Alf, who had received instructions from Kyle, immediately crossed the hallway and went to inform the family head, Dbeir, and the eldest son, Hassel.
Upon hearing this, Dbeir and Hassel initially widened their eyes, displaying a blank and astonished expression. However, soon after, both father and son burst into laughter, reacting as if it were completely absurd.
“Magic? Kyle, did that guy ask whether he could use magic?”
“Y-yes, sir. From what I heard, he asked clearly….”
“It seems like he’s lost his mind, father. Kyle, that guy using magic… That’s a joke even a passing dog wouldn’t laugh at.”
“Indeed. The guy can’t even properly manifest his magical power, and he asks about magic? Ha ha…!”
The sight of the two sneering to the point where their gums showed was, in fact, even amusing.
It was certainly not the type of attitude one would expect from a father and an older brother toward their son and younger brother, but Alf couldn’t bring himself to point that out.
No servant in this household was unaware of how Kyle Lyard was treated within the family.
In some ways, their reaction was not entirely without merit.
What was the reason Kyle Lyard had become known as the disgrace of the family in the first place?
Wasn’t it because, from birth, he had failed to even properly manifest the vast magical power he was born with, simply wearing it like a pearl necklace on a pig’s neck?
Of course, when someone like that suddenly asks if he can use magic, it is bound to seem less like bravado and more like nonsense to Dbeir and Hassel.
“So, what should we do, Hassel?”
“Do as you wish, father. After all, how well could someone like him even use magic?”
“That’s right. At best, he might be able to use it to light a small fire, but that’s about it.”
“Even if that much helps, it would be surprising.”
“Heh, that’s true. You’re right.”
Thus, Hassel decided to generously allow his younger brother’s futile struggles.
Of course, he also knew that Kyle wouldn’t have said something like that unless he had truly lost his mind.
However, his overflowing confidence stemmed from the belief that even if Kyle had learned magic, there was no way he could wield it competently.
After all, magic itself was not an easy discipline.
And to master it to the point of using it in actual combat would require an enormous amount of time.
There’s an old saying: “A sword that has been trained for one year is far better than magic learned clumsily for ten years.” Anyone in the Empire knows this well.
‘This is actually good. I’ll make sure to teach that guy his place, and show him his station. He doesn’t even know his own limits.’
Hassel saw this as the perfect opportunity to stomp out Kyle’s budding ambitions.
Even if Kyle had truly learned magic, he figured that by thoroughly crushing him with his sword, Kyle would never dare to challenge him again.
It was a perfect opportunity to show everyone, including the distinguished guests outside, that he was the rightful successor to the Lyard family.
“Alf, go and tell Kyle. Use every trick you can, and make sure he gives it everything he’s got.”
“Yes, young master.”
After hearing Hassel’s command, Alf quickly rose from his seat and stepped back. Hassel, who was watching him, couldn’t help but smirk coldly.
In Hassel’s mind, there was no thought of how to deal with Kyle or some clever strategy to win. His only concern was how best to crush his useless younger brother, born of the same Lyard blood, and teach him his place.
Soon, news brought by Alf made Hassel smile on its own.
Just as expected.
If it was someone who had their nose in the sky, someone who thought too highly of themselves, then Hassel had been certain that this would happen.
It was clear as day that Kyle intended to thoroughly crush him in this moment. That simple scheme was almost visible, like a transparent plan.
“If he wants that, I’ll give it to him,” Hassel thought, stepping outside the castle.
“…There are quite a few people.”
What immediately caught his eye was the crowd gathered around the training ground, almost as if they had come to watch a gladiatorial fight.
Of course, the training ground and stage were so small that they couldn’t be compared to the grand arena where gladiators fought for their lives, but it was still enough to draw a large crowd for a sparring match within the family.
There must be at least a hundred people, he thought.
“After all, today essentially marks the day the next family head of the Lyard family will be decided.”
“You really take an interest in other people’s family matters, don’t you?”
Hassel clicked his tongue at Alf’s words and walked on.
As he did, he unintentionally turned his gaze to the opposite side, where he saw Hassel appear as well.
“Hassel, good luck.”
“Yes, father. Don’t worry.”
Following behind, my father also approached Hassel, massaging his shoulder and offering words of encouragement.
With that support, the one who had been holding his nose high now flashed a smirking grin as our eyes met, signaling for me to go ahead.
Is the protagonist trying to make a late appearance? If he wants that, I’ll let him have it.
Clack, clack.
As I walked along the marble path, the sound of my footsteps was unusually clear.
Now that I think about it, it was the same that day.
From the moment I saw my father offering encouragement only to my older brother, I remember feeling that any sense of camaraderie was already broken.
And when I stepped onto the stage, the unfamiliar faces in the crowd came into view. At the time, there was no reaction from them—some even picked their noses or ears. But as soon as Hassel appeared, they all erupted into cheers.
Perhaps, in that moment, my defeat had already been sealed.
But today would be different.
“Good luck, Prince Lyard!”
Though it was surely not a message meant specifically for today… Sylvia.
Somehow, at this moment, it feels as if your voice is echoing in my head.
You always wanted me to become a man who was recognized by many, even more than I wanted it for myself.
Although the opportunity to achieve that didn’t come until much later, now I want to start fixing everything, step by step.
This is the first step toward that.
“Haah.”
Letting out a light breath, I climb the stairs toward the stage.
There is an eerie silence, with no response or encouragement.
Yet, without paying any mind to it, I fix my gaze on Hassel as he follows behind me onto the stage.
Clap, clap, clap.
“Good luck, Hassel!”
“Show us the strength of the eldest son!”
Only then does the same enthusiastic applause from that day echo, and the people around us begin shouting Hassel’s name.
It’s almost laughable that these so-called noblemen respond with the same kind of enthusiasm as if they were watching a street fight in a marketplace.
“Kyle, are you nervous? You look pretty stiff.”
Hassel, who had come up to the stage with great confidence, sneered openly and mocked me.
At first, it might seem like he’s expressing concern for his younger brother, but when it comes to this man, the chance of that is zero.
“What reason would I have to be nervous? The outcome has already been decided, hasn’t it?”
“Haha, so you understand your place? It’s nice to hear something pleasant from you for once.”
As I lowered my head and spoke in a humble manner, Hassel, perhaps misunderstanding my words, laughed heartily and rested his practice sword on his shoulder.
I shook my head slightly and corrected my statement.
“That’s not what I meant, brother.”
“…Hmm? Then, what do you mean by that?”
The movement of his practice sword stopped, and a puzzled expression appeared on his face.
I’m sorry to crush his expectations, but that wasn’t what I meant.
In fact, it was the opposite.
At this moment, I momentarily removed the mask I had been wearing on my face, offering a similar smirking grin to the one the bastard had shown earlier, and growled.
“What do you mean? It means that everyone here will get to watch you lose embarrassingly and cry like a child.”
“Wha, what…!”
It must have been the first time he had heard such words from my mouth, so he was probably quite shocked.
Despite the blatant insult, he furrowed his brows, unable to continue speaking.
“Both of you, stand in place.”
He was clearly ready to rush at me, but when my father, who was overseeing the match today, spoke, he reluctantly calmed his anger and turned away.
Even though his expression was hidden, I could clearly feel the murderous intent rolling off of him from behind.
He must be really angry.
“The rules are simple. The first to declare defeat or lose consciousness loses. Poison or magic are prohibited, but anything else is allowed.”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
In the center of the arena, maintaining a certain distance, we listened closely to my father’s words as we lightly tapped our practice swords together.
This was a sort of ritual that precedes a match in the Lyard family.
It’s meant to show the intent to learn, but I can guarantee that neither of us was thinking of something so outdated or naive.
Our minds were filled with primitive thoughts of stomping down and defeating the other.
Whether that’s the behavior expected between brothers is unclear, but I don’t really care, considering our relationship is far from being that of normal siblings.
“Then… Begin!”
Boom.
As my father waved his hand vertically to signal the start of the match, he quickly stepped back, and I immediately focused my eyes, releasing magical energy throughout my body.
Crack.
For a brief moment, the area around the stage cracked from the impact of the magical force.
…!?
Perhaps overwhelmed by the intensity, Hassel stared at me with wide eyes, shock evident on his face.
I raised one corner of my mouth, provocatively speaking.
“What’s wrong, brother? Why don’t you come at me first? Or are you nervous?”