4-2 Part 1
Surpass Georg, the Memories Whisper
— The Older Brother and the Younger
Brother —
Translator : PolterGlast
Upon arriving at the barracks and training grounds, Georg
was also waiting for me in a state of perfect readiness. He didn't join in the
training or instruction as usual; he was simply standing imposingly, glaring
and lying in wait for my arrival.
Really, why has that kind older brother become like this?
When the status and duties of a Prince, a blessed talent for valor, and a kind
personality mix together, does one grow up like this?
“Ashley has come! Training suspended! Witness the
match!”
As I walked toward the training grounds, Brother made the
soldiers into spectators. Whether we liked it or not, attention gathered on
General Georg and mere Ashley.
“Brother, I said I wanted to have a match, but I didn't say
I wanted to stand out.”
“No, this is right. You should stand out. ...Listen! Ashley
says he will defeat me!”
When General Georg-sama shouted that, cheers of
excitement echoed along with secret laughter. Brother didn't stop it. Let them
laugh, he seemed to say, as he solemnly placed his hand on his training
longsword.
“Today, I will prove the strength of the Shovel to
you, Brother. Certainly, this may not be a weapon. But, after all, I have no
talent other than this. With this Shovel, I will defeat the
strongest sword of the Imperial Army!”
“Just what I wanted! Then show me!”
Although he has become strict, Brother's essence hasn't
changed. If he were just a strict general, he wouldn't be this adored by his
soldiers. Strict because of kindness; Brother has grown into that kind of
adult.
Holding just one Shovel, I waited for my brother's
attack. If I am to play the card of an AGI 77 step-in, it is more
convenient to let him take the initiative.
In muscle strength (STR) and combat experience, I am
greatly inferior. But AGI (Agility) is likely equal, and I have the
advantage in dexterity (DEX) and stamina (VIT). Suppressing my
heartbeat, which was rising from tension, the impatient Georg finally
stepped in.
The opening blow was a direct overhead slash. From there, a
fierce barrage of follow-up attacks ensued, which the challenger, Ashley, skillfully parried. To achieve
such growth in so short a span of time—even Older Brother Georg widened his
eyes in astonishment.
“First abnormal stamina, and now technique and explosive
speed? Impossible. What kind of magic did you use, Ashley?”
“Ah, I acted exactly as a certain book instructed, and that
is how the magic occurred.”
“Don't speak nonsense. Is there such a convenient
instruction manual? That which you have is not something obtained by learning.”
“It exists, so it can't be helped. Tsk—!”
Even Brother Georg understands that a long battle
will be to my advantage. What just happened was a warm-up; from here on, he was
serious. Brother Georg's fierce strikes assailed me.
“You endure it?! Is it really you, Ashley!”
“To catch up to you, I crossed dangerous bridges like my
life depended on it.”
I also unleashed feint attacks to buy time. Parrying the
longsword, heavy as lead, with my Shovel, I waited for Brother to tire.
That monster strength. With each blow, scratches appeared on
the iron Shovel.
“I can't break through—Why? What happened, Ashley?
Such growth is impossible...”
“I agree. But it happened. I've stopped just being protected
by you and Sister! I will surpass you, Brother, and reassure you both!”
“Tsk... During a match! Do not say things... that
dampen the fighting spirit!”
“You're right, sorry.”
Brother rubbed his eyes. Perhaps sweat happened to get into
them. Me trying to drag it into a long battle, and Brother desiring a short
decisive battle; from the start, the amount of stamina consumption is
different.
“But I am also an Imperial General! If I lose to you, it
will affect morale! I'm settling this, Ashley!”
“That will be after you're out of breath.”
Brother's serious explosive speed surpassed mine. The sound
of fierce strikes, which I was barely able to
counter, echoed throughout the training grounds. No one laughed at me anymore;
the soldiers watched with bated breath.
There was a series of close calls, but I didn't lose to
Brother's fierce onslaught. I almost dropped my Shovel and almost fell,
but somehow I held my ground and finally wore him down to the point where his
breathing became heavy and ragged.
“Now I shall borrow words from another world: It's my turn. Here I come, Brother Georg!”
“Haa, haa, come! But I... won't lose to you yet!”
Against the older
brother who had finally become exhausted, the younger brother who had been
hidden in the tower went on the offensive. The opponent is a genius who became
a general at a young age, a veteran warrior. If I let my guard down, the tables
will be turned.
Brother persisted. Even if his breathing is disordered,
Brother is a man of iron. He doesn't crumble easily. Even so, my advantage can
no longer be overturned. I cornered him until Brother's mind and body reached
their limits.
“Ashley...”
“Brother Georg, please prepare yourself—”
However, the opponent is a genius after all. Unlike me, who
cheated with the Tome of the Evil Dragon, he has accumulated over ten
years of sword experience.
Just one more step. I cornered him to just one more step.
But there, my Shovel buckled and bent.
Did he aim for this? Further damage accumulated on the
scratch Georg put on the Shovel that day, and it seemed to have
finally reached its limit.
If I hadn't been stingy and changed it for a new one, I might
have won the match. Despite winning, Brother didn't point his longsword at me
but returned it to the scabbard at his waist.
“...Ashley, it's my loss.”
Brother said, bending at the waist and still breathing
heavily. Is that so? I don't feel satisfied. Isn't Brother's victory a victory?
“Wrong. It is the loss of me, who neglected tool
maintenance. Despite being stubborn about the Shovel, I couldn't do the
essential thing. I am still no match for you, Brother.”
“Stubborn guy. I'm saying it's your win. You defeated the
Imperial General Georg.”
The soldiers seemed troubled by the brothers having a
strange argument. It was a good match. But the ending is clumsy, as neither
admits victory.
“This match goes to you, Ashley. But next
time won't be like this; next time, I will win.”
“Don't decide on your own... Oi, that's abuse of
authority...”
When Georg declares it, the match is over. The
soldiers celebrated the conclusion of the match with applause. No, that was
wrong. There was someone in cahoots with Georg. Sister Atomina.
Following Sister's applause, everyone in the barracks, the
imperial guards, cheered loudly. Sister Atomina, it seems she was hiding
and watching everything.
“To compete with General Georg! I've re-evaluated
you, Ashley-sama!”
“Please have a match with me next time!”
“Winning with a Shovel, I can't believe it~!”
Brother is adored. I was officially recognized for my valor
by that brother, and I knew the soldiers' view of me had changed. Sister Atomina
jumped out from the shadows of the barracks toward us.
“I was watching, Ashley! Beating Georg, that's
amazing!”
“What are you saying? I didn't win.”
“No, you won. You defeated me.”
Despite being in the position of the Fifth Prince, what a
stubborn personality. I looked up at Georg's sullen face and sighed at
the completely changed stubborn man.
He wasn't like this in the past; he used to be a gentle man
befitting a Prince...
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