The Second Strongest Has Returned

Chapter 25

Growth

Before the cauldron of chaos mixed with madness and obsession began, let’s rewind time by about five minutes to explain the situation.

***

[Quite splendid, isn’t it?]

The old Sage admired the dazzling scenery of the party hall.

[…Hey, do you think I’m some kind of primitive man? That was just an interjection.]

Indeed, it would be a great insult to call him a primitive man. Nodding, Leonardo began to enjoy the festival of the civilized.

[But where’s your lover?]

[…You fool… I meant where is Ariasphil.]

Though Leonardo didn’t understand why the Sage misunderstood and swore, he decided to overlook it since he was dealing with someone who was even worse than a primitive man.

No matter how loyal a knight he was, there was no need to be present while she was dressing. In the first place, being there would only lead to being called crazy.

At times like this, eating was the best thing to do.

Many exquisite dishes that he usually couldn’t eat were prepared at the party.

[Then try that black snack over there. Somehow, it looks delicious.]

As Leonardo walked towards the brownies, the eyes of the people around turned to him.

[Why are they staring at you like that?]

[Such a harsh self-deprecation.]

Leonardo picked up a brownie from the tray. There was only one brownie left on the tray, coincidentally.

“Ah…”

At that moment, another person’s hand touched Leonardo’s.

“…Uh…”

The person reaching from the other side was a rather small girl. Judging by her fancy dress and hair ornaments, she was clearly not a commoner or a maid.

“Sorry. Please, go ahead.”

Leonardo offered the treat to the noble lady.

“Oh, thank you.”

With a satisfied expression, the lady picked up the brownie and took a bite. There were plenty of other desserts anyway, and showing such consideration would likely earn him favorable points in the eyes of the onlookers.

“…Hmm…”

But something felt odd. The girl’s gaze continued to linger on Leonardo.

[It’s not because you’re handsome… could it be…]

“Ah…!!”

Before the Sage could say anything, his intuition had already become reality.

“You’re the Joke Assassin!!”

Though it was an unfortunate premonition, it had come true.

“…Pardon?”

“You’re the Joke Assassin, aren’t you?!”

Though he hadn’t even eaten the treat, he felt as if his throat was blocked and his insides were burning. However, it was crucial to remain calm in such a situation.

[Ugh…! Hahahahahahahah…!!]

Even if a mad old man was laughing maniacally beside him.

“I think there’s some misunderstanding. I’m…”

“It’s true!! He’s the Joke Assassin!!”

This time, another girl shouted. She even pulled out a newspaper clipping and held it up. The burning sensation of shame inside him was beginning to explode.

“The Joke Assassin?!”

“Yes!! He looks just like the person in the newspaper!!”

As if pouring coal into the fire of his shame, the girl’s friends and acquaintances began to surround Leonardo.

They were all well-informed and cultured individuals.

“They say you knocked out Butler Alfred with just a single joke!”

‘Could you teach me that joke too?! It seems useful for self-defense!’

‘No, it’s said to have a unique pronunciation like a spell, so it’s not easy to learn! Even the Bloody Shadow was taken down in an instant!’

They had heard and read extensively about the legend of the Joke Assassin.

[Khuhng…! Kuhuhuhuhuk!!]

The Sage let out a nasal, wheezy laugh that seemed to accompany a bout of breathlessness. Leonardo’s face turned red with the impulse to tear off the nostrils of that old man.

‘…Haha…haha…!’

Jokingly committing suicide.

***

And now.

‘Is it true that you’re in a romantic relationship with Lady Ariasphil?!’

‘I heard you openly declared to the head of the family that you would take Lady Ariasphil! Is that true?!’

‘No! They say you told everyone in the entire mansion that Lady Ariasphil was your goal…!!’

‘And that you used the forbidden Joke Assassination technique to protect her from assassins?!’

Somehow, the topic shifted from the ‘Joke Assassin’ to his relationship with ‘Ariasphil,’ but this was better.

‘At least this didn’t appear in the newspapers…’

Misunderstandings about his relationship with Ariasphil could be clarified later, and this was just rumor-level gossip, so it could be dealt with at any time.

The immediate issue to address was the cursed Joke Assassin.

The baseless legends of the Joke Assassin needed to end here. Otherwise, people would soon start claiming he had killed great demons or dragons with jokes.

[It seems possible though?]

Leonardo maintained the brightest smile he could. Reacting emotionally here would only backfire or generate resentment.

‘There seems to be some misunderstanding…’

‘…Ah, Lady Ariasphil!!’

Just as he was about to start explaining in the cauldron of hardship, the name of his savior was heard.

Everyone turned their gaze and attention to the young lady of the warrior family.

[Oh, she’s really pretty.]

The Sage was right. Although she was obscured by the surrounding girls, her blue eyes and white hair were far too striking to be hidden.

Even Leonardo, who usually paid little attention to appearances, looked at her with considerable surprise.

Click, click.

Her firm and lofty footsteps sounded beautiful.

Like a swan walking on the water, Ariasphil walked gracefully towards Leonardo.

[…Hey, but…]

The Sage instinctively and rationally understood the current situation, focusing on the condition of the girl named Ariasphil.

[Her eyes are dead…? Like…]

Click, click.

The increasingly sharp sound of her footsteps confirmed the Sage’s intuition.

But there was no time for further discussion.

‘…Leonardo.’

Ariasphil was already precariously close to Leonardo.

The crowd, dense around them, parted like a miracle, leaving Ariasphil and Leonardo in the center.

‘…Ah…yes…?’

Her eyes, devoid of any vitality, had a dull hue that one would not see unless they had experienced a shock greater than the death of a family member or friend.

‘…Follow me.’

‘…Excuse me? All of a sudden…? What’s going…’

‘I said, follow me.’

In the end, he followed without asking further questions.

Of course, this was because Leonardo was deeply loyal. Following his master was a knight’s duty, after all.

Absolutely, it was not out of fear. Not at all.

‘…’

‘…Ah…um…’

Ariasphil turned her head and shot him a look.

It was best to just shut up and walk.

If he spoke, he would lose his knighthood and his head.

This is no exaggeration.

‘…Leonardo.’

Ariasphil stopped at the still-unopened terrace outside the social hall.

‘…Yes…? My lady…?’

‘…How is the party?’

What was the purpose of this question? One wrong word could ruin his life.

‘Answer.’

No, it could cost him his life.

‘It’s…! It’s very good!! The food is delicious!! The party hall is splendid!! Amazing!!’

[You’re groveling too much, don’t you think?]

Leonardo knew this.

That’s why he was acting this way. His life was something he couldn’t exchange for anything.

‘…Really? You like it?’

‘Yes, yes!! I like it!! Very much!! Everyone is kind and friendly!!’

The terror made the hair on his skin stand on end. He never felt this way, not even when fighting a manticore or a dragon.

‘…You like it that much?’

Was he saying the right thing? She was asking again, so it must be correct.

‘Yes!! I like it!!’

‘You like it?’

Was it correct…?

‘Yes…?’

Sweat trickled down his face.

‘I asked if you like it.’

No, it wasn’t correct. The Sage’s expression, as if watching a lamb being led to slaughter, confirmed it.

‘…Actually… I don’t…’

‘You don’t like it?’

‘Excuse me…?’

‘You don’t like it?’

This wasn’t right either.

Instead of life, her eyes were now filled with murderous intent.

He thought it was a multiple-choice question, but it seemed to be a subjective, essay-type question.

‘…Are you lying right now? Trying to read the room?’

‘No, that’s not it… I’m sorry.’

He tried to offer a third answer—an apology.

Smack!

Suddenly, the Sage slapped his forehead. What was it? Was something wrong?

‘What are you sorry for?’

‘What?’

‘What are you sorry for?’

He was going to die. If he didn’t explain properly, he would be killed on the spot.

“…You don’t even know why you’re apologizing?”

With those eyes, he could be killed instantly with a joke or anything.

‘…Well, the thing is…’

He tried to think as quickly as possible. He recalled information from his senses—sight, hearing, touch. Every second of delay seemed to take a year off his life.

‘…Right now…’

‘Your feet must hurt from walking so fast in those shoes!!’

He was already dead. What kind of answer was that? Even if it was true, it was definitely not the answer she was expecting…

‘…Oh…?! You knew…?!’

…Was he still alive? Was he still in the mortal world? He was about to see his deceased mother in the afterlife…

‘Yes? No one else noticed?’

Couldn’t everyone tell just from the sound of her footsteps?

The clicking sound earlier should have tipped everyone off.

[Ah, right. This guy memorizes the musculoskeletal system of women.]

It was true, but there was no need to say it like that.

Explaining it so clumsily made him seem like a complete lunatic.

‘…I thought your feet might hurt…’

‘…Is that so? I see…’

The murderous intent in her eyes faded, replaced by life. Leonardo felt a sense of relief wash over him.

‘…If your feet hurt, could you show them to me?’

‘…Show you my feet?’

Following Leonardo’s request, Ariasphil sat down and extended her feet.

‘…You’re wearing heels that are too high. They’re slightly swollen.’

Given her superhuman physique, it wasn’t severe, but he still found it hard to understand.

‘If it hurts so much, why didn’t you wear something else?’

‘Well… the person who gave me the dress said these looked nice…’

That made even less sense to him.

‘Why? You look beautiful even now.’

‘…What?’

Why the formal language?

“Beautiful…?”

“Yes? Yes, yes. You’re beautiful.”

It would be strange to say she wasn’t beautiful unless his eyes were squeezed shut like the Sage’s.

“You’re beautiful. Your hair is well-groomed, you smell nice with perfume, and the dress suits you better than anyone else’s.”

Why was she so surprised?

“…Oh…! I see…! Tha…thank…!”

Leonardo saw Ariasphil vibrating like he had never seen anyone do before. Was she resonating or something?

[…Leonardo, you’re one of two things.]

[Either an homme fatale or a total scumbag.]

What was it, fool or idiot?

“…Anyway, walking on those feet is impossible.”

“…So?”

“I’ll carry you. Here.”

Leonardo offered his back, meaning for her to hop on.

“…That’s…that’s a bit…”

“…Why? Is it uncomfortable?”

“No…! I’ll get on…but…how should I say…”

Ariasphil cautiously climbed onto Leonardo’s back. Leaning against his broad back, she felt a comforting warmth. Even though he was only 13, this boy’s back felt incredibly reliable.

“Let’s go…”

Leonardo couldn’t say a word.

His back and build were much larger than hers,

The sensation of paralysis just from her gaze.

“You seem quite friendly with my granddaughter?”

Marquen Reinhardt, the head of the Reinhardt family’s execution knights.

“…Gra…grandfather?”

Ariasphil’s grandfather stood there.

Incidentally, in his past life, Marquen had crushed one side of a knight’s manhood for making lewd jokes about Ariasphil.

Leonardo feared that this might be his fate in the next 20 seconds.