Chapter 76
Sion walked through the quiet castle at midday, recalling the events of last night.
“I want to grow. I want to grow fast.”
“…….”
“And I want to become an impressive adult. I don’t want to keep living as a child who only receives protection.”
As she spoke, one of Chloe’s hands was pale as if drained of blood.
Her eyes trembled intermittently as she watched adults continue to oppose her and list reasons why she shouldn’t act.
Yet still…
“To do that, I need a challenge. I need trials that will let me recognize my limits and grow. So please, let me enter the succession contest.”
She had finally expressed her will completely.
Sion recalled that face, where weakness and strength coexisted, and naturally thought of his own past.
She had said that other families also held similar succession contests at a young age to officially decide heirs.
The child was right.
Even Demos had chosen heirs in his early years through such competitions.
But that method would have been very different from what Chloe Arus imagined.
As Chloe said, he had been officially chosen as a successor through the succession contest.
But it wasn’t decided through a fierce competition like the one Chloe was entering.
He had been selected.
As a being with the most superior genes.
As an experimental subject born with overwhelmingly excellent qualities.
As an entity whose life-force could be extracted and invested in as a valuable asset.
The process had been transparent and fair, yet it was unrelated to his own efforts.
It had been nothing more than innate aptitude.
Had any will been involved at all, he would have been the first to fall.
For until arriving here, the child had never once desired to survive to see their future.
Yet…
Sion vividly remembered Chloe’s eyes.
Eyes burning with the will to live.
Eyes shining with the desire to move forward, like a forest ablaze.
Sion’s steps slowed unconsciously as he recalled that green gaze overflowing with vitality.
She was different.
The child who said she wanted to grow up. The child who said she wanted to grow.
Even as a very weak rabbit, she had said she wanted to challenge herself just as she was.
If Demos had had a Chloe Arus…
It would surely have been him who was eliminated.
Realizing that he could never have beaten Chloe Arus, Sion quickened his pace.
This was no time to hesitate. If he wanted to stand beside the strong, he had to elevate himself to at least their level.
Only then would she not look down on him.
If his will was weak, at least his sword had to be strong. Otherwise, he’d continue to maintain bonds by eating failures in place of others.
This place should do.
Sion found a suitable spot and was about to begin training when a mocking voice came from the open space beyond a massive zelkova tree.
“Who’s training like a little mouse here?”
The voice was familiar.
Sion lowered his sword and looked toward the source.
Beyond thick bushes, two men stood facing each other hostilely.
Sion immediately recognized the one ignoring the provocation.
It was the Arus knight who had brought him to this castle—annoyingly talkative.
Brooks Lowell, wasn’t it?
Sion thought of the knight’s name and looked at the other man, half-turned away from him.
“Choosing this place over a proper sparring ground… do you have a reason for hiding your training?”
Ah, the voice was familiar.
The one provoking Brooks Lowell was also someone Sion knew.
The captain of Liander’s knights who had been in the same carriage that day—Arthur Harrison.
Seems like the knights of different families are having their own little feud.
Not wanting to get involved, Sion quickly sheathed his sword and looked for another spot.
“What do you want? Speak. Don’t waste time provoking me.”
“A duel.”
Had it not been for that blunt declaration, Sion, half-turned, would have ignored them.
But at the mention of a duel by Arthur Harrison, he turned back.
“If I win, you may freely use the training ground. But if you lose, leave this place and go somewhere else.”
Sion hated getting involved in fights, but watching one was another matter.
A duel between the captain of Liander’s knights and the captain of Arus’s knights.
Though Arus and Liander differed in their sword styles, both came from families renowned for exceptional combat ability.
They’re probably going to show attack styles I’ve never seen before.
Sion’s faint curiosity grew as he waited quietly, observing Brooks Lowell’s reaction to Arthur Harrison.
“If you’re scared, you can refuse—”
“Go.”
Brooks, provoked, turned his back first, and Arthur followed.
Sion hesitated briefly before trailing behind them.
Moving silently while following prey was a natural ability of the Serpent Clan.
Brooks Lowell and Arthur Harrison walked toward the training grounds, completely unaware that someone was following them.
“No!”
Inside the communication crystal as large as an adult fist, Blake spoke firmly.
“Not until your uncle’s eyes close in death!”
“Ah, why!”
“Why? It’s dangerous, Chloe!”
“It’s not dangerous at all!”
Chloe explained, pointing to the crystal on the desk.
“They’ll give me a protective talisman, there are no dangerous animals, and I can take one hunting tool with me! Really, really safe!”
“Still no! I can’t bear to see you get hurt!”
Chloe crossed her arms and glared at the resolute Blake, then slumped her shoulders.
“That’s so unfair…”
Even if all other guardians opposed it, she had thought her uncle would side with her.
The one who had let her skip brushing her teeth at night without telling her mom… he would support her.
Then I have no choice.
Chloe let out a small sigh and pulled out her last weapon.
She had wanted not to use it on her uncle, but…
Huh, it’s your own fault, uncle.
Muttering to herself, she slammed her face onto the desk with a thud.
“Chloe, you’re going to hurt your forehead!”
“I don’t care. No matter how much my forehead hurts, it won’t hurt as much as my heart does.”
“My dear, don’t do that…”
“Why do you think I’ll get hurt, uncle?”
“W‑well…”
“Because I’m a rabbit, right?”
Chloe buried her face in her arms on the desk, mumbling.
“Because I’m a rabbit, an herbivore whose only attack is a back kick, that’s why?”
“…….”
“Uncle, are you ashamed that I’m a rabbit?”
“Of course not, Chloe!”
Ah, she was startled!
Startled by her uncle’s voice booming so loudly it could have shattered the crystal, Chloe almost lifted her head.
Why is your voice so loud? The crystal might break!
Calming her racing heart, Chloe heard her uncle’s firm voice.
“I swear on the honor of the wolf. I have never once been ashamed of you.”
“…….”
“You have always been the proud blood of Arus and my niece. From the moment you were born until the day I die, that will never change. If anyone disrespects you, the entire Arus family will not stand idly by.”
…So touching, uncle.
Chloe almost leaned in to kiss the crystal, but restrained herself, mumbling quietly.
“But right now, uncle, you’re ignoring me.”
“What do you mean, Chloe?”
“You’re stopping me from going because you’re worried I’ll get hurt. You’re stopping me because you’re worried I’ll be treated like a weak animal if I go there.”
“…….”
“I know it all. You don’t want me going because you think the cats and wild beasts will make fun of me, right? You don’t want me hurt, that’s why you’re stopping me, right?”
“……Chloe, it’s not like that…”
“Still, uncle, I want to go.”
At that moment, Chloe noticed her uncle’s voice had softened. She slowly raised her head and looked at Blake.
