<Episode 10>
I held Rossi tightly in my arms as I headed toward the training grounds.
The modifications had gone fairly well.
Not that it could do anything amazing yet.
“If it can at least serve the role of a mechanical arm, that’d be a miracle… but still, better than nothing.”
Whatever I brought with me, I still wouldn’t be able to defeat that monster of a man, Edward.
I didn’t know what kind of competition we’d be facing, but if it was some kind of duel, I’d rather forfeit than get something broken fighting him.
Pride doesn’t put food on the table.
But when I arrived at the training grounds with that mindset, what awaited me was something I hadn’t expected.
“Father, what is this…?”
In the center of the grounds was a massive boulder.
So large, it was impossible to tell where it had been brought from—something even several knights together would struggle to carry.
And at the top of the boulder, a sword hilt was embedded.
“That sword, stuck in the boulder, is a silver blade said to have been personally blessed by the High Priest. It’s a treasure—especially effective against monsters,” the head steward explained on Father’s behalf.
“It had been lost for a long time, but it seems monsters sealed it away by embedding it into this rock. This time, the Lord brought back the whole boulder, silver blade and all.”
I glanced at Father with wide eyes.
He had carried that thing back with just his human strength?
‘What’s that got to do with the test, though…?’
A sense of unease settled over me.
No way…
And right then, Father smirked.
“Go ahead. Any of you—try to pull it out.”
‘Are we doing Excalibur now, Father?’
Maybe I had been reincarnated into the legend of King Arthur.
Except, of course, Edward would be Arthur, standing there all smug, and I’d be Extra #3—the one who gets thrown aside trying to yank out the sword.
The boulder was huge, and even though only the hilt of the sword was visible, it looked about the size of my head.
I stared at it with a pale face.
‘This… isn’t happening, right?’
Yeah. Not happening.
I glanced between the massive silver sword and my skinny arms and gave up quickly.
Sometimes, knowing when to quit was the wiser choice.
This wasn’t something I could overcome with effort or passion.
This was pure brute strength.
I looked around at my older brothers.
Lawrence stood there, frowning at the rock.
Despite his exceptional skills for his age, it seemed even he didn’t believe he could pull that sword free.
And Edward—was smiling.
Like he’d just found an amusing new toy.
“Do we just have to pull it out, Father?” he asked, slowly drawing the sword from his waist.
“In any way we want?”
He looked ready to shatter the entire rock with sword energy.
That lunatic… always violence first, talk later.
Instinctively, I took a step back, afraid the rock might explode into shards any moment.
“You may not destroy the boulder. You must extract the sword using strength alone.”
“…How boring,” Edward said, his face flat with disappointment.
Apparently, a bloodless test of strength had completely killed his interest.
Seeing that, Lawrence clenched his jaw and fists.
“I’ll go first, Father.”
There was only one sword in the boulder.
Only one chance to impress Father.
Edward simply scoffed and stepped aside, letting Lawrence go without protest.
Lawrence approached the rock with solemn determination.
His expression was completely serious, a heavy atmosphere around him.
Can he really do it?
He was a prodigy, yes—but only thirteen. Still physically underdeveloped.
Lawrence grasped the hilt with tight lips. Veins stood out on the back of his hand, but the sword didn’t budge.
Clenching his teeth, he grabbed it with both hands. Now the veins bulged all the way up to his arms.
And then, to my surprise—
I gasped.
Crack.
A chilling sound echoed as the rock began to fissure slightly.
What?! Is he really going to pull it out?
That would be a major twist.
I glanced at Edward. He stood with arms crossed, watching like it was nothing. A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
That was mockery.
Right then, Lawrence let out a battle cry.
“HAAA!”
His shout echoed across the entire training ground.
I quickly looked back at the boulder.
The sword—remained unmoved.
And the cracks in the boulder didn’t grow.
Lawrence, having pushed himself to the limit, finally released the hilt and staggered back.
As expected—it was still too much for him.
And Edward had anticipated it.
His crooked smirk was all the proof needed.
“So annoying… but still,”
Edward was undeniably several levels above Lawrence.
“Step down,” Father ordered.
“I can still try again,” Lawrence protested, straightening up.
“Wasting strength on the impossible is foolish. Step back.”
Father’s voice was cold and final.
This would be Lawrence’s only opportunity this year.
And he knew it too—his face crumpled with despair far too heavy for a thirteen-year-old to bear.
Maybe it was the memories of my past life resurfacing,
but for a brief moment, he didn’t look like the brat who always picked fights with me.
He just looked like a boy—still a kid.
That’s probably why—
As Lawrence passed by me, I spoke without thinking.
“You did well.”
His eyes widened in surprise.
He turned back to look at me, but I didn’t return the gaze. I just walked past him as if I hadn’t said anything.
I had wanted to tell him that doing his best was enough—but…
Honestly, when two losers start comforting each other, it just looks pathetic.
As I stepped forward, Father raised a brow in surprise.
“You want to try, Lillian?”
“No, Father.”
I bowed politely.
“Please allow Edward to go first. I couldn’t possibly waste even a moment of his precious time.”
“…”
“…”
Silence fell over the training ground.
A few people looked at me with their jaws practically unhinged.
Understandable.
Lillian Sergeinev had never used the word “brother” in reference to anyone.
Even now, I think I got a rash on my lips just saying it.
“I only came to deliver this.”
I pulled a handkerchief from my sleeve and offered it to Edward.
“Wipe your palms, Brother. It would be a shame if your hand slipped and you got hurt.”
“…”
“Though, of course, someone as strong as you would never let that happen.”
From my past life, I had learned a crucial truth:
“Connections matter more than ability.”
And if a solid connection was dangling in front of me, I had nothing to lose by grabbing it.
Edward stared at me in silence for a while.
He was probably wondering what kind of nonsense I was trying to pull.
“What kind of crap are you trying to pull now?”
Yup. Nailed it.
His gaze was even tinged with a faint killing intent, as if he thought I was mocking him.
Not wanting to provoke him further, I quietly lowered my head.
He walked past me without a word, not even glancing at the handkerchief.
“Good luck, Brother.”
I called out to his back with one last push.
His footsteps hesitated ever so slightly.
Was he touched by his sweet little sister’s affection?
…Yeah, probably not.
I had shown all the goodwill I could, but clearly, none of it had registered with that psycho.
“Well, you can’t fill your belly with one bite.”
I didn’t feel discouraged and simply folded the handkerchief, heading for the edge of the training ground.
Lawrence, who had already stepped back, looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
“…Hey. What was that just now?”
“What do you mean? Just looking out for my older brother.”
“Old—older brother?!”
Lawrence made a disgusted face, like he’d seen something vile.
“You’ve never called me anything like that before!”
“What? Would you like me to?”
If he wanted it, I didn’t mind.
I sweetly opened my lips and enunciated clearly:
“Lawrence, my dear brother.”
“S-shut up!!”
Lawrence shuddered all over and hugged himself. The overreaction was intense.
I settled into a seat with a good view of the boulder and turned to look at Edward.
His profile was colder than a winter storm.
Just his gaze alone felt like it could kill a man—absolutely chilling.
I might’ve overdone it with the cutesy act just now.
“Ugh. Kinda hurts my pride, honestly…”
Still, no one eats well their first time.
It was only natural that the eldest brother—who had likely never experienced sibling affection—wouldn’t immediately take a liking to me.
“But if I can slowly grow on him…”
Edward Sergeinev was undoubtedly the second-in-command after Father.
And with high probability, the future head of the family.
Getting on his good side could only be a benefit.
“…He’s starting,” Lawrence whispered, tense.
I turned back.
Edward gripped the sword hilt with his right hand.
Even though he had clearly seen Lawrence fail using both hands, Edward didn’t hesitate to try it one-handed.
Veins bulged across his pale arm like grotesque cords.
And then, moments later—
