Velt found himself met with a powerless smile filled with resignation.
“That method is impossible for us humans. At the very least, I don’t think I can do it.” With a tone that could sink no lower, Reilly unveiled the thoughts that became the culmination of a long and sad journey.
“A mix-blood could never be a duelist, I knew that. But...if I did my best, I thought I’d be able to fight like everyone else.”
Reilly had put in more effort than anyone, never giving in, piling up technique, knowledge and calculations. Working hard enough to earn the name Iron-blood.
That was precisely why—
“—I thought I could fight...!”
Reilly cursed through gritted teeth. Sneered at the sheer gall of embracing such short-lived dreams despite being born as the weakest entity. Every little piece that made up the duelist known as Reilly Malbork crumbled without a sound.
And as feeble sobs permeated the waiting room—Yuri forcefully slammed open the door. Ignoring the startled look on their faces, he cheerfully smiled and raised his voice.
“Hello! Good day! Is Reilly here!?”
“Hah!? Hey, kid, how did you get in here!?”
“I ran away from the scary men!”
“Ran... Hey wait, aren’t you—”
Before Velt could say anything, Reilly walked up to Yuri and stooped down to match his eye level.
“I’m Reilly. What’s your name?”
“I’m Yuri!”
“Then Yuri, were you looking for me?”
“Yeah! There’s something I wanted to ask you!”
“...What would that be?”
With stars in his eyes, Yuri looked straight at Reilly’s quizzically cocked head and posed his question.
“Do you think I can become a duelist like you!?”
Reilly’s eyes opened wide, only to be immediately replaced with a forced calm.
“...Why are you asking me that?”
“Papi and all the adults told me, Mister. You’re a mix-blood like me!”
“I see... So you’re like me.”
The moment the words left Yuri’s mouth, Reilly’s eyes turned cold.
“You can’t do it. A mix-blood human can’t become a duelist.”
“...Oi, Reilly, he’s still a kid.”
“That’s precisely why we ought to break it to him fast. Rather than showing him unreachable dreams, he’d be better off giving up from the start,” Reilly replied in a frigid tone.
Even if it destroyed the dreams of a young child, even if it denied everything Reilly had built, if it would prevent someone else from walking the same path, the duelist would speak the plain truth.
“And kid, you can’t try to be a duelist like me.”
“Why not? What’s wrong with being like you?”
“I mean, you wouldn’t want to be so weak and uncool, would you?”
“Yep! I don’t want to be weak and uncool!”
“You’re surprisingly blunt...”
“I mean, no one likes to lose!” Yuri grinned without a care in the world as he replied. “It’s always irritating to lose. But it’s really fun when you win! That’s why the duelist people all try their very hardest to win!”
Young and oblivious, but pure and straightforward words.
“And Mister, you tried harder than everyone else not to lose! You stood no matter how hurt you were, your drive to win got to me... It was really cool!”
Yuri spoke his thoughts with an innocent laugh. “That’s why, Mister, I want to be a duelist like you!”
These were the naive words of a child who didn’t know a thing. But the Iron-blood duelist quietly wept.
“...Is that how I looked to you?”
The tears fell, drop by drop. To think someone would actually affirm Reilly’s hard-fought life. The dark shadow that had haunted the duelist’s face faded.
“...I worked really hard, because it was so fun to win.”
“Yeah! Having fun is the best!”
“...But it’s not like we can always win, you know.”
“Then work hard so you can always win!”
“No matter how hard you work...you’ll reach your limit someday.”
“Then work hard so you don’t lose to the limit!”
Yuri continued to counter, only for Reilly to lock his body in a tight embrace.
“...Mister?”
“You’re...going to be a better duelist than me, someday. I’m sure of it.”
“Really!? Can I be the strongest duelist!?”
“You’ll have to work really hard, or it won’t happen.”
“That’s okay! I’ll do anything to get stronger!!”
“I see... How reliable.”
After gently stroking Yuri’s head, Reilly wiped away the deluge of tears.
“Velt, I think I really am going to resign as a duelist.”
“...I see. If that’s your choice, I ain’t gonna stop you.”
“Thank you. But I think I found something I can do.”
And with a pat to Yuri’s head, Reilly turned back to the strongest human alive.
“I want to give it all I’ve got—to grant this kid’s wish.” The words came with a clear smile, as if the devil had departed. “If this kid wants to surpass the wall of mix-blood, I want to lend him a hand.”
The absolute wall a mix-blood could never cross. No one had ever seen what lay beyond it. Not even Reilly.
That was precisely why...the Iron-blood duelist chose to devote their everything to teaching.
“I think I’ll do fine as the kid’s master. I can teach him how a mix-blood fights, and I won’t show any mercy or pity no matter how much he cries or begs.”
“You say some morbid things with that cute face of yours...”
“Why, of course. They don’t call me the Iron-blood for nothing.”
And seeing Reilly’s revived optimism, Velt scratched his head all around. “...Fine. If you’re his master, I’m sure old Eniastar will agree.”
“Eniastar... You mean that mix-blood clan?”
“That’s right. So I’m sure he’ll fulfill your dreams.”
While the two of them carried on their conversation, Yuri’s innocent eyes glimmered.
“Hey, hey! Are you going to teach me how to fight, Mister?”
“I will. So how about you start calling me master?”
“Why? Is Mister no good?”
“Well... In the first place, I’m not really a mister.”
Awkwardly scratching her face, Reilly held a hand out to Yuri. “The name’s Reilly, the mix-blood duelist who’s going to teach you how to fight.”
Yuri gripped the hand back and introduced himself.
“I’m Yuri Eniastar! A mix-blood just like master, and—” Smiling as he imagined the fun days to come, “—I want to be the strongest duelist!”