After the first day's schedule, I returned to the mansion.
We could go to bed right away, but before that I decided to stop by Ariel's room.
Still, you must have spent the time diligently on your own; as your older brother, I should look after you, shouldn't I?
As I approached Ariel's door, a familiar song could be heard.
-â©âªâª
Edelweiss.
A lullaby that does not exist in this world.
Ariel was singing the song I used to play on the ocarina.
It's far less than my song, though.
I could clearly feel the sincerity with which she tried to imitate it.
"Ariel. I'm going in."
Knock.
I knock on the door twice and enter.
Ariel pulled the ocarina away from her mouth and looked up at me.
Her fingers were still covering the holes as if she had just been playing moments ago.
Have you been well? Did you do well playing the ocarina by yourself?
Yeah. I copied your singing, oppa.
Yeah. You did well.
She nods and sits down beside him.
Praise is important for everything.
If you do even a little better, praising you right away makes you work harder.
People are surprisingly simple.
Ariel. I don’t think I can be with you tomorrow.
Anyway, I didn't come just to see Ariel's face.
Because I also need to talk about the spar that will take place tomorrow.
I don’t know when the spar will take place, but you’ll need to keep a lot of time free.
No matter how much Ruin says he will bring out a unit worthy of facing him, you must not let your guard down.
The White Knight Order isn't a place you can get into by playing a game of slapjack.
Even as an apprentice knight, it won't be easy.
Aren't you making a bit too big of a deal out of this?
‘No. Of course.’
When you go into any competition, you must be thoroughly prepared and give it your all.
That’s courtesy, and that’s the key to success.
“What schedule is that?”
“They told me to duel with a member of the White Knight Order tomorrow. So I plan to devote myself to practice from the morning tomorrow. So I came to tell you I can’t hang out.”
…Yeah.
Ariel nodded slightly.
That's a relief. It seems they accepted it without any issues.
My younger sister is growing more open-minded by the day, and I, as her older brother, am really happy.
At that moment, Ariel asked a strange question.
“But, brother.”
Why?
“That was the proposal that woman made first, right?”
“That woman?”
“Who are you talking about that would make Ariel use such a strong expression?”
She tilted her head and finally figured it out.
“You’re talking about Ruin.”
“Yes. Mr. Ruin was the first to propose. But Ariel, you should speak nicely. If you say things like that, you can’t use them.”
“That woman again... that person again. She asked another unreasonable favor of you, brother.”
Huh? No, it's not an unreasonable request, but...
Honestly, it's a sparring match that isn't strictly necessary.
But it's also an opportunity to raise my reputation, so I readily accepted.
And sister. Just calling 'that woman' 'that person' doesn't make the words any nicer, you know? It's not cute to go from 'Koju-bu Monkey' to simply 'monkey', you know?
All right.
Be that as it may, it seems Ariel has accepted.
Oppa will be busy tomorrow, so I'll manage on my own.
Oh, right. You might also get dressed up too. Even if you don't participate directly, you'll be attending the contest.
Dress up? What does decorating mean?
It means making you look beautifully adorned.
“......”
Ariel's mouth is slightly open.
She looked at me with a piercing gaze and spoke.
“Then does my older brother think I look pretty too?”
Huh?
“If I dress up, will I look pretty?”
?
What does this mean now?
It’s awkward to say this before I’ve even dressed up.
It’s something you have to see for yourself, and above all—
“You are never not pretty, Ariel.”
…Yeah.
Ariel bowed her head deeply at my words and fiddled with the ocarina.
Mostly the mouthpiece, you know.
“Well, let’s stop with the embarrassing talk here. I’ll be going now.”
“Yes. Brother.”
“And don’t sing so hard. There’s saliva all over the entrance, you know.”
“...Ah. Oh, no—yeah. …Right. I sang so hard, that’s why.”
I waved my hand as I left the room.
Good grief.
That Ariel fellow, I wonder how much my singing pleased him to belt it out so enthusiastically.
The entrance was covered in saliva, as if someone had licked it clean.
**
The next day.
I headed to the training ground on the mansion grounds to practice swordsmanship.
Today, all the family knights had left their posts for the upcoming tournament.
So I was using the vast training ground all by myself.
Whoosh-!
Hold the sword and swing it.
That's all there is to that move.
But even that, when perfected, becomes art.
Huh.
He repeats the blade/sword path several times, taking a moment to catch his breath.
Sweat was already soaking his body.
If I just swing the sword simply, I won't grow tired.
It's merely a byproduct of training to envision my 'ideal' sword path.
“Shall we take a break?”
He lifts a nearby water bottle and gulps it down.
After a short rest, he resumes training.
Just enough to stimulate the body right before the spar.
Then I heard footsteps.
Stumble-stumble-
“Who is it?”
This is a clan-exclusive training ground, so no one can enter.
Could this be a domain resident who took the wrong path? If so, I should guide them.
Stumble-stumble-
The footsteps were getting closer to me.
The owner came into view.
Oh!
A girl gasped upon seeing me.
Her apparent age looks similar to mine; perhaps a little over ten.
The problem is that there’s something off about the fact that she saw me.
Hello? Nice to meet you!
This girl is wearing a blindfold.
A black blindfold that completely covers both eyes.
But she's walking surprisingly well.
She walked toward me as if she could see exactly where I was.
The competition hasn't started yet, so I was wandering around! I never imagined I'd end up coming to a place like this.
Yes. I really couldn't have imagined it. This is a clan-only training ground, you know.
What?!
Wow.
You look like a manga character.
H-how do I handle this? I would never do that on purpose! I was just walking and happened to end up here.
Ah. Please don't worry. I'll help you leave without being noticed.
Wow! Really? You're such a kind person!
Every word is bright and sprightly.
It's awkward with a blindfold on—the mood is way too bright, this kid.
She clapped her hands, laughed merrily, then tilted her head toward me.
No, is she really able to see me?
But who are you? If this is a family-only training ground, shouldn't you be gone?
Since this is a family-only training ground, have you considered that you might be part of the family?
Ah! That's right. That's true. You must be the strategist for this family, right?
I am the son of the Ga clan.
Wow! The Leonhart Ducal House's future is bright indeed. You've been this wise since you were little. You'll be very popular in the future.
I have no idea what kind of conversation I'm having.
The context jumps around arbitrarily, which is dizzying, but surprisingly this wasn’t bad either.
That's fun.
He's the kind of person who enjoys talking. This guy.
I can't help getting excited.
But what should I do? I'm still in training. Would you wait until it's over?
Oh! You're in training? That's amazing. I'd really like to observe you at least once. Is that possible?
How could you observe? You're wearing a blindfold.
Are you discriminating against the blind right now?
I think the person who caused the misunderstanding first is at fault, though.
That's right! There are actually many ways. I see the world with the eyes of my heart.
That's a truly amazing ability. I’d love to learn it at least once.
Ah, is that so? Then shall I teach you a move?
"Yes?"
Suddenly a drift?
But she looked sincere.
The girl straightened her chest and declared boldly.
“My name is Yoru! I am a wandering swordsman of Aonia. I came to broaden my horizons at the Empire’s renowned sword school Leonhart. If I could duel that young master, it would be an honor!”
“If you’re not carrying a sword, how can you be a wandering swordsman?”
“It doesn’t matter, I can borrow a sword at the destination!
“......”
We’re in big trouble.
This guy is more shameless than I am.
Feels like I’ve met a formidable foe.
“So, are you going to do it or not?”
Well, suit yourself.
It’s probably better than doing it alone.
Anyway, what I have to do is a sparring.
You need to experience clashing with people to learn how to cope.
Very well! Then let's get started!
Let's go grab a sword with Yoru cheerfully following behind me.
**
——
Hello? Nice to meet you!
Yoru greeted me warmly.
No matter who the opponent is, he doesn’t show hostility as soon as he first meets them.
Rather, he treats them as friendly as possible.
That has always been the attitude and habit Yoru has carried from the start.
“Who are you?”
But the reaction returned was stiff.
The blond-haired boy with blue eyes stepped back as if wary of the unfamiliar Yoru.
A familiar reaction.
Yoru ignored Ari’s chest and raised the tension to the maximum.
The competition hasn't started yet, so I was wandering around! I never imagined I'd end up coming to a place like this.
“Is that so? Then I will summon the attendants. Please step out. This is not a place for outsiders like you.”
“Ahaha. Yes.”
But if you respond so firmly, even Yoru has no choice.
Yoru swallowed his disappointment and released the tension.
‘As I suspected.’
No one likes me.
So Yoru also decided to forget the boy.
The person I was attracted to at first sight.
If I can't open my heart like this, it's best to forget her right away.
"They say that woman came in by mistake. Show her the way."
The boy summoned the attendant and drove Yoru away.
Yoru didn't particularly resist and simply followed.
Thus Kraine and Yoru forgot each other.
Someday in the future.
Even after meeting at the Red Blood Order.
They would forget each other and never remember again.
"Excerpt from 'Shardia Academy' Guidebook Volume 1"