The waterfall on the back mountain of the Reinhardt manor.
Crash—
The majestic torrent roared down from the cliff with unstoppable momentum. Yet, the river below remained as flat as a mirror, without a single splash.
For the raging torrent was being forcefully cut off in midair.
The curtain of water evaporated into white mist under an astonishing heat, rising backward toward the gloomy sky.
Like a silhouette projected onto a screen in a puppet show, a hazy figure was faintly visible within the mist.
He brandished a longsword, practicing the tedious sword forms over and over again with tireless precision.
“Nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-eight...”
“Nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine...”
His overextended muscles screamed under the strain, but the youth seemed completely oblivious. Laughing heartily, he raised his sword with both hands.
“The final strike...”
His long-accumulated momentum erupted alongside his roar, sweeping away his previous fatigue. The sword light he unleashed was as swift as a swallow.
“...Ten thousand!”
The silver-white sword light collided violently with the roaring torrent.
The sound of rushing water stopped abruptly, and the world fell into dead silence at that moment.
The next instant, a thunderous boom erupted. The hundred-meter-long stretch of water suddenly froze, as if gripped by the throat by an invisible giant hand and forcefully yanked back into midair.
The entire waterfall rolled backward, millions of tons of white waves rushing toward the sky against gravity.
The dry cliff face lay exposed. Amidst the swirling spray, Lynn laughed heartily and spread his arms wide.
Water droplets trickled down his robust physique, which looked as though it were carved from marble.
On the nearby riverbank, Sena leaned against a tree with her arms crossed. Even though she was someone who had seen it all, she couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
“...What a monster.”
“If that strike, fully charged with sword momentum, were to hit an opponent directly, even a Tier 4 Warrior who doesn't specialize in physical conditioning would probably be crushed.”
“If I compare him to how I was back when I was also a Tier 2...”
She let out a long sigh.
‘Although I don't want to admit it, the Young Master has already surpassed the me of back then...’
“Hey—Master Sena! Did you see that?” Lynn called out rowdily, his cool facade crumbling in a split second.
“I saw it, I saw it. Also... I believe I've told you many times that there's no need to call me 'Master.'”
“Okay, Master Sena. No problem, Master Sena.”
【Emotion Points +100】
“You really are...”
Sena pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation, then tossed a neatly folded shirt to Lynn.
Lynn put it on as he quickly caught up with Sena. “Where is Lilian?”
“Up there.”
“...Up there?”
He looked up at the sky, only to see a tiny black dot in the distance rapidly expanding in his vision.
Accompanied by the girl's cry, stretched endlessly by the howling wind: “Young Master, get out of the wayyyyy~!”
Wings woven from flames fluttered frantically behind Lilian's back as she waved her hands with teary eyes.
“I can't control my direction at alllll~!”
She plunged straight down from the high sky like a meteor, heading right for Lynn.
Holy crap!
Talk about a direct hit from the truck of destiny.
Lynn's face darkened. Then, under Lilian's dumbfounded gaze, he turned on his heel and ran without a second thought.
“Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh...?”
This isn't how it goes in a galge! You're supposed to catch me steadily, comfort me with soft, gentle words, give me a small gift to raise my affection, and finally unlock my personal route to enjoy a beautiful CG!
What is with that expression on your face, Young Master, like you're dodging the plague?!
Seeing her play-dumb plan fail, Lilian tapped her head in frustration. She adjusted her posture in midair and landed as lightly as a cat.
Before Lynn, who looked none too pleased, could even speak, she beat him to the punch and complained, “Young Master, you're so mean! Why didn't you catch me?”
“...I have no desire to catch a pink piggy who's getting fatter by the day falling from a height of over a hundred meters.”
“F-Fat...?” The smile on the pink-haired girl's face froze instantly.
“Young Master, what are you talking about? How could I possibly...”
Her face turned pale as she took several steps back, pinching the soft flesh on her cheek in denial. “C-Could it be...”
【Emotion Points +100】
“Young Master Lynn is only teasing you,” Sena exposed him mercilessly.
“Young Master!!!!!”
She immediately pounced like an angry kitten with a growl, her arms spinning like windmills.
Of course, she swung at nothing, and Lynn easily subdued her by pressing his hand against her forehead.
“Let's go, time to eat!”
“Go by yourself, mean Young Master~!”
...
Lynn sat down at the dining table.
The long table was laden with a dazzling array of dishes, freshly baked rye bread, and a whole roasted suckling pig, golden-brown and glistening.
Already starving, Lynn couldn't wait to reach out and tear off a pig leg, but Sena's dinner knife embedded itself with a thud exactly three centimeters in front of his fingertips.
“Listen to me first.”
“After you, Master Sena, after you...” Lynn withdrew his hand sheepishly, only to find that Lilian had already seized the opportunity to sneakily break off the other pig leg, her cheeks puffed out as she chewed happily.
Sena sighed, drew a letter from her bosom, and tossed it onto the table.
“I'll get straight to the point.”
“Three days from now, a hunting competition will be held in the North.”
“It's an old biennial tradition. Any youth under the age of twenty can sign up to participate.”
“For talented youths of commoner origin, it's a rare opportunity to make a name for themselves. For the various nobles of the North, it's a stage to flex their muscles.”
“Although in the past, you were always indifferent to such events and never participated, Young Master.”
She took a sip of hot tea.
“But this time... Young Master, you need to make an appearance.” She paused. “This is the Family Head's intention.”
“That old geezer's idea?” Lynn narrowed his eyes.
Sena's lips twitched. Choosing to ignore Lynn's term 'old geezer,' she cleared her throat twice.
“'A warrior with the Blood of the Lionheart flowing through their veins never fears any challenger who dares to offend them. Lynn, my arrogant son, go and prove that you have the capacity to match your status!' — Those were the Family Head's exact words.”
Lynn translated this into plain speak:
Lynn, my useless dog of a son!
I heard you had an epiphany recently and Sena praised you to high heaven!
That's great! Hurry up and show yourself off to my old buddies! However they used to mock me for having no successor in the Reinhardt family, I'm going to mock them right back!
“...Is this some otherworld version of a bragging contest for overachieving kids?”
In the game, Grand Duke Reinhardt's attitude toward Lynn was entirely one of giving up and letting him run wild. Even until the end of the plot, Lynn never officially became the young family head or obtained the inheritance rights of the Reinhardt family.
To put it simply, his main account was already ruined, so he was preparing to roll a new alt account to level up.
And this sudden test was clearly an opportunity that Sena had fought hard to secure for Lynn.
If he succeeded, Lynn could completely change his useless image in the Grand Duke's mind, and truly begin to be cultivated with all their resources until he became the well-deserved successor.
“So, what are your thoughts, Young Master? If you truly have no desire to go, I will... mediate with the Grand Duke on your behalf.”
“No, Sena.”
Lynn looked up, the corners of his mouth curving slightly.
“Leave it to me. I'll handle all of this beautifully.”
His golden eyes gazed earnestly at the stunned, tall Head Maid.
He chuckled and nodded.
“I don't care what that old geezer thinks, but... I can't very well disappoint my Master Sena, can I?”
【Emotion Points +100】
Staring at the handsome youth's earnest face, Sena was momentarily dazed.
After a long moment, she turned her head away.
“That is good to hear. We should set off as soon as possible.”
“The hunting competition this time will be held in Count Gunier's domain, which is quite a distance from the Tidevoice Domain.”
Her gray hair veiled the red tips of her ears.
She took a sip from her glass to cover her embarrassment, then suddenly let out a mischievous laugh.
“However, this should be a rare opportunity for you as well, Young Master.”
“After all, that child who was inseparable from you when you were little seems to be participating in the competition this time too, right?”
“My, my, I heard that child has now become a candidate Saintess of the Holy Cathedral. Truly, the younger generation is to be feared...”
A sudden, ominous premonition welled up in Lynn's heart.
“Although there seems to be a slight unpleasantness between you two, this competition might be a good opportunity to mend your relationship~”
Feeling Lilian's dark gaze boring into him from the side, Lynn clutched at the last straw of hope and struggled to ask:
“Sena, 'that child' you're talking about—it couldn't be...”
“What strange things are you saying, Young Master? Who else could it be?”
“Of course it's your old friend, the current Saintess candidate—Veronica~”
“You two are actually setting off together! If you want to win a girl's heart, you'd better start preparing now~”
The heart Lynn had held in suspense finally died.
Rate on N.U.
