Puk!
The swung down sword, the sword covered in sheath to be exact, was blocked by Stein’s arm and made a blunt sound. It seemed Ryan finally realized his sword was covered in sheath. His eyes shuddered.
‘What is this? Why is the sheath there?’
He didn’t think about the sheath issue for long. Mad to the core, Stein’s face was red. His face came into Ryan’s field of view.
“I am disappointed, Ryan. Considering what happened with Oluli, it is not like I never thought this could happen, but to think you would do this instead of Lloyd…”
Even more agitated by what his father said, as if he thought he couldn’t let himself to be stopped like this now, Ryan started to inject mana into the sword.
Becoming of the Strong-Sword title…
It was to swing the sword like this and cut the target without being blocked by anything.
However…
“I’ll command you for the surprise attack. However, your method is no different from that of an assassin.”
With violent look on his face, Stein also poured in mana into his arm and threw off the sword to the side before Ryan’s sword edge could become sharp.
“Kuk?”
“To call you an assassin, compared to your upper body, your lower body is lacking in strength.”
As if it was Stein’s final expression of love for his son who tried to commit sin, Stein pointed out Ryan’s faults as a skilled swordsman observing a lesser skilled swordsman. Stein tripped Ryan’s legs and made him fall.
“Lloyd would not have such weak lower body.”
“Uuu… Uuuuuuu……!”
“Just because you received the title of Strong-Sword!”
Ryan fell to side. Stein stepped on Ryan’s shoulder and neutralized him. Looking down at Ryan, Stein said,
“You only trained your upper body!”
As if he was still trying to swing the sword, Stein’s eldest son was crumping his face. Stein kicked Ryan’s wrist with his remaining foot and continued to point out Ryan’s faults.
“That’s why you are in this predicament!”
“Kuuu!”
The sword left Ryan’s hand, and Stein quickly kicked away the sword. He then quickly put his hand down, grabbed Ryan’s head and smashed it to the floor.
Crack!
It was an incredibly hard smash. Along with that violent sound, the floor where Ryan lied cracked.
“…”
“Choose. Die here or get kicked out.”
It seemed Ryan was having difficulty talking. Ryan stuttered as he grabbed on to the tip of his father’s pants.
“F… Father…”
“Choose.”
It seems looking at his son grabbing on like this reminded Stein about kicking out Oluli, his first wife, during the last spring. Stein slightly furrowed his brows.
“…”
“Choose.”
As if this was his last display of mercy, Stein spoke with strength carried in his voice.
“… Kuuk.”
Ryan only had one option.
Being kicked out.
Just like what Oluli choose last spring.
“…”
Without saying anything, Stein withdrew his hand that was pressing down Ryan’s face and got up. Ryan struggled and got up. His tight fists were shaking.
‘We will see about this.’
Ryan mumbled like that inside. He grabbed the Iphalleta insignia on his clothes and tore it out. He laid it down on the floor and turned around.
“C… Count.”
“Ian…”
Stein watched the back of Ryan who was leaving the mansion. Feeling the gaze on himself, Stein faced Ian who was vacantly staring at him while standing on the corridor.
“Did you do that?”
“Pardon? Ah, that is…”
Stein looked at Ryan’s sword rolling on the floor, the sword covered in sheath to be exact, and asked. Ian pursed his lips and looked at the corner behind him.
“That is…”
Ian thought about what Riley said earlier when he charged out of the corner. Riley snatched Ian’s sword and said ‘I’ll borrows this for a moment.’ Ian broke cold sweat and said,