The ambience is so hot it boils my blood.
I want to cry but my body is being forced to stand in an arrogance stance! Those who had the guts to debate with Salsaal all have red countenances, faces that say they would all like to run towards me and strangle me to death. However, Salsaal’s argument of ‘whoever uses violence is an idiot’ seems to be working. If words could turn into swords then all of us would’ve been ma.s.sacred ages ago…
“To-be Duke Bedivere has such a sharp mouth…”, Gla.s.ses Arian who has great resilience said sarcastically. “…But the real question is, are you only good with your mouth…”
My body, that is sitting leisurely with my feet on the table, raised an eyebrow and looked at Arian who was sitting next to me. In truth, this is Nigel’s place but Salsaal has seized it because Duncan had destroyed my seat.
“Oh…do you want to find out, Arian Galahad.”, a pair of golden eyes was lowered as a smile decorated the corners of my mouth.
“If you want to find out that badly…won’t you come test it out tonight?”
“Cough!”
Nigel coughed while I wanted to scream out loud.
That’s my body! My body!!
MINEEEEEEEEE!!
I don’t care who you will act like a seme towards but that person must be below the age of 10! A-And Arian don’t blush like that! You shouldn’t be blushing when a guy says that to you!
“…Le-Let me go…”
Don’t sound so weak like you’re not even trying to put up resistance! Where the h.e.l.l did your arrogant way of speaking go, Arian!
With Salsaal’s control, I smiled confidently, placed my fingers on Arian’s gla.s.ses and traced along it slowly. I could see the panic within Arian’s eyes…
“…Where would you like to go? Your room or my room?”
…Please stop this p.o.r.no-like conversation. You’re tainting my name, Salsaal… I wouldn’t want a letter to be sent to my parents saying their eldest son is going around collecting a harem. Think about how my lil’ bro or my parents would react, they wouldn’t be able to look me in the eye after this!
I could feel tears welling up inside…no…I don’t want a grandpa, please go find a shota instead…
“Stop fooling around, Gilbert, Arian.”
Before things took a turn for the worse, Haref, who has been sitting for a while, walked towards me and removed my hand from Arian’s gla.s.ses. Mr number-one-in-popularity turned towards the rest of the Dukes, “Duncan, I think the others have already discussed whether to remove Gilbert or not. Another thing, it’s beyond our powers to interfere with their decisions.”
“But he’s not suitable Haref Lancelot.”, Duncan protested. “Or is it because you’re close to him. That’s why you think he’s suitable? You…”
“When have I become such a moron? Duke Kay.”
There was no anger within his voice, even his face was decorated with a smile.
But none of us were able to utter a single word.
When Haref saw that no one spoke up, he closed his eyes and released my hand. “I never said he was suitable. At the same time, I don’t think he’s unsuitable…”
“Casue you’re close to him?”, Helenus raised his brow.
“Obviously not. But I’d like to ask all of you something…just because he is not capable of magic, just because of this, it makes all of you think he’s not suitable?”, a pair of rainbow-coloured eyes tranquilly looked at everyone. “Just because he does not have it, does it mean we have to drive him out?”
“…Magic is important, Haref.”, Arian met Haref’s eyes. “We have all inherited our powers from our ancestors, we need it in order to defend…”
“If magic is of such high importance then why are the positions in the Knights of the Round Table inherited and not selected? Why do we not choose students from other military schools with the highest magical ability?”, Haref smiled. “I don’t think magic’s the answer to everything.”
“…What are you trying to say, Haref Lancelot”, this time the voice was from Choux Gareth.
“We have all been taught ever since we were young. We were more mature than those of the same age. We knew what we should do or should not do…it is in our blood. It is our duty…”, Haref met everyone’s eyes. “We are confident, we are powerful but do you know? There are things that cannot be done alone.”
“That is why we have the Round Table – we are colleagues.” Helenus’ mouth curved into a smile. “But I still don’t understand what you are trying to lead us to, Haref.”
“I…respect Gilbert Bedivere.”
“What?!”, I could hear gasps coming from everyone, including me. I looked at Haref…Mr number-one-in-popularity, Salsaal’s not done something to your head right…
“What kind of joke is this…”
“How many people would there be who are prepared to sacrifice everything they own for someone else?”, before Duncan could continue, Haref interrupted him. His eyes were glistening with sincerity. “In my eyes, before he lost his magic, he was a good for nothing – born to a good household and has mediocre magical abilities. Gilbert has not put in any effort to better himself, even when he lost his magic, he did not change. It made me think…losing it or not losing it is the same for him.”
A smile faded from my face as I narrowed my eyes…I have to say, Haref is truly insightful. At that time, losing it or not did not matter to me at all because I was not interested. It was actually better for me to have lost it…I wanted to run away. I wouldn’t have to become a Duke if I didn’t have it…since that would make me die early.
…The me at that time merely wanted to be alive for as long as possible. Long enough so my she can live on, in my memories, for as long as possible…
“I don’t know the reason why he is like this. I won’t ask him why he’s not interested in becoming a Duke but the one thing I can say is…
…if I want to have a friend I can trust…the first person I will trust is you…
Not because we’ve been together ever since we were young but because of what you did. Although, you may not be interested, I am… You’ve sacrificed yourself for your younger brother while I would definitely not be able to – even if they were to be my father or mother…because, for me, the words ‘Duke Lancelot‘ are the most important…”
He was born to be a Duke…born to protect the Kingdom.
He was born as a certain person’s son…but if he had to choose between his family and the Kingdom, he will not hesitate to choose the later…
“Because…I was taught this.”
Because…we were all taught this.
Live for the Kingdom. Die for the Kingdom
Because we are like that…that’s why we are ‘powerful’.
“I never hated the fact that Gilbert was different, in fact, I actually liked it. If magic is the most important for all of you then for me, the most important thing is ‘all of you here’ and ‘trust’…
All of you here don’t have to be powerful because you have me.
All of you here don’t have to be smart because we have Arian.
All of us, we don’t have to be the best in everything but as long as we have unwavering trust in each other, and believe me…”
Haref curved his mouth into a smile.
“We are the best ever Knights of the Round Table!”
We don’t need to be the best. We don’t need to be the most powerful…
…but we have to ‘trust’ each other, that’s all…
The room became silent before everything….
“Amazing!!”, Duncan laughed. “Fantastic! As long as we have unwavering trust in each other?! That’s wonderful!!”
“…I’m not that happy since you called me the smartest, I know myself well…but…thank you…Haref.”, Arian adjusted his gla.s.ses.
“Well, well, well Mr to-be Duke Lancelot…sigh…”, Helenus faked a heavy sigh. “…if I had a younger sister, I would like her marry you…”
“Why don’t you do it yourself? You’ve got a nice face anyways, Helenus.”
“…Because I don’t want to die yet, Choux.”
Laughter..
…
In these kind of conditions, if you weren’t the main character, there’s no way you’ll be able to do this!
I blinked my eyes rapidly, looked down at the broken table in front of me and looked up to the others. The atmosphere is way better than before, everyone’s as happy as can be. It was as if Duncan’s axe that flew pa.s.s me was just a dream…
But sorry…I can remember it clearly so, Duncan, I’ll return the favour!
Your doujinshi will come out before SalRef’s, I swear on this!
Go and get mob raped!
I turned to Haref and raised an eyebrow. “…I only made them ‘realise’ the existence of the Knights of the Round Table. To me, no matter who they may be, they are worth something…”
“At that time you were right…”, I met Haref’s eyes, earnestly. “I wasn’t interested if my magic were to actually disappear…I didn’t even care.”
“And what if I asked you…if you can go back to that time, would you have done it?”
“Maybe not.”
Haref broke into a smile. “Believe me, you would do it all over again…even if we were to travel back into time, you would’ve done it since I know, what’s most important to you is not the Kingdom and the strangers who roam in it, but those who you are acquainted with.”
I sighed…and nodded willingly.
Yeah, what he said is correct.
I’m not a patriot, even if I were to be born into an important household. I can’t do something like die for my Kingdom but if you want to make me carry my family on my back as we run away…I’d rather do that. I’m not such a hero that I’ll do something for a stranger. In fact, I’m more biased towards those I am acquainted with and if they were to be the minority…
…I would not hesitate to abandon the majority for them.
“…I trust you.”
“I know.”
“…If I trust someone, I will have an unwavering trust in them…”, Haref held my hands. “…As long as they say it…I will trust in their every words but if I discover that they lied to me…I will not ever trust them again.”
“…”
“We, Lancelots, our likings are rather peculiar…”
His words made me think of d.u.c.h.ess Lancelot.
“…If we go hunting and take a liking to a prey, we will tease them: make them tremble slightly and cry: I think the prey’s cutest like that…”
…We’ve not seen each other for a whole year, in addition to maxing your main character skills, it seems like you’ve also accidentally upgraded your s.a.d.i.s.tic tendencies, Haref!
“But if the prey isn’t cute and if it were to also ‘bite my hand’, then…I will not kill it but I’ll beat it over and over again and make it know who’s more ‘powerful’. I have the power of light meaning I have the highest level of the healing spell…I will let it learn slowly, through pain…heal it when it’s hurt…and take my time to drill it in its head.”
Please don’t spurt SM-like sentences from your mouth…
Dear lil’ sis…how the h.e.l.l did you end up liking him!
Suddenly, I thought of what happened at that mechanism filled room where Nigel and I lied to Haref about Salsaal and the existence of the room…I stuffed the thought back to where it belonged. It’s not possible! Since Haref was asleep at that time…ok, we’re safe!
As Nigel popped up in my head, I looked over Haref’s shoulders and saw Nigel sitting still with his face facing towards the Round Table in front of him…with his hands clenched…
Although, everything resolved peacefully…Nigel did not seem the least bit happy at all…
Now that I think about it…I’ve just noticed, I’m able to speak and move my body freely, and Salsaal’s not in this room anymore…
When did he leave…
“Oh…Gilbert, if I recall correctly…when you talked to Arian, you said you weren’t only good with your mouth? What kind of training did you receive this past year?”
“Magic! History! Combat skills!”, I held my head up high. I’ve also become smarter!
“I want to know everything about you…so…”
A sweet smile decorated his face, his eyes curved into two crescent moons.
“Tonight at 9, won’t you come to my room? Gilbert Bedivere.”
I shrunk myself in the blink of an eye.
“…I-It’s best to catch up in the morning.”
After hearing you spurting SM-like sentences out, I don’t think I can trust you enough to stay alone with you at night.
[ Tea time behind the curtains –Mr s.a.d.i.s.tic man among men- ]
Gilbert: “I think if I were to go to your room, I would see things like chains, whips, hand cuffs and the like…”
Haref: “…My room is average: a desk, some of my belongings and for weapons, there’ll only be a sword.”
Gilbert: “Th-That’s a relief! Haref! I can still become a man among men…”
Haref: “Another thing, instead of using objects which look like real weapons, would it not be better to use objects that are disguised as harmless toys…huh”
Gilbert: “Don’t you dare come close to me!”