episode_0733

When Rene first heard the warrior’s cry, he felt doubtful.

The strongest.

Anyone who has ever held a sword would have thought of this word at least once, but not Rene.

The first reason he swung a sword was because his mother told him to.

The reason I became a strong person recognized by many people was because my mother wanted me to be like that.

The fact that I participated in many competitions and achieved good results was entirely because my mother ordered me to do so.

Rene never felt a sense of accomplishment in his own strength.

For him, strength was merely a means.

That’s why Rene couldn’t understand the value of the word ‘strongest’.

There is certainly value in strength that goes beyond the bounds. A strong nation that burdens other nations with its mere existence is a power that cannot be compared to any other resource.

But if you go beyond this, strength loses its meaning.

It is true that there is a gap even among those who are considered to be among the best, but that gap can be easily compensated for by other variables.

On the other hand, to rise up while suppressing other strong people, you have to sacrifice a lot.

Even if he devoted that much resources, it was impossible to be sure whether he would truly become strong, so Rene considered the word “strongest” to be inefficient.

People on the street or those who are stronger than others are just talking nonsense. Those who are going to be in power must calmly consider the value.

Even now, as his mother languished in the darkness, Rene thought so.

But strangely enough, the laughter of the warrior, who spoke as if he were a child or talking seriously, sounded manly.

Lucy, who responded seriously to that, was so warrior-like that her characteristic pettiness was barely noticeable.

Even those who saw their appearance praised their romance. Even those who knew how useless the word ‘strongest’ was.

Feeling puzzled while watching the battle between the two, Rene followed the instructions of the event staff and stepped onto the dirt floor of the arena.

Even after the fight between the two ended, the arena was still heated.

The sight of the two unmanned beings challenging for the title of the strongest did not extinguish the fire that had been lit, but rather grew bigger, threatening to burn down even the stage.

Standing in the middle of the heat, Rene looked at the people’s expectations and turned his gaze towards Arthur.

“Brother. Can you understand their passion?”

“Don’t you understand, brother?”

“You must have learned how meaningless it is to be the strongest.”

“I’m sure even you know that reason and emotion are completely different areas.”

“I know, but. Hmm. I don’t know. I don’t know.”

Is the word strongest worth it?

Is there any point in running with your whole life at stake?

There are many things that can be done without having to do that. Rather than training more in martial arts, it is more efficient to invest in other areas.

“The strongest is just the height of inefficiency.”

“People tend to cheer for inefficient work.”

“You too?”

“Yes, me too.”

Arthur answered with a smile and wrapped his aura around his sword.

It was a vague goal until I entered the academy, but now I can handle the Aura with great skill.

“Brother, do you know why I continue to practice?”

“It’s for your mother, right?”

“It used to be like that, but not anymore.”

The reason Arthur in the past tried so desperately was for his mother.

Arthur was determined to make his name known, to dispel all the slander circulating in the palace.

However, everything changed after I learned what my mother had said.

His mother wished for her child’s happiness.

He wanted to laugh without being obsessed with anything else. After getting to know him, Arthur decided to continue the last legacy.

“I am here for you.”

Arthur wasn’t here to make a name for himself.

It wasn’t even about proving myself.

The reason he pointed his sword at his brother here was simply to advance towards his own goal.

“Then why are you standing here?”

“I decided a long time ago that I would beat Lucy Allen at least once. I would make that cocky brat cry.”

When I first made this decision, it was only with the intention of humiliating a little girl named Lucy Allen.

But as time went by, my thoughts changed.

Now that Arthur has come to recognize Lucy Allen, to know who she is, and to have been helped by her on several occasions, the reason he wants to win over Lucy is because he wants her recognition.

“Am I just an obstacle to pass by?”

“It’s not just an obstacle.”

“Then?”

“A valuable obstacle.”

After hearing Arthur’s answer, Rene took a step back and let out a hollow laugh.

“You’ve grown so much. You probably wouldn’t have thought of such a provocation before.”

“There’s someone next to me who can only sneer.”

“Huh. That’s right.”

“But, brother. Then, why are you here? What did you come here for?”

“Don’t you already know?”

Arthur nodded slowly at the indifferent answer.

There is only one reason why my brother is standing here.

Lucy Allen. Kindness towards that guy.

“I find that even harder to understand, bro. What on earth do you like about that guy? If you want to, you can find someone much better…”

“Does it bother you that I’m showing interest?”

Arthur was momentarily speechless when Rene asked with a smirk.

“There are many reasons. Some are vulgar. Some are not. I can talk about them as much as I want.”

Rene had known for a long time that Lucy Allen was not a self-righteous rascal.

She was a kind, caring person and a dedicated woman willing to sacrifice for others.

So if you asked me to list her strengths, I could easily fit them in there.

“But the most important of them all is.”

However, this was not the part where Rene felt favor towards Lucy.

“Because only she knew me.”

Long ago, when both Rene and Lucy were clumsy, and even when Rene was just wandering around in the dark recently, Lucy Alunman was the only one who noticed Rene’s inner thoughts.

That was enough. As long as that was enough, the other elements were fine. With that alone, Rene could continue his endless efforts.

“…I’d be horrified if I heard that.”

“So you didn’t hide your voice on purpose?”

As Rene snapped his fingers, the silence was replaced by cheers of anticipation.

“Okay. Okay. Now let’s start…”

“Before that, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Now, my brother is following his heart rather than efficiency. Just like those who are standing here did.”

Rene opened his eyes wide, thought for a moment, and then burst into hearty laughter. It was hard to imagine such a sight from the usually friendly man.

“That’s right! I was already thinking and acting like them! And I was talking nonsense like I couldn’t understand such a topic!”

After laughing like that for a while, Rene lifted his head and looked at Arthur with his usual calmness.

“I’m sorry, little brother. I can’t take this lightly.”

“Don’t worry, brother. I’m here to break you, brother, who has done his best.”

“Are you confident?”

“I am a hero who saved the continent with Lucy Allen. I fought against evil spirits, so what can I do against humans?”

Arthur smiled as he drew several magic circles around himself, and Renee smiled too.

“Let’s play for a while.”

Instead of yielding the lead to Arthur as usual, Rene ran towards him without saying a word.

With his perfect command of the royal law of the Soladinn family, he easily avoided the hands of the rocks rising from the ground, the winds that threatened to upset his balance, and the water that obscured his vision, and reached Arthur.

“Your remaining skills are still clumsy.”

Rene’s sword, filled with pure aura, and Arthur’s sword, filled with flame magic, collide, spreading heat around them.

“Your brother’s sword is also very rusty!”

In one clash, Arthur felt a possibility of victory.

Until now, I have never once thought that my brother’s sword was light.

Even though my brother was considerate of me and swung his sword lightly, the sword’s blade, which showed his advanced skills, felt like a wall to me.

But now, even when I look at my brother’s sword, I don’t think that way.

My brother’s sword is just a sword.

Frey. Compared to that guy’s crazy swordsmanship, I can more than handle it!

A chance that may be the only one. A moment that must never be missed. We must increase our chances by any means necessary.

…Come to think of it, the warrior and Lucy Allen showed us that there is no right or wrong in determining victory or defeat in a fight.

My brother’s favor towards Lucy Allen is undeniably real, so using him could shake up her feelings.

Hmm. Let me think about it. How would Lucy Allen have provoked her?

“By the way, brother. You’ve been training in the Knights of Arn recently, right?”

“Yeah. Lucy Allen gave me some advice. It was perfect for clearing my head, just like she said.”

“What did the knights of Aln say to you, brother?”

“The training was harsh, but it was all necessary. I think I understand why the Knights of the Arun have such power.”

“Huh. Really?”

As Arthur exhaled with a sigh of regret, Rene, who had always been relaxed, frowned for the first time.

“What does it mean?”

“The Knights of Arn cherish their ladies. If another man comes, it is normal to make them suffer in many ways. That was the case for me. But if you, my brother, didn’t suffer at all. Hmm. It would be really sad.”

The moment Arthur shook his head, Rene thrust out his sword.

Arthur easily countered the attack that felt like a direct line of emotion with his sword.

“Just kidding. I thought you would notice it without much trouble, but you seem to be reacting more sensitively than I expected.”

“…I don’t really like the feeling of being played around by others.”

In René’s passion, Arthur found the path to victory.