CH 42

Clank ……

The Oblivion Academy is built like a school in my previous life, with a rooftop. The rooftop is characterized by sturdy, high fences and nets that prevent people from jumping off the roof, and the only space that can be used is the area you see when you go out the door. There are benches and small table sets, and some students gather there during lunch break and after school.

But today was the weekend.

There are no club activities, and everyone has already gone home, so it’s just me, who just arrived, and Ryuuze, who is standing in an imposing manner with his arms folded.

“You’re here, Lars.”

“I promised, after all.”

I walked up to Ryuuze. As we stood there looking at each other, Ryuuze opened his mouth first.

“……. You’re going to tell me about the lunch thing, aren’t you? About the thing that you can’t be friends with me.”

“Yeah. There’s one thing I have to tell you about that.”

“What is it?”

“What I’m about to tell you is the truth. And the moment you hear it, you’ll probably be confused. I know you’re going to say that It must be a lie.”

“W-What’s that? …… Trying to scare me is not going to work!”

“It’s up to you, too. Do you still want to hear it?”

When I stared straight at him, he gulped down his spit, paused for a moment, and then said,

“…… please.”

He muttered.

I let out a sigh, and then told him what I knew.

“Your father, Brao, is a lord, but do you know how he got to be a lord?”

“No …… my father was a lord from the time I was born, and I thought that was the way it was.”

“Brao became a lord two years before you and I were born. Before that, my father was the lord.”

“What ……”

Ryuuze’s eyes widened in surprise. I don’t think I’ll ever talk about it, so this reaction is natural.

“My brother got very sick, and my Dad gave up all his money for his treatment. Did you know that a lord is stripped of their title if they don’t have a certain amount of wealth?”

“Yes, I know that. I’ve often heared my father muttering about how important money is, and I asked my father why he’s so worried about it”

I nodded.

I’m sure he’s planning to make him the next lord so he can have an easy time in his old age, so he’ll teach him that. So Ryuuze asks me. 

“Don’t tell me that you just don’t like the fact that my father became a lord because of it? If that’s the case, you’re just holding a grudge, right? That’s what selfishness is –“

“No!”

“……!?”

When I interrupted him with a strong voice, he backed away in surprise. At the same time, the rain started to fall in drops. I thought it was such a beautiful day, but I narrowed my eyes and looked at Ryuuze, and then I called the final judgment.

“If that was all, I wouldn’t have complained either, I would have forgiven you when you apologized for calling me a ‘pauper’, and we would have been friends.”

“Then why ……”

“That’s because your father poisoned my brother and tried to kill him, Ryuuze. The fact that he had to pay for the treatment, the fact that he paid and lost the money, and the fact that he was forced to step down as lord, all happened because of what Brao did. I’m good from the position of a lord. I’m not unhappy with the way I live now. –but I can’t forgive him for almost killing my brother. As a result, he’s still alive but we almost lost our fortune and my brother.”

“That is …… my father did …….”

I saw Ryuuze on his butt, looking up at me, his mouth agape, a look of astonishment on his face. I got down on one knee and continued talking to him.

“You’d think that can’t be the case, right? But it’s true. That’s why I’m going to make sure that your father sees some pain. That’s why, you, his son, will be affected. Now, do you see why we can’t be friends?”

“……”

He was speechless, and I couldn’t tell if he was scared or surprised by what his father had done. I got up and headed for the exit.

“I don’t care if you tell Brao about me. When you do …… tell him that even if he sabotages me, even if it kills me, I’ll still make sure your father goes to hell.”

Yeah, the rain is getting heavier …… I have nothing against the guy himself, but I’ve taken my anger out on him on my own. A friend …… I don’t have one from my previous life, and it doesn’t matter now. How can I make sure that as little damage is done to Ryuuze as possible?

As I was thinking about this in my mind, I heard the sound of water splashing behind me and heard Ryuuze’s voice.

“Teacher said ……”

“……?”

“Teacher told me. ‘It’s better to make decisions based on what you see and think than on what others tell you. If you don’t know, you can ask someone. So …… I still don’t believe you.”

“……”

“But maybe you’re not lying. You don’t have to say this just because you don’t want to be friends with me. So give me some time! Give me time to find out.”

“I don’t care either way. I knew that I would be at a disadvantage when I told you this. But now you know. If anything happens to us, I’ll know it was Brao who did it. If there is any harm to anyone other than –“

Guh ……!

“!!!!????”

“When the time comes, I’ll do whatever I have to do, even if it kills me …… Listen, Ryuuze, if you’re going to confirm what I’ve just told you, be very careful. Even real parents cut off their children without a second thought. There are parents like that…”

“W-What are you …… Ah, hey! Lars!”

I turned off the large above my head and left the academy. The rain on my cheeks felt slightly warm.

Next time, there will be an intermission ……!

Thank you for reading!

[Afterword Theater]

“Children are straightforward, you know.”

Will it be a good thing or a bad thing ……