Griem
Boom!
The warhammer slammed into empty air. The perilous power packed into it ruptured the atmosphere, whipping up a brief gust that swept through the surroundings.
“Whoa!”
“As expected!”
The duel between Tiny and Drexler a week prior had been the hot topic among the Blue Wing knights as well. The knights who had been watching his training intently let out cries of admiration.
But the man himself wore a deep frown.
“Still not it.”
He couldn’t feel the proper impact in his hands. It wasn’t that his training had gone wrong. It was simply that the sensation from swinging Stamp a week ago still lingered in his body, making it impossible to be satisfied with a mere practice warhammer.
Guess that’s enough for today.
With a light click of his tongue, he calmly set down the practice warhammer.
Clap, clap, clap.
Applause rang out from behind him. It was a markedly different tone from the knights’ cheers, causing Tiny to pause.
“We greet the young lady!”
The knights’ resounding voices followed, and his head turned naturally toward the sound.
What entered his view was Wolrang, eyes wide and barking ferociously at his wayward(?) master. Beside him stood the red-haired guard knight Vivian, and holding Wolrang was the star of the coming-of-age ceremony, Cloi von Valentia.
The girl who was supposed to be secluded in her room had somehow appeared in the training grounds.
...What’s going on?
I tried to stop her, but...
After exchanging glances with Vivian, Tiny let out a sigh and turned to Cloi.
“They said you were training hard—looks impressive.”
“...What brings you here?”
“Why? Can’t I come?”
Tiny couldn’t help but chuckle at Cloi’s hurt expression.
Sis keeps visiting? The little brother should come instead! Unable to resist her whining, he’d gone to see her yesterday and chatted for quite a while... She must still be feeling restless.
“...It’s not that you can’t. How are the coming-of-age preparations going?”
“Great! The place is all abuzz, so I got curious and came out. And since I thought of you, here I am.”
“I heard envoys have arrived to celebrate your ceremony. Chatting like this alone goes against etiquette, doesn’t it?”
“...Yeah, but staying cooped up in my room is suffocating.”
“Weren’t you playing with Wolrang?”
Seizing the moment, Vivian chimed in, and Wolrang barked in agreement.
“Kyung!”
As if asking whether he hadn’t been fun enough, Wolrang tilted his head back and glared. Cloi hurriedly shook her head.
“N-No! Wol, you did make it less boring. Really.”
“Kiheung.”
“...I mean it.”
Cloi panicked at Wolrang’s sulky expression, but Tiny was simply dumbfounded.
You hated it so much before—already adapted?
As he eyed Wolrang in disbelief, Cloi’s eyes sparkled.
“Tell me more about that Taran place. The stories about the city union were so fun. Especially that lawless city...”
All eyes around them turned to Tiny.
“W-Well, I only heard the stories myself...”
“You tell them so well, it feels like you lived it. So tell me more!”
...Because I did live it.
Tiny could only muster an awkward smile. And the knights’ murmurs nearby didn’t help.
“...That close with the young lady?”
“He hasn’t even been at the mansion long.”
“’Cause he’s a kid?”
“Yeah, she likes cute things.”
C-Cute...
A twitch ran across his mouth. Words he’d only heard from Erina in his past life were coming too often lately. For a man whose soul was firmly in its thirties, it was anything but amusing.
“What, you hate it?”
As Tiny hesitated, a flicker of hurt crossed Cloi’s large eyes again.
The moment he moved to reassure her late—
“Ooh! The rumored Angel of Valentia. Such an angelic beauty!”
An out-of-place voice cut in.
...Who the hell is that guy?
Tiny’s black eyes reflected a striking man with blue hair and red eyes.
“If I may be so bold, you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. I am Tibron von Rohiter.”
The young man knelt on one knee with knightly courtesy, though his overly flashy suit made him look like a clown. Still, Cloi couldn’t dismiss him lightly—because of his family.
She’d just come from her father’s warning moments ago.
The Rohiter family’s wastrel is among the envoys. He’ll know better if he has any brains, but avoid him just in case.
The crest on the armor of the silent knight behind him was a vivid red rose—the Rohiter ducal emblem.
“Rohiter... you say?”
“Indeed. Third son of the prestigious Rohiter ducal house, locked in friendly rivalry with Valentia for generations—this very body, Tibron von Rohiter.”
His self-aggrandizing “this body” sent chills down her spine, but Rohiter was no house to ignore. “Friendly rivalry” or not, they were effectively enemies.
“Pleased to meet you, Young Master Tibron. I’m sorry, but could we talk another time? It’s etiquette not to receive guests before the ceremony... Apologies.”
She drew the line politely, without giving cause for complaint.
“Must we cling to such outdated customs? When such a fine pair meets, wouldn’t a cozy chat be nice? I happen to have some fine wine from my family.”
His words left her speechless for a moment.
What? Is he insane?
Ignoring etiquette was one thing. But with a week until her ceremony—when she was still legally a minor—and an engagement announcement looming? Wine? It defied all reason.
Thankfully—
“Step back, Young Master Tibron. The young lady receives no guests until her ceremony.”
Vivian intervened appropriately.
But the madman’s response exceeded her expectations.
“A knight? A woman at that? Ha, go get married and pop out kids. A woman daring to interrupt me!?”
It had been two hundred years since merit-based promotion welcomed capable women. His words flew in the face of centuries, leaving everyone stunned into silence.
Warned about the Rohiter wastrel...
Vivian, closest to the madman, recovered first.
“...If you won’t withdraw, I’ll make you.”
“Ha, the nerve? Griem, just gonna watch?”
“...No, Young Master.”
The expressionless knight drew his sword with a ching.
“Step back, knight. This is noble discourse.”
“...Surely you know this exceeds common sense?”
“A knight obeys his lord.”
Like master, like knight.
This one’s crazy too?
Cloi and Vivian exchanged bewildered glances. The surrounding knights milled about in confusion.
Avoid if possible.
They too had received orders from above.
Their ambiguity emboldened Tibron, who smirked oilily and took another step toward Cloi.
“No need for trouble, young lady? Just chat with me. Over a light drink.”
His boundary-pushing grew bolder.
“Who knows? I might be your lifelong match.”
With a wink and nonsense.
Cloi and Vivian barely suppressed their revulsion.
But everyone there realized Tibron von Rohiter, third son of Rohiter, wasn’t just a wastrel.
Just shit. Smells from afar, dirties you up close.
The thought crossed all minds—except the black-haired boy’s.
...Smiling?
He wasn’t watching the fool Tibron. It was the knight behind him, flashing a faint smile.
Gone in an instant, but suspicious to Tiny.
One might not stop their lord’s drivel, but smiling instead of looking troubled?
Crazy like his master? Or...
Did he want this situation?
As Tiny’s eyes narrowed on the knight—
“Please spare a moment, young lady. Our young master has quietly pined for you for years upon hearing rumors. Having finally met you, forgive his overzealous pure heart if it seems rude.”
The knight spoke smoothly to Cloi. Tiny was certain.
Polished words, unlike his lord—like scripted lines.
Making his master cause a scene to drag Cloi in.
Empty words unworthy of reply, yet Cloi hesitated, looking troubled. There must be circumstances.
Won’t openly stop despite pressure...
Tiny gauged the knights’ reactions.
“Indeed. I’ve admired the Angel of Valentia since hearing rumors years ago. Please, grant a chat.”
The oaf’s drivel continued. Rumors barely a year old, claimed years? Even his knight frowned.
“Sorry, I wish to uphold custom.”
Cloi drew the line without accusing rudeness in her own territory.
“Come on, just one chat? Hey!? Even I’m humbling myself!”
Ignoring “humble.” Listening grated.
“Young lady, step back.”
Vivian and knights gripped sword hilts.
“Elders’ talk. No place for knights, no?”
But Griem smiled faintly at the sight.
The situation he wanted?
Then...
...Time to earn my keep.
In his past life, wandering alone with scant info and wits, he’d bungled into absurd traps.
From countless experiences, one useful tactic against schemers:
Do the opposite of what they want.
Want a clash with Valentia or Cloi? Let an outsider—unaffiliated with the ducal house—cause chaos.
Perfect, weapon’s down...
Seizing an unseen moment, Tiny puffed his cheeks full of air.
He slipped between the standoff knights, drawing eyes.
“Sis, who’re these uncles?”
Tugging Vivian’s clothes “cutely.” Her back shuddered.
The red-haired knight looked down slowly at the boy barely reaching her waist, face aghast.
“...S-Sis?”
Tiny nodded vigorously.
“Yeah!”
“Uh... yeah?”
He ignored her twisted expression.
Acting to troll scum was always fun.
Grasping his intent, Vivian leaned to whisper urgently.
Anyone without that much wit wouldn’t be a Blader.
“You nuts? What’s this sudden act?!”
...Mana wasn’t built on wit alone.
But Tiny pressed on.
“Huh? Oh! Weird uncles?”
“...What?”
Her face blanked again at his feigned surprise, all eyes on Tiny.
Those who got it got it; others didn’t.
“The shit” reacted first.
“What’s this unlucky brat? Black hair’s bad omen. Young lady, avoid such ill luck—for our future relations too.”
Our relations. Faces twisted in unison, but he noticed nothing.
“Griem, clear the brat! Meanwhile, I’ll cozy up with the young lady over drinks. You too, fake knight wench—move!”
Before Vivian’s fury, Griem spoke.
“...The child?”
“Yeah, annoying eyesore!”
Language for non-people.
Tiny’s black eyes chilled, unnoticed by Tibron.
And then—
“Trash removal’s my specialty, punk.”
With chilling words beyond his age, the boy leaped, palm cracking Tibron’s cheek.
Splat!
“Guh-guhk.”
A juicy yelp, Tibron’s neck cracking with a crunch. His body spun two full turns from the force.
All froze at the unforeseen sight.
W-What...?
Half his face numb, Tibron’s mind fogged rapidly.
Through drooping lids, he glimpsed—
“Y-You little shit!!!”
Griem, first to react, belatedly drawing on the brat.
But soon—
Splaaat!
Griem flew through the air, struck even harder.
The surreal scene brought Tibron enlightenment.
This is...
A dream.
Yeah, total bullshit dream... haha...
Relief smiled on his lips as he finally crumpled backward with a thud.