Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Lion's Feast (3)
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The first day's schedule had ended, and I returned to the mansion.
I could just go straight to bed like this, but I decided to stop by Ariel's room first.
She must have spent the time diligently on her own, so as her big brother, I should check on her.
As I approached Ariel's door, a familiar melody drifted out.
-♩♪♪
Edelweiss.
A nursery rhyme that didn't exist in this world.
Ariel was singing the song I'd played on the ocarina.
It was far from perfect compared to mine.
But I could feel her sincere effort to mimic it.
"Ariel. I'm coming in."
Knock knock.
I knocked a couple of times on the door and entered.
Ariel lowered the ocarina from her lips and looked up at me.
Her fingers were still covering the holes, as if she'd just been playing.
"Did you do okay on your own? Practice the ocarina alright?"
"Yeah. I tried copying your song, big brother."
"Good job. You were doing great."
I nodded and sat down beside her.
Praise is key, no matter what.
Compliment them right away even for small improvements, and they'll keep at it.
Humans are surprisingly simple creatures.
"Ariel. I won't be able to hang out with you tomorrow."
That said, I didn't come just to see her face.
I needed to talk about tomorrow's sparring match too.
'I don't know when the spar will be, but I'll need to clear a lot of time.'
No matter what Ruin said about sending a worthy opponent, I couldn't let my guard down.
The White Wing Knights weren't some club you could join on a whim.
Even an apprentice knight wouldn't be a pushover.
Am I overreacting?
'No. It's only natural.'
You prepare thoroughly for any match.
That's courtesy, and the secret to victory.
"What's the schedule?"
"They told me to spar with someone from the White Wing Knights tomorrow. So I'm planning to focus on training from midday on. That's why I'm letting you know I can't play."
"......Okay."
Ariel nodded slightly.
Good. She took it well, no issues.
My little sister is growing more understanding by the day—what a joy for her big brother.
Then Ariel asked a peculiar question.
"But big brother."
"Yeah?"
"Did that woman suggest it first?"
"That woman?"
Who was she talking about for her to use such strong words?
I tilted my head, then it clicked.
She meant Ruin.
"Yeah. Ms. Ruin suggested it first. But Ariel, you should use nicer words. Calling people like that isn't cute."
"That woman again...... That person made another tough request of you."
"Huh? No, it's not that tough."
Honestly, it was a spar I didn't have to do.
But it was also a chance for me to boost my reputation, so I accepted readily.
And little sis? Calling her 'that person' instead of 'that woman' doesn't make it nicer. It's like going from nosy monkey to just monkey—not any cuter.
"Got it."
Ariel seemed to accept it, regardless.
"You're busy tomorrow, so I'll be fine on my own."
"Oh, right. You might need to dress up too. You won't participate directly, but you'll be watching the tournament."
"Dress up? What's that?"
"It means adorning you beautifully."
"......"
Ariel's mouth fell open a little.
She stared straight at me, then said,
"So you think I'd look pretty dressed up?"
"Huh?"
"Would I look pretty if I dressed up?"
"?"
What was this about?
She hadn't even dressed up yet—hard to say.
I'd have to see it first, and more importantly—
"You've always been pretty, Ariel."
"......Yeah."
Ariel bowed her head at my words and fiddled with the ocarina.
The mouthpiece, mostly.
"Well, enough sappy stuff. I'm heading out."
"Okay, big brother."
"And don't blow so hard. The mouthpiece is soaked with spit."
"......Ah. Oh, no—yeah...... You're right. I was blowing too hard."
I waved as I left the room.
Sheesh.
How much did Ariel like my song to practice that enthusiastically?
The mouthpiece was drenched like she'd licked it clean.
The next day.
I headed to the family training grounds on the mansion grounds for sword practice.
All the family knights had left today for the upcoming sparring matches.
So I had the vast grounds all to myself.
Swish—!
Grip the sword. Swing.
Just that simple motion.
But when mastered, it becomes art.
"Hoo."
I traced several sword arcs, then paused to catch my breath.
Sweat was already soaking my body.
Just swinging a sword normally wouldn't tire me out.
It was merely a byproduct of training myself to draw the 'ideal' sword path.
"Time for a break."
I grabbed a nearby water bottle and gulped it down.
After a short rest, back to training.
Just enough to get the body fired up before the spar.
Then I heard footsteps.
Step—step—
'Who is it?'
This was the family-exclusive training ground—no one should be coming in.
Maybe a lost villager? I'd have to guide them out.
Step—step—
The footsteps grew closer.
And their owner appeared.
"Ah!"
A girl who gasped upon seeing me.
She looked about my age, maybe a bit over ten.
The issue was that phrasing it as "upon seeing me" felt off.
"Hello! Nice to meet you!"
The girl was wearing an eyepatch.
A black one covering both eyes completely.
Yet she walked remarkably well.
She came straight toward me, as if she knew exactly where I was.
"I was wandering around since the tournament hasn't started yet! I never imagined I'd end up here."
"Yeah. Hard to imagine. This is the family-exclusive training ground."
"Eeeek?!"
Wow.
Like a cartoon character.
"Wh-what do we do? I swear I didn't do it on purpose! I just ended up here while walking!"
"Ah. No worries. I'll help you sneak out without getting caught."
"Wow! Really? You're such a nice person!"
Every word bubbly and lively.
For someone with an eyepatch, her bright vibe felt oddly out of place.
She clapped and giggled, then tilted her head at me.
Wait, could she really see?
"So who are you? If it's family-exclusive, shouldn't you not be here either?"
"Doesn't it occur to you I might be family?"
"Ahh! True. Spot on. You must be the family strategist."
"I'm the family head's son."
"Wow! The Leonhart Ducal Family's future is bright. So wise at your age—you'll be popular."
I had no idea what conversation this even was.
The context jumped around wildly, but surprisingly, it wasn't bad.
'Fun.'
She's the type who makes talking enjoyable.
I found myself getting into it.
"But what now? I'm still training. Wanna wait till I'm done?"
"Ah! You're training? Impressive. Mind if I watch? Can I?"
"How would you watch? You've got the eyepatch."
"Are you discriminating against the blind right now?"
"I think the one who caused the misunderstanding is at fault."
"Fair! Actually, I have ways. I see the world with my mind's eye."
"That's an amazing skill. Makes me wanna learn it."
"Oh? Should I teach you?"
"Pardon?"
Sudden drift?
But she seemed serious.
The girl puffed out her chest and declared proudly,
"I'm Yoru! The wandering swordswoman of Aonia. I've come to the empire's swordsmanship famed Leonharts to broaden my horizons. Sparring with the young master would be an honor!"
"No sword—how are you a wandering swordswoman?"
"I'll borrow one at my destination!"
"......"
Trouble.
She's even more shameless than me.
Feels like I've met a formidable rival.
"So, you in? Or not?"
"Eh. Sure."
Better than training alone, I guess.
I needed sparring practice anyway.
Experience clashing with a real person makes adapting easier.
"Great! Let's do it!"
With Yoru excitedly following behind, I went to grab a sword.
——
"Hello! Nice to meet you!"
Yoru greeted cheerfully.
No matter who the other person was, she never showed hostility at first sight.
She always tried her best to be friendly.
That was Yoru's innate attitude and habit.
"Who are you?"
But the response was curt.
The blond, blue-eyed boy stepped back warily at the unfamiliar Yoru.
A familiar reaction.
Yoru ignored the sting in her chest and amped up her energy.
"I was wandering around since the tournament hasn't started yet! I never imagined I'd end up here."
"Is that so? I'll call a servant. Please leave. This isn't a place for outsiders like you."
"Ahaha. Okay."
But faced with such a firm rejection, even Yoru had no choice.
She swallowed her disappointment and dropped the energy.
'As expected.'
No one likes me.
So Yoru decided to forget the boy too.
Even though she'd taken a liking to him at first glance.
If hearts didn't connect, it was best to move on quickly.
"That girl wandered in by mistake. Show her out."
The boy called a servant and had Yoru escorted away.
Yoru followed without protest.
Thus, Kline and Yoru forgot each other.
Even after crossing paths later.
At the Crimson Blood Cult.
They would never remember each other again.