while staying in the capital (3)

Lauren said.

" I accidentally overheard people talking. Rumors say that your brother defeated the kingdom of Hector and saved the southern front from the enemy. I didn't quite believe it at first. The older Roman I remember was not interested in swordsmanship, and in the first place, he even asked if he could go to me to avoid his military duty."

a year ago?

It wasn't a very old memory.

Roman contacted Lauren and asked if the youngest should bear the burden of the family in place of the eldest.

It was then that I felt sad.

In fact, other noble families do not entrust their eldest son with the duty of national defense.

If he had the power, he would somehow solve the problem, or another brother, such as the second son, performed the duty.

But Baron Romero pushed Roman Dmitry into the battlefield. Rodwell was also selected as the successor, but he hoped that Roman, who was having trouble with Dmitry, would come to his senses when he enlisted in the army by the time he was in his mid-twenties.

In such a situation.

Roman Dmitry was unable to contact Rodwell, so he contacted Lauren and complained.

He was a pathetic brother.

He wasn't something he could brag about anywhere like Rodwell, but he didn't think too badly of Roman because he thought he was in a similar situation to himself.

Roman Dmitry and Lauren Dmitry.

Born into a family of commoners, they grew up with a very powerful comparator named Rodwell Dmitry.

understood.

Roman's departure, Lauren truly counted.

"But while we didn't see him, he changed completely. Roman Dmitry, who was like me, has disappeared, and people now look at him and call him the hero of Cairo. How could it have been so different? My brother and I know. The fact that people from the outskirts must have the same talent as Rodwell hyung to be successful. At least hyung and I were the kind of person who couldn't live up to the expectations of those around us."

The first time was just difficult.

let's talk inside

The emotions that had been suppressed for a long time exploded.

"I am very shy. I followed Rodwell to the capital to live up to my father's expectations, but I couldn't do anything until he was promoted to S-Class. To be honest, I still don't know what mana is. Others feel good mana and get promoted in a month or two, but because I am getting older, I only take classes in D class, but I don't know when I will go down to E class."

cried

At home, he couldn't tell the truth, and he looked at Roman with earnest eyes.

"So I went to see my brother. My brother was in the same situation as me. But how did you become stronger than me? I also want to be a son that my father is proud of. Always pretending to be okay, pretending to be good. It's not that I'm trying to force a smile, but I really want to show results."

finally.

I couldn't stop crying.

I cried a lot.

He bowed his head, shrugged his shoulders, and poured out his sorrow.

Even the original Roman didn't know.

Lauren Dmitry.

The people of the family thought he got along in the capital with Rodwell Dmitry.

Of course, it wasn't as great as Rodwell did, but, unlike Roman, who was called an idiot, he did not get upset by taking classes steadily.

But the truth was different. Because Baron Romero knows how hard it is for Roman Dmitry. Lauren Dmitry couldn't say anything.

I myself hated the life of the religious life so hard, but I thought that one problem child among my children was enough.

The conversation could no longer proceed.

The crying completely broke out.

Seeing her crying to the point where it was hard to breathe, Roman didn't say anything.

like that.

Until Lauren calmed down, Roman looked at Lauren and waited for her to stop crying.

* * *

Lauren cried for a long time.

is a soft child

He was still only 18 years old, and Lauren wasn't strong enough to handle the weight of reality.

'How should I treat Lauren?'

There was no ill-feeling.

It's not that he doesn't have bad memories of Lauren, but that his second son, Rodwell, isn't too bad about it either.

it's a new life

Although he inherited the life of the original Roman Dmitry, Roman had no intention of continuing the same relationship with people.

The original Roman made many karma.

Everyone I met had a hostile reaction, so there were a lot of harm done even though I didn't do anything wrong.

However.

However, he did not look at them with prejudiced eyes.

Baron Romero.

He, who had abandoned his expectations due to repeated disappointment in his son, became a strong supporter than anyone else.

Kris.

He hated Roman.

He had tried to attack Roman even in front of Baron Romero, but now he showed such loyalty that he would jump into a pit of fire if Roman ordered it.

Mostly it was like that.

Besides these two, many others, such as Master Blacksmith, were hostile to Roman, but Roman made a new bond with them.

blast furnace.

I thought the opposite.

Just as other people accepted the new self, he did not discriminate against the new relationship.

'I have no feelings for Lauren. If he distanced me, I wouldn't think of him as special, even as a brother. Same goes for Rodwell. The identity of the eldest and the second son created a complicated relationship, but even so, it is not a good reason to be hostile to Rodwell. Lauren or Rodwell. My evaluation of them will be based on my own experiences, not on original memories.'

It was Roman's way.

living a new life

set a new standard.

Since his life did not originate solely from himself, Roman showed tolerance for accepting a new life.

"Lauren."

" Yeah.

called my brother

Not yet.

There was no special affection for him.

Just because he went through the same hardships as he did, there was no reason to take special care of him.

However.

"I don't want to see people with the same last name as me being ignored. That would undermine the Dmitry family and even my reputation. You said you were wondering how I got to where I am today? If you want an answer to a question, prove that you are qualified. I heard that there will be a swordsmanship exam soon. There, clearly show what happens if you ignore a man named Lauren Dmitry."

once in a while.

could give you a chance

Unlike his previous life, where he had to kill his brother because he had the same last name, Roman gave him one chance.

From now on, it's up to Lauren.

If you prove yourself.

will accept him as his brother.

But if you don't, you won't have many opportunities to talk to yourself like this in the future.

* * *

The day was bright.

Lauren's eyes were swollen.

Her face was messed up due to bad luck, but her eyes were different from the thoughts that had complicated her mind all night.

'I told you to prove your qualifications if you want an answer to a question.'

It was strange.

in that word.

Lauren felt some kind of courage.

In the meantime, I felt like I was wandering in the endless open sea, but a being who overcame the same reality as me offered me the way to tell the answer.

Then what is there to be afraid of? If you prove your qualifications.

His brother, whom Cairo admires, will tell you how he has changed from Dmitry's nerd.

My head cleared.

It had been a long time since I felt this way.

Even though I didn't acquire transcendental power overnight, my mind was at peace.

The time has come.

For the swordsmanship test, the students gathered at the training ground, and the professor looked at the faces of the students and proceeded with the test.

"I will start the test now. First turn... ."

previous exam.

The students who were called one after another competed against each other.

happiness was divided

Some students rejoiced in victory, while others were saddened by defeat.

how much time has passed

The professor's eyes turned to Lauren.

"For Lauren."

got up from his seat

And.

"For William."

opponent in this match.

Even as William Castro got up smiling, Lauren didn't show the slightest agitation.

* * *

"Ha, really. because life is fun After all, why are you sticking with me?"

William groaned.

before proceeding with this exam.

There were conversations between friends.

I don't know who's going to fight Lauren, but in fact, that person is like riding a warp gate that leads directly to a C-class.

And now.

William faced Lauren.

It wasn't fun to see that there was no answer, but it was okay.

'Don't give me a very harpoon this time.'

Castro family.

They are from the elite of the central government.

William Castro's father was a supporter of the aristocracy, and living in the capital from an early age, he was entrenched with elitism to the bone.

There is something his father always says.

It is said that a person has a limit of birth, and its use is determined by who was born in the womb.

Having always heard such words, William Castro felt disgusted as soon as he heard the name of the Dmitry family.

Cairo Royal Academy.

A place for the elite.

But what if the son of a commoner-born family is his classmate?

Even if it's a solid talent like Rodwell, it's very similar to using the power of a family like Loren.

So I was stumbling.

This time, I was thinking of sending Lauren back home.

said the professor.

"The evaluation criteria for exams is not victory or defeat. We will evaluate how well we have melted the teachings of the past in practice, and refrain from extreme attacks. Then I will start the test."

beep.

signal went down.

at the same time as starting.

William Castro went straight to the ground.

There was no reason to procrastinate.

Lauren couldn't even respond properly, so she took the momentum with a bold move.

percussion!

"Ugh."

The attack was blocked.

Lauren raised the sword urgently, but his expression distorted due to the physical difference. Even though it was blocked, the shock was not great.

William Castro did not stop at him and continued to attack, and Lauren was pushed back by the frantic attack.

widely!

Tata Tak!

"You cowardly bastard!"

It was an overwhelming victory.

There was no way Lauren, the weakest person, could handle the attack of William Castro, who was initially considered to be a D-Class.

It was as expected.

never once.

I didn't fight back properly.

William Castro, who pushed his opponent into a corner, immediately discovered the gap that Lauren had revealed.

'It's over.'

open chest.

I was thinking of taking it down.

If any bone were to be broken, Lauren would no longer think of staying at the academy.

hook!

lowered his sword

That was then.

Moment.

Rather, Lauren tilted her head forward.

Even though a wooden sword would have stuck in his head at this rate, he looked up at William Castro with a determined expression on his face.

immediate situation.

Lauren clenched her teeth.

Pak!

The wooden sword passed.

Even though he turned his head slightly to avoid it, blood splattered across his eyes with a tingling shock.

At the same time.

tight.

Lauren slapped William Castro in the chin.