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74 Chapter

“……Sword Prince. Let’s put our greetings on hold for now. When did this all start?”

As I felt the pangs of confusion about how to deal with the sword, Lewellin, with his eyes full of cold reason, gazed at the choking Merhen without even sparing him a glance.

‘If this gets out, it would be troublesome for Lewellin too.’

If the sword took this issue seriously, Merhen would be easily buried, but at the same time, the Deckardo family would also take the fall. While I could sort things out with my friend through conversation, it seemed Lewellin was worried about the rumors spreading due to his lack of familiarity with the sword.

“Lewellin Deckardo.”

With one arm wrapped around my waist and his face buried in my neck as he collected his furious breaths, the sword finally acknowledged Lewellin’s presence. The short whispers right next to my ear felt chillingly numb.

The deep anger in the red eyes and the coldly burning green eyes clashed as if they were exploring each other.

“……Since you declared yourself as the heir. I was passing through the corridor, and the atmosphere felt off, so I hid for a moment using a transparency spell…”

The sword turned its gaze to Merhen. In those usually transparent eyes resembled glass, rage like lava was dripping down. Feeling the sword’s gaze, Merhen trembled.

“That bastard, how dare he…”

“Sword.”

I hastily grabbed the sword’s hand, which was beginning to amass tremendous magical power, trying to stop him. As my hand touched the magical energy, which seemed poised to unleash a meteor, the gathered power began to gradually subside.

With gritted teeth, the sword held onto my hand tightly.

“Just earlier, Frama Young Lord was acting like this too. These days, worthless things are acting out in front of my sister. Even if my sister just waved her pinky, they’d be dead.”

His breathy voice whispered roughly. The aura he emitted felt violent enough to explode at any moment.

“But my Shushu is too kind to let such vermin live… sometimes it would be okay to be a little cruel.”

The sword sighed deeply. I could feel his hot breath on the back of my neck.

“That’s the part of you I loved, your unyielding nature.”

There was a bittersweet tone in his voice that made my heart flutter. It was always nice to have someone who loved me.

“So, as your elder brother, I plan to take care of that brat for you.”

“I said you can’t kill him. Please let go a bit.”

The black smoke that subtly tightened around Merhen’s neck grew more intense as the sword bit his lip and dispelled the magic.

I looked down at Merhen, gasping for breath with my hands clutching his neck, then turned to Lewellin.

“I want to leave the disposition of this matter to Lewellin.”

As Lewellin stared at Merhen, who was flailing on the ground, she looked at me. Meeting her upright gaze, she opened her mouth.

“I will follow Lewellin’s will. Do you want this to be made into an official matter, or would you prefer that we both remain silent?”

The green eyes flecked with color fluttered gently.

If this were made an official matter, Merhen would be scorned by the nobility, and Lewellin could easily deal with him, but then the Deckardo family wouldn’t escape dishonor either. On the other hand, ignoring it would mean saving the family’s honor but allowing Merhen, who insulted me, to go unpunished.

“I’m fine with it, Lewellin.”

I assured Lewellin, who seemed to hesitate over my sake. Lewellin trembled slightly.

‘I’m really okay.’

Having been subjected to all sorts of insults throughout my life, Merhen’s cursing felt like childish antics. What mattered was Lewellin’s heart, not punishing Merhen.

Lewellin, who was looking at me with shaken eyes, bit her lip and tightly shut her eyes.

“This time, I hope you will remain silent.”

Lewellin was born to be a businessman. She knew what made sense. I smiled gently at her, who couldn’t meet my gaze out of guilt.

“Ha.”

But the sword didn’t seem to be okay with it.

“It’s really not funny. Is your family’s honor more important than punishing the one who insulted Shushu?”

“……Sword.”

“It’s disgusting that Shushu stood up for you, and you’re weighing profit and loss. Is that the nature of those born into merchant families? Brothers, sisters…”

“Sword!”

With every word that the sword bit out, Lewellin turned pale. The sarcasm from the sword was getting excessive, so I hastily tried to stop him, turning to face the sword.

“Look at me.”

I grabbed the sword’s cheeks tightly, which were glaring at Lewellin. The cold texture of his skin touched my palms.

Only then did the sword lower his gaze to look at me. As I met the raw anger in his eyes, I whispered softly.

“Please don’t do that. She’s my friend.”

Even if Lewellin weighed profit against our family’s honor, she was still my friend. I didn’t want my friend Lewellin to be hurt because of the sword that I loved.

Between the red eyes and the deep pink ones, gazes exchanged, and the sword bit his lip.

“……Ha.”

The sword placed his hand over mine, which held both his cheeks. A cold palm rested against the back of my hands. After calming down for a bit with his eyes closed, he slowly opened them.

“……I’m keeping my mouth shut because of you.”

“Okay.”

“Normally, I would have killed that bastard, but it’s because of you that I’m holding back.”

“I know. Good job.”

This way of speaking from the sword was quite familiar. I gently patted his hair, and only then did his momentum slightly decrease.

The sword sighed and grabbed the back of Merhen’s neck, who was still choking and gasping. Merhen gasped painfully, but no one paid him any attention.

“Hey. I challenge you to a duel.”

The sword pulled out black leather gloves from his pocket and, with an indifferent expression, slapped Merhen across the face with them. He swung so hard that Merhen’s face turned sharply. Whether Merhen screamed and clung to his cheek, the sword didn’t care at all as he turned his gaze back to me with a relaxed expression.

“You’ll allow a duel, right? As long as you don’t kill him, that’s fine.”

‘…He seems like he might kill him.’

Seeing the sword’s unstable energy, it felt like he was about to draw a magic circle to open the gates of hell and toss Merhen inside, yet the way he was saying it suggested he wouldn’t actually kill him. It seemed he would bring him to the brink of death instead.

I nodded as though giving permission, and the sword grinned.

“I’ll see you at home later, Shushu.”

An everyday greeting—contrasting the lighthearted voice, the strong grip he had on Merhen’s neck was extremely rough. I stared vacantly at Merhen, who was screaming but was enveloped in silence magic, silently struggling with his mouth moving wordlessly, then waved my hand at the sword. I didn’t even feel sympathy for Merhen.

“……Lewellin.”

After confirming the sword had completely left, I turned my head slightly to look at Lewellin. I was worried that the sword’s sarcasm might have hurt her.

“Shushu, I’m so, so sorry…”

As expected, the pale Lewellin broke into huge tears as soon as her eyes met mine.

‘Oh no.’

Her large, tear-filled green eyes were so mournful that I felt guilty even though I hadn’t done anything wrong. I quickly ran over to Lewellin.

“I didn’t prioritize the family’s honor over you, Shushu! Of course, the family’s honor is important, but it doesn’t compare to you! You are my only friend, truly precious, and…”

“I know.”

I hugged Lewellin, who was rambling nonstop while crying. She burrowed her face into my chest, trembling.

“It’s okay, Lewellin. Really. I’m fine.”

I gently patted Lewellin’s back, which was drenched with tears, and continuously whispered comforting words.

Humans are adaptable creatures, so one becomes progressively dulled by what they frequently encounter. Neglect, scorn, and disdain were the first things I had gotten used to after being born into this world.

From around the age of ten, I had taken up a sword and lived as a mercenary. Living as a mercenary meant being seen as a lowly thing who’d do anything for some coins, diving headfirst into tasks that put my life at stake.

‘……You’re the mercenary assigned to this request? Are you kidding me? What’s a little squirt like you gonna do!’

‘You’ll do anything for a coin, huh? Ha ha! How amusing! I’ll give you a gold if you lick my spit!’

I wasn’t always strong from the beginning. I didn’t get the name “Sword Calamity Mir” for free. It was only when I reached the level of a Sword Master at seventeen that no one could ignore me. Those seven years before becoming a Sword Master were filled with all kinds of neglect and disgrace.

It wasn’t an easy life. My body was tossed around for a few coins, my ears had to endure every insult, and my mouth had to remain silent through every event.

I needed the money. I needed every single coin to help me and Aria get through another day.

The work I started to survive had made me want to die.

There wasn’t a day without struggle. I had to endure endless mockery for being small and scrawny, and the perception that mercenaries would do anything for money forced me to bow my head to those who handled me carelessly.

Every day, both my body and spirit returned home covered in wounds. I’d smile at Aria, who waited for me, so she wouldn’t worry, and every night, I would leave the house to weep silently in the trees of the forest. While everyone else enjoyed peaceful sleep, only I remained awake, imagining death.

“Why does everyone seem so happy while I am the only one unhappy? Why must Aria be the only one in pain among so many people? Why was I born into such an environment and have to endure this? Why, why only me?”

Even amidst the relentless tide of misfortune crashing down on me, I ultimately grew accustomed to it. It arrived at my door every night. Having worn me down to the point there was no more wear, I became numb to all the negativity that came rushing in, and with that, I could finally say I was genuinely okay.

“I’m really okay.”

‘Merhen’s insults are practically compliments at this point.’

Those who have seen the end of misfortune generally don’t react to ordinary shocks. Having built up enough calluses, they don’t feel pain as much. I was truly fine.

“I didn’t value the family’s honor more than you, Shushu. Making Merhen an official target would feel like tainting your hands… it’s been a long and arduous relationship since birth, so I wanted to cut those ties myself. I wanted to take down that bastard with my own hands, without relying on the Duke’s power.”

“So, so….”

“Yes. I know. It’s okay.”

I slowly patted Lewellin’s back, whose voice was thick with moisture.

I entrusted the decision to Lewellin because I understood that. I wanted to leave Merhen’s disposition entirely in her hands.

Lewellin’s previously stiff shoulders relaxed, and her once-rigid arms wrapped around my waist. She cried silently. I gently stroked her disheveled red hair and smiled.

“Don’t apologize; just go your way, Lewellin. A friend exists to help you along the path you choose. I would have supported Lewellin regardless of what path you took. So what if you can’t punish Merhen? You are what matters. It’s okay.”

A fierce sob broke out. I stood quietly by her side until her tears ceased, repeating reassurances that it was okay.

The chaotic gathering thus came to an end.

 

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