Chapter 13

EP.13 Friend-2

Friend

A word commonly used to mean someone who has been close and known for a long time, with other terms including 'comrade', 'companion', and 'close friend'.

But what's certain is...

<Why is he like that? Did he eat something wrong today? Why is he calling me a friend...>

Ariasfil doesn't easily use the word 'friend', even with her past self from a few years ago.

[......]

Silence, a moment of silence continued. Hyunja only glared repeatedly without saying a word.

<Hyunja? Why are you looking at me like that?>

[.........]

Something beyond human disgust, a look of contempt and rejection, had seeped into Hyunja's eyes.

[Do it yourself.]

A firm tone.

<What?>

She was momentarily taken aback by the tone.

[Do it yourself. If you don't want to die.]

A command used for beasts, such a tone made Leo naturally turn his eyes to the front.

"Why are you using honorifics... Why...?"

The girl before him didn't seem like the cold knight he knew.

The gap between the Ariasfil he knew and this one was so great that it felt disharmonious.

"Of course... I'm a friend..."

"No! No! Just a moment!"

"Again with the honorifics! Of course I don't like...!"

She took a deep breath. She had to speak more slowly than a machine gun, faster than the wind.

"I don't like...!"

"Just calm down! Ariasfil!"

The most urgent problem was the honorifics. Though he didn't know why they were a problem, he needed to address them first.

"...Okay."

Suddenly stopping the honorifics, she calmed down.

What is this? Has the Leinhart honorific system changed so much while I was in the interrogation room?

"...Let's calm down and talk slowly. Got it?"

"...Got it."

Since she seemed to understand, now he just needed to explain things in order.

"The reason I use honorifics with you is because of my rank as a seed."

"...If you're a seed, shouldn't you use informal language?"

"Of course not! Look at the seeds you've met so far. Has anyone used informal language or acted without respect?"

There would be no answer, of course.

If there was such a crazy seed, they would be immediately expelled from their rank or from life.

This much should convince Ariasfil...

"So?"

"...Huh?"

"So what does that have to do with anything?"

"What does it have to do with anything...? Of course, as a seed, I can't use informal language..."

She shook her head firmly and declared.

"You're different."

"...Huh? What, what?"

Her sudden declaration made the honorifics slip out. If he hadn't quickly corrected himself, she would have definitely gotten angry again.

"You're different."

"What's so different...?"

"You're different from those guys. You're stronger. Cooler. More special."

Her eyes were filled with blind confidence.

If he had heard this in his past life, he might have been moved, but from a young girl, it was hard to describe.

"So you can use informal language with me. At least, don't use honorifics with me."

In the end, the conversation came full circle. He really didn't understand why she was doing this. Shouldn't she like it more if he used honorifics?

<Hyunja...?>

Hyunja sighed and started rummaging through her pocket. Even though her words were annoying, she still helped...

ㅗ

What came out of her pocket was a hand sign representing a mountain.

Why isn't such a person sent to hell?

Even if I were a devil, I would risk my life to prevent such an old man from entering hell.

People who live a moderately bad life, what have they done wrong?

'I have to solve this on my own.'

He organized his thoughts. He clearly distinguished what he shouldn't do and what Ariasfil wanted.

With his thoughts organized, Leo spoke again.

"...Got it. I'll respect your opinion."

First, he took a step back,

"Then...!"

"But I also want my position to be respected."

He expressed his stance.

"...Your position...?"

"I find informal language comfortable. It's familiar with peers. But if I do that, I can't be a seed."

"That's fine. I'll find a way..."

"I don't like that."

This wasn't a rehearsed line, it was genuine.

"If you say one word... Sure, I might get a better rank than a seed. But what's the point? Who would recognize me being by your side?"

That was meaningless. It was the same context as when he first won the duel with Ariasfil after the regression.

"...Th...That's..."

"...So, just wait a little. Until I'm in a position where I can use informal language with you."

"...Huh?"

But it should be fine to leave some room for flexibility.

"I'm still a seed. But I don't plan to stay that way."

That's been my goal all my life.

"I'll keep climbing. Until I can face you as an equal."

With no doubt in his sincerity,

"So, please. Wait for me."

He could say it without hesitation.

"...Th...That's...!"

His sincerity seemed to have hit home. Ariasfil showed signs of understanding.

"...But...! So...! So, Leo...!"

...Does she understand? Why can't she speak? Why is her face so red?

"Ugh...! S...! Sorry!! I have to go!"

"A... Yes, be careful. Lady Ariasfil."

Since the negotiation was successful, it shouldn't matter. Leo politely greeted Ariasfil, who was running away.

"Phew... At least it ended well."

[...Leonardo.]

The old man, who had been watching without helping, was pressing his temples with his fingers, as if his head was throbbing.

[...What's wrong with you? Is it your head? Or your lower body? Which one?]

<That's...>

It should be in his pocket, but he put it too deep... Ah, there it is.

ㅗ

Returning what he received is a matter of etiquette between master and disciple.

***

My body feels hot. I've never felt this way before.

【So, just wait a little. Until I'm in a position where I can use informal language with you.】

My heart isn't just racing; it's pounding like a pump forcing blood into my body.

【I'm still a seed. But I don't plan to stay that way.】

Each passionate word, each hot word, resonates in my ears, on my face,

【So, please.】

And shakes my heart.

【Wait for me.】

What does my face look like right now?

There's no mirror, but I'm sure of one thing.

‘...This expression, this expression...! I don't want... anyone... to see it...!’

I don't want anyone, especially Leonardo, to see this expression.

It's as hot as if I've been set on fire, as trembling as if I've been struck by lightning.

If I show this face, my heartbeat will speed up, and my heart will burst.

Clutching her chest, she started running down the mansion's corridor.

Bang

"Ah?!"

"What...?!"

At that moment, she collided with a man at a corner of the corridor.

"This can't be...!"

The man looked at the girl he had collided with with interest. If he was lucky, this could lead to a fateful meeting.

With an extremely rare and slim chance, of course.

"...A...A..."

Ariasfil bowed her head to avoid showing her face. If she accidentally showed her face, it would become a lifelong laughingstock.

"Arias? Why are you covering your face~? Is your face so hurt that you don't want to show it to your big brother~?"

That chilling tone, and the insane idea of referring to herself in the third person as 'big brother', there was only one person in the world who could express such madness.

That person was...

"...Big brother."

Her big brother, Rios Leinhart.

"Oh~ That face, like a girl in love..."

Her heated heart turned cold. Her excited chest sank into deep annoyance.

Those despicable squinted eyes, the slyly raised corners of his mouth, and the toad-like tone made her face stiffen.

"...Why did your face change so suddenly?"

"...Who else could it be."

"Well, you're too young to experience love. Your good big brother understands."

She wanted to say 'shut up', but to maintain at least a minimum of manners, she kept her mouth shut.

"...Why are you here?"

"Coming to my own house, do I need a reason~?"

Shut up... No, I have to endure.

"Usually, you only come the week after next. Why are you here early?"

Perhaps because of her blunt question, Rios' face darkened. Shadows fell on his face, and deep shadows crept into the corners of his eyes.

"Actually... I heard Alfred was down, and I was worried... If Alfred dies... I..."

"Don't lie. You already knew he was fine from the telegram. And you got a reply."

The act didn't work at all.

Rios stopped acting and laughed again.

"Caught~"

At that moment, Ariasfil felt a surge of murderous intent deep in her heart.

"What I really want to know is..."

Rios pulled out a newspaper he had tucked in his pocket.

【13-Year-Old Boy Becomes Joke Murderer.】

The newspaper featured a photo of the humiliation that would forever be etched in Leo's history.

"This is the joke murderer mentioned here~! I ran to see it quickly."

"...Leonardo?!"

Her cold face turned red again.

"...What?"

There was no way Rios, the eldest son of the Leinhart family, wouldn't notice her reaction.

"...Hmm..."

Rios held up the newspaper.

"What?! What?!"

Arias also tilted her head to look at the newspaper.

Then he slowly turned the arm holding the newspaper.

"What...?! A...?!"

Her gaze followed the newspaper.

And he put it down.

Her heart, along with the newspaper, settled.

"I understand."

"...What do you understand suddenly?"

"Such a feeling... of love, isn't bad. It might even be good..."

Arias' expression soured again.

"Shut up."

"...Reacting to love like that, big brother is sad."

"If you're going to talk nonsense..."

"Hey, there's Leonardo!"

"Where!?"

Her head tilted. But it was strange. Leonardo should be training in the practice yard, which is in the opposite direction.

"Big brother, where is Leonardo...?"

When she turned around, her big brother was already gone.

No, he had already 'left'.

At that moment, she thought again.

Her big brother is a bastard who deserves to be killed.

***

[Joke murderer, since you're so good at jokes, why don't you try one?]

'...'

Ignore it. If you don't think about it, nothing happens.

[Show me the only killing technique allowed by the state. What?]

"..."

Endure it. If you endure, that old man will eventually get tired.

[Hehe... My name is a joke...]

Kill him. No matter what.

"Joke murderer! Joke murderer, right...!"

"Are you really trying to get yourself killed?!"

Leo swung his sword at Hyunja. But since she was a ghost, the sword only cut through the air.

"Whoa!!"

"...What?!"

Beyond the ghost, there was a man. His white hair and piercing eyes indicated he was of the Leinhart family.

"...That's too much. If you're going to kill, at least follow the setting and do it with a joke."

That insane content and the crooked voice that felt like tweezers digging into his ears, there was only one person Leo knew who could do that.

"...Lord Rios Leinhart?"

"Right. If the joke murderer knows me, my life wasn't wasted."

Hearing 'joke murderer' made him suddenly want to 'just kill him now and waste his life'. But he decided to endure for now.

"...I apologize. I have been very disrespectful to Lord Rios."

"It's okay~ You almost killed me, but it's not a capital offense."

...Ha...

A soft sigh escaped his lips.

[Is everyone in this era crazy? Or am I too outdated?]

Two faces passed through his mind. The unique point was that both were of the Leinhart family.

<...It's too difficult, let's all go crazy together.>

[Right. Being crazy is better than being obsolete.]

Leo sheathed his sword and looked at Rios.

"I'm really sorry, Lord Rios."

"...Hmm, you're saying you're sorry."

Ah, that smile, like he had just swallowed a piece of trash.

It's the expression Rios always makes when he has a bizarre idea.

"...So, tell me the joke you used when Alfred fainted~"

"Yes, I'll tell you."

"Really~?!"

Fortunately, it was an easy request.

[Hey, are you okay? Is that old man really planning to kill you?]

<I'm fine.>

Without hesitation, Leo whispered the secret of the joke technique into Rios' ear.

"Really...? Can someone really faint from such a joke?"

Hearing the source of the joke, Rios looked at Leo with squinted, doubtful eyes.

"...I didn't believe it either, but that's what happened."

There was not a trace of lies in Leo's eyes. Rios was convinced by those clear eyes.

"...Is that so."

"Lord Rios."

Like a line from a proverb, the subject of the story, Alfred, walked in.

"Oh, you're here at the right time!! Alfred!!"

"Good timing. I'm glad. Lord."

Rios cleared his throat and spoke.

"There are mosquitoes everywhere~?"

"..."

Stiff face.

"...What? Alfred?"

He stiffened his face.

"...Why? Why that expression...?"

The butler had an unprecedentedly serious face.

"...I'm sorry. I... was wrong."

"Good to hear you've repented. Lord."

"...Why are you doing this...?"

"Silence is the best way to teach someone to recognize their shame. Lord."

The joke murderer and Hyunja, who were watching the scene, exchanged words.

[...Why isn't he laughing? That old man?]

<It's not funny.>

[I know. But last time, he laughed until he died. It sounds the same to anyone.]

<It only works if I do it. Alfred.>

When the joke first succeeded, the family members, surprised by the reaction, each tried their own jokes.

<And they all failed.>

[But does he need to be so serious? He doesn't seem like such a cold old man.]

<It's because the person telling the joke is that guy.>

Rios Leinhart.

He is of the Leinhart family...

[Does he look like a troublemaker?]

<No.>

Just a fool.

The eldest son and a fool.

A promising fool and a fool he will remain.

"But a moment..."

But the fact that the eldest son (fool) is here means...

"The head of the family... is here."

The head of the family, her father, Gladio Leinhart, has also returned.

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