The Second Strongest Has Returned

Chapter 8

Reinhardt

Jehad, who had just been punched in the face, trembled as he spoke.

“Wh… Why?!”

It was unclear why he was raising his voice, given that he was at fault.

“The fact that you don’t understand that already disqualifies you.”

“…What?!”

Jehad grabbed his swollen face and glared. He seemed truly blind now.

[Is that guy shameless, or is he really that dense?]

[Yeah, it has to be both. No one could be that much of an idiot with just one of those.]

For the first time, he found himself agreeing with the Sage. It made him think that this was why people enjoyed gossiping.

Or was it not gossip if done to someone’s face?

“You said you evacuated the civilians?”

“That’s right!! As a knight, I…!!”

“Are you a village guard? Or are you a bodyguard sworn to protect the Reinhardt lady?”

“That is…”

As a knight, protecting the weak was a given. It was a fundamental aspect of chivalry. But that was only after fulfilling one’s primary duty.

“Fine, let’s say you tried to protect the civilians. Even if we give you that, you still fail as a bodyguard.”

The family’s bodyguard was expected to prioritize the family’s members. If you had any common sense, that was.

“I clearly saw it. That boy was capable of defeating the Balrog, yet he threw himself to protect a mother and her child. What were you doing during that time?”

Jehad couldn’t respond to that sharp rebuke.

In truth, the excuse about evacuating civilians was just that—an excuse. The moment Jehad saw the Balrog, he instinctively knew he would die if he stayed there.

He was afraid. So he ran away.

He had no understanding of how much of a disgrace this was as a knight.

“Leave. Never come back. Your presence is only a stain on the Reinhardt name.”

“…But…! Who will teach the young lady then?!”

Until now, Jehad had been harboring countless delusions. But that question was the greatest misconception of them all.

“Teach her? You are seriously mistaken.”

“…What?”

“So you think you’re more skilled than Ariasphil?”

Faced with that pointed question, Jehad was even more at a loss for words.

During the duel with Leonardo, Ariasphil’s skills were confirmed once more. Her growth had surpassed even the concept of speed.

“But…! That’s because I taught her…!”

At that ridiculous assertion, both Leonardo and the Sage, even Ariasphil herself, were dumbfounded.

[It seems like he’s not just shameless; he’s also lacking in intelligence.]

[That could be it.]

This was probably the first time he had ever been so in sync with someone. The remarkable bond created by gossip was truly astounding.

“…Do you really think that?”

“Yes! So…”

“If you think so, then duel Ariasphil.”

“…What?”

Chris looked at Ariasphil and asked.

“Can you do it?”

“Yes? Yes.”

Ariasphil answered without hesitation.

“…But…”

“Oh, the one claiming to be a teacher is afraid to duel his student? If you were joking, the court jester would be out of a job.”

Jehad glanced at Ariasphil, weighing his options. She had shown incredible swordsmanship when fighting Leo. He was clearly outmatched in both talent and skill.

But…

‘She must be exhausted from fighting the Balrog. If it’s now…’

While her wounds had been healed, her mana and stamina were likely not fully recovered. So if they fought now…

“…I’ll do it!”

“Good. Both of you, follow me.”

Jehad and Ariasphil followed Chris outside.

Leonardo, still lying on the bed, simply waved to the departing group as he continued to rest.

[Will she be alright?]

“What?”

[You know, Ariasphil is strong, but she’s exhausted from fighting the Balrog. On the other hand, that idiot is fully rested.]

“True.”

[What do you mean, true? Stop them and…!]

KA-BOOM!!

The Sage’s words were cut off by the sound of something slicing through the air.

It’s over. It ended later than I thought.

[…Huh?]

As the explosive sound faded, two white-haired knights walked in.

“Is it over?”

“Yes.”

The boy and girl calmly confirmed their victory and looked at each other.

[…Did she win?]

Of course, Ariasphil had been at a disadvantage in terms of experience and stamina.

But a genius overcomes such things.

“Your skill was impressive, Arias. Your mana core has improved significantly, and your swordsmanship has deepened.”

“It’s all thanks to Leonardo.”

Receiving sudden praise from Ariasphil felt odd. He had grown so accustomed to her usual complaints that it made him think his life as a servant was just unlucky.

“Indeed. This, too, must be fate guided by martial destiny.”

“Ha ha…”

An awkward laugh escaped his lips. Hearing such words so earnestly left him speechless.

“Oh, by the way, I have something to ask.”

“What is it?”

To change the subject, Leo asked about the doubt he had during the earlier battle.

“Why didn’t you help us?”

Though it might sound accusatory, it was a question that needed to be asked. Depending on the interpretation, it could mean they allowed thirteen-year-old kids to die.

“Hm, good question.”

[I’ve lived over 300 years, and it’s the first time I’ve heard someone actually say ‘hm’ aloud. Am I the weird one?]

Leo felt the same, but understanding was crucial now.

This was a knack he had developed over five years of serving as a squire.

“Is there a reason?”

“A lion pushes its cubs off a cliff and raises only the ones that climb back up. I thought this was a necessary process for the growth of young warriors.”

While his broken ribs ached from what was deemed necessary, he decided not to express anger.

In moments like this, it was essential to speak with gentlemanly composure.

“I understand your point.”

“Thank you. I knew a warrior like you would understand.”

“But if I may point out, lions don’t actually push their cubs off cliffs.”

Chris’s face, which had been serious, changed.

“…What?”

“Not just lions, but no predator pushes its cubs off cliffs. In fact, the higher up in the food chain an animal is, the stronger its maternal instincts tend to be.”

When he couldn’t train at Reinhardt, he spent time reading books. The head of the family had allowed it, and it was necessary to accumulate at least some knowledge as a servant of a noble house.

‘I didn’t enjoy reading much, but I remember details like these.’

Chris Reinhardt, he had often wanted to rebut her nonsense in the past.

“…That… That’s just a saying. I know it’s not true.”

[For all that, she sounds like a kid who just found out Santa isn’t real.]

Indeed. Even kids these days didn’t believe in Santa Claus.

“Oh, come to think of it, there are times when they do push.”

Chris’s face lit up at Leo’s words, like a child on Christmas morning.

“Really?! I knew it! Noble lions…”

“Male lions sometimes throw cubs off cliffs to eliminate competition. That’s where the saying comes from, but it’s been distorted.”

But reality is often harsh.

“…Is that…really true?”

“Yes.”

At this point, it seemed like not only had Chris lost her innocence, but any remnants of it had been dragged out and hammered into dust.

[Why do you have to destroy her pure dreams like that?]

[In my eyes, she’s still a child at a hundred.]

That was true. He thought it was remarkable how she hadn’t had a single romance at her age.

‘To have lived that long without any romantic experience… truly…’

[Shut up.]

<…I didn’t even say anything.>

[You were thinking I’m impotent, you bastard.]

He knew this. But that wasn’t the point of the conversation.

“Excuse me, Chris?”

“………”

She stared into space, clearly shocked by what he had said earlier.

“Chris?”

“…Ah, sorry. What were we talking about?”

“About male lions…”

[Stop it. Her innocence is already in pieces.]

It was a valid point. If he continued, she’d probably have nightmares.

“…Never mind that. Could you tell us why you’re here in this village?”

Though she was savoring her despair, she wasn’t too weak to answer a question. She was just overly innocent.

“…I came here to see Arias.”

“To see me?”

Ariasphil turned to Chris.

“There was a mission nearby, and when I heard you were out training, I wanted to see how much you’d grown.”

Come to think of it, Ariasphil had met Chris in a village on her way back home.

‘So the Balrog was defeated by Chris. That makes sense.’

The events of his previous and current lives fit together like puzzle pieces. As he pondered, Chris spoke again.

“And I was amazed by your growth.”

It was only natural. Thanks to Leonardo’s advice and training methods, she had achieved in one year what normally took much longer.

“And seeing the boy who fought the Balrog with you, I thought he must have had a significant influence on your growth.”

Chris Reinhardt extended her hand to the boy and said,

“So I have a proposal for you.”

For some reason, Leonardo already knew what this

proposal was before hearing it.

“Would you become a squire for the Reinhardt family, a house with the blood and spirit of heroes?”

“Aunt!”

Ariasphil shouted, unable to contain herself. Chris was surprised by the outburst.

It wasn’t the informal address that shocked her.

‘Is Arias really this excited?’

Though she was her niece, Arias had always been cold and distant. But now she looked at her with excited eyes.

“Why…did you call?”

“Leonardo is too valuable to be a mere squire! Now… Oh, right! With Jehad gone…!”

“I’ll do it.”

…There was a moment of silence.

“…What?”

“…What?”

[…What?]

The same word echoed three times. Leonardo responded calmly, as if it wasn’t surprising at all.

“Being a squire sounds good. I’ll do it.”

There was no hesitation.

Because…

「Your eyes are filled with determination and passion. Even if you don’t win immediately, you’ll be a great help to Arias in the future.」

「Would you become a squire for our family?」

Even someone like Chris had given him a chance in life.

If he could serve such a family and knight, being a squire was fine with him.