My Companion Is a Sword King

Cui Ciyou was intently stirring the bread mash.

Hearing that, his hand paused. He looked at Ghislaine in surprise.

"Oh? Teach me swordsmanship?" He raised an eyebrow. This was certainly an unexpected development. Then he smiled.

"Sure. If I can save your life, I'll learn the sword from you."

"In that case, thank you in advance. But right now, the most important thing is helping you regain your strength."

Using an iron spoon, he carefully scooped up small amounts of thoroughly soaked, mushy bread and brought them to Ghislaine's lips.

"Come on, open your mouth. Try eating a little first and see if you can swallow it."

Ghislaine looked at the bread mash right before her, giving off a simple wheaty fragrance. After hesitating for a moment, she obediently parted her cracked lips.

To someone starving, food was an incomparable delicacy, even black bread.

The warm, soft food with its faint sweetness slipped into her mouth and flowed down her parched, burning throat.

In that instant, an indescribable warmth seemed to spread slowly from her stomach throughout her body.

The feeling of being alive... seemed to be returning, little by little.

Cui Ciyou patiently fed her bit by bit, strictly controlling the pace and portions.

"In your current condition, you shouldn't eat solid food."

He explained as he fed her.

"There's actually jerky in the ration bag, but you absolutely can't touch that right now. Wait until you've recovered a little."

Ghislaine listened silently, feeling the energy from the food slowly seep into her depleted body.

It was incredibly faint, but the sensation of "coming back to life" was unmistakably real.

Ghislaine looked at the profile of the Black-Haired Youth before her. His movements as he fed her were serious and focused, even... gentle.

His eyes were clear. There was none of the discrimination or wariness toward beastfolk that she knew humans to possess, nor did he have the lecherous, lustful gaze Paul had.

Who is he? Why is he saving me?

And... he seems to know so much... He knows how to care for someone who has been starving for a long time... In that regard, he's a little like Zenith and Keith.

From the Black-Haired Youth's gaze and tone, she could sense a pure kindness.

Ghislaine possessed incredibly sharp instincts, the sort that would never lose at rock-paper-scissors.

That feeling reminded her of a long time ago... perhaps Paul?

No, Paul was too frivolous and unreliable.

Zenith? Zenith was dependable, but too strict.

Keith? That guy... no, this feeling was different from all of them.

It was a... purer feeling, one that put people at ease.

Perhaps it was gratitude for being saved, perhaps it was the long-lost warmth of being cared for, or perhaps she remembered the promise she had just made to "teach him the sword"...

Ghislaine looked at Cui Ciyou, and a sharp light rekindled in her previously dim beast eyes.

She took a deep breath and, gathering every bit of strength she could muster, spoke clearly.

"Your name. Tell me your name!"

Cui Ciyou stopped feeding her and looked at her. His tone held a hint of teasing.

"When asking for someone else's name, shouldn't you introduce yourself first? That's basic courtesy."

Ghislaine froze, then a trace of confusion appeared on her face.

She... did not really understand these elaborate customs of human society.

The "Sword God Master" had taught her some, but she had forgotten most of them—or rather, she had not cared enough to remember.

...What a person lacking in common sense.

Seeing her expression, Cui Ciyou could not help complaining inwardly again, though he still wore a gentle smile.

"Never mind. There's no harm in telling you. My name is Cui Ciyou."

"Just call me Ciyou."

Cui Ciyou gave his name, one that probably sounded somewhat strange in this world.

"Cui... Ci...you..."

"Ciyou?"

Ghislaine repeated it in an awkward tone, seemingly trying hard to remember the pronunciation. "...Is that so..."

She fell silent for several seconds, then spoke in a very solemn tone.

"My name is... Ghislaine. Ghislaine Dedoldia."

"Thank you... for saving me, Ciyou."

So it really is her! Ghislaine Dedoldia, the Black Wolf Sword King!

Hearing her full name, Cui Ciyou's final trace of doubt vanished.

I had already guessed it, but hearing it in person still feels different...

But... a Sword King of the Sword God Style, a supreme expert whose swordsmanship could rank at least among the top ten in this world...

Actually starved herself to the brink of death because she lacked common sense... This is just too...

Thinking of that, Cui Ciyou felt an intense sense of absurdity and did not know whether to laugh or cry.

No wonder so many people in the original story called her a battle idiot whose brain was made entirely of muscle...

Now that I see it, they weren't wrong at all. Lacking common sense to this extent is practically a miracle.

He continued silently complaining while patiently feeding Ghislaine.

"Don't rush. Eat slowly," Cui Ciyou reminded her.

"After starving for so long, your stomach and intestines are very fragile. You can't eat too much at once."

"Otherwise, even if I pull you back from the brink of starvation, you might still die because you can't digest it."

Du Fu had gone too long without food, then eaten too much at once and died from overeating.

Ghislaine silently nodded and obediently swallowed in small mouthfuls.

She could tell that this young man named Cui Ciyou was right.

Even as her stomach accepted the food, it sent waves of faint pain, as though protesting.

After feeding her several more spoonfuls, Cui Ciyou stopped. He brought the water skin to her lips and let her moisten them.

"This is enough for today. You need time to adjust. You can only take small sips of water too."

Ghislaine leaned against the cushion Cui Ciyou had hastily piled from dry grass, feeling the long-lost warmth and solidity brought by the little food in her stomach.

Her body was still extremely weak, but at least she probably would not die.

She watched Cui Ciyou deftly tidy up, then check her condition again. His movements were practiced, his demeanor natural.

What a... strange person.

He's clearly a human I've only just met... yet he treats me so well...

And... he seems to know so much... He knows how to care for someone who has been starving for a long time...

In fact, when Cui Ciyou had taken out the black bread, she had noticed the jerky sticking out of his ration bag.

At that moment, she had instinctively wanted to ask for some, because the taste of meat was far too tempting to her.

But Cui Ciyou had rejected her in advance, as if he had predicted it, and given her a reasonable explanation.

Though she did not quite understand the exact reasoning, she could sense kindness and... reliability from the Black-Haired Youth's eyes and tone.

Perhaps it was gratitude for being saved, perhaps it was the long-lost warmth of being cared for, or perhaps she remembered the promise she had just made to "teach him the sword"...

Ghislaine looked at Cui Ciyou, and gratitude lit up her previously dim beast eyes.

She took a deep breath and, gathering every bit of strength she could muster, spoke clearly.

"Ciyou... you saved my life. I, Ghislaine Dedoldia, will remember this debt of gratitude."

"From this day onward... let me become your sword."

"When you need me, my blade will cut down every enemy for you!"

This was a swordsman's oath. Once sworn, it weighed more heavily than life itself.

She—the "Black Wolf Sword King," Ghislaine—offered her loyalty to the Black-Haired Youth who had just saved her life.