With Iris in tow, I returned to my room.
　I was told that the reason why Iris was out at night was because she couldn't practice during the day. From the sound of it, she must have been practicing not only in the morning but also in the middle of the night.
　To be honest, I wanted to warn him a little, but now was not the time.
　Iris was looking at me with a mysterious expression.
　This is the second time the assassin and I have faced each other, but this time it's different.
　She must have gotten some idea from my words.

"Are you a knight, Dr. Schweizer?

　Iris begins with a question that gets to the heart of the matter.
　It's easy to be smug, but it's hard to be smug if you've been listening to me and Fault's conversations during two separate battles.
　And maybe we're not at the point where we can fool around anymore.
　After all, there is even a person who would intentionally enter the school's warded grounds while trying to be detected.
　I'm not an assassin, I'm a straight-up assassin - that's what Remyll said, but it may be a little different in this case.
　Even as an assassin, the Swordsmen are extraordinary.
　After a short pause, I turned to Iris and answered.

Yes. I'm Alta Schweizer, a first class officer of the Kuro Wolf Knights. I'm a knight by trade.
"Are you the youngest ......?
That's also correct. I'm the youngest knight in the world.
"......, is that right?

　I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.
　In the event that you're not sure what to do, you'll be able to always ask for help.
　I'm assuming that she really means it.

"You came here to protect me, is that right?
It's an escort mission, so yes.
...... If it weren't for you the first time, I might have lost my life.

　So says Iris.
He didn't ask me about the assassins or the swordsmen.
　I'm sure she didn't mind, but maybe she didn't want to mention that she herself had been targeted.
　Iris clenched her fists and continued to speak with a determined expression.

But still - I don't need an escort.
You can't say that you don't need one in this situation. I'm sure you know that, but there's a good chance that Azuma, who came before you, would beat you in a fair fight. Even if you say you have the ability--
I know that you don't have to tell me that. ......!　I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.　I'm sure you're not the only one.

　I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.
　After all, he must have heard what I said.
　He was defeated and killed by the Swordsmen.

You knew him from ......?
We fought in the finals of a sword fighting tournament once. I had a chance to talk to him in social circles. ....... He was the most knightly and capable person I've ever met. He's the kind of guy who would kill someone like that, isn't he?
That's why I'm here.
That's not what I'm trying to say. Schweizer-sensei can find the swordsmen and defeat them, can't he?　You could have chased after them earlier.

　Iris' words were not wrong.
　I'm more concerned about protecting Iris than defeating the swordsmen.
　If I leave the academy without Iris, I might be able to find the swordsmen and take care of them.
　It is unlikely that Iris will be able to protect her if she allows other guards to protect her.
　Or, if Iris is willing to stay in the palace until the swordsmen are dealt with, she may be able to protect them.

I'm not sure what to do. The situation now is not so simple. It's more reliable to wait near you than to seek out the swordsmen. In that sense, it may sound like I'm using you as bait.
"That's fine. Your first priority should be to defeat the swordsmen, not to protect me.

　At the very least, he doesn't intend to refuse to have me around, but I sense a strong will in Iris' words.
　If you know that you are being targeted by someone who is more powerful than you, you would not be able to say that you don't need an escort like this.
　That's what I was worried about.

"Mr. Iris, you don't seem to like being protected. Why is that?
"Well, it's .......

　Iris averted her gaze.
　I'm sure you have some thoughts on the matter - after a few moments of silence, Iris hesitantly opens her mouth.

You'll be able to find a lot more information on the web. I'm not sure if I'll be able to do it, but I'm sure I'll be able to do it.
"Father, ...... is that Garlo Rheinfell, the former Knight Commander?
You know ......? That was more than a few years ago.
He's a former knight-errant, you know.
Then you know that he was murdered, right?
...... Yes, I heard about it.

　I nodded and replied.
　Iris's father, Garlo, was murdered by someone.
　His body was found slaughtered on the Rheinfels' property.


　There were traces of battle all around, but the culprit remains unknown.
　It is said that he fought as a knight and died in battle, but given the circumstances, it is more likely that Garro was killed by an assassin.

My father was the head of the Rheinfell family and above all a knight who wanted to protect his people. That's why I admired him and wanted to become a knight that surpassed my father since I was a child. It's not going to happen anymore. ......

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　If Garro was called the strongest knight, it makes sense that she would still try to be strong even after she became known as the "Sword Saint Princess".

I have to become a knight who protects everything instead of my father. I can't be the one being protected. If I'm the only one the swordsmen are after, that's fine, but if they're going to harm anyone else, I want you to make it a priority to defeat them at all costs.

　Iris declared clearly.
　For Iris, the guards were not just weaker than her and therefore not necessary.
　Even if she were stronger, she has no intention of standing on the side of protection.
　Even though Iris is called a candidate for the "King", she herself does not want to be one.
　Her goal was to become a knight and protect people, and she still thinks it should be so.
　--But that's not the only reason why Iris is so obsessed with strength.

I understand how you feel, Iris. I understand how you feel, but we can't let the swordsmen go unchecked. As long as they are killers, they have been and will continue to kill people.
"Then...
Then guarding you is the only way to defeat the swordsmen. It's not that I don't need to protect you, it's that I need to protect you in order to defeat the swordsmen.
"...... to lure me into a trap?
Yes, that's what I just said.

　It is better to say that Iris is in such a position than to be protected.
　It's not about protecting Iris, it's about working together to fight.

I'll be here as an instructor for a while. I'll be here as an instructor for a while, and I'll intercept the swordsmen who are after Iris. I'll teach you swordplay in the meantime if you want. That's a promise.
"...... If that's what you mean...

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　I interrupted her and asked her a question.

I just want to make sure of one thing.
"......?　What is it?
I think it's true that you want to follow in your father's footsteps and protect everything. But that's not all, is it?
"......!

　It's not just that.
　You can see that the desperation of Iris to teach me swordsmanship is undoubtedly based on the fact that she wants to inherit her father's will.
　But there's another emotion there, too.

"Killing the man who killed your father - isn't that why you really want to be strong?

　I understood that what Iris really wanted to do was to become stronger than anyone else, to kill the one who killed Garro Reinfell, the knight who was supposed to be stronger than anyone else.