~Chapter 41~
“That… can’t be true.”
“……”
“Ruby, I wasn’t really mad at you. You know that, right?”
Void shuffled closer, circling around Ruby like a restless puppy. Ruby, who had been pouting, suddenly burst into laughter.
“Alright, alright. You’re right. You weren’t mad. Okay?”
At times like this, Ruby really looked like an adult.
Void sighed with relief, watching Ruby laugh brightly.
“Anyway, Khalid is my friend, so please get along with him.”
“Tch. That depends on how that guy behaves!”
“I’m asking you right now. Won’t you listen to my request?”
Void hesitated.
“…I even check your spelling mistakes for free.”
Ruby gave him a sulky look, staring at the diary in his hand.
Right. Fixing spelling really was troublesome work!
“Fine, fine! I get it, don’t look so down!”
“Hehe.”
Ruby smiled with round eyes. She smelled sweet, like she had just eaten apple jelly.
“You’re the best! Thank you!”
Ruby dangled onto his back. At some point, she had grown fond of clinging to him like that.
And when the youngest clung to you, an older brother’s heart melted like ice cream in the sun.
“Seriously… why do you need so much attention?”
Was that just what it meant to have a youngest sibling?
Void grumbled, but still lifted her up, playing airplane as always.
Whooosh.
Dry dusty wind swept across the barren training ground.
I stood in the middle once again.
“Your Grandpa…”
The Jebert elder stood with the sun behind him.
It felt like facing a huge beast.
“Depending on what you do, you can become a devil… or a devil.”
“That’s the same thing!”
I shouted, and Grandpa laughed heartily.
“Come here, you little brats!”
Beside me, Void stood pale as a sheet, still reeling from yesterday when Ruby had exposed his diary and spelling mistakes.
“Pathetic…”
That snort of laughter came, of course, from Khalid on my other side.
The three of us stood in a line in the middle of the training ground. Knights pretended to be training but were clearly watching us instead.
Khalid smirked at the sight.
‘He said he slept well in the Order’s dormitory.’
His face looked fresh and smooth. Really, his adaptability was amazing.
“Hah? Haah? You washed-out night-sky brat.”
Huh, I heard that phrase yesterday too.
“Stand straight right now, you night-sky boy!”
“What sky?”
“You too, come forward, little Void!”
“M-me? Y-yes, sir…”
Grandpa placed both his hands on their shoulders. Void’s shoulders tilted under the weight, but Khalid didn’t even flinch.
“I’ll have the two of you duel first! That way we’ll see your skills!”
‘What?’
I was shocked. Another duel, even after the training ground test?
“G-Grandpa, that might be a bit unfair to Void…”
“Alright, run! Ready!”
“….”
Ah. I spoke too soon.
“Oh, that kind of duel…”
“It will be a rough fight. The obstacles you face won’t be easy to overcome…”
Grandpa laughed slyly.
All over the training ground were obstacles: hurdles, mud pits, nets…
‘This looks like army training…’
I felt a sense of déjà vu, but let it pass.
Actually, it looked kind of fun. I had been running the mini training ground a lot lately too. I could definitely jump over a hurdle or two!
“Hup, hup.”
I eagerly warmed up.
“I’ll do it too!”
I moved toward the start line with a serious face—but suddenly, my collar was grabbed.
“No way. You’ll fly away with just one gust of wind!”
“What? But I’m a member too!”
I was even wearing the knight’s uniform properly!
I wanted to run too! I wanted to try the obstacle race!
“And I haven’t even done today’s training yet! I’ll use this instead! For stamina! For strength!”
“….”
I looked up at him with fiery eyes. Grandpa’s mouth stiffened, his eyebrows twitching as if alive. He didn’t look easy to convince.
Then why did he even call me here?!
“Right, Sir Leon? I should run too, right?”
“Well… that’s true. But this is the big training ground… You should keep using the mini one…”
“You’re discriminating against me!”
When I shouted, the knight’s proper face turned troubled.
“It’s not discrimination, just…”
“I really want to do it! You admitted I’m a junior knight!”
“Your Excellency…”
Sir Leon looked helplessly at Grandpa.
“Fine, fine! Don’t frown like that, lift your lips! Smile!”
Grandpa grabbed my cheeks and squished them.
“You’re letting me, right?”
“Wha—? Uh… yeah…”
I quickly spun around and ran toward the start line where Khalid and Void were waiting.
“Hooray, P.E. class!”
“Oh my, little brat! Be careful!”
When I reached them, both were standing awkwardly. Void’s eyes went wide when he saw me.
“Ruby! Why did you come? You should rest!”
“I want to build stamina too!”
I smiled and squeezed between them.
Khalid stared at me silently, then placed his hand on my head.
“Ruby. Did you grow taller?”
Gasp! The best words I’d ever heard!
“Right? I knew you’d notice!”
I jumped excitedly, holding his hand. A faint magic flowed into me without him noticing—probably unconscious, since he was wearing his bracelet.
“…You two are way too close.”
Suddenly, Void wedged himself between us, arms crossed, frowning.
“What’s the problem?”
“What’s the problem?!”
“Yes. What is it?”
Khalid asked calmly. Void opened and closed his mouth like a fish, then froze.
“…You’re right. What is the problem?”
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
Leaving him confused, Khalid leaned toward me and whispered.
“Do we really have to keep up this silly act? I want to train in swordsmanship—when will that…”
“Shh, Khalid. You promised to get along.”
“…That’s true, but still.”
At that moment, Grandpa cleared his throat loudly, stepping forward. I clenched my fists with determination.
“Ready, set, go!”
“You two! Your shoelaces are untied!”
I laughed and dashed ahead first. The two behind me looked down and started late.
“Ruuuuby!”
Void’s frustrated voice echoed from behind. Grandpa’s booming laughter followed.
“Yours really are untied, little Void!”
“Wahh!”
Void tripped over his loose shoelace and rolled noisily on the ground.
I kept running. Soon a tall shadow fell beside me. Of course Khalid had caught up.
“I’m having fun right now!”
“…What’s fun about this?”
I was already out of breath, while Khalid looked fine.
“Running without thinking! Not running because I’m being chased!”
“….”
The clear sky, cool wind, and warm sun!
Until now, I only ever had to run in moments of danger. My pounding heart was always a warning sign.
But here, I could run for no reason!
Even if my heart pounded, nothing scary would happen!
“And if I run well, I’ll even get praised!”
Healthy body, healthy mind!
“Let’s go—whoa!”
My foot suddenly tangled. The ground rushed toward me—ah, I was doomed.
“Ruby!”
“Watch out—!”
Two hands grabbed my collar and shoulder.
Khalid’s wide eyes filled my vision, while Void came panting hard, eyebrows knit tight.
“Wow. I almost died filming a youth drama scene.”
I brushed myself off and started running again.
No over-pacing, calm down, or I’d smash my nose.
Tap tap. My calmer footsteps echoed in the training ground. I focused only on running, afraid of tripping again.
So I didn’t see what happened behind me.
“……”
“……”
The two boys who had caught me exchanged a strange look.
‘Not bad, for just a little sister’s friend.’
‘And what’s with this guy, anyway…?’
Of course, those were their thoughts.
