Stepmothers Are Not Always Evil - Chapter 70

As Escal turned his head in bewilderment, Baron Hazel approached and said,

“That’s not how you hold a sword.”

Baron placed his hand on Escal’s hand holding the sword.

“Step forward with your left leg. More. In that state, the center of gravity is shifted by striking the sword.”

The Baron manually corrected Escal’s behavior.

“Now, let’s try it alone this time.”

“Yes.”

As Baron Hazel had instructed, Escal swung his sword.

Even I, who is not familiar with swordsmanship, can clearly see that my movements have become smoother than before.

Baron Hazel spoke again.

“When you swing your sword, you have to let go of your strength. It is the sword that attacks the enemy, not you.”

“What do you mean?”

Escal blinked his eyes at the explanation that was too philosophical for a child to understand.

“So, relax your right hand as if holding an egg, so that the tip of the sword doesn’t sag. Yes, in that state, you just put your left hand on it.”

The swordsmanship lecture of the former Imperial knights commander was concise and essential.

Escal, with exceptional absorption, held the sword and stood upright as Baron Hazel told him.

“Now, let’s break this piece of wood.”

At Baron Hazel’s instructions, Escal smashed a piece of wood.

Crash, a piece of wood that he hadn’t even touched until a while ago was split in two in an instant.

“Wow, brother!”

Tiaris clapped her hands and let out a laugh.

The Baron continued talking while looking at Escal, who was stunned.

“This way you can make an effective attack without hurting your muscles. Do you understand?”

Escal nodded as if possessed by something.

I had a sudden realization.

‘I completely forgot how Escal could become a sword master.’

Escal’s talent was outstanding, but it was Baron Hazel who made his talent blossom.

Then it’s my turn to do it for my son.

As I got up with clenched fists, Mary just came back to the terrace with a snack.

“Madam, here’s the master’s snack…”

“I’ll take it.”

I took the snack from Mary’s hand and headed to the garden.

“Guys, have a snack.”

“Wow.”

Escal put down his sword and rushed to the tray.

I watched him as he broke off a large cookie and shared it with Tiaris, then turned to the Baron.

“Baron, do you think you could teach Escal some swordsmanship?”

“Swordsmanship?”

“Yes. As you can see, Escal was interested in swords, so I was looking for a good teacher. It would be a great honor if the Baron took charge of Escal.”

“I don’t know. I’ve never taught a child…”

Baron Hazel trailed off, looking embarrassed.

Escal, who had overheard our conversation, looked at the Baron with a mouth full of cookie crumbs.

“My training is probably too much for a child to handle.”

“Then why don’t you ask Escal?”

“I’ll do it, I want to learn!”

The answer came out before he could ask.

It seems that it was quite impressive to split the wood in the way the Baron taught him.

“You seem to have the qualities, but you’re too young…”

As Baron Hazel was still cautious, Escal grabbed him by the hem of his robe and squeezed.

“I will study hard and protect Tia, Grandpa.”

“… Okay. I will do that.”

After hesitating, Baron Hazel finally agreed.

‘It’s much more effective with Escal than I am.’

Thinking about that, I frowned.

“Then please take care of me, Baron.”

*****

“Come on, ten more again!”

“One!”

From the day Baron Hazel decided to teach Escal in swordsmanship, the garden roared with cheers every day.

Because of Baron rule that practicing swordsmanship is the most important thing, the class was held for an hour every day.

Baron Hazel’s training methods were those of the Imperial Knights and seemed daunting to a young child, but Escal took to his instructions without complaint.

Of course, Tiaris, who sits in the garden and cheers for Escal every training session, seemed to be a big factor in Escal’s passion.

“Ha!”

After getting ready to go out with Escal’s cheering sound as the background music, I picked up my hat and left the room.

Merlin asked me in my outing coat.

“Are you going to be late?”

“I’ll be back before dinner, but if Helios asks, tell him I went to Kingston.”

“All right. Please go carefully.”

I got into the carriage with Merlin seeing me off.

“Why are you going to Kingston?”

“I can’t let you go alone,” asked Mary, who followed me in the carriage.

“I have people I want to meet, and while I’m there, I want to visit Dillua Academy.”

“Who do you want to meet again?”

“If I tell you, do you know?”

“I might know, just tell me.”

Mary said with a grunt.

“The blacksmith in Kingston.”

“Uh, didn’t that person leave the territory?”

“He just came back.”

I replied briefly and looked out the window.

Seeing the children running around the streets gave me a headache.

… I have it bad, and he must have it worse.

I pondered what I had to say quietly, hoping my visit didn’t hurt him.

“We have arrived madam.”

The carriage drove a long way to the smithy outside Kingston.

The blacksmith’s door was closed, but a faint voice could be heard from inside.

It seemed to be true that the blacksmith who returned to the territory was staying in the blacksmith’s room.

“Excuse me. Are you inside?”

Without hesitation, I knocked on the forge door and raised my voice.

“Is anybody there? Come out for a second.”

The iron door, which had been tightly closed, creaked open.

The blacksmith with a haggard face came out with a smell of alcohol.

The look in his eyes when he saw me was confused.

I greeted him with a soft smile.

“It’s been a while.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I have something to tell you, can I come in for a moment?”

The blacksmith, who had been hesitant because he hadn’t even thought of my visit, opened the door wide.

“It’s shabby, but come in.”

I left Mary and followed the blacksmith into the room.

The room was more cluttered than the last time.

“It’s messy, but please sit down.”

The blacksmith pushed the bottle to one side and suggested a seat.

‘With the money Helios gave him, he could have bought a much better house.’

Sadly, I looked at the blacksmith.

Among the artifacts collected from the magic crystal mine were the shoes worn by the blacksmith’s son.

That’s why he was much more messed up than when he said he was going to find his son.

There were countless words that came to my mind, but I swallowed them all and held out the paper I had brought.

“Take it.”

“What is this?”

“This is an invitation to the reopening of the Dillua Academy.”

“……..”

The blacksmith’s expression was severely distorted.

Even the name ‘Dillua Academy’ was hateful, so his eyes were burning red.

“What kind of nasty joke is this?”

“I know you hate the academy. But that’s where your son stayed. I think you should go at least once.”

“I don’t want to.”

The blacksmith stubbornly answered.

It was not that I didn’t understand his heart, but I nodded my head gently.

“There are things I want you to come and see, but I’m not forcing you, so if you don’t like it, you don’t have to come.”

“…….”

“And I’m sorry, but please tell the parents in the same situation as you that I want them to come to the reopening ceremony.”

“……”

The blacksmith was silently looking at the ground.

In fact, I came to ask if he had any plans to make swords again, but seeing the furnace where even the molten iron didn’t boil, it seemed that he was not ready yet.

I felt like I was harassing someone who was already struggling, so I stood up.

“I’ve got to go,” I said, “I’m sorry I brought up bad memories.”

“… Please go back.”

*****

I came out of the smithy and I headed to the Dillua Academy.

With the main building, dormitory, and dining room all renovated, the academy sparkled like a new building.

Originally, the building was not bad except for the fact that the facilities were outdated, so they could have used less work.

“You are here, madam?”

While looking around the building, the construction manager heard the news of my visit and ran to greet me.

“Is the construction finished?”

“Yes. Now we just need to finish the signboard work.”

“How many days does it take to engrave the signboard?”

“It takes 2-3 days.”

“Then I will ask you a favor.”

I handed the paper I had been carrying to the man.

“Would you mind making a signboard with the names written here until the day of the reopening and hanging it on the wall of the main building?”

“Okay, but who is it all?”

“… They are the people who made me take over this academy.”