Erica - When a Friend is Obsessed With Me

Chapter 19

"Your guild leader? The head of the Southern Guild is a Swordmaster?"

"It's a secret, for now."

"Wow, I can't believe it. Why isn't he in Tenearha, playing mercenary in the provincial cities?"

"Me."

"..."

Chaud stopped and burst into laughter.

"Come to think of it, I'd rather be a mercenary. Not Tenearha."

"Are you serious? You've never seen a Tenearha knight, have you? Aren't they cool?"

"Cool? Tenearha?"

"Yes."

"What's so cool about them?"

Erica rolled her eyes for a moment before answering.

"...Templar garb."

"Oh, seriously."

Chaud laughed lowly, his eyes widening in disbelief.

He didn't really retort. Because the Knights of Tenearha were indeed awesome.

"When did you see Tenearha wearing a knight's uniform?"

"... Once upon a time, just by chance."

As a child, she had often seen her father returning to the Count's estate in his Templar uniform.

She couldn't say it out loud, so she stuttered.

"When did you meet them? Were you discovered to be a sword master and received an invitation to join?"

"I saw them when I was with the Eastern Guild, slaying demons, except they had the coolest Templar outfits."

He paused, unable to move his legs.

Why would anyone want to be a Swordmaster and join such a tightly controlled organization?

Wouldn't it be more fun to be on your own and explore the world to your heart's content?

Over and over again, Chaud made the case for why being a free mercenary is better than being a Tenearha.

"What do they have but money, honor, and power?"

"Isn't that a pretty big deal?"

"You don't have freedom."

"..."

"It's not funny."

"..."

Erica couldn't help but giggle. It was a spontaneous laugh.

"You're kind of like my guild leader."

"What do you mean by that?"

"It doesn't mean anything."

Was that a compliment? Erica thought it was a compliment that came out of nowhere.

No one could compare to Pechenik, who had raised her.

It was a mistake to think of Pechenik when she looked at Chaud now.

"You must be very close with the Guildmaster."

"Of course! He's my master, and he's like a father to me."

"I thought I heard you say that before."

"He has no one but me, and if a Swordmaster like you showed up one day, wielding an aura, he wouldn't give you a second glance."

"..."

"I'm his only student."

Chaud hadn't imagined that those platitudes were a deterrent.