episode_0015

Finally, Risir bowed deeply to Idor.

Out of the blue, Idor was impressed by the series of courtesy Risir showed.

Unlike other children from prestigious families, Risir did not receive direct instruction from a renowned etiquette teacher, nor did he have active interactions with other nobles.

Even so, the manners that naturally flowed from Risir’s body were so well-polished that even in the eyes of the head of a prestigious family, there was no significant lack of them.

He is the complete opposite of Loera, who evolved from a brat to a wild horse despite being educated by one of the best etiquette teachers in the empire.

Of course, this does not mean that Idor’s affection for his biological daughter is transferred to his illegitimate child.

For the nobility, bloodline has a special meaning.

It was the biggest factor that gave their existence the specialness that the world recognized.

Idor was a man with universal aristocratic values, and as a nobleman of high status, his values were more stubborn than average.

“Rishir.”

Idor looked carefully at the illegitimate child in front of him.

“Let’s sit down first.”

“I have nothing more to say to you, Lord.”

“Then just listen. Lisir. The achievements you showed today. I was impressed. I regret choosing the path of magic, but what can I do? I understand your feelings. I’m sure you resented me for not teaching you the Bendel style.”

“No.”

“It’s okay. At this moment, no matter what I say, I don’t intend to blame you.”

“That’s not what I meant. To me, magic is not a substitute for the Bendel style, nor is it a means to make me look back on the lord who did not teach me the Bendel style.”

“…Allow me?”

“Magic was the first path that opened up to me. So I just walked along it.”

“…”

Idor tried hard to control his expression in response to Risir’s answer.

Because his answer did not convey even the slightest hint of attachment to Bendel and Bendel-type.

“I appreciate your efforts. You did the best you could under the circumstances. To be honest, I didn’t think you would win the sparring today.”

Knock knock.

Idor tapped his chest.

“You. Your achievements have surpassed my expectations and calculations.”

“…”

“You have proven your worth, and from now on, I intend to treat you accordingly. Think carefully, Risir. Leaving the family is not a feat. It is nothing more than a temporary escape. Think about who is in front of you right now. ”

As expected of the head of the famous swordsmanship family, Bendel, he has a well-built body that is in top condition even at his middle age.

Eyes so rigid that they don’t seem to shake even if the tip of a knife touches the cornea.

And the unique spirit that comes from beings who have reached the level of superhumans.

Risir was momentarily overwhelmed by that spirit.

This was the reason why Lisir, who wanted to decorate the finale by straightening the middle fingers of both hands, tried to restrain himself.

The thing sitting in front of him now was a monster that could cleanly split a rock in two with a branch.

“How long do you think it will take you to go outside the family and be recognized by someone like me? A month? Two months? Six months? A year? Rishir. The world that awaits you is not as gentle as you expect. They will thoroughly ignore and look down on you for not being able to proudly reveal your own identity.”

“Are you saying that it is as the Lord said?”

“I won’t deny it.”

“Isn’t I much different from an outsider whose origins you don’t know?”

“I won’t deny it. But now it’s different. Now I will embrace you in the name of Bendel. Do you know why? Because you have proven your worth. Don’t miss the opportunity you have earned, Lisir.”

“…”

Risir nodded.

“I will consider the Lord’s words positively.”

It was a clean smile.

Very clean, without even the slightest hint of conflict.

Idor realized.

The recognition and attention that Risir had so desperately wanted was now of no value to him.

And that fact will never change.

“…”

Idor, who was trying to actively continue the conversation, suddenly became speechless.

Rishir left the office without any regrets, leaving Idor behind.

***

As soon as I left the headmaster’s office, I started preparing to leave Bendel.

I don’t feel any rush, but there is a saying that goes like this.

Leave when the applause starts.

Since the people of the mansion applauded, it was only right that I leave.

“…is that all?”

The moment I finished packing my things and put my backpack on, a gasp of air escaped from my mouth.

Could it be that I have not been packing my bags yet, but have been packing my bags?

This feather-like heaviness is the result of loading, not discharge.

The result of my 18 years of life.

It’s also refreshing.

This feeling of heaviness was also proof that I had received nothing from this place.

Could it be that the people of Bendel have discriminated against and ignored me all this time, not for this very moment?

So that I won’t have any regrets the moment I leave Bendel?

Of course, if these words had come out of Idor’s mouth, he would have been unable to hold it in and would have slapped 64 Bagua cards on his snout.

“…”

Before I left the room for the last time, I took in the view of the room.

Suddenly, that day comes to mind.

The day I first came to this room.

That day, when young Loera, who knew nothing, pressed young Risir’s seizure button.

The day when Loera gave young Risir a scar that would never be erased for the rest of his life.

The day when Risir gave young Loera a scar that would never be erased for the rest of her life.

I’m curious.

-Oppa, this…

The letter that young Loera handed me that day.

What was written in the letter that young Lisir tore to shreds?

…Is it because I left the annex with those thoughts in mind?

“…”

I came across Loera leaning awkwardly at the entrance to the annex.

“Oh, Loera!”

I greeted Loera happily.

The reason is that I remembered the scene in which Loera was the first to come out and applaud during the training session.

What if it wasn’t Miss Bendel?

People would not have dared to applaud the victory of the bastard and the defeat of the Bendel apprentice knight.

Before leaving Bendel, I felt a deep sense of gratitude towards Loera for giving me one last good memory.

“What the heck! I was just thinking about you.”

“…Fuck. What are you talking about, disgusting.”

Loera turned her head away, disgusted.

I thought you were just ignoring me-

“What happened?”

He spoke as if spitting out a word while glancing at me from the corner of his eye.

“What?”

“Don’t even think about ignoring me. The trick you used to knock out Humpton in the sparring match. I know it’s magic. ”

“Ah. That? Well, it just happened that way.”

“…”

Roera glared at him with an arrogant expression on her face at the vague answer.

I have a lot to say, but I have so much that I’m going to end with this.

Sigh.

Loera raised one corner of her mouth and smiled with her characteristic sneer.

“Would you like it? I hope it sinks in.”

“Well, that’s right. How fortunate that Humpton let his guard down just in time. Oh, but this isn’t just luck. I made Humpton let his guard down-”

“Don’t act like a fool. You know that’s not what I’m talking about.”

“… Huh? Then what are you talking about?”

“Ha…”

Loera shook her head with a sneer.

Then he looked at the backpack I was carrying on my shoulder and chuckled again.

“How on earth did you get it boiled? And what kind of magic did you use that made that human, of all people, be so impressed by your magic that he gave you a prize?”

“What? This?”

“Right now. We’re moving our luggage to the main building. Am I wrong?”

It was only then that I realized that the focus of the conversation that Loera was holding was somewhat off.

It seems that Loera thought that I had performed the duel and shown off my hidden magic in order to attract Idor’s attention.

Now, he is happy to be recognized by Idor.

It’s not Loera’s fault.

Rather, I should say that it is a misunderstanding that arises because I know the human named Risir too well.

Actually, if it were me in the past, I would have been recognized by Idor and would be dancing the pants dance of joy by now.

And Loera probably couldn’t stand me being so annoying and repulsive.

“What’s with those eyes? Are you being picky? It feels good to finally receive praise from the ‘Master’ I respect, but is it because you don’t like looking at me that you’re breaking the mold?”

A question suddenly occurred to me.

Why does Loera look down on Risir’s efforts to get the attention of the family?

Come to think of it-

Just one thing. There was a part that I had a guess about.

Maybe Roera is like me.

He may be looking at the past Risir with the same gaze as I do.

***

Looking back, the only person in this family who ever cared about me was Loera.

Until that day, before that incident –

No, no.

Loera continued to show interest in me even after that incident that day.

-Brother… are you okay…?

-this…

Loera handed over the letter while crying.

-Hey, Risir. Stop wasting your time and beg me.

-You. Try doing that for a hundred days. Will that person even be interested? Will your swordsmanship skills improve even a little? You are doing that to learn swordsmanship, right? Okay? That’s why I’m telling you to take a more certain path.

-You’re good at it, right? Beg. Just like you did to that human. Who knows? Maybe your pretty sister, who isn’t as stingy as that human, will teach you herself. Of course, it won’t be the Bendel-style swordsmanship you so desperately wanted.

Loera, who tried to teach the sword in a twisted manner.

-…

Loera, who clapped alone when everyone else was silent.

“If you have something to say, say it? If you glare at me like that, do you think I’d be scared? Hey~ You’re really high-spirited because you beat a guy like Humpton?”

After the duel, Loera was the first one to come and talk to me.

Roera, who seems to be excited too, perhaps because of her mood.

But on the other hand, Loera looks frustrated.

Loera has always been interested in me, both then and now.

Then and now, Loera has treated me the same way.

If anything has changed, it’s-

It was me.

From that day on, I started pushing away Loera.

-Didn’t you hear what your lord said? You can’t play with a bastard like me anymore.

When Loera does a favor, he pushes it away as if he had been waiting for it.

-…good.

-Because break time is over.

Like a child who is being teased and throwing a tantrum.

“Would you like to spar with me? Don’t you know how great your sister is? I guarantee you, if you learned swordsmanship from me, you would have won even without such tricks?”

Loera was the only person in Bendel who listened to Risir’s complaints.

It’s probably not intentional. You probably aren’t even aware that you’re doing it.

Could that odd attitude be a defense mechanism?

They are afraid of being rejected, so they pretend not to mean it.

Loera thrust her face toward me.

As I got closer, the first thing I saw was a small scar on his forehead.

In the old days, Loera used to stick to a hairstyle that left her forehead exposed.

The bangs are stuffy.

But after I got hit by a book I threw and got a cut on his face, he started growing out his bangs.

I touched the scar without realizing it.

Loera tried to step back in surprise, but when she saw my expression, she tense up her body.

I told Loera like that.

“Were you in a lot of pain back then?”

“…!”

Loera’s cynical expression gradually distorted.

“What, what’s going on all of a sudden…?”

“So, do you suddenly feel like apologizing? On this nice day. Or maybe it’s because this is a nice day that you feel like apologizing.”

“What the hell- Are you kidding me!? What, what are you begging for!? It’s not like I’m throwing a coin to a beggar, what are you talking about- And what? Did it hurt? Did it hurt!? Do you call that talking, you idiot!”

It seemed like he was trying to lose his temper.

But to anyone who looked at it, that face was one that was weeping.

“Woman, woman, woman, woman What are you doing with that girl’s face? Did it hurt a lot back then? Who gave you medicine!?”

Breathing becomes rapid in an instant.

And the eyes are wet with water.

I said, carefully wiping away Loera’s tears.

“I’m sorry.”

“…”

“I’m sorry, Roera. I shouldn’t have done that back then. I don’t know about others, but I shouldn’t have done that to you.”

Loera shook my hand violently.

Her reddened eyes shed tears that could not be wiped away with her fingers.

“mi-mi-mi-”

Those words were spoken with great effort and a trembling voice.

“You crazy bastard!!!”

Don’t be so energetic.

“Yes, why are you apologizing…!”

Loera lowered her head and began to sob.

“What did you do wrong… It was me who did wrong…”

“…”

“Back then… I was so stupid… I didn’t know what the word ‘illegitimate child’ meant… I didn’t know it would be such a hurtful word… I don’t know about others, but I shouldn’t have done that to you…”

Sorry.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Loera repeated those words for a while, as if she was taking out things that had been buried deep inside her, one by one.

He approached Loera and gently patted her on the back.

“I’ve always wanted to say this…”

Then, Loera buried her face in my arms and spoke in a hoarse voice.

“Brother… No matter what anyone says, you’re my brother…”

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▷Fate 13: Unsaid Words – Disabled.

You will receive special benefits accordingly.

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