Chapter 4
Chapter 4
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Lion's Feast
-----------------------------------------------------------------
When I woke up, a strange window was floating in front of me.
What the hell is a Heaven-Defying Son? Some weeb crap.
Defying predetermined history?
What did I even do yesterday before passing out?
All I did was make an ocarina for Ariel.
Hmm.
Hmmmmm.
Well, good is good, I guess.
Let's check out the list.
Five Senses Enhancement
Magic Imbuement
Distance Gauge ...
A bunch of options were lined up in a row.
Curiosity got the better of me, so I tapped on Five Senses Enhancement.
The unlock condition is pretty bizarre.
Alter predetermined history?
Come to think of it, that's what the earlier message said too.
'What did I even do?'
I think it means I've deviated from the original story's flow.
The problem is, I've never played [Shardia Academy].
So I have no idea what's changed.
"How do you alter predetermined history?"
I asked just in case.
It might actually answer.
Oh.
It actually responded.
'Hmm.'
Raising fame, huh.
I'm already the son of the Leonhart Duke. Not sure there's much more room to climb.
Eh, whatever.
I'll just ignore it and live my life as usual.
Something will change eventually.
I've already diverged from the original Kline a long time ago anyway.
That much I get, more or less.
The other perks had similar conditions.
I don't know what this Path of the Heaven-Defying Son is all about, but if I live diligently, the path will open on its own.
I turned eleven.
In the meantime, I've completely mastered swinging a sword around.
I've gotten pretty familiar with swordsmanship without mana too.
Soon, I'll start handling mana.
For now, it's that awkward empty period beforehand.
That's when the schedule for the 'Lion's Feast' came up.
The Lion's Feast is a swordsmanship tournament held by the Leonhart family.
It gathers knights under Leonhart, territory folk, and even visiting swordsmen from outside.
Countless swordsmen compete to test their mettle.
As a direct blood relative of Duke Leonhart, I naturally had to attend.
It felt like a hassle, but I had to go through with it.
I'm the family head's son, after all. Slacking off would bring shame to the house.
So since I couldn't skip out once the Lion's Feast started,
I headed into town beforehand to play with my little sister.
"Brother. What's that?"
"That's called a snow globe. Snow falls inside the sphere."
"What's that?"
"That's a crow. It goes caw caw."
"That one..."
This was the first time bringing my sister into town.
She'd always been cooped up in the mansion like a prisoner.
Father was so strict that no one could change it.
But I played with Ariel so much, and she followed me so well, that Father slightly opened his heart.
At least enough to allow her out if I escorted her.
Even that felt excessive, but there was nothing to be done.
In this world, a family head's authority is absolute. Especially for someone like Duke Leonhart.
Our father, the empire's legendary swordsman, had achieved countless feats protecting the empire and humanity.
If he deemed Ariel a risk, it was only natural.
Though I didn't agree, at least.
"It's so amazing."
Ariel shook her head as she said it.
Her face didn't look amazed at all, though.
My sister clutched the hem of my sleeve and murmured.
"So this is what the world looks like."
"You sound like a blind man who just opened his eyes."
"Idiot. You think I'm like this 'cause it's all new?"
"Isn't it?"
"No."
If it's not, then just say so without getting snippy.
I shrugged and kept walking.
The townsfolk around us bowed their heads politely as they looked our way.
But they tilted their heads at Ariel by my side.
No one had seen her before. Ariel Leonhart.
She'd just stepped out of the mansion for the first time, after all.
So I wandered the town more to make her face familiar.
My own way of looking out for her.
"Brother. I'm hungry."
"Alright. Let's eat."
It was about lunchtime.
I took Ariel into a nearby, nicely decorated restaurant.
It catered to the wealthier folk in the territory, so it wouldn't overwhelm her.
"Welcome! Young Master!"
"Table for two. The usual."
"Right away!"
I sat with Ariel and waited for the food.
This time, Ariel didn't look around. She just stared at me intently.
She stared so piercingly I started feeling awkward.
"Why stare like that? Go on, look at other people."
"No."
"Why?"
"I don't wanna look at anyone but Brother."
"Not sure if I should be flattered or creeped out."
Do whatever you want.
I usually eat meat with bones.
The kind you see in manga all the time. Fantasy world confirmed.
It's super greasy and intense in flavor, so it'd probably shock Ariel.
As I killed time with those thoughts, the door opened and someone entered.
"Welcome! How many?"
"Ten. Got space?"
"Ten?"
The owner blinked.
But then he saw their attire and gasped.
"Th-that crest... The Imperial White Wing Knights?!"
"Mm."
"R-right this way! Make room!"
The owner hurriedly ushered them in and barked orders at the staff.
It was warranted.
'No way, the White Wing Knights?'
I whipped my head around to look.
Gleaming silver armor.
Silver wings emblazoned at the center.
No doubt about it. One of the empire's mightiest swordsmanship orders.
The Imperial White Wing Knights.
'Why come all the way out here?'
I'd heard they almost never left the capital.
"Hm?"
As I eyed them curiously, the woman talking to the owner glanced my way.
"!"
Zing.
It felt like an electric current pierced me.
The woman, who seemed to be their leader, stared straight at me.
Just that alone put my entire body on high alert.
'She's strong.'
Insanely strong compared to me right now.
Still, I didn't look away.
Pride, or stubbornness, maybe.
"Ho."
The woman smiled and walked over.
"I wondered who it was. So you're the son of the Lion."
"You know my father?"
"Of course. A swordsmanship lineage rivaling our knights' order. We wouldn't barge into the Lion's den without reason."
"Thanks, I guess. Though that's not praise for me."
"No. I've just realized the proverb 'like father, like son' is nonsense. You're the first kid who's held my aura without flinching."
Phew.
So she was radiating her presence on purpose earlier. That's why I felt choked.
Makes sense. Why would I cower from eye contact?
"How's the family head?"
"Too well, if anything. So, is the Lion's Feast why you're here?"
"Yes. Come to observe."
Hmm. That's weird.
The Leonhart Ducal Family's tournament draws crowds and tourists, sure.
But that's no reason for the knights who belong at the capital to come all this way.
I eyed her suspiciously, and she chuckled, offering her hand.
"Belated introduction. I'm Ruin, Captain of the White Wing Knights."
"Kline Leonhart."
Her grip was firm.
Excuse me. I'm still a kid?
Why squeeze so hard?
After that awkward handshake, Ruin changed the subject.
"Mind if I ask now? Who's the girl beside you?"
Ruin's eyes narrowed thinly.
Her gaze down at Ariel was sharp.
I had a feeling I knew why the White Wing Knights had come.
'I see.'
They were curious about Father's second daughter.
It had been six years since Ariel was born, after all.
The news would've spread long ago, but she hadn't shown her face since.
Enough to pique curiosity.
Whether it'd draw the captain herself was another question.
"Will you tell me your name?"
Ruin's voice was steel-hard.
The pressure alone would choke a normal kid.
But.
This wasn't a normal kid.
"......"
Ariel said nothing.
She blinked up at me steadily, then.
Met Ruin's eyes briefly.
Crystal-clear silver pupils.
No one knew what Ariel was thinking.
She didn't say, didn't show on her face, didn't reveal in her eyes.
I prided myself on reading her somewhat.
'What is it?'
This time, I really couldn't tell.
Especially earlier, during my handshake with Ruin—her brow had furrowed, just a tiny bit.
Does she hate me getting chummy with others?
The silence dragged on.
Ruin waited patiently.
Finally, Ariel's lips moved.
What would she say?
Hello?
Nice to meet you?
I'm Ariel?
Plenty of options, but she picked none.
Instead, she dropped a total bombshell.
"......?"
Ruin's head tilted.
She probably never imagined hearing that.
But Ariel didn't stop there.
"......"
Oh.
My god.