Samsara's POV
"Sure."
I didn't expect Mister Rikuya to agree without asking any questions when I made that request.
Oh well—maybe he thinks being a mercenary isn't a problem.
"You're really going to train the Yashiro Knights?!" Anton asked, walking backward.
When Mister Rikuya told Nari to lend me a knight's uniform, both Nari and Anton decided to tag along.
"W-well, no. I just wanted to see the sparring grounds." I said.
Truthfully, I just wanted to punish that punk—Anastasius.
"I bet the knights will be in shock when they see you, Samara," Nari said with a giggle. Anton nodded enthusiastically.
"Why's that?" I asked.
"There are two reasons," she said, raising two fingers. "One, you'll be the first woman to visit the sparring ground—something only Lord Aizen never permitted to. And two—"
"They'll think Miss Samara is going to be Lord Aizen's lover!" Anton chimed in, skip-jumping ahead.
My mouth dropped open at Anton's words. Maybe this wasn't such a great idea after all!
"We've arrived at the sparring ground," Nari announced.
I looked around. This sparring ground was about half the size of the training ground where I'd seen Mister Rikuya.
And yet… Anastasius was nowhere in sight.
But aren't they supposed to be sparring or training right now? Why are they just lounging around?
"Oh? A beauty wandered into our den," a voice drawled.
My gaze darted to the left. Three knights were approaching.
Well, would you look at that—one rat's already started squeaking.
I shot him a glare, then scanned the area again for Anastasius. But he stepped forward and blocked my view.
"Looking for me, perhaps?" he asked with that same disgusting smile.
"You're not her type, man. She's obviously looking for me," one of his subordinates said, puffing out his chest.
"Hey, lady. What's your name?" the man in front of me asked.
I scoffed. So they're no different from the mercenaries I met along the road.
He reached out to touch my hair, but I grabbed his wrist and twisted it.
He screamed in pain.
"What do you think you're doing?!" his subordinate barked.
I shot them a bored look. "Your mother didn't raise you to be a scumbag," I said, shoving him backward until he landed in a heap behind his friends.
"Is this how Yashiro Knights behave?" I asked, voice cold. "I doubt your lord would be pleased to see how you treat a girl."
"Stop acting like some strong woman, you wench. I know you're just here looking for someone to spend the night with."
Oh. That one hit the angry den.
With a swift motion, I snatched his friend's sword and stabbed it into the ground—just inches from his groin.
He gasped, and I could see the tremble start to crawl through his body.
"Instead of spouting nonsense, why don't we settle this with a sword?" I said with a smile, rising slowly to my feet.
The commotion drew every knight in the camp. They circled us, murmuring among themselves.
I just want to visit yet they're looking for a fight.
The ring of murmuring knights fell into a hush as I stepped where a wooden sword is.
The man's bravado cracked as he scrambled to his feet, his swagger now buried beneath flushed cheeks and a trembling jaw. I could practically see the shame devour him.
"You're insane," he spat, but it didn't carry the weight he hoped. It sounded more like a plea.
I tilted my head. "No." I said as I inspect the wooden sword.
"Just tired of boys pretending to be wolves." I added and fixed my gaze on them.
"You dare mock us?! The Yashiro Knights are stronger than any guild in this land!" his friend shouted.
I wonder how the Order of Fatui will react if they heard of what he just said.
I rolled my eyes. Are they all bark and no bite? I rested the wooden sword on my shoulder.
"Since I bruised your ego," I said with a mischievous smile, "why don't the three of you come at me at once? Would that be enough to soothe your wounded pride?"
All three drew their swords, fury etched on their faces.
"You're using a wooden sword? You're not afraid to die, are you?" one of them sneered.
I smiled sweetly. "Oh, darling—death is a solace I'd gladly welcome."
The crowd buzzed with anticipation, knights whispering behind their hands as the three men raised their blades.
The tension thickened, the sun catching on steel—three against one, and I stood there with nothing but a wooden sword and a smirk.
They charged in a blur of motion.
I sidestepped the first swing effortlessly, my feet light as smoke. The second came in from behind—a clumsy overhead slash meant to scare more than harm.
I dropped low, sweeping his legs out from under him with the wooden blade. He slammed into the dirt with a grunt.
The third was smarter, aiming for precision. Our weapons clashed—wood against steel—and though mine lacked the weight of iron, I redirected the force, dancing just beyond his reach. His frustration grew with every miss.
"You talk big," he snarled.
"I fight bigger," I replied, and struck him hard in the ribs with the flat of the blade.
He stumbled back, winded.
The first one recovered and lunged again. This time, I didn't dodge.
I turned into the attack, parried his strike with practiced ease, and jabbed the hilt into his gut. He wheezed, folded, and fell beside his companion.
Now only one remained.
He looked at his fallen comrades, then at me—this girl wielding a training weapon like it was forged from fire. And suddenly, his bravado didn't seem so solid.
"Well?" I asked, casually twirling the wooden sword. "Still think I'm afraid to die?"
The last man's sword trembled in his grip, but he still charged.
Good.
He came at me with a horizontal slash—predictable. I leaned back, letting the blade whistle past my chest.
Before he recovered, I stepped in and slammed the edge of my wooden sword against his hand. His weapon clattered to the ground.
I grabbed him by the collar and whispered, "You should've walked away."
Then I threw him into his comrades.
All three groaned in a pile of bruised egos and dirt.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Then—a slow clap. It echoed through the circle like a drum while stepping forward.
Anastasius.
"Sometimes I doubt your gender. Are you really a girl?" he asked playfully. I shot him a glare.
"Is this why you joined? Hiding behind bad jokes and worse company?" I said, tossing the wooden sword at him.
The other knights were still circling us, staring in shock. I gave them a look that said 'what?'
"Why are you even here—and why did you beat my comrades to a pulp?"
Oh right. I forgot. I smiled brightly at them.
"Hello everyone! I'm Samsara. For today, I'll be your companion," I said sweetly.
A little prank won't hurt.
Their reactions nearly made me burst out laughing—especially Anastasius—but I kept my mouth shut.
I stepped toward him and patted his back. "Since you chose this path, I might as well follow you. I told you I'd come after you once I recovered, didn't I?" I whispered, then walked past him.
"You're so cruel," I heard him mutter behind me.
Just before I reached Nari and Anton, I stopped and turned back to face the group.
"Since your comrades made a mistake today… run ten laps around the circle," I said calmly.
I heard them groan—but they quickly fell in line and began running.
×××××
After the ten laps, they collapsed on the ground like a zombie.
"I... shouldn't have... met you." Anastasius complained while panting on the ground.
"I didn't force you to join me, didn't I?" I answered bluntly while eating a cookie.
Anastasius groaned as an answer and didn't talk.
"I thought you just want to visit. But you just beat them into pulp."
I choked and coughed at the unexpected voice behind me.
That startled me!
"Mister Rikuya, stop popping out of nowhere," I said between coughs.
He let out a small chuckle and handed me a drink.
"I was told that three of my knights sparred with you," he said.
Anton must've told him while I was busy.
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and tried to regain composure.
"They weren't exactly eager participants," I said. "I had to make an entrance."
Mister Rikuya gave me a thoughtful look, his fingers loosely wrapped around hands.
"They'll remember it. That's more than I can say for half the drills they've been through this month."
"So you're not mad?" I raised a brow. I just harassed his knights.
"I'm impressed," he replied, his tone calm but laced with something I couldn't quite name. "They need someone who doesn't flatter or fear them. You gave them both discipline and reason to respect you."
I took a sip of the drink. It was cool, sweet. Definitely better than the dust still in my throat.
"You're oddly supportive for someone who threw me into this without a question," I muttered.
Lord Rikuya chuckled again—low and brief. "You volunteered."
"Details."
A brief silence stretched between us, not uncomfortable—just casual.
Then, his gaze flicked toward the field where the knights were panting under the sun.
"They ran like their pride was on the line," Mister Rikuya said.
I didn't look away. "They wore it like armor. I figured I'd test the thickness." I answered.
I looked at him beside me. I hadn't realized he was standing so close.
Clearing my throat, I asked, "What brings you here, Mister Rikuya?"—hoping the question would shift the atmosphere.
He turned his head just as he caught me gazing at him. For a moment, he didn't answer. Then he looked away, eyes fixed ahead.
"Let's go to my office," he said, already beginning to walk.
I tilted my head slightly and followed him.
As we arrived at his office, he sat behind his desk and gestured for me to sit.
I glanced around. He had surprisingly good taste in interior design. An entire wall was lined with bookshelves. I bet he's read all of them.
Is he a bookworm, perhaps?
"Do you drink tea?" he asked.
"What do you want to talk about?" I replied, dodging the question.
I can sense that he didn't like my straightforwardness.
"Who are you?"
The question made my entire body flinch. Does he already suspect I'm not the true owner of this body?
No—I've never told anyone. And if this world has any beliefs about such things, they'd likely dismiss it as superstition.
I studied him carefully. The softness in his expression had vanished, replaced by quiet suspicion.
I'd almost completely forgotten—after everything that happened—that Anastasius and I were just mercenaries who happened to receive his kindness.
"I believe you already had your butler run a background check on us," I said directly.
He looked at me and leaned back in his chair. "I only know about Anastasius. I wouldn't be asking if I already knew your background."
"Samsara, was it?" he asked, resting his chin on his clasped hands. "The Rikuya Commissioner is a place where every person in Aetheria registers their name as part of a family. But you… you have no records, no roots."
I tried to maintain my composure. It made sense—the noble family who adopted me probably never registered me as one of their own.
"I was an orphan," I said evenly. "I was adopted by a noble family once, but I ran away and became a mercenary."
He didn't speak for a full minute, as if he's analyzing me. I didn't avert my eyes either.
"Could you elaborate on what Anastasius told me about you being in a loop?" he asked suddenly.
My fingers gripped the armrest as I fought to compose myself. If I told him… would he believe me? But earlier—he said he did.
Can I really trust him? Can he really help me?
But my case isn't something this world would understand. It would only raise suspicions—and if the wrong people heard about it, I could be killed.
And yet… I can't go back to where I first woke up. Not again.
Come to think of it, the moment I arrived in this place, the loop stopped. Unlike before—every time I faced danger or whenever I sleep, I would always end up right back at the beginning.
My mind feels like it's about to explode. I can't tell whether I should trust him or not or ask him for help. He's one of the captains of Argent Sigils after all.
"I might be… hallucinating. I haven't had any proper sleep," I offered weakly.
But I knew he wasn't a fool. He wouldn't believe that excuse so easily.