Chapter 16

EP.16 Friend-5

Alphonse Armstrong

Although he is just an apprentice knight now, in his previous life, he was a capable figure who had been the commander of a knight order.

His abilities were not just about combat power; he was also highly regarded for his overall popularity and character, earning him the praise of being a model knight.

Even in his usual demeanor, he was someone Xiaoming recognized and respected.

"Let me be blunt. It's best if you quit being a squire."

Now, he was advising Xiaoming to resign.

[He's a good person.]

Xiaoming was equally flustered, unable to find a reason for him to say such things.

"...You're being too blunt... Can you give me some more detailed explanation?"

"Sure. If you don't know the reason, you won't be convinced either."

Alphonse sighed deeply and continued.

"A while ago, I heard you had a conflict with other squires. You remember, right?"

There was no need to remember; it had happened recently. Xiaoming nodded in response to the question.

"They were my peers. They are still squires, but I was recently promoted to an apprentice knight."

[Then, could it be that he's here for revenge? What a good guy...]

"You don't need to misunderstand. I know my peers were wrong, and I'm not here for revenge."

He already had a sense of this from his past life's memories. But that made his suggestion even harder to understand.

"Then why?"

"The problem is that other squires and apprentice knights, besides me, don't think that way."

Alphonse's expression darkened.

"Tonight, after my peers were disciplined, they gathered other squires and apprentice knights to talk about you. I was there too."

Only then did the situation start to make sense.

"...It wasn't a positive conversation, I assume."

"Most of them had grievances against you and felt a sense of injustice."

Xiaoming understood.

Currently, he was seen as a parachuted candidate on the surface, and even internally, he hadn't entered through the proper channels. Considering his outings with the butler and a formal dinner with the head of the household...

It was natural for grievances to arise.

"I'm aware of that. Overcoming it is my responsibility."

"It's not that simple. They won't just ignore you; they'll crush you."

He had a rough idea. They would come to destroy him, more thoroughly than the initiation ceremony.

They would think it was more 'fair' and 'dignified' to do so.

"They'll thoroughly suppress you, using the excuse of maintaining discipline. They can do anything to you, and it won't be strange. So..."

"Tell me what to do."

"Sure? What...?"

"It's fine if you do."

But it didn't matter.

"Do you not understand? It's not the same as before. It could get serious and not just end with minor injuries..."

"I know. The level is different."

Even if he was a squire, as an apprentice 'knight,' they were recognized as warriors.

From combat skills to mana levels, comparing him to a squire was disrespectful.

"But what's the point?"

It didn't matter to him.

"But what's the point..."

"To run away like this, you'll end up running away in other situations too. If you run from people, you'll easily run from the monsters you should fight."

Repetition makes things easier.

His training was like that, and the suggestion to run was no different.

"But this is something you need to handle..."

"You'll only know by trying."

"...What?"

"You'll only know by trying. Winning or losing, that's what duels and battles are about, isn't it?"

It wasn't just bravado.

Alphonse saw only Leo's deep conviction in his eyes.

He scratched his head for a moment, then stood up from his chair.

"...If you're going to say that, I understand. It's your choice, after all."

Alphonse opened the door, then spoke softly.

"...To be honest, I didn't look at you favorably either. You broke the usual rules by coming in."

When he stepped out, he smiled and said,

"But seeing you now, my opinion has changed. I understand why Sir Chris brought you."

"...Thank you."

Leo expressed his gratitude.

"There's no need to thank me. It's just that my opinion changed..."

"That's not what I'm thankful for."

Leo's gratitude wasn't focused on the change in perspective.

"Considering an unpleasant opponent, it's not a pleasant thing to show consideration."

Alphonse didn't need to give such a warning. It wouldn't be strange for apprentice knights to unite and crush Leo.

"Still, you came here to warn me. That's why I'm grateful."

This was the greatest gratitude he could show to his old comrade from his past life.

"...Impressive. Though I'm sorry for my comrades, I hope you win this time."

"I'll do my best."

The door closed, and Alphonse left the room.

[But, Leo.]

<Yes, what is it?>

[It's almost morning. Can you not sleep?]

The morning sunlight made Leo's dry eyes even more uncomfortable.

Leo had only slept for 28 minutes.

Damn it.

***

【So, just wait a little. Until I can speak to you informally.】

Aria tosses and turns.

“...Ugh...”

【I can't describe Aria in one sentence.】

Her breath, which had been weak, became rough.

“...Ugh... Huh...”

She kept pushing the blanket away with her feet. She wanted to kick and tear it apart.

【Aria is my goal.】

At the same time, a boy appeared before her.

Under his thick black hair, his shining red eyes were vivid, even in a dream.

【Aria, you are my...】

His eyes and mouth flashed simultaneously.

“Haaaaa...!!!”

Puff!!

Was it because the dream was too vivid? Or was it because her kick was too strong? The blanket's fabric tore a little when she kicked it.

“...Huh?!”

Startled by the sound, Aria got out of bed.

“...Ugh... I cherished it...”

The blanket she cherished had been torn by the force of her feet and hands, and the cotton was spilling out. Alfred would surely scold her if he saw this.

“...It's...”

Looking at the clock, her eyes widened.

“Eh?!”

The clock had already passed 10:00.

“...I slept too long...!”

She quickly pulled away the torn blanket and got out of bed. Because she had been tossing and turning, she had spent more time in bed.

Aria, who usually woke up at the right time without being woken by a servant, was flustered by this late wake-up.

Before anyone else knew, she quickly combed her messy hair and wiped her face.

In a short time, despite the rush, she was able to leave the room in a neat outfit.

“...But why is it so quiet...?”

The mansion was unusually quiet. There were people, but the number of servants was noticeably fewer.

“...Ah, Lina!”

At that moment, Lina, a servant carrying laundry, was walking over. She looked at Aria with surprise.

“Miss? You didn't go to watch?”

“...Watch? What watch?”

“Isn't there a duel in the training ground now? I thought you would be the first to go.”

She had been thrashing around in bed, embarrassed, while the duel was happening in the training ground. She had no idea about it.

“...Is that so? That's why everyone...”

“Miss, you should go too. Other servants said it would be interesting.”

“No, it's fine. I might as well catch up on my lack of sleep...”

“Is that so? But there's a duel between the new squire and other apprentice knights...”

At that moment, Aria disappeared from Lina's sight.

The reason was hidden in the words 'new squire.'

***

The training ground was packed with people.

Or rather, it was more appropriate to say they were surrounding it.

Like an ancient Roman Colosseum, the mansion's people were gathered to watch the duel.

“...Why is it...”

“Crowded?”

Aria, who had rushed to the training ground, found someone already there.

The training ground, transformed into an arena.

The person who appeared behind her, as if waiting.

It was too coincidental to be 'accidental' and too strange to be 'intentional.'

“...Brother?”

There was only one person in the family who could do this.

“Did you sleep in today? I thought you'd be the first to come.”

Lios smiled with half-closed eyes. His eyes, visible through the eyelids, reflected Aria's face.

“What is this... situation?”

“It's simple. We're watching a fight.”

It wasn't that simple at all.

“...Is this what you do!?”

“Don't misunderstand. It started with the apprentice knights and Leonardo.”

The moment Leonardo's name was mentioned, Aria's expression changed. For some reason, Lios' smile deepened.

“I just, as the eldest son of the family, encouraged them to the best solution.”

Aria looked at the training ground... no, the duel arena.

“...That?”

“Just trying to solve the problem by making it bigger.”

“You're encouraging it!!”

“Words are different, you know. Little sister.”

There was no time to listen to such sophistry. It seemed like a form of mockery, as Lios offered a large cup.

“Don't be like that, have one too.”

“What is this?”

White and yellow lumps were piled up in the cup like a small mountain. It was impossible to guess what they were made of at first glance.

“It's something I learned when we went on an expedition. It's called popcorn. I learned the recipe to eat it at times like this.”

“...I'll pass. I'm not in the mood.”

Not just the popcorn, but Lios as well.

“I want to try it.”

A woman named Black Shadow, fitting her name, silently appeared beside them.

“Ah, Lady Black Shadow. Perfect timing! Have it before it gets cold.”

“Knights, like explorers, shouldn't fear adventure. The same goes for food. Aria.”

She proudly stated her principle, learned from novels, and put popcorn in her mouth. Then she spoke again.

“Hmm... Can I keep eating?”

“Of course. I knew you would...”

He took out another cup.

“I prepared more.”

“Thanks.”

Holding the cup, Chris and Lios were ready to enjoy the popcorn and the duel.

“It seems it's about to start.”

While Lios and Chris could easily watch, Aria, being short, couldn't see the scene easily.

“...Then...”

Aria left the two and started pushing through the crowd. She could have done it by force, but the servants wouldn't ignore the young lady.

The crowd parted like the sea, opening a path to the duel arena where Leonardo was.

Even without getting closer, she could see Leonardo, but driven by curiosity, she moved closer.

Leonardo, without even glancing at her, focused on his opponent in front. His eyes were the same as the demon's eyes she had seen before.

“Oh, it's the young lady you follow so closely. Must feel good to see it in person, right? Isn't it?”

The tone was clearly provocative.

The voice, lowering the knight's dignity, echoed loudly.

He provocatively grabbed his sword. The blade, standing sharp, could cut Leonardo at any moment.

“...Is that all you have to say?”

“What?”

“Let me give you a tip.”

Leonardo disappeared.

“A sword isn't held like that.”

The expression "already moved" was more appropriate.

Not just his body, but the sword as well.

“...?!”

That was all he could say. In an instant, everything was over.

The apprentice knight's sword was broken, and Leonardo ran behind him. From behind, he struck the apprentice knight's neck with the hilt.

Thud

The apprentice knight fell.

There was no cheer for victory.

Despite the comparison to a Colosseum, the training ground was as solemn as mourners at a cemetery.

The silence was broken by the victor.

“Next.”

The victor, looking for the next opponent, broke the silence.