Chapter: 592
When I opened my eyes in the training grounds, I didn’t have any particular thoughts. It’s just where I swing my weapon until I drop dead every night.
It’s great because in the training grounds, I don’t have to worry about the fatigue of reality!
Today, I’m going to test what I learned at the castle against Grandpa!
Today is the day I’ll finally land a hit!
And then I’ll laugh my head off! I’ll tell him, “Grandpa, you’ve turned into an old fool!”
I’m going to change the ending where I always end up falling last!
With that excitement, I raised my shield and mace, strutting forward, only to see a man sulking beside Grandpa…
A man? Is it really a man?
His physique definitely screams ‘man’, but he’s got a really pretty face.
His hair has turned completely white, making him look older, but he only seems to be in his forties at most in other respects.
How should I put it? He looks like someone who’d be called “Mother” in a mafia movie.
Hmm. Looking at him this way gives me a sense of déjà vu.
Do I know this person? If he were a character from Soul Academy, I wouldn’t forget him like this.
Ugh. No idea. Who the heck is invading my mental space?
I turned my gaze towards Grandpa, hoping for an answer, but he was looking back and forth between me and Grandma with eager eyes, not saying a word.
Ah. He wants to see me squirm, doesn’t he? That cheeky old man.
“What do you plan to do pulling me here and then acting all flustered?”
…What!? He’s not a woman!? I thought he was a big-framed grandma like Lasha, but he’s just a pretty-faced guy!?
Whoa! If he looks this good at this age, he must have been drop-dead gorgeous when he was younger!
I was shaking in envy when I suddenly realized the source of the déjà vu.
There’s only one handsome guy that Grandpa treats so affectionately.
“Nice to meet you, kid. I’m Garad, a knight who fought alongside this fool.”
“A thug of a grandma like you is a hero? Amazing. You look like you’d cling onto the strong one in a skirt and act all coy.”
The simple greeting of “Hello, Lord Garad” twisted into something irretrievable as it popped out of my mouth, making Garad blink and turn his head sideways.
As if checking if he heard something wrong.
“Khahahah! Not just any grandma, but a thug grandma, huh!”
Seeing Grandpa holding back laughter at Garad’s bewildered expression, he burst into cheerful laughter, and red-faced Garad grabbed him by the collar.
“Did you tell him to say that!?”
“Of course not! That kid wouldn’t be one to follow my orders! Right, Lucy?”
“An old man’s antics are all outdated. I wouldn’t do it even if I thought I’d catch a whiff of old man smell.”
Garad, who just moments ago had been laughing, now looked astonished, while Grandpa regained his cheerful laughter again.
“Ha-ha! Ah! Is that so? An equally rude little brat! Good, good!”
“You’re a grandma’s boy, aren’t you? Is it that fun to hear insults from a girl?”
“I’m human too. It’s not enjoyable to hear insults.”
“Really now?”
“Of course. It’s just that I’ve gotten used to it. A female knight of my time had to be tough or she wouldn’t survive.”
“…That’s true. If you were among fools who think stupidity is something to be proud of, you had to be strong.”
Now that I think about it, Grandpa said something like that before. That chivalry was formed to reform knights who thought stupidity was something to be proud of.
Chivalry, which is now widely accepted, was likely born during a rough era where knights were akin to savages.
And any female knight who survived among those knights must have been incredibly strong, just like Lasha.
“And you know what? I was worried you’d blabber about nobility because of that Ruel kid, but I feel relieved you’re so honest. Having two of this stiff-headed guy would be a real pain.”
“That’s a thing of the past. It’s not like that anymore.”
“Right. Back then, I would have scolded that kid all day long.”
“Whoa, Grandpa, you were such an irritable old fart?”
“That’s the past! The past!”
Seeing Grandpa’s distasteful expression, Garad turned his gaze to me and bowed his head.
“Thank you.”
“Did you really enjoy hearing insults? Is bowing your head now a way to ask me to step on you? Ugh, gross.”
“…It’s hard to explain what I’m thankful for, but in short, I’m grateful for your existence.”
“Are you trying to hit on me now? The thug grandma has a cross-dressing hobby and is an old creep who can’t help but like little girls. Reality is cruel.”
“That’s not what I meant! You little brat!”
“Getting angry because you got rejected? How pathetic. I can’t even laugh at you. Pfft. So sad.”
His once pale skin turned bright red as Garad stomped the ground trying to stand up, but that attempt was restrained by Grandpa’s grip.
“Calm down. That’s the curse this kid carries. Even the kind Lord Jushin wouldn’t make a brat who lacks respect an apostle.”
“That… makes sense.”
Sighing, Garad plopped back down, ruffling his white hair as he looked back at me.
“I’m sorry. I should have noticed first. I lacked perception.”
Seeing someone else apologize to me was refreshing. I’m usually the one messing up first.
And again, it was true this time. Garad had every right to be angry.
Yet, he bowed without hesitation.
“Ruel, you also share some blame. You should have warned me ahead of time.”
“I’m sorry. I intended to give a heads-up, but I missed the chance.”
Grandpa was no different. He sincerely apologized, wiping away the laughter from before.
“What I wish you’d know is that when I say thank you, it’s sincere. To you, who willingly took on the burden we left behind due to our incompetence. I express my gratitude and respect for the little hero who even embraced my lingering regrets.”
Standing before sincere gratitude, I couldn’t help but think, “Is it okay for someone like me to receive thanks from such an adult?”
“So, ask for anything. I’ll help with whatever I can.”
I wanted to return the respect paid by the hero, but the moment I opened my mouth, I knew it would turn awkward, so I bit my lip.
“I heard from Ruel that you received a blessing to identify weaknesses.”
“Ugh! Spying from behind…”
“Don’t speak, just listen. Anyway, I’ll teach you how to use that. That underhanded way of exploiting an opponent’s weakness is my specialty.”
*
Arthur, who followed the other knights into the Fairy Forest, was not chosen by any fairy.
He had heard plenty of “thank you,” but when it came time to make a contract, the fairies would run away with “That’s… uh… sorry!” or “Um, I’m sorry!” like it was a contagious disease.
If the fairies had just disliked him, it would have been easier to accept! He could have just thought it was unavoidable, like the others!
What is wrong with me?! What’s wrong that makes them not want to be around me, even with goodwill!?
Recalling the incident, Arthur banged his head in frustration and sighed deeply, laying his body forward.
The only comfort he found was the fact that almost no one was chosen by the fairies.
Probably because very few met the criteria Lucy had mentioned before.
In reality, those chosen by the fairies were all not particularly convincing… at least not all the time.
Above all, he couldn’t understand how the Apostle of the Arts Church was chosen by the fairies. That person seemed the exact opposite of purity, so how did they earn the fairies’ favor?
– Thinking that way makes you less pure than that pervert.
After hearing the words of Soladin’s fragment, Arthur widened his eyes and quickly shook his head.
No way. I could never be more vile than a pervert who drools over little girls!
– If you’re awake, quickly explore the page about adulthood.
“I’ll probably do that.”
The fragment of Soladin, modified by Lord Erginius, looked no different at first glance.
However, the change was that it could now be helpful. I never imagined there would be power contained within Soladin’s bloodline.
– Stop there.
“Here? It’s not a big deal.”
– You are foolish. But this part is crucial for the ceremony. Hearing the word ‘ceremony’ made me focus.
Ah. Apparently, there was a reason I couldn’t properly remember the ceremony for adulthood.
The important part was only for the person undergoing the ceremony, while outsiders just stand outside like extras, so how would I remember?
– Hm. There is change, but the essential parts remain.
“Is there something? It looks like an ordinary ritual to me.”
– You should know about the underground. The resemblance between the ceremonial place and the underground scenery is uncanny.
That… was true. The two places were strangely similar.
– The prince’s coming-of-age ceremony is a kind of test.
“Whether you can handle the fragment of the Evil God sealed at Soladin’s core or not.”
– Exactly. That’s the contract made between Soladin and Lord Erginius since Soladin was created.
That person agreed to bear a burden in exchange for maintaining the peace of the kingdom. It’s not just a matter of whether he can keep the seal or not.
In the worst case, it’s about whether he could fight and win against the darkness that descended the moment the seal of the Evil God broke. That’s the qualification required of Soladin’s king…
Huh?
“That’s a blasphemous remark, but the current king isn’t someone who can do that?”
– Indeed. He failed pitifully in the last test as well.
“Then how…”
“Who are you talking to, little brother?”
At the voice that came from behind him, Arthur turned around to see Rene Soladin’s smile and his emotionless eyes, and he froze slightly.
“Now, for a moment there, a soliloquy.”
“You’re soliloquizing while studying? That’s a new study method.”
Why is my brother here? Shouldn’t he be helping the First Queen by now?
“To not disturb my diligent little brother, I’ll quickly get to the point.”
“Yes, yes.”
“Tell me what you think about Lucy Allen.”
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