Chapter 293: Have You Thought About Why?
This was already the third time Kurogane Ikki and Kurogane Itsuki had fallen into silence.
The first time had been plain.
The second time had been tense.
And this third time was heavy.
However, the heavy atmosphere did not last for too long.
Kurogane Itsuki also seemed to understand that asking his son to immediately accept his ideals was not realistic.
No matter who it was, they would not so easily give up more than ten years of effort from childhood to now.
So he took the initiative to end this conversation between father and son.
At the very end, before Ikki left, he left him with one sentence as the conclusion of this talk.
"Ikki, if you figure it out, then give up on becoming a Blazer. Give up on the path of a Mage-Knight."
After that, the dazed Ikki, under Itsuki's arrangements, stayed once again at the Kurogane main house after a long absence.
After several days of struggling in his heart, he finally managed to gather a little spirit and set off to return to Hagun Academy.
…
Luke looked at the dispirited friend in front of him and silently sighed in his heart.
He had to admit, Ikki was still too young. He had too little experience and too little knowledge, which was why he had ended up in this kind of situation where someone had talked him into confusion.
Luke reached out, picked up the kettle on the table, and poured two cups of water. After handing one cup to Ikki, he finally spoke.
"Isn't that pretty good?"
"From what you described just now, didn't your father say he acknowledges you as his son?"
"Isn't that what you've always wished for?"
"Now that your wish has already been fulfilled, isn't this a happy ending for everyone?"
"Eh?!"
Ikki froze.
He stared blankly at Luke.
Out of trust, as well as the confusion and helplessness in his heart, Ikki had told Luke everything about the conversation between himself and his father without holding anything back.
He thought Luke would comfort him, or, like before, cut through the fog for him and point out the direction forward.
However, Luke's attitude was actually… a happy ending for everyone???
"What kind of joke is that?! How could this possibly be a happy end…ing…?"
But just as Ikki's roar left his mouth, he could no longer continue before even finishing half of his sentence.
Because what Luke said was the truth.
Wasn't the reason Ikki had always pushed himself forward the hope that his father would acknowledge him?
Although the process was different from what he had imagined, the result was the same.
"See? You've realized it yourself, haven't you?"
"As long as you drop out now and return to the Kurogane Family, you will go back to being a child of the Kurogane main family."
"Other than the path of a Mage-Knight, the Kurogane Family, which holds overwhelming power in the country, can pave any road you want for you."
"You might even be allowed by your father to become a swordsman as the price for giving up on being a Mage-Knight. You would still be able to show your abilities."
"Wouldn't it be nice to open a dojo like Master Ayatsuji Kaito, the person you admire?"
What Luke described could be called the life that more than ninety percent of the people in this world dreamed of.
Aside from one specific path that he was not allowed to choose, the rest of his life could be spent however he wanted.
He would have status if he wanted status, money if he wanted money, and even, for Ikki, a girl if he wanted a girl.
That was a proper life-winner template.
The only thing he had to do was end this "rebellious phase" that had lasted for more than ten years, return to his father's side, and become a good, filial child.
What a wonderful life that would be.
And yet…
"…But."
Ikki hesitated, lost and confused.
Deep in his heart, he vaguely felt that something was not quite right.
Luke had no intention of letting him off. The mocking smile on his face grew stronger and stronger, and the scene he described became more and more beautiful.
"There is no 'but.' This is the result of your effort."
"It is precisely because of your current strength that you were able to gain this chance."
"Most importantly, you don't need to worry about being looked down on again after returning to the Kurogane Family."
"Putting aside the fact that your father has already spoken and acknowledged you, your current strength alone is enough to make those clowns who mocked you as 'trash' shut their mouths."
"No one can look down on you again. The title of 'Another One/Uncrowned Sword King' has already proven everything."
At this point, Luke first paused for a moment. After observing Ikki's expression, he continued speaking.
"Besides, your relationship with Shizuku is very good, right?"
"Judging by the Kurogane Family's current situation, there's a ninety percent chance that your father's successor will be Shizuku."
"Once Shizuku becomes the head of the Kurogane Family, there will be even fewer people who can restrain you."
"With Shizuku's attitude toward you, your future life will definitely be very comfortable. You might even be able to pick up the path of a Mage-Knight again at that time."
"What's bad about that?"
"The family affection you bitterly pursued for more than ten years is now within easy reach."
"Isn't this your wish? Why hesitate? Why refuse?"
"Why… are you lost?"
"I…"
Ikki opened his mouth, but for a long time, he could not say a single word.
That was right. Luke was not wrong at all.
A happy and fulfilling life was now placed right in front of him.
His efforts all this time had not been wasted, and the dream he had always pursued was about to be achieved.
Shizuku would no longer need to worry about him, and the painful life of the past would cease to exist.
Everything was so wonderful… so wonderful…
"…No… no!"
"It shouldn't be like this! This isn't the result I want!"
"This isn't right… b-but…"
Ikki fell silent once again. He still could not accept this result, yet he could not find the reason why.
Everything was clearly so wonderful. This ending was clearly so perfect.
"But you just aren't satisfied, right?"
Luke smiled.
This time, it was no longer a mocking smile, but the usual smile he always wore on his face.
Ikki's performance could still be considered satisfactory to him.
No matter how confused or shaken he was, when faced with temptation, the final trace of persistence still remained deep within his heart.
No longer planning to tease the confused boy, Luke took a sip of water from his cup, then asked Ikki a question.
"Ikki, what kind of person do you think your father is?"
"…What kind?"
"To put it another way, do you think Kurogane Itsuki is a great person who is selfless, sacrifices himself for others, and wholeheartedly considers other people?"
Luke looked at Ikki. He knew this question would not stump him.
Although Ikki had only met his father once, under his abnormal insight that was like a magic mirror, just this one meeting was enough for him to understand the person called Kurogane Itsuki.
"…I don't think he counts as that."
After hesitating again and again, Ikki ultimately followed his true feelings and answered.
However, immediately after that, he added another sentence.
"But what Father did really did stabilize the order of this country."
"Then have you thought about why?"
Luke smiled and guided Ikki, whose mind was in complete disorder, into thinking.
"A person who clearly isn't selfless is doing something selfless. Have you ever thought about why?"
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