Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Trial of True Courage
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Humans are all brave when they're not in danger.
So, what happens when they face an unstoppable threat?
Surprisingly, nine out of ten turn into cowards.
And later on, they'll rationalize it for themselves or dress it up in a way that sounds plausible.
The Pador Family, aware of this trait, sought to test the courage of the participating children.
The Pador Family executives observing the children's actions from the watchtower.
Among them, the youngest, Luke, asked the others.
"What do you think? Will many of them pass?"
Fernando snorted in response.
"Not a chance. They said this year's participants are top-notch, so we ramped up the difficulty to match. A few standouts mean the rest of the kids are in for it."
Spear prodigy Andrew of the Tral Clan, Inschtain the merchant heir, and Ralph of the Pador Family.
This year, Trial Valley had drawn an unusual crowd of talents. The more, the better for the Pador Family. Why not?
The more people who gathered, the more the local economy boomed, and the Pador name soared higher.
How could they not be grateful?
That said, they'd deliberately cranked the difficulty a notch too high to ensure it wasn't a free pass for mediocrity.
The problem was... one person who shouldn't be among the rabble had slipped in.
Fernando clicked his tongue at a particularly frail-looking boy among the participants.
He was Deyan.
The Pador Family invalid. And a direct descendant of the Pador line, no less.
Fernando muttered under his breath.
"Tch, why'd that kid Deyan even join?"
Fernando took issue with Deyan freezing up in terror, unable to take a single step.
That boy is an embarrassment to the Pador name.
In a trial like this, he'd only bring shame.
Janitz shot Fernando a fierce glare, his expression far harsher than the one he'd shown Deyan.
"Watch your words, Fernando. You call the young master just 'that kid'?"
"That's what comes from coddling him too much. He's weak because of it. Sir Janitz, can the heir to the Pador honor really be like that?"
"That's your opinion. The young master will handle it just fine. I believe in him."
"Sure you do."
Janitz found Fernando's sarcasm grating, but he could somewhat understand the attitude.
Pador knights prized their honor above all and revered martial prowess.
So how could they look kindly on a direct heir who couldn't even hold a sword?
They just didn't show it outright.
There were plenty of knights in the family who reacted like Fernando.
But Janitz truly believed in Deyan.
He could still picture the boy from Solemio, speaking boldly in front of the others.
'What a fine answer that was...'
It took tremendous courage for someone choosing a different path to speak up.
In that sense, Deyan was already a boy of heroic spirit.
That's why he believed. Deyan would forge his own way.
And he had no doubt the boy would weather this flood rushing toward them like a tidal wave.
Splat!
"......"
Deyan slipped.
Wait... what?
Maybe a little anxiety was warranted?
Janitz forced a neutral expression and said to Fernando.
"...Just watch. Young Master Deyan will do well."
Fernando smirked.
"Wanna bet?"
"Bet?"
"I'll put my money on that kid becoming the winner."
A silver-haired boy yawning lazily even as a massive wall of water bore down.
He was the scion of the Tral Clan, one of the four great houses famed for spear mastery.
"Andrew... of the Tral Clan, right? Makes sense."
It was easy to see why. The Tral Clan was unique.
Before coming of age, they tossed their children across the continent.
Survive on your own.
That was the gist of it.
They didn't even let them use the family name. Rely on the Tral reputation for survival, and you'd be struck from the rolls on the spot.
All a Tral child had was a single spear and the family's spear techniques.
The kids thrashed about for survival, gaining experience in the process.
And remarkably, this method had elevated the Tral Clan to its current status.
The weak were culled ruthlessly; only survivors returned.
Thus, those who reached adulthood and inherited the name were extraordinarily strong.
And... the boy down there, Andrew, was talented enough that people already whispered of him as the next Tral Clan head.
A solid pick.
As the two began their wager, Luke jumped in excitedly.
"Mind if I join?"
Janitz nodded.
"Who're you backing?"
"The merchant's son, obviously."
Janitz and Fernando glanced at Inschtain.
No, didn't he just look slippery enough to make your eyes twitch?
Both shook their heads.
"Eh... not really. Pass."
"I agree."
As knights, they couldn't help but disdain merchants who thought money solved everything.
What did they know of a knight's honor? Hmph.
But Luke saw it differently.
"Sorry to disappoint you captains, but... money doesn't lie. He's got talent, and look at the investment poured into him. This much."
Luke grinned mischievously and raised a finger.
Fernando perked up with interest.
"A mansion?"
"Come on, don't be stingy. I'd have passed if it was that. A whole castle. A castle."
"What...?"
No matter how detached from wealth the two were, the boy suddenly looked different.
His accessories and clothes lacked even a hint of gaudy color or gems.
Especially... the necklace around his neck was a 'Mond' gem, priceless even for the rich.
Truly awe-inspiring.
With that kind of backing, he'd naturally outshine the others somehow.
"But... doesn't anyone cheer for Ralph?"
At Luke's words, the other two captains flinched and glanced toward Ian Pador on the distant watchtower platform, clearing their throats.
"...He's got support."
"Of course he does."
Ralph... was Ralph.
Is this what it feels like if water poured from the sky...?
Ralph gaped in stunned disbelief.
Should've just bailed saying it hurt...
Stupid to enter. And damn this body—why'd it heal so fast just to screw me?
That masked bastard—if you're gonna hit, hit hard enough for an excuse.
Ralph sneaked a glance at the gray bell.
Should I ring it?
It was a sweet temptation. But his father Ian Pador's gaze from the watchtower weighed heavy.
People didn't know.
How ruthless his father truly was...
'Ring that gray bell here, and my life's over...'
Father never gave second chances. To earn his approval, Ralph had to win Trial Valley.
But how?
Staring at the approaching water made his mind shatter like glass!
That was when it happened.
"Everyone, protect me."
"...?"
A clear voice cut through the roar of the onrushing flood.
The kids, including Ralph, turned to see who was barking madness...
Inschtain stood with arms spread wide, as if he were a god.
What's wrong with that idiot...?
Inschtain recited with haughty flair.
"I'll give you all the money you want. Protect me, you lowly scum."
At that, Andrew subtly positioned himself beside him like a bodyguard knight.
"Hmm... guess I have to, then. Money's king... and I owe him anyway."
But unlike Andrew, the other kids hurled thick curses at Inschtain.
"Screw off. Why should we protect you?"
"You punk! By blood, I'm above you, you trash!"
"Thinks money buys everything."
Inschtain tsked at the backlash.
"Our family coffers outnumber those waves... Tch, pathetic lot. Do what you want if you don't want my grace."
He gave up on them and sniffed the scent of gold instead.
What a weirdo. Total freak.
After Inschtain's nonsense, the kids stood frozen, unsure what to do.
Then someone piped up.
"Everyone gather! Gather and block it!"
Block it?
How? With hands? Swords? Group prayer?
The kids sighed at the unrealistic suggestion.
"How're we supposed to block that by huddling?"
"Even Roman the Shield Knight of the City Alliance couldn't."
"Roman? You'd need Ed at least."
Roman and Ed—the continent's hottest geniuses lately. Even they seemed powerless against this disaster.
In the end.
"What an idiot."
The jeer dismissed it again.
Meanwhile, the flood...
Kwarrr rumble rumble!
...devoured everything in its path, drawing ever closer.
All fell silent before nature's awe.
In that moment, the only calm boy, Deyan, subtly eyed the red-robed figure. But the hood hid their face, thoughts unreadable.
Ralph, on the other hand... was way too obvious.
He clawed at his hair, mumbling to himself in panic.
"Aaaargh...! Gotta survive, gotta live... or Father will..."
Some kids, failing to find answers, bolted for the gray bell.
"This is insane!"
"Last tournament wasn't this bad!"
Even those who'd seemed bold gave up one by one. The knights lowered ladders from the tower.
To them, it looked like ladders to heaven.
Amid it all, Ralph wrestled inwardly but forced himself to ignore the gray bell.
'Sigh... what choice do you have?'
Deyan pitied Ralph perfectly. Born as Ian Pador's son—what a rotten draw.
"Stand straight, Ralph."
"What...?"
Ralph couldn't process Deyan's eerily calm demeanor amid the chaos.
"What'd you say?"
"You won't run, right?"
"Why bring that up now...?"
No. If that weakling could stand tall, no need for him to chicken out.
Ralph puffed his chest in bravado.
"O-of course!"
His voice shouldn't have cracked.
Something was off about Ralph.
'He passed last time too, but barely, and embarrassingly so.'
Deyan's memory confirmed it. No pity to help, but since he'd decided to school the punk, might as well teach him something useful now and then.
"Face it head-on. With dignity."
Deyan remained utterly relaxed even as the deluge loomed.
"No matter the threat, a Pador must confront it boldly—that was your word. Keep it, Ralph."
"Y-you... you lunatic!"
Ralph felt like he was losing his mind.
This psycho spouting nonsense as death rushed in?
Deyan was right.
Run when you must!
But in that instant, Deyan's unflinching poise stirred Ralph's heart. If that loser could...
What was there to fear?
The Pador knights were watching.
No way they'd let casualties happen here.
Ralph clenched his fist tight.
"Who asked you to babysit?! Worry about yourself!"
Ralph strode in front of Deyan, turning his back to shield him as he braced for the wave.
"Hey! Stay put, you'll get hurt."
Deyan whistled at Ralph's unexpected side.
"Suit yourself."
"W-what? A-are you nuts?"
"It's coming. Here it comes."
Kwarrr crunch!
The wave splintered trees as it surged. Even the watchtower didn't look safe from that.
Why was Deyan so damn chill?!
Ralph yelled at the infuriatingly relaxed boy.
"This isn't your funeral?!"
"Who knows? Maybe a barrier pops up ahead."
"You idiot! You lost it? Lost your mind?!"
Ralph, heart changed in the interim, grabbed Deyan's collar and shook him.
Deyan ignored it, eyes fixed on the flood.
"We're all gonna die!"
"Aaaargh!"
"Save us!"
As the massive tsunami finally crashed down and Ralph buried his face in shame, squeezing his eyes shut...
"Huh...?"
Why wasn't time moving...?
Ralph blinked. Deyan gripped his head and twisted it.
"Look at that."
What Ralph saw was...
"A... barrier?"
A colossal wall blocking the flood headed their way.
B-barrier...?
"Told you. A barrier might hold it back."
Deyan stepped past the limbed-out Ralph to eye the wall.
This flood wasn't meant to be blocked or dodged.
It was solely to test for courage.
Ian Pador had dropped the hint.
- Remember this. Only the courageous advance.
In other words, only those who held to their convictions amid the insurmountable could stand here.
Told you.
Stay put, and a barrier appears.
Your faith was lacking. Lacking.