Chapter 23

Chapter 23 – Kirian’s Awakening (2)

‘Count Arsene is like me.’

It was a feeling I had always had.

Not in terms of appearance or personality, but disposition.

He neglects his household affairs and immerses himself in outside matters.

Only after losing something truly precious does he regret and regret again.

Only after facing the worst of the worst, something that can never be undone.

‘So, don’t follow in my footsteps. Don’t you already feel it, too?’

Perhaps, in the midst of misfortune, there was a silver lining.

Count Arsene had an opportunity to complete his realization.

Because he had lost his dearly beloved wife in the past.

‘This is my heartfelt advice to you.’

As a fellow father and head of the family, I sincerely hope you do not repeat my mistakes.

-It’s not too late.

-......What......?

-Your two mischievous sons are young enough to reform, and your other son is flexible as a willow, not yet broken.

Step, step, step.

Having finished the mana message, I slowly stepped up to the training ground.

Kirian had come to me of his own will.

So, now it was my turn to respond in kind.

‘What is needed is motivation.’

From now on, I must make sure he comes to his senses.

With Lady Isabelle and the troublemakers watching, the educational environment was perfect.

“So, in the end, were you just another child of a noble family?”

I could feel the fearful gaze of Jan.

But, my eyes were fixed only on Kirian.

“Why didn’t you say it sooner?”

“What......?”

“You just wanted to indulge in self-consolation. You’re starting to worry about what happens if you fail the test, right? So, you’re laying the groundwork. ‘I did my best,’ ‘This is enough.’ Like that.”

Flinch.

Kirian’s body trembled.

‘He’s starting to react.’

I could feel it.

The quickening breath.

The racing heartbeat.

The goosebumps rising all over his body.

A sarcastic smile formed on my lips.

“That’s no different from the justifications nobles usually make.”

“......You’re wrong.”

“I’m not blaming you, though. If you’re a noble, you might as well act like one.”

“I said, you’re wrong......!”

Pfft.

My laughter deliberately seeped through my teeth.

“Effort, my foot.”

Grit.

At this, the veins on Kirian’s forehead pulsed.

It was a natural reaction.

If he had truly been giving his all, he couldn’t help but be angry.

‘Because it’s like I’m denying all the effort he’s put in.’

And, right now, in front of his stepmother and competitors, no less.

“Come to think of it, I wonder if your mother would have been pleased with someone like you.”

“......!”

“You’re so kind, after all; worrying about your brothers getting hurt.”

That was his last straw.

Kirian’s face contorted in rage.

Jan, who had been watching the situation closely, bit down on a triumphant smile.

“Oh? Look at that expression of yours. What are you going to do, huh?”

He raised his wooden sword again.

At that moment.

Thunk!

“What?!”

A crisp sound of impact and a streak of bewilderment echoed simultaneously.

Kirian, who had struck Jan’s descending wooden sword with his own, staggered to his feet.

His eyes now held a fierceness that hadn’t been there before.

“I said you’re wrong!”

A savage roar burst from Kirian as he charged towards his brother, who instinctively stepped back.

Jan showed clear signs of panic at the sight of this unfamiliar spectacle.

And over the head of that rascal.

Smack!

A sturdy wooden sword was brought down.

“......Ugh!”

Jan, groaning, barely managed to raise his sword to block it.

“What do you know!”

“This bastard......!”

Bam!

Though the attack failed, Kirian didn’t panic.

The awakened Kirian moved in a way that even impressed me.

Tumble!

“Argh!”

Jan lost his balance for a moment, and fell to the ground.

Stance broken, he raised his wooden sword to block another blow from Kirian.

At that moment, Kirian inserted his foot into Jan’s wobbly legs, completely breaking his balance.

‘He’s quite a natural at using his body.’

I couldn’t help but be impressed.

That was a naturally gifted talent.

Young kids who have just started learning the sword tend to focus only on the flashy movements.

The truly important component isn’t the weapon, but the body that holds it.

‘As expected, he’s flexible.’

In a flash, an educational curriculum for Kirian formed in my mind.

If Harun’s talent was optimized for quick swordsmanship, Kirian’s was optimized for soft movements.

In other words, he was a type specialized in using the opponent’s strength against them.

Thud!

“......Ugh!”

As he fell, Jan’s solar plexus received a heavy blow from the wooden sword.

The unexpected ambush left Jan unable to lift his head.

He just rolled around on the ground with a pained expression.

“Brother!”

Hersen hurriedly ran to his fallen brother.

Lady Isabelle stood frozen in place like a statue.

Clap, clap, clap.

“Look at that. See? You can do well if you try.”

Finally, a genuine smile formed on my lips.

But an unexpected situation arose just at that moment.

“Could it be that you are perhaps the reincarnation of an absolute being?”

Naturally, his tone became more respectful.

It was a plausible hypothesis.

When mana reaches its extreme, the body is completely reborn.

One’s flesh and bone are restructured, transforming into the optimal state that even surpasses one’s prime.

Count Arsene was referring to this phenomenon of rebirth.

“Don’t I look too young for that?”

“......And that’s the third reason.”

Count Arsene’s tone returned to normal.

Clatter, clatter.

Immediately, the knights around us intentionally made noise as they placed their hands on their sword hilts.

“I cannot trust you. And I do not keep uncontrollable variables by my side.”

“Aha.”

For the first time, I nodded clearly.

“A distrust of me as a person. That, I can understand.”

This wasn’t something to feel wronged about.

It simply meant that Count Arsene was a careful person.

In different circumstances, he should be praised for it.

Constantly thinking and doubting.

That is a fundamental quality needed to survive in this harsh world.

“Of course, our fault is clear. We have no intention of just brushing it off. If you want anything, we will compensate you adequately in monetary terms. So, I’d like you to leave my house by today.”

It was a blatant order to leave.

“Oh, well.”

Without any hesitation, I stood up.

“For that reason alone, I understand the Count’s feelings clearly.”

“......Thank you for understanding.”

“Just out of curiosity, what is the fourth reason?”

At my question, Count Arsene hesitated for a moment before sighing.

“......Though I may be an incompetent man, I am still a father.”

“Huh?”

This was an entirely unexpected answer.

“Your life-defining examination is approaching, isn’t it? If a territorial war between families breaks out now, wouldn’t I be taking away the chance for those children to prove their efforts?”

“They would all understand. The future of the family is more important than the exam.”

“That’s not for me to judge.”

Well, thinking about it, this isn’t so bad either.

At least it seems that Count Arsene won’t follow the same path I’ve taken.

“I will take my leave.”

“I won’t see you out.”

“One last thing...... Do you know this?”

I turned my head slightly to finish speaking.

“No matter how much you plan and try to proceed with things, sometimes they don’t go as intended. That’s just how the world works.”

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

“I had no intention of doing so, but when I opened my eyes, I found myself at the eye of a storm! Something like that.”

I turned around and walked out through the door.

“People call that ‘fate.’”

***

“I’m going to kill him.”

Isabelle’s eyes were filled with murderous intent as she returned to her room.

There was no way her husband had appeared at that moment by chance.

“You, I will definitely......!”

She bit her lip so hard that now blood was seeping out.

Even though she had talked about turning herself in, that child had ultimately thwarted her final plan.

In the end, she had shown an embarrassing side of herself, and the situation was beyond repair.

“Lady, I heard you were looking for me.”

The person she had been seeking entered the room.

On the surface, this person was a servant of the count’s household, but in reality, they were a spy for the marquis’ family.

Naturally, Isabelle’s eyebrow twitched.

She couldn’t be completely calm after hearing that assassins might be sent to kill her.

Grit.

But that was all.

She had decided not to be swayed by that wretched brat any longer.

“......I have an urgent request.”

“Please, speak freely.”

“Before that, if the marquis would allow it, I will go into the prison myself to deal with the witness.”

“......!”

Jake’s eyes widened instantly.

There was only one witness.

Vigri de Foltaine.

Though an illegitimate child, he was still a blood relative of the marquis’ family.

Removing someone like him would naturally require the marquis’ permission.

“Is it possible?”

“Don’t worry. I have a plan.”

“......Understood.”

“In return, you must grant my request.”

With that, Isabelle took out a sealed letter she had prepared and handed it to him.

“Please deliver this.”

“I can deliver the message myself......”

“No. Just deliver this.”

“......Understood.”

Jake stared at Isabelle with a peculiar look for a moment before bowing his head.

“In that case, may I also make a request of you, Lady?”

“What is it? I must warn you, I no longer have much power.”

“It doesn’t require much power. It’s just......”

At that moment, Isabelle felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

Thunk!

“......!”

And that unease quickly became reality.

“......Cough!”

Isabelle looked down in disbelief.

Bright red blood blurred her vision.

The searing pain gradually took over her mind.

Her thoughts turned blank.

“Please die here. It’s a simple request, isn’t it?”

“Y-You......!”

Blood rapidl

y stained Isabelle’s upper body.

Her pupils quickly lost their light.

‘Ah......’

In her fading consciousness, Isabelle felt a sense of futility.

What a meaningless life it had been.

She had never imagined such an end.

Thud!

Like a puppet whose strings had been cut, her lifeless body collapsed onto the floor.