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Chapter 42: Consistent Fool (3)
“Huh?”
Did he hear my voice?
Berald, who was holding the crumpled door in one hand with a triumphant expression, turned his gaze towards me.
His eyes sparkled like stars when he saw me.
“Well, isn't this Brother Dale?!”
Berald shouted loudly as he approached me.
“Hehe. I've been hearing rumors about you everywhere lately… What on earth happened?”
Berald was the only one who had a connection with me before my return.
‘Well, it wasn't a good connection, to be honest.’
We first met during the seasonal remedial classes last year when we both failed one of the essential liberal arts courses, "Principles and Understanding of Magic."
They say that fools recognize each other.
He was known as the disgrace of the Ryu family, and I, being a perennial bottom-rank candidate, naturally gravitated towards him.
“They say you knocked out Professor Lucas with one punch, brought the next Sword of the Holy Kingdom to her knees with a gesture….”
Berald trailed off, as if even he couldn’t believe what he was saying.
“I also heard that during the recent demonic beast incident, you single-handedly cut down dozens of demonic beasts… Is that true?”
“Well, some of it.”
“Some of it? So, those rumors aren't completely false?”
Berald's eyes widened in disbelief.
Of course, I understood better than anyone how absurd those rumors must have sounded to someone who knew me before.
“Did you find some kind of magical potion in the mountains or something?”
“Not exactly…”
I pondered how to explain it to him in a way he'd accept, but quickly concluded that I didn’t need to complicate things.
“Let’s just say I had an epiphany, something like that.”
“An epiphany!”
Berald's eyes gleamed with excitement as he exclaimed.
An epiphany.
It was often used to describe the sudden growth of a hero who had been stuck at a bottleneck.
‘Honestly, it’s a ridiculous excuse.’
No matter how much of an epiphany you had, it’s still unbelievable for someone who was at the bottom rank throughout school to suddenly grow strong enough to beat up a professor.
But…
‘Berald won’t question my words.’
It wasn’t because he was stupid, nor was it because he had a naive personality that didn’t suspect others.
The reason I believed he wouldn’t doubt my words was simple.
“Ah! I knew it! I always believed you could do it, Brother!”
He exclaimed, puffing out his chest and clenching his fists.
“…Really?”
“Of course! Didn’t I always say that from the moment we first met? I knew you were destined to become a great hero!”
Indeed.
This guy had always had this inexplicable belief in me.
I had no idea what he saw in me that made him so confident.
Even when I graduated at the bottom of the class in my previous life, Berald stood firm in his belief.
- Don’t worry! I know you’ll become a great hero one day!
It was a pure belief, without any evidence or logic.
That’s why I thought he wouldn’t question my absurd excuse of having an epiphany and suddenly becoming stronger.
“Haha! I feel so relieved now! You must’ve gone through so much, Brother!”
“Yeah, thanks, man.”
Berald patted me on the shoulder, grinning as if he had experienced the epiphany himself.
After a while, his gaze shifted to the person standing beside me.
“By the way, who’s this?”
“Oh, this is Juliet Kang. He’s my friend.”
“Ah, so he’s your friend! Nice to meet you. I’m Berald Ryu!”
Berald said with a big grin, extending his large hand.
“Oh? Uh, hi. I’m Juliet.”
“Hehe. How did you meet Brother Dale?”
“…Well, that’s…”
Juliet’s expression stiffened.
I smirked and turned on my Hero Watch.
“Let’s see… He has a rather unique hobby, you know?”
“Ah! No, don’t!”
As soon as the Hero Watch screen lit up, Juliet screamed in panic.
I laughed while looking at Juliet, who was on the verge of tears.
“Why?”
“What do you mean, why?! You promised to keep that a secret!”
“Hm? What kind of hobby would make you so nervous?”
“N-nothing! Really!”
Juliet quickly changed the subject.
“Anyway, you're Berald Ryu… The same ‘Ryu’ family as Headmaster Lionel, right?”
Thunder God Lionel Ryu.
He was ranked third in the Hero Rankings of the Three Nations and also the headmaster of the Hero Academy.
“The Ryu… family, huh?”
For a moment, Berald’s face hardened.
But it was only for a brief moment.
Soon, he was back to his usual cheerful self, smiling broadly.
“Yes, but I’m from a branch family, so I don’t have much connection with Headmaster Lionel.”
“Oh, I see. Still, it’s impressive to be part of the Ryu family.”
Juliet looked at Berald with admiration.
Juliet’s family was also prestigious enough to command respect within the Republic, but it couldn’t compare to the Ryu family.
The Ryu family was often mentioned alongside the Bastian family of the Empire, known for producing exceptional mages.
They were a renowned and ancient family that had established their reputation even before people from the world of "Korea" had crossed over to the Republic 500 years ago.
“…Is that so?”
Berald smiled bitterly and trailed off.
Juliet didn’t seem to notice, but I could see right through Berald’s feelings with my memories of the past life.
‘He wouldn’t be too happy to hear praise for his family.’
Berald had grown up being severely ridiculed by his family for his inability to handle magic properly.
‘Especially since he was from a branch family, and his magical skills were subpar.’
That’s how he earned the nickname “Disgrace of the Ryu Family.”
A family known for producing great mages for generations, yet he was stuck as a brute.
‘No wonder we got along so well in our previous lives.’
A bottom-rank hero and the disgrace of a prestigious family.
What a fitting combination.
“But anyway.”
This time, Berald changed the subject.
"Did you have lunch before coming out?"
"Yeah. What about you?"
"Heh heh. I just finished a hearty meal myself."
Berald patted his thick belly with his large hand.
"What did you eat?"
"Of course, stir-fried pork."
"You're a man of taste."
"Heh heh. Did you have stir-fried pork too, brother?"
Berald smiled at me with a big grin, and I nodded readily.
"If you're a citizen of the Republic, it's gotta be stir-fried pork."
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"Ha ha ha! You and I really are on the same wavelength, brother!"
Berald let out a hearty laugh and wrapped his arm around my shoulder.
He started bouncing around as if dancing with his arm around me.
It wasn't the most pleasant sensation, thanks to his rock-hard muscles.
'This brings back memories.'
Back when we wandered the continent to stop the revival of the Demon God, alongside our comrades.
We would gather around the campfire, arms slung around each other, and down drinks like there was no tomorrow.
-Come on, brother! Down this drink in one go!
-Alright! Let's drink until we drop dead tonight!
-Ha ha ha! Even if you die, brother, you'll come back to life, won't you?
-You all know we have to get up early tomorrow, right?
-Hey~ don't be so stiff. Yuren, come join us for a drink!
-Berald, shut your mouth. You're disturbing my reading.
-Well, if you stay up late reading like that, it's no wonder Sophia isn't growing taller, is it?
-Do you want to die, Berald?
-Heh heh. Everyone, drink in moderation. As Yuren said, we need to get up early tomorrow.
-Heh heh. So, will you be sleeping in brother's tent tonight too, sister-in-law?
-Oh my, that's another story altogether.
-Ha ha ha! How can single men survive this jealousy?
We were drinking and chatting away, with Berald and me guzzling down alcohol, Yuren quietly scolding us, and Sophia reading a book in the corner.
And there was Iris, smiling warmly as she watched over us.
Just an ordinary moment, nothing special.
Yet an infinitely precious page of memories, now torn away.
"...Tsk."
I clicked my tongue briefly at the memories that came to mind.
'I can't keep wallowing in the past forever.'
If the pages of my memories have been torn away,
All I need to do is create new ones.
'I have the chance to do that now.'
I looked at Berald, who was smiling brightly, and my eyes gleamed sharply.
Judging by his hearty laughter, he may seem like someone living without a care in the world.
'But only those who don't know Berald would think that.'
I know.
Only I know.
How much he suppresses himself beneath that hearty laughter.
"Ha ha. By the way, awakening... It seems I won't need to take remedial classes with you anymore, brother."
Berald continued with a bitter smile.
"It's embarrassing to admit, but... I think I might fail again this time."
"The semester's just started. You’ve got plenty of time."
"Heh heh. That's true."
A deep sigh escaped from Berald's lips.
"I've been learning magic for years now, and I still can't even properly cast a simple magic bullet... Heh heh. If that's not a talent in itself, I don't know what is."
A self-deprecating smile.
"Anyway, it's a relief that at least you, brother, have seen the light this time."
"..."
I remained silent as I watched Berald droop his shoulders weakly.
'Come to think of it, Berald hasn't properly started his martial arts training at this point.'
He may have been throwing punches here and there,
But that was just brute force, relying on his natural strength.
It wasn't real martial arts.
'This is perfect timing.'
I had been planning to go visit my comrades one by one, and now, of all times, I run into Berald.
If I borrow Iris's words, this must be what they call 'the guidance of the seven gods.'
'According to my original plan, I would sweet-talk Juliet to get enough gold for a private training room.'
But now, something much more important has come up.
"Hey, do you have any plans after this?"
"Hmm? No, nothing in particular."
"Good. Then..."
I grinned widely.
Suddenly,
Another memory from my past life flashed through my mind.
The memory of Berald teaching me martial arts.
Because I was so hopelessly uncoordinated, he had to repeat the same moves over and over, yet he never once uttered a word of complaint.
He always had that bright, hearty smile on his face,
And he silently guided me forward.
'In that case.'
Now it's
‘My turn to guide you.’
I smiled as I looked at Berald, and spoke.
"How about learning martial arts from me?"
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