Side Story 2

The two arrived at the auditorium where the children were, just before the morning classes began.

The children, who were called ‘the problematic children,’ were actually unable to participate in morning classes.

“This way.”

Swordsmanship Professor Shubian opened the auditorium door.

And.

“Oh…”

Rodella couldn’t help but be impressed by the sight inside.

She instinctively knew that if they didn’t get the initial approach right, this would not be an easy task.

This was because.

“Ugh! Did you throw that at me?”

“No, it was a fragment that flew off!”

“You threw that earlier, too!”

“I didn’t throw it, I accidentally kicked it!”

“Can’t you see this bruise here?”

From children pulling each other’s hair and fighting, to children huddled and trembling in a corner.

Some children were touching things inside the auditorium out of boredom, but they were all…

—Crack! Snap!

…breaking them.

The commonality among all these children was that there were traces of something broken around them.

It seemed this was not going to be an easy education.

“Hmm.”

Rodella carefully closed the auditorium door as she entered and fell into thought.

The reason why the knights’ force control education had been relatively smooth was that they had a habit of unconsciously trying to control their strength.

Not only that, but as they got older, they had developed their own know-how, and they knew how to use their strength strongly.

However, these children lacked that experience.

“These are children who have caused both small and large accidents in various parts of the empire and have entered the academy.”

Professor Shubian said.

“They are children for whom there was a limit to learning how to control their strength at home.”

It made sense. They must have broken everything in their homes, and it would have been even more difficult to handle, especially in commoner households.

“But after the recent rebellion incident, they gathered at the academy as stories about Duke Royden spread.”

Seeing that Aivert Royden, who had a reputation for breaking everything around him when he was young, was now living a normal life, people must have had hope.

“That’s why we hoped you would give a special lecture.”

Rodella understood why Professor Shubian had greeted Aivert so warmly.

Since the children’s physical strength was the problem, it was Professor Shubian who had to be close to them.

He, who must have watched the despair and hope of the children and their guardians, must have sent such an earnest letter.

[…Dozens of children who cannot control their strength and break things around them have gathered. Would you please help these children live their daily lives with confidence?]

Rodella recalled the letter he had sent.

Indeed, there were countless young Aiverts in this auditorium.

“Let go of me!”

“You started it!”

“I told you I didn’t mean to!”

People tend to react sharply when they are in danger.

If children can’t control their strength and hurt people, those people will treat the children harshly.

Children who have only received such treatment either become timid or grow up with a sharp personality.

Such children had gathered here.

“It’s like seeing you when you were young.”

Aivert was surprisingly(?) on the timid side.

Then, when he could control his strength later, his personality got worse, which was a strange case.

…They won’t be like that, will they?

“I wasn’t this bad.”

Aivert made an excuse beside her, but Rodella just smiled.

Rodella, who moved along the wall of the auditorium to avoid the children, picked up a bell that was sitting in a corner.

“Hmm…”

If she rang the bell, they would look, but if she just started a training for strength control, it would backfire.

Then she had to get friendly with the children first. That meant she had to be a ‘safe’ person for the children to play with.

“Aivert, can I ask you for something?”

“What is it?”

Aivert was watching the children with his arms crossed, preventing them from approaching him.

Did they feel his presence? Even though they were children who could send most adults flying with their strength, they couldn’t easily approach him.

“Play with the children and tire them out.”

With just those words, Aivert seemed to have figured out Rodella’s intention.

“Alright.”

Aivert looked around at the children and then held out his hand to Rodella.

“Give me the bell.”

Rodella silently handed over the bell, and as Professor Shubian watched them.

As soon as Aivert took the bell.

—Clang!! Clang!! Clang!!

He began ringing the bell with a tremendous sound.

Rodella was startled and covered her ears, but it was successful in getting their attention.

She saw that even as they were fighting, they didn’t let go of each other’s hands while turning to look at Aivert in surprise, so ringing the bell timidly would have had no effect.

“Everyone, listen up. Want to have a match with me?”

At his words, the children looked at each other.

Then, the largest child took a few steps toward Aivert.

“A match? Are you confident?”

The children seemed to be divided into three groups, including that child.

The children who were acting conceitedly with the large child, saying Aivert would get hurt.

On the other hand.

“It’s going to hurt a lot…”

The timid children who were worried about him. And finally.

“Is that person…?”

The children who seemed to recognize Aivert.

But they all didn’t seem to be able to judge if Aivert was really a strong person and if he wouldn’t get hurt even after having a match with them.

“I was the same as you when I was little.”

He threw the bell on the floor and clenched and unclenched his hands.

“Just a touch would crack a building pillar, and anyone I accidentally brushed against would get a broken bone and be carried away.”

At his words, the children flinched.

Seeing that some children were especially interested, they must have had similar experiences.

“But I’m not like that now. That doesn’t mean I’ve gotten weaker, though, hmm.”

Aivert knew well how to provoke the children’s fighting spirit.

“If you defeat me in a match, I’ll grant each of you one wish.”

“Mister and all of us?”

At the word ‘mister,’ Aivert quickly turned to the child.

“…Yes.”

‘Why did you reply a beat late? You’re okay, right? You’re not going to let your personal feelings get in the way, are you?’

In front of the somehow anxious Rodella, the conversation between the children and Aivert continued.

“How can we trust you? You’ll just scream in pain if you get defeated.”

It was the large child from before.

Aivert laughed.

“I won’t. If I scream, you get two extra wishes.”

The child seemed satisfied(?) with the condition.

“Me too!”

“Me too!”

The children who were full of energy, who could throw even a grown man, gathered around Aivert.

“You can use weapons, it’s fine. I won’t.”

Aivert held out both hands.

Then the children looked at each other.

Just then, a timid-looking child asked.

“Y-you’re just going to punish us after you say you’ll grant our wishes, right?!”

“The kids are full of distrust.”

Aivert dusted off his hands and pointed to Professor Shubian.

“He will be your witness. He didn’t come here to scold you today.”

Aivert had a rough idea of the relationship between Professor Shubian and the children.

Other professors had practically isolated the children here, but Professor Shubian had been concerned enough to send a letter for the children himself.

There was no way the relationship between him and these children was bad.

Even if it was bad, there would be enough trust for him to be a witness to this ‘match.’

These children must have learned to distinguish between people who would take their side even if they caused an accident and those who wouldn’t, from an early age.

At Aivert’s words, the children’s gazes turned to Professor Shubian.

“I promise.”

Professor Shubian said in a gentle voice.

Of course, this promise could only be made because the children’s opponent was Aivert.

There was no way he would get hurt.

Just as a sense of tension filled the children, Aivert snapped his fingers.

“It’s just a match in name, I just want to play with you.”

“Hmph.”

The large child scoffed at his words and stomped toward him.

Even though he was big, when he got close to Aivert, he had to look far up at him.

But the child didn’t seem to mind and held out his hand.

As if to shake hands.

Aivert gladly took his hand.

And.

“!”

The child put all his strength into his hand.