episode_0054

There was a girl and a boy.

The girl always treated people with a bright smile, got along well with everyone, and was liked by many people.

Shiny blonde hair and golden eyes that shine like the moon in the night sky. Its appearance, reminiscent of gold, was enough to attract countless people.

Except in rare cases, the boy always treated people with an expressionless face, did not get along well with people, and was not easily liked.

Unlike his mother, he had dull black hair and empty, deep eyes. Although he had great looks, his natural aura made people stay away from him.

The two people were as different as day and night.

The two were taught together, but did not have much contact. Although their personalities were completely different, there were few opportunities for conversation.

Nevertheless, the girl broke through the wall of opportunity and went to talk to the boy.

I chased after the boy who was catching quail by throwing iron balls, deliberately grabbed his shoulder and spoke to him.

“Hello, Raoul Bergé. Is this your first time greeting each other separately?”

“…”

Raoul ignored her and started looking for quail.

Nevertheless, the girl kept smiling and spoke again.

“I am Leila Nevermore. Since we are learning under the same teacher, you know my name, right?”

“…”

“Everyone wanted to know you. That’s right, you always disappear after training. Sometimes, hanging out with alumni…”

“I want to ask you one thing.”

After finally hearing Raoul’s answer, Layla smiled and answered.

“If there is anything I can tell you.”

“Why do you hide your true feelings and force yourself to smile?”

“…”

Leila stopped laughing and spoke with a colder expression than Raoul.

“… How did you know? I was quite confident in my acting.”

“There’s nothing I can say other than that I just felt that way.”

“Since I really opened my face, I will ask you properly. The reason why you act like a living human being. Just force yourself to smile and everyone will like you. Since you have a surprisingly nice face, I’m sure there will be a lot of people who will like you.”

“I guess so. If I force myself to smile and act like a good person, people will definitely like me.”

Raoul took a step towards Leila and made eye contact.

It was an eye contact that seemed to coexist between sparkling gold and darkness absorbing all light, but the two did not make any facial expressions.

“Then it just means that you like the way I act.”

“You sound full. It’s important that you like me that much.”

“… Well. I’m not sure. In the first place, I never thought about wanting to be liked by people.”

Leila couldn’t understand Raoul like that.

It would be foolish to not know how important image is as a noble.

That’s why she also forced a smile and played the role of a good person. To protect my family and my only sister in the future.

“Those people are the ones who will leave disappointed when I can no longer smile. What is the meaning of keeping those who are leaving when they are most needed?”

“… Are you an idiot?”

“I just hate relationships made of lies. Because forcing a smile would also be quite hard work.”

Leila burst out laughing at those words.

It was not a fake act like the usual laughter, but a genuine laugh that came from deep within.

How long has it been? She laughed in front of people other than her sister. I burst out laughing out of joy rather than pride.

“You are such an idiot.”

It was so funny that I couldn’t bear to see him stand alone and be hated while others were trying hard to be liked.

It was like trying to set yourself on fire.

“So I don’t hate it. No, I actually like it.”

So I liked it.

Leila didn’t hate fools like Raoul.

There are many pigs who try to walk on the flower path wearing fancy shoes, but Raoul is the only fool who tries to walk on the fire path barefoot.

“I don’t hate you either.”

“Really?”

“I like the circus.”

Leila tilted her head and expressed doubt.

What on earth does this have to do with you and the circus?

“Because I don’t hate clowns who are good at acting.”

“이 개새끼가!”

Raoul ran away, but was caught by Leila, who had faster feet than anyone else, and was beaten up.

That’s how the terrible relationship between the two began. Just like sprouts sprouting from grains scattered on the ground.

In this way, Raoul followed Leila and completely joined the group. Because of his unique personality, he often fought with Camilla, and even fought with the 1st Prince until his bones were broken because of a single remark about his resemblance to Her Majesty.

In the end, thanks to Leila and Penelope’s mediation, they also came to understand Raoul’s personality and speaking style.

Even though they all got along together, the person with whom Raoul had the deepest connection was definitely Leila.

Layla stood out in all areas with a score of 99, and Raoul received a score of 0 except for bare-handed fighting and wand wielding, and had the talent of a protégé. The two were nothing short of polar opposites.

Nevertheless, the two grew closer, always practicing bare-handed fighting and wandmanship.

“I should have said that. I don’t know if it’s in other areas, but I can’t lose to you in these two areas.”

Raoul received 100 points for fighting with his cane and bare hands.

“The difference is at most 1 point, so can you please stop being too fussy, Raoul?”

“I see. Are you still obsessed with getting 99 points?”

“A man who keeps poking a woman in her sore spot is unpopular?”

“As far as I know, women who are obsessed with trivial things are also not popular.”

“이 개새끼가 진짜!!!”

The two were polar opposites.

But at the same time, they were very similar.

They both cherished their younger brother more than their lives. Both of them had a surprisingly childish side. Both were cynical, but liked people with conviction. Both had troubled pasts and cherished each other. Both were trying not to show the hurt in their hearts.

The two had that kind of relationship. Their relationship ripened like grain.

As time passed, the two grew up and endured the training successfully.

The military minister gave his weapons one by one to the students who endured his training.

Penelope, who was able to predict the enemy’s movements to the level of foresight, was given a sword that could strike the enemy without fail.

Asher, who can handle ultra-high temperature heat and fire, was given a great sword that can be summoned with flames and amplify the heat of those flames.

Camilla, who can handle ultra-high voltage currents by amplifying the current in her body, was given a spear that amplifies that power.

Leila, who has faster speed than anyone else and can use any weapon, was given a ring that could change into any weapon.

And Raoul was given a staff that never breaks.

“That damn human only gave you a somewhat strong cane?”

After hearing that story, Layla became furious and started swearing at her teacher.

This was because the weapon was extremely shabby for a weapon to be given to a disciple who would go on to the most difficult battlefield.

The military minister’s weapons warehouse is full of better weapons than that.

“… I actually liked it.”

“What? That’s just a rather sturdy cane.”

“Because the only thing I can beat you with is a stick.”

“No, there must be many far better wands that man has, right?”

“My echo is specialized in destroying the opponent. A cane that can withstand that sound would be perfect. As a bonus, there is no staff better than this to block the opponent’s attack.”

“Uselessly positive.”

Leila was displeased with Raoul, who did not even utter a single word of protest.

“I said I like this weapon.”

“No, honestly, what is so good about a weapon that is all about being a little stronger…!”

“Because it is the opposite of the weapon you have.”

“What?”

“Your weapon can be anything. And because mine is never destroyed, its form does not change. Don’t you think it’s very similar to us?”

Raoul thought that the weapon resembled their own.

Leila can make numerous facial expressions. The self whose expression never changes.

Leila has natural talent in all fields. Except for using a wand and hand-to-hand combat, he is no better than a dungjae.

“I felt happy because it was like a weapon made for the two of us.”

“You, you… made such a statement again without realizing it…!”

“Also, I wasn’t confident in my speed or technique at all. I was just relieved that you could fill that empty part.”

Raoul attacks and defends. Layla has speed and skill. Two people with different strengths were able to perfectly complement each other’s shortcomings.

“I am an extremely imperfect human being.”

Raoul held Leila’s hand and confessed his honest feelings.

“I can only be complete with you.”

“… Everyone is imperfect, you idiot. Me too.”

And Leila also held onto Raoul’s hand tightly.

“I can only be complete if I have you.”

The relationship between the two was like night and day. Even though they seemed like opposites, the two were one in the same.

Although the two were opposites, they were similar. It was like a piece split in half, but although the shape was different, the sections fit together easily.

Although the two were imperfect, they could become complete through each other.

“Half body.”

Leila pulled Raoul’s hand to her chest.

“You are my half god. I am incomplete without you. Likewise, I am also your demigod. Because without me, you are incomplete too.”

“He’s half a body… That’s a good sound.”

“We are now one body. No one can beat that one body. Because we can be complete through each other.”

Leila smiled more beautiful than anyone else in the world. It was not the fake smile of the past, but a perfect smile filled with only sincerity.

“Do you understand, my other half?”

Raoul also responded to the title with a subtle smile instead of his usual expressionless face.

“Okay. I completely understand. Half of my body.”

In this way, the two became each other’s half-gods.