episode_0010

Episode 10

“I guess I should start preparing my will soon.”

“…”

My father, who looked much more tired than the two of us in the office, spoke calmly, perhaps relieved of the tension.

“The will will be written in two pages.”

“2 chapters?”

“One will takes effect immediately after I die, and the other will takes effect when Leeman turns 15 and becomes an adult.”

“Are you doing any magical processing on your will?”

“It is common for high-ranking nobles to use magical methods to prevent their wills from being tampered with.”

“What happens if someone tries to check the will before Riemann turns 15?”

“If you try to check the will by force before then, all of its contents will be erased, and if you want to restore the will, you will have to use your and Riemann’s blood after Riemann turns 15.”

“This is a measure to prepare for any unexpected accidents.”

“That’s right, it’s a choice to protect both you and Riemann.”

“Thank you so much for taking the time to care so much.”

“…You are my son too.”

“…”

“…Ahem! I will soon call a high-ranking wizard to write a will. The contents of the first will will follow almost exactly the plan you and I made. ”

It was my father who changed the subject while scratching his cheek, perhaps feeling a little embarrassed.

“And the most important thing is the second will. You may know some of the contents, but for confidentiality, the contents of the second will are kept secret from you as well.”

“In order for me to properly fulfill my role as successor after my father’s death, it would be better for me not to know the contents of the second will.”

“Yes, rather, it would be poisonous for you to know the contents of the will.”

He will continue to serve as the heir to the family until Liman turns 15.

That’s what my father, who took me in, wants from me.

As he wishes, he should stop worrying about complicated things and focus only on protecting the Duke’s family.

“I won’t disappoint my father.”

“I believe in you too, Leon.”

A few days later, his father hired a high-ranking wizard and a notary to write a will.

The existence of the second will was to be kept secret, and it was decided that its existence would be revealed once the first will became effective.

#

“Master.”

“Why.”

Alice started talking to me, perhaps because she was bored, as I was lying in bed reading an introductory book on magic.

“Why don’t I grow taller?”

“You must be all grown up.”

“No way!”

Alice opened her mouth with surprised rabbit eyes as if she had heard something shocking.

Alice, who is physically three years older than me, is now 13 years old.

“I can’t be shorter than you, Master!”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“I’m one year older than you, master, so you can’t be taller than me!”

“I’m a man and you’re a woman, so it’s natural that we have a difference in physical growth.”

“Should I exercise to grow tall like you?”

“You’re not even listening.”

As soon as I completely surpassed Alice in height last year, Alice started whining about why she wasn’t growing taller.

But will exercising make you grow taller?

When I looked back at my memories from my past life, it seemed like there was an exercise that made me grow taller.

What was the name… something like… something like that.

‘Oh, I remembered.’

“Come to think of it, there is an exercise that makes you grow taller.”

“Really?”

Alice came closer, her jewel-like purple eyes sparkling at the mention of being able to grow taller.

“The name was probably… ‘Jjang Jjang Gymnastics’?”

“…Master!”

Alice was holding onto my trouser leg with a desperate look on her face, as if she really wanted to grow taller.

“Do you think I’ll teach you just because you look at me so earnestly?”

“…”

“…It’s not difficult, so I’ll teach you while we do it together.”

“Yay!”

“First, pull your arms slightly back, bring your legs together a little narrower than shoulder width, bend your knees slightly, then straighten your knees, lift your heels, and raise both arms above your head, man-sa! Think of stretching your body completely at this time.”

“Oh! I feel cool and my body feels longer!”

“Okay, next, from the starting position, straighten both arms out to the sides! At the same time, spread your legs shoulder-width apart, bring your body together, return to the starting position, and then continue to repeat the cheering pose and the arms outstretched pose.”

“If I do this exercise every day, can I become taller than you?”

“No? Even if I don’t do this, I’ll grow bigger than you in the future, right?”

It was the moment when the light disappeared from Alice’s purple eyes that had sparkled like jewels.

##

The long time of humiliation and persecution is over.

While practicing fencing, I have never been able to touch my father’s body, but today will be different.

Before, my father told me not to rely on tricks, but this time, I will use sorcery to catch him off guard and reap the sweet fruits of victory.

“Are you being a bit cheeky today?”

“Hehehe… I’m not the sloppy me from last time?”

Although I have not yet reached the fourth level, where I can use Sword Aura by filling my sword with mana, I dare say that there is almost no one who can beat me at that level.

Didn’t my father, who was a sword master, say that even a 4th-tier swordsman or higher would have a hard time stopping my swordsmanship without using the Sword Aura?

Is it true that a person with three fathers is destined to leave his name in history through force?

“Then let’s take a look at what great things we have prepared?”

-Clang!

I assumed my favorite ‘Ox’ pose and rotated the three cores surrounding my heart, concentrating the mana circulating throughout my body into my legs as much as possible.

Soon the mana circuits in his legs began to overheat, suppressing the surging mana and compressing it until it was on the verge of exploding.

“Go!”

My father nodded, his sword hanging loosely in a comfortable position.

“Come.”

-Bang!

As I kicked the ground and charged forward, my body was shot out like a cannon with an explosive sound.

The distance between my father and I narrowed in an instant.

Still, my father has a relaxed expression, as if he can handle anything I do.

‘But you didn’t expect this, did you?’

I surrendered to the momentum and assumed a stabbing stance with my right hand holding the sword, while concentrating a small amount of mana in my left hand.

Just before the collision, he activated the desperate move he had prepared in his left hand, aiming at his father’s eyes.

“Flash.”

-Flash!

.

.

.

The result of the duel was my victory.

The flash magic I had prepared caught my father off guard and obscured his vision, and my sword landed directly on his shoulder as his eyes were closed due to the flash.

It was my undisputed victory.

Even though it was a half-victory achieved through trickery, it was still a victory.

Let’s take a look at the expression on the Sword Master’s face after being surprised by a 3rd tier kid…

“It wasn’t bad.”

“Huh?”

-Dreamy…

This is the ceiling of a familiar training ground.

“Huh? Just a moment ago, I clearly won…”

“Did you hit your head too hard on the floor? I must have controlled my force.”

-Bam!

“No! It was definitely just a moment ago…!”

I’m sure my sword touched my father’s shoulder.

But my father was looking down at me with a worried expression, as if nothing had happened.

“Tsk tsk… Come to your senses, that was definitely a good move. Flash magic… I know you’re smart, but like I said before, you shouldn’t rely on tricks and neglect the basics.”

“What happened?”

“The moment you used flash magic, I closed my eyes, sensed the flow of mana, struck the sword, and subdued you.”

“What are you thinking?”

“The mind’s eye… I guess you could call it that. The trick I just mentioned won’t have much effect on an opponent who can read the flow of mana like me, so you should just improve your skills.”

“Monster…”

“There’s a reason Sword Master is called Master. It seems like the impact on your head was quite severe, so let’s take a break and try again later.”

I could only stare in bewilderment at my father’s back as he turned away with an indifferent expression and walked further and further away.

##

‘That’s pretty good.’

Lyon de Normand, who had briefly stepped out of the training ground, thought back to what Leon had just shown him.

Leon’s sword, which had been blinded by flash magic, reacted and struck him just before it reached his shoulder, but the fact that he had done this to him, who was already a sword master, could be considered Leon’s victory.

“If it weren’t for the magical tricks I had, I would have told you that you passed…”

In fact, Leon had already reached a fairly high level with just the basics, and if he used various techniques and applied skills like he just now, it was clear that most other swordsmen would not be able to beat Leon unless they used Sword Aura.

“I’m looking forward to the time when you awaken Sword Aura and reach the 4th rank.”

When he first brought Leon from the orphanage, he had planned to bring in another orphan if he didn’t meet his expectations, but before he knew it, Leon had become the only person who understood him and a person who was quite important and bothersome to him.

A child who is mature beyond his or her years.

Although he originally didn’t mind anyone helping his plans, he now feels that no one but Leon can carry out his plans.

“What a pity… I really wish Leon had been my and Maria’s son, or at least an illegitimate child.”

But he soon shook his head.

The only one who can succeed the Duke of Normandy is his own blood descendant.

Because it is his uncompromising oath and atonement for his past.

Since everyone must have rested by now, I decided to go back and continue sparring with Leon.

Because he doesn’t have much time left.

“Have you gotten enough rest?”

“Yes, it’s going great, hoo… This time, I’m really going to win?”

-Shhh…

What should I do with this cheeky guy?

But a smile forms on his lips that he can’t hide.

“You cheeky brat, if you keep relying on tricks like you did just now, you’ll never be able to touch a single hair on me for the rest of your life?”

“This time it’s really different, right? Oh, this time, Dad, please give me the go-ahead.”

Ha-su is claiming to be the successor, so I think I need to break his nose this time so he can’t act so arrogantly anymore.

“You still haven’t come to your senses yet, Ha-su, you’re giving up the lead. Then, try to receive it.”

“Wow!!”