Chapter 73

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

---

I ended up playing the role of the adopted daughter too well 073

"If you truly wish it, I will accept punishment from my older sister. You can take both my arms."

Though it was not what she truly felt, Medeya retracted her killing intent.

To Medeya, Viola still seemed small.

Since being adopted into the duchy, there had been no nutritional issues, but it seemed that not eating properly during her childhood had a significant impact.

"Viola, I have four other younger siblings."

Suddenly?

Why bring up a known fact suddenly... Viola felt inexplicably uneasy.

Do you mean to say, 'It's fine if one of them loses an arm, since I have many other siblings, older sister?'

"I remember the appearances of those children quite well."

Of course.

You are the unparalleled genius of this generation, older sister.

"I remember what they were like at twelve years old."

To Viola's relief, Medeya's eyes softened.

"You are much smaller and more delicate than they were at twelve. I hope you don't take it the wrong way. It doesn't mean you are lacking as a warrior."

"......"

"Seeing you like this makes me strangely want to cherish you."

Viola interpreted this emotion in a modern way.

If expressed in modern terms, this emotion is 'heartwarming.'

'Is it a heartwarming affection?'

Anyway, it was good for Viola.

The more she received Medeya's affection, the closer she would get to a rosy future.

"So, I can't punish you."

"Thank you for saying so."

"Don't just say 'thank you.'"

"Huh?"

"Can't you say 'thank you'?"

"I understand that the meaning is the same... but..."

"Instead of 'but,' how about 'but, I can say it'?"

Medeya smiled.

"We are certainly competitors in the succession, but we are still family, right? I don't want you to treat me like a superior."

*

Viola forgave Xenon, and only then did he stand up.

Although he stood up, Xenon couldn't hide his remorse.

"I'm sorry."

I feel like I'm going to get a callus in my ear from hearing 'I'm sorry' so much.

Moreover, I was worried about Medeya, who had just been persuaded to change her mind.

Don't keep provoking Sister Medeya...

Medeya thinks that the butler attacking Bellator is a serious crime that could lead to execution.

She barely forgave me because of this...

There was no point in repeatedly saying 'I'm sorry' in front of Medeya.

It would only remind her of the incident.

"If you say 'I'm sorry' one more time, I'll cut out your tongue."

"I understand."

I had to stop Xenon from saying 'I'm sorry' somehow.

I stood in front of Xenon.

Even now, Xenon was much taller than Viola, just like five years ago.

Viola stretched her hand high and tapped Xenon's shoulder.

"I told you it was a test."

"......"

"You took the test I gave you and passed it, so why are you always apologizing?"

"My thoughts were short-sighted."

I almost said 'I'm sorry.'

Viola turned her body.

She naturally turned to gauge Medeya's reaction.

Fortunately, Medeya didn't seem to have any particular thoughts.

'She's the type who doesn't hold grudges against someone she's already forgiven.'

Medeya appeared to be in a peaceful state, to the point where Viola wondered if she had been worrying for nothing.

Viola asked.

"But why are you here, Sister?"

"A group of ogres appeared nearby."

"Ogres?"

Ogres are classified as high-level monsters among the beasts, powerful creatures.

They have a human-like form, but their size ranges from 3 meters to 5 meters, making them monstrous.

With strength and agility that can tear an elephant apart with bare hands and move faster than a cheetah, they are terrifying predators.

"Did you come with Bellator's knights?"

"No?"

Medeya smiled.

"There's no need for all the elite knights to come just to hunt a mere group of ogres."

Medeya slaughtered thirty-six ogres alone.

The thirty-six ogres fled like dogs in front of a tiger.

"I met Uncle Hicks while looking for the one I missed."

"Sir Hicks?"

"He was hunting the ogre I missed."

"Sir Hicks?"

"No."

Medeya narrowed her eyes.

Medeya recalled an interesting memory.

"Four. What was his name?"

"Tundra."

"Tundra was hunting it."

Viola swallowed hard.

Ogres are creatures that ordinary people can never hunt.

With strength surpassing an elephant and agility surpassing a cheetah, they are powerful beasts.

"He was in bad shape but eventually succeeded in the hunt."

That was an achievement comparable to Medeya's early teens.

Medeya inherited Bellator's blood and was trained with all kinds of elixirs and medicines from a very young age, and she had learned systematic swordsmanship.

She had mastered the Bellator sword style, which is second to none on the continent.

Tundra, on the other hand, started learning the sword at twelve and had only been practicing for five years.

'Indeed, the protagonist.'

It was a growth rate worthy of the protagonist.

'They say the best buff is the protagonist buff.'

It seemed to be true.

Though she was inwardly surprised, she pretended to be calm.

To match Medeya's gaze and eye level.

"That's not a bad growth."

"Isn't it?"

At that point, Viola was out of energy.

Medeya really seemed to think it was just 'not bad growth.'

As a genius among geniuses, Medeya didn't find Tundra's growth particularly astonishing.

'Sister is truly the one who fits the role of the head of the family.'

A genius among geniuses.

Shouldn't such a person lead Bellator?

Just as Viola thought this, Medeya was thinking the opposite.

'Not bad growth?'

Contrary to Viola's thoughts, Medeya was genuinely impressed by Tundra's growth rate.

Geniuses recognize other geniuses.

Being a genius isn't just about innate talent.

Medeya had put in efforts that ordinary people could hardly imagine, based on her innate talent.

She knew better than anyone that Tundra's growth couldn't be achieved by talent alone.

'Viola has chosen the path of the White Bellator and is growing accordingly.'

One can't be both the White Bellator and the Black Bellator.

Conversely, one can't be the Black Bellator and the White Bellator.

As a genius, Medeya understood this even better.

A person has only one body.

To reach the peak in one field, one must inevitably give up something in another.

'Perhaps Tundra has given up half of his growth as the Black Bellator. For Viola to see it as not bad growth...'

What is this child's level of expectation?

'His potential is far superior to mine.'

The more I look, the smarter and wiser he seems.

His potential as the Black Bellator is also immense.

'Maybe this child is... the one most suited to Bellator.'

The most fitting successor to carry on the name of Bellator.

'He also seems to have ambition and desire.'

Ambition and desire are essential for a successor.

What Medeya lacked, Viola had.

Medeya misunderstood this.

By now, Viola and her party had left the ruins and were walking through the Redwood Forest.

They planned to rest at the Baron's Manor and then return to Winter Castle.

Suddenly, Jermy spoke.

"I have always admired Lady Medeya since I was young."

He pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket.

After scanning the surroundings with a somewhat awkward expression, he asked Xenon.

"Do you happen to have a pen?"

"Of course."

Xenon took out a pen from his subspace and handed it to Jermy.

"Thank you."

Jermy's face turned bright red.

He looked very different from when he was with Viola.

"Could you give me a signature?"

"I've never given a signature to anyone before."

Viola felt a bit puzzled.

'Sister doesn't seem to like Jermy much.'

Of course, she was outwardly gentle and polite.

This was just a gut feeling.

'Why?'

There was no particular reason.

Jermy was a character loved by everyone.

'Upon closer inspection, she's not even giving him a glance.'

Jermy was actually good-looking enough to catch a few glances, regardless of age or gender.

He was at least cute enough to be adored.

'From Sister's perspective, he must seem like an incredibly cute idol.'

The always-perfect Jermy.

From Medeya's perspective, he must seem like a cute and adorable boy.

So why is there such a cold atmosphere when this boy shyly offers her a paper and pen, saying he admires her?

"If you want, I can give you a signature, though I don't see what the point is."

Medeya drew her greatsword.

She swung it swiftly.

Viola was momentarily terrified.

'Oh!'

Even Jermy squeezed his eyes shut.

A gust of wind blew.

It was the sword wind (劍風) raised by Medeya.

It seemed like a whirlwind had occurred.

Jermy let out an exclamation.

"Ah...!"

Instead of a signature written with a pen, a signature carved with a sword appeared.

Medeya's autograph (?) was engraved on that thin piece of paper.

[Medeya Bellator.]

The name was written in cursive.

But a larger name caught her eye.

[Viola's older sister.]

Viola was flabbergasted.

Usually, signatures are written large, and the name is signed smaller.

This is true in Korea and in the world of 'The Shadow of Bellator.'

'Especially... the word 'Viola's' is the largest.'

It was as if she was deliberately emphasizing it.

She even said it out loud, a fact everyone already knew.

"As you know, I am Viola's older sister."

"Of course, I know that."

No matter what, Jermy seemed delighted.

Receiving a signature from someone he admired was overwhelming and touching.

"Viola is a kind and innocent child."

Jermy was momentarily speechless.

While he did find a bit of cuteness in Viola, he found it hard to agree that she was kind and innocent.

"So, I hope you will behave properly from now on."

It was a formal piece of advice from a senior warrior to a junior.

However, Viola didn't feel it was just formal.

Medeya is not the type to give casual advice to others.

'She's the type who, when giving advice, pours in about 300 spoons of seriousness and gives it with genuine sincerity.'

That means Medeya is being completely sincere right now.

'Did Jermy make some mistake?'

Was asking for a signature annoying?

Does she dislike being admired?

Why?

Was it like this in the original work?

"Behave properly, or you might hurt that pretty face."

Jermy seemed indifferent.

He seemed to have gone half-crazy from meeting the person he admired.

"Of course. I will think twice and thrice before taking any action."

"I hope you don't forget that I am Viola's older sister."

After resting at the Baron's Manor, Viola returned to Winter Castle with Medeya.

As soon as they arrived and unpacked, Xenon reported.

"The Duke is calling for you."

"Father?"

"Yes. He wants to have dinner with you."

Heron is a character who extremely avoids private meetings with the successor.

But now he wants to have a private dinner?

'Why again?'

It made her nervous.

If they keep meeting, flaws will inevitably be revealed. Those small flaws could make life exhausting.

While she was the favorite character in the novel, in reality, she was the number one person she wanted to avoid.

Still, she gave a proper response.

"I understand."

That evening,

Viola found her way to the Duke's private dining room, where Heron was having dinner separately.

'Huh?'

There was another person there besides Heron.