Chapter 30
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Knight Academy (2)
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At my words, the knights only exchanged glances, making no move.
Click.
Because the knights were dead silent, the sound of the door opening boomed like thunder.
"What's this? Aren't you supposed to be training? What are you all gathered around for?"
The knights began to look at the person who had just entered with glistening eyes, as if he were their savior.
"Collin!"
"Sir Collin!"
"Collin, hurry over here!"
"Sir Collin's older brother is here!"
The person who entered was my younger brother, Collin Lox, and everyone rushed to him, clamoring all at once.
So that's Collin. We have different mothers, so I guess that's why he looks similar to me, yet different.
"One at a time! Who's here?"
"Your older brother, Sir Yuren Lox, is here."
"What? Why would he come here? Where is he?"
Collin looked around as if searching for me. Our eyes definitely met, but he kept looking elsewhere.
"Where is he?"
"Huh? He's right over there."
The female knight raised her arm and pointed at me, standing in the middle of the crowd.
"What kind of nonsense are you spouting? There's no way Yuren looks like that. He's a pig... huh?"
Collin was arguing with the female knight when his jaw dropped.
"Huh? N-No way. Is it really you?"
I thought Collin wouldn't recognize me because of how much I've changed, but maybe because we're brothers, he figured it out, albeit a bit late. Or maybe he saw the Marquis in my face.
"Yuren?"
"Yeah."
He's dropping the formalities right from the start.
Collin approached me. He seemed to be of average height, but because I had grown so much taller, he had to look up at me slightly.
"How in the world did you..."
Still in disbelief, Collin continued to scan me from top to bottom.
"I lost some weight."
"This looks like more than just that. You seem a lot taller, too."
Collin continued to speak informally.
"Losing weight makes you grow taller."
Collin shook his head as if to clear it.
"But what's with them?"
Collin pointed to Melai, Rulla, and Karic, who were unconscious and lined up against the wall.
"Well..."
The pink-haired female knight, who had been sticking close to Collin, explained everything to him.
"No way!"
That was the second time Collin had said, "No way."
"So it's true you took down an orc warrior?"
"Yeah. It's true."
"How could you!"
Collin kept frowning, unable to believe it.
"Calling your older brother 'you,' you little punk."
"Ugh."
I said it playfully on purpose, but the scowl on Collin's face didn't fade.
"I don't believe it."
"What?"
"I can't believe that you've gotten so strong!"
"Little brother. Are you trying to pick a fight?"
"I never once treated you like a brother! You fat pig with nothing to show for yourself except being born two years earlier!"
This won't do. It looks like this kid needs to be taught some manners, properly.
"Fine. I'll show you why I'm the older brother. Come at me."
I put some distance between us and pulled out the training sword stuck in the ground.
"Just what I wanted! Yuren!"
"Then how about we make a bet?"
"A bet?"
"Yeah. A bet where the loser grants the winner's wish."
"Fine. If I win, I'll make you crawl at my feet."
I don't fight battles I'll lose. I made the bet because I was confident I would never lose.
"Sword."
At Collin's word, the pink-haired knight beside him brought him a training sword and whispered something in his ear.
Even without focusing my hearing, I could tell she was telling him how I knocked out those three.
But Collin was worrying for nothing. I wasn't going to let him off that easily.
Vwooom.
Collin really must have hated the idea of losing, because he activated his aura at full power from the start. Aura was overflowing from his entire body.
Hmm, let's see.
Activating Creator's Eye.
Name: Collin Lox
Traits: Swift Sword lv2, Nimble Body lv2, Sword Emperor ()
Favorability: -78 (Extreme Dislike)
So this kid inherited the Sword Emperor trait. As for the favorability, I guess I should be glad it's not murderous intent.
His stats are considerable, but I wasn't too concerned.
"Hah!"
While I was activating Creator's Eye, Collin charged, swinging his sword.
His speed was quite fast, so I was about to dodge with the Lesser Dragon's Step, but a message suddenly appeared.
During the activation of Creator's Eye, the Heavenly Martial Body's Eye Technique (), Heavenly Eye (), has been simultaneously activated.
Heavenly Eye will be subordinated () to Creator's Eye.
The level of Creator's Eye has increased.
You have achieved Creator's Eye lv2.
What, all of a sudden!
The messages appearing didn't mean Collin would stop, so I was about to dodge, but I could see all of Collin's movements.
Where he would swing his sword, which foot he would move, how his aura was movingI could simply see it all.
Clang!
I swung my sword toward the weakest point of Collin's aura-clad training sword.
"Ugh!"
Collin seemed to have felt a considerable impact as he quickly retreated.
"Y-You bastard!"
Swoosh!
As if he'd never been pushed back, Collin charged again. He was aiming for my chest with a straight thrust meant for destruction. But
I could see all of Collin's movements and the flow of his aura.
Thwack!
"Kuhak!"
After dodging the thrust, I lightly struck his wrist, sending his sword flying.
"H-How..."
"Pick it up. I'll humor you until you're satisfied."
"Grr!"
Collin immediately went to pick up his sword and charged again. But I had already completely figured out his swordsmanship.
Collin possessed a swift sword and nimble movements, but I was faster, and I was stronger. On top of that, since I could see his every move, it was no different from fighting with an invincibility cheat code.
Thwack!
"Ugh!"
Smack!
"Aargh!"
I didn't end it easily like with the others, deliberately dragging it out. I was toying with Collin, striking his entire body with the training sword imbued with my internal energy.
Thwack!
"Keok!"
Whap!
"S-Stop."
Thwack!
"I-I lost. Stop now!"
Thwack!
"I said I lost!"
This idiot must not know why I'm still hitting him. I didn't stop and continued to strike him.
Thwack!
"Why are you doing this! I said I lost!"
Thwack!
"Aargh!"
Thwack!
"P-Please stop!"
THWACK!
"P-Please!"
Only after hearing Collin's formal speech did I stop my sword.
"Little brother."
"Kuh..."
"You'll get hit if you make me repeat myself. Little brother."
"Yes..."
"If you act up again, you'll get it twice as hard as today."
"I-I understand. Sob..."
Collin, who had endured countless blows, saw the knights sneaking glances at him from the sidelines, buried his face in his arm, and burst into tears.
It seems the humiliation in front of them hurt more than the beating.
"Let's go, then."
"Where are we go... going?"
Collin, who was about to speak informally, immediately switched to formal speech when I scowled.
"I'll tell you on the way."
I sent Collin to the lobby first, then threw a remark to the knights behind me.
"When that idiot Karic wakes up, tell him to know his place before he acts up again."
After I explained to Collin why I had come, he requested leave and followed me.
"So, are we going to see Raon now?"
"Yeah."
"That guy is in the Empire..."
"I don't know. I was told to bring him back myself, so what can I do? We have to go."
On the way to the Mage Tower to use the warp gate, I remembered I hadn't stated my wish yet.
"Hey."
"Yes."
"I'll state my wish now."
"Ah..."
Collin looked truly tormented, as if he'd only just remembered the wish. I didn't particularly want or need anything from him, so I decided on a wish just for fun.
"From now on, whenever you speak to me, you must address me as 'Great Older Brother'."
"What?"
"Whatever you say in front of me, you will address me as 'Great Older Brother'."
"B-But..."
"That's my wish. A man doesn't go back on his word, does he?"
Collin made a face of utter disgust. He shut his mouth tight, as if he'd rather not speak at all.
"Hey."
"Yes."
Smack!
"Keok!"
Collin clearly knew what I wanted but didn't say it, so I smacked him on the back of the head.
"Hey."
"Yes, Great Older Brother."
"Good."
"Sob..."
I cheerfully listened to Collin's sobs as I opened the door to the Mage Tower and went inside.
"Welcome!"
"We'd like to use the spatial teleportation."
"Yes! Where are you headed?"
"We're going to the Imperial Capital."
"Yes. Understood. For three people, correct?"
"Yes."
We completed the identification check with a magic wand and received entry permits after connecting with the Mage Tower in the Empire. Since Collin and I were from the Lox house, the entry permits were processed in a flash.
After the permits were issued, we were guided to the warp room.
"It's fascinating that you can warp to an Empire in a different country."
Giranox remarked, intrigued.
"The Mage Towers are fundamentally neutral. They don't belong to any country. As long as your identity is confirmed, you can go anywhere."
"Ah, I see."
Collin, clearly not wanting to say 'Great Older Brother,' stood silently with his arms crossed.
After a quiet warp, we left the Mage Tower and set foot in the Imperial Capital.
"Whoa."
"Oh."
"This place looks just like the modern world..."
The Imperial Capital was the most developed place on the continent. Aside from the height of the buildings, there were so many modern structures that it felt like I was looking at Seoul.
"But..."
"Yes. A little."
"The atmosphere is strange."
There was something strange about the people's mood. The buildings were bright, but the people were somber. In any case, something was clearly going on in the Empire.
"First, let's find the Knight Academy. We can ask Raon when we get there."
"Yes."
The Imperial Capital didn't have as many helpful signs as the Royal Capital, so we had to ask people for directions to find the Knight Academy.
After telling Collin to fetch Raon from the academy lobby, I was lost in thought.
What is it? Something is definitely happening in the Empire right now, but I can't remember what event occurred at this time.
As I was thinking quietly to myself, Collin brought Raon over. Unlike me, Raon had dark skin and broad, powerful shoulders, the very picture of a manly man.
"Collin. Good work."
"..."
"Collin?"
"Th-Thank you, Great Older Brother."
Collin tried his best not to answer, but one scowl from me finally made him speak.
"A-Are you Brother Yuren?"
"Yeah. It's me."
Seeing this, Raon's eyes widened in disbelief. He was probably shocked by two things: the change in my appearance and Collin's 'Great Older Brother' response.
"U-Um, Brother."
"Yeah."
I didn't know if Raon was just like that or if he'd heard from Collin, but he was already speaking formally on his own.
"I heard the situation from Brother Collin."
"You did? Good. Go tell your professor, and let's leave right away."
"But there's a problem."
"A problem?"
"Yes. It's not my problem, but it will be difficult for us to leave the Empire right now."
"Difficult to leave?"
"Yes. Right now, you can enter the Empire, but you can't leave."
At the words that we couldn't leave the Empire, something flashed through my mind.
No way! So it's now!
"The Crown Prince was assassinated at dawn today."