The Second Strongest Has Returned

Chapter 16

Friend

Alphonse Armstrong

Although he was only an apprentice knight now, in his past life, he had been capable enough to lead a knight order.

His capabilities were not limited to combat skills; he was also highly regarded for his overall reputation and character, making him a paragon of knighthood.

Someone he had always acknowledged and respected said,

“To be blunt, it’s best if you quit being a squire.”

He was now advising him to resign.

[He was supposed to be a good person.]

Leo was just as taken aback. He couldn’t find any reason for him to say such a thing.

“…You’re being too blunt… Could you explain in detail?”

“Sure. You wouldn’t understand if I didn’t give you the reasons.”

Alphonse sighed deeply and spoke again.

“A while ago, I heard you had a dispute with other squires. You remember, right?”

It was a recent event he could hardly forget. Leo nodded in response.

“Those guys were my peers. While they are still squires, I recently got promoted to apprentice knight.”

[So, is he here for revenge? Such a ‘good’ person…]

“You don’t need to misunderstand. I know my peers were wrong, and I’m not here for revenge.”

He already sensed it wasn’t about revenge from his past life’s memories. But that made Alphonse’s suggestion even harder to understand.

“Then why?”

“The problem is that other squires and apprentice knights don’t think the same as I do.”

Alphonse’s expression darkened.

“This evening, after my peers were disciplined, they gathered other apprentice knights and squires and talked about you. I was there too.”

Now, he started to grasp the situation.

“…I guess they didn’t have anything positive to say.”

“Most of them were dissatisfied with you and harbored resentment. They were busy feeling wronged.”

He understood.

Currently, Leo was perceived as a near parachute entrant, and even internally, he didn’t enter through formal means. Moreover, considering his accompaniment with the head butler and his dining with the family head…

It was natural for complaints to arise.

“I’m aware of that. Overcoming it is part of my capability, isn’t it?”

“It’s not that simple. They are not just going to ignore you; they will trample you.”

He could roughly guess. They would come to crush him even harder than during the first initiation.

They thought it would be more ‘fair’ and ‘dignified.’

“Sooner or later, they will try to thoroughly crush you. Under the pretense of enforcing discipline, it wouldn’t be strange for them to do anything to you. So…”

“Let them try.”

“…What?”

“I said, I don’t mind.”

But it didn’t matter.

“Do you not understand? Compared to last time, this could end much worse than just a minor injury…”

“I know. The level is different.”

Even if they were still squires, apprentice knights were acknowledged as warriors. Comparing them to mere squires would be an insult.

“And so?”

But it still didn’t matter.

“And so, what…”

“If I run away like this, I’ll end up running away in other situations as well. If I run from people, I’ll easily run from the monsters I’m supposed to fight.”

Anything becomes easier with repetition. The same goes for the training he did right away and the escape he was currently being advised to take.

“But this is not something you can handle…”

“I won’t know until I try.”

“…What?”

“It’s something I won’t know until I try. Winning or losing, isn’t that what duels and fights are for?”

It wasn’t just bravado.

What Alphonse saw in Leo’s eyes was a deep conviction.

He scratched his head briefly and got up from his chair.

“…If you say so, then fine. It’s your decision to make.”

Alphonse grabbed the doorknob and opened the door. As he did, he spoke softly.

“…To be honest, I didn’t look at you favorably either. You entered by breaking the usual rules.”

Beyond the door, he showed a smile.

“But seeing you now, I understand why Chris brought you in.”

“…Thank you.”

Leo expressed his gratitude to him.

“No need to thank me. It’s just that my thoughts have changed…”

“That’s not why I’m thankful.”

Leo’s gratitude wasn’t focused on the change of perspective.

“It’s not pleasant to show consideration for someone you don’t favor.”

Alphonse didn’t have to give such a warning. It wouldn’t have been awkward if the apprentice knights had united to crush Leo.

“Yet you came here to warn me. That’s why I’m grateful.”

This was the greatest gratitude he could show to an old comrade from his past life.

“…Impressive. Sorry to my peers, but I hope you win this time.”

“I’ll do my best.”

The door closed, and Alphonse left the room.

[By the way, Leo.]

[It’s morning already, you sure you don’t need to sleep?]

The morning sunlight made Leo’s dry eyes sting even more. He had only slept for 28 minutes today.

Damn it.

* * *

【So, please wait a bit longer. Until I can speak to you informally.】

Aria tossed and turned.

“…Ugh…”

【I can’t describe Ariasphil in a single sentence.】

Her fragile breathing grew rough.

“…Ugh… Huuuu…”

She kept pushing the blanket away with her feet. In her heart, she wanted to kick it to pieces.

【Ariasphil is my goal.】

At those words, a boy appeared before her eyes.

His deep black hair and shining red eyes were vivid even in a dream.

【Aria, you are my…】

Her eyes and mouth flashed simultaneously.

“Haaaaa…!!!”

Rip!!

Perhaps because the dream was too vivid, or because her kick was too strong, the blanket tore a bit.

“…Huh?!”

Startled by the sound, Aria got up from the bed.

“…It was my favorite…”

The blanket she cherished was torn, and the stuffing was spilling out. If Alfred saw this, he would surely scold her.

“…What time is it…”

When she looked at the clock, her eyes widened.

“…What…?!”

The clock’s hands had already passed 10 o’clock.

“…I slept too long…!”

She quickly pushed aside the torn blanket and got out of bed. Since she had been having trouble sleeping, she ended up staying in bed longer.

Aria, who usually woke up on her own without the servants’ help, was understandably shocked by her late wake-up.

Before anyone else noticed, she hurriedly brushed her tangled hair and washed her face.

Even though she was in a rush, she soon managed to leave her room looking tidy.

“…But why is it so quiet…?”

The mansion was unusually quiet that day. There were people around, but the number of servants was noticeably fewer.

“…Ah, Rina!”

At that moment, Rina, a maid carrying laundry, walked by. At Aria’s call, Rina looked at her with surprised eyes.

“Miss? Didn’t you go to watch?”

“…Watch what?”

“They’re having a duel in the training ground right now. I thought you went there first.”

Aria had been struggling in bed, unaware of the duel at the training ground.

“…I see. That’s why everyone…”

“You should go too, miss. The other servants went to watch because they thought it would be fun.”

“No, I’m fine. I’d rather catch up on my sleep…”

“I see. But the new squire is dueling with the other apprentice knights…”

Aria disappeared from Rina’s sight at the word ‘new squire.’

* * *

The training ground was crowded with people.

Or rather, it was surrounded by people, making it look like a Colosseum.

The mansion’s residents gathered around to watch the duel.

“…Why are there so many…”

“Why are there so many people?”

Having hurried to the training ground, Aria found someone already behind her.

The training ground, which had turned into an arena.

The person who appeared behind her as if waiting.

It was too perfect to be a coincidence, too strange to be intentional.

“…Brother?”

There was only one person in the family who would do this.

“Did you sleep in today? I thought you’d be the first to arrive.”

Rios squinted his eyes and smiled. His blue eyes reflected Aria’s face.

“What is… this situation?”

“It’s simple. We’re watching a fight.”

It wasn’t simple at all.

“…Did you do this!?”

“Don’t misunderstand. The apprentice knights and Leonardo started it.”

Aria’s expression changed as soon as she heard the name Leonardo. Seeing that, Rios’s smile deepened.

“I just pacified them as the eldest son of the family. In the best possible way.”

Aria looked at the training ground… no, the arena.

“…This?”

“Stopping them blindly wouldn’t solve anything, so I let the situation unfold on a larger scale.”

“That’s instigating!!”

“Words can sound different depending on how you say them, dear sister.”

She didn’t have the leisure to listen to such sophistry. Rios handed her a large cup as if teasing her.

“Don’t be like that, have some of this.”

“…What is this?”

In the cup were white and yellow chunks stacked in a mound. At first glance, it was hard to tell what it was made of.

“It’s something I learned about while on an expedition. It’s called popcorn, and I learned the recipe to eat it at times like this.”

“…I don’t want it. It makes me feel bad.”

That remark included not just the popcorn but Rios as well.

“I want to try it.”

The woman, aptly named “Black Shadow,” stood beside them silently, fitting her nickname.

“Ah, Black Shadow. Perfect timing! Please have some before it gets cold.”

“A knight should not fear adventure like an

explorer. This applies to food as well. Aria.”

Proudly reciting a doctrine from a novel, she picked up some popcorn and began to eat it. Then she spoke again.

“Hmm… Can I keep eating this?”

“Of course. I prepared more just in case…”

He pulled out another cup.

“…Help yourself.”

“Impressive.”

Receiving the cup, Chris and Rios prepared to enjoy the duel with their popcorn.

“It looks like it’s about to start?”

Rios and Chris could easily watch, but Aria, being shorter, couldn’t see the scene well.

“…Then…”

Aria began to weave through the crowd, leaving the two behind. She could have forced her way through, but the servants wouldn’t ignore the young lady.

Like the parting of the Red Sea, the crowd split, and a path to the duel arena where Leo was became visible.

Even without getting closer, she could see Leo, but curiosity drove her to approach.

Leo didn’t glance at her; he focused solely on his opponent. His gaze was identical to the one she first saw, the eyes of a warrior.

“Oh, it’s the young lady who follows you so ardently! Must be nice to have her watch, right?”

Clearly a provocation.

The knight’s dignity was tarnished by his loud, taunting voice. He held his sword, its sharp blade ready to cut Leo at any moment.

“…Is that all you have to say?”

“What?”

“Just so you know.”

Leo vanished.

“You don’t hold a sword like that.”

The appropriate term was that he had already moved.

Not just his body, but his sword too.

“…?!”

He couldn’t say anything more. In a split second, it was over.

The apprentice knight’s sword broke, and Leo moved to his rear. He struck the apprentice knight’s nape with the hilt of his sword.

Thud.

The apprentice knight fell.

There was no cheering.

The training ground, which resembled a Colosseum, was eerily silent, like mourners at a grave.

The victor broke the silence.

“Next.”

Seeking his next opponent, the victor shattered the silence.