WeTried Translations
Translator: Goku
Editor: Sty
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The War Hero in the NTR Game Wants to Die ◈
Chapter 006
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Fading Dream (5)
"And you, who still possess meager magic and have all but given up on training......"
The family head, who always wore a sword at his waist even when seated in his office, rose from his seat.
The air in the room seemed to settle.
I couldn't meet his eyes.
Even if not me, Riehen couldn't meet his eyes.
It felt like my body, from the nape of my neck to my spine, was stiffening rigidly.
"It seems you've grown overconfident, simply because you cut down a few worm-like foreign races on the battlefield."
Because Riehen had always been afraid of this man.
The memory of him sometimes overseeing sword practice, and if dissatisfied, beating me with a wooden sword until my bones shattered... then, if I couldn't get up, calling a priest to heal me and resuming training, flashed through my mind.
Even though I hadn't experienced it directly... a strange sense of shittiness crept up.
And fear rose before the shittiness.
I hate being scared.
Not that anyone would like it.
"...May I ask why you summoned me?"
The family head picked up an envelope with a luxurious seal, waved it, and spoke in a low voice.
"This is a ball invitation sent by the Monbern ducal family. They did write that they wanted to invite you, a hero of the front lines... but everyone knows that the Monbern Marquis has a wild youngest daughter."
"......"
"Arrangements have mostly been made, so just show your face and come back."
Thinking about it now, this man just took out his anger on a child.
He simply beat the child born under him until his bones shattered, raised him up again, and shattered him repeatedly, all because the child didn't meet his expectations.
Someone who was a Sword Saint couldn't possibly have failed to recognize talent.
"Is there really… any reason for me to go?
"Do you think you have a choice?"
Fucking bastard.
This man, I think, must be below average even for the Middle Ages.
My lips were stiff, and no words came out.
It's not like my head would fly off just for swearing a bit... but my mouth refused to move.
My body remembered fear.
My head felt dull, as if it were someone else's business, but my knees trembled on their own.
It was around a week after being deployed to the front lines.
When my body stiffened like this, sometimes I died truly horribly.
The foreign races seemed to hold quite a deep grudge against us.
Once, I was dragged around, then impaled on a pillar and slowly skinned, dying with my eyes rolled back.
Although they lacked the skill to skin me as cleanly, they did something similar, which turned it from a fearful memory into a shitty one, but ever since, I always carry a dagger in my pocket.
Because I have to overcome fear.
Or perhaps, because I have to run away from what frightens me.
People aren't as strong as one might think.
If you experience pain several times... your heart collapses.
So, rather than being in great pain... it's better to choose the path of less pain.
And now, I was extremely scared.
"I haven't disciplined you directly for a while, so you've become quite insolent."
This time, too, I pulled out a dagger from my pocket.
I stabbed it into my neck and drew it across.
Then, when I pulled out the blade, blood gushed out like a fountain.
Very dark red.
Only after the blood splattered on the middle-aged man's face did a look of bewilderment rise on his otherwise expressionless face.
"H-ugh, ugh, h-ugh......"
With the sound of blood gurgling up my throat, my legs gave out, and I slammed my head into the floor.
My vision turned red, then black.
『Riehen, isn't this flower fragrant? It's a flower from Mom's hometown. I pestered your father all day long, so he sent someone to bring the entire garden to me. He may always speak harshly, but isn't your father... truly affectionate?』
[Synchronization Rate Increased! 0.01%↑]
I was back.
With a feeling as if the sensation still lingered, I lightly traced my neck and spoke in a low voice.
"I haven't disciplined you directly for a while, so you've become quite insolent."
"...How about we cross swords for old times' sake? If you win, I'll comply willingly."
After seeing blood once, I could at least meet his eyes.
The family head remained silent for a long time.
And, as if his deliberation was over, he opened his mouth in a low voice.
"It wouldn't be bad to teach you your place after a long while."
The Head of the family slowly drew his sword.
"Draw your sword. I'll grant you the first move."
No sooner had he finished speaking than I drew my sword and swung it straight at his neck.
The family head lightly deflected my sword to the right, then struck my wrist with the flat of his blade.
Then he kicked my chest with all his might.
It felt like a few ribs had broken.
A metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.
"Didn't I always tell you, if you lack even talent, live within your station...... huh?"
Instead of replying, I picked up the dagger again and held it to my neck.
The family head's words died in the air.
『They say that no one in this mansion has ever grown up loving or being loved. Living with iron will... is the motto of the Gryan family, you know... But look. Even your father smiles at your mother sometimes because he keeps reaching out to her. Riehen, when your younger sibling is born, please make this child smile too.』
[Synchronization Rate Increased! 0.01%↑]
Usually, when I die, I return to about thirty seconds to a minute before my death.
Sometimes I go back even further, but I don't know the criteria.
I've died hundreds of times trying to discern any differences, but all I've learned is that I at least return to a point where a solution is possible.
The only new thing I've learned recently is that something like affection increased when Rione turned my head into pulp.
Anyway, Father is holding his sword at an angle.
So that he can deflect my sword at any time.
This time too, I aimed for his neck and swung horizontally.
The sword, without fail, slid down to the lower right.
However, this time, I dodged the incoming kick with all my might, then diagonally drew the sword that had slid to the right, from bottom to top.
I thought it was a pretty decisive blow, but it seemed to be nothing special to a Sword Saint.
The family head grabbed my right wrist, which held the sword, twisted it, and then punched me in the solar plexus.
I fell to my knees, then drew the dagger with my twisted hand.
With trembling hands, I placed the tip of the blade on the floor, then threw my body onto it.
"To discuss swords in front of me after growing only this much... what in the......"
"Ugh, cough, uh-cough... Huh, co-ugh......"
I needed to pull the knife out to end it faster, but I couldn't put any strength into the hand holding the hilt.
I trembled for a long time, then went limp.
『Riehen, don't hate your father too much. After all... he's someone who has difficulty expressing love.』
[Synchronization Rate Increased! 0.01%↑]
She's not my mother... so it probably doesn't matter if I don't listen to her.
Even if she were my mother, I'd hope she'd think I just had a late puberty.
After living this long, it's only natural to have a rebellious phase, isn't it?
Because you, who gave birth to a son in a world like this, are not entirely blameless either.
Since thoughts like these only come during puberty, I hope you'll accept them moderately.
Again, I aimed for his neck and swung horizontally.
The sword, as expected, would slide to the right, so I applied the same force and diagonally brought it down.
Next, a kick flew in.
I slapped away the hand reaching to grab my wrist with my left hand, and just as I was about to aim the sword tip at his neck.
The family head's sword swung with abnormal speed.
Carried by a blue aura.
The sword energy cut through my blade like tofu, and the family head kicked me back.
With a somewhat bewildered expression.
It seemed he was going to kick me again, so I put up my arm... and it felt broken.
Still, an arm heals quickly if you spit on it.
Even as I coughed, slammed against the wall, the corners of my mouth curled up involuntarily.
"It seems you've grown old, old enough to be defeated by even the Gryan family's trash without magic."
"If you had... shown such a side... much earlier... I would never have abandoned you."
When I sneered without answering, the family head's face slowly contorted.
After letting out a cough, I continued speaking.
"A person who is the Head of the Gryan family, who used to suppress with strength, now resorts to such cowardly excuses when abilities become similar......"
A cough erupted, cutting off my words for a moment.
"You are pathetic."
"......"
"Mother must have been disgusted by someone like you too."
At the mention of Mother, the family head flinched.
Without even thinking of a reply.
"That's why she died from a mental illness, didn't she?"
She died giving birth to Rione, but when speaking, the truth isn't really important.
The family head seemed to have cherished mother quite a bit.
Judging by the appearance I saw briefly while dying.
"......What is it you want to hear from me now?"
"I'll listen to your words one last time, so stop toying with me now."
Saying so, I stood up.
And then, staggering, I walked over to the ball invitation lying on the office desk and tucked it into my pocket.
"Isn't it enough that you sent your wife's treasure to hell and turned him into this state?"
"......"
Leaving behind the family head's persistent gaze that clung to my back, I walked out of the office.
My hand was trembling.
Not my hand, but Riehen's hand.
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