The Second Strongest Has Returned - Chapter 3

“…What is… What is that…? Miss?”

Upon hearing those words, Ariasphiel felt even more frustrated.

If even the escort knight and guide, Jehad, didn’t know, it was only natural that Ariasphiel herself didn’t know.

She had never heard or seen such a mana training method.

‘…But the principle…’

However, she calmly observed the boy’s swordsmanship and mana. In turn, she calmly began to dissect how it worked.

“…He’s breaking down mana particles.” “What?” “He’s breaking down the mana particles around him… and absorbing them into his body.” “…How is that possible…”

At that uncool sound, Ariasphiel felt a deep sigh welling up in her throat.

“…Ha… First, I’ll try talking to him.” “No. Miss! Let me go first!”

Without waiting for permission, Jehad rushed to the location where Leo was. Even the impatient action was something that even young Ariasphiel could sense, knowing it was an attempt to compensate for his incompetence.

***

Jehad, who rushed over, approached Leo, who was in the middle of training, and said,

“Look here.”

“…Hup…!”

However, Leo continued to wield only his sword.

“Look here!”

“Hat…!”

There was still no response.

“Hey!!”

“…Ha… Geez…”

After calling himself three times in a row, as if indicating that he couldn’t be bothered, Leo stopped his training.

“What’s going on?”

“We have an important guest looking for you. Come with me quickly.”

“I don’t want to.”

“…What?!”

Simultaneously with the refusal, Leo swung his sword again.

“Do you really have to go?” The sage next to him scratched his beard and asked.

Leo answered him in a small voice.

“It’s okay. If it’s a truly important guest, they’ll come directly to me.”

[But that kid, judging by his appearance, doesn’t seem like an ordinary knight.]

As mentioned, Jehad’s attire resembled that of an upper-class noble. From the neat and clean armor to the decorations, he proudly displayed the status of the family he belonged to.

‘Jehad used to be Ariasphyl’s bodyguard.’

Leo also remembered him. He was a knight who was dismissed from the family shortly after, due to his mediocre skills and unnecessary pride.

“You! How dare you act so arrogantly here!”

“Whether it’s a noble or a commoner, it is customary for guests to come in person. Please have them come in person if you wish.”

Considering the outrageous deeds he had committed when he became the family’s enemy, his rejection was quite gentlemanly.

“You are an incredibly valuable person beyond imagination. Would you come quickly?!” Jehad tried to grab Leo’s arm, probably attempting to exert pressure by using force.

Thunk!

“Aah!!”

“Move your hand.”

While capturing Jehad’s hand, Leo glared at him.

[What kind of method is telling someone to move their hand while holding their arm?]

Ah, that’s true.

Following the advice of the sage, Leo released the hand he was holding.

“…You! You! This brat doesn’t even know his place!!”

Unable to endure the humiliation, Jehad drew his sword from its scabbard.

“Stop, Jehad.”

Ariasphyl, who couldn’t stand by any longer, halted him.

“Uh… Miss?” “Put away your sword.” “But…” “Put away your sword.”

At those words, Jehad sighed deeply and sheathed his sword.

“The knight was rude. I apologize.”

At that apology, Jehad opened his mouth wide. Until now, he had rarely witnessed her apologize even when accompanying Ariasphyl.

“Understood. My fault for not going directly in the first place.”

“This brat…! If the miss apologizes…!”

Ariasphyl sharply glared at Jehad’s outburst.

“Don’t interfere, Jehad.”

“…Uh… understood, miss.”

[Why has this brat been raging on his own since earlier?]

Indeed. If you lack skill, at least have a good character.

“So, what’s the reason for coming? It’s already late.”

“Have another duel with me. Properly.”

She grabbed the longsword in the scabbard. She must have made a resolution not to underestimate him like when they first met.

“…I’m sorry, but I’ll have to decline for now. It takes time to adapt to the new training method. I don’t want to spar until I’ve perfected it.”

At those words, her interest shifted from the sparring to Leo’s training method.

“Earlier, that mana training?”

“Yeah, that.”

“It was an interesting training method. Absorbing mana particles by splitting them and absorbing them through the skin?”

At the prompt response, Leo’s mouth naturally opened.

[You seems quite jealous. She figured it out right away.]

Well, that’s what you call a true genius.

“I’m not very familiar with the mana training method. I haven’t even created a core in my body.”

“…What? You don’t have a core?”

Ariasphyl found it hard to believe. Moving so swiftly without even having a mana core?

“It just happened that way. I created this training method after fighting you.”

[It seems you forgot to mention that a great mentor taught you?]

Bringing up someone who’s already dead makes the atmosphere quite chilly.

“…So, I can’t fight right away. It takes time to adapt to the new training method, and I haven’t created a core in my body yet.”

“Why don’t you have a core?”

Refusing the proposal, her expression became slightly sulky. She’s still just a kid.

“When are you leaving?”

“…I have to go back within a week.”

“Then let’s fight at that time. On the last day. Will that be acceptable?”

She nodded her head at Leo’s suggestion.

“Alright. I’ll come by then.”

“Good. It’s late now, so go.”

“No, before that.”

Ariasphyl brought up a final question before leaving. In a way, this was the most important content.

“What’s your name?” “…Huh? You don’t know?”

“You suddenly came and suggested a duel without introducing yourself.”

Even the eyes of the ghost next to her turned strangely cold. Was it because of the mood?

[Kid, you’re always the same—consistent. Even when you smashed the guardian at someone else’s house, you were like this.]

No, it’s not the mood.

“Uhem…! My name is Leo.”

“Don’t be arrogant. Speak your family name. Who do you think you are?”

Why is that knight glaring again?

[At this level, isn’t he more like a thug than a knight?]

Let’s hear what the pale thug has to say about this.

“Oh, right. I’m just Leo no family name. I’m going to make up a non-existent father, so don’t speak nonsense.”

“…Alright, got it.”

Saying that, she walked out of the inn.

“…I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Ariasphyl Reinhardt.”

Turning back for a moment, she said.

“Ah…! Miss! Declaring your family name here is…”

While saying that, Jehad sneakily glanced at Leonardo.

How pitiful. How would that arrogant little kid behave so humbly in front of the noble house of Reinhardt?

“Oh, right. Reinhardt. Be careful on your way home.”

But that was a surprise in the evening. About ten years ago.

At those words, Jehad was flabbergasted. He had lost his wits both in his eyes and forehead. Ariasphyl paid no attention and went on her way.

[She’s gone. But Reinhardt? Is that a noble house?]

“Yes, it is indeed a noble house.”

[No wonder that little kid looked somewhat similar to that brat Ruben. she’s the descendant.]

“Really?”

Ruben Reinhardt, 300 years ago, was the name of the first-generation hero.

Don’t tell me those words mean…

[Oh, did I not mention it? That little brat Ruben also learned magic from me. He imitated me quite well.]

“…Ah…”

Leo’s mentor turned out to be a far more remarkable figure than expected.

[Are you finally feeling some respect for this sage? That’s right! I am a living natural monument and a legend…!]

“…How can a person live as a mummy for 300 years?”

How is it possible for a human to endure that? Truly remarkable.

[I’ll really kill you.]

Unfortunately, he couldn’t kill him.

***

It was strange.

Certainly, when I first saw him, he seemed like an ordinary mercenary.

If he wasn’t good, he was a third-rate; if he was okay, he was second-rate in terms of talent, just a run of the mill mercenary.

But in a moment, his gaze changed.

I’ve seen that kind of gaze before.

‘Grandfather…’

Her grandfather.

It resembled the eyes of Marcken Reinhardt.

While usually emitting a gentle aura like flowing water, when gripping the sword, it reminded one of a sura.

The eyes of a sura, and at his age, that boy had reached that level.

‘…He definitely said he had no mana core and no family name…’

Surely, he would be a mercenary without even a family name. What caught her interest was his outstanding skill, regardless of his origin and lineage.

With no property, no environment, no family, and no mentor,

Leonardo reached that level.

In terms of talent alone, he would surpass even himself, who was considered a genius.

But what bothered her more was,

“…Why…?”

Thinking only about that boy made her heart race.

For the first time, an emotion she had never felt before, an emotion so intense that it made her feel discontented with her entire life, surged.

‘…Should I ask Jehad…’

She immediately dismissed that thought. Although she always felt it, Jehad was the least trustworthy among the knights she knew.

‘What should I do?’

In the face of this newfound emotion, she couldn’t decide what to do.

“…”

Her steps were already heading out of the door. Even more, she carefully left the inn erasing the sound of her footsteps with mana.

‘…Why am I like this?’

This behavior, even doing something out of the ordinary, was unprecedented.

But why?

‘My heart is pounding…!’

As she approached that boy or the place where he was, the pounding in her chest became faster.

Thump!

As she got closer, the sound of the wind intensified.

“Hey! Inspirational guy!!”

After that, Leonardo’s voice could be heard.

Thump!! Crack!!

“Don’t touch even a dog while eating!!”

Leonardo swung his sword wildly in the air as if he were crazy.

“Do I need to show people’s insides when I eat?! I bought the fish with my nonexistent money!!”

Even while shouting incomprehensible words, Leonardo maintained his mana training.

“If you want to boast so much, why don’t you split yourself in half?! Master!?”

Along with his shout, mana began to gather around Leonardo’s sword. The compressed mana sword swept horizontally.

Kwaaaang!!

The nearby tree trunk was cut down instantly.

“…Huh?”

As the tree fell, the wood fell towards Ariasphyl.

‘Quickly…!’

She tried to draw the cold sword next to her. But…

‘No sword?!’

In a hurry, she hadn’t picked up the sword.

Kwoong!!

The tree trunk fell, and a thick dust rose.

“…Uh…uh?”

Ariasphyl couldn’t react properly. Even if she were a genius, dealing without a weapon and proper posture was difficult.

But she was unharmed.

“…Are you okay?”

Leo embraced her with both arms, having saved her.

‘Doki…doki…doki, doki, doki…!’

Suddenly,

Her heart raced.