“Alright, then let’s talk right away.”
Lowell rubbed her hands together, looking expectant.
It was a stark contrast to her previous reluctance, where she wouldn’t agree to the deal even on pain of death.
“Keke, your attitude changed quickly.”
“I’m not the type to look back. If I decide to do it, I just do it.”
Her attitude was refreshingly straightforward.
Well, it wasn’t a bad thing for me. Time until morning was running short, and if Caron showed up because we dragged this out unnecessarily?
‘If he finds out we’re part of the Dark Beast Squad, and that Luna’s involved in this dangerous group…’
I didn’t even want to imagine what came next.
It was right then, as I shook my head to dispel the thought, that Lowell nodded toward Luna and Rezé.
“You two, get lost. We have things to discuss privately.”
“…I’d rather not.”
“Hm?”
“We’re Zero’s companions. I think we have the right to share information.”
Luna pushed back.
Her obsession with me was one thing, but it seemed like all the patience she’d held back until now had finally burst.
“How bold. Won’t it hurt if you get hit?”
“It probably won’t hurt as much as it did for you, rolling on the ground and kneeling just a moment ago.”
“No? It’ll hurt even more. My strikes pack quite a punch. I can swear to that.”
A staring contest between Lowell and Luna.
Crackle!
Was it an illusion? Lightning seemed to flash between them.
The one who took the hit was Rezé, standing nearby. She bounced back as if struck by lightning, then stuck out her tongue to the side and passed out.
Fainting during an eye-staring match—and someone else’s, at that. What a damn Pufferfish Rabbit.
“It looks like a huge secret that could ruin a family. You should feel ashamed.”
“Everyone has at least one secret. And you’re talking like you don’t?”
“Of course. I don’t keep things like that. I’m someone with nothing to be ashamed of. It’s on a whole different level from someone who bullies their little sibling.”
Luna’s sarcasm.
Hearing that, Lowell narrowed her eyes into thin slits.
“Why wouldn’t you have secrets? You traitor to the Empire.”
“…!?”
Oh no, so she had figured it out after all?
The fight Luna started when we first crossed paths with Lowell in the training grounds.
And from Lowell’s attitude in the meantime, I’d vaguely suspected it.
That Lowell had realized Luna’s true identity.
“Strutting around with your face held high, despite coming from a traitor’s family.”
“…That’s not true.”
“If it were me, I’d be so ashamed I’d end my own life. Though, if you don’t know shame, that’s how you stay alive. Isn’t that the traitor’s way of thinking?”
“I’m not a traitor! It’s all slander!”
Luna cried out in anguish.
If I left them alone, things could turn into a real disaster. I wedged myself between them.
Hiding Luna behind my back, I faced Lowell squarely.
“Let’s stop here.”
“So you knew too? Harboring a traitor. Do you know how grave a sin that is?”
This was a tricky situation. The sharp edge of a bad ending loomed, where we’d all be branded traitors and end up as morning dew on the execution ground.
For now, though.
“How about we end this by fairly keeping each other’s secrets?”
I’d keep the Lucid family’s secret.
And Lowell would keep the secrets about the Lester family and the Dark Beast Squad.
What about Rezé being left out? Well…
“You’ll overlook the secret that she loves carrots a ton.”
“What’s that useless secret?”
“Useless? Don’t underestimate our rabbit!”
“You’re the one underestimating the most right now? Don’t treat people like rabbits!”
As they bickered with nonsense, Lowell grabbed my collar and pulled me aside.
Then she whispered lowly in my ear.
“Step aside for a moment. I have something to give that kid.”
“…?”
Something to give to Luna?
Lowell released my collar and gave me a slight shove. I naturally stumbled, clearing the way.
‘A hidden piece?’
If it was a hidden piece, Luna might grow even more.
Just like when Lucia taught her.
Lowell stepped in front of Luna. And then.
“What was that pathetic One Flash earlier? Your mom would cry.”
Ah, I see. So the “giving” was just a low blow? How charming…
‘This is driving me crazy.’
Hidden piece my ass. It was just a ploy to vent her temper.
Even the Mad Lion had crossed the line with this.
Pop.
A thick vein bulged on Luna’s forehead.
“Wouldn’t the same go for your mom? Losing to a fifteen-year-old kid and all.”
Luna’s retort came flying right back.
That’s our Luna—paying back exactly what she got.
…Not a compliment. Maybe our Luna is a bad-ending maker on Caron’s level?
“There seems to be a misunderstanding. When I mentioned your mom, it was because…”
“Don’t make excuses. It’s ugly.”
Pop.
This time, a vein appeared on Lowell’s forehead. One just as thick as Luna’s.
“Fine? Then prove it.”
“Yes?”
“Prove it with your own strength, with your One Flash. That you’re a descendant of the Lester family, and that it was all slander.”
“…How could One Flash prove it’s slander?”
“When an adult tells you to do it, you do it. Why are you talking so much?”
“Because you’re saying weird things.”
“Most people don’t know, but ‘One Flash’ is the pride of the Lester family, the manifestation of their will.”
“…”
“I’ll confirm it myself. That the Lester family was slandered, and…”
That the pride of the Lester family still lives on.
“Well, this time you’ll prove with your own hands that it’s a traitor’s family.”
“…Don’t regret it.”
The two of them put some distance between each other.
As Lowell twitched her sword, Luna moved.
Her left knee slightly bent, the scabbard held at a right angle in response.
An explosive instant acceleration from ankle to wrist.
The moment Luna’s sword drew from its scabbard, the moonlight illuminating the surroundings vanished.
First secret technique of the Lester family style.
One Flash.
A flash carrying the moonlight shot toward Lowell.
It was several times better than the One Flash I’d seen before. Such powerful will was infused into it.
My gaze naturally turned to Lowell.
Was it because of my A-rank [Dynamic Vision]? Lowell’s movements were crystal clear, one by one.
The sword gripped with considerable looseness in her palm.
Weight on the toes of one foot, spinning her body like a dance.
A 360-degree rotation, returning to her original position, and drawing her sword at the same time.
Yes, that technique is definitely.
Third secret technique of the Lester family style.
Abyss.
Swoosh!
The One Flash Luna unleashed circled around Lowell’s body once, then flew back toward Luna.
Krakakak-!
The One Flash barely grazed past Luna, toppling dozens of trees before finally dissipating.
Seeing that, Luna’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“How do you know Abyss…!”
It was natural for Luna to be shocked.
Abyss was the third secret technique of the Lester family, and a counterattack move.
Lowell said nothing, closing her eyes as she sheathed her sword.
I could hear it.
The moment the sword entered its scabbard, Lowell’s muttered soliloquy.
“…She taught it properly, after all.”
Sister Renia.
“So… like this?”
“I told you earlier, uniform rotation is key. Not even one degree off during that full 360-degree turn. Focus on maintaining balance!”
I stared blankly at Lowell guiding Luna.
Lowell and the Lester family. Was there some connection between them?
…It wasn’t in the game’s info.
‘She wandered various families over the past ten years. Did she stop by the Lester family during that time?’
The fact that she revealed this long-hidden information now meant it would be useful someday.
For now, I’d tuck it away in my mind.
“I get the principle. At this point…”
[Party member ‘Luna’ has acquired the third secret technique, ‘Abyss.’]
“Rezé, attack me. I think I get it now.”
“Yes, yep!”
Rezé threw a stone, and Luna spun around, trying to send it back.
Lowell watched the scene closely. I didn’t know why, but she seemed quite satisfied.
“You’re being kind.”
“Want to die?”
Lowell scowled fiercely.
I’d complimented her on being kind, so why the death threat?
Typical Mad Lion—she wasn’t right in the head.
“You know? If I’d used that technique earlier, I’d have won.”
“Keke, you didn’t have that kind of leeway. Your stance was unstable too.”
“This won’t do. Draw your sword! Let’s go another round right now!”
Lowell practically breathed fire.
I spread my legs to match her height and desperately calmed her down.
Lowell soon cooled off. After all, what mattered now wasn’t fighting, but the deal.
“You provide the information first. It might be useless. I can give you hundreds of these proofs, so share the info first.”
Lowell’s attitude was utterly firm. Here, I’d yield once.
There wasn’t much time left, after all.
‘She helped Luna grow, too.’
I sorted through in my head which information was okay to share and which wasn’t, then opened my mouth.
“The Second Legion Commander is currently in the north.”
“The north? Exact location?”
“I don’t know that. But it’s definitely north of Lionheart Castle.”
“What’s he doing there?”
“Recovering. It wasn’t a complete descent.”
Lowell brightened. It was positive information.
“I thought it was strange. Summoning a legion commander requires a massive number of souls.”
There hadn’t been any war back then, let alone a city turned into a massacre site.
There weren’t enough souls to summon the legion commander, so he ended up with a half-baked descent.
It meant we didn’t have to worry until the next sacrifice was secured.
But it wasn’t entirely good news.
“So the one we fought wasn’t at 100%…”
“If they secure enough souls, a full descent is possible.”
“Then we go north and kill him before that.”
Fair point. The Second Legion Commander was basically half-dead right now.
But there was one big problem.
“What about the Erosion?”
“Ah…”
Lowell sighed.
Right. Erosion was the issue. From Lionheart Castle, the former first defense line, to Gorgon Castle, the second.
All of them were completely overtaken by Erosion.
“Even riding a wyvern, it’s a three-day trip. Going even further north? Impossible.”
“Damn… In the end, we have no choice but to wait until he descends.”
“There should be a way to remove the Erosion.”
“Do you know how?”
Lowell perked up and asked.
A way to remove Erosion. Of course…
“If I knew how, would I be sitting here like this?”
“…”
Thwack!!
Lowell punched my head with her fist.
I had no idea why she hit me. I’d just stated a fact.
‘Removing Erosion is impossible.’
‘For now,’ at least.
I rubbed the bump and shut my mouth. It wasn’t time to share that information yet.
“But how do you know our family’s secret?”
The secret that the Lucid family had contracted with a demon.
Lowell’s doubt was natural.
Everyone who knew about the incident, including the blood alliance, had signed the demon contract Duke Luke offered that day.
A one-sided contract where divulging the Lucid family’s secret in any way meant death.
There had been a few deaths since, but investigations showed they were accidents or natural causes.
‘But since I know the secret, she has to be on guard.’
In case there’s a loophole in the contract that needs plugging.
“I mentioned that at the beginning too. It’s something only I could do, so no need to worry.”
“Would you not worry if you were me? If it’s only you who can do it, then tell me. Just tell me!”
“Keke, that’s tricky. It’s a trade secret.”
“Argh! This guy!”
Lowell’s fist trembled.
I braced myself for the impending blow, shrinking back.
That’s when Lowell dropped a bombshell.
“In exchange, introduce me to the demon you contracted with.”
“Yes?”
“I don’t know what kind of contract it was, but you’re borrowing demon power, right? From what I’ve seen, the risks aren’t that high… Introduce me too.”
Lowell scratched her head vigorously.
She seemed to think my strength came from a demon contract.
“No. I haven’t contracted with any demon.”
“What? Then how are you so strong?”
“Keke, who knows. Maybe it’s a demon’s talent?”
Meaning I possessed talent on that insane level.
Lowell stared at me for a moment, then spoke.
“…What nonsense. Got academy fever?”
Academy fever? What’s that?
After thinking for a bit, I realized.
It was this world’s equivalent of chuunibyou.
“Tsk tsk, these days’ kids…”
And just like that, I became the brat with chuunibyou.
–TL Notes–
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All the Lester technique are so cool
Luna Lester familt sword technique should be B-rank at this point,Would she never have learn it if Lowel never taught her?
Also so the reason a 9-star knight was able to fight with second legion commander on even footing was because he was incomplete then? That would explain the difference in performance between this guy and the juggernaunt fifth legion commander