Episode 38: The Former Problem Child Takes Revenge

Hello everyone.

The sky is clear and the sun is shining bright.

It’s perfect weather for a walk outside.

How are you all doing?

I, Arcs, am currently facing off against a very intimidating older brother.

We’re the same age, and our heights shouldn’t be that different.

But from him I can keenly feel an aura like he’s survived various life-threatening situations.

An atmosphere that rivals our knight order members—he seems to have grown dozens of levels since I last saw him.

I wonder what happened.

And around us, the new students are watching us with excited, thrilling gazes.

Both the nobles and commoners all have equally sparkling eyes.

It’s a scene that very much expresses Royal Lytisia Academy’s principle of not questioning one’s status.

As expected of one of the leading institutions of learning.

Now then.

…How did it come to this???

I don’t understand why I’m in this situation.

The developments were a bit too rapid and I want to avert my eyes from reality.

…Let me organize the situation once more.

First, I encountered Razer Kilmond, who had once disrupted Eleanore’s 10th birthday party.

I heard he was apparently exiled from the Kilmond family, and there had been no word of him since (not that I cared), but to think he was alive…and even enrolled at Royal Lytisia Academy.

Could there be such a coincidence?! I was surprised, and my eyes also widened at his transformation.

First, what’s immediately noticeable is the large scar on his eye area.

In this world with the absurd medical technology called healing magic, it’s rare for a scar to remain so clearly.

Did he not see a proper doctor…or was he in such a tense situation that he had to ignore such a wound…?

Other things I noticed were his appearance that gave off this veteran warrior feeling.

As I said earlier, he wore an aura not inferior to the knight order members.

His demeanor was completely different from the other new students.

Even though he was that bratty little shit…

Really, what happened to Razer after his exile?

Well, I had reunited with him in his transformed state…but as for this current situation—surrounded by an audience while glaring at each other.

To put it simply, I’m currently being challenged to a fight by him.

Why, you ask?

I don’t know either.

The moment I left the classroom and bumped into him, I was challenged to a duel.

With a delighted expression at that.

Whether it’s knights or nobles, the act of challenging someone to a duel is very serious.

At the very least, it’s completely different from what some street punk would do.

It’s a sacred ritual where you stake your honor and pride and fight with life-or-death resolve.

Strange emotions or schemes don’t intervene.

Therefore, those who are defeated shamefully or don’t accept the challenge out of cowardice have their honor fall accordingly.

It seems like the challenger wins either way, but it can’t be helped since it’s an act valued in chivalry.

That’s why I couldn’t refuse, and ended up going with the flow to have this duel.

“We will now begin the duel between the challenger Razer and Arcs Leefort!!”

A giant woman…or rather giantess standing with her arms crossed gives the starting signal.

Our homeroom teacher, Kiril-sensei.

Even though she left the classroom immediately, the moment she heard we were dueling, she eagerly volunteered to be the referee.

With a belligerent smile saying “This year’s freshmen are lively!!” at that…

Good grief, she’s a battle maniac or rather a muscle-brain.

Well, I suppose students causing a duel incident right after enrollment are rare.

“Once both are ready, declare yourselves!!”

She says so in a voice that makes eardrums vibrate.

Duels begin after both parties announce their identities and military achievements.

That “Hear ye, hear ye, I am!” thing you often see in period dramas.

It was a part not really utilized in the main game, but in the protagonist’s complete harem route, there was a scene where mobs declared themselves and competed for heroines.

I wonder what I should say…as I was thinking that.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

In a provocative tone, Razer started saying something.

His expression overlapped with his from when he committed that foolish act.

…But this time he’s using proper methods, so could this be called growth?

“In these five years, I might have forgotten your name but I never once forgot your face, you know?”

He raised his already lifted mouth corners even higher.

“Exiled from the viscount family, not knowing right from left or up from down. While wandering the streets, slurping mud and devouring grass to live. Even when I somehow earned daily wages, bastard bandits would steal them. Do you know the sensation of your fingers getting crushed?”

While maintaining his smile, he showed his left hand waving it around.

…His middle finger was bent strangely.

Probably an aftereffect of an injury.

Healing magic isn’t omnipotent.

It’s different if you treat it right after injury, but if delayed, you can’t restore it completely.

“I’m used to it now, but until then even gripping a sword was quite an ordeal. Really, I’m grateful to you”

While never losing his smile, his eyes looking at me became sharply focused.

“You want to say it’s my fault? That’s just misplaced blame, isn’t it? Originally it was your own doing, wasn’t it?”

I deliberately said so in a provocative tone.

In fact, even if he went through such things, it’s not my fault.

It’s the result brought about by his own actions of being rude to other nobles.

Such a thing…Razer should understand too.

“…Hah, that’s right. Exactly. I was an idiot and conceited bastard back then”

He lowered his face self-deprecatingly.

I don’t understand what kind of emotion that is.

But…it certainly contains his own will, so I continue listening.

“In an environment where I could get anything by asking, I was better at magic and swords than those around me. I thought I was the most excellent, the center of the world. Even Caesar was just smiling away”

…Blessed with talent, arrogant and tyrannical.

And if his parent was overly lenient, it’s no wonder he became like that.

Up to this point, there’s no deviation from the main story.

So Razer became like this after the exile that was a change from the original story.

“But, continuing to live like a slum kid, I understood”

His lowered gaze turns forward.

Not the eyes of a bratty kid.

The eyes of one who has overcome.

“I was nothing special at all. A weak and petty existence that would die if punched. That’s why, kicked out from a cozy place, I had things stolen and nearly died”

His fist-clenching strength increased.

That appearance as if blood would overflow—is it from past humiliation?

“I said I was grateful earlier, but that’s not entirely a lie. It’s thanks to you that I could realize this. Thanks to you destroying my ‘world,’ I understood the principles of this world”

“If you have power, you won’t die. Won’t be robbed. Won’t be unhappy”

Words filled with heat.

…That phrasing sounded familiar.

Somehow…it’s annoying, but when placed in similar dire straits, arriving at this conclusion probably isn’t uncommon.

“Following what you taught me, I tried to become strong. More than anyone…more than anything. Strong enough to beat even winged lizards and always-irritated big cats—that kind of overwhelming powerhouse”

…

“And I ‘became’ one. Strong enough to blow away all those who had been robbing me”

The intimidating aura intensified.

He scattered an aura as if a demon possessed him around the area.

Razer’s words are…not empty boasts.

Anyone who sees those fists would understand.

He truly…became strong.

“You…Arcs, was it? I didn’t expect to bump into you in a place like this, but ‘our meeting is your doom'”

Razer says so playfully.

His belligerent gaze transforms into that of a ferocious beast.

“You, who destroyed my world. This time I’ll crush you”

The warrior before me drew his sword.

A crude, iron sword.

Though tattered, its sharpness seems to be maintained as before.

…A veteran partner, I guess.

“I see. Sounds like you had a lot of hardships”

I finally opened my mouth.

In a completely calm tone as if it was nothing.

“…I kind of dislike you, so I might not be able to hold back, you know?”

“Hah. I never said I liked you either—”

Razer dismissed my banter with a laugh.

The provocation didn’t really work either.

…You’ve really changed.

Both from five years ago and from the other world line.

As I was thinking such things, a wave ran through the air.

“My name is Razer. A-rank Seeker, Razer the ‘Starving Wolf.’ With a warrior’s pride, I challenge you!!”

“…!”

He declared himself.

The signal for decisive battle…battle readiness.

Then I too must respond.

Similarly, I draw my sword.

The sharp sound of the blade scraping echoed throughout the area.

“My name is Arcs. …’Top Student’ Arcs. Staking a warrior’s pride, I accept your challenge”

My gaze intersects with Razer’s.

The air tenses, and all environmental sounds disappear.

The next moment, what dominated this place was the intermittent sound of clashing blades.