I Will Be the Greatest Knight-Chapter 431: Applying the Lessons

At first, Irene couldn’t run as she made it southwest across the ice, but when she was able to jump onto what she knew to be shoreline, she went into a full-on sprint, deciding it best to run around the forest rather than through it. Even if it was likely a shortcut, she couldn’t tell if there were obstacles under the snow that she didn’t want to deal with.

Since it had been windy through these plains, the snow piled particularly high on the edge of bare forests. Rushing through the undisturbed snow was difficult, and a part of her wished she had gotten Sammy before going this far.

However, another scream rang out over the lands, and she knew it was too late to turn back.

Irene knew that her brother had caught up to her enough based on the shuffling snow behind her, and she pressed on until she was at the top of a small hill—whether it was because of snow or if there was actually a hill there, she wasn’t entirely sure.

The vantage point gave her a view of another frozen over lake on the other side. It seemed that there were also others out making use of ice fishing to get the fish normally harder to reach, at least that was based on the gear they had with them, scattered across the ground.

Unfortunately, it seemed that they ran into trouble because a woman was being chased by a goblin while a man had fallen through the ice. It was likely he had been chased as well, but ice could only take so much especially closer to shore like that.

She witnessed him struggle to escape for only a second before Irene made a split second decision.

"I’ll handle him," she said to Arne. "A couple of tiny goblins shouldn’t be much for you, right?"

Arne looked at his sister, alarmed for a moment before he lowered his eyebrows and nodded. If she said it wasn’t much, it wouldn’t be much. He didn’t know how to get someone out of ice anyway, and he didn’t know how his sister did.

However, as Irene rushed forward, she was brought back to a time in knight school during winter when she herself thought that the information being taught to her was useless. Sir Gunnar sure taught all the doubtful apprentices otherwise quickly...

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"If you ever witness someone fall through the ice or fall through it yourself, you’re going to want to take heed to the words I say," Gunnar explained. "Swim until your back is pressed against the side of the hole you have fallen through—"

"Just go under the ice and swim to shore, what’s the big deal about that?" Felix asked with crossed arms. "How often you think we’ll be walking across ice?"

The eyes of all the other apprentices went to Felix, the oldest out of all of them, expressions holding disbelief. He was always willing to contradict the knights.

That day, it was only Sir Gunnar handling the apprentices. At that moment, he looked a bit exasperated. Oftentimes, they let Felix off a bit easy considering he was practically all the permanent knights’ son. He had been through a lot to have to stay with a bunch of older knights all the time.

However, Gunnar also couldn’t allow the apprentice to seem like he was performing insubordination.

"Fine, if the lesson requires more practical application, then let’s apply it," Gunnar decided. The apprentices shared looks of disbelief as the knight turned towards the door, but before anyone could move, Gunnar continued, "Get into warm clothes. We’re going for a walk."

That was how all the apprentices ended up hiking across the expanse of plains covered in snow to an area that seemed rather unassuming.

"Well, do you notice anything about this place?" Gunnar asked.

Irene stood by Leif amongst the group and her eyes darted around, slightly worried that she couldn’t understand what the knight was trying to suggest. Did the others know what he was talking about? However, as she looked at the slightly older apprentice, his faintly lowered eyebrows said he didn’t know anything either.

Since no one answered, the knight continued.

"Nothing?" he asked. "Very well."

A while before, he had been pushing around the snow to find a large rock. It seemed too heavy for anyone to lift on their own, but all the apprentices were struck with amazement when the knight hauled the rock to where they had stopped.

Without further thought, Gunnar pushed the massive rock away from himself with a groan, only getting it to fly less than ten feet before it met the ground... and went through?

The apprentices all gasped.

"Prime example of a time when you might not even know you’re walking across an ice field. Out here the lands all look the same in winter. Keep that in mind," he warned. "Now, shall I continue?"

"Yes, sir," the apprentices voiced their agreement and obedience, including Felix.

However, their surprise only worsened when the knight then threw himself through the ice where the large rock had disappeared.

He then taught them how to get someone or get themselves out of the ice.

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Arne and Irene’s paths diverged as she took towards the ice and her brother worked on taking care of the goblins before they could harm the terrified woman who was trying to fight them off with a fishing pole.

When she made contact with the slippery surface, Irene then became much slower so she wouldn’t further disturb the ice.

"Sir!" she called to the man, giving him her undivided attention. When she was still quite a distance away, she got onto her knees in case the ice was fragile. "I’m a knight. I will help you get out of there!"

The only indication that she was a knight at all was the finely crafted sword in her hands as she crawled across the ice. But it seemed not to matter at the moment, and there were no doubts present. If she was going to help him, that was all that mattered.

At the surprise of two young people rushing in, the man disappeared under the surface for a moment before he reemerged, gasping for air and coughing.

Irene’s jaw clenched, and her hands balled into fists on top of the ice, resisting her urge to go in there after him. What was needed for now was her patience.

"Y-yes!" he shouted, clinging to the ice as best as he could despite his hands continually slipping.

"You will need to press your back against the side of the hole!" she explained. "Then get your arms out and on the edge. Keep your hands flat!"

The man was desperate as he shifted himself. He went under again and sputtered as he righted himself, finally able to do as the young woman was telling him. With his hands flat on the ice, he turned his head to her. Even from a distance, she could see his eyes bloodshot from his struggling.

"You should be able to get your legs out from there and roll away, but whatever you do, sir, don’t stand up again," she directed. "Stay flat on the ice. I know that it’s been a struggle and you’re getting exhausted, but I promise to get you out of there. Hold on a bit longer."

His dark eyes met hers. She nodded, hoping to reassure him.

As the man began the next task of getting his legs out, Irene spared a glance over her shoulder at her brother. One goblin down. One more to go. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

She would save it for later that if she were the one taking the goblins, she would have taken half the time.

Her head turned towards the man in the water again. One leg was out, but the second was much harder.

Irene was practically holding her breath as he got himself out of there.

And then, when his body was finally flat against the ice, Irene whole body tensed up when she heard it crack underneath him.