My Companion Is a Sword King

Cui Ciyou was intently stirring the bread mush.

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

"Oh? You want to teach me swordsmanship?" He raised an eyebrow. This was certainly an unexpected development, then he smiled. "Sure. If I can save you, I'll learn the sword from you."

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

Using an iron spoon, he carefully scooped up a little of the thoroughly soaked bread mush and brought it to Ghislaine's lips.

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

Ghislaine looked at the bread mush right in front of her, giving off a simple wheat aroma. After hesitating, she obediently parted her cracked lips.

To someone starving, food was an unparalleled delicacy, even if it was black bread.

The warm, soft food with a faint sweetness slid into her mouth and passed through her dry, burning throat.

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

The feeling of being alive... seemed... to have returned a little.

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

"In your current condition, you're not suited to solid food."

He explained as he fed her.

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

Ghislaine listened silently, feeling the energy brought by the food slowly seep into her exhausted body.

Though it was incredibly faint, the sensation of "coming back to life" felt very real.

Ghislaine looked at the profile of the black-haired young man before her. His movements as he fed her were earnest and focused, even... gentle.

His eyes were clear. They held none of the discrimination or wariness toward beastfolk that she was familiar with from humans, nor did they contain the lewd, desirous look Paul had.

Who is he? Why is he saving me?

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

From the black-haired young man's gaze and tone, she could sense a pure goodwill.

Ghislaine possessed an extraordinarily sharp intuition, the sort that would never lose at rock-paper-scissors.

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

No, Paul was 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 her at ease.

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

Ghislaine looked at Cui Ciyou. A sharp light reignited in her previously dull beast eyes.

She took a deep breath and gathered every scrap of strength she could muster before speaking clearly.

"Your name. Tell me your name!"

Cui Ciyou stopped feeding her and looked at her. He spoke in a slightly teasing tone.

"When asking someone else's name, shouldn't you give your own first? That's basic courtesy."

Ghislaine froze for a moment, then a trace of confusion appeared on her face?

She... did not really understand all these cumbersome formalities of human society.

The "Sword God master" had taught her some, but she had forgotten most of them—or rather, she could not be bothered to remember.

...What a guy lacking in common sense.

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

"Never mind, it's fine to tell you. My name is—Cui Ciyou."

"Just call me Ciyou."

Cui Ciyou gave her his name. In this world, it was likely a somewhat strange-sounding name.

"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."

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

Hearing her full name, the last trace of doubt in Cui Ciyou's heart vanished.

I'd already guessed it, but hearing it with my own ears feels different...

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

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

Thinking of that, Cui Ciyou felt a strong 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 with muscles growing in her brain...

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

While mocking her inwardly, he continued feeding Ghislaine patiently.

"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 eating, then ate too much afterward and died from overeating.

Ghislaine nodded silently and obediently swallowed in small mouthfuls.

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

As her stomach accepted the food, it also sent waves of faint, protesting pain.

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

"For today, this is enough. You need time to adapt. You can only drink water in small sips too."

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

Though her body was still extremely weak, at least she probably would not die anymore.

She watched Cui Ciyou neatly put everything away, then check her condition again. His movements were practiced, his demeanor natural.

What a... strange guy.

He's clearly a human I've only met for the first time... yet he treats me so well...

And... he seems to know so many things... He knows how to care for someone who has been hungry for a long time...

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

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

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

Though she did not quite understand the specific reasoning, she could sense goodwill and... dependability in the black-haired young man's eyes and voice.

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

Ghislaine looked at Cui Ciyou. Gratitude ignited in her previously dull beast eyes.

She took a deep breath and gathered every scrap of strength she could muster before speaking clearly.

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

"From now on... let me become your sword."

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

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

She—the "Black Wolf Sword King," Ghislaine—offered her loyalty to the black-haired young man who had just saved her life.