episode_0013

The day I leave my family.

The farewell party was planned to be a small one.

Just gathering together with people who love me, a little early in the morning.

So, I was planning to sneak out alone at 3 AM when Bendel is at its quietest.

Those who were not invited to the farewell party may express belated regret, saying, “The illegitimate child ran away!”

I don’t care.

It’s not like we’ll see each other again.

Or what? Should I form a pursuit team?

An illegitimate child disappeared?

It was like the neighborhood was going crazy because a cockroach got out the window.

As such, the farewell between the illegitimate child and the family was to be a very shy and sorrowful one.

“Say that again.”

“I said I would leave the family.”

The schedule has changed.

Suddenly, that thought occurred to me.

Why me.

Why do I have to leave secretly, as if running away?

I didn’t commit any crime.

Bendel Everyone is expressing their discomfort with the existence of the country without reservation.

In such a situation, the existence of a country will disappear on its own? Isn’t that basically me taking care of it?

If you have a conscience and feelings, write a letter from your heart.

And above all-

I wanted to make sure.

There was still work to be done to tie up the knot with this human being.

“…”

Gaju quickly lost interest again and looked away from me.

The head of the household turns his gaze back to the desk and looks at the ceiling.

To this man, it seems more shocking that his work has been temporarily suspended than that of an illegitimate child declaring that he will leave home.

“I got a bad feeling because of Loera.”

“?”

Suddenly, my younger sister’s name was mentioned.

“It was possible because she was Roera. She was able to stand tall on her own, without any help from anyone, after leaving the family. And so she was able to raise the name of her family as well as herself.”

I was wondering what you were talking about all of a sudden.

It seems that my family took my declaration of becoming a monk to mean that I would leave the family like Loera and make a name for myself.

“I know what you’re trying to say.”

“Then, back off now.”

I didn’t back down and looked straight at the head of the household.

When my gaze crossed with Gaju’s, sparks seemed to fly.

“If your marriage with Diltan comes to fruition, I will consider improving your treatment.”

It was then that I heard Gaju’s voice, which felt less dry than usual.

“…”

I found myself laughing without realizing it.

You even say you will consider improving our treatment.

It was the kind of thing you wouldn’t hear from a parent.

If it were me before I became aware of my past life’s memories, wouldn’t I have been as happy as a child receiving a Christmas present at those words?

“So please refrain from any further reckless actions.”

Gaju also seemed to have interpreted my empty laughter in that way and ended the conversation unilaterally.

This is why people should make eye contact when talking.

It’s amazing how shallow the communication between my pupils and the crown of my head is.

I was worried.

How should I deliver the difficult news to my family that my illegitimate child has entered puberty?

“Ah.”

Could it be because Gaju just mentioned Loera?

Suddenly, Loera came to mind.

There was a time when Roera, like me, tried to ask the head of the household for permission to leave the family and live there.

Loera is someone who doesn’t listen when you tell her.

Gaju had made a suggestion in hopes of dissuading Loera.

-If you win the duel against our family’s apprentice knight, I will allow you to become a monk.

-However, if we lose, we will have to approach the Bendelryu incident more seriously from then on.

-What should I do?

Loera accepted it without hesitation.

And then, he won against the apprentice knight in front of everyone in the family.

That is, as a sword that was learned independently, not as a Bendel-type sword.

I remember the look on Gaju’s face that day, looking at Loera with a complicated expression.

As a result, I remember the head of the household being delighted to have confirmed his daughter’s outstanding talent.

I’m curious.

If Loera were to turn out to be an illegitimate child, how would the family react?

There is no guarantee that the bastard will win against Bendel’s apprentice knight.

Strictly speaking, it’s not that there is no guarantee, but the probability of defeat is much higher.

Because the trainee knights are skilled people who are aiming for at least the third level.

“My lord.”

But I also had a corner of me that believed in something.

“Please give me a chance like Loera.”

“I told you clearly. Stop acting rashly. You disappoint me.”

“The sparring with the trainee knight that Roera did. I’ll do it too.”

“…”

Only then did Gaju raise his head and look at me.

***

The mornings of the Bendel trainees begin as quickly as those of the mansion’s servants.

Here, in the parade ground in front of the main building.

Normally, there is no schedule more important to trainees than training, but today is an exception.

There was no one wielding a sword.

Everyone took their seats in a corner of the parade ground, waiting impatiently for someone to visit.

“A duel between Risir ‘nim’ and Humton. Is this even possible? I don’t know.”

“Are you the only one who doesn’t know? Who else would know this?”

“Mr. Humpton must be having a really hard time…”

“Mr. Humpton? Mr. Humpton? Hey, Emma. Mr. Humpton too. If you bring in any of the trainees right now, they’ll easily subdue Risir ‘nim’, right?”

“What are you guys talking about? Get out of the training.”

“What I’m saying is, it’s something that can be sorted out among our trainees without going to the training stage.”

“Hey, even so, that’s true. Even ‘Rishir’ is called Bendel.”

“Then, if you were to spar with Risir ‘nim’ and Malcolm, which would you bet your money on?”

“Ask what you want to ask. Of course-… Hey, but you should know this. I’m very close with Malcolm.”

“Ah. Our friend Malcolm. Who could hate him? If Risir ‘nim’ were to spar with Malcolm, we’d all know it, but we’d have to bet on Malcolm, right? ”

“Heh heh heh.”

An illegitimate child and an apprentice knight spar!

Such sensational news spread throughout the Bendel mansion in an instant.

Everyone at Bendel Manor came to see the rare sight.

At this time, even the employees are as busy as the trainees.

“Rishir, aren’t you acting a little strange these days?”

“I don’t know?”

“I don’t like Risir-nim very much. What should I say? Should I say that he’s particularly harsh to us?”

“I heard from other families that there’s something unique about them.”

“Them?”

“There is. An illegitimate child.”

“Ah…”

“Since even lower-class nobles are looked down on, they take out their sorrow on those below them.”

“Tsk. I get it.”

“Really? That’s strange… You were kind to me…”

“Me too, me too. You treated me so kindly! I’ve never seen such a noble person before?”

“Strictly speaking, he’s not a noble, but…”

“You guys just recently came in. You don’t know much, so that’s what I can say. How sensitive was Risir in the past.”

“Huh? Was it different in the past?”

“… Well, things are a little different these days.”

“What should I do…I can’t see…”

“I hope Risir wins.”

Most of the servants cheered for Lisir.

They liked the young master who had become more gentle recently, as if he had undergone some kind of change of heart.

Also, because they were complete ignorants in the field of swords.

“Hey, Yowen. What should I do? Give me some advice.”

“Why are you asking me that?”

“Why? Something similar happened to you before.”

“Is that a joke or a joke? Hey. My opponent was Miss Loera, right? Not some illegitimate child who’d never learned swordsmanship properly.”

A group of trainee knights occupying one position.

The atmosphere there was distinctly different from other places where people were excited about rare sights.

Most of them were skeptical about the training itself.

“Just do it moderately, moderately. Okay? Don’t hurt him for no reason. Even though he’s an illegitimate child, he’s still Bendel.”

Their attitude towards Lisir was quite different from that of the trainees.

It couldn’t be otherwise, since most of them were children of other noble families.

Even though he may be lower in rank than Bendel, at least his blood is pure.

Their status as natural-born nobles was clearly higher than that of illegitimate children.

Humpton, a trainee knight scheduled to spar with Risir after hearing his colleagues’ words, sighed deeply and scratched his angular skull.

He said it with a look of obvious annoyance on his face.

“By the way, what’s going on? What was the wind blowing that made that special Risir-nim make such a fuss?”

“Aren’t you doing that to look good in front of Miss Dintal?”

“Ah. That makes sense.”

“But, if you want to look good to your fiancée, don’t you have to look cool? Which idiot wants to show his fiancée that he’s completely broken?”

“Didn’t the Lord say anything else? Like, keep your hands to yourself.”

“That’s right. I need to shine some light on the dusty product.”

“No?”

“What?”

“They told me to stop thinking about nothing and just go for it with all my might?”

“…Huh. I have no idea what you’re thinking.”

“Like father, like son.”

“You crazy bastard. If you had said that in front of the lord-”

That was when.

“Oh, you came! You came!”

“Oh my god. Really? You’re really sparring with a trainee knight?”

The illegitimate child appeared on the parade ground.

The parade ground began to get really turbulent.

Soon after, the heads of the Dintal clan and the Bendel clan appeared.

The noisy parade ground suddenly became quiet, and only a suffocating tension remained there.

***

Originally, Bendel’s patriarch, Idor, had two choices.

To marry the youngest daughter, Loera, to Dinthal’s eldest son, Kalon.

Marrying the illegitimate child, Risir, to Dinthal’s youngest son, Pier.

The first option was the one that Idor liked the most.

From the family’s perspective, it was more beneficial to marry off the youngest daughter and pay off the debt than to send an illegitimate child as a son-in-law and incur debt.

It was the same from my father’s point of view.

I had high hopes that I would finally be able to see my nosy daughter get married and grow up.

– We have actively reviewed Bendel’s proposal.

-Allow me?

-…However, unfortunately, I think I will have to decline.

-Can I ask why?

-My daughter was being stubborn.

-When you say daughter… you mean Miss Pien?

-Yes. I don’t know what happened, but my child seems to have a crush on Risir-kun.

-her…

-I heard that you once came to play in Hayeren and got lost for a while. At that time, Risir treated you very kindly. You’ve been feeling affectionate towards him since then.

…That was the reason why Bendel hung out in Risir’s room.

In the prime of life, a girl’s emotions flare up for trivial reasons and cool down for trivial reasons.

If she saw Risir defeated in front of all these people, Miss Dintal’s scorn would be stripped away.

“Dad!”

It was just before the duel began.

Loera approached Idor and spoke to him in a reproachful tone.

“Is this right!? Dad knows that too. No, Dad knows it better than anyone else! It’s hard for Rishir to deal with trainees, let alone trainees!”

“It was Risir’s request.”

“You know I’m not saying that!!! The rumor has already spread! That the bastard is imitating Miss Bendel!!! If we lose here, what will happen to Risir’s reputation, Dad knows-”

“Roera.”

“…!”

It was a rare occurrence.

Idor treated her with the face of a stern patriarch, not a kind father.

“It’s a family affair.”

“…”

Kwaaak.

A murderous sound came from Loera’s clenched fist, but she ended up saying nothing.

No matter how noisy she was, she couldn’t deny the authority of her master, Idor, in a public setting like this.

“…And this is also to grant your request.”

After a moment of pondering the meaning of Idor’s words, Roera bowed her head helplessly.

***

“Dalien, please stand.”

Following the instructions of the master, the two men stood on the training ground and faced each other.

It was thirty steps away.

“Ha…”

A large, short-haired man facing an illegitimate child.

Trainee reporter Humpton had to try hard not to let his master see his displeasure.

‘What are you doing…’

He was also unhappy with his duel with Risir.

The knight worships strength.

And it reveres honor.

There was nothing for Humpton to gain by sparring with Risir, who was an illegitimate child and a novice in swordsmanship.

Moreover, Humpton felt humiliated by this situation.

“Rishir.”

“Yes, Mr. Humpton.”

The parade ground was spacious.

The two spoke at a volume that only each other could hear.

“Is it true? This match was made possible by Risir-nim’s wish.”

“That’s how it happened.”

“Is it true that you were the one who nominated the trainee knight as your sparring partner?”

“That’s how it happened.”

“Don’t you think that in itself would be an insult to our Bendel trainees?”

“Is that so?”

“Think about the position of an adult who has to deal with a child seriously.”

“I am confident that I would not lose if I were to be the opponent of a child.”

“What is this…”

“Are you both ready?”

Both people nodded.

“Then let’s begin.”

The duel has begun.

Humpton swung his sword back and forth, freeing himself.

Woodduck.

Woodduck.

A murderous sound came from the thick arm.

He spoke softly.

“I will yield to the player.”

The final conscience – it wasn’t the same thing.

Wouldn’t it be better to subdue the illegitimate child who rushes toward you rather than unilaterally knocking him down?

“If so, I’d be happy to. Oh, right. Before we get started, can I just clarify one thing? Of course. In a normal duel, all techniques and actions, including the Bendel style swordsmanship, are allowed. Am I understanding this correctly?”

“No matter what, please show off your skills to your heart’s content, Risir-sama.”

Humpton muttered without realizing it.

It’s so funny that such words come out of the mouth of an illegitimate child with no skills to show off.

“That’s a good answer to hear.”

The bastard took a step forward, holding the sword.

The distance is getting narrower.

Some of the trainees and apprentices turned their heads hurriedly.

That sloppy method, that sloppy distance-closing.

I almost burst out laughing.

“…”

Humpton could tell without even looking.

The fact that right now, all of your seniors, peers, and juniors are holding back laughter while watching your own sparring.

Adew.

Damn it.

Humpton, who had said he would give up the player, eventually stepped forward.

Don’t hold the posture. Don’t take the method.

It is shameful to use one’s skills against such a person.

It was as if an adult was going to scold a child.

“…”

Risir’s eyes lit up.

He straightened his posture and put more strength into his feet.

Tadadadadot-

Like a cavalryman, Risir charged towards Humton with his sword drawn.

Top down.

It was Risir’s first blow.

“Oh my god.”

Humpton muttered, unable to contain his frustration.

Let’s put the horrible posture aside.

There’s still this much distance left, so why are you taking such a big stance?

It seemed like he was joking that I could take any vital spot I wanted.

Humpton would gladly do so, but it would only make the poor bastard a cripple.

Humpton never took his stance.

It is enough to just swing the sword in your right hand with all your might.

Because that alone would make the bastard drop his sword and fall down in an ugly way.

It was at that moment that Humton, who had measured the distance precisely unlike Risir, was finally about to swing his sword.

Risir dropped his sword.

To be precise, Risir loosened his grip on the sword with his left hand.

To let out what was stored inside.

puck!

With a dull thud, Humpton’s face fell back sharply.

“!?”

It was only a little later that Humpton understood the situation.

He fell to the floor and found a piece of iron lying next to him.

A steel ball that flew like a bullet and struck his forehead.

Before he knew it, Risir’s sword was aimed at Humpton’s neck.

“Magic!!!!!!!!”

Humpton became furious and attacked Risir.

“How dare you show such tricks in Dalian!!!”

He was a timid illegitimate child.

At least that’s what Humpton remembers.

That illegitimate child accepted the world with a cheeky smile.

“I made sure to go over this clearly before we started sparring, didn’t I?”

“This- This- Pathetic!!!”

The pride that knights and wizards have in their affiliations is immense.

Even though Risir was an illegitimate child, Humton showed him the bare minimum of courtesy because he knew that he was trying to gain Bendel’s approval.

But you use magic right away in Dalian?

This was an act that tarnished not only himself but also Bendel’s name.

“Does this guy called Bendel – this guy called Bendel – not have a shred of pride!?”

“Why am I Bendel?”

“…?”

A feeble voice questioning.

It is a reaction and answer that I could never have imagined.

Humpton’s raging rage was suppressed with surprising ease.

His bloodshot eyes kept blinking.

“I’ve never added Bendel to my name in my life.”

“No-”

“And swordsmanship? What should I teach you so you can brew alcohol with a sword or pour alcohol with a sword?”

“…”

“You laughed at my posture too. Oh. It’s okay. I don’t mean to say anything. I also laugh sometimes when I look in the mirror to correct my posture.”

“…”

The trainee reporter just blinked blankly.

The illegitimate child, speaking of his miserable situation, neither asked for understanding nor for sympathy.

He just laughs like he’s telling a stupid and lame joke.

It was clearly out of character for Humpton.

The illegitimate child reached out to the apprentice knight.

The trainee knight grabbed her hand as if possessed.

Then the bastard raised his hand, which he was holding.

“I was lucky. I did well too.”

With a cheerful smile that didn’t cast even a shadow.

“…”

Everyone in the room had the same look on their face as Humpton.

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▷ Character 2: Illegitimate Child – Deactivated.

Special benefits will be provided.

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