Real Combat (1)
Chapter 85
Ray had visited Dinor after a long time.
The Jimy Orphanage branch in Dinor was originally not under Ray’s much influence, so during his absence, there hadn’t been much turmoil.
Ray met with Pietro by appointment and visited the Manor of the Gardi Viscount family.
While waiting for Pietro in the reception room, Ripa knocked and entered.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”
As always, Ripa smiled warmly, placed down a plate of snacks, and was about to leave when Ray stopped her.
“Ah, I brought you a gift.”
“A gift?”
“Yeah.”
Ripa was an orphan of rare talent, comparable to a rare-grade one.
Ray handed over a box containing a set of writing instruments he had kept aside especially for her.
“Go ahead and open it.”
“…!”
When Ripa opened the box, she was astonished to see the set of writing tools adorned with gold trim. It was certainly not a gift meant for someone of humble means.
“How can I possibly accept something like this…!”
“Why wouldn’t you? Just take it and use it well.”
“But what have I done to deserve something like this…!”
“The people at the Manor all know how hard you’ve worked assisting Lord Pietro. Don’t feel burdened; just take it.”
Despite Ray’s persuasion, Ripa continued to decline the gift.
Sighing, Ray pulled out his final card.
“Ripa, I didn’t want to bring this up, but…”
“…?”
“I’m talking about your father, Kal. Before he passed away, he asked me to look after you if anything happened to him.”
“…!”
Ripa covered her mouth with both hands and gasped.
Ray, gazing out the window, briefly reminisced about the past.
“If anything were to happen to him, please take care of his daughter who would be left alone.”
“…!”
Ripa, touched by Ray’s words, clasped the prepared gift tightly in her hands as tears welled up in her eyes.
“I’m proud of how wonderfully you’ve grown up, Ripa. Kal would surely have been proud too. So don’t feel burdened by such things.”
With red-rimmed eyes, Ripa hugged Ray’s gift to her chest.
“Thank you.”
“That’s right. Now go ahead and use it well. If it gets stolen, let me know. I’ll definitely find the culprit and deal with them.”
Ripa nodded and exited the reception room.
Not long after Ripa left, Pietro entered the room.
Ray bowed slightly.
“It’s good to see you looking well.”
“You seem taller than before.”
After exchanging pleasantries and shaking hands, Ray and Pietro engaged in various conversations.
Though they discussed trivial matters, topics involving Ulte and Titi couldn’t be avoided.
Pietro mentioned that Ulte was still wandering around outside.
According to Ulte’s contact person, Ulte looked quite worn out.
“Tch…”
Ray frowned and clicked his tongue in irritation.
Although Ray had prevented the worst possible outcome for Ulte and Titi, he felt quite at a loss regarding what else needed to be done here.
Should he prevent Titi’s disappearance?
Or should he kill Ulte, who was destined to fall into corruption?
Or perhaps, just leave them be?
‘The peaceful dissolution of Titi might lead Ulte to accept his fate and find his place…’
Ray had no idea which choice to make or how to solve the problem once a specific option was chosen.
“Damn it.”
Every time he faced situations like this, the anger that had built up inside him surfaced uncontrollably.
Whether it was the issue with Titi or the succession to the throne, Ray lacked both information and foresight. Thus, whenever the situation grew too complex, interfering became difficult.
For now, Ray was trying to avoid getting caught in the crossfire, keeping a low profile. However, it was possible he was neglecting some urgent matter that needed immediate attention.
‘Imperial succession… Crown Prince 1 and Crown Prince 2…’
Considering the current state of affairs, it seemed likely that Crown Prince 1 would lose the position of heir, and Crown Prince 2 would take his place.
Crown Prince 2 was competent but cruel.
Should Ray have prevented Crown Prince 2 from gaining power? Should he have left Crown Prince 1 to act recklessly on his own?
He didn’t know.
No matter how much he thought about it now, the answer would only become clear after everything was over.
“Well… at least it’s fortunate we’re in the frontier.”
Whether the crown prince changes or even the emperor changes, things will likely remain stable for now.
That’s what Ray thought.
*
After having a sufficient conversation with Pietro, Ray stepped out of the Manor.
As he walked through the town outside the Manor, he could still sense the presence that had been following him since morning.
Ray chuckled softly.
Initially, he waited patiently for the person to approach first, but the individual showed no signs of doing so, even after following him all the way to Dinor.
At this rate, he’d have to keep carrying this shadow around for days.
Pretending to turn into an alley, Ray quickly hid himself.
The figure following behind cautiously peeked into the alley, looking around.
‘No one’s here…?’
Johanna blinked.
At that moment, Ray suddenly appeared from behind and lifted Johanna off the ground.
“Uwaah!”
Johanna landed on Ray’s shoulders.
Startled, she panicked as she found herself perched like a child riding a hobby horse.
“Put me down! Put me down!!”
Johanna was embarrassed by the intimate contact between her inner thighs and Ray’s skin, made worse by the sweat accumulated from following him all the way to Dinor.
In frustration, she began pounding on Ray’s head.
Realizing his skull might crack, Ray quickly put her down.
“Ow…”
Rubbing his sore scalp, Ray asked,
“Why did you follow me all the way here?”
“…”
Johanna calmed herself down and nervously fiddled with the sword hanging from her waist.
She had originally intended to thank Ray.
For taking her in, protecting her, and even giving her an extravagant ‘weapon,’ she was grateful.
That’s what she planned to say…
“Hic… Sniffle…!”
But all that came out were sobs.
Confused, Ray stammered,
“Jo… Johanna…? What’s wrong?”
“Ghh… Hic…!”
Johanna took deep breaths, trying to suppress her crying.
But soon, droplets began falling onto the ground.
“Sniff…! I wanted a necklace too…! Hic…!”
Her sorrow transformed into tears streaming down her face.
“I don’t need a sword or anything…!!”
Johanna knew better.
Ray had gifted her a sword of unimaginable value. Even knights couldn’t hide their greed when they saw it.
She understood all that.
Still, Johanna wanted something simple yet pretty—a piece of jewelry, even if it was cheap.
“I worked hard too…”
Johanna possessed unmatched talent in martial arts.
However, she hadn’t followed the knights’ training because she loved swordsmanship.
Though she appreciated her growing skills, that was all.
What Johanna disliked was the calluses forming on her hands and feet. She hated dipping her face into the rotting innards of demons for training or climbing mountains while starving for days.
Even though everyone praised her as a prodigy, Johanna dreamed of being an ordinary girl who could be a beautiful princess rather than a knight.
Still, she never gave up her sword—not for any grand purpose or determination, but simply to meet others’ expectations.
Friends, teachers, knights.
And most importantly, Ray’s expectations.
“I worked hard! Why didn’t I get a necklace?! Waaaah…!”
Johanna was heartbroken that Ray didn’t understand her feelings.
So much so that she couldn’t even utter the word “thank you.”
Ray quietly watched Johanna cry her heart out.
Her teenage struggles, tantrums, and stubbornness struck him as endearing.
Gently, Ray patted her head.
However, his lips remained stiff and unyielding.
“Johanna.”
“Huh…?”
“You need to work harder.”
Ray looked at Johanna with dry eyes.
His cold gaze momentarily silenced her sobs.
“Johanna, you need to work harder and grow stronger faster.”
Wiping her tear-and-snot-covered face with his sleeve, Ray tightened his jaw.
Recalling the contents Resina had muttered in the dungeon—Harshia’s core, the organ replacing the heart, severe side effects like infertility and ruptured internal organs, and death—he realized that eventually, he would have to make a choice.
Therefore, before that time comes…
“You need to surpass me quickly through hard work.”
So I don’t have to push you further.
Or.
So I won’t commit unspeakable atrocities against you.
You must surpass me within a short period.
“Because I can’t stay by your side forever.”
From Ray’s cold, hardened gaze, Johanna briefly sensed a flicker of sadness.
She forcefully pulled her hand away from Ray’s.
“Don’t touch me without permission…!”
After hesitating for a moment, Johanna murmured timidly.
“Ask for permission first…”
“Ouch~!”
Ray suddenly picked Johanna up again, sighing naturally.
“How has our Johanna grown so much? There used to be no one as honest as our Johanna.”
“…!”
Struggling in Ray’s embrace for a while, Johanna eventually relaxed her body.
For quite some time, Johanna rubbed her bloodshot eyes against Ray’s shoulder.
“Don’t go far away from us.”
Johanna blurted out.
The statement about not being able to stay by their side forever kept echoing in her mind.
Chuckling, Ray adjusted his hold on Johanna.
“That’s tough…”
There would inevitably come times when he’d have to travel long distances while attempting to save this wretched world.
In a world without jets, even relatively short distances could take over two weeks round trip.
“If you really want to stay by my side, you’ll have to become strong enough to keep up with me.”
He couldn’t possibly drag along children who couldn’t keep up.
Johanna muttered dejectedly.
“Ray is unfair.”
*
Returning to the orphanage, Johanna burst into her room.
Karen, who shared the room with her, hastily hid her necklace’s gemstone after noticing Johanna’s glance.
Approaching Karen boldly, Johanna reached out.
Clang!
Johanna pulled out Karen’s necklace, inspecting the beautifully crafted jewel before pouting discontentedly.
“I’ll continue working hard.”
She would diligently learn swordsmanship, train her body, and stick by Ray’s side no matter what.
“And next time, I want a necklace too.”
Feeling challenged by Johanna’s bold declaration, Karen smiled gently and embraced her.
“Alright. Johanna can definitely receive a much better necklace.”
Karen knew everything—how talented Johanna was compared to anyone else, and how Ray favored the talented.
‘I can’t catch up to Johanna.’
The gap between them would only widen over time.
When Johanna stood by Ray’s side, Karen might be abandoned, unable even to step on Ray’s shadow.
Even so, Karen had no intention of giving up.
“Let’s work hard together.”
“…Yeah.”
Seeing her friend’s smile, Johanna couldn’t help but relax her expression.
Karen grabbed Johanna’s hand and led her.
“Let’s go eat dinner.”
The chain of Karen’s necklace jingled as she bounced around.
Adolescents wandered and struggled, yet they also grew, looking toward the sky Ray pointed to.
Before the arrival of the next spring,
Johanna manifested her first Sword Aura.
