I'll Be With You Forever
That crazy bastard had completely lost his mind.
I'd hoped it wouldn't come to this, but sure enough, he showed up.
"Abel, we have a guest here. How dare you raise your voice?"
I growled to block the oblivious fool from butting in, and he faltered for a moment, letting out a low hiss before gritting his teeth and charging back in.
"U-Uncle, you know this too! Giving lessons to that disgrace of the Argent family—it's bound to tarnish Duke Craig's reputation!"
"Disgrace? You're calling her a disgrace when even someone two years younger has been recognized as a proper swordsman—something you couldn't manage?"
"There must've been some mistake! Me being inferior to that pathetic thing? That doesn't make any sense!"
Wow, I knew he was a psycho, but this was next-level.
He clearly had no idea how messed up his words were.
No matter how much noble society obsessed over honor and family prestige,
few would publicly trash their own household member like that.
Victor Argent.
Even my father, who devoted body and soul to the sword and the empire, had looked down on me plenty when I started learning magic—but he'd never humiliated me in front of outsiders.
He knew exactly how much gossip and rumors from a single act like that could damage the family.
And yet here was this twelve-year-old brat running his mouth like that.
How could I not feel the urge to give him a proper education?
"So you're saying you doubt Duke Craig's judgment?"
"Not at all! I just think there needs to be a proper test!"
Of course. That's how you'd play it?
What a predictable script.
And clever in its own twisted way.
This kid had probably already given up on getting lessons from Oden himself.
So instead, he wanted to crush Liriet's spirit and scream that she was worthless.
"Oh? A test of strength, you mean? You want to measure yourselves against each other?"
"Yes! Duke Craig!"
"Even if you do, it won't change the fact that this old body of mine has chosen to teach your sister."
"Even so, I want to prove it! At least show everyone how utterly worthless the one you're thinking of teaching really is!"
I see.
And if he played it right, he could disappoint Oden with this and stop him from giving Liriet any more attention.
If he couldn't have it, he'd destroy it.
Something like that.
This kid's brain really only turned in the worst directions for his age.
"Liriet! Your big brother here will test you! You wouldn't refuse a challenge to the honor of the Argent family, would you?!"
As Abel's bellow echoed, I quickly checked on Liriet.
As expected.
Sure enough, Liriet was trembling.
The fear from all the brutal treatment Abel had given her must be etched into her body.
"Liriet, what do you think?"
"A-Are you talking to me?"
"Yes. If you don't want to, you can refuse. Duke Craig chose you. There's no need to doubt that."
"What do you think I should do, Uncle?"
She's asking for my choice.
Hmm, that's tricky.
The ideal scenario would be for Liriet to accept, then crush Abel right in front of everyone.
That would accelerate her overcoming him ahead of my plans,
and leave him without any excuse to bully her.
Kasdia would still be a wildcard, but I could handle her.
The problem is the risk.
But for all his flaws, Abel's talent wasn't half-baked.
Until recently, he'd received far better training than Liriet, so the gap between them was obvious.
What I wanted was to wait at least a year—two, even.
Until Liriet's talent blossomed and she reached at least Abel's level.
Pitting them against each other too soon could traumatize her into thinking she'd never beat him.
The safe play would be to brush it off lightly here.
But looking into Liriet's eyes, my mouth moved on its own.
Even though she was clearly shaking.
As if enchanted by those eyes pleading for my honest answer.
"As your uncle, I don't want you walking a thorny path. You're already plenty talented. No need to rise to his bait right now—you'll surpass Abel in a few years anyway. You can show him then. It's not too late. But..."
"But... what?"
"As Baal Argent—not just your uncle—I'd love to see that smug nose of his flattened once."
I couldn't quite say "as Yooshin Woo."
But that was as honest as I could be.
"So you think I can beat my brother?"
"Hard to say for sure. He's strong, after all. Even with your talent, there's no guarantee you'd win right now."
"Even so... why?"
It wasn't an accusation.
Just pure, innocent curiosity from Liriet. In response, I silently handed her the wooden sword and met her eyes at her level.
The moment I'd first decided to set Liriet straight.
The moment I'd witnessed the bad end of the original villainess Liriet.
Those emotions and memories rewound in my mind.
Yeah, that's what I'd thought back then.
If even one person had believed in her, maybe it wouldn't have ended that way.
And I'd decided to be that one piece.
So the answer here was set.
"...I just want to believe. That you can win, Liriet. That you're not someone who'll ever fall behind Abel."
"Ah..."
Liriet's trembling stopped as if by magic at my words.
She let out a soft gasp, stared at me endlessly, then gripped the wooden sword tightly.
"...I'll do it."
"Are you sure? If it's because I pressured you..."
"It's not pressure. I've never thought of it that way."
I'd asked out of worry that my words might burden her instead of giving courage, but Liriet shook her head firmly and gave a bright smile.
"You're the first person to believe in me, Uncle. This unworthy body of mine wants to repay that somehow. I'll prove your eyes weren't wrong."
"...!?"
It was just a fleeting instant.
But in that moment, it felt like her eyes held me.
Eyes reflect things, sure.
But it wasn't some physical, textbook explanation.
I couldn't put it into words myself.
It just felt like, in that instant, I'd lodged myself—however small—in a corner of Liriet's heart.
No way.
Only then did I vaguely intuit it.
Why Oden had refused to take her as a disciple.
Why he'd asked me to look after her.
Sword Aspiration.
The Star's Grace hidden within Liriet was gently lifting its head.
In the end, Liriet accepted Abel's challenge.
But since she'd obviously lose as things stood, I deliberately added some conditions.
The duel would be in ten days, when Oden left the Argent family.
No real swords, of course. Oden would judge the winner,
and both sides would abide by his decision.
That was all.
"Hoho, what a thing. I thought she was just a delicate bud not yet bloomed, but my eyes weren't wrong after all. Such a bold answer."
"P-Please stop, it's embarrassing. Sword Saint."
Once Abel left, Oden looked down at Liriet and chuckled heartily, clearly pleased.
I was honestly surprised too.
Abel's shadow must still loom huge over her.
I'd expected her to shrink in fear and refuse, as anyone would.
And that wouldn't have been wrong.
Even if she had, I wouldn't have been disappointed in her.
Maybe that's why she could fall into the villainess role—she's got guts.
Like those quiet, bespectacled kids in school who suddenly snap and go berserk.
Anyway, as her cheerleader, I couldn't be prouder.
Even if she lost this duel, she'd gain something from it.
"But the world doesn't bend to mindset alone. You know that too."
"...Yes, I do. So please, help me."
Liriet bowed deeply to Oden, pleading.
"Lend me your strength so I can beat my brother."
"Can you keep up? To beat him, the training will get brutally intense."
"I'm prepared. No matter how tough, I'll take it without complaint."
"Kekeke! Your spirit rivals any boy's. Good. Very good."
At this rate, she looks just like the original protagonist, Leon.
That guy earned Oden's full favor with his protagonist-level grit.
What an awkward yet heartwarming scene.
And what swelled my heart the most was,
Liriet's Sword Aspiration is directed at me.
The inner change blooming in her.
Liriet, who had no one to lean on, possessed Sword Aspiration as her Star's Grace, but had no target for it.
So her talent never fully blossomed.
She eventually found one, but it became the seed of tragedy and ruin.
That's what I'd worried about.
Having her meet Leon to awaken her talent was risky.
But leaving it be meant waiting ten years.
As someone who knew of that grace, it pained me.
But now? Different story.
As long as I stayed by her side for a while, her growth would accelerate.
With Sword Aspiration aimed at me, she wouldn't mistake it for love like in the original, leading to that lonely death.
Honestly, even without that justification, just knowing she thought of me deeply enough to cheer like this made me want to whoop for joy.
"Liriet."
"Y-Yes...! Uncle."
"Hm?"
When I called her casually, her response had an oddly disciplined edge.
Her face seemed a bit flushed too. What's up?
"Something wrong?"
"N-No, it's just..."
"Just?"
"It's the first time you've called me by name. I got so happy I..."
Oh, right.
Come to think of it, I'd always called her "niece" or something formal, never by name.
It wasn't intentional.
But seeing her so thrilled over a name made my heart nearly stop—my niece was too cute.
"Then usually 'niece,' but sometimes 'Liriet.'"
"Huh!? W-Why?"
"Haha, so you keep giving cute reactions like this."
"Ugh, that's mean."
One of her cheeks puffed out.
First time seeing her sulk—adorable.
Our niece was cute no matter what.
I poked the puffed cheek to deflate it, then leaned down a bit.
"Anyway, Liriet, remember this."
"Yes? What is it, Uncle?"
"I'll always be by your side. I'll always be on your team. Even if you lose to Abel, I won't be disappointed. I'll cheer for you forever."
"Forever...?"
Even acting mature, she couldn't hide her anxiety.
Especially words like "forever"—they sound like sweet lies.
For someone like Liriet, who'd never had an ally, the thought of her one and only slipping away would be terrifying.
Sure, one day she might grow up and not need me anymore.
But until then, I had no plans to leave.
Now that Sword Aspiration pointed to me, I was essential to her growth.
"Yes. As long as you don't come to hate this uncle."
"That'll never happen."
"Then no need to worry."
Her firm reply, laced with a chill, overwhelmed me for a second.
Whoa, a glimpse of the villainess there.
No good. Not for our niece.
Soon, she tilted her head up slightly, shyly asking,
"Can you promise?"
"Of course. Want proof? I'll give it."
"Th-Then..."
Liriet hesitated, glancing at me.
She rose on tiptoes then down, wiggled her hips side to side.
When I just blinked cluelessly,
she pouted in frustration and openly shook her head.
Ah, got it.
*Pat. Stroke.*
"Hehe..."
Caressing her hair gently, she let out the cutest laugh.
Truth be told, I'd wanted to do it someday.
But I'd held back, thinking we weren't that close yet.
Never expected her to ask first.
Best uncle decision ever.
It felt more fulfilling than reaching 7th Circle.
"Forever with Uncle..."
Was she that happy?
Liriet repeating the same words like a broken cassette tape was unbearably cute.