The Second Strongest Has Returned

Chapter 10

Reinhardt

[…]

“…”

[…]

“…”

[…]

The Sage and Leo looked at each other without saying a word. No, one couldn’t even say they looked at each other.

Leo couldn’t even make eye contact with the Sage.

[…Ha…]

A deep sigh, a breath that came from deep within.

[You… ha…]

“…”

[Think… ha…]

It was half talk, half sigh. What was more humiliating was that such an attitude was so natural.

“Sage, sir…”

[Shut up. Are you trying to kill me with that tongue?]

He wasn’t dead! And he didn’t kill him!

Leo was suddenly being accused of murder.

Butler Alfred wasn’t dead yet. He had only fainted and was rushed away urgently.

Everyone was frozen in shock at the absurd sight.

No one would believe such a ridiculous and baffling scene.

The problem was the person who arrived afterward.

The butler had collapsed, and there was a mercenary they had never seen before in front of him.

Anyone in their right mind would start by arresting him.

[Do you get arrested for jokes? How is joking a reason for arrest?!]

It was just a few jokes, and not even offensive ones, just simple wordplay.

Even though he explained it several times, the knights couldn’t and wouldn’t believe him.

Leo himself couldn’t believe he got into trouble over a joke.

‘At that time, Alfred must have had no immunity to jokes.’

When he first heard the joke, it wasn’t this excessive. Since the intention to make him laugh wasn’t there, the impact was weak.

But now it was different.

Besides, Alfred probably had no immunity to Leo’s wordplay by now.

[It would be more believable if you choked on a candy and died.]

Leo had to agree with that.

[So what are you going to do? Rot in prison like this?]

The room Leo was in was the interrogation room in the basement of the Reinhardt mansion.

The situation was still unclear, and thanks to the earnest defense of Ariasphil and Chris, he avoided eating prison food.

[So what happens now?]

Once you’re in the interrogation room…

The firmly locked iron door swung open.

“Stand up.”

Interrogation, or more likely, torture…

“You’re free to go.”

Or not?

***

The incident’s details were as follows:

First, they left Leo, who was locked in the basement, and went to check on the butler Alfred’s condition.

And then,

‘There is nothing wrong.’

The examination revealed that Alfred was perfectly fine.

They called a priest, a doctor, and even a magician to check, but there was nothing wrong with Butler Alfred.

And most importantly, Alfred’s statement.

‘It wasn’t painful. Just that I laughed too much…’

Because of that, Leonardo was released as innocent.

[Let’s live a good life from now on. If you keep living like this, your mother at home will be very sad…]

Why was someone who knew that saying this?

[…You have a girlfriend, at least.]

Leo had refused and avoided relationships his whole life. There was no way he had a girlfriend.

“Leonardo!!”

As he was thinking that, a girl ran to him.

“Ah, Ariasphil.”

“Thank goodness…! You’re released!”

But everyone seemed to express it somewhat oddly…

“Pfft, I believed in you. That you would overcome such a trivial matter.”

Why did it feel like he was a criminal who had just served his sentence?

[You almost killed him for real.]

[You can’t deny your crimes. What’s important is what you learned and reflected upon from your mistake.]

While they were bickering, Chris spoke up.

“But I’m sorry, Leonardo. There’s something else you need to apologize for.”

“Apologize?”

“To prevent the royal knights from arresting you, things got noisy. It seems the reporters heard about it.”

Cold sweat formed on his forehead at those words.

“…Could it be that I’m being called a murderer…”

“It’s okay. We explained it well.”

Chris answered confidently.

Instead of feeling relieved, Leo felt more anxious.

“…Who explained it, by any chance?”

“I did.”

Ah, his life was ruined.

The next day, for reference,

The headlines on various newspapers’ front pages were decorated with the following phrases:

【A 13-year-old boy becomes a joke murderer.】

「The secret of the joke-killing technique, the butler faints」

《The joke assassination technique surpasses magic》

It was still

the first day.

***

“First, use this room.”

“…Thank you.”

After the misunderstanding was cleared, Leo began living in the mansion as a squire. Though it was a detached building in a corner, having a private room as a squire was luxurious.

“I will explain more tomorrow. Rest for today as there is much work.”

“Thank you for your kindness.”

Leo bowed deeply, expressing his gratitude for Chris’s generosity. Chris accepted the thanks and left.

“…Ha… exhausting…”

Today felt incredibly exhausting.

It felt more comfortable to collapse after fighting Balrog.

[So what will you do now?]

Although the plan was slightly disrupted by the butler’s fainting, nothing had fundamentally changed.

Show his skills and secure his position through them

It was the way he always did things.

[Then why didn’t you just take the position Ariasphil offered?]

In terms of rank and title, a squire was far below a bodyguard.

But no one would look kindly upon a mere mercenary without a title or family occupying the bodyguard position.

[That would seem like favoritism.]

At that moment, the sound of footsteps echoed, not just one person but several running.

“They’re coming.”

Leo hadn’t expected the butler’s fainting, but this was something he had definitely anticipated.

Bang

The door didn’t just open; it was slammed open. In front stood children dressed in luxurious fabrics.

“Are you the one?”

The boy at the front spoke.

“Who knows.”

“What do you mean ‘who knows’?!”

“Exactly what I said. You didn’t ask for a name.”

“…Ah…”

The boy was momentarily stunned. It was slightly intimidating when he was younger, but not anymore.

“You’re the one who joined as a squire despite being a commoner?”

“That’s correct. Is there a problem?”

“Problem? Ha, of course there is.”

Leo stood before the children, meeting their eyes.

“You joined as a commoner and didn’t even greet your senior squires?!”

“Hello.”

He bowed as a greeting. It was a simple courtesy as an adult.

“…What are you doing?”

“Greeting you.”

“…Are you kidding? Do you think seniors are a joke?!”

“I don’t think they are. If I did, I wouldn’t have used honorifics.”

The children’s faces turned red and blue. They wanted to pick a fight, but there was nothing to pick on, so they could only stamp their feet.

“So? What’s the matter, coming here so late at night?”

“…No need for long talk. Come outside.”

“I can’t.”

Bang

Leo closed the door.

[Is this okay?]

No sooner had he finished speaking than the door was knocked on again. As if waiting, Leo reopened the door.

“What is it?”

“You…! Why did you suddenly close the door…!!”

“I can’t go outside. Chris ordered me to rest.”

The Sage and the squires looked at Leo with incredulous eyes. Unaware that this was exactly what Leo wanted,

“…Ha… I’ve never seen such a crazy bastard.”

“Chris brought him. Of course, he’s crazy.”

The skill of insulting both their superior and themselves at the same time was truly impressive. So impressive that Leo wanted to applaud them right in the face.

“…So what’s the matter?”

“Come out. You need a beating.”

“…I have no choice then.”

Pretending to be reluctant, Leo followed them out of the annex. Walking with the squires, they arrived at a wide training ground.

The training ground was quiet and still at night.

“…So what’s this about? This is the third time I’m asking.”

“You must be blind to everything since joining Reinhardt as a commoner, but here, we treat our seniors like gods. Got it?!”

“Ah, yes. Though they are in low places, I’ll try to treat them like gods.”

“…Ah… this bastard…”

Maybe out of disbelief, he laughed crazily and drew his sword from his waist. Leo easily caught the thrown sword.

“…What is this?”

“I’ll fix your attitude. Fight.”

Leo threw the sword to the ground.

“…What are you doing…”

Bam!!

With a punch, the leading boy was knocked down.

“Ugh!! My bones…!! My bones…!!”

“Don’t exaggerate. No way a god-like senior’s bones could break.”

“…You cowardly…!”

The other squires started

to charge.

To catch the cowardly 13-year-old boy fighting bare-handed, the average 16-year-old squires swung their swords with fairness.

Smack!! Whack!! Thud!!

Three distinct impact sounds, followed by the sprawling squires.

Each one was hit in the solar plexus, chin, or philtrum.

“Aaah!!”

“My face…! My face…!!”

“You…! You coward…!!”

The squires on the ground groaned in frustration and anger.

“Coward?”

At the word ‘coward’, Leonardo’s eyes narrowed.

“Wow~ I was a coward. Didn’t know. Four against one and I’m the coward.”

Leo handed back the swords they were holding and said,

“Going against someone with such expensive swords, I was bare-handed. How cowardly of me.”

Then he drew the sword he had received earlier. Simultaneously, he pulled the blade from its sheath.

“And this sword…”

Leo lightly swung the sword. As it slightly hit the ground, it broke.

“It was already cracked, but I fought bare-handed. Such a universal cowardice~ right?”

“…You bastard…!! Do you think you’ll be okay after this?!”

Threats were so stereotypical that they weren’t even funny anymore.

“Ariasphil!! Just because you seduced the family head’s daughter!! Do you think you’re something?! You’re just a com…”

One sentence, just one sentence, changed the atmosphere. Leo, who had maintained a smile at any insult,

But that was only

“…Hey, Vector, Harold, Jay, Kashyun.”

at insults aimed at himself.

All the squires’ faces turned pale. They were all called by their names.

“…How do you know our names…”

The smile vanished, replaced by a face filled with murderous intent. Leo began to crush Vector’s hand under his foot.

“Aaah!!”

“I don’t care if you gossip about me, badmouth me, or chew me up with your words. It’s none of my business.”

His tone was vastly different from earlier, instilling fear.

“But listen.”

Those weren’t a child’s eyes.

“…Let’s draw the line? If you talk about Ariasphil like that anywhere, anytime…”

Bang!!

Leo’s fist hit the ground. A slight graze to the face caused the skin to tear as if cut, and the impact made the ground crack.

“I will kill you.”

The squires felt sheer terror drench their bodies. Confirming their fear, Leo returned to his room.

[…Leonardo.]

[Do you have no feelings? Or is the concept of feelings itself missing from you?]

What was that about? Without a subject, he had no idea what that meant.

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