Chapter 91
Finding Lérang was not difficult.
At the second training ground on a low hill.
There, watching over the children's training and offering advice was part of his daily routine.
"Ah? Zero?"
As soon as I entered, Lérang welcomed me.
Even sending back the child he was coaching.
"Keke, good day."
"What brings you here? Normally, you use the third training ground."
He was well aware of my movements.
One might think of him as a stalker, but that was not the case.
'It's only natural he keeps an eye on me. After all, I am a person of interest.'
Third place in the entrance exam.
Catching the eye of both the Yuridia faction and the Teron faction in one glance.
The first in this batch to receive a commendation.
Given directives to bombard me with demerits and recently to be given merits.
From Lérang's perspective, it would be impossible not to remember.
Well, my good looks must play a part too.
"Keke, the academy is abuzz with praise for Teacher Lérang. I've come to seek your guidance, acknowledging my many shortcomings."
"Ha! You flatter me too much. If I don't look after you properly, there'll be talk."
A bright smile appeared on Lérang's lips.
The start was successful.
'I need to gather as many puzzle pieces as possible.'
The puzzle concerning the character of Lérang.
Though many pieces were missing, the most important were two things.
'The reason for his family's downfall by his own hand, and the conditions for his repentance.'
After learning the secret techniques of other families as a wandering knight, Lérang returned to his own family and defeated its head.
Suddenly challenging his brother to a duel and defeating him.
'It makes no sense, no matter how I think about it.'
Learning the swordsmanship of other families was an act that would diminish a noble's pride and self-esteem.
But aside from that, there were no other issues.
Several prestigious families even taught secret techniques for money.
Meaning, Lérang learning other families' swordsmanship and returning to his own to challenge them to a duel.
'These two actions have no direct correlation.'
There was no cause-and-effect relationship.
To be precise, there was a void in the middle.
The reason 'Mimic Lérang,' famed for his reputation, suddenly returned to his family to challenge them.
I had to find out.
And that reason would be the 'key' to repentance.
"Alright, Zero. What's the issue? Swordsmanship? Or is it combat technique? Just say the word. I'll do my best to guide you."
"Keke, those are issues too, but today I've come with a question."
"A question? Well, that's not bad either. Ask away. As an outstanding student, Zero, you deserve to know."
Was he happy that I, ranked third in the entrance exams, came to him? Or was he pleased because he had something to tell his backers?
He was writing blank checks.
'Is it because he's the first boss, or because I'm used to dealing with Caron...'
The conversation was too easy.
He's giving away blank checks, so what can I do but use them?
With a friendly smile, I asked.
"Anything at all... Are you sure there's nothing off limits?"
"Of course. Unless it's something I don't know. Hahaha!"
His hearty laugh. However, it didn't take long for that laugh to turn serious.
"Why did you return to your family to challenge them to a duel?"
A straightforward question.
Lérang's expression turned blank, as if he'd been hit by a real stone.
"Ah... I'm sorry. I intended to ask something else... But since you said you'd answer anything. Keke, was that too rude?"
Scratching my head as if it were a child's mistake.
Leaving his family to become a wandering knight, then after 10 years of training, returning to challenge the head of his family.
What was the reason for defeating him so brutally?
What caused the hatred that drove him to train for ten years?
What was the reason for bringing downfall to his family, bearing the disgrace of being a traitor?
This question could unravel all three mysteries at once.
The likelihood of him answering was low, but there was no harm in asking.
"...It was because the swordsmanship of my family was atrocious."
Really? He would divulge that so easily?
I was slightly surprised, but I couldn't let this opportunity slip away.
"Keke, I hesitate to say this, but... that hardly seems like a reason."
Trampling over his brother because his swordsmanship was poor?
The reason was too weak. It implied there was something more concealed.
Lérang let out a wry laugh.
"I had an older brother. He was also the head of my family."
"I'm aware. He ascended to the headship relatively early."
"That's right. But no one doubted him. Even I could see my brother's abilities were exceptional. Except for his swordsmanship, that is."
Lérang began to chuckle.
It was a laugh filled with unpleasant feelings.
Seeing the usually dignified Lérang with such an expression made him seem like a completely different person.
"Zero, do you know what my brother was called?"
"I haven't heard."
"Not heard... it seems my efforts have paid off then."
Lérang muttered to himself for a moment before speaking to me again.
"He was called 'Raphael of a Hundred Battles, a Hundred Defeats'. It means he never won a single match, not even in sparring. Hahaha!"
I thought hard but couldn't recall ever hearing that nickname.
I stored it in my mind and continued the conversation.
"Keke, could that not be possible? The world of the strong operates differently."
"Yes, I thought the same. Until my brother lost to a mere fourteen-year-old child."
"..."
I had no choice but to keep silent.
The head of a family defeated by a fourteen-year-old child not even enrolled in the academy.
"What infuriated me more was that I, too, was unable to defeat him. That's when I realized. There is an insurmountable gap between prestigious families and third-rate ones!"
Only then did I understand Lérang's actions.
The children of prestigious families train from a young age and receive various forms of support.
But to be defeated by a child barely out of his boyhood.
'From then on, he became obsessed with the secret techniques of prestigious families. Because his brother, whom he believed in, was defeated so miserably.'
It must have been a shocking event for Lérang at the time.
"Not just that. That brat had my brother kneeling and laughed mockingly, asking if that was supposed to be swordsmanship!"
Lérang's fists trembled.
He seemed to be recalling that moment.
"What made me even angrier was that my brother endured it. To endure such humiliation... That's when I understood the bitterness of being weak."
"..."
"The very next day, I left my family. I realized that everything I had built over 20 years amounted to nothing."
What followed was as I knew.
Challenging swordsmen, seeking their guidance, forsaking his pride to depend on prestigious families.
After ten years of training, he returned to his family and challenged his brother.
"I didn't intend to challenge him to a duel. But my brother was still stubborn. So I had no choice but to show my skills... and then..."
Lérang's words stopped there.
He suddenly turned his head and looked at me.
"Do you know why I'm telling you this, Zero?"
I had felt it before, but it was strange.
He didn't get angry at a difficult question and even shared his disgrace with me.
"I'm not sure."
"I pity your bright talent going to waste."
Lérang placed a hand on my shoulder as he spoke.
"Make sure to learn the swordsmanship of prestigious families. That's the only way to succeed. This world is designed for them from the start!"
I could feel Lérang's hand trembling on my shoulder.
'So that's it.'
Third in the entrance exam.
Not just the talk of many but also seemingly overflowing with talent, at least from the outside.
But a commoner by birth, not a noble.
In Lérang's eyes, I must seem like a foolish disciple choosing to walk a thorny path on my own.
'It's a pity.'
Lérang, swallowed by his inferiority complex, was unaware of his own degradation.
I genuinely felt sorry and sad for him.
'...Perhaps because he's a good teacher.'
But Lérang is the boss of the first chapter, and I am a gamer.
He must do what he has to do, and I must do what I have to do.
I raised my arm to brush off the hand on my shoulder.
"Keke, I see. But that doesn't justify lying."
"Lying? What lie have I told?"
"You said you were taught by the head of the Lester family, didn't you?"
"...Indeed."
"Keke, in fact, I know the real One Flash."
Lérang's body jerked in reaction.
As expected, the claim that he was directly taught by Renia was a lie.
It was time to press harder. I used the [Eye Opening] skill as I continued.
"There's no way that could be the One Flash. Meeting with Lady Renia. That itself is a lie, isn't it?"
"It's not!!"
A cry almost like a scream.
Lérang's voice echoed loudly across the training ground.
The children looked over in surprise.
Wooong-.
At the same time, something flowed from Lérang's right hand.
A black aura full of ominous energy.
'Demon magic.'
It leaked out visibly.
Lérang quickly hid his right hand behind him, turned his head away, and pretended not to see, lost in thought.
'There must be more hidden stories...'
But going further is dangerous. Today is not the day for Rodelin and the first party to tackle Lérang.
Digging deeper and causing an outburst here would twist the story into a mess.
'It's a bit disappointing. I wanted to know the full story.'
But I had to let go of my regrets.
I didn't want to ruin the game by being stubborn.
If I manage to clear this game and return to reality.
Then, I should try again to hear Lérang's full story.
'I have one more reason to clear this game.'
I said to Lérang.
"You said to succeed, one must learn the swordsmanship of prestigious families."
"...Indeed."
"I don't think so. I believe that all swordsmanship starts and ends the same. The only difference is in between."
"...!"
Lérang's eyes widened as if he had received a great shock.
What's with him? It was just meant to be a conclusion to the conversation. Why such a reaction?
'Is he about to lash out?'
Just as I wondered if he was going to draw his demonic sword.
"...I'll be going first. Take care on your way back, Zero."
Lérang left the training ground with a limp.
Only after he was completely gone could I finally breathe a sigh of relief.
'Phew, was that a close call? I need to be careful.'
Leaning against the wall of the training ground, I started to piece things together.
The puzzle that is the character of Lérang.
Into it, I fitted the puzzle pieces I had just acquired.
Hard Worker.
The overshadowing sense of inferiority.
The swordsmanship of Lérang's family, the Fleur family.
His obsession with the swordsmanship of prestigious families.
Ten years of training.
The duel with his brother, the head of the family.
The downfall of his family.
'Finally, it's complete.'
Not entirely, but about 90% was done.
Moreover.
'I know how to bring him to repentance.'
Defeating him with the very swordsmanship of the Fleur family that Lérang had dismissed.
This was the way to bring him to repentance.
To show him that it's not because it's the swordsmanship of a prestigious family that it's great.
But to make him realize that the Fleur family's swordsmanship is also excellent.
Then he would have no choice but to regret and repent for his past misconceptions.
It was a perfect plan, in my opinion.
'Because it's me, right?'
Huh? Where will I learn the Fleur family's swordsmanship?
Of course.
"Keke, I'll have to learn from Lérang himself."
With the power of my skill.
[Divine Imitation].
--TL Notes--
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