NOVEL NEXT Chapter 109
After the Disciplinary Committee incident,
Claris Academy Fitness Center.
A 1v1 arena where mock battles can take place.
Having easily gained the essence of immortality, I’m spending the remaining vacation period with the protagonist of the [Reincarnated Hero], Edwin Gwynn.
– Ding!
——————————————————
[Edwin Gwynn]
[Average Status]
: 4.0
[Specialization]
Sword Mastery (7)
Divine (5)
[Unique Traits]
Grit (Lv.8)
Execution (Lv.5)
Acceleration (Lv.2)
Resilience (Lv.2)
[General Traits]
Blessing (Lv.3)
Veil (Lv.3)
——————————————————
“You’ve grown a lot.”
Edwin had collected six traits.
Thanks to the Black Dragon’s blessing, he reached sword mastery level 7, and given his high divine level, he’ll probably soon recognize the essence of the Black Dragon and grow even faster using it.
– Tadadad!
At that moment, Edwin charged at me.
He dashed towards me as if casting lightning, in a low stance.
His speed and direction were completely different from when we first clashed swords.
.
.
.
Of course, Edwin was the winner.
‘Well, he’s the real protagonist after all.’
To be fair, I’m technically a demonized, archangel archer, so there’s no way I could compete in a sword duel.
– Thud!
Edwin, sprawled on the floor like a scene from a shonen manga, spoke to me.
“Thanks for helping me train.”
“…”
The reason I ended up helping this green-haired boy with his training is simple.
Aveline has to reflect on herself while the disciplinary decision is made, and…
– Lev, I have to go back…! I’ll be back soon!
-Me too. Please stay healthy!
Yeriel and Aria returned to their families.
In other words, I was the only one left to keep an eye on him.
– Huff!
Edwin seemed to be in high spirits from using his body, taking a deep breath.
‘Hmm…’
Eventually, I brought up what I had been pondering over.
“Are you okay?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Melissa, Aveline.”
“Ah… I’m fine. Honestly, I’m just thankful to you…”
Edwin didn’t blame me upon hearing that Melissa and Aveline had received punishment.
On the contrary, he was genuinely grateful.
He is the type to prioritize righteousness… the characteristics of a protagonist.
So he told Melissa and Aveline,
– I’ll wait! Once everything is cleared up… we’ll see each other again!
– !!!
He even set up a cringeworthy flag.
‘It’s not like they’ve committed a mortal sin…’
I’m not sure how Melissa and Aveline took that, but…
At the very least, they probably like him more than they do me.
– Swish.
“Can I ask you a few questions too?”
This time, Edwin lifted only his upper body to ask me.
For some reason, he kept giving me those sparkling eyes that looked like he had something to say today.
“What is it?”
“Lev, can you not go back home?”
“…Oh. Does that mean you want me to keep watching your training?”
“…Really? Thanks…”
Upon hearing my answer, he lay back down.
His gaze at the ceiling was filled with melancholy.
I can roughly guess what Edwin must be thinking right now.
He’s the son of a farmer…
Having lost his only family, his father, to demon creatures, he inherited the Executor title.
His narrative is somewhat similar to Aria’s.
However, unlike Aria, who was adopted as a daughter, Edwin has no place to return.
In other words, he’s in a similar situation to mine.
‘Isn’t this… something we can’t compare?’
In fact, my dorm room is filled with letters from the Denec family.
Honestly, since I’ve been expelled, I have little interest in the Denec family, and if the student at the academy refuses, there’s no reason to meet them, so I ignored them.
I feel a tiny bit sorry for the true Lev Denec, but I can’t really consider the Denec family my family.
‘…But I still need to check.’
I’ve been poking around here and there lately, and you can sometimes obtain information by chance during the process, so it wouldn’t hurt to check them all at once.
At first, they treated me like a farm child, but maybe their attitude has changed now.
“Lev…”
“?”
Edwin spoke in a somewhat tired voice, quietly.
“I somehow feel reassured when I’m with you…”
“…That’s just your imagination.”
“Ugh…”
First of all, no bromance, please. I’m not very interested in that field.
He gives off a vibe of friendship, enthusiasm, and being overly nice, so it’s probably why he makes such embarrassing comments.
“But… speaking of which.”
“?”
“Lev, shouldn’t you rank up to A by now?”
“…”
Considering power inflation, that’s a fair point.
My abilities have been pretty much exposed to the world already…
And other guilds are starting to take notice.
And the reason I don’t directly feel this yet is probably because I’m still stuck in the B rank.
‘But…’
For now, the Claris ranking system includes promotion exams.
If I can’t pass the regular ranking test, I’ll have to aim for that promotion exam.
Of course, there are many benefits that come with rankings.
Like personal training rooms, exclusive lounges, and better dormitory placements…
Most importantly, A and S rank students have priority for class registration.
Thinking back to the torture I went through during college every registration period, this is a highly coveted reward.
During my first semester, the original Lev Denec suffered through unpopular classes.
“…I’ll probably rank up when the time comes.”
I stood up.
After the Bunea incident, the demons won’t just sit still.
In response, I’ve also got plans for new upgrades.
Preparing for the promotion exam, farming, groundwork, checking letters, and making moving arrangements to the Black House… I have a mountain of things to do.
“What, are you leaving already? Just one more time… if you could just let me…”
“Edwin, resting is also training.”
As I said that and turned back towards the dormitory,
“I got it! Then I’ll do my best to rest too!”
Edwin’s energetic voice echoed from behind.
Why does he listen to me so well…
*
Located in a remote area where even people from the Empire rarely tread, the Artina family mansion.
The head of the Artina family is the war hero, Disword Artina, but he has been missing since the last Demon God Wars, and his wife, Luciela Artina, died shortly after giving birth to their son.
As a result, his concubine, Penelope Artina, has been managing the family in his stead.
Fortunately, along with Luciela’s last wishes, Penelope enjoys a good reputation among the territory’s residents, and with the rich pastures and fertile lands in the vicinity, maintaining the status of a duke through managing fresh fruits and livestock wasn’t too difficult.
– Clank, clank.
In the serene and modestly constructed mansion, much like the head’s personality, a lavish feast was being prepared to welcome Yeriel.
While the maids busied themselves with preparations,
Yeriel made sure to take care of her much younger brother, Aaron, before the meal.
“Aaron, have you been listening to mother?”
“Yes!”
The boy, Aaron, who resembled his father with his navy blue hair, and Penelope, a woman with an elegant appearance that didn’t resemble a widow at all, alongside the pure-hearted girl, Yeriel, made up the entirety of the Artina family.
“Let’s eat.”
As the simple but warm meal began, the ever-smiling Penelope opened her mouth first.
“Yeriel?”
“Yes, Mother.”
“How’s your life at the academy?”
“Everything is great. Everyone is kind, and I’m grateful for the continuous cycle of learning.”
Considering everything that had happened to her in the first semester, it wasn’t entirely accurate to say it was great.
The Flame Demon, Tobiel’s occupation of the Black House, and the appearance of the Great Demon, Bunea…
Yeriel had faced dangerous situations three times.
She had tried her best to hide it, but she suspected some of this had reached here.
“In the second semester, I heard you’re in charge of Sellafi Hall again… is that true?”
“Yes, it’s a building that carries my grandparents’ legacy. I asked for it…”
“…I see.”
Though she tried not to show it, Penelope was undoubtedly worried.
She had only Yeriel and the still young Aaron left in her family.
While it’s good for Yeriel to follow her father’s wishes and serve the academy that bears her grandfather’s trace…
Her wish was also for their little family to live happily.
Especially after hearing the recent incidents and accidents, how can any parent overlook such matters?
.
.
.
– This is a gift from the sea…!
– Dear, Yeriel is… too cute. The cuteness is on par with yours…! This is a serious matter.
– …Severe indeed.
.
.
.
Most importantly, Yeriel was a child capable of turning the cold-blooded swordmaster, Disword, into a doting father.
Perhaps because she resembled her father, from a young age, she displayed innate sword skills and a steadfast will.
Thus, it was impossible to dissuade her from heading to Claris.
But now, things are different.
‘Please forgive me, Yeriel. And Disword.’
There’s no choice. If I wanted to forcibly keep her in a safe place, this was the only way.
“Yeriel, I apologize for bringing this up as soon as you arrive, but… did you notice on your way back? There’s been a lot of matchmaking talks lately.”
– Clank.
At those words, Yeriel put down her utensils and focused on Penelope’s words.
Even though it’s a quiet rural territory, the reason why many carriages are passing by lately is this.
“I heard that the Haisman family requested to meet you this time.”
Haisman.
A prestigious family that produced the greatest Magic Power Response Master and war hero, Clark Haisman.
“I’ve heard that the third son of the Haisman family is gentle in temperament and handsome too.”
“Ah…”
Of course, Penelope knew that Yeriel had no interest in such topics.
However, because Yeriel has a tendency to be strict without consideration for herself and often steps in when it comes to others, she brought up the engagement or marriage card to calm her down.
‘I used to be like that…’
This stems from her resemblance to Penelope, who understood this tendency well.
Yeriel’s kindness comes without a cost, making her bound to be fair to others.
In other words, having observed Yeriel after she spent her first year at Claris, it concluded that it wouldn’t be easy for someone special to appear before her.
Well, there’s also the strict education Disword imposed regarding romantic interests…
Penelope looked at Yeriel with a gentle smile.
“I’ll arrange an opportunity for you to meet him. How about you meet him directly?”
“That… I’m sorry.”
“…?”
Yeriel spoke with a calm voice, her earnest eyes resolute as she revealed her true feelings.
“I… have someone I’m concerned about at the academy…”
– Clank.
At that moment, Penelope dropped the dishes from her hands.
“Yer…iel?”
“So I’ll personally…! I’ll express my refusal to the Haisman family! I sincerely apologize for making you worry.”
-…
A moment of brief silence followed.
“Mother…? Sister…?”
The young boy, Aaron, could only gaze blankly at the two.
‘Yeriel…?’
The precious child I raised with utmost care.
She has grown quite mature.
– I have to remember…!
To carry forth her father’s and grandfather’s wishes…
Even in her first year, she had been solely focused on her studies…
‘Yeriel… Yeriel…’
Instantly overwhelmed with feelings that were difficult to put into words, Penelope forced a flustered demeanor.
“Oh… I see!”
Though she was regarded as benevolent by the residents, her tone certainly rose higher than before.
“Alright…! That’s wonderful…! Then, before the break ends… if you could bring that person here, I’d be grateful. No, would you please invite them here?”
I have to see what kind of person he is, even just once.