Arc-7 Ch-40

 After being forcibly dragged back by my small-statured mother to the house where we were hiding, I was made to reluctantly join a study session with my younger sisters Roxanne and Melanie, along with our little brother Dylan.

To be honest, I didn’t want to participate at all. As I gave half-hearted, sluggish answers while my younger sisters properly responded to Mother’s questions, I only felt more and more pathetic about myself.

For a long time now, the children of the Bartfort earl family have been considered distinctive, in both good and bad ways, and that reputation has spread throughout the territory.

Normally, if common people gossiped in detail about the personality or characteristics of a lord’s family, it wouldn’t be strange for them to be executed on the spot for such extreme rudeness. That’s what we’ve been taught.

The reason it’s tolerated here is that our territory has a much shorter history compared to others, and we can’t maintain it without borrowing the strength of the common people.

There’s also Father, who rose from being the second son of the lowest-ranking baron family. He was raised almost like a commoner, so he always interacts with people in a casual way that lacks aristocratic stiffness. That’s probably another reason.

If you listen to what the townspeople say, you inevitably come to understand exactly how others see you, whether you like it or not.

Apparently, I’m regarded as having noticeably worse brains than my older brother and younger sisters.

Even someone as stupid as me gets irritated when people say that, but I also understand why.

Among our siblings, the difference between the smart ones and the dumb ones is extreme. The clever ones probably take after Mother.

But if someone asked, “Is the lord, Father, stupid?” that absolutely wouldn’t fit him at all.

It’s true that when Father was young, the Bartfort family was poor. My uncle was sent to the Royal Academy, but Father couldn’t go.

For various reasons, Father apparently enlisted in the kingdom’s army in secret without telling the family.

Back then the system must’ve been quite loose for a runaway noble child to be able to become a soldier.

After peace returned, the Holfort Kingdom carried out major military reforms. Now, entering the army requires all sorts of procedures.

Even becoming a knight is no longer possible just by having the right family and armor. You have to pass proper written exams and practical tests.

For someone like me who’s bad at studying, that’s incredibly difficult. It isn’t just the Royal Academy either. Even the military training institutions established for commoners and lower nobles require a considerable amount of academic knowledge.

The person who worked hardest to create this new military system was none other than my own Father. That part is honestly kind of funny in a bitter way.

If I’d been born about twenty years earlier, I probably could’ve distinguished myself in war like Father did and earned everyone’s recognition.

In this peaceful era we now live in, the world feels suffocating for someone like me, someone who’s academically hopeless but unusually strong physically.

“Haa…”

Once the sun stood directly overhead, Mother finally released me from the study session. I escaped outside the house as quickly as I could.

To be blunt, I don’t particularly want to become the lord. I just want to find work that uses what I’m good at and live that way.

Of course I understand they’re giving me heir education as a precaution in case something happens to Big Brother.

But now that little brother Dylan has already been born as another boy in the earl family, there’s really no need to force this education on me when I clearly hate it, right?

It isn’t just studying either. I’m also hopeless at noble socializing.

Dealing with young ladies my own age or only slightly younger, who smell so strongly of cosmetics that it stings my nose, is exhausting.

The moment I lightly hold their hand, they cry out as if I’ve grabbed them violently. I’ve no idea how I’m supposed to interact with these stick-thin, fragile-limbed noble girls who instantly paint me as the villain.

Of course Elder Sister is completely out of the question as a noble lady, but I wish at least someone had Cousin Theresia’s kind of sturdiness.

Unfortunately, Theresia has been completely in love with Big Brother, who was her fiancé from before she was even born. To her, I’m nothing more than a boy cousin, a childhood playmate, or at best a future brother-in-law.

Well… that part doesn’t really bother me.

I love Father very much, but I also love Mother, Big Brother, and the rest of the family.

I’ve always genuinely admired how Big Brother silently endured Mother’s strict heir education without ever complaining.

I’ve heard that in many noble houses, brothers, uncles, and nephews fight bloody succession wars over the family headship. I’ve absolutely no desire to push Big Brother aside and become the next earl.

If you asked Theresia whether she would marry me because I became the next earl and follow our parents’ arrangement, she would definitely hate it.

She isn’t fond of Big Brother because he’s the heir. Even someone as clueless about women’s feelings as me can tell she’s happy because her fiancé is Big Brother.

In all likelihood, Theresia would’ve married him even if he weren’t the heir. If she truly wanted to, she might’ve even eloped regardless of status.

She probably takes after Aunt. I’ve heard that Aunt, despite being born into the earl family, did quite reckless things because she desperately wanted to marry Uncle. Even now she’s always being lovey-dovey with him.

People might see me as a stupid, selfish second son, but I do read the mood around me to a certain extent and act accordingly.

If I did something reckless, it wouldn’t only affect me. It would cause trouble for the entire Bartfort family. I’ve sworn in my heart that I’ll absolutely never do anything truly dangerous.

That’s why I genuinely believed, from the bottom of my heart, that I could be useful if I accompanied Father.

But the first one to volunteer wasn’t me, and it wasn’t Elder Sister either. It was Big Brother, the eldest son and the most important child among us.

Even now, that fact hurts somewhere deep in my chest.

I was the second son who’d lived without thinking too deeply about anything.

Big Brother was the eldest son who’d been raised under strict discipline as the heir.

The difference in resolve between the two of us was shoved right in my face.

Ever since I was little, I’d vaguely believed that the intelligent Big Brother would inherit the earldom, while brave and strong me would become a soldier or knight and serve either the kingdom or some other lord’s family.

And yet here I was, losing even in courage to someone I’d always thought was far more timid than me. This was beyond embarrassing. At this rate, don’t I have any strengths at all?

And the words Mother said keep bothering me. Why would she say something that shatters my admiration at a time like this?

From my earliest memories, I’ve always admired Father.

Not only my grandparents and Father’s siblings, but everyone around me kept saying that among Mother and Father’s children, I resemble Father the most.

So why did the mother who gave birth to me have to tell me that I don’t resemble Father?

Sure, there’s a difference in upbringing between Father, who was born into the poorest baron family at the very bottom of the nobility, and me, who was born into a relatively wealthy border earl family.

But it’s not like I only played around without ever changing. On the contrary, ever since I was about ten years old I’ve been participating in the feudal army’s training and constantly tempering my body.

Father apparently built his strength gradually by helping with farm work and livestock, but there’s definitely a difference between the strength gained from gradual farm labor and the strength gained from proper military training.

If Father and I were the same age right now, I’m absolutely confident I’d be stronger.

And yet Mother says I could never become like Father.

This murky, irritated feeling just won’t go away.

I want to ask Mother, who’s right there in the house, exactly what is so different. Yet somehow I can’t bring myself to do it.

When Mother teaches us, she often deliberately refuses to give the answer and instead makes us think for ourselves.

Apparently her educational philosophy is this: “Knowledge where the answers are prepared in advance is insufficient for true education. If you’re to live as a noble, you must learn to gather information independently without anyone’s help and think for yourself.”

Frankly, since I plan to become a soldier or knight, I just wanted her to tell me the answer quickly. Because if all you have to do is carry out the orders of your superior officer or lord, thinking through every little detail is just a hassle, isn’t it?

And so, before I realized it, while I was thinking with my insufficient brain exactly the way Mother wanted, the area around the house suddenly became noisy.

Even though this house was built right at the edge of an elf settlement deep within the forest, there should have been almost no sign of people nearby.

The only ones around this hiding house were the five members of our family, along with a few guards.

The guards who took turns watching the perimeter of the house suddenly began moving about in a strangely frantic manner. No matter how you looked at it, it could only be described as an emergency situation.

“Did something happen?”

“Ah, young master Leah. Things have become a bit troublesome.”

The sergeant who served as the commander of the guards answered with a grim expression.

Most of the officers in the Bartfort feudal army knew me personally, and outside of training they treated me without much regard for status. They would chat with me casually or even hand me snacks. We had that kind of easygoing relationship.

For even the sergeant, the one I was closest to among the guards accompanying us to the elf village, to grimace when he saw me proved that something truly bad was happening.

While a sick feeling rose from my stomach as if I might throw up from the danger, I could also feel myself growing excited at the same time.

Come to think of it, several years had already passed since I began participating in the feudal army’s training, yet I had never once experienced actual combat.

During training we didn’t use live ammunition or prohibited fighting techniques, and whenever sky pirates appeared near the territory and were subdued, I was always told, “It’s too dangerous,” and never once allowed to join.

Right now Father, the commander, wasn’t here, so the sergeant was acting in his place.

If I could prove useful here, maybe both Father and Mother would begin looking at me differently. The moment that thought crossed my mind, laughter inexplicably welled up inside me.

“Maybe the enemy has come?”

“It’s possible. We’ve received reports that an armed group is approaching the entrance to this settlement.”

“How many?”

“The exact number is unknown, but we believe it’s probably fewer than ten.”

“…Are they targeting us?”

“Almost certainly us. The fact that they’re moving in such small numbers probably means they don’t have absolute certainty either.”

“Can we bluff our way out?”

“I’m afraid that’s going to be difficult. This settlement is governed by the elf village Elder, but the entire floating island is ruled by the new village head. It’s true that this village doesn’t have an officially recognized territorial army from the kingdom. However, they’ve been granted the right of self-defense, which includes the right to hire mercenaries with their own funds. In form they may be mercenaries, but in reality they’re no different from regular soldiers.”

“…Would the elves living here protect us?”

“That’s uncertain as well. It’s true that after discussions between their leaders and our lord, they agreed to hide us here for the time being. However, if the other side resorts to force, the elves have no obligation to fight their own mercenaries just to protect us. They don’t even have proper firearms here.”

“But didn’t Father make some kind of promise with them?”

“It wasn’t a formal contract. It was more like a verbal agreement. For any leader, it’s only natural to prioritize their own people over outsiders. Even if the leaders refuse to hand us over, there’s no guarantee the other elves will follow their decision.”

The situation seemed even more dangerous than I had imagined.

If it came to fighting, it was highly doubtful whether the guards and I could fully protect Mother, my sisters, and little brother.

Mother had become smaller, and my sisters were sheltered young ladies who hadn’t trained their bodies at all. Dylan was still in the single-digit years of age. There was no way he could outrun anyone.

We had no idea how much longer it would take for Father to return, and with my head, I couldn’t figure out at all what the right thing to do was.

“Sergeant, what should we do?”

“Well… The options that come to mind are either to hole up here and fight a siege battle, or to withdraw immediately. Those are basically the only two choices.”

“Which one seems more likely to work?”

“If we choose to hold the siege, rescue will be absolutely essential. We’d have to endure until the lord returns safely from the ruins, or until reinforcements arrive from the royal capital.”

“How long would that take?”

“I’ve no idea at all. We don’t even know whether the lord will return safely from the ruins, or whether reinforcements will actually come from the capital.”

“What the hell. If we pick that plan, we won’t survive anyway!”

“There’s also the question of whether the young ladies and the young master, excluding Madam and yourself, can endure a siege. A siege battle is a contest of endurance. How long can the young ladies hold out against the constant terror of being attacked? Even if the lord returns, if the family has already been lost by then, that would still count as defeat.”

“Then let’s escape right now!”

I ended up shouting the suggestion to the sergeant.

But the sergeant only shook his head slowly from side to side. The unusually gentle look in his eyes only made my anxiety grow worse.

“As long as we remain on this floating island, we’ll be pursued endlessly. The airport where the Bartfort territory’s airship is docked has likely already been blockaded.”

“Can’t we break through?”

“If it were just us, perhaps we could manage it. However, with the family in tow, we can’t afford to take that risk.”

“What if we break through the blockade at the airport first, and then come back later to get Mother and the others out?”

“And who would guard them during that time? If they’re attacked while we’re separated, there would be no way to protect them.”

“Then what the hell can we even do!?”

“…That’s exactly why we need information first. I’m going to consult with Madam now and come up with a plan.”

“What about reconnaissance?”

“I’ve already sent one of my men toward the settlement entrance. Young master Leah, please wait here.”

Once again they were treating me like a child who couldn’t do anything.

Why did Father, Mother, and even the feudal army soldiers keep underestimating me like this?

Big Brother, Elder Sister, and I were only two years apart. There was hardly any difference in our size or strength.

There had to be something I could do for the family as well. I was going to prove that I wasn’t just a kid who needed to be protected forever.

“I’m heading to the entrance right now.”

“You mustn’t, young master Leah! The lord has made your safety and the family’s his highest priority!”

“If we don’t move now, we’ll just get cornered anyway! Trying to stop me is pointless!”

“Young master!”

By the time I realized it, I was already running. The sergeant’s voice calling after me grew steadily more distant.

If the sergeant reported this to Mother, she would definitely become angry. Father probably would too.

But I truly wanted to make my strength useful this time.

I had trained desperately and kept pushing myself all this time, yet whenever it really mattered I was always being protected by adults or professionals.

That was the same as everyone around me treating me as useless. I couldn’t keep enduring a situation like this.

I wasn’t smart enough to come up with a winning strategy like Father. I also wasn’t seen as having the necessary talent to be the heir like Big Brother.

In the end, once I grew up I would probably leave the Bartfort family and live on my own anyway.

So I had to prove it right here and now. I had to show that I could actually do something and make everyone acknowledge it.

I was going to make a name for myself in this moment. The anxiety I had felt earlier had completely disappeared.

Suppressing the urge to shout from sheer excitement, I kept running. Before long I reached the entrance of the settlement.

The elf settlement had originally been carved out of the forest, so if I ran at full speed I could cross from one end to the other in only a few hundred steps.

As I approached the entrance, I began to see a crowd of people shouting loudly. I hurriedly hid myself in the shadows.

It looked like that was the group who had approached the settlement. From what I could count, there were at least eight or nine of them.

All of them were men, and their clothing was completely mismatched with no uniformity at all. Some wore what looked like leather armor, while others were dressed in dirty work clothes.

The loud shouting came from the men’s voices. Every now and then I could hear a small female voice mixed in, but I couldn’t make out what anyone was saying.

As I looked around, trying to get closer, I spotted a familiar back lying in the grass ahead. It was one of the guards accompanying us. He was probably keeping watch around the settlement, but the commotion at the entrance must have made him monitor the situation more carefully.

I crouched down and approached the guard, moving my arms and legs alternately like a lizard crawling along the ground.

If this had been an ordinary town, I would have been spotted immediately. However, the elf settlement had so much grass and foliage that there were plenty of places to hide, which really helped.

“What’s the situation?”

“Leah-sama, why are you here?”

“I came to see what’s going on. What exactly do those guys want?”

“Most likely us. For the moment they’re demanding that we call the village elder out here, but the elves are refusing, and the situation is steadily getting worse.”

“As I thought.”

Since I had moved closer than before, I could now clearly see the intruders’ appearance and understand more of what the commotion was about.

For the time being, the soldiers who had arrived were carrying swords, clubs, and similar weapons, but I couldn’t spot anything that looked like a gun.

Come to think of it, the constables who patrolled the town didn’t carry guns either.

Even though the Bartfort territory was known domestically as a tourist destination famous for its hot springs, the soldiers who patrolled the streets for public security didn’t wear obviously military uniforms.

Mother once explained that if they intimidated tourists with overt military appearances, bad rumors would spread and revenue would decline, which would cause problems.

Maybe these men didn’t have guns for the same reason.

Even so, they looked rough, and no matter how you looked at them, they absolutely didn’t resemble upright and respectable regular soldiers.

“Hey! Don’t you understand when we’re telling you to stop resisting and let us inside so we can conduct our investigation right now?!”

“There is no need to raise your voice. We understand perfectly. And on that basis, we continue to assert our refusal.”

“This is getting nowhere! Bring out whoever’s in charge right now!”

“The village elder is quite elderly and has found it difficult to go outside in recent years. If we were to expose someone of his stature to people like you and his health deteriorated as a result, what would you do then?”

“Then call some other person in charge!”

“I am the only one serving as the village elder’s assistant. And it is I who am refusing. This discussion is over.”

A female elf who clearly looked different from the others was calmly trying to drive the men away.

However, the calmer she answered, the more excited the men became. It had turned into a vicious cycle.

The elves looked far too slender and fragile to fight men who seemed ready to start swinging their weapons at any moment.

I had heard that the elves living in this settlement were different from those who sought profit through trade or those who hated humans. They had gentle personalities and disliked conflict.

It didn’t look as if elves like that would stand any chance if they clashed with battle-hardened mercenaries.

Even though the discussion continued, both sides remained completely opposed and neither side gave way.

“Please step aside. We are acting under formal orders from the village head. If you refuse, the ones who will end up in a difficult position won’t be us.”

“Only elves who wish to live quietly and continue the ancient way of life dwell here. When the new village head took office, we promised that we would not interfere in the management of the new village. In return, you promised that you would not interfere with our way of life.”

“However, this is an emergency. A subordinate of the village head who lives in the town was subjected to unilateral violence by nobles, and the perpetrators are still at large. In order to prevent further victims, we ask for your cooperation in the investigation.”

“I have repeatedly requested a detailed explanation from the beginning, yet your claims remain entirely one-sided. You provide no specifics about the supposed noble perpetrators, you offer no description of the circumstances, and you simply demand to search the settlement. Moreover, you send armed men and implicitly threaten violence if we refuse. As someone in a position of responsibility, it is difficult for me to consent.”

The man wearing leather armor tried to persuade the female elf in a quiet voice that clearly didn’t tolerate refusal.

Compared with the others, his presence felt noticeably different.

He was probably a subordinate of whoever governed the town. His speech sounded polite because he claimed to be conducting an investigation, yet his attitude was arrogant.

He had likely been born into a noble or knightly family. That kind of air came through in his mannerisms.

On the other hand, the female elf continued firmly rejecting his persuasion.

The reason she refused was obvious.

Because they were hiding us.

Until now, the Bartfort earldom and this elf village had never really interacted. We weren’t even particularly close.

Thinking about that made it impossible for me to remain still, and an unbearable feeling welled up inside me.

Elves are said to be far better than humans at handling magic, but their bodies are delicate.

If one of those clubs struck them, their bones would break easily.

Why couldn’t I help the elves?

The moment I unconsciously started to stand up, my arm was suddenly yanked back with force.

When I turned around, the guard was gripping my arm so tightly that his fingers seemed ready to dig into my flesh.

I wanted to complain, but the seriousness in both of his eyes left no room for argument.

When someone glared at you like that, the words that had risen to your throat naturally retreated.

After confirming that I had obediently backed down, the guard finally released my arm.

With that much strength, bruises might appear later.

“You mustn’t, Leah-sama.”

“Why not? Those elves are hiding us!”

“Yes, that is correct. Whatever their own reasons may be, they are sheltering all of you from the Bartfort earldom while putting themselves at risk.”

“But—”

“That is precisely why. If you go out there now, all the effort the elves have made to hide you will be wasted. On the contrary, you would be giving them the perfect excuse to ransack the entire settlement.”

“So you’re telling me to abandon the people who are protecting us?”

“That would be the tactically correct course of action. While those soldiers are distracted by the elves, we should leave this settlement as quickly as possible.”

“…………”

What the guard said was correct.

Even someone as slow-witted as me could understand that much.

I had heard that during the war, Father sometimes deliberately withdrew from battlefields in order to minimize casualties, and at times he even fled to avoid total annihilation.

Running away isn’t shameful. As long as you stay alive, the chance to turn things around may appear someday.

If you think about it that way, the guard’s opinion couldn’t possibly be wrong. But was it truly the right choice as a noble and as a person?

After the war that ended before I was born, a great many nobles lost their ranks or were exiled.

The reason was that they had betrayed the kingdom or abandoned their territories and people and fled.

They behaved arrogantly and overbearingly in peacetime, yet the moment their own lives were threatened, they quickly submitted to the enemy or abandoned their comrades and subordinates.

Apparently there used to be many cowardly nobles and knights like that.

The scars that remained on Father’s face came from the time he was abandoned by his superior yet continued fighting desperately until the end.

Because he fought through to the very last, Father was granted a peerage and became a noble.

That is why both Father and Mother repeatedly lecture us children, almost until their voices grow hoarse, that nobles must behave in a manner befitting their station. They tell us, “Never abandon your people or your comrades. Fulfill your duty.”

Would it really be acceptable for someone like me to abandon the elves who sheltered us at a time like this when the enemy had come?

However, even with just a few guards, escaping while escorting Mother, whose body had shrunk, along with my sisters and little brother, would be extremely difficult.

The best option would be to leave this settlement as quickly as possible.

Father always says that a tactical retreat isn’t shameful.

“Kyaa!?”

While I was desperately thinking in circles, a high-pitched scream suddenly pierced my ears. It was a female voice I recognized.

When I looked ahead, one female elf had collapsed onto the ground. Her deep green hair was a color I knew well among elves.

It was Yumelia-san, the one who had sheltered us in the house. She must have come running after hearing the commotion.

The fact that she had collapsed right in front of the dignified female elf probably meant she had tried to protect her comrade.

Realizing that made me feel deeply ashamed of myself for desperately trying to run away just moments earlier.

More than anything, the unpleasant face of the soldier who had hurt Yumelia-san filled me with such rage that I couldn’t stand it.

What if men who didn’t hesitate to use violence against women ever laid a hand on my family?

The moment that thought crossed my mind, everything in front of me turned bright red, and I could no longer think straight.

“Hurry back to the house and get Mother and the others out of here!”

“Leah-sama!”

“I’ll draw their attention. Use that opening to escape quickly!”

Ignoring the guard who tried to stop me, I kept advancing forward step by step.

Tactics and noble duty didn’t matter anymore.

I simply had no intention whatsoever of letting men who would hurt someone who helped us get away with it.

“Hey, look at that!?”

“What the hell, there he is.”

“But it’s just one brat all by himself.”

“He’s probably the only one who came out. Let’s grab him quick.”

The soldiers who noticed me approaching started shouting whatever crude words came to mind.

Their speech was rough and their faces vulgar, showing absolutely no respect or consideration for anyone else.

Their skill level was clearly far below that of the soldiers belonging to the Bartfort feudal army. Just one glance at their posture and movements told me that much.

If Father saw trash like this calling themselves soldiers, he’d be furious. If they ever appeared in our feudal army, they’d be drilled until they broke.

Meanwhile, the looks the elves were giving me were extremely cold.

Of course they were. They had gone to such lengths to hide us, and yet here I was appearing on my own after hearing the noise and ruining all their efforts.

I reflected internally that I had done something incredibly foolish, and a little of the excitement inside me cooled down.

In my current state, it seemed I wouldn’t lose myself completely. A calm version of myself inside my head told me so.

The closer I got, the clearer their filthy words became. Even though they must have known I was a noble’s child, they didn’t care in the slightest.

I wanted to shut them up right this instant.

Then I suddenly remembered that I was carrying a pistol.

If I used the pistol, I could silence them immediately. If I later testified that I had cut down soldiers who showed disrespect to a noble, it might even be accepted.

The moment that thought occurred to me, the pistol in my pocket suddenly felt dozens of times heavier.

Sure, the guys in front of me were obnoxious. I wanted to beat them senseless right now.

But what if I fired the pistol?

What if I ended up killing them?

That would mean stepping into a place I could never return from.

That fear was what held me back.

When I pulled the pistol from the inner pocket of my jacket, the soldiers’ expressions changed instantly.

They clearly hadn’t expected me to have a gun.

After talking so arrogantly, they backed down the moment they saw something stronger than themselves?

Thinking that made the men in front of me look ridiculously small. They didn’t even come close to Father, or even to the regular soldiers I trained with every day.

They weren’t worth killing.

With that thought, I placed the pistol I had drawn onto the ground.

The moment they saw that, the soldiers broke into sleazy grins.

“Hey, you.”

I called out to the soldier standing closest to the female elf and to Yumelia-san.

From the situation, there was no doubt he was the one who had struck Yumelia. His fist was still clenched tightly from earlier.

“Huh?”

“You’re the one who hit her, right? Apologize.”

“What’d you say, you little shit?”

“The elves were only sheltering us. Stop laying hands on them.”

“Are you an idiot?”

“This is why noble brats are the worst.”

“You think commoners will obey just because you give orders?”

The soldiers hurled abuse at me however they pleased.

Even though the words were similar, why did hearing them from these guys feel so much more unpleasant than when my older sister or younger sisters said them during arguments?

But the soldier who seemed to be the leader, the one wearing leather armor, remained silent the entire time.

Clearly, only he carried an atmosphere completely different from the rest.

That man was definitely someone I shouldn’t engage.

“Stop strutting around like hot shit when the only people you can get serious against are women and children, you pathetic weaklings.”

“Wha!?”

“Come on then. I’ll beat you all senseless.”

“Don’t get cocky, you brat!!”

The provocation technique Father had taught me worked almost comically well.

The soldiers, now fully focused on me, charged forward recklessly without thinking.

But they were slow. Incredibly slow.

Compared to the feudal soldiers who sparred with me during regular hand-to-hand training, their speed was sluggish and their stance was completely sloppy.

The right arm of the charging soldier swung upward.

In this situation, panicking and moving first would be a mistake.

When someone gets too close, their attack becomes harder to land, so their speed inevitably drops. That’s the moment to act.

Just as I expected, the soldier’s movement slowed sharply right as his right arm began swinging downward.

At that exact moment, I took precisely two steps backward.

The soldier’s attack passed directly in front of my face and sliced through empty air.

Without moving from where I stood, I lightly thrust my right fist forward.

I had no intention of actually hitting him. The only purpose was to measure the distance.

The soldier flinched and shrank back in surprise at my right fist approaching his body.

But shrinking like that wouldn’t let him escape my range.

Next came my left fist, thrust forward as quickly as possible toward a point that barely grazed his face.

The purpose was to restrict the movement of his upper body.

I had been taught that when someone hunches their neck, the movement of their head becomes limited, making it much harder to dodge the next attack.

Keeping my right fist pulled back to gather power, I took one step forward and planted my foot firmly on the ground.

The momentum from kicking off the ground and the force of thrusting my right fist merged through my body into one unified motion.

It was a strange sensation, almost as if time in the world had slowed down and both my movements and his had become unnaturally slow.

CRUNCH-SPLAT!!

The sound and sensation of flesh being crushed spread from the tip of my right fist.

It was the same kind of blow I had used in training to knock an opponent unconscious, but I had never felt it this clearly before.

My fist sank deeply into the soldier’s face. With no chance to brace himself, his body flew backward.

The other soldiers’ faces changed color when they saw their fallen comrade’s ruined face.

Anger, fear, and hostility mixed together all at once.

Never in my life had I been the target of so much raw hostility at once. Yet strangely, I didn’t feel even the slightest bit afraid.

“Come at me, you bastards!!”

My shout alone echoed through the settlement deep within the forest.

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Author’s Note

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This is Leah-kun’s growth chapter.

Tactically, his actions are wrong, but as a person they aren’t wrong.

They follow the kind of actions the original Leon often showed.

However, right now they are mixed with his admiration for his father and the reckless bravery that comes from still being young, so please keep that in mind when interpreting it.

The first half of the next chapter will also depict Leah-kun’s struggle.

On a personal note, my beloved laptop has finally given up the ghost. (tears)

I had been using it for eight years, so it had reached the end of its lifespan, and Windows 10 support has also ended. Once the data became risky, I kept writing by patching things together as best I could.

After posting this chapter, I plan to buy a new one over this holiday weekend.

Data migration and setup will likely delay the posting of the next chapter, so I’m very sorry about that.

P.S.: Rate-sama has drawn a manga based on this work.

Thank you very much.

Rate-sama: Pixiv

I would be very grateful for any opinions or impressions. They would really encourage me going forward.