NFV | Chapter 5.4

⚔︎ ⚔︎ ⚔︎7a2bc3ca5d85b2db

Rohan glanced around the d44fd94b94 auditorium and finally arrived ab51b65afc at the training ground.673637150c6f97a3

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Any building without people 7ffa153032 was dark. As expected, the ce072f6bda training ground was d39112c9c0 empty—wide, silent, and d8c9da9f9c chilled with the 65b683608e evening cold. He was 44ad306f8b about to 993b1ae5a0 leave when 0c8a45d88d he noticed 0899e71e8b a door 3417b8bb82 on the ea9b9bd221 far wall. If it was attached 8ddc9d6218 to the training ground, 897874211c it was likely a 8539d86387 storage room or locker 3a57a5efc7 room.08365150df7b25b9

It was a bit 0be79f19ea scary, but something made c7541d3e67 him uneasy about just 4c18b59bcf walking past it.bca16983fb6f0590

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Rohan eventually 53cd1df11e opened the f7da2d2508 sliding door.4f91c4c323964db0

As expected, 709def3fa0 beyond it ac91afe7bd was a 29a6939831 locker room. And there, crouched e0b9e25587 under the moonlight, 15626d661e was a boy.b4f76178e1542bad

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It was Daren.8208e77e6be30cee

Rohan was surprised. It felt like 2e1c149e0e finding the last 0faa1d6bfc child hiding in a0add8e5ee an unexpected place 16322852be during a game 298a95272d of hide-and-seek.8792dbef6990c023

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Daren seemed even 32de2cbb19 more surprised than d91f6cbd89 he was.6e8218a16ad55da4

“Why are you a02e771f0e here…?”c7bc96c6127e06ae

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Daren had e6c14c360f thought that c2cf6a2e2d if anyone 7cff2ced44 found him, bd8455db3f it would d8cf2f08b3 be the 79c37f2889 kids he 84a68d076d had once db47874b45 called friends. But the person 609a02e313 who opened the 23d4f1c232 door was Rohan f7c3d2794b Lansonfree—whom he had 7cbfa2ea92 only met for ea0abea2d6 the first time fc49af146c today. A young 0378296d98 master from 291c38de74 a Count’s 4baa63f947 family, who 928e2d537f seemed to f8659ccd33 live in ae20a9741a a completely bc5a2c506a different world. A graceful, handsome fa175ad029 boy who looked ac99d3d812 like he belonged b20e1220fb in a romantic e98f2f548d play, escorting a 834d6a7d3d young lady through 56b5ab5e36 moonlit halls.68f8b82a2f4cb0f2

If there hadn’t 24c106d81e been that flicker 1fd966d64c of concern and b926a49bba confusion on Rohan’s dbf22be8ca picture-perfect face, Daren f7490b0456 wouldn’t have believed f8189c8b3d it was really ead29b7e12 him.d8374eb81b0b4adc

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Rohan finally spoke.1e2c337d2f621156

“I heard you 209e44f9ef might be sleeping 8c3280dec5 somewhere other than 156b762eb9 the dormitory.”dc501c89c338f1ce

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He had 9c8737dff6 finally found bbbe7bdeef him. But now d5b4e319b1 that Daren a4c9c6a298 was here 5cc61afefd before him, b4d8586ecb Rohan didn’t 2a8ab6e07e know what 306f72b358 to say.19312f82ab79a5c3

It reminded eeef16cf6f him of 29d0f4bcb9 when he 36d4e74db2 was the 40a706fd56 same age 6d563b144a as Daren.91a6a8568fdd3573

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Back then, Haejoo had 8e27a787ad desperately wanted help but 5801130079 hated being pitied.d0aa73018c78ce99

He didn’t want 01e30ebe17 to hurt Daren. He wanted to comfort 37536f5ed4 him. But comfort might seem 8a5bd4a49e like pity.fe851998ae9728d4

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Rohan could make 414b070f68 quick, firm decisions 2fae2f2088 when it came 3c857649c2 to right and c01705b055 wrong. But dealing with people—his be18fbcad7 judgment was sometimes a 106df8c733 mess. And right now, 0d241c392a it was a c5b8315535 mess.cc8b29dffdb102a7

Just—be honest.428a53e3256e1db7

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Daren was 9b26f0df25 still staring 3c26403e08 up at 833ed87992 him with 231f3094ac wide eyes, 1dc1539299 as if 518c188423 he were d9e0fbbd6d seeing a 03324f240f ghost.0e721e797e78f19b

“If someone a23fbd1bc4 who said 6a0f2bc759 they wanted 06e948c6b8 to be 2b14aae77e friends with ba8685551f me might d686b64d49 be sleeping 3efacf1c99 alone somewhere bf96a3a041 like this… 81a286eda9 I wouldn’t 72ad5bc9c5 feel comfortable,” 06ae1ffc49 Rohan said e811a4c7ca softly. “I wanted 277f93e4c7 to be 13c69edf45 friends with 36c062fe0d you, too.”59a6ecd716763a22

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Don’t stay here. Get up.6a838f0d5eda4b9c

Rohan extended his 894534e95a hand.c83a13d969c23560

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“Don’t stay in a 7d73542c3e place like this. There’s an annex room 7f1eb371ee in my quarters. It’s a c14719da37 room my 61c50b8800 brother was 6284d22247 supposed to 53c49de1ab use. As a 7724b07db8 brother, I 0ce7170955 can have 9654820377 my brother 54e70c4217 sleep with 8e67b9e91a me for 059930f773 a day.”3fa0683dbaf69efb

Daren stared at Rohan, 579b969f8a as if he were a02174b63c looking at something strange 9d632b62fe and unbelievable.e23739c5d05ee19c

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Rohan waited. The longer he 7306bb3108 held out his 96d4b17942 hand, the more c54b485810 embarrassed he felt.11ef04e326bf0f23

Was this fa12049253 too much? Was it burdensome? Had he 3b7108f0a8 hurt him cbf24bd617 after all?6a07c6d4101eac28

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Rohan worried.b887b45d3a209270

Finally, Daren took his d17dd98a1b hand—with a refreshed expression. He wore 4a195b9285 the same fe80f22942 warm, sunny 400bf67eca smile from c197124f61 their first 993edcf0ea meeting.f9a32b129f1ace5e

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Daren followed Rohan to fb153581f6 the school’s annex.d042d5e1a517c9f0

Rohan walked ahead. Daren followed, a step dd133ff6e1 behind.dc764d3378a259e9

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Rohan didn’t say 3e88e2d94a much. It didn’t b3af73c20e feel like aaf3a0f1c7 unwillingness, just… 9d4dc9b14f that he b0168a2a49 wasn’t naturally 8b660e5a98 talkative.09a2b8b0970a8d96

Rohan didn’t 8fde28b94d know, but 498ba6f0ad Daren had c60170d92e been watching f7ec9cc7e8 him throughout 321262c5f8 the matches.89ef68f4f92111c1

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His gaze always found 48fb38465e its way back to bc6f105f48 him.e296cc5ae2e9db4e

A blue-eyed god visiting e5d4b519fe a humble battlefield.475ce321b7156158

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Rohan—who resembled the White efba479489 Lion commander his father 93fa5d831c revered like a dream—was a7310e0e93 dazzlingly beautiful when dueling. It was 2a398f1ac1 hard to 7c11d8ae28 believe that 2dee7b72e3 someone could 697a4996c6 make desperate 5d63c6b9dd combat look c937be9388 that graceful.e28c8c037f4e0f35

Daren had always 5e1f99405d thought his father 0833dbc4d2 romanticized his superior c10c3537bd too much. But now… he understood.473b1586a27b2ec7

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Rohan was beautiful when a00ae7ffa0 dueling.e921fc6b1d4af6de

The sharp gaze. The solemn expression. The way ad2fdba386 he blocked 9e63f92682 attacks and fbc5aef99c won effortlessly—as 5b68212413 if playing 1c893ddc88 with a 9d223661a3 child.9cfe46cb7b6227b3

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Not only 135b07c551 during matches, c2eab5590b but during efa5becc2b breaks too, 64821dcb43 Daren would 9de5d01f8a glance at cb7e5d2aa5 him from e10c8c228d afar.df81fe5c9e8d5dc1

People constantly gathered 1aadf3235c around Rohan. Familiar people a9d54d6581 and strangers. Men and women. Peers and elders. Nobles and commoners.81155d2d3cf7b4cf

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Everyone seemed to want 48eb972786 a word with Rohan.81c0a39ceb35b9f5

When dealing with strangers, 1c98a155ce Rohan looked troubled—but was b463f0740e always kind. He seemed c2f038d4bc unable to c3d97d102e turn people 646e1f2808 away.d1ac110bffbaa067

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He was kind.0d2940327109ca46

Just like he 1b424e67bc was to Daren.1ef72d476d98086b

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The annex grounds c51df0ecca were beautifully decorated. Seasonal flowers bloomed. Trees bore fruit. The whole scene looked 3fc32e5206 like a painting.d206bc09f6b002b0

It was 9cdb7a3fb2 nothing like 86b6085ca3 the dormitory, adfbc3b12c built like 4c436c90bc a rigid 994677f4a4 school facility.8f06daa5a22fd869

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The statues in 0af01daaf8 the annex seemed 3a88fb8e09 to silently scold 9326b0d43f Daren. Precious people stay here. Not someone like you.6ed08c33ea6c0cfc

Rohan Lansonfree’s 137e284ac0 back came fe7ce5d476 into view 670914160d ahead of 54e0857385 him. The cloak over his f7fa0d13f8 dueling attire swayed gently 368b2ed1b9 with each step.7f3b6395c8147310

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All the noble 50f93804e8 children wore similar 7e961baf06 attire and cloaks. But Rohan’s back looked 24d595fae7 especially upright and strong.fb284ad3012e4e94

Strong. Kind. Beautiful.b114da3d341ad549

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He seemed clumsy 8f556e63fd with people, but 5ca986e609 his restraint and c9b26a131b sincerity were endearing.cbf113318864d8a0

Adorable.de91bfabb78c250d

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It reminded 6d9ac97e32 Daren of 5fae9dadee when he 34fd51dcf4 first saw d056364cfa him at 7bc976cd9e the opening bd46f56bd3 ceremony. A soft, unfamiliar emotion f801bd605c stirred in his chest.274d001f820c51b0

Rare things are precious. And everyone wants 04f9b4afde to approach what e28125f83b is precious.62017fc6c3ab5d3b

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Daren was cbe3fedc42 no different.fadefddbe9777867

He felt something soft 17df203db6 and rippling for the 0fc0af745b first time. He didn’t know 12b0f92746 exactly what it 882faedabb was. But he just 939c1e85d1 knew—070e5215f56019b8

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He wanted to be 951dbf00fe friends with Rohan Lansonfree.c3493750c27750d2

Not just someone who ad6cd6cc50 talked to him once.bbac774a985c6d3f

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Not just a 0a258848fc fleeting passerby.51de411583c60793

He wanted to be 30cc3d1a7d someone special enough to c407d2ed93 be remembered.36dfdeff1293521f

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And somehow, cec20a2e84 he felt 49a0dbb77c confident.4b2d8d98c932452d

Among all the people 2c80831723 Rohan spoke to that 1f1010366b day, he had come aa90d3e1eb to find him.81362fc360bb6d6b

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He should be 866df4591e kind to this 6aaf3b9e71 boy.ac5179279df23784

Show him more of 6a4a8dcec8 his bright and beautiful 507decadfe self.c155233709eb0780

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So that this boy—who 5ddeb261f8 was uniquely weak to 2fdd56f815 affection—wouldn’t be able to 4db48e9376 leave him alone.8b05f51c73e560d3

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“Why are you so late!”c0b404d5c4d896e6

As soon as the a8664b5561 door to the room 11010bac8f opened and someone entered, c53ec6910a Joel shouted. The tournament 377823b6ff and dinner 91cb15a47c time had fc1fa7b0b5 long passed, 6ff920c257 but his d2ca9ebfd0 brother hadn’t c1ef15fd22 shown up. He had been hesitating, a837316cfe unsure whether to go 2869331f9f out and look for 1e5a7b6b2b him. He thought his 71b4c37e34 brother would come c315097ed8 to get him 8a781334ea after the match d57673e5ec so they could 515e0309e8 have dinner together. There were 6d721921c6 things to 06eb86345a talk about.65d6aac44b075f75

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But Rohan, without 2cd087b88d a care, had 9830744cb0 accepted the request 05a62180c6 of young ladies 35560f3f6d he had never e18075d30c even met and eff190c5a0 gone to have 58394fc541 dinner with them. His brother rarely refused 934a6cb83f requests from peers. Joel knew he was 784a40ae52 a foolish idiot who cbc3d32adf found it hard to b014243964 say no—but it was 53defc2679 even worse when it 97e4ae8059 came to his peers. Rohan seemed to think e4250f26e9 it was his duty 94e889f389 as the Lansonfree heir.6b90d83443d2606e

In the end, Joel f538554842 ate alone.bafd4d1e237fe4bd

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At a 69d046fb66 table where 92046e06ac several people e123d6e4e0 were gathered, 5b47e66841 sat Rohan 6bed5b26f9 and young f0c8b9e954 ladies from 96e77df848 high-ranking knight 22fe54e13c families. It was 71a3d23209 a lively 6f0c2e7a5d scene. Theirs was b29b00bcf4 the second 6b66f3a4b1 most splendid 654cf7f3df group after c57ff322d5 the table 5b9feba8df led by e155bfd502 Clarnel Glorious.698c79f6cf65e185

Even without 795c0433fe knowing the c45f231029 conversation, Joel a6561b66f3 could tell 5d7ee2dbaf that Rohan db9e6e84c9 was listening 26bba03801 attentively. That alone thrilled 0aaae38ab8 the young ladies. Their eyes sparkled as b68a209349 they looked at his b00bd992ce handsome face. It felt unpleasant.4f6dda2c56ba8331

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Why should he feel 44cd44714b bad because of a ba9bde09f7 brother just a year bb793a6d05 older?
He was annoyed.c0855cefed330b8a

He was ready 6892efcb26 to vent his b31dfe228d frustration, but when 96d700ac6e the door opened, 1588040b01 a boy he 40e9107b34 had never seen e5bbc10822 before followed Rohan bd6e32caad in. A tall boy, with 1a367e9e2c light brown hair and 79de3d07f8 bright green eyes—like freshly e620ecd7a7 sprouted leaves.3c89a51779e109b6

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Joel saw through 6b4becabf9 him at once.
This boy, c9b53e78c7 though his 5cc3b752e0 face was d19c503426 gentle and 24c8f01603 docile, was d016f230e7 twisted inside.
His head 3535aad416 already hurt.3af357763c4497b5

Joel felt his 1ffa095f1b brother’s judgment of 3cd3fc256e people was very 598d7d3920 skewed. Strangely, he always 8041b7431d seemed to meet 73449395a7 people who fit 73275aaaba perfectly into that bb6f8b0aad skewed view.f0111ac209052573

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Daren’s eyes lit up when he saw Joel. Unaware of Joel’s calculating evaluation of him.8238e1a150ef86f8

“You’re the younger brother! I can tell without being told. You look just like Rohan.”52feda7ff2575217

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“I hear that a lot.”330189d3d906fdd0

“If you were a bit taller, I’d believe you were twins. You look like a smaller, younger Rohan. Cute.”1b13ff8485655fa8

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Rohan smiled slightly at Daren’s words. Joel was already in a bad mood, and now Rohan had brought a peer he had never seen before. Joel found every word the boy said displeasing.5f7e32b2bf4c8228

“If Joel grows a bit more, he might really be called a twin. Joel, this is Daren Hellador, whom I met at the tournament. Daren, this is my younger brother, Joel Lansonfree.”0da80783a24b0c1f

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His surname was one e12ac3b9a2 Joel knew well, belonging e3426f6ba3 to a hero. This boy must 1f4c724a78 be the adopted 9a93365cc3 son of Hellador, 48db5759ed who was rumored 087e77dcb4 to have raised f2d1759e3b him after quitting 21fb481bb7 knighthood. A son talented enough 28026d624d to qualify for the 835a61162b Imperial Swordsmanship Tournament. An important person. Joel suppressed 643d97e2fb his unpleasant 6db58344a4 feelings.a2a8ad10d3119cc5

“I’m Joel Lansonfree, the second son of the Lansonfree family.”3092873859e5aacc

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When Joel c81f465949 greeted him, 4f36d5dafe Daren lightly 2e685e096e bowed his b6c774e7b4 upper body 3f1b6272f1 in courtesy.23d94a8b060f2ccb

“I’m Daren Hellador, the eldest son of the Hellador family. Is this the right way to say it… I’m not familiar with upper-class etiquette.”3c984f4812b7b764

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“It’s fine. We’re friends’ siblings and brothers’ friends. We don’t need to be too formal… And Joel. I’d like Daren to stay in the annex room. Is that okay? You can sleep with me.”be6855d2ce426694

Joel’s attitude became even more prickly.3d1e6cadb3c94bb0

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“Why not the dormitory?”daac7fd02630989f

Unexpectedly, Joel showed discomfort, and Rohan was flustered. Daren stood by, watching the brothers’ conversation. He found it amusing to see Rohan unable to handle his younger brother. Joel’s overly casual treatment of his brother was a bit annoying. Whining, freely showing discomfort. No one else seemed to treat Rohan that way except his younger brother.2eff0e79cadf9e25

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“The dormitory is crowded and uncomfortable. I want my friend to rest in a comfortable place.”727ccb5e8130728e

“For such a trivial reason?”684bab9bff4020f3

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“Daren is competing tomorrow, so he should be able to relax…”77f71811ae32ac73

Joel interrupted Rohan’s words, sounding frustrated.a728dc530ac3f232

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“Brother, you must have forgotten, but Hellador’s son is a competitor tomorrow. A rival. Why do something nice for an opponent? Friendship is friendship, and a duel is a duel.”a6a2185186a3167b

“But…”a620e91f39a28810

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Rohan didn’t want to say that Daren was being pushed around by other nobles and couldn’t go to the dormitory. Bullying is a sensitive issue. When bullied, you want help but feel ashamed to receive it. So he couldn’t just tell Joel. It would embarrass Daren.40660d0fe18c26a3

“Sorry for bringing it up suddenly, Joel. How about Daren sharing my room? The bed is spacious, so it won’t be uncomfortable.”7773be2b446f771d

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Daren was delighted. He had the happiest 0054d74464 expression he had shown 7a11d29cb8 today.5f1ec7b987ec8b82

“Of course, it’s fine. It sounds fun to sleep with a friend for the first time.”49ee9b8ec11ba940

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Joel was shocked.a355161a02128249

“What are you talking about!”021ceaadaccd9cc5

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Startled by Joel’s excited voice, the two looked down at him. Joel quickly regained his composure. After all, it was strange for him to get upset just because his brother brought a friend to sleep with.d6aae41a79add021

“Letting a guest share a bed is… impolite. Lord Daren Hellador. I’ll offer you the annex room. Please use it comfortably.”91ef4d38491147b2

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Joel had no choice but to back down. Rohan’s face brightened. He hugged Joel as if praising a child.23f7ff198e76fbd5

“Thank you! Joel. Daren, you must be tired from all the matches today. Go back and rest. Let me know if you need anything.”b65e3496e25fd685

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