I’ll Use a Reverse-Edged Sword

The Fool Who Didn’t Disappoint Expectations
It seemed I had already gained a new nickname upon my return.
Not only the trade group members but also our knights, there were too many eyes watching at that place.
The story about the new black bracelet on my wrist had already become so famous within the family that there was no one who didn’t know about it.

“I… I really didn’t say a word! You know that, right Eden?”
Raymond claimed his innocence with a foolish face.
“Would I doubt you, you idiot! Sheesh… aren’t you going to training? Why are you following me around?”
That’s right. After I hurriedly returned to the family to prepare for academy admission,
Raymond kept bothering me with various words whenever he got the chance.
It must have been easy to think that not only had the whispers about me grown louder, but also that I would be quite heartbroken, having been cursed with something that seemed like it would have a huge negative impact on my life.

“I’ve already finished training! Your big brother came to keep you company in case you were bored!”
“What big brother, Knight Raymond, behave properly in front of your lord.”
“Talking nonsense. Get up quickly, let’s go to the training ground and sweat a bit.”
“I’ll-”
“Young Masteeeeeeer!!!!!!!!”

As maid Amy came running from afar like a crazed bull, Raymond was already disappearing far away, having started running at some point.

“What is this noise! Was this bracelet not just a fashion accessory? Talk to me!! Is everything I’ve heard true? It’s not, right? It’s a lie, right? I mean, it’s too absurd to begin with, Würgen Schneider is someone who only appears in fairy tales…”
“Why would a black magician appear in fairy tales?”
“I’m telling you to say it’s a lie, a false rumor!! Why are you talking about something else!”
“This time, why did you hear the rumor last? Has your information gathering ability declined while I was away?”
“Haa… Young Master… really… why…”

From the moment Amy realized that the unrealistic story she had been trying so hard to deny was actually true,
she buried her head in the ground.

“I’m the one who’s cursed, why are you so frustrated and making a fuss?”
I try to joke around to cheer her up, but it doesn’t seem to work at all.
It was a different dimension from things like dropping a sword during training due to poor sword skills, or being humiliated while chasing after the noble lady he had a crush on.
That’s how much weight and intimidation the name Würgen Schneider carried.
For Amy, the fact that I, whom she had served for a long time, was cursed with such an absurd curse, must have been quite difficult to accept.

“Why did you do it, why!! What fiancée! How many times have you even met her! You risk your life for a woman? Since when were you such a romantic person!”
“I didn’t risk my life. Look, I’m alive and breathing just fine, aren’t I?”
“They say you can only use a toy sword for the rest of your life! Why does the Young Master, who already has no talent, have to live with such a penalty, why!!”

Amy now shouts, overcome with anger

“Talent… I’m not without talent, Amy, now calm down and-”
“You were already the weakest in the territory even with a real sword! How are you going to survive in this harsh world with a toy sword! And what’s the point of going to the academy, you’ll just be ridiculed… sob”
“No, Amy, you’re going too far… I’m not that talentless, and it’s not a toy but a reverse-edged sword! It’s quite romantic and cool- You’re not listening to me at all, are you?”

“Young Master, there was an order from the Lord to not be late for dinner. Go and prostrate yourself! Tell him you can’t wield a sword, ask him to give you clerical duties needed for family affairs! If you don’t secure a position like that… sob… hic…”

Amy showed various aspects, getting annoyed, angry, and then crying.
I was starting to wonder if I had awakened a talent for making women cry these days.
As I lightly patted her to comfort her, before I knew it, the sun had set and the evening glow was fading,
and I moved my steps towards the dining room where the family dinner was said to be prepared.

“Come and sit down.”
In the dining room, my father, Lady Cordelia, and brothers Adrian and Andrew were already seated.
Among them, Brother Andrew’s appearance was impressive, looking very uncomfortable as his two legs that had been broken when I hit him had not yet healed.

“Bring out the meal for Eden’s seat as well.”
Unlike the other family members’ seats where meals were already prepared, the meal at my seat was not ready.
But shortly after my father’s instruction,
steaming hot soup and steak came out and were placed in front of me.

“We didn’t prepare it in advance so it wouldn’t get cold.”
“I appreciate the consideration.”

I couldn’t help but feel the difference in the family’s treatment towards me from before, starting from these small details.
We quietly cut and put meat in our mouths without much conversation.
As befitting a noble’s meal, not even a chewing sound leaked out,
so the dining room felt almost like a quiet library.

However, that silence did not last long.
It was because impatient Andrew finally couldn’t hold back his words.

“How was the Wydro family? Did you meet your fiancée?”
Meeting Andrew’s eyes, I chewed the meat in my mouth as slowly as possible.
Seeing me just mumbling and not answering his words, his face contorts.
But I ignored it and chewed the meat even more slowly, irritating him.
The intention behind his words
His inner thoughts were as transparent as a clear lake.

“……”
“……”
“Are you still chewing?”

Thinking I had sufficiently grated on his nerves, I finally answered.

“I’m done now. Yes, of course I met Miss Wydro Luna, my fiancée. I also accompanied the trade journey to Turkun, and after the business was well handled, we spent a day of vacation in Seranne Castle.”

“Then the bracelet on your wrist-”
“Andrew.”
Lady Cordelia stops Andrew, who was about to blurt out tactlessly with poor build-up.
Yes, what kind of news is this
They wouldn’t want to throw it away so easily and frivolously…
I cut the steak again and put it in my mouth, and seeing this, Andrew, scared that he might have to wait a long time again, closed his mouth.

But then
Unexpectedly, words first came out of my father’s mouth, who had been quietly focusing on the meal.

“Strange rumors have been circulating.”
“What kind of rumors do you mean?”

I asked back, pretending not to know with quite a brazen expression.
Then my father glared at me with a ‘See?’ expression
I was showing through the atmosphere alone that I was not that pathetic idle young master who couldn’t even meet your eyes and kept groveling before.

“Ahem… hem… During the trade journey, I hear you were attacked by thugs. Is that true?”
“Yes, it’s true.”
A very calm, short answer
Seeing my attitude, now all the family members look frustrated.

“Tell me in detail what happened.”
“During the journey, we were in danger of being attacked by thugs, but we joined forces with our knights to repel them and safely completed the journey.”

It wasn’t a lie.
But there was nothing they wanted to hear either.
Once again, it was Andrew who couldn’t endure the frustration.

“There’s talk that your bracelet is a cursed bracelet, that’s what we want to ask about! What’s your intention in going around and around the story when you know! Do you think you can hide it by hiding it?”

“Andrew… didn’t I tell you to maintain your dignity?”
Despite Lady Cordelia’s restraint, everyone’s gaze was already fixed on me.

“Oh, were you curious about this bracelet? Then shouldn’t you have asked like that from the beginning?”

Andrew finally starts to lose control at my brazenness.

“Just tell us if it’s true or not! What are you doing playing word games in front of adults! They say that with the curse on that bracelet, you’ve become someone who can only use that monster, what? Reverse-edged sword? Anyway, that crippled weapon for the rest of your life, is it true or not!”

The dining room that had been quiet for a long time was suddenly filled with Andrew’s booming voice,
but I calmly drank the water in my cup and answered.

“The one showing a disrespectful attitude in front of adults is not me, but you, Brother Andrew. Can’t you maintain your dignity as befits a noble? The curse… well, that content is correct as it is. I don’t know where you heard it from, but it’s true that I’ve now become someone who can only wield this reverse-edged sword.”

“You disrespectful bastard! How can you be so brazen when you’ve come back with a filthy curse? And since when have you been able to talk back to me like this? With that cursed body of yours, do you want to be taught a lesson… a lesson…”

Andrew, who had been shouting excitedly, suddenly couldn’t continue his words.
Then, with a red face, he looked around at the family members’ reactions.

Lady Cordelia and Brother Adrian just stared at the tableware in front of them with quite serious expressions,
and only my father had put down his fork and knife and was watching us two.

So I
send a warning message to Andrew, no, to Lady Cordelia and Brother Adrian as well, using his name.

“Even before I was cursed, didn’t you have the experience of being hit by this crippled weapon, this reverse-edged sword? Have you forgotten already, brother? Should I give you another chance? Nothing has changed. Even if I can’t wield a real sword, it means that there’s absolutely no chance of you teaching me a lesson.”

At my pointed remark, Andrew’s face swelled up red as if it might burst.
His sense of shame seemed to have already exceeded its limit,
but well, it wasn’t something I needed to care much about.