Five years later. Patrick Schneider was ten years old. Though he was only ten, he had grown so remarkably that he already appeared to be fourteen.
And Baron Schneider summoned Patrick, who had grown so splendidly.
"Father, you called for me?"
"Yes. You've come?"
When he opened the door to the office and entered, Baron Schneider was looking at Patrick from between stacks of documents. He looked at his son and, for a moment, a pleased smile graced his lips. 'Who would say that boy is ten?
He is truly a born knight.' Looking at Patrick, who, despite being his own son, was a head taller than his peers, a faint smile touched his lips. But today, he was also worried.
"Sir Erickson spoke to me."
"That bastard did?"
"You want to die?"
Patrick's expression was not a pleasant one as he spoke of Brian. He had never liked Brian to begin with, but the more he learned about the fief's situation, the more he grew to dislike the man. Seeing this, Baron Schneider let out a deep sigh and spoke.
"He says it is time for you to come out and receive training. As a noble, as the heir to a family of knights, is it not time for you to pick up the sword as well?"
"Hahaha... I see. So..."
Patrick continued, a smile on his face but a vein pulsing on his forehead.
"So, that bastard 'ordered' you, his own lord, to 'summon' me out. Is that it?"
"..."
Such a cynical child of mine. How could he hear a single sentence and interpret it in such a twisted way? Baron Schneider couldn't help but sigh.
In truth, the bad blood between Patrick and Brian was nothing new. For several years, the two had growled at each other whenever they met.
It was quite funny to see a grown adult knight and a child not yet ten so openly at odds, but the matter became quite serious when it involved the sole heir and the sole knight of the fief. Until now, it had been possible to overlook it, thinking Patrick was just young.
But as Patrick grew older, the problem became more and more severe. Baron Schneider sighed and said.
"Why on earth are you so at odds with Sir Erickson?"
"That's because that bastard..."
Patrick, about to say something, bit his lip and fell silent. Then, with a displeased look, he said.
"In any case, I don't like him."
"Hohoho...."
For Baron Schneider, it was a headache. The only heir of the fief openly disliked the only knight of the fief like this. He steeled his heart and spoke.
"My son. In my view, Sir Erickson is right this time. You too must receive training now."
"From someone weaker than me?"
"Hoho.... Hohoho...."
Baron Schneider could only let out a hollow laugh. For several years now, Patrick had been saying things like this. -Father, I am stronger than Brian. So what is there to learn from an inferior?
He had been saying this since he was about seven, but as one would expect, no one believed him. They just saw it as a child's typical boasting and bluffing. But Patrick was now ten.
It was no longer possible to accept it as a child's immature bravado. 'At ten, shouldn't he be able to distinguish right from wrong?' Baron Schneider hardened his resolve.
He thought that he could no longer indulge his son's childishness.
"My son, do you truly think you are stronger than Sir Erickson?"
"It's not a thought, it's a fact."
"If that's the case, would you be willing to face Sir Erickson in a duel? In front of all the soldiers of the fief."
Baron Schneider thought that if he laid down the threat this far, his son would panic and back down.
However...
"Huh? Really? I can beat the crap out of that bastard?"
"If you are afraid of that... what did you say?"
"For real? I can legally beat him to a pulp?"
"..."
His son spoke with a joyful expression, as if he had been waiting for this very moment. Is he serious? Is this kid being serious?
Baron Schneider was flustered. While he was thinking, 'This isn't how it's supposed to go,' Patrick spoke.
"When should we do it? Now?"
"No, ahem, first I must ask Sir Erickson for his opinion."
"What does that bastard's opinion matter? You are the lord. If you tell him to do it, he has to do it, right?"
"..."
In principle, that was correct. It was, but...
"Still, that is not the way."
"No, it is the way."
Patrick spoke with a frustrated expression. This was the problem.
This was...
'Do I have some strange fate that only attracts pushovers? My Master in my past life, and now my father... really, why are people so soft?' In any case, it wasn't something to be said right now.
It was questionable if they would even listen if he did. From Patrick's perspective, this was an opportunity. 'Ten years of patience is long enough.'
The time had come to start making his move. People did not know. They did not know what kind of monster had been steadily building its power in this remote Schneider Barony for the past ten years.
"Ahem, so that is what happened."
"Hooo.... So you mean I should really have a duel?"
"That is what happened."
Baron Schneider said with a sigh. And Brian, with a dumbfounded look on his face, replied.
"My lord. Will it truly be alright?"
"..."
"What choice is there?"
"..."
"Perhaps it is for the best. That child needs to grow up now."
The reason Baron Schneider spoke this way was because he assumed Brian would go easy on him, even if they dueled. It went without saying that a two-star knight dueling a ten-year-old child was absurd. Wouldn't he naturally hold back?
However, there was something Baron Schneider did not know... 'I'll teach him a severe lesson.' ...that Brian genuinely disliked Patrick. He was the only knight in this fief.
Even the lord, Baron Schneider, treated him with respect. Yet Patrick, not the lord but merely the lord's son, had frowned at him and picked fights for the past several years.
[Tsk tsk tsk, look at the state of that sword swing.]
[To think we have to pay a salary to a man like that. Is my father a Bodhisattva?]
[What? Why? You got a problem? Wanna go?]
[Where does a little brat think he's... Look at me with proper eyes, will you?]
For a child's provocation, the level of it had long since crossed the line. 'In all my life, I've never seen such a bratty little kid.' Still, he was the lord's son.
Inwardly, he wanted to break his legs, but he had to endure and endure again. However, if it was a duel officially sanctioned by the lord, the story was different.
"Indeed, the young master needs to learn about the world now."
"Yes. That's right."
Then Baron Schneider spoke with a stern look.
"Correct the habits of my thoughtless son."
"I will carry out your command."
'Sir Erickson will know how to properly control himself.' 'I won't leave any lasting scars. But I will carve fear deep into his bones.
So that he can never raise his head again.' Thus, their different dreams unfolded. Or perhaps, should it be called three dreams?
"He's dead."
Patrick clenched his fists, making a firm vow.
The day of the duel. The time and place were set for the training grounds in the dead of night, when no one was around. Originally, Baron Schneider's plan had been to have his son witness his own defeat in front of everyone to bring him to his senses, but...
[My lord, no matter what, if the soldiers see me, a two-star knight, dueling the young master, it could have a negative impact on the army's morale.]
He amended the plan upon hearing Brian's words. It was true, after all. A duel between a ten-year-old boy and a two-star knight.
Did that even make sense? Thus, he accepted Brian's words without any suspicion. 'As expected, Sir Erickson is a deep thinker.'
That was what Baron Schneider thought, but in truth, Brian was thinking something else. 'No matter what, it's hard to brutally beat the heir of the fief in front of everyone else.
But... hehehe...'
Having finished his preparations, Brian spoke to Patrick.
"Young master. Are you ready?"
"What's with the grand preparations? Let's just do this casually."
"Hohoho. I see. Casually, you say."
'You're about to get casually beaten, you little punk.' Brian thought as he raised his wooden sword. And Patrick too picked up his weapons...
"Twin swords? Do you intend to use two swords?"
"Yeah. Why? Can't I?"
"There is nothing that says you cannot. Hehehe..."
The art of twin swords. It was a sword style extremely rare to find, even if one searched the entire continent.
Usually, the swordsmen of the continent preferred to firmly grip a greatsword with both hands and swing it, or if not, to hold a sword in one hand and a shield in the other to fight with a balance of offense and defense.
These two methods were the most favored by the continent's swordsmen; something like the art of twin swords was practically unheard of in reality. Fighting with a longsword in one hand made it difficult to put power into attacks, and without a shield, defense was difficult. Above all, swinging two swords at the same time was an extremely tricky technique.
Simply swinging them was pointless, and if one tried to swing them in a complex manner, the swords would often collide with each other and become a hindrance. In a word, the art of twin swords was a ridiculously difficult skill to master. 'There's no way he knows that.
He's probably just doing it because it looks cool. Tsk, so full of himself.' Brian thought to himself, vowing to completely knock the spirit out of this insolent young master.
He took his stance, a confident smile on his face, and said.
"Now then, come at me. Young master."
"You want me to go first?"
"Yes."
"Really? Is that really okay?"
"Hahaha. Are you scared?"
"... Tsk, can't be helped. Then, Sir Erickson. I'm coming."
"Yes. Come."
"I'm really coming."
"I told you to come."
"I'm really, really coming."
"Are you joking... Gack!"
WHACK!
In that moment, Brian felt two things. One was a shock, as if the crown of his head was splitting open. The other was the sight of the ground rising like a wave to crash over him.
And only then could he hear it.
"Tsk tsk tsk, you can't even block it when I give you a warning. What am I to do with you? Really?"
It was Patrick's cynical voice, looking down on him as if he were pathetic.
'What did I just see?' The jaw of Baron Schneider, the sole observer of this duel, dropped wide open. If one were to make a cast of his face right now, it would be a perfect model for the expression a person can make when shocked.
But who could blame him?
His knight.
Had been struck down by a ten-year-old boy. And in a single blow at that. No, in truth, he wasn't even sure if it had been a single blow or not.
What Baron Schneider saw was Patrick's body blurring and seeming to vanish, and in the next moment, his wooden sword was touching the crown of Brian's head. The distance between them had been over five meters, yet he had no idea how Patrick had closed the distance or how he had attacked.
"This is absurd..."
Just as Baron Schneider was trying to deny reality, Brian staggered to his feet.
"Kugh.... Young master."
"What?"
"Were you hiding your skills?"
"What? When did I ever?"
"That is.... Huh?"
Only then did Brian realize. For the past several years...
[Sir Erickson, shall I teach you a thing or two?]
[I'm telling you, I'm stronger than you.]
[Look at the state of your training. It's driving me crazy. Truly crazy.]
[Sword Cry? You acted all high and mighty as a two-star knight, but is this your best? This?]
The countless words Patrick had directed at him, and the pitying, pathetic gazes. Come to think of it, he had always said it. That he was stronger.
Looking at Brian's dumbfounded expression, Patrick spoke.
"If you have a conscience, tell me. When did I ever hide my skills? Huh?"
"..."
It was truly strange. He had a mouth, but no words to say.