Dark Fantasy Normalized

13 – The b*stard Strikes (2)

“What… what happened?”

“Sir Rishir… won, right?”

“I don’t know anything about swordsmanship…”

“Me neither…”

“Well, it looks like! Sir Humpton fell, and Sir Rishir raised him, so it seems like Sir Rishir won!?”

“I hope so…!”

“Please, let it have ended before Sir Rishir got hurt-“

It could be said to be a truly ironic situation.

It was a gathering of warriors who never neglected the training of their mind and body to maintain composure in any situation.

In such a place, the only ones maintaining composure were the servants dressed neatly in maid uniforms.

Of course, it was possible because they did not understand the situation at all.

What it meant for the b*stard of the Vendel family to win a duel against the apprentice knight of Vendel.

What it meant that the decisive move that secured that victory was magic.

Even the head of the family, who should have announced the end of the duel the moment Rishir’s sword was aimed at Humpton’s neck, was ‘Humptoning’.

It means he was so stunned that he couldn’t stop blinking.

In the end, the b*stard declared his own victory.

Lifting Humpton’s hand and smiling, he looked every bit the undisputed victor.

The first to react were the servants.

“Oh my! It seems Sir Rishir has really won!”

“Thank goodness he’s not hurt-“

“Hey, is that the issue right now!”

“That’s what I’m saying!!!”

“How did he win when his opponent was twice his size!?”

“Hey, don’t you know that swordsmanship isn’t just about strength?”

“Right, right! Look at Lady Roera!”

“Then does that mean Sir Rishir is as strong as Lady Roera?”

“He trains so hard every day in the backyard of the annex! He must have some secret training that no one else knows about!”

The servants, who knew nothing about swords, quickly accepted Rishir’s victory with their free imagination.

They even wanted to cheer and applaud.

“Why is everyone standing still!? We should congratulate him!”

“Wait a moment-“

The excited servants who were about to cheer.

The one who stopped them was the senior servant standing at the front of the group.

“The atmosphere. Doesn’t it feel strange…?”

Only then did the servants, with their hands half-raised, look around at the atmosphere.

“Didn’t Mr. Humpton just say it was magic?”

“It seems so? I didn’t see it, but Mr. Humpton’s head suddenly snapped back.”

“Wow… How could magic appear here… I never imagined it.”

“In the history of Vendel… has there ever been a magician?”

“Would there have been?”

The trainees, who understood the seriousness of the situation a little, were as noisy as if they were looking at a sky covered with thick clouds.

The apprentice knights, who fully understood the seriousness of the situation, were already terrified as if a typhoon had hit right in front of their eyes.

“My God. That crazy b*stard Humpton. He lost this?”

“Indeed… The master said to give it your all and not to have any foolish thoughts…”

“Ah, I knew it when I didn’t take my stance seriously and relaxed.”

“No. Why are you blaming Humpton here? Isn’t it obvious that the problem is the use of magic?”

“…Well, there wasn’t a rule against using magic.”

“This isn’t about rules! It’s about pride. How dare he use magic in a duel under the name of Vendel in front of the head of the Vendel family?”

“Unbelievable. Where did that guy, Rishir, learn magic from?”

“I heard he’s been going to the library every day lately, was it because of that?”

“Could you learn magic just by going to the library?”

“Looks like it’s not something he learned in just a day or two.”

“Our young master. He’s quite something, isn’t he? Quite resourceful?”

“Is this the time to be impressed!?”

“Guys, take a look for me. What kind of face is the head of the family making right now?”

“Isn’t he secretly pleased? After all, it’s his son.”

“Not a chance. Would he be happy that a knight bearing the name of Vendel lost to an illegitimate child? With his personality?”

“And he even secretly learned magic…”

“Damn it. I shouldn’t have come to watch.”

The arms of the servants, who were observing the atmosphere of the two groups, froze awkwardly between clapping and standing at attention.

As a result, no one congratulated Rishir on his victory.

“What should we do…”

“Poor Rishir…”

The servants looked at Rishir as if he were a wounded puppy.

Even in this situation, his playful smile seemed like a pitiful attempt to pretend nothing was wrong.

“Rishir… He’s smiling on the outside, but he’s crying on the inside…”

“What should we do, he closed his eyes…”

“He’s trying to hold back the tears…!”

*

Ah. s*x.

It’s vulgar, but I had to use that expression.

There was no other way to express how I feel right now.

The silence of the enemies is soon a cheer.

The silence filling the place felt like it was going to deafen me.

Yes. This is it.

This is what an away game feels like.

Shall we create the Vendel Library?

I basked in the glory of victory and looked in the direction where the head of the family was seated.

“…”

The head of the family was lost in deep contemplation, his face shrouded in shadows.

There was no sign that his anguish would turn into joy.

It was a starkly different reaction from when Roera won against the apprentice knight.

If that was “Is this for real!?” then now it was more like “…Is this for real?”

I had become a living nightmare for the head of the family.

Master.

Is this b*stard so bothersome to you?

I shed tears inwardly.

Tears of emotion.

This was exactly the reaction I had longed for.

I wondered what wind blew when the head of the family accepted this proposal.

This man was not one to give me such an opportunity.

Surely, it was a decision backed by some calculation.

The head of the family’s current reaction was not just the face of someone flustered by a b*stard’s audacious rebellion.

It was the face of someone whose plan had gone awry and had no idea how to fix it.

Our eyes met.

I did not avoid his gaze and returned it fully.

Master. Your b*stard has returned.

What, do you now see only darkness before your eyes?

Yes, eternal child abuse does not exist.

Clap, clap, clap.

It was then that the sudden sound of applause was heard.

Applause? In this situation?

Everyone turned to look in the direction the sound was coming from with such expressions.

It was Roera.

My younger sister was clapping with a confident yet awkward posture.

“…”

“…”

I made eye contact with Loera.

Whoosh!

Loera quickly averted her gaze as if she hadn’t been looking at me from the start.

Her already awkwardly stiff expression became even more rigid.

Loera’s face turned visibly red, even from a distance.

-Clap clap clap clap clap!!!

Despite that, the applause did not stop.

The nervous clapping sound, influenced by her expression, echoed around.

“Rishir~~~”

Then, Pien’s delicate clapping sound overlapped with it.

“Oh! Miss Loera and Miss Pien are clapping!”

“Then, shouldn’t we clap too!?”

Next were the servants who had been watching the situation.

“Rishir!!! Congratulations!!!”

“Rishir is strong!!! So cool!!!”

When I smiled and waved, the servants responded with exaggerated enthusiasm.

That completely changed the atmosphere of the place.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

I heard a clapping sound like someone hitting their palm with a fist from beside me.

“If we fight again, I will win.”

Humpton was clapping with a sullen face, looking at me.

I patted Humpton’s shoulder and said,

“If I get another chance, I won’t disappoint you.”

“…!”

Humpton’s eyes widened.

His clapping paused for a moment, then resumed, louder and faster.

At the same time, the head of the family stood up.

“Winner, Rishir.”

The place that had been quiet just moments ago was now filled with applause and cheers.

Vendel Library, just built, and already being demolished?

The construction has completely failed.

“Ha.”

But, well. It’s not a bad feeling.

If I had to say, this place might be better than Vendel Library.

I purely enjoyed this moment.

*

Right after the duel ended.

Rishir was summoned and headed to the lord’s office.

“…”

The desk was still covered with numerous documents, just like before.

But unlike before, Idor’s gaze was directly on Rishir.

Rishir returned the gaze without a word.

For a considerable amount of time, the two silently stared at each other.

“Can you explain what happened?”

It was Idor who spoke first, as expected.

“I had the opportunity to learn magic. During the duel, I used magic to exploit the gaps in Humpton’s focus on my poor swordsmanship. That’s all.”

“You-…”

Idor stopped mid-sentence and rubbed his forehead.

In that brief moment, countless confusions passed over his face.

“…”

Soon, he spoke as if he had made up his mind.

“How long exactly have you been learning magic?”

“To be precise, it’s been less than a week since I recognized the value of magic and started to enjoy it.”

“Rishir.”

Idor spoke in a pressing tone.

“The achievement you showed today is significant enough on its own. There’s no need to add unnecessary embellishments.”

Rishir recalled past memories at Idor’s attitude.

The illegitimate child was in a position where it was difficult to attract his father’s attention in many ways.

By birth, and by talent.

If the illegitimate child had shown talent in his childhood, his treatment might have been different now.

But the illegitimate child’s talent was extremely ordinary. Perhaps even pathetic.

With no other options, the illegitimate child tried to attract his father’s attention with that pathetic talent.

Since it was generally impossible, such attempts were mostly made in an artificial manner.

Like conducting ‘secret’ harsh training so noisy that everyone in the mansion could know.

In other words.

Is that it.

Does this person think I’m exaggerating to get his attention?

“Ha.”

Lysir involuntarily let out a small laugh.

“…Lysir?”

Idor was bewildered by his unfamiliar appearance.

Regardless. Lysir continued speaking.

“Yes. I’m sorry for deceiving you. In fact, I’ve been steadily learning magic since long ago.”

“…”

Idor’s confusion only deepened, even though he had heard the answer he wanted and expected.

The innermost thoughts of Lysir, who had always been endlessly transparent and young in front of him, were no longer visible.

“…”

Idor fell into deep contemplation.

He slowly got up from his seat and headed towards the window.

“I suppose-“

With his hands behind his back, he spoke in a serious tone, looking down at the scene beyond the window.

“I’ve left you alone for too long.”

“…”

“I clearly said. If this matter is resolved well, I will positively consider improving your treatment.”

“…”

“From today, you will be under Vendelieu’s tutelage. There will be no separate teaching about magic, but I won’t stop you either. Adjust yourself as long as it doesn’t interfere with Vendelieu’s tutelage.”

“…”

“Of course. Rights without responsibility do not exist.”

“…”

“The young lady of the Dintal family shows an immense interest in you.”

“…”

“Originally, the exchange between our family and the Dintal family was practically impossible. Although there were no major conflicts, the repeated minor disputes over the long years were enough to create a chasm of conflict.”

“…”

“Dintal is also aware of this fact. However, with just one request from that lady named Pien, the head of the Dintal family bent all his will and extended his hand to us first.”

“…”

“It is a meaningful opportunity and relationship for both families. You will be responsible for this from now on.”

“…”

“I ask you, Rishir. Are you ready to take responsibility for this?”

Idor, who had organized his emotions and thoughts with words, turned around again.

To hear Rishir’s answer.

“…”

Idor, confirming Rishir’s appearance, closed his eyes slowly.

He was shaking, covering his face with his hands.

Idor intended to give him time to gather his emotions.

“Master…”

But Rishir had no intention of gathering his emotions.

He had no intention of hiding his feelings.

“Speak.”

“What are you talking about right now?”

“…What?”

Idor realized belatedly.

That Rishir’s state was vastly different from what he had thought.

Rishir removed his hand from his face.

It was not a face struggling to hold back overflowing tears, but one struggling to swallow laughter.

“I told you. I am leaving the family.”

“…There is no need for that. Now, there are many other paths for you. In the first place, that path did not suit you.”

“It’s not that- Ah. I understand. It seems there was a slight misunderstanding between you and me, Master.”

There was neither malice nor hostility.

Rishir said with a refreshing smile.

Idor nodded in satisfaction.

He listened attentively to Rishir’s next words.

“When I said I would leave the family, it meant I was completely abandoning the identity of Vendel.”

“…!”

He couldn’t imagine such shocking words coming from Rishir’s mouth.

A noble abandoning their identity?

It was unthinkable. Even if he was an illegitimate child.

“Master. Here, at the highest place in Vendel, you promised me as the head of the family. If I won this duel, you would respect my will.”

“Do- Do you even know what you are saying right now!?”

The various problems that would arise from this were not even on Idor’s mind.

He was just bewildered by Rishir’s sudden change.

Rishir replied calmly.

“There is probably no one in the world who understands this part better than I do. If it’s you, Master, you would know what I am talking about.”

Rishir neither blamed nor felt disappointed by Idor’s current attitude.

That was also how Idor had treated Rishir in the past.

“Do- Do you even-“

Idor had many things to say.

But in the end, he couldn’t utter a single word.

There was too much to say to lay it all out here.

It was the complete opposite with Rishir.

Rishir had already laid everything out, so there was nothing more to say.

Emotions. Words.

Yes. He knew it would be like this.

But, isn’t this much okay?

“Kukukukuku- Hahahahaha!!!”

Rishir laughed.

It wasn’t an outburst of twisted emotions.

As the endlessly cheerful laughter indicated, it was an expression of pure joy.

Thinking that all the tiresome things would completely end now, only pure joy guided his emotions.

“This time, I will speak clearly to avoid any misunderstandings.”

Rishir stood up and grabbed the sword hanging from his waist.

“Whether it’s the name of a prestigious family, a status that can mimic nobility, or your recognition, I don’t need any of it anymore.”

It was an ordinary sword.

A plain sword made by removing the decorations and patterns symbolizing Vendel, not something generally forged.

A sword that had never left his body since it was bestowed upon him.

Rishir placed it on the desk without any hesitation.

“I quit being a b*stard.”

Thank you for everything.

Father.

At those words, his ruthless father’s eyes shook uncontrollably.