Chapter 118

                                    

                                          
In a moment of desperation at the hands of villains who have brought disaster to the estate. 
Raymond stepped up to defend him. At his own peril! 
And that's not all. 
Not only did he save his people, but he comforted them. 
Raymond organized a beef feast. 
Raymond's beef festivals to comfort the dead were not forgotten. 
Elmud made a decision then. 
To give his sword to Raymond, to be his protector. 
As he held that noble goal in his heart, all his fears vanished. But, 
'You are still not good enough.'
"...!"
With that thought, Elmud opened his eyes. 
"Ah." 
It was a large barracks he'd never seen before. 
A place he'd only heard rumors about. 
The Penin Healing Institute. 
He was alive. 
'My arm... my arm is fine.'
Elmud bit his lip; he'd tried so hard, and yet again, he'd failed him. 
'Damn.'
Just then, he heard a gruff voice. 
"Are you awake?" 
It was a sour-faced boy. It was Hanson. 
"...Oh, yeah."
"How are you feeling?" 
"I think I'm fine. And Mr. Raymond?" 
Why? 
The sour-faced boy looked at Elmud shyly, with something in his eyes. 
Elmud, being a timid person, was worried that he had done something wrong. 
'Why do you look at me like that...?'
"The Master is over there." 
"Ah...." 
Raymond was dozing off in his easy chair. 
Elmud's heart thumped uncontrollably in his chest. 
He must have fallen asleep like that after healing himself all night! 
Elmud's eyes shimmered with tears as he brimmed with anticipation. His excitement was almost uncontrollable.
Just at that moment, Raymond opened his eyes, fully awake and alert.
Elmud clenched his teeth and rose to his feet, taking an unsteady step towards Raymond's side. With determination, he knelt down before him.
"Mr. Raymond, I implore you once more, I yearn to be your sword. Please accept my pledge!"
"...!"
"I understand that I may not be up to par, but I will compensate with an unwavering spirit and put forth tenfold, a hundredfold effort!"
With these words, Elmud, the unrivaled prodigy of swordsmanship in the kingdom, reaffirmed his allegiance for the second time.

***
'Oh, come on, I've been sleeping like a log.'
Raymond rubbed the corner of his mouth. 
It wasn't Elmud's presence that had tired him.