Chapter 26: Decline, no
“Allow me to express my gratitude.”
“Oh? How unexpected. I didn’t think I would receive thanks from you.”
I showed a mischievous smile.
Then, Leone let out a small sigh and said,
“I struggled with it, but I should express my gratitude after all. Thanks to your actions, I was able to face my father. I also learned about my mother, who had been a mystery for years. I am grateful.”
He stood straight in front of me and bowed slowly.
His polite manners and arrogant attitude disappeared.
“I don’t need your thanks. I did it for my own purpose.”
“. . .Your purpose, huh.”
He slowly raised his head and looked at me.
He was puzzled and doubtful.
“In the end, why did you provoke my father?”
“I have no intention of telling you.”
“I thought as much. I asked knowing that.”
He laughed as he said that.
It was a refreshing smile as if a burden had been lifted.
The smile he showed when he grew up as a man and became connected with Flare must have been beautiful, just like the smile I see now.
“I can’t say I’m not interested, but… right now, I want to find out what my reason for fighting is. I want to find it quickly.”
To become strong for something.
There must be a suitable reason for strength.
It’s not about pride or showing off.
But more than that the desire for strength to protect something important is stronger.
Humans continue to reach out.
To catch up with an unattainable ideal.
Everyone is like that.
I am also… aiming for a future beyond the ending.
“Flare, I want to thank you too.”
“I haven’t done anything, have I?”
“No, you told Father, didn’t you? That I cherish Mother… Without those words, I might not have understood Father’s true intentions. I’m grateful.”
“Hahaha, I’m glad I could be of help.”
Flare happily laughed.
Leone, who expressed his gratitude, looked a little apologetic.
The reason for that was clear.
“I’m sorry. Honestly, I still… can’t bring myself to like commoners.”
“I understand. It’s not easy to accept Okaa-san’s situation right away, is it?”
“…Yeah.”
His father, Inga, will continue to hold a grudge against commoners from now on.
No matter what words Flare or I say, they won’t truly reach his heart.
If anything can change it… it’s only Leone, his flesh and blood.
But even he won’t be able to forgive commoners.
Especially now, right after learning the truth.
Because they were an important existence…
“But I’m not a child either. It’s not because I’m a commoner, but because bad people happened to be commoners… I understand that. So… I’ll apologize properly someday.”
“It’s okay for me. You haven’t done anything wrong to me.”
“No… I see.”
Leone regretted the terrible insults he had spat out.
and Flare seemed unconcerned, as if it didn’t bother her.
Leone laughed in amazement.
“Please take care of me from now on too, Flare.”
“Yes! Same to you.”
Their relationship deepened.
However, it didn’t develop into a romantic relationship.
It remained at the level of becoming friends because of my involvement.
Things were going smoothly.
“And then. . .”
Lioness turned his gaze to the man walking behind me and Flare..
Belfist was also present during the conversation with his father.
Flare and I played our respective roles, and he. . .
“No, you didn’t do anything.”
“Yeah, I was just watching.”
He didn’t do anything.
Rather, there was no need for him to do anything.
His role was not to intervene in the conversation.
He was just there at the scene.
Leone, too, seems to have no gratitude for the man who was just there with us.
“Why was this man with us. . .that’s the biggest question. . .”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Yeah, don’t worry about it. Just think of me as a moving wall.”
“That’s an interesting way to put it! But if you’re a wall, you shouldn’t talk, right?”
Flare teased with a smile.
Belfist and Flare pressed their faces together, staring each other down.
Leone looked puzzled, sensing the tension between them.
“Hey, is that okay?”
“Just leave them alone. It’s always like this.”
“I see. . .”
Leone exhaled softly.
“Slayer, you owe me a big favor. If you ever need my help, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Is that so? Then can I ask you for a favor right away?”
“What is it?”
I grin.
I whispered to Leone, making a request.
Leone showed a surprised expression and moved away from me.
“What is it?”
“I refuse!”
He clearly refused.
“Well, I want to say that, but I have lost to you. The loser must follow the winner.”
“That’s right. I have no right to refuse.”
“Hmph, fine. I’ll accept your request. I have some doubts, but you know something that I don’t. There must be a reason for it, right?”
“Yes, there is.”
Leone grinned.
With this, I was able to lay the groundwork for the next step.
“May I ask you for one more thing?”
“What is it?”
“If I can find a reason to become stronger in the future…will you fight me again?”
“…Sure. After all, I was the one who provoked you.”
And so, Leone’s problem was solved.
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