wooden spear cut through the air.
Then the woman with the sacred sword appeared.
Liza had not faced her the way her master had, but she had seen her. She had seen the wounds she left behind. She had seen what an enemy of that kind could do even to someone like him.
The next thrust was stronger.
Then, Hayato.
The hero.
A title that was the origin of new stories, songs, and legends that bards would tell to make their names known.
The spear moved again.
Armies.
Demons.
Monsters.
Enemies most warriors could not face without trembling.
Her master walked toward all of that as if the world merely presented him with problems he had to solve.
Liza stopped the spear and breathed.
Her arms and legs hurt. Sweat ran down her back and disappeared beneath her training clothes. The wood of the shaft creaked beneath the strength of her fingers.
Once, during one of her training sessions, Liza had seen the tip of her weapon become covered in a red glow.
It had lasted less than a second.
The color appeared and vanished before she could understand what she had done. Since then, she had not managed to repeat it, but she knew what she had seen. It was [Magic Edge], or at least a glimpse of that skill.
As a child, she would have given anything to reach it, even once. For a warrior of her tribe, that power was proof of excellence, something reserved for those who had taken their technique and will beyond the ordinary.
Now, even that seemed small compared to her master.
And yet, if she managed to master it, even if it was an insignificant power compared to spells that changed the battlefield or blows that broke entire structures, at least she would have one more tool.
Something of her own.
Something she could offer him when the time came to be useful.
Her master had given them too much.
Thanks to him, they could eat until they were satisfied. He had given them an identity, a purpose, strength, safety…
With her master, they had visited places she had never thought she would see. They lived without chains, without abuse, and without gazes that treated them like things. And above all, he had given them a place where Tama and Pochi could laugh without fear.
That was what weighed on her most.
Seeing the girls run through the castle halls, interact with people who did not hate them, speak with soldiers who did not look at them with suspicion, and sleep peacefully at night was something Liza could not observe without remembering where they came from.
All of that came from him.
And she still did not know how to repay it.
She was a warrior. Her strength was the only thing she had to offer. She did not have Nina's ingenuity, nor Hans's ability to serve from any shadow. She could not advise her master in politics, nor use magic, nor did she have influence with which to support him.
If her spear was not enough, then she did not know what else she could give him.
More than being abandoned, she feared disappointing him.
Her tail tensed behind her.
When her master left to search for Lady Karina, he did not leave them without purpose. He gave them a task that was simple to understand, though not easy to fulfill: prove that they were there to help. If the people of Muno saw them living among them while demonstrating their usefulness, then her master's presence would be accepted more easily.
The three of them understood his order, and later it was Nina who organized the details.
She sent the girls with the castle servants, where their strength and energy could be useful. She placed Liza in charge of the soldiers. First, she trained alongside them, then she began correcting them, and when it became clear that almost none of them had any real experience, she ended up taking charge of much of their instruction.
It was not difficult to understand why.
Muno's good soldiers were gone.
Over the years in which the consul had been in charge of the barony, some had died, while others deserted because they did not agree with his methods. Others disappeared mysteriously. Those who remained were obedient, but weak. Not because they lacked will, but because no one had had the time, resources, or stability to turn them into something more.
Liza could do something with that.
Even so, it did not feel like enough.
That was why she trained every morning.
That was why she added weight to her wooden spear, her wrists, and her ankles.
That was why she repeated movements against enemies who existed only in her memory.
She did not want to grow used to being considered strong by soldiers who barely knew how to hold a formation. She did not want to feel comfortable only because others were beginning to respect her.
She wanted to become useful to her master, and for that goal, she had not done enough yet.
She took her spear again, changed her stance, and closed her eyes to imagine her next opponent.
But before she could move, a voice came from her side.
"You are truly dedicated."
Liza reacted instantly.
Her body turned toward the voice, and the spear moved with it. The complete motion, together with the weight behind it, made the air lash across the courtyard with a dry blow. Dust rose in front of Nina Lottel, and loose leaves were sent flying.
Liza stopped the tip in front of the person.
For a second, her breath caught.
Then she lowered the spear and bowed immediately.
"I apologize!"
Nina remained where she was.
Her hair and clothes had been thrown out of place by the sudden wind, but her expression was calm in a way that did not match someone who had just been attacked.
"You do not have to apologize," she said. "I was the one who suddenly appeared while you were training."
"Even so, my reaction was improper."
"It was a natural reaction for a great warrior."
Liza did not raise her head immediately.
"I could have hurt you."
"But you did not."
The answer was so simple that Liza did not know how to respond.
Nina took a few steps toward her, though not too close. There was something careful in that distance. Not fear, but consideration. As if she understood that Liza would be uncomfortable if she continued.
"I only wanted to know how you were," Nina said.
Liza slowly raised her head.
"My condition is stable."
Nina blinked once.
"That sounds more like a report than an answer."
"I apologize."
"That was not a complaint either."
Liza fell silent.
That often happened to her with Nina. The viscountess spoke politely, with a sober and accessible voice, but Liza could not fully relax in front of her. She respected her, naturally. Nina had made the castle start moving again, giving clear orders, making both servants and soldiers return to a routine, and making Muno seem less lost with each passing day. She was a capable woman.
But she was still a human noble.
Liza had learned from a young age not to trust such people. Before becoming a slave, she had seen her father negotiate with humans who spoke kindly, and also with weasels from another demi-human tribe who knew how to twist agreements until they became unrecognizable. She had seen respect become debt, help become a chain, and promises become excuses.
Nina did not seem to have bad intentions.
Liza wanted to believe that.
But her prudence did not disappear simply because someone spoke calmly.
Nina, for her part, observed her posture and held back a sigh.
It was not difficult for her to see the caution behind the warrior. It was not rejection. Liza simply did not know how to deal with her outside of orders and formal answers. That complicated things more than Nina would have liked.
She needed a closer relationship with Lord Satoru's group.
Not out of vulgar manipulation, but political necessity.
Satoru was too important to Muno and, at the same time, too difficult to reach. Hans was even worse in that sense; he was present when he wished and absent most of the time. Tama and Pochi were accessible, even charming, but they were still children.
Liza was different.
Satoru showed a special patience toward the demi-humans, particularly toward Liza. Nina had no intention of theorizing what kind of relationship existed there, nor would she commit the imprudence of assuming more than she saw. But she could recognize something obvious: if she wanted to build a real bridge toward Satoru's closest circle, Liza was the best option.
The problem was that Liza still looked at her as if every sentence might have a second intention.
Which, technically, was not incorrect.
That, Nina thought, would take time.
"How are the soldiers doing?" she finally asked.
Liza straightened her back.
That was easier ground.
"They are obedient. They listen to instructions and correct themselves when an error is pointed out."
"That sounds good."
"But their bodies are not very resilient."
Nina tilted her head slightly.
"Ah, yes. I heard some of them fainted yesterday."
Liza tensed.
"I apologize."
"Liza."
"I will try to reduce the pace."
Nina closed her eyes for an instant.
"I did not come to reprimand you."
"Even so, it was my responsibility."
"I do not doubt that. But I also know it was not entirely your fault."
Liza remained silent.
Nina looked toward the empty courtyard. It was very early, and there was no one in the place besides the two of them. The soldiers who had fainted the previous day had tried to keep up with Liza instead of following the routine meant to prepare them.
That said something good about them, though it also confirmed the problem: Muno did not have enough veterans.
Whether to train others, take leadership, or serve as an elite force in general.
"We will have to adjust the training," Nina said. "Not because demanding effort from them is wrong, but because we need them to be able to work the next day."
The lack of personnel was her greatest current concern.
"Understood."
Both of them fell silent after that. Liza opened her mouth, but said nothing. Her tail moved slightly behind her, and Nina noticed that her attention had shifted toward the castle.
"You may ask," she said.
Liza looked back at her.
"Pardon?"
"There is something you want to ask. Feel free to do so."
Liza hesitated.
Then, with more care than necessary, she spoke.
"Are Tama and Pochi doing well?"
Nina smiled.
This time, it was not a calculated smile. It was small, but sincere.
"They are doing well. More than well, I would say. The maids adore them, and not only them. Pochi became famous in the kitchen after carrying sacks that would have required two adults. Tama is also an expert at finding lost objects. Everyone in the castle is happy to have them."
Liza blinked.
"They are not causing trouble?"
"No more than any girl with too much energy."
"I see."
The relief in her voice was small, but Nina heard it.
"You also want to know why no one treats them badly."
Liza went still.
Nina maintained her smile, but did not wait for her to answer.
"You do not need to deny it. It is a reasonable question."
Liza lowered her gaze.
"In other cities, it would not have been the same."
"I know."
Nina walked slowly toward the edge of the courtyard, looking at the castle as if the building itself could answer.
"Muno is not like Seiryuu. There, they have enough stability to think about old grudges, repeat customs, and look down on those they were always told to despise. Here… things are different. For years, this land suffered because of other humans."
Nina could not help but sigh.
"Corrupt, cowardly, and incompetent leaders and security forces, as well as criminals without scruples. For the people of the castle, or Muno in general, hatred toward demi-humans because of distant stories does not have as much weight when their most recent wounds were inflicted by human hands."
The demon might have manipulated events behind the scenes, but it would be ridiculous not to look at the people responsible for transmitting that suffering.
Liza listened without interrupting.
"Besides, there are no demi-humans here. No elves, no dwarves, and no other non-human races. So you are received as something new rather than a reminder of an old grudge. That can create distance, of course, but also curiosity."
"They look at us a lot," Liza agreed.
After years as a slave, Liza had become very conscious of other people's gazes, especially because she usually needed to anticipate an order, a need, or avoid getting into trouble.
However, since arriving at the castle, she had not sensed any trace of contempt or disgust. Although some gazes lingered on her scales or tail, they were, as Nina had said, nothing more than curious looks.
Nina turned back toward her.
"It also helps that they saw you fighting against the demon in the city. It is difficult to convince someone that a person is a threat when they saw her risk herself for them. But there is another, more important detail."
"…My master?"
"Not exactly," Nina said with a small laugh. "The ones I was thinking of were Baron Leon and Lady Karina."
Liza did not understand at first.
Nina smiled a little more.
"They love stories about heroes. In books of legend, it is common to see knights traveling with companions from different races. In many of those stories, the hero does not travel only with humans. Elves, and especially demi-humans, are among the ones that appear most often. The baron and his daughter grew up admiring that kind of tale. That influences the atmosphere of the castle more than it may seem."
Liza thought about the day they had met the baron. That man had mistaken her master for a hero at the time because he had seen them with him. She had not understood it then, but it seemed to align with what Nina was telling her.
"So it is not only because of my master."
"Lord Satoru's presence matters," Nina replied. "It would be absurd to deny that. But not everything comes down to him. You have also done your part."
Liza gripped the wooden spear more tightly.
"I still have not done enough."
Nina observed her for a few seconds.
"Perhaps not for you. But would Lord Satoru think the same?"
Liza did not answer.
The viscountess did not insist. She only looked once more at the weights tied to Liza's body, the empty courtyard marked clearly by battle, and the expression on the girl's face.
In truth, Liza seemed like an excellent talent to her. At its best, had Muno ever had a genius of her level? Even when thinking of the duke's knights or the young talents she had once seen in the capital…
She could not think of anyone who, at Liza's age, possessed her strength. There were veterans as strong as her, or even stronger, but they were people who had spent most of their lives fighting or risking their lives to reach that level.
Humans who, in their time, had been recognized as geniuses, now over forty or fifty years old, and this young girl who had not even reached twenty was already close to their strength.
Impressive fell short. Perhaps the only ones who surpassed Liza were the hero's companions, but they were already legendary figures, people born only once in a generation.
It was not fair to compare Liza to them, but they were the only ones Nina could think of.
Someone so capable, yet carrying so much pressure.
Lord Satoru…
He simply was not a man who could be measured by human rules. Following a man like that was not easy. Trying to catch up to him was even more ridiculous. But Nina knew that no matter how she tried to console Liza or distract her from her doubts, Liza would not listen.
They had known each other for only a short time, but she had already seen how stubborn this normally polite girl could be.
Instead, she decided to take another path.
"Then perhaps I have a task suitable for you."
Liza lifted her gaze.
The phrase was not said as a kind promise. There was a change in Nina's voice, small but clear, the same firmness with which she spoke when giving orders to servants or correcting others.
That made Liza straighten her back.
"A task?"
"Yes. One that requires strength, discipline, and someone unafraid to dirty her hands."
Liza held the wooden spear with both hands.
"I am willing."
"I imagined so."
Nina did not smile this time.
She looked into the distance, as if she could see beyond the castle walls.
Muno was still far from recovery. Now that they had regained the core of the region, the fields would soon recover. It was only a matter of time.
But the roads remained unsafe, several villages were still isolated, and the demon's death had not made every problem that had grown beneath its shadow disappear. If there was one thing Nina understood, it was that a land was not rebuilt simply because its main enemy had fallen.
"The roads are still dangerous," Nina said. "Some groups took advantage of Muno's weakness for years. They raided caravans, occupied abandoned posts, extorted villages, or simply made themselves owners of routes that did not belong to them. As long as they exist, people will continue to think nothing has changed."
"Do you wish me to eliminate them?"
"I want you to deal with the most important ones," Nina replied. "Small groups can be handled by our patrols once we increase our personnel. But there are known bands that serve as symbols that Muno has no control over its own land. Those are the ones that interest me."
Liza nodded once.
The order was simple.
That made her feel more comfortable.
"Should I kill them all?"
"If they refuse arrest or represent a danger, yes. If they can be captured without putting our soldiers at risk, that would be better. We do not need a mountain of corpses to demonstrate authority; we need results. But I will not ask you to risk our people for the sake of showing mercy to criminals."
Liza understood.
It was not an order for blind extermination, but neither was it a soft task. Nina wanted to send a message: to show that House Muno would no longer remain hidden behind its walls.
That was something Liza could do.
A force she could offer.
"You will take a unit of soldiers with you," Nina continued. "Not too many. If I mobilize more than necessary, the castle will be left vulnerable, and others might think it is a desperate campaign for attention. Besides, I want them to learn along the way. Fighting beside you will serve them more than repeating exercises in the courtyard until they faint."
Liza lowered her gaze slightly.
"I apologize for that."
"…That was not a reproach."
"Even so…"
"Liza."
Nina's voice was not harsh, but it was firm enough to stop her.
"You will have time to apologize for real mistakes when you make them. Several soldiers discovering their limits is not a disaster. In fact, it is useful for them to be aware of their own incompetence."
Liza did not know whether that way of seeing it was admirable or worrying.
Perhaps both.
"Tama and Pochi will come with me," she said.
It was not a question.
Nina observed her for a few seconds, then nodded.
"Yes. I think that will be better. Not only because of their strength. If the now-famous group that faced a demon travels through the region, it will help convey our intentions more clearly."
Liza felt a faint relief.
She preferred to have them nearby whenever she left the castle. Not because she believed Tama and Pochi were incapable of taking care of themselves, but because they were still the girls under her responsibility. Her master had entrusted all of them to her in different ways, and Liza could not help feeling that she had to protect them, even as they grew stronger each day.
Nina walked toward the edge of the courtyard.
"There is one more thing."
Liza waited.
"While you deal with those groups, I want you to look for information about certain names."
The viscountess began listing names without drawing out the explanation.
"Zotol, Ganza, Reiban, Olt. There were others. I will give you a list later, but those are the ones that interest me most for now."
Liza repeated the names silently to memorize them.
"Are they criminals?"
"Not really."
That answer made Liza raise her gaze slightly.
Nina continued.
"They were important knights or commanders of Muno. Capable men. But they deserted or disappeared during the consul's years. Others retired, and I have not been able to gather information about them. I do not know if they are still alive, nor whether they still have loyalty toward this land. But if any of them are nearby, I want to know."
Liza then understood why Nina had not complicated the main order.
The mission was to hunt bandits.
But it was also to search for lost pieces.
"If I find them, should I bring them back?"
"If possible, yes. If not, obtaining information will be enough. If they are hostile, defend yourself. I do not want you to hesitate because of an old name. But Muno lost too many useful people. If any of them can still be recovered, I do not intend to waste the opportunity."
Liza tightened her grip on the spear.
That part was no longer as simple as killing bandits, but it was still understandable. An enemy was an enemy. A possible ally had to be measured before being destroyed.
Her master would have acted that way.
Not out of sentimentality, but because destroying something useful was foolish.
"Understood."
Nina looked at her carefully.
"You do not need to solve everything alone. Your priority is to return alive with the girls and the soldiers. The second is to eliminate the groups preventing the roads from opening again. The third is to look for those names."
Liza bowed her head.
"I will fulfill the mission."
"I know."
The certainty with which Nina said it made Liza fall silent.
It was not her master's absolute confidence, nor the way Tama and Pochi believed in her without asking questions. It was something different, more practical. Nina was not placing faith in her because she felt affection for her. She was doing it because she had seen her abilities and had decided to use them.
Liza could accept that.
It was easier than a noble smile.
"You will depart tomorrow at dawn," Nina said. "Today, I want you to rest."
Liza lowered her gaze to the weights tied to her wrists.
Nina followed her gaze and sighed.
"At least try to rest."
"I will try."
"That does not reassure me."
Liza did not know how to respond.
Nina let out a small smile.
"Go see Tama and Pochi before the maids feed them so much that they become incapable of following you tomorrow."
This time, Liza did react.
"Have they eaten that much?"
"They insist they still have room. Honestly, I am still surprised by how much your people can eat."
Liza closed her eyes for an instant.
"I will speak with them."
"Do. And Liza…"
The demi-human looked back at her.
Nina maintained her calm tone.
"This mission is not a test to prove that you deserve to stand beside Lord Satoru."
Liza went still.
She did not know what part of her face had given her away.
Nina did not seem to need confirmation either.
"It is a task I am entrusting to you because you are capable of fulfilling it. Nothing more. Nothing less."
Liza lowered her gaze.
For a moment, her grip on the wooden spear loosened slightly, but she soon recovered it.
"Understood."
Nina did not insist.
Perhaps because she knew that even if Liza heard the words, accepting them would be something else entirely.
The viscountess withdrew soon after, leaving her alone in the courtyard.
Liza remained there for a few more seconds.
The wind moved the dust raised by her training. In the distance, the castle was beginning to wake. Voices in the corridors, steps over stone, orders from servants, and soldiers starting to gather.
Liza looked at the wooden spear in her hands.
A task.
A way to help.
It was not enough to repay everything her master had given them. Perhaps nothing ever would be. But it was something concrete. An opportunity to make her strength serve a purpose.
She removed the weights from her wrists.
Then those on her ankles.
Not because she was going to stop training.
Because the next day, she had to be in her best physical condition.
When the first soldiers arrived at the courtyard, they found Liza standing in the center, the spear resting at her side and her gaze fixed on them.
Several straightened immediately.
None of them spoke.
Liza observed them one by one.
Tomorrow, she would have to take them outside the walls. She would have to make sure they returned alive. She would have to prove that Muno could move on its own.
She gripped the wooden spear again.
"We will begin with basic formation."
*****
Author's Note:
As always, thank you very much for reading and continuing to follow the story.
This chapter ended up being delayed because I wasn't sure how much I wanted to extend Liza and Nina's conversation, as well as the mission itself. At first, I planned to include everything in a single chapter. I honestly don't know what I was thinking, because in the end it became three chapters, and all of them ended up being almost the same length.
The good news is that, because of that, the next two chapters should not be delayed.
As for Liza, I enjoyed writing from her perspective. I'll probably do more chapters focused on her or on other characters from time to time, as long as people enjoy them.
I also liked writing the interaction between Liza and Nina. Both of them are trying to understand each other, but they still have their own caution, habits, and ways of seeing the world. I think that kind of distance between characters can be interesting to explore, especially when neither side is acting with bad intentions.
That's all for now. Thank you again for your patience and support, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter.