Chapter 32
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Mooooom!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A wooden sword comes flying at me.
“Haaap!”
A booming shout accompanies the boy swinging his wooden sword at me.
His movements are huge.
If I pulled something like that on Ravire sis, she'd dodge, smack my knee joint once, my side once, then catch me as I fell and say she'd nurse me back to health.
Thinking that, I twist my body just a little.
I've trained to death with Ravire sis, so I know.
The essence of swordsmanship is evading as much as possible with the minimal movement.
I twist my body slightly to dodge the attack, then...
“Hup...!”
I thrust out my wooden sword slowly.
The wooden sword slams hard into the boy's side, and unable to withstand the force, he tumbles across the ground.
“Gahk!”
I look down at the boy sprawled out in front of me.
Maybe because they think things like conscience or honor exist, or perhaps because there aren't that many confirmed bachelors in this country, most of the people coming at me are kids my age.
Or maybe Mother or Lily sis is regulating it appropriately.
Of course, teenagers in their late teens jumped me every now and then.
“Hah... huff...!”
Like this kid who just charged.
A boy around seventeen rolls on the ground.
“...You're strong...”
He glares up at me, teeth gritted, and I meet his eyes as I open my mouth.
“Good work.”
Black hair, black eyes.
I remember he was from a noble family, but his exact name escapes me.
Anyway.
“...Good... work.”
Was he angry or something? He swallows his words as he stares at me, and I nod leisurely.
“Yes.”
“...”
The boy slowly stands and walks away.
After he leaves, I let out a sigh and lean back,
“Master. You know you're gonna keep expecting me to catch you every time, right?”
A soft sensation catches me as Clue receives me.
“You're gonna stop catching me soon anyway.”
“Even if your body got ten times heavier right now, I could catch you.”
“Then catch me.”
“...True.”
Clue sighs as she catches me, then sits me down in a chair.
What should I say—Clue's reflexes are just too good.
Her strength is impressive too.
Watching her dash over like a ghost every time I fall to grab me makes me want to try this occasionally.
Of course, it's only because the size difference between me and Clue isn't that big yet; in a year or two, I might get branded as trash who bullies little kids.
Enjoy it while it lasts.
“This opponent went down quick too.”
Clue fans my face with her hand as she speaks, and I gaze quietly at the spot where the boy left.
“Eh... yeah.”
Fighting guys like that makes me think maybe I'm fighting way too humbly.
No opponent has lasted more than ten minutes, even the longest fights.
“If they're only using swordsmanship against me, of course they lose.”
My test is straightforward.
First, come at me with whatever you're confident in.
For example, if it's magic, fight with magic; swordsmanship, then swords; holy power, then holy power.
“No one's actually tried fighting you with holy power, though.”
“I wouldn't fight with holy power either.”
I mean, I hold the title of Great Saint right now—who'd be crazy enough to challenge me with holy power?
“They're all trying to beat you in the end, right?”
“That's exactly what they're doing, yeah?”
They're fighting over sis's marriage spot; if that's not trying to beat me, what is?
“...But isn't this different from what you said at first?”
Clue looks at me, muttering in a dissatisfied tone.
“What is?”
“Well, at first you said you'd give up if someone you liked showed up.”
“I did.”
“So why are you still fighting?”
What kind of obvious question is that?
I look at her like it's the strangest thing and speak up.
“Because no one's caught my eye yet.”
“...”
Clue sighs so deeply it could cave the ground after hearing me.
“Just pick someone decent...”
“How can I just pick decent?”
She's still my sis.
If sis is gonna marry someone, it might as well be a good guy.
“What kind of guy are you looking for?”
“Not as great as sis, but he should at least keep up with her abilities.”
“That's already tough from the start.”
“Without upsetting sis's mood either.”
“Hmm...”
“Bonus if he's got great character too.”
“...Yeah.”
Clue blinks at me after hearing that, then sighs.
“You're just picky.”
“Hey, think about it the other way. Say I was marrying someone one day. What kind of guy would you pick for me?”
“...”
Clue closes her eyes and ponders seriously.
“First, he has to be handsome.”
“I don't care about looks.”
“I do.”
“...”
“And he has to at least beat me in a fight.”
“...Isn't that impossible?”
Is there anyone who could beat Clue?
Not that I can see.
No joke—I'm confident the only one who could beat Clue is our mother.
Especially after I saw the Knight Commander lose an arm-wrestling match to her last time.
He laughed it off like it was nothing, but Ravire sis told me he got blackout drunk that night and ranted about quitting as Knight Commander.
“Does a human who can beat you even exist?”
“I'm not human.”
“So what?”
“Anyway, that's my criteria.”
“You're in no position to judge me with your criteria.”
Two months.
Two months, and not one has satisfied me.
Guys full of greed in their eyes, full of lust. Just overflowing with desires.
I can't hand Lily sis over to trash like that.
“Let's wrap up.”
“Yes.”
As I say that and start cleaning up with Clue.
“Theo!”
A bright voice calls my name, and I turn around.
Ravire sis is waving from afar as she runs over.
“Good work today!”
“You were watching?”
“Sis is always watching Theo, duh?”
Ravire sis grins brightly and pats my back with loud thwacks,
“Your swordsmanship's gotten even better. At this rate, are you really gonna catch up to me?”
“Don't talk nonsense.”
It's been years since I've heard that line.
I still haven't beaten Ravire sis once.
Suppressing the urge to scream at the sky, I meet her eyes.
“Tired because of Lily?”
“Huh?”
“Lily's being mean.”
Ravire sis mutters, arms crossed.
“Making Theo uncomfortable just to side with her favorites.”
“...”
She's genuinely pissed.
I always notice it, but Ravire sis shows this weird hostility only when it involves Lily sis.
What gets her so mad?
Because they're consecutive sisters?
I've never had consecutive sisters myself, so I sometimes don't get why they hate each other so much.
But mediating that is my job too, right?
If the youngest gets this much love from his sisters, it's his duty to bring harmony to the family.
“Lily sis has her reasons too. Some of it's probably for my sake.”
“...”
“Of course, I'm really grateful for what Ravire sis does for me too.”
I watch her expression carefully, trying to speak without upsetting either.
“...”
Ravire sis furrows her brow.
“You're always like that, Theo.”
“Huh?”
“You always think as long as you're a little tired but things turn out okay, it's fine.”
“It's not...”
“No.”
Ravire sis narrows her eyes at me.
“Fine. If that's how you feel, I've got an idea.”
With that, Ravire sis steps away from me,
“...Sisters are tough, huh?”
“Women's hearts are complicated, Master.”
“What're you saying. Let's hurry up and go.”
I start cleaning with Clue again.
Puberty's hitting, so they're getting harder to handle.
After that, the challengers coming at Theodor noticeably decreased.
The reason...
Bam. Ravire's door flies open with a thud, and Lily walks in, one eyebrow raised.
“Hey, Ravire.”
“...”
Ravire calmly meets Lily's gaze at her call.
“Why are you stealing Theo's job?”
As Lily said, lately Ravire had been stepping in first to deal with anyone trying to challenge Theodor.
Before they could duel Theodor, they had to beat Ravire first—and no one had beaten her.
“...Don't harass Theo with your petty strategies.”
“...”
But Ravire narrows her eyes at Lily too, who glares back and bites her lip.
“Don't call it harassment if you don't know shit.”
“Shut up, if it's not harassment—”
“It's because you're too dumb—”
Their argument heats up,
“Ha, then make Theo choose.”
“Yeah. Theo's old enough to stop playing with you anyway.”
“You're the one he's playing with. How long are you gonna goof around swinging swords like kids? House play? At your age?”
“Then it's fine to toss husband candidates at Theo?”
“They're not husband candidates. I only have one ideal type anyway...!”
“Whatever. Go call Theo.”
“...Fine. Call him.”
The two glare daggers at each other before stomping off.
“Theo, so which one do you like more!”
“...”
I look at Lily sis and Ravire sis staring at me.
“Uh, well...”
“It's fine. We won't get mad no matter which you pick.”
I meet the eyes of my two sisters, arms crossed as they watch me.
“Sis, you're both sixteen, seventeen, right?”
“Don't worry about that. Who do you like more!”
“...”
I glance at Clue, who just shrugs and avoids my gaze.
This isn't even mom or dad.
As I think that, one person pops into my head who could perfectly resolve this.
The only one who could end their rivalry for good.