The Doctor Cured The Villainess And Ran Away-Chapter 14: Knight Commander (2)

A person who insults the sword is unforgivable, no matter the circumstances.

This was the absolute principle of Tanya, Commander of the Gotberg Knights.

From her days in the slums, the only thing that protected her was a single sword.

When she opened her eyes, she swung it.

Even when half-asleep, she would swing it.

Her right hand always rested at her waist, ready to draw.

On rare nights when she was lucky enough to lie down to sleep, the sword was neatly placed at her bedside.

It was because she could wield a sword that she rose to the position of Commander of the Gotberg Knights.

She left behind her life in the slums, embraced chivalry, and became a respected swordswoman.

Yet, it still wasn’t enough.

The title of Sword Expert and the position of a provincial commander were insufficient.

She needed to see just how far she could go with the sword — to reach the summit.

Only then...

“Hup! Huff! Ugh!”

Only then would she not have to bow her head to those who treated the sword with contempt — like the fool in front of her.

“Would you like to continue?”

Tanya asked, her voice flat and emotionless.

Inwardly, she felt slightly relieved and satisfied, though she kept her expression neutral.

She couldn’t even count the number of times she had to clean up after his messes.

In a way, this sparring was a form of venting.

‘It’s true that what he said about the Imperial Knights intrigued me.’

Even if it was a simple contractual relationship, she had pledged her loyalty to the Gotberg family.

His words to abandon that, and his attitude of belittling swordsmanship, didn’t sit well with her.

‘There’s no way the Young Master will pass the physician’s exam, and even if he does, he won’t take me as his bodyguard.’

Under the pretense of sparring, Tanya unleashed her quick swordsmanship, too fast for the fool to respond.

Her swift strikes hit his arms and back with precise, powerful blows.

“Huff, huff.”

Finally, the fool collapsed to the ground.

After being beaten this much, he should give up and stay down.

However...

“Ugh, painkiller... First aid. Phew.”

Contrary to her expectations, he got back up, gripping the wooden sword once more.

“Alright, let’s keep going. Is this the correct basic stance? If not, let me know right away.”

The fool swung the wooden sword with all his might.

His posture and trajectory were a complete mess.

Tanya struck his sword lightly, sending him sprawling again.

“What the heck, are even the lowest-tier monsters this strong? This is terrible. Again!”

...He got back up.

Despite his ragged breathing and bleeding wounds, he kept standing.

‘What’s going on?’

For the first time, Tanya saw the look in his eyes clearly, through his disheveled bangs. freeweɓnovel.cøm

...Something had changed.

The hazy, unfocused gaze from before had long since disappeared.

Now, there was a madman fiercely burning with determination to survive.

‘Wha...!’

Tanya was so overwhelmed by his spirit that she unconsciously took a step back.

―Thwack!

Seizing the opening, the fool swung his wooden sword with all his strength, striking Tanya’s wooden sword.

“Oh! I didn’t fall over this time!”

Tanya, without even realizing it, had assumed a defensive stance.

Seeing no counterattack, the fool grew even more spirited and continued his relentless strikes.

Watching his childlike enthusiasm, Tanya found herself unexpectedly letting go of the anger she had held toward him.

She acknowledged it.

‘The Young Master... has changed.’

A faint smile appeared on Tanya’s lips.

Now she understood what he meant.

He wasn’t telling her to betray her loyalty to the Gotberg family.

On the contrary, he meant he would surely pass the physician’s exam and take [N O V E L I G H T] her as his personal guard.

‘Was it my perception that was twisted?’

Tanya herself hadn’t been a knight from the beginning.

During her youth, she was just another delinquent from the slums, learning chivalry only after joining the Gotberg Knights.

If he was showing this much resolve, it was her duty as a subordinate to respond.

Tanya spoke in a much softer tone than before.

“Young Master.”

“Yes?”

“To be honest, you have no talent for the sword.”

“I know that!”

Lass snapped back, clearly irritated by her blunt remark.

“So, I’ll teach you some tricks. Practical techniques for fighting monsters.”

Lass frowned, his face clearly displeased.

For a moment, Tanya thought she might have made a mistake.

But then, Lass shouted loudly.

“Why didn’t you say that earlier! I’m ready. What is it? Teach me already!”

His straightforward reaction made Tanya suppress a chuckle.

“If you’re caught off guard by a sudden attack, remember this stance. Assume you’re holding a sword...”

Tanya began to explain earnestly, and Lass listened just as attentively.

As they trained together, Tanya realized she was unknowingly breaking into a pleasant sweat.

***

“Wow, that's crossing the line.”

When a person reaches their limit, they can't help but be amazed.

That's how intense Tanya's training was.

And it lasted for four whole days!

“If it weren’t for the first aid, I honestly wouldn’t have survived.”

But it was worth it.

―――――――――――

Strength: 10 (UP)

Stamina: 11 (UP)

Magic Power: 1

Mana: 15 (UP)

Divine Power: 22

Faith: 100

―――――――――――

Just four days.

In just four days, I managed to bring my pathetic strength and stamina to a level where I could at least do something.

“At least now I won’t die... probably.”

The practical exam for the personal physician position was tomorrow.

In my seventeen years of life, I had never really exercised before, so every muscle in my body was screaming in agony. But I just had to endure it for one more day.

Lying on the bed like a piece of seaweed soaked in water, I suddenly heard a thud near the door.

“What the...?”

I got up and yanked the door open. Maybe it was the experience from fighting the Demon King’s army, but I instinctively remained cautious, even in moments like these.

If there was a rustling sound outside the tent while you were camping at night, there was a high probability that a monster was approaching.

I tilted my head and caught sight of someone quickly darting behind the corner.

Seeing that gray hair, I knew immediately who it was.

My tension evaporated, and I called her name gently.

“Neria, what are you doing?”

After a brief silence, Neria timidly peeked out from behind the corner.

Sweat was dripping down her flushed face as if she were in a cartoon.

“Oh, Brother. Did I disturb you while you were resting? I’m so sorry...”

“No, it’s fine. But...”

I sniffed the air. There was a pleasant, buttery aroma wafting around.

Looking closely, I saw Neria holding a tray with both hands, her stance overly formal. On the tray, there were cookies — palm-sized and piled high.

“Couldn’t knock because of those?”

“Ah, y-yes. You’ve been looking so tired lately, so I decided to bake some for you.”

“You made them yourself? Impressive.”

The cookies were well-shaped, almost professional in appearance.

Though they were noticeably larger than the usual cookies I’d seen, Neria was generous with the ingredients. She’d always had a big heart, even since childhood.

“I made them just for you, Brother... You seemed to like sweet things.”

Neria looked up at me with those big, innocent eyes, blinking cautiously. She was probably worried that she might have been bothersome, doing something she wasn’t asked to do.

She had baked cookies solely for me.

There was no way I couldn’t feel touched.

“Haha, thanks. But honestly, I’m more into savory stuff. If I had to choose, salty things are more my style.”

“Oh, really? I thought you liked sweets since you keep eating those honey candies every day.”

That’s just for survival.

I don’t dislike them, but... well, they’re tolerable.

I picked up a cookie and took a bite.

The soft, chewy texture spread across my mouth, along with the rich, buttery aroma.

And... it was sweet.

She hadn’t held back on the sugar.

“Oh, it’s yuzu syrup. It has a much richer flavor than just plain sugar.”

“Did I always like sweet things?”

I’d never questioned it before.

Hmm... my values were always pretty clear.

No need for unnecessary embellishment — they were simply delicious.

These cookies were the kind of thing I’d want to stash a few in my pocket for emergencies.

While I chewed, Neria watched my face intently.

Her lips curled up, and her chubby cheeks puffed out like soft rice cakes.

“Hehe.”

She looked so smug, as if she’d just won a major victory.

“Why’d you suddenly decide to bake cookies?”

At my question, Neria’s expression shifted to one of mild concern. She shuffled her feet nervously before answering.

“I saw you training with Commander Tanya... You looked like you were in so much pain. It reminded me of when I fell in the garden — it stung so much. I wondered how much worse it must be for you, Brother.”

Neria’s gaze softened as she looked at me.

“But that time, a maid gave me a cookie, and it made me feel a lot better! So I thought maybe you’d feel better too if you had some....”

Oh, she’s so sweet.

Ten years from now, Neria would be a shell of herself after all the fighting against the Demon King’s army.

For now, she was a little angel, concerned enough to bake cookies just for her troublesome older brother.

“Thank you, Neria. How about we go downstairs and eat the rest with some milk?”

“Milk?”

It was as if she’d never considered it before. Neria tilted her head in confusion.

“Yeah. Cookies taste way better with milk. And drinking milk helps you grow taller too.”

“Really?”

At the mention of getting taller, Neria brought her hands up to her chest, her eyes sparkling.

“Yeah. At your age, getting enough calcium is essential for bone growth.”

“...I don’t really get it, but if you say so, it must be really important. Let’s eat with milk!”

Neria’s face lit up like a chipmunk discovering a winter stash of nuts.

If only Asella were half as sweet and innocent as Neria.

With that thought, I led Neria downstairs to the kitchen to find some milk.

***

“All the candidates have gathered.”

My father’s stern voice echoed through the chilly morning air.

The next morning, before the sun even fully rose, a crowd had assembled on the northern hill of the Gotberg estate.

Tanya stood at the forefront, leading the Gotberg knights, all armed and ready for battle.

I stood directly in front of my father.

To my left and right, other candidates for the personal physician position were lined up, tense and nervous.

My father’s gaze swept over us, and then he spoke.

“From this moment forward, the practical exam will commence. Your performance during today’s monster subjugation mission will be evaluated.”