Sewing a New Button

Having received instructions from Kyle, Alf immediately crossed the hallway and conveyed the news to Dver, the head of the family, and his eldest son, Hasel.

Upon hearing this, Dver and Hasel initially widened their eyes and wore dumbfounded expressions, but soon the father and son burst into laughter in unison, reacting as if it were absurd.

,Magic,? Kyle, did that bastard ask if he could use magic?

,Y-yes, Head of the Family-nim. As I heard it, clearly….?

,It seems he’s gone mad, Father. Kyle, that guy and magic…? Even a passing dog wouldn’t laugh at such a joke.?

,I’m telling you. A guy who can’t even properly manifest mana, magic? Keuhat…!?

The sight of the two men, grinning so much that their gums were exposed, felt almost pleasant.

It wasn’t the kind of attitude that fathers and older brothers should show towards their respective sons and younger brothers, but Alf couldn’t point that out.

Because there wasn’t a single servant in this family who didn’t know what kind of treatment Kyle Lionheart received.

In a way, the two men’s reaction wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

From the beginning, what was the reason Kyle Lionheart came to be called the shame of the family?

Wasn’t it because he couldn’t even manifest the vast mana he had possessed since birth, simply wearing it like a pearl necklace on a pig’s neck?

For such a guy to suddenly ask if he could use magic, it was inevitable that it would feel like a lie rather than a bluff from the two men’s perspective.

,What should we do, Hasel??

,Tell him to do as he pleases. After all, how well could he possibly use magic, even if he did??

,That’s right. At best, it’ll only be useful for starting a campfire, right??

,If it’s even helpful to that extent, I’d be surprised.?

,Keuheu, that’s right. You’re right.?

Therefore, Hasel generously decided to tolerate his younger brother’s struggles.

Of course, he also knew that Kyle wouldn’t have said such a thing unless he was crazy.

However, this confidence stemmed from the feeling that even if he had learned magic in the meantime, how skillfully could he possibly use it?

From the beginning, magic itself is not an easy subject to learn.

Moreover, mastering it to the point where it can be used in actual combat requires a tremendous amount of time.

The saying that a sword trained for one year is much better than magic learned poorly for ten years is a story that everyone in the Empire knows.

,It’s better this way. I’ll use this opportunity to properly crush his sprout, that guy who doesn’t know his place.?

And Hasel thought it was the perfect time to properly stomp on Kyle’s sprout.

Even if Kyle had really learned magic and come, if he thoroughly trampled on it with his sword, he wouldn’t dare to stand up to him again.

It was a golden opportunity to thoroughly show the guests outside that he was the next head of the family.

,Alf, go and tell Kyle. Tell him to use all the tricks he can and do his best.?

,Yes, Young Master.?

As Alf, having heard Hasel’s order, quickly got up from his seat and retreated, a cold smile settled on Hasel’s lips as he stared blankly at his retreating figure.

Already, in Hasel’s mind, how to deal with Kyle, or strategies to achieve victory, were not even considered.

He was only concerned with how to trample on his useless younger brother, who was born with the same Lionheart family blood as him, so that he would realize his place.

＊＊＊

Soon, Alf’s news brought a smile to my face.

As expected.

I thought that guy, whose nose is so high it pierces the ceiling and reaches the sky, would definitely come out like this.

He’s probably determined to thoroughly trample on me this time. I can see through his simple intentions as clearly as if I could grab them.

I vowed to do as he wished and moved my feet out of the castle.

,…There are so many of them.?

The first thing I saw was the sight of people filling the area, centered around the dueling arena in the middle, as if they had come to watch a gladiatorial contest.

Of course, the dueling arena or stage itself is so small that it can’t be compared to a circular arena where real gladiators fight to the death, but it’s still quite a lot for people who have come to watch a duel within the family.

There seem to be at least a hundred people.

,Well, it’s practically the day to cement the next head of the Lionheart family.?

,They’re so interested in other people’s family affairs. Tsk.?

I clicked my tongue at Alf’s words and moved my feet.

While doing so, I inadvertently shifted my gaze to the opposite side and saw Hasel, who had also appeared.

,Hasel, do your best.?

,Yes, Father. Don’t worry.?

Following him, my father also came out and went behind Hasel, massaging his shoulders and sparing no encouragement.

Emboldened by this, the guy, who had been holding his nose high, eventually made eye contact with me and gestured for me to go first with a bitter smile.

Does he want the main character to appear later? If that’s what he wants, I’ll do it.

Ttokak. Ttokak.

As I walked along the marble path, my footsteps sounded particularly clear.

Come to think of it, it was like this that day too.

I remember that my fighting spirit had already been broken from the moment I saw my father only encouraging my older brother.

And when I went up on stage, I saw people I had never met before, and everyone who had been picking their noses or ears without any reaction when I appeared all cheered when Hasel appeared.

Perhaps at that moment, my defeat was already as good as decided.

But today will be different.

– Do your best, Young Master Lionheart!

You probably didn’t say those words for today… Sylvia.

Somehow, at this moment, your voice seems to be echoing in my head.

You always wanted me to become a man who is recognized by many people, even more than I did.

Although the opportunity to achieve that has come after a long time, I want to fix everything one by one, even now.

This is the first step towards that.

,Hoo.?

I took a light breath and went up the stairs to the stage.

There is no reaction or response, as if it were silent.

However, without caring at all, I stare at Hasel, who is following me onto the stage.

Clap clap clap.

,Do your best, Hasel!?

,Show the power of the eldest son!?

Only then did the same enthusiastic applause as that day follow, and the people around me shouted Hasel’s name.

It’s just funny that the members of the noble family are giving such a barbaric response, like savages watching a fight in the marketplace.

,Kyle, are you nervous? You seem very stiff.?

Hasel, who came up on stage triumphantly, sneered with blatant mockery.

At first glance, it sounds like a brother’s consideration for his younger brother, but at least in the case of this human, the possibility is zero.

,Why would I be nervous? The victory or defeat is already as good as decided.?

,Haha, so you know your place? It’s been a while since I’ve heard such a pleasant sound from your mouth.?

When I lowered my head and spoke in a humble manner, Hasel seemed to have misinterpreted my words and burst into hearty laughter, leaning his wooden sword on his shoulder.

At that, I shook my head slightly and corrected my words.

,That’s not what I meant, Hyung-nim.?

,…Hmm? Not what you meant, what does that mean??

The movement of the swaying wooden sword stopped, and a look of bewilderment settled on his face.

I’m sorry to break your expectations, but that’s not what I meant.

It was the opposite.

At this moment, I temporarily took off the mask I had been wearing on my face and snarled, giving him the same bitter smile he had shown me a little while ago.

,What do I mean? I mean that everyone here will see you lose pathetically and cry like a little kid.?

,Wh-what…!?

It must have been the first time he had heard such words from my mouth, so he must have been quite surprised.

Despite the blatant belittling, he couldn’t continue speaking, his face flushed red.

,Both of you, stand in your places.?

He looked like he was about to run at me right away, but when my father, who was in charge of judging today, spoke, he suppressed his anger and turned his body.

Even though I couldn’t see his expression, I could clearly see the murderous intent rising from his back.

He must be very angry.

,The rules are simple. The one who declares defeat first, or the one who loses consciousness, loses. Means such as poison or hidden weapons are prohibited, but anything else is possible.?

,Yes.?

,Understood.?

We lightly clashed our wooden swords, keeping a certain distance from the center of the dueling arena, listening to the rules that my father was telling us.

It’s a kind of etiquette that is performed before a duel begins in the Lionheart family.

It means that we will learn from each other, but I can guarantee that there is not even an ant’s tear of such old-fashioned thoughts in each other’s heads.

They are probably full of barbaric thoughts of trampling on and defeating the opponent by any means possible.

I don’t know if that’s an appropriate action between brothers, but from the beginning, our relationship is a million light-years away from ordinary brothers, so I don’t care.

,Then…. Start!?

Kuoong.

As soon as my father, who announced the start of the duel by drawing his hand vertically, dropped his body back, I immediately opened my eyes sharply and released mana from my whole body.

Kwaga gag.

The stage area temporarily cracks slightly due to the aftermath of the mana.

,…!?

Hasel, overwhelmed by the momentum, stares at me with wide eyes and a surprised look.

At that, I raised one corner of my mouth and provoked him.

,What’s wrong, Hyung-nim? Come at me first. Or are you nervous??