Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Episode 004 (2)
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Glittering silver hair and violet eyes.
A slightly arrogant-looking bridge of the nose and jawlines that closely resembled each other.
The only differences were the girl's petite, maidenly build and, in stark contrast, the bear-like massive frame that was enormous even for his age.
Casting long shadows were a pair of boy and girl who looked exactly like twins reflected in a full-length mirror.
'Brother... and sister?'
Kuhn racked his brain for memories of them as he opened his mouth.
"Do you need something?"
In response, the girl—who stood out above the rest—placed both hands on her hips and shot back.
"Nothing major. We just have a proposal for you."
As if she assumed he already knew who they were—
Not content with barging in out of nowhere, they dove straight into the main topic without even introducing themselves. It was a rather rude attitude.
Kuhn's brow furrowed slightly at their haughty demeanor, which matched their upturned noses, as he asked,
"A proposal?"
Ignoring whether she grasped his inner thoughts or not, the girl let out a light scoff and replied.
"Yeah."
She nodded emphatically, her expression as if she were bestowing a great favor.
"About the first gate of the Lion's Trial this time. How about teaming up with me and my brother to get through it?"
What she called a proposal—
Her tone made it clear she hadn't even considered the possibility of refusal, just like at the start.
Kuhn lowered his head at her voice, a faint sneer crossing his lips.
'Not just oblivious, but the epitome of arrogance?'
It was the very picture of rude nobility. Ignoring Kuhn's thoughts, the girl pressed on.
"As you know..."
His eyes darkened naturally as the siblings rattled off their boasts—not half bad skills, top-tier in the third den, and so on.
Listening to them dredged up memories of the pair in his mind.
'The Silver siblings.'
Not quite vassal nobles, but still one of the better swordsmanship clans under the Jordic family's banner, or so the fragments said.
'But that's old news. Lately, rumors say their status is on shaky ground.'
The two before him were precisely the Silver family's eldest son and daughter.
If the rumors held water, they'd come to the Lion's Den to bolster their house's prestige.
And their skills were indeed solid enough.
The eldest daughter leading the pitch held top-tier strength even in the third den... while her one-year-younger, hulking brother was among the top handful purely on talent.
A cut above even Barison, if one had to nitpick.
'For them to approach me first with an offer...'
It likely meant his own prowess and changes were starting to stand out among the trainees.
That was when the elder sister was still rambling on.
"Does this really need to drag on like this?"
Snort—!
A loud snort cut in from beside her, accompanied by a booming voice.
Violet eyes gleaming with arrogance and blunt idiocy, his face screaming boredom with the situation.
"Hey, hold on. I'm the one talking...!"
Undeterred by his sister's fluster at the sudden interruption, the brother barreled ahead.
"I'll cut to the chase. Teaming up with us for the trial isn't a bad deal for you, right?"
"...?"
"Sure, three might be a crowd, but with powerhouses like us, we can blast through without wasting time."
Sound logic so far. But the problem came next.
"And... for someone of your pitiful background, chances like this don't come often."
"Pitiful... background?"
Kuhn let out a disbelieving chuckle.
Words he could only say because he didn't know this body's true identity... yet his lips still curled despite himself.
Right then.
The sister, who'd been chattering away excitedly, started backpedaling in panic to cover for her brother.
"M-my brother's a bit blunt, b-but I think what he means isn't wrong. What do you say?"
Except... she was way off base.
"You have to think about what comes after leaving the Lion's Den too."
"After the Lion's Den."
Kuhn mulled it over meaningfully, meeting their eyes as he asked,
"Planning to be my sponsor?"
It wasn't uncommon for prestigious noble houses to back promising rookie knights.
With enough capital, they even sponsored established names.
And the reason they backed knights outside their own houses was simple.
'It forges new connections... and elevates their own house's name alongside the knight's.'
The house shares in the knight's achievements and fame.
For knights lacking origins or backing, such patronage wasn't all bad.
In short, symbiosis.
The girl nodded as if it were obvious.
"Y-yes. If you've got the skills, it's totally doable. As you know, our Silver family..."
Produced a swordmaster ages ago, top hundred under Jordic excluding vassals, etc.—
Unprompted boasts poured out nonstop.
Kuhn let them flow in one ear and out the other, muttering inwardly.
'Still shallow... but textbook noble response.'
Not a firm commitment, just "if you're skilled enough"—vague hedging.
'In other words, they might use me and discard me if convenient.'
Kuhn murmured the family name under his breath.
'Silver family.'
These were mere fragments left in this body.
As a southern continent native, it was a name he'd barely heard, if at all.
'More precisely, I never cared about northern affairs...'
Even so, if half their claims rang true, the Silvers weren't a bad house.
But—
'That's it.'
"Not bad" didn't mean he needed their backing.
Besides, he'd already resolved to clear the trial solo.
Thus, Kuhn replied flatly to their proposal.
"Thanks, but no thanks."
"Right, you'd team up with us too... What?"
Had they never imagined rejection?
Their noses twitched identically, but the bearish younger brother spoke first.
"You're turning down our offer?"
As if daring you?
His massive, steamed-bun-like hand gripped his wooden sword's hilt.
"You'll regret it."
Less calculated coldness, more venting bruised pride.
'Over one refusal, and this is their response?'
It screamed how spoiled and arrogant his life had been.
Kuhn met his killing intent calmly, chuckling again.
This time, unmistakably audible.
And... perhaps that laugh grated.
"How dare you laugh—!!"
As the furious boy scowled and moved to draw his sword—Whoosh!
His hand froze mid-motion.
Simultaneously, the sister's face, who'd been watching the standoff, went deathly pale.
'Ugh, ugh...!'
Natural predator.
天敵.
A literal predator... like shoving one's head into the maw of a house-sized white tiger. Chilling.
Gooseflesh raced down their spines, and the sister shuddered, unable to contain her fear.
"W-what is this?"
The hulking brother hid it better, but he felt it too.
"W-why can't I... move?"
The demonic power of Monstrous Strength and Chaotic Spirits, stronger now than when fighting Barison after months of training.
Of course...
'After gorging on that much poison, it's only natural...'
As if to prove it, the sister's lips quivered.
"Ugh, ugh..."
Skill aside, her innate temperament made her more sensitive than her brutish brother.
She could move if she tried.
But...
'After all that in the Lion's Den, and they're still so immature.'
No chance.
Sure enough, the tremors spread from her torso to her slender legs.
Confirming them quake like aspen leaves, Kuhn casually turned his head.
Then gazed toward the dense foliage ahead in the woods, speaking up.
"Why don't you come out already?"
.
.
"Y-you'll regret this...!!"
They fled, leaving behind a clichéd villain line straight out of a third-rate tale.
Kuhn started to chuckle at the sight but spoke lowly instead.
"You're here with the same proposal, right?"
Beside him stood a boy who looked a year or two younger.
Probably around the same age as the Silver brother who'd just bolted.
'Neatly combed blond hair and sapphire-blue eyes gleaming like gems.'
Even fresh traces of the woods—leaves and twigs—clung to him.
The boy's identity: none other than Taylor Rosetta.
In response to Kuhn's question, Taylor—who'd just emerged from the brush—shook his head quietly.
"Similar, but a bit different."
"...?"
"My proposal will be more thoughtful and courteous than theirs."
He introduced himself with a polite bow.
"I'm Taylor Rosetta, second son of the Rosetta family."
His gaze held a touch of boldness, paired with a courteous, likable voice.
Kuhn couldn't help but click his tongue inwardly.
'No wonder who's the real prestigious house.'