Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Beating the Bastard (3)
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Finally, Rishir deeply bowed his head toward Idor.
Sudden as it was, Idor was favorably impressed by the series of etiquettes Rishir had shown.
Rishir had never received direct instruction from a renowned etiquette teacher like the scions of other prestigious families, nor had he mingled vigorously with other nobles.
Yet the etiquette that naturally emanated from Rishir's body was so well-polished that even in the eyes of a prestigious family head, it lacked nothing significant.
It was the complete opposite of Roera, who had evolved from a rascal to a wild horse despite training under one of the empire's top etiquette teachers.
Of course, this didn't mean Idor's fondness for his legitimate daughter transferred to the bastard.
To nobles, bloodline held a unique significance.
It was the greatest element granting their existence a special status recognized by the world.
Idor was a man with conventional noble values, and befitting his high stature as a noble, those values were more rigid than average.
"Rishir."
Such an Idor gazed intently at the bastard before him.
"Sit down for now."
"I have nothing more to say to you, Family Head."
"Then just listen. Rishir. Your performance today was impressive. It's regrettable that you chose the path of magic, but what can be done? I understand your feelings. Surely, you must have resented me for not passing down the Bendel Style to you."
"No, that's not it."
"It's fine. At this moment, I have no intention of scolding you no matter what you say."
"That's not what I meant. Magic to me is neither a substitute for the Bendel Style, nor a means to make you reflect on not teaching it to me."
"...Then?"
"Magic was the first path opened to me. That's all there was to it—I simply walked it."
"..."
Idor struggled to maintain his expression at Rishir's response.
Not a trace of lingering attachment to Bendel or the Bendel Style could be felt in his words.
"I commend that effort. You achieved the best results within the given circumstances. To be honest, I didn't think you'd win the duel today."
Thud thud.
Idor tapped his own chest.
"You. Your achievements have surpassed my expectations, my calculations."
"..."
"You've proven your worth, and from now on, I intend to treat you accordingly. Think it over carefully, Rishir. Leaving the family isn't the answer. It's merely a temporary escape. Consider who stands before you now."
A sturdy physique maintained in peak condition even at middle age, befitting the head of the swordsmanship house Bendel.
Unyielding eyes that wouldn't flinch even if a blade tip grazed the cornea.
And the distinctive aura emanating from one who had reached superhuman heights.
Rishir was momentarily overwhelmed by that aura.
That was why he restrained himself from flipping both middle fingers for a grand finale, despite the temptation.
Sitting before him now was a monster who could neatly bisect a boulder with a twig.
"How many years do you think it would take to gain acknowledgment from someone of my caliber outside the family? A month? Two? Six? A year? Rishir. The world awaiting you isn't as soft as you imagine. They will thoroughly ignore and disdain you for failing to proudly reveal your identity."
"Are you saying they'll treat me as you did, Family Head?"
"I won't deny it."
"Was I no different from an outsider of unknown origin to you?"
"I won't deny it. But things are different now. Now, I will embrace you under the name of Bendel. Do you know why? Because you have proven your own worth. Don't let go of the opportunity you've seized for yourself, Rishir."
"..."
Rishir nodded.
"I will consider your words positively, Family Head."
It was a clean smile.
Utterly free of any hint of conflict—a very clean smile.
Idor realized it then.
The acknowledgment and attention Rishir had so desperately craved from him now held no value whatsoever.
And that fact would never change.
"..."
Idor's attempt to continue the conversation actively was futile; his words dried up.
Rishir left the study without a backward glance, leaving Idor behind.
Having left the Family Head's study, I immediately began preparations to depart Bendel.
It felt a bit rushed, but there's that saying, right?
Leave while they're still clapping.
The mansion folk had clapped for me, so it was only proper for me to take my leave.
"...Is this all?"
As I finished packing and slung the backpack over my shoulder, a sigh escaped my lips.
Was I packing my belongings up until now, or was I just discarding them?
This feather-light weight was the result of packing, not emptying?
The sum of my 18 years of life?
It was also refreshing.
This weight proved I had received nothing from this place.
Perhaps the Bendel people had discriminated against and ignored me all this time precisely for this moment?
So that when the moment came for me to leave Bendel, I would harbor no regrets?
Of course, if those words came from Idor's mouth, I wouldn't have held back from unleashing 64 palm strikes on his jaw.
"..."
Before leaving the room for the last time, I took in the sight of it one final time.
Suddenly, that day came to mind.
The day I first entered this room.
The day when the clueless young Roera perfectly pressed the young Rishir's berserk button.
The day Roera inflicted an indelible wound on the young Rishir.
The day the young Rishir inflicted an indelible wound on young Roera.
I wondered.
"Oppa, this..."
What had been written in the letter that young Roera handed over that day?
The letter the young Rishir had torn to shreds.
...Perhaps because I was lost in such thoughts as I exited the annex.
"..."
I ran into Roera, leaning crookedly against the entrance of the annex.
"Oh, Roera!"
I greeted her gladly.
Not for any other reason, but because I recalled how she had been the first to clap during the duel.
Had she not been the Bendel lady?
No one would have dared clap for the bastard's victory and the Bendel apprentice knight's defeat.
I felt deep gratitude from the bottom of my heart toward Roera, who had given me one last good memory before leaving Bendel.
"What brings you here! I was just thinking about you."
"...Damn. What the hell are you saying? So disgustingly."
Roera turned her head away in disgust.
I thought she might ignore me altogether—
"What happened?"
But she shot me a sidelong glare and spat out the words.
"What?"
"Don't play dumb. That trick you used to knock out Humton in the duel. I know it was magic."
"Ah, that? Well, it just kinda happened that way."
"..."
Roera scowled at my vague response, glaring as if she had a mountain of words but was substituting with that look because there were too many.
Snicker.
Roera curled one corner of her mouth in her signature sneer.
"Must be nice? It worked perfectly."
"Yeah, well. Humton let his guard down just right—how lucky was that? Ah, but this wasn't pure luck. I made Humton drop his guard—"
"Don't play dumb. I know that's not what I'm talking about."
"...Huh? Then what are you talking about?"
"Haa..."
Roera shook her head with a sneer.
Her gaze fell on the backpack slung over my shoulder, and she snickered again.
"How the hell did you sweet-talk him? What magic did you pull to make that man, of all people, impressed by magic, of all things, and give you a reward?"
"Reward? This?"
"Right now. You're moving your stuff to the main building, aren't you? Am I wrong?"
Only then did I realize the focus of Roera's conversation was off.
Apparently, Roera thought I had arranged the duel to attract Idor's attention and showcased my hidden magic.
And now, I was basking in his acknowledgment.
It wasn't Roera's fault.
Rather, it was a misunderstanding born from knowing me—Rishir—the too well.
In truth, the old me would have been dancing for joy at Idor's acknowledgment by now.
And Roera wouldn't have been able to stand such a me.
"What with those eyes? Jealous? Finally got praise from the 'Family Head' you respect so much, and now the one thing you hate is ruining the mood?"
A sudden question arose.
Why did Roera resent Rishir's efforts to crave the Family Head's attention so much?
Come to think of it—
There was one thing I could guess.
Perhaps Roera was the same as me.
Maybe viewing the past Rishir from the same perspective as I did.
Looking back, from long ago, the only one in this household who paid attention to me was Roera.
Up until that day—
No. No.
Even after that incident, Roera consistently showed me attention.
"Oppa... are you okay...?"
"This..."
Roera handing me a letter while crying.
"Hey, Rishir. Stop the pointless effort and come beg me instead."
"Do that crap a hundred thousand times. See if that man gives a damn. See if your swordsmanship improves even a little. You're doing all this to learn swordsmanship, right? Huh? So pick a more reliable path."
"Isn't that what you're good at? Beg me. Like you did to that man. Who knows? Unlike him, your pretty little sister might personally grace you with some teachings. Of course, not the Bendel Style swordsmanship you've always craved."
Roera trying to teach me the sword with her crooked attitude.
"..."
Roera clapping alone when everyone else was silent.
"If you have something to say, spit it out. Think I'll be scared if you glare like that? Wow~ Beating a guy like Humton has you all puffed up, huh?"
Roera, who came to talk to me first before anyone else after the duel.
Roera, who seemed excited along with me, whether by mood or not.
Yet also looking frustrated on one hand.
From back then to now, Roera had always paid attention to me.
From back then to now, Roera had treated me consistently.
What had changed was—
Me.
After that day, I began pushing Roera away.
"Didn't you hear the Family Head? You can't hang out with a bastard like me anymore."
Rejecting her kindness as if I'd been waiting for it whenever she showed it.
"...Go away."
"Break time's over."
Like a sulky child throwing a tantrum.
"How about a duel with me while we're at it? You don't know how amazing your little sister is, do you? I guarantee, if you'd learned from me, you'd have beaten Humton without those petty tricks."
Roera was the only one in Bendel who tolerated Rishir's tantrums.
Probably not by choice. She likely wasn't even aware of her own behavior.
That crooked attitude might be her defense mechanism.
Acting like it wasn't kindness out of fear of rejection.
Roera thrust her face close to mine.
The first thing I noticed up close was the small scar on her forehead.
The old Roera had stubbornly stuck to a hairstyle that boldly exposed her forehead.
Something about bangs feeling stuffy.
But after getting scarred by the book I threw, she started growing them out.
Unconsciously, I touched the scar.
Roera startled violently and tried to pull back, but upon seeing my expression, she froze in tension.
I said to such a Roera,
"Did it hurt a lot back then?"
"...!"
Roera's sneering expression slowly twisted.
"W-What the hell suddenly...?"
"Yeah, suddenly I feel like apologizing. On a nice day like this. Or maybe because it's such a nice day, I want to apologize."
"You son of a— Are you messing with me!? W-What kind of charity is this!? It's not like you're tossing pennies to a beggar—what the hell is that way of saying it— And what? 'Did it hurt?' 'Did it hurt'!?' You call that words, you idiot!"
She seemed to be trying to get angry.
But that face was unmistakably on the verge of tears, to anyone watching.
"Y-Y-You scarred a g-g-girl's face and what? 'Did it hurt a lot?' Who you trying to rile up!?"
Her breathing quickened in an instant.
And her eyes welled up with tears.
I carefully wiped Roera's tears as I said,
"I'm sorry."
"..."
"I'm sorry, Roera. I shouldn't have done that back then. Especially not to you, of all people."
Roera violently shook off my hand.
Her reddened eyes spilled tears too profuse to wipe away with fingers.
"S-So-Sor—"
With a trembling voice, she forced out the words with effort.
"You crazy bastard!!!"
It wasn't even spirited.
"W-Why are you apologizing...!"
Roera hung her head and began to sob.
"What did you do wrong... The one who did wrong was... me..."
"..."
"Back then... I was so stupid... I didn't know what 'bastard' really meant... I didn't know it hurt that much... Anyone else is one thing, but I shouldn't have said it to you..."
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Roera repeated those words one after another, as if pulling out everything she'd bottled up inside.
I approached Roera and gently patted her back.
"I've wanted to say this for so long..."
Then Roera buried her face in my chest and said in a stuffy-nosed voice,
"Oppa... No matter what anyone says, you're my oppa..."