Chapter 32 (2/2)
I al
”Hahahaha, I am sorry, Doyle Please do not hate me”(Alan)
My father said this with a fake sad face like he always did He then put me down and started to stroke my hair
I always felt happy when he did this toand just stay like this
——–Present———
I reminisce of the past a bit I re me In those days, I always had Claire and Gray beside me and had fun with my father at his workplace I think those were some of the happiest et those moments back I think at that time I still had no idea aboutany spear skills yet I thought eventually I would get theht I think at that tile day I wonder why that changed and why did I not notice it faster
I look at Jin who is now trying to sords and come up with a reason as to why I said that I toldthese lines at the time
”But I have never relied on the king I do not understand what you are saying Father The aides are there to protect and help the king”(Doyle)
The reply ive Jin now
”It is the duty of the master to take responsibility for his or her subordinates'Thus, the king must take responsibility for anydo as you please, then it will be very hard to protect the is there to protect the people Thus, do the aides count as people for the king to protect?”(Doyle)
Jin is quietly listening to ive tothis, but I have no doubt he will pick the same answer as me
”To stand next to the king , both physically and spiritually If you are like the guards who just serve the king, you will be considered as one of the king's people To be so is to never rely on hiet Theis the moment you switch from an aide to one of his people So cannot be soIn the past, my father told me this and asked me one more question Which side do you want to be on?”(Doyle)
I breathe after saying that
I re and not one of his people
”Does Jin choose to protect or be protected?”(Doyle)
I ask Jin the saain
—–Childhood——
”Which side does Doyle prefer to be on?”(Alan)
”I will be next to hi me!”(Doyle)
”Hahahahaha! Of course, you would be worried!”(Alan)
”Yes! I aer than Gray, so I have to protect him!”(Doyle)
”Exactly! Doyle will be someone who can protect him!”(Alan)
”Yes!”(Doyle)
——Present———–
I answered this way to my father that day, but I answered that way because I could not i me at the ti of my father words
Gray is the First Prince
You will be accused of getting help fro if Gray helps you, and Gray will be accused of abusing his power
If Gray does not like you, you will be an outcast from the nobles' circle and all parts of this country
This is why he tries to be gentle and kind This is also why he did not refute Lute on the spot or deny him
He s inside him and is forced to endure such a path Gray loves this country, and the people that live in it He does not want anyone to come to harm because of his actions He puts on his facade, so he does not hurt other people He becaentle prince to show to the people that he can handle anything However, his real persona is a passionate man who is more emotional than anyone
”Fro next to him I will never take his hand, no matter how much he wants to help me I will not be the protected I will be the one who protects I want to became his hero, and a hero does not ask the people he protects for help I want to become this, so he can always depend on me”(Doyle)
Gray sees me as his friend This is the reason I have decided to not rely on him I am not one of his people He would put on his alternate persona if I was one of his people, but he does not need to worry about anything and can act like hi that ”he will be waiting” is enough for me I will not kneel to ive him my hand for whenever he needs help
That is why I still want to be a [Hero], because a [Hero] is an existence that everyone relies on Whether it be the people or the king, they will come to the [Hero] for help I always adrandfather being the supreme commander has the entire army rely on him Thus, even if I cannot have everyone people rely on me, I at least want my friend to rely on me
Seeing Jin very quiet in front ofabout the words I have said I know that Jin is a man who can protect Gray if need be, and he is suitable to be by Gray's side
More than anything, he can become a [Hero]
”The position of [Hero] is perfect for that That is why I envy you Jin, you can become a [Hero]”(Doyle)
”!Is that one of the reasons you were so fixated on the spear?”(Jin)
”My father and grandfather both thought it to be natural that I beco would always rely on my father for help whenever a problem arose, thus I wanted to be like my father A man who you knoill protect you, souess h I aive support to GrayRemember this is between us aides Do not tell Gray, ok?”(Doyle)
I tell him honestly that I am envious of him, and he looks very shocked at that I also tell him the reason for that and tell hiive to me if he hears this
”Doyle, you are being cocky”(Gray)
I know for sure he would say this He protects Claire all the time I know he also wants to protect ht, and I can win against any opponent in this acadeh to beat down the [Hero]
I know I have made a lot detours and been sidetracked, but I will stand at a position where he can lean his back against h it looks like I made another detour, this will only count as detour if I lose I just have to win to make this a relevant trial on my path
”Well it is almost time for Ballad to come back Do you have any other questions?”(Doyle)
I ask Jin if he has any other questions for this visit since Ballad will be co back anytime now Also, I have to overcome that last Oxer
”Master Doyle!”(Jin)
”What!”(Doyle)
While thinking about where Ballad could be, Jin shouts my name loudly Blanc and Jin's horse both panic and start to jump around I am also surprised by this loud voice
”Master Doyle! I will definitely becohness, just like you!”(Jin)
”I already Knew that”(Doyle)
I ary deep inside He is able to say and do the things I can't so easily Oh well, I understand that it is just his personality that makes him like that I feel better now that I have talked to hiht lifted from my chest too
”Well then, you better return back to Gray's side No uarded, a servant must never leave his master's side”(Doyle)
”Yes! I ahness now, thus please practice with confidence!”(Jin)
As he says that, he quickly gets up, runs to his horse, and juets to take the reins off the fence though I did that for him I feel that he is either observant or just plain stupid sometimes
I look back at the last Oxer and think that if it was Jin, he would be able to make it across
”Jin”(Doyle)
”Yes?”(Jin)
”Can you jump that last Oxer?”(Doyle)
”Yes, I can!”(Jin)
I breath in when I hear that answer As I thought, he can do that things I can't do easily It is really frustrating that he can do it so easily when I have had no success despite trying so hard I do want to know the trick, but I do not want to ask for his help I wanted to always be better than hi the [Hero], but I s my pride because I want to win
”Are you not scared when you jump that last one?”(Doyle)
I ask Jin about the proble
”I am scared! But I always closeafter that so I can just trust my horse to run at full speed after that!”(Jin)
”What!”(Doyle)
The answer I get back is shocking Do not look if you are scared! What a si problem Hahahaha!
Certainly, he is right After this one Oxer, there is nothing left so why cannot I just trust Blanc to run though I can easily practice this solution I am seriously stupid to not look at the forest when I keep looking at the trees
”Is there so?'(Jin)
”No, thank you Jin It was very helpful”(Doyle)
”I do not understand, but if I was help too you, I alad!”(Jin)
”Thank you”(Doyle)
”You are welcoood day!”(Jin)
Jin breaths a sigh of relief when I thank him for his answer and starts to ride off in the direction of the dorms
”Thank you, it was a very helpful conversation Jin!”(Doyle)
”I also thank you, Master Doyle! I alad to knohat you hold in your heart! Come on Mahon, let's ride!”(Jin)
—–hihane!—-
Jin goes as fast as possible back to the dorms with his horse Mahon
”Are you done with your conversation, Master Doyle?”(Blanc)
Blanc comes up to me after I see Jin off, and I stroke his mane
”Blanc, you are faster than any horse there is right?”(Doyle)
”Yes, Master! I will surpass all your expectations!”(Blanc)
I stroke Blanc and get on his back