Nike, who was shocked, for a moment.
'Ah.'
He felt something strange as he watched Ryan swing his sword.
'Why?'
Ryan is a person with superpowers.
But why don't you use this ability?
Why are you wielding your sword yourself and struggling to deal with the demons?
“Huh? Aren’t you the Third Prince?”
And after returning together.
He remembered Ryan's reaction, which somehow didn't seem to notice anything strange.
'No way...?'
Nike has made assumptions.
Ryan may not have been the perpetrator of the 'Konrad Massacre', and the Duke of Wassenberg may have chosen him as the victim to take responsibility for the disaster.
If so, Ryan would most likely have an ability that would be considered 'useless' to the Duke.
But, just in case.
‘No... ability at all?’
So now, all the absurdities of this situation fit together.
Ryan, excommunicated from Wassenberg.
Ryan, who doesn't use this ability.
Ryan, who has no memory of returning together.
If Ryan is incompetent, then everything makes sense.
“Why do you fight like this?”
Nike asked as he slayed a demon that was rushing at Ryan.
Ryan paused, realizing the intent of the question, 'Why don't you use this ability?'
Then, he stood back to back with Nike and swung his sword, trying to fool him.
“No, what... I-I need to practice a bit~ If you overuse your powers, your sword skills won’t improve, right~?”
“...”
Nike felt Ryan's confusion.
The assumption that he might be incompetent became stronger.
But Nike didn't ask any more questions.
So the two of them fought against the demons in silence.
A lull has arrived.
This is because after the first appearance ends, the second appearance begins after a gap of about 8 hours.
As soon as Ryan had a moment to catch his breath, he saw Nike approaching.
...I knew you would come.
I know what to ask when you come.
“Are you perhaps incompetent?”
Yes, it's convenient because it's straightforward.
Ryan opened his eyes in surprise, then licked his lips, scratched his cheek as if pondering something, and quietly opened his mouth.
“...What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“If you have any special abilities, can you show me what they are?”
“...”
Ryan remained silent, staring intently at Nike. Nike didn't avert his eyes either.
After exchanging glances for a while, Ryan turned his head and snickered.
“You’re so sure of it, I can’t shake it off.”
“You really are incompetent?”
In response to Nike's question, which was meant to confirm, Ryan sighed and admitted.
“Yes, I am incompetent.”
And then he added right away:
"I shouldn't go around bragging about my incompetence. It's a serious problem for the Duke of Wassenberg."
“The massacre of Konrad was not your doing either.”
"I've never been there. It was just my father's way of dealing with me, an incompetent person, in a natural way."
“...”
"'I don't use my powers because of the trauma of killing someone that day.' That's the excuse I always make whenever someone doubts me. But looking at Your Highness's expression, I don't think excuses will work."
“...I see.”
“Yes. And...”
Ryan added, scratching his forehead.
"If Your Highness goes around telling people I'm incompetent, there's a high probability I'll be killed by my father. Of course, Your Highness won't have a good time either…."
“Never keep quiet.”
Nike's eyes were trustworthy as she spoke firmly, and Ryan had to suppress his urge to laugh.
Isn't everything just so easy?
As if God was helping.
“Can you trust me...?”
“Yes. Thanks for being honest.”
“Oh! Then let’s shake hands?”
When Ryan wiped his hand on his thigh and held it out, Nike caught it.
'Heh heh. Thanks for being honest?'
Ryan shook hands and thought.
'I'm sure you'll feel better now that I've clearly told you that I'm incompetent, and you'll be grateful, too~.'
Ryan said, his thoughts completely hidden.
“But I disobeyed your orders and left the base. Should I be disciplined...?”
"You're not a member of the royal family, so what disciplinary action can I take? I'll just exclude you from the application list for the next expedition."
“Ugh! That won’t do...!”
Ryan opened his mouth in shock.
A cute lion cape that doesn't match his massive size. He pulls on the bell-tipped hat strap.
At that sight, Nike almost burst out laughing, but held back and asked.
“...You might die, do you want to fight?”
“Yep! Actually...”
Ryan's voice became serious.
“...The Konrad Massacre. It wasn't my doing, but it was something my family did, so I feel a certain sense of guilt.”
At those words, Nike paused.
"So, I want to take responsibility in some way. I know that if I die fighting, it will be my fate, and I want to do something helpful for my country."
“...”
“So, Commander, you have to keep including me in the next suppression campaign...?”
Ryan's face as he pulls the strap all the way and pleads earnestly.
This time, Nike couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.
“...I see.”
“Whoa!”
Ryan cheered.
"Thank you! And while I'm at it, next time, instead of being the gatekeeper, could you please position me at the front line next to the Commander?"
“Let me think about that some more. Now, take a break.”
“Yep! Thank you!”
Nike turned around and walked away.
And Ryan just stood there dumbfounded... looking at his back.
"Haha."
He's been through a lot today.
It was so surprising that he was confused as to whether it was a dream or not.
“It’s dangerous!”
The demon that was rushing at him suddenly rushed at Nike, and he followed after him in a panic, only to find himself in an urgent situation.
He jumped in because he felt like he couldn't turn back once Nike's neck was torn.
He thought, “As long as I don’t die, that’s fine.”
However, the moment Nike was wrapped.
A scene of about five seconds rewinded quickly in his head.
After that.
He is standing somewhere else.
Nike appeared in his sight.
Nike, who deals with the devil 'differently' in the 'same' imminent situation.
Unlike the previous fight, Ryan realized in an instant as he watched the demon's hand being cut down with stability.
And he acted as calmly as possible.
“It’s so scary.”
Ryan muttered quietly.
Nike Valencier.
Not of Wassenberg blood.
But... he is a person with superpowers.
It reminds him of the Konrad massacre.
The cause of the massacre that Vania had told him was 'experiments in transplanting supernatural powers'.
"What? He's not dead, he's just disappeared. So maybe the previous Duke assisted with that experiment?"
Although Revan said so, Ryan didn't think it would succeed.
Besides, it was something he had already erased from his mind a long time ago.
“If that experiment was successful... does that mean there could be ordinary people who have been implanted with the abilities of the previous Duke?”
But, there was.
Really.
'I really don't know how Bunny returned.'
Vania Wassenberg is a disruptor in the ecosystem of those with abilities who have no idea how many blessings she has.
However, it is presumed that only abilities that 'have a holder' can be used.
If so, then at this point in time, when there is no one with the Bless of Return, the assumption that 'Vania has returned' has collapsed, so it is quite questionable...
As of today, his doubts have been resolved.
Ryan chuckled with his mouth covered, staring fiercely at Nike in the distance.
‘...That guy had a retrograde poem.’
'Ah.'
He felt something strange as he watched Ryan swing his sword.
'Why?'
Ryan is a person with superpowers.
But why don't you use this ability?
Why are you wielding your sword yourself and struggling to deal with the demons?
“Huh? Aren’t you the Third Prince?”
And after returning together.
He remembered Ryan's reaction, which somehow didn't seem to notice anything strange.
'No way...?'
Nike has made assumptions.
Ryan may not have been the perpetrator of the 'Konrad Massacre', and the Duke of Wassenberg may have chosen him as the victim to take responsibility for the disaster.
If so, Ryan would most likely have an ability that would be considered 'useless' to the Duke.
But, just in case.
‘No... ability at all?’
So now, all the absurdities of this situation fit together.
Ryan, excommunicated from Wassenberg.
Ryan, who doesn't use this ability.
Ryan, who has no memory of returning together.
If Ryan is incompetent, then everything makes sense.
“Why do you fight like this?”
Nike asked as he slayed a demon that was rushing at Ryan.
Ryan paused, realizing the intent of the question, 'Why don't you use this ability?'
Then, he stood back to back with Nike and swung his sword, trying to fool him.
“No, what... I-I need to practice a bit~ If you overuse your powers, your sword skills won’t improve, right~?”
“...”
Nike felt Ryan's confusion.
The assumption that he might be incompetent became stronger.
But Nike didn't ask any more questions.
So the two of them fought against the demons in silence.
***
A lull has arrived.
This is because after the first appearance ends, the second appearance begins after a gap of about 8 hours.
As soon as Ryan had a moment to catch his breath, he saw Nike approaching.
...I knew you would come.
I know what to ask when you come.
“Are you perhaps incompetent?”
Yes, it's convenient because it's straightforward.
Ryan opened his eyes in surprise, then licked his lips, scratched his cheek as if pondering something, and quietly opened his mouth.
“...What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“If you have any special abilities, can you show me what they are?”
“...”
Ryan remained silent, staring intently at Nike. Nike didn't avert his eyes either.
After exchanging glances for a while, Ryan turned his head and snickered.
“You’re so sure of it, I can’t shake it off.”
“You really are incompetent?”
In response to Nike's question, which was meant to confirm, Ryan sighed and admitted.
“Yes, I am incompetent.”
And then he added right away:
"I shouldn't go around bragging about my incompetence. It's a serious problem for the Duke of Wassenberg."
“The massacre of Konrad was not your doing either.”
"I've never been there. It was just my father's way of dealing with me, an incompetent person, in a natural way."
“...”
"'I don't use my powers because of the trauma of killing someone that day.' That's the excuse I always make whenever someone doubts me. But looking at Your Highness's expression, I don't think excuses will work."
“...I see.”
“Yes. And...”
Ryan added, scratching his forehead.
"If Your Highness goes around telling people I'm incompetent, there's a high probability I'll be killed by my father. Of course, Your Highness won't have a good time either…."
“Never keep quiet.”
Nike's eyes were trustworthy as she spoke firmly, and Ryan had to suppress his urge to laugh.
Isn't everything just so easy?
As if God was helping.
“Can you trust me...?”
“Yes. Thanks for being honest.”
“Oh! Then let’s shake hands?”
When Ryan wiped his hand on his thigh and held it out, Nike caught it.
'Heh heh. Thanks for being honest?'
Ryan shook hands and thought.
'I'm sure you'll feel better now that I've clearly told you that I'm incompetent, and you'll be grateful, too~.'
Ryan said, his thoughts completely hidden.
“But I disobeyed your orders and left the base. Should I be disciplined...?”
"You're not a member of the royal family, so what disciplinary action can I take? I'll just exclude you from the application list for the next expedition."
“Ugh! That won’t do...!”
Ryan opened his mouth in shock.
A cute lion cape that doesn't match his massive size. He pulls on the bell-tipped hat strap.
At that sight, Nike almost burst out laughing, but held back and asked.
“...You might die, do you want to fight?”
“Yep! Actually...”
Ryan's voice became serious.
“...The Konrad Massacre. It wasn't my doing, but it was something my family did, so I feel a certain sense of guilt.”
At those words, Nike paused.
"So, I want to take responsibility in some way. I know that if I die fighting, it will be my fate, and I want to do something helpful for my country."
“...”
“So, Commander, you have to keep including me in the next suppression campaign...?”
Ryan's face as he pulls the strap all the way and pleads earnestly.
This time, Nike couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.
“...I see.”
“Whoa!”
Ryan cheered.
"Thank you! And while I'm at it, next time, instead of being the gatekeeper, could you please position me at the front line next to the Commander?"
“Let me think about that some more. Now, take a break.”
“Yep! Thank you!”
Nike turned around and walked away.
And Ryan just stood there dumbfounded... looking at his back.
"Haha."
He's been through a lot today.
It was so surprising that he was confused as to whether it was a dream or not.
“It’s dangerous!”
The demon that was rushing at him suddenly rushed at Nike, and he followed after him in a panic, only to find himself in an urgent situation.
He jumped in because he felt like he couldn't turn back once Nike's neck was torn.
He thought, “As long as I don’t die, that’s fine.”
However, the moment Nike was wrapped.
A scene of about five seconds rewinded quickly in his head.
After that.
He is standing somewhere else.
Nike appeared in his sight.
Nike, who deals with the devil 'differently' in the 'same' imminent situation.
Unlike the previous fight, Ryan realized in an instant as he watched the demon's hand being cut down with stability.
And he acted as calmly as possible.
“It’s so scary.”
Ryan muttered quietly.
Nike Valencier.
Not of Wassenberg blood.
But... he is a person with superpowers.
It reminds him of the Konrad massacre.
The cause of the massacre that Vania had told him was 'experiments in transplanting supernatural powers'.
"What? He's not dead, he's just disappeared. So maybe the previous Duke assisted with that experiment?"
Although Revan said so, Ryan didn't think it would succeed.
Besides, it was something he had already erased from his mind a long time ago.
“If that experiment was successful... does that mean there could be ordinary people who have been implanted with the abilities of the previous Duke?”
But, there was.
Really.
'I really don't know how Bunny returned.'
Vania Wassenberg is a disruptor in the ecosystem of those with abilities who have no idea how many blessings she has.
However, it is presumed that only abilities that 'have a holder' can be used.
If so, then at this point in time, when there is no one with the Bless of Return, the assumption that 'Vania has returned' has collapsed, so it is quite questionable...
As of today, his doubts have been resolved.
Ryan chuckled with his mouth covered, staring fiercely at Nike in the distance.
‘...That guy had a retrograde poem.’
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