Battle Race in the Fantasy World

Battle Race in the Fantasy World – 68

EP.68 If You Can’t Handle It, You’re Weak!

A look that makes it hard to tell if someone is male or female. It’s understandable.

There are people like that sometimes. Feminine men, masculine women. It’s entirely possible.

Appearance is something that can’t be helped. Sometimes it can’t even be explained by genetics.

However, body shape and skeletal structure are different. Women and men are distinctly different.

Unless there’s an issue with sex hormones, the difference is noticeable.

Moreover, the person in question is Kyle Jonathan, who is well-versed in physical matters.

While instructing movements, he noticed that the person in front of him was not a male member but a female member.

‘…What is this? No matter how I look, she’s a woman.’

Nell was known as a male student at the academy.

This meant she had been hiding her gender since she enrolled.

There had been students who hid their identities before, and the result was immediate expulsion.

So, what would happen to Nell, who hid her gender?

Thinking this far, Kyle decided to pretend he didn’t know.

But the more he thought about it, the more he felt this wasn’t right.

After much deliberation, he decided to let her know that he was aware at an appropriate moment.

“What? Are you asking if I know you’re a woman?”

“Uh, uh…?”

“Of course, I noticed. Do you think I wouldn’t know the difference between male and female body structures?”

Kyle spoke in as calm a tone as possible, hoping Nell wouldn’t be too flustered.

Of course, just because Kyle was calm didn’t mean Nell could be.

“S-so you knew all along….”

“Honestly, Nell, it would have been better if you had told me first. We’re not going to see each other just once; we’ll keep seeing each other. If you thought you could hide something like that, it’s a bit unfortunate.”

As soon as Kyle finished speaking, Nell frantically looked around.

– Whoosh! Whoosh! –

She turned her head so quickly that it made a sound cutting through the air.

Seeing this, Kyle thought to himself, ‘She’s going to strain her neck at this rate.’

Fortunately, there was no one around. Kyle had purposely brought her to a quiet place.

“…Kyle.”

After confirming that no one was around, Nell.

“Please.”

– Thud. –

Suddenly dropped to her knees.

“Please, I beg you. Keep it a secret that I entered under a false gender….”

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of spreading it around. But as a favor, please don’t kneel like that. And if you really must kneel, don’t do it so hard. You’ll ruin your knees.”

Kyle was concerned about Nell’s knee joints even in this situation.

The conversation that followed naturally led to the topic of why she had to hide her gender to enter the academy.

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“…So, you were originally from a noble family?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Even though it was small, your family had a legitimate trading company.”

Nell quietly nodded again to confirm.

She, who was thought to be a commoner, was actually from a noble family.

The problem was that her family had gone completely bankrupt when she was young, disintegrating entirely.

It had been so long that hardly anyone remembered her family anymore.

“My family had been running a trading company for generations. But my grandfather made a large investment in a business that failed miserably, which negatively impacted the trading company.”

Oh dear. Her grandfather made a huge mistake.

Investments aren’t for everyone; they can lead to ruin.

Kyle clicked his tongue inwardly and focused on Nell’s story.

“The problem wasn’t just the trading company. As I mentioned, we were nobles in name only, half merchants, and our trading company wasn’t that large. We only made modest profits as a mid-sized trading company. But my grandfather’s failed investment created a financial hole, which led to a breach in a deal with another company.”

“And that company happened to be one of the trading companies under the Duke of Bayen.”

The three dukes of the empire, unmatched in wealth accumulation, included the Duke of Bayen.

Causing damage to one of their trading companies was a grievous mistake.

Nell’s family collapsed in an instant while compensating for the damage done to the Duke of Bayen’s trading company.

Even though they managed to repay the damages, they had already lost the most crucial asset: ‘credit.’

No one in their right mind would do business with a company that had lost its credit.

Thus, Nell’s family completely fell apart before she even turned ten.

“I gave up on the dream of rebuilding the trading company and restoring my family. No matter how much money we had, who would trust a trading company that lost its credit?”

“So, you were left with two options, magic or the sword. Since you had no talent for magic, it was naturally ruled out. Your physical abilities were decent, so you decided to become a knight to somehow restore your family.”

Kyle sighed without realizing it.

The intention was good, and the determination was firm, but it was all too rosy a dream.

Even if she becomes a knight, can she restore her family? It’s uncertain.

The empire isn’t in the middle of a war where knights are urgently needed.

There are knights everywhere, and becoming one doesn’t guarantee anything.

And even if she becomes a knight and tries to restore her family, it’s problematic.

How long can she sustain it on her own? It would be a miracle if it lasted a year, let alone ten.

While she might reclaim her noble status, anything beyond that is unrealistic.

In the worst case, her entire family might end up relying on her alone.

‘The most important question is, can she really become a knight? That’s the key issue.’

After hearing her entire story, Kyle let out a small sigh.

Everyone has their own story, but this one was particularly unfortunate.

“I hid my gender because of that. There are more opportunities for male knights than female ones. My father’s friend works in the education department, so I begged him earnestly….”

“Didn’t you think it would cause bigger problems if you were found out later? Your father’s friend could also be put in a difficult position, Nell.”

At Kyle’s words, Nell bit her lip and lowered her head.

Perhaps she hadn’t thought that far, or maybe she had but decided to go ahead anyway.

Emotionally, it was understandable, but logically, it was frustrating.

It would all come out eventually, so why take such a reckless risk?

Well, this is why it’s a romance fantasy. It’s a bit of a stretch, but not entirely implausible.

Maybe it’s set up for her to get entangled with another male character later.

“I know it’s my fault. I know this will choke me later.”

– Thud! –

Ah, there she goes again, kneeling. Why is she so quick to kneel?

And if you’re going to kneel, do it gently. If you hurt your knees, you won’t be able to do anything.

“I’ll take responsibility. I’ll reveal everything later. So, Kyle, please. Don’t tell anyone about this. I’ll repay this debt somehow, no matter what it takes. So….”

“You’re aware you owe a debt. How do you plan to repay it? Asking me to pretend I don’t know about this could cause problems for me too.”

“Well… I have nothing right now. But….”

Nell, at a loss, finally came up with what she thought was the best answer.

“I-I’ll offer myself….”

“What?”

“So… I’ll repay this debt by offering myself….”

Offering herself. Kyle wasn’t stupid enough to ask what she meant by that.

And his patience for listening to her nonsense had reached its limit.

“What are you saying, you crazy woman!”

– Thwack! –

A slap was the best remedy for nonsense.

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“Ow….”

“Aspiring to be a knight and not valuing your body, saying such nonsense? You must be out of your mind.”

“But I have no other means to make money… What I gave you this time was barely….”

“I’m not demanding immediate repayment, so why are you so anxious?”

“It’s because… my family fell apart like that….”

Wow. She’s really playing the family card. Kyle had no choice but to shut his mouth.

Well, she did say her trading company and family collapsed due to debt and compensation.

So, it’s understandable she’d be overly sensitive about debt.

“Let me make it clear, Nell. There’s only one thing you need to do right now.”

“I’m listening.”

“Become a knight with overwhelming results. Gain everyone’s attention. Through that, attract some form of investment and somehow rebuild your family.”

“Investment… investment isn’t something to be taken lightly! Investment….”

“Don’t worry. I’ll help make sure you’re a successful investment.”

“Can you really… do that?”

“If you follow my instructions properly, I guarantee the results.”

Kyle knew that if he guided her well, she could at least become a lower-tier version of Jonathan, if not as strong.

And with Ian, a proven master of swordsmanship, there was no need to worry about that aspect.

Worry… well, he wasn’t entirely sure if there was nothing to worry about, but still.

“So, Nell, don’t think about anything else and focus on training. That alone will be challenging enough. I’m more worried about whether you can keep up.”

“I can keep up! I can do everything you say!”

“Really?”

Kyle asked again, and Nell was about to shout “Yes!” once more.

But then she remembered the insanely intense workout she had just experienced….

“I… I will do my best.”

Nell recalled the lesson that promises and signatures shouldn’t be made lightly.