The red carpet stretched across the long corridor.
My pace was swift, heading toward the training hall.
Initially, the door to the training hall was not yet visible. As I continued to step forward, a small dot began to appear at the far end. From that small dot, people gathered in front of the door began to co into focus—about ten of them. I narrowed my eyes to get a better look at them.
"Why are they gathering there...?" I muttered.
My steps quickened. And when the door was clearly visible, the people in front of it looked toward . Their gazes sharpened.
I furrowed my brow, becoming increasingly confused. I kept walking until I was standing within the group of people.
Their eyes followed as I slowly ca to a halt. I tilted my head.
"What is the matter with you all? Why is everyone gathered here?"
They all fell silent. Not a single person answered.
I gave a slow nod, resting my fingers beneath my chin.
"Very well..." I said softly.
I scanned among them. My gaze locked when I found one particular person.
"...Risshun!" I called out.
Everyone’s gaze simultaneously shifted to the person I had nad. The person I called looked around quickly before pointing at himself.
I nodded, beckoning him to co closer.
The reason I chose him was clear. He was the only one who had been friendly with so far. I could have called his younger brother, but the potential for him to refuse was quite high. I chose the safe option.
He let out a long sigh before stepping through the crowd.
He stood before . I brought my mouth close to his ear.
"What is wrong with you all? You seem strange today," I whispered.
He nodded, interlacing his fingers beneath his chin. "Ah... about that, we were actually very worried about you. We gathered out front just to make sure you were alright. Also, we feared that when you tried to open the door, you might get caught in the gap because your hand is still injured," he explained.
He looked at the back of my left hand. His eyes instantly widened and his mouth hung open. "Hey, New Little Brother." He grabbed my arm. "How can your wound have healed so quickly?! What kind of monster are you?!"
I pulled my arm away forcefully. Then, I rubbed the back of my neck. "Well, perhaps my body’s regeneration is just fast. Hehe..." I countered.
’Damn it... I knew this would happen. I have to redirect this conversation. If not, they might report it to the royal family, which would turn into an experintal subject!’
My body trembled slightly. Just imagining becoming an experintal subject filled with dread. If you ended up as sothing like that, it would surely lead to death.
I swallowed hard. I clenched my fists tight before returning to normal.
I took a long breath. "We-well, more importantly, how about we head inside? Big Brother Fukuro might be waiting for us in there..." I deflected.
Risshun, standing before , started. His gaze fell downward. "...You are right."
His gaze shifted back to . This ti, it seed to hold a sense of hope. It felt heavy.
I tilted my head. "...What is with that look?" I asked.
He remained silent. He did not imdiately answer . His gaze grew deeper.
I beca increasingly uncomfortable with that feeling. I looked at the people behind him. Their expressions were nearly the sa as Risshun’s. Their expressions shifted from one of hope to sothing that had to be done.
"...Oi, I am serious. What is it you all actually want from ?" I asked.
The person in front of flinched. He cleared his throat softly. "...A-actually, aside from wanting to see how you were... we wanted to ask for sothing. A-and it does not an I was the one who wanted it first, alright! They are the ones who wanted it!" he confessed.
’...Who even said you were the one asking first? Strange.’
I took a long breath. "Fine. I will do it..."
I began to move again, toward the large doors ahead. The people stepped aside to make a path for . Upon arriving there, I stretched my body—preparing myself to open them.
When I was ready, I stepped closer. Both of my hands began to touch the cold, large iron handles. A long exhale escaped my mouth. My gaze stared seriously toward the door.
I gritted my teeth. My hands pushed the door. Veins appeared and pulsed from my arms to the backs of my hands. My steps continued forward as each door was gradually pushed back.
Step by step, I moved past. A heavy sound continued to resonate until the two large door leaves were perfectly open this ti. Sweat poured down my face. I wiped it away. My hands imdiately gripped my knees to support my body.
I glanced back. They all seed to have fallen silent. Their mouths were open. Their gazes were fixed in disbelief. Afterward, it was t with applause. From one person, it spread to everyone. They seed to be showing their appreciation.
"Crazy...! That was so cool!"
"I didn’t think he would actually push that door open by himself..."
"Even this ti, it seems he could push it more perfectly than yesterday..."
"Incredible...!"
One person stepped forward from the crowd. Of course, it was none other than Risshun. He was the one clapping the loudest. In contrast, his brother only stood with arms crossed, watching from behind the crowd.
"THAT WAS AMAZING, NEW LITTLE BROTHER! I DID NOT THINK YOU COULD DO IT ALONE! IN FACT, THIS TI MIGHT BE BETTER THAN BEFORE!" he praised.
I looked at both of my palms after hearing his praise. I clenched them tight. My mind wandered everywhere. Until this reminded of sothing.
’...Is this what that strange voice ant by "another path" back then...?’
When I first realized it, I had denied it. But this ti, I could confidently believe that this was indeed the power granted by it. It had only been a few days, but my strength had increased significantly. Clearly, this was a power beyond that of an ordinary human.
I looked back at the person in front of . He wore a wide grin. His happiness for was so great it nearly closed his eyes.
I smiled thinly at the sight. "Thank you, Risshun. And also, do not call New Little Brother. It sounds strange. Just call by my na. Touji," I suggested.
His expression froze slightly. His hand imdiately touched my shoulder as he smiled again.
"Alright, New Little Brother Touji!" he added.
My brow furrowed, slightly annoyed. ’Why did my na get even longer?’
A long sigh escaped my mouth. I wiped my face with my hand. ’It seems there is a second version of Big Brother Fukuro.’
I looked behind . They were still clapping their hands. My brow furrowed even deeper. ’For so reason, I feel like a circus animal being constantly praised.’
I turned my gaze forward. ’But whatever. No need to mind them. Let’s focus on the main goal. For sword training!’
I began to cross the threshold. They stopped clapping and followed behind afterward.
Once all of us had entered fully, the person at the very back closed the large doors again. I happened to glance at them. And it was true; it took nearly more than one person to do it.
The door echoed through the room when it was perfectly closed. The person standing far in front of gradually began to co into focus. He was pacing aimlessly across the arena. He bit his thumb nail hard. The only light fell diagonally and stretched from above onto his white hair, making his figure even clearer.
’So, Big Brother Fukuro has already arrived. But why does he look so restless?’
Big Brother only noticed my presence once we had all gathered. He stopped biting his thumb nail. His gaze focused directly on the eleven of us.
He cleared his throat, smiling widely as usual.
His hand was raised high. Then he snapped his fingers loudly.
"ALRIGHT, ALL MY LITTLE BROTHERS!" he shouted. All attention imdiately shifted to him.
"ARE YOU READY FOR TODAY’S TRAINING?!" he continued.
Everyone shouted in unison, "WE ARE READY, BIG BROTHER FUKURO!"
He offered a thin smile, "GOOD!"
Big Brother looked among the eleven people in front of him. His gaze narrowed before finally widening when he saw among them.
He grinned widely. "IT SEEMS AMONG US, THERE IS SOONE WHO WAS INJURED JUST A FEW DAYS AGO AND HAS ALREADY RETURNED TO THE FIELD! I WONDER WHO THAT COULD BE?!"
Everyone imdiately looked at . ’...Damn it.’
"FOR THE PERSON WHO FEELS IT IS THEM, PLEASE STEP FORWARD!" he continued.
I took a short breath upon hearing it. The gazes of the people were already as if they were forcing to step forward. ’There is no other choice.’
My feet began to move. From the concrete floor below, past the five steps, and now I stood at the top. I turned around. Big Brother’s hand imdiately touched my left shoulder from behind.
He smiled thinly. "ALRIGHT, ALL MY LITTLE BROTHERS! LOOK AT ONE OF YOUR LITTLE BROTHERS! EVEN THOUGH HE WAS INJURED JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, HE HAS ALREADY CO FOR TRAINING! HE DID NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT COMING DESPITE BEING RECENTLY INJURED! HE POSSESSES THE SOUL OF A TRUE KNIGHT! DO YOU ALL HAVE THAT?!"
They answered in unison, "WE HAVE IT, BIG BROTHER FUKURO!"
"THEN WHAT IS THE PROOF?! HAVE ANY OF YOU CO LIKE HE HAS?!"
Everyone fell silent. No one dared to answer.
Big Brother smiled again. "TAKE YOUR NEW LITTLE BROTHER AS AN EXAMPLE! DO NOT LOOK AT HIM AS A NEWCOR OR NOT! THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT! THERE IS ONLY ONE THING YOU MUST PLANT IN YOUR BRAINS, AND THAT IS: WHAT CAN I LEARN FROM HIM! IF YOU COULD NOT DO AS HE DID YESTERDAY, CHANGE STARTING NOW! TURN YOUR MISTAKES INTO A LESSON TO BECO BETTER! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!"
They nodded in unison. "WE UNDERSTAND, BIG BROTHER FUKURO!"
Big Brother gave a subtle nod. "GOOD! NOW THAT IS WHAT IS CALLED THE FIGHTING SPIRIT OF A TRUE KNIGHT!"
He raised his hand forward. "IN THAT CASE, TAKE UP YOUR WEAPONS! AND GET INTO YOUR USUAL POSITIONS TO BEGIN TRAINING!"
The ten people below imdiately rushed to take their weapons and took their positions at each human-shaped straw bundle to strike them repeatedly with their weapons.
Big Brother looked at beside him, seeing the wound on my left hand that had fully healed. Initially, his expression seed to be one of disbelief. But when he looked at again, it was as if he had accepted it as normal.
"As expected, you are truly extraordinary, My Little Brother Touji!"
I gave a stiff smile, slightly confused. But when I saw the direction of his gaze, it made understand imdiately.
I smiled thinly. "It is nothing extraordinary, Big Brother."
I looked at the back of my left arm. "My body simply healed my hand quickly," I said, humbly.
His eyes widened slightly before he smiled again. "It is just like you, Touji! Always remaining humble even when you are above average. That is an attitude you must maintain forever," he said.
I smiled thinly. Although I was not entirely humble, hearing it made want to always act that way.
I lowered my gaze. "Yes, Big Brother. I will try to always maintain it."
He smiled upon hearing my answer. He patted my shoulder. "That’s how my Little Brother should be!"
He fell silent for a mont afterward. His gaze shifted to the pile of swords down there before looking back at .
"...How shall we begin the training? Is your hand fully healed?" he asked.
I nodded. I patted the back of my arm in front of him as proof.
"I am fully healed, Big Brother."
Big Brother smiled at that. He called one of his Little Brothers who was not far from there.
"Risshu!" he called.
The person nad wiped away sweat and turned his attention to us.
Big Brother approached the edge of the arena while waving his hand—signaling for him to co closer.
Risshu gave a slow nod, then approached Big Brother with a flat expression.
Big Brother whispered sothing while pointing toward the pile of swords.
Risshu, understanding, imdiately responded by going to the pile of wooden swords. He took two swords like yesterday—a katana and a greatsword.
He stacked the two swords in his hands and brought them to Big Brother Fukuro.
Big Brother Fukuro took the two wooden swords.
Risshu looked at blankly before returning to swinging his sword.
Big Brother turned toward , throwing one of the swords—the katana—to .
I caught it. And imdiately tucked it into the side of my belt.
Big Brother stared at in silence for a mont. He pointed at my clothes.
I had forgotten to change them.
I imdiately went down the stairs and changed my clothes in the sa place as yesterday—behind the pile of old barrels. I took the clothes from behind my personal servant attire and changed directly.
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