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Chapter 26

The day after Werner's shocking duel challenge.

"Spar with me!"

Werner began shouting for a spar instead of a duel, his eyes blazing.

I mean, does just changing the word make any difference?

My incredulous look had no effect this time either.

"Spar!"

"Let's spar!"

"Fight me!"

Werner followed us—more precisely, followed Isid—even more blatantly, chanting his challenge.

A day passed, then two, then three, and Werner's fervor showed no signs of fading. If anything, his tone had become half-broken as he loudly called Isid's name and kept up his sparring refrain—to the point where even Father and Kizef started looking at him as if wondering what he'd eaten.

"…Do you know why he's acting like that?"

"No…"

If I did, would I be in this situation?

"What about you, Brother? You usually know when Werner's up to something."

At my question, Kizef paused to think. Then a faint glimmer of suspicion appeared in his eyes.

"Well… a few days ago, he casually asked if you liked the Black Dragon because he's strong…"

No further explanation was needed.

"That's it."

"…That's it."

Hearing Kizef's sigh-like agreement, I let out a deep sigh myself.

Werner was a genius—the kind who made even the haughty mages of the Magic Tower send flowery, prose-filled letters of admiration every quarter—but sometimes, in the oddest ways, he could be a bit… foolish.

Then I suddenly recalled Werner from a few days ago. Come to think of it, when I'd told him never to say such things again, he'd never actually given me an answer…

'…So that's why.'

Why does his mind work in such leaps?

Just as I was about to step toward Werner, having more or less figured out the situation—

"Spar with me—"

"Lead the way."

A short reply cut through Werner's tirelessly repeated challenge.

In other words, Isid had answered.

"…Huh?"

That was my voice, and Werner's.

For once, the three siblings were of one mind, staring at Isid.

"Wh-what… Did you just say…?"

Werner stammered, dumbfounded, and a hint of annoyance flickered in Isid's eyes.

Just as Isid was about to speak again, Werner—who had been trailing him for days and had come to understand his temperament somewhat—hurriedly raised his hand.

"No! No, I heard you! I'll lead the way! …Okay!"

The drawn-out ending, a shift from the clipped speech he'd been using, betrayed Werner's sudden cheer.

The truth was, Isid paid little attention to whether others spoke long or short—so those who dealt with him privately generally kept their words brief. Werner's plan to get on Isid's nerves by chopping his sentences short had been rather ineffective…

'…Did he change his mind in the meantime?'

Surely he wasn't planning to use the spar as an excuse to crush Werner out of annoyance…?

I watched Werner skipping ahead, then darted over to Isid's side.

Kizef had fallen in beside Werner, saying something to him, so my place was with Isid.

"Isid."

"Yeah."

"…Are you really going to spar with Brother Werner?"

At my question, Isid nodded lightly.

"Ignoring him properly was getting tiresome."

"Ah…"

So it's easier to just face him once than keep brushing him off.

That made perfect sense.

I nodded, glanced ahead, and sidled closer to Isid.

"Still, don't go too hard. Okay? Just enough that he doesn't get hurt."

"I'll see."

"Hey."

When he answered carelessly, I grabbed his arm and shook it—only then did he mutter an assent.

…Can I really be sure he'll hold back?

---

Werner, his shoulders practically bouncing with excitement, led the way to the training ground.

It wasn't the main ground used by the knights, but a modest auxiliary training ground that Father or Kizef occasionally used.

Even so, it was larger than a building, more than enough for a light spar.

"…Brother, are you really going through with this?"

"Of course! You just watch from over there, Rowel. This big brother will show you something impressive."

Something impressive—more like something that'll get you thoroughly thrashed…

I couldn't bring myself to say that to Werner, who was all fired up, so I just gave an awkward laugh.

Where did he get the confidence to show off against a dragon—and not just any dragon, but Isid, the most exceptional among them?

Maybe because Isid hadn't been active in a while?

The last recorded appearance of a dragon other than Isid was two hundred years ago, after the Black Order was wiped out…

'…Even so, really.'

As I shook my head, Kizef stepped between Isid and Werner, who were facing off. Since he was the only one among us qualified to referee, it fell to him.

"Since this is a spar, please take care not to injure yourself or your opponent."

There was no way Werner could hurt Isid—so that warning was essentially for Isid.

Reading the wariness in Kizef's voice, Isid's lips curled faintly.

"I'll go easy, so don't worry."

"I don't need you to go easy! …Okay!"

"Werner, that's enough. This whole spar is absurd to begin with."

"…Whose side are you on, Brother?"

Werner, who had bristled at the "go easy" remark, grumbled at Kizef's firm retort—but didn't push further. His brotherly instincts must have told him that any more complaining would put his head in danger.

"The spar will end immediately when either side surrenders, is injured, or steps outside the designated area."

The rules were simple.

"Then begin."

With Kizef's declaration, the spar started.

Kizef lowered his arm and stepped back. Werner made the first move.

Hmm—

Magic energy surged around Werner.

Crackle, crack—

The concentrated magical energy sent dust and sand swirling.

Just as the mounting force stopped, a massive bolt of lightning struck where Isid had been standing—Werner's signature lightning magic.

Against an ordinary opponent, it would have dealt significant damage—Werner's magic was that fast and powerful.

But unfortunately, Werner's opponent was a dragon.

If spirits were the closest to nature—almost nature itself—then dragons were magical beings. Masters of the mana that formed the world, possessing infinite magical power, they were the most adept of all in magic.

'…Dragons are immune to most magic.'

Sure enough, as the dust cleared, Isid stood unscathed—without a single scratch. He was exactly as he'd been before the spell had even been cast.

'I knew this would happen…'

I'd imagined this scene from the moment Werner started seriously challenging Isid. I let out a deep sigh.

There was a reason a dragon's body itself was called the most powerful weapon.

Of course, Isid was in human form now, so his defense wasn't as strong as in his true form—but even so, it was incomparable to a human's.

'I hope Werner doesn't get too discouraged.'

Just as I decided to secretly ask Huey for a special chocolate cake later, Isid, still standing still, gave a slight wave of his hand.

Immediately after—

Bang—!

With a rather cute sound, the spar ended.

Isid had used wind magic to push Werner outside the training ground.

"Spar over."

"…Huh?"

Werner blinked, not yet grasping his situation, and Kizef sighed.

"You stepped out of the ground. You lose, Werner."

At Kizef's explanation, Werner's head slowly dropped.

His feet were exactly half a span beyond the boundary line—a clean ring-out loss.

"What—no, this isn't fair!"

Finally understanding, Werner shouted in protest.

He might have felt wronged if he'd expected an exchange of blows, but Isid had won fairly within the stated rules.

"Didn't you agree earlier? That stepping out means defeat."

Isid said flatly, not hiding his boredom.

As the saying goes, people get even more frustrated when they have nothing to say. Unable to make excuses for his loss, Werner huffed for a moment—then scurried back in front of Isid.

"What kind of spar was that! Let's go again!"

Ah, I knew he'd do that.

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