Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 107

107―――――

Somewhere Between a Black Flame Dragon and Blackening

The duties of a squire, also called a trainee knight or an acolyte, are quite diverse.

From maintaining the armor and weapons of the knight they serve, to learning various martial arts and horsemanship to fulfill their role as a trainee knight, they also had to take on miscellaneous tasks such as caring for horses.

Originally, it was common practice for knights to entrust their children to each other, but Rishikida was a knight who had surrendered from Nudia, so she didn’t have that level of camaraderie with the knights of Clausen.

For that reason, even though the two siblings became squires, it was almost unheard of for grown men and women, not young boys and girls, to become squires from common territory residents, so it was only natural that Jimmy and Trisha saw it as a stroke of good fortune.

That was the perspective of most people in the castle.

‘Ughhhhh!’

However, Trisha couldn’t figure out if this was luck or misfortune.

“Wake up!”

Exactly three days after entering the Clausen Marchion’s castle, which had felt like a dream.

Trisha was startled by the thunderous shout.

When she got up, a female knight in simple attire with a sword at her waist was glaring at her.

“W-Why all of a sudden…”

“The sun is high in the sky, what are you doing?

Aren’t you going to prepare for training right now?”

The sun is high in the sky?

Trisha turned her head to look out the window.

Clearly, the sun was rising, but it hadn’t even risen halfway, and the darkness of dawn still lingered.

‘What’s going on?’ Trisha was being lazy when Rishikida flipped the bed over with a vein throbbing on her forehead.

“Ughack?”

“Wake up.

Don’t make me say it twice.”

“W-What are you doing!

I am…”

“First.

Your name is Trisha Faker, not Darkdragon or whatever.

Second.

His Grace appointed you as my squire, so from now on, you must unconditionally obey my orders.”

“Why should I follow your orders!”

“If you don’t, I might punish you.”

Swish―.

A sword emitting a chilling aura was half-drawn from Rishikida’s waist.

In addition, when she subtly released her energy, Trisha flinched and cowered.

Even if she was a *chuunibyou* [a person with delusions of grandeur, often adopting fantastical personas], a believer in the Black Flame Dragon, she knew that getting stabbed by a sword meant dying.

“I’ll give you 5 minutes.

Assemble at the training grounds.

If you’re late, then you’ll personally find out whether your Darkdragon is stronger or my sword is stronger.”

Rishikida was carrying out Sion’s order to treat Trisha as terribly as possible without fail, at 200 percent.

Should she be called a true knight after all?

Thus, Trisha’s nightmare began from the first day.

Originally, one would go through basic training to build up stamina and then enter intensive training, but Rishikida intentionally forced Trisha into intensive training from the start, completely taking her mind off things.

On top of that, she made the excuse that the duties of male and female squires were slightly different, separating the two siblings and treating Jimmy kindly while treating Trisha cruelly without hesitation.

“Are you going to get tired with just this much?

Your nickname of Darkdragon is a waste!”

Crushing Trisha’s Black Flame Dragon was nothing.

“You’ve been leeching off your brother with this level and weak mentality!

You weak trash!”

Personal attacks were a natural course of action.

‘Damn human woman!’

For the first few days, she felt wronged and angry, so she tried to endure with stubbornness and determination.

She thought that she might be struggling a bit now because it was the first time, but as someone who inherited the blood of the Darkdragon, she would definitely do well and be able to put that noisy female knight in her place.

However, Rishikida was not such an easy woman.

If Trisha seemed to endure or grow even a little, she would immediately throw her into a huge obstacle, completely crushing her pride.

At the same time, she made Jimmy’s training have a similar structure to the tests she gave, so that Jimmy could achieve better results than Trisha.

Should it be said that it was an action worthy of that master and that knight?

‘Keueueueuk!’

After a week, and then two weeks, Trisha gradually became exhausted.

A woman who didn’t leave her alone for even an hour, let alone a day, and drove her like crazy.

As someone who had been living as an ordinary territory resident, helping her older brother Jimmy Faker with household chores or helping with farming, it was only natural that she couldn’t withstand the storm of training.

However, what tormented Trisha even more than those trainings and Rishikida was Jimmy Faker, who would praise Rishikida whenever they met during breaks.

He was her own brother.

“Trisha.

I think we’re really lucky.

I thought that Sion saving me was already luck I wouldn’t have until I died, but to be able to learn everything as a squire under such a great knight.”

“What?

Great?”

“Yeah.

Knight Rishikida Amshel.

She teaches me so kindly and in detail, from the very small things to the overall things, that I even want to become a knight like that in the future.”

“…”

Since her brother, whom she trusted and followed the most, said that, she endured for the time being, thinking that maybe she was misunderstanding, or that she might show such a *moseup* [Korean word for ‘appearance’ or ‘aspect’] in the future.

However, Rishikida still pecked at Trisha like crazy, drove her mercilessly, and treated her so oppressively that it seemed too much.

But how could her brother only praise Rishikida, that devilish woman, every time he saw her, and until he returned to the dormitory? Even Trisha, who was the biggest brother-lover, couldn’t help but feel antipathy.

“Today, I had swordsmanship training with Rishikida-nim, and she said that I’m still lacking, but that I can definitely grow…”

“Stop!

Stop it now!

I’m sick of it!”

“Huh?”

“I’m sick of it!

That woman’s story, that great female knight’s story!

Stop talking about her in front of me!

Are you not worried about me?

Are you not curious about what kind of time I’m spending!”

Jimmy looked at his sister with a bewildered gaze and quickly opened his mouth.

Lately, only good things had been happening, so it seemed that he hadn’t been able to take care of his sister’s feelings.

He apologized, saying that his brother was wrong.

With the thought that maybe there was something he didn’t know between Rishikida and his sister.

However, the next day, Rishikida suddenly gathered the two siblings in one place and started training, as if she had predicted their situation.

Of course, the sharp criticisms and harsh words that had been pouring down on Trisha disappeared.

Instead, reasonable criticism and scolding took their place.

“I warned you repeatedly not to do that, Trisha!”

“Ugh!”

“Look at your brother.

He’s still holding the shield steadily!

This isn’t a matter of men and women.

It’s a matter of the will to fight and win, the will to protect what’s precious to me!

Hold up your shield!”

Trisha wouldn’t know at all, and Jimmy wouldn’t know either.

Rishikida intentionally showed Trisha the difficult path and told Jimmy the easy path.

For that reason, since there was a difference in learning speed, even if they gathered together and did the same thing, the difference was bound to be clearly revealed.

Thanks to this, from Jimmy’s point of view, his incompetent sister, who couldn’t keep up even with the same teacher, was becoming more and more prominent.

“His Grace specially accepted you two as squires.

This is a great benefit and gift that no other territory resident can enjoy!

Why do you keep delaying and trying to cause harm to him with foolish actions!”

Adding Sion’s name subtly made it impossible for Jimmy to rashly protect Trisha.

He had been given such special treatment, thinking of himself and his sister, but if he couldn’t prove that much value, the biggest problem was betraying someone’s expectations, let alone being kicked out right away.

Moreover, the person who was placing expectations on him was none other than the savior of his life.

“Look.

Look!

Brother saw it too.

She’s only saying things to me!

That woman is strange.

She’s only nice to brother!”

“…”

“She definitely has other intentions.

Some petty and dirty thoughts…”

“Trisha.

Stop it.”

All those thoughts combined, and Jimmy raised his voice to his sister for the first time.

“…What did you say?”

“I told you to stop.

Stop whining.

Neither you nor I are kids.

I’m an adult, and you’ll be twenty in two years.

We’re adults.”

“What does that have to do with anything!”

“It means I can’t *matchwojul su itda* [Korean: 맞춰줄 수 있다 – put up with] to your ridiculous antics forever.

We’ve received someone’s expectations, and we have to live up to them.

We don’t have time to spend complaining.”

“Does it look like I’m complaining for no reason right now?

That female knight…”

“I clearly told you to stop, Trisha!”

Jimmy shouted as he *beoltteok ireoseomyeo* [Korean: 벌떡 일어서며 – abruptly stood up] from his seat.

Trisha could only *tansigeul naebaeteul* [Korean: 탄식을 내뱉을 – let out a sigh] with a ‘huh?’ at her brother’s sharp reaction, which she had never seen before.

“Complaining for no reason.

Yes, that’s exactly what complaining for no reason is.

Look at your *moseup* [Korean: 모습 – appearance] today.

You haven’t been able to keep up with the knight’s training even once.

It’s like you haven’t done anything for over two weeks!”

“Th, That’s!”

“Every time the knight tells you to do something, it’s hard, it’s tough, she keeps saying things.

After saying that, was there nothing you actually did?

Trisha, *jeongsin charyeo* [Korean: 정신 차려 – get a grip].

The world isn’t a place where your jokes can be *badajul su inneun* [Korean: 받아줄 수 있는 – accepted] forever.

This brother almost died in the war.

I have to get stronger.

I have to get stronger to survive, and to do that, I have to *noryeogeul haeya handago!* [Korean: 노력을 해야 한다고! – make an effort!]

It’s not like those ridiculous antics will make things better!”

Antipathy towards his sister, who was *yokhaneun* [Korean: 욕하는 – cursing] someone who was nice to him and whom he himself was following well.

Stress that had been *ssahin* [Korean: 쌓인 – accumulated] without him knowing, from raising his sister since she was young and *gamdanghaneura* [Korean: 감당하느라 – coping with] her *chuunibyou* [delusions of grandeur] antics.

On top of that, the pressure to *bandeusi bueunghae yahanda neun* [Korean: 반드시 부응해야 한다는 – must meet] expectations, Jimmy ended up getting angry.

Moreover, he didn’t just get angry.

All the emotions he had towards his sister until now were *geudaero deureonatda* [Korean: 그대로 드러났다 – revealed as is].

Clearly, she was his only family, precious to him, and someone he could give everything to.

They can’t live together forever, and someday they’ll have to walk their own path.

To do that, he had to get stronger from now on, and it was time to stop the ridiculous antics.

“Trisha.

This brother is also a person.

I can’t help but be *jichigo, himdeul* [Korean: 지치고, 힘들 – tired and exhausted].

And at the same time, I can’t be by your side forever.

I’m saying that I can’t *badajul su itda* [Korean: 받아줄 수 있다 – accept] those jokes forever.”

“Th, That’s…”

“I want to live properly.

This life that His Grace saved, that debt.

I want it to be *kkok jedaero sseuigo* [Korean: 꼭 제대로 쓰이고 – used properly].

To do that, I have to *noryeokhaeya* [Korean: 노력해야 – make an effort] from now on.

Even if this body breaks, I don’t want to *baeshinhago* [Korean: 배신하고 – betray] the faith of that person.

If you don’t have any intention of doing that, stop right now.

And if you’re going to *heomdam* [Korean: 험담 – slander] the knight in the future, I won’t listen anymore.

Because I clearly saw how much *uimi eomneun* [Korean: 의미 없는 – meaningless] time you’ve spent until now.”

The person he trusted and relied on the most suddenly pushes him away.

The person who had always *useojugo* [Korean: 웃어주고 – smiled] and treated him well, no matter what he said or what jokes he made, suddenly changes after only ten days, raises his voice, gets angry, and *seuseuro georireul dunda* [Korean: 스스로 거리를 둔다 – distances himself] that he has to change from now on.

“…”

Perhaps Trisha herself had *eoryeomputi nunchi chaego isseotda* [Korean: 어렴풋이 눈치 채고 있었다 – vaguely noticed].

She couldn’t hide herself as a Darkdragon forever.

Just like her parents did, her brother would also *kkuril* [Korean: 꾸릴 – build] a family, and then she would leave Jimmy’s side and finally become *honjaga* [Korean: 혼자가 – alone] and live in this world on her own.

However, she had been *oechyeotdeon* [Korean: 외쳤던 – shouting] the Black Flame Dragon even more in the hope that that time would come even a little later.

While trying to prepare to *meoreojigi* [Korean: 멀어지기 – distance herself] from her brother little by little.

Suddenly, a strange female knight named Rishikida *buteoseo* [Korean: 붙어서 – stuck to] and didn’t even give her that time, *ppaeaseoseo* [Korean: 빼앗아서 – snatched] her brother and *meolli tteoreotteuryeotda* [Korean: 멀리 떨어트렸다 – distanced] him.

“…Bad.”

She hated Rishikida, that female knight, and she hated the reality, which was *geuri nokrokchiman eun* [Korean: 그리 녹록치만은 – not so easy].

But what she hated even more was the brother who had *useojugo* [Korean: 웃어주고 – smiled] and treated her well for the long 18 years.

Who had *byeonhaeseo* [Korean: 변해서 – changed] in just ten days, raised his voice, got angry, and *ttakdareunghaneun* [Korean: 닦달하는 – urging] her.

“Everyone, *kkeojyeo* [Korean: 꺼져 – get lost].

I don’t need it.”

Trisha *jungeolgeorimyeo* [Korean: 중얼거리며 – muttering] like that and turned her back on her brother and *georeogatda* [Korean: 걸어갔다 – walked] to the opposite side.

Jimmy also *barabomyeo* [Korean: 바라보며 – looking at] such a sister and only *naeswil ppun hansum* [Korean: 내쉴 뿐 한숨 – only let out a sigh], he didn’t apologize as before, saying he was sorry, or *dallaeryeogo* [Korean: 달래려고 – try to soothe] his sister.

Both he and his sister.

It was time to face reality and *beoseonal* [Korean: 벗어날 – escape] from the illusion.

―

Officially, Trisha became a trainee knight of Clausen, so she was able *doradanil* [Korean: 돌아다닐 – wander around] the inside of the castle, albeit in a limited way.

For that reason, she is currently *cheobakhyeo* [Korean: 처박혀 – holed up] in the garden and *huljjeokigo* [Korean: 훌쩍이고 – sobbing].

“How could he do that.

How…

Did he fall for that female knight in just two weeks?

Is that what it is…”

She shouldn’t be *ireomyeon* [Korean: 이러면 – like this].

Her reason was *sorichigo* [Korean: 소리치고 – shouting] that he was the brother who had taken care of her until now.

Trisha’s *nunmuri heulleonaeryeotda* [Korean: 눈물이 흘러내렸다 – tears flowed down] at the *seounham* [Korean: 서운함 – feeling of hurt] and *baeshin gam* [Korean: 배신감 – sense of betrayal] that kept *bukbatchyeo* [Korean: 북받쳐 – welling up].

The shock was great and the emotions were *gyeokhaejineun* [Korean: 격해지는 – intensifying], as the person who had been on her side for that long 18 years suddenly *byeonhaebeorini* [Korean: 변해버리니 – changed], which was a natural thing.

Trisha was *cheoryanghage jjogeurigo anjaseo* [Korean: 처량하게 쪼그리고 앉아서 – pathetically squatting] in a corner of the garden like that and *huljjeokigo* [Korean: 훌쩍이고 – sobbing] for several tens of minutes.

“Why is the great Darkdragon *ulgo* [Korean: 울고 – crying] in the corner?”

Trisha was *hwadeuljjak nollaseoneun* [Korean: 화들짝 놀라서는 – startled] at the *moksorie* [Korean: 목소리에 – voice] that suddenly *deullyeooneun* [Korean: 들려오는 – coming] and *deureotda* [Korean: 들었다 – lifted] her head.

There, a very *uahhan jataereul ppomnaeneun* [Korean: 우아한 자태를 뽐내는 – elegant figure] young man was *pyeolchyeojigo* [Korean: 펼쳐지고 – unfolding] the scene of *naeryeodabogo* [Korean: 내려다보고 – looking down at] her with a smile on his face.

“S, Sion, Your Grace.”

“What’s wrong?”

*Cheolpeodeok*―.

Sion, sitting down on the corner of the garden, unlike the *jaje* [Korean: 자제 – restraint] of a noble family, the *hyeogeja* [Korean: 후계자 – heir] of this *geodaehan* [Korean: 거대한 – huge] Marchion.

Trisha was *saljjak danghwanghamyeonseodo* [Korean: 살짝 당황하면서도 – slightly embarrassed] at the *teoltteolhan moseup* [Korean: 털털한 모습 – easygoing appearance] and *daechung dakgo* [Korean: 대충 닦고 – roughly wiping] her tears *amureohgena* [Korean: 아무렇게나 – carelessly], and *ibeul yeoreotda* [Korean: 입을 열었다 – opened her mouth] as if nothing had happened.

“It’s just that the training is a bit *himdeureoseo* [Korean: 힘들어서 – difficult].

Ah, no.

It’s just.

I’m fine.”

“Really?

Then that’s a relief.

I’ve been *jikyeobwatneunde* [Korean: 지켜봤는데 – watching] a few times lately, and it seems like you’re having a hard time.”

Trisha *seuljjeok chyeodabonda* [Korean: 슬쩍 쳐다본다 – glances at] him at Sion’s words.

He’s been *jikyeobwatda* [Korean: 지켜봤다 – watching] her?

She’s never *neukkin jeogi* [Korean: 느낀 적이 – felt] such a *siseon* [Korean: 시선 – gaze].

“Trisha Faker.”

“Yes.”

“Is it hard?”

Trisha could only *kkambbagigo* [Korean: 깜빡이고 – blink] her eyes at Sion’s *gapjakseureoun* [Korean: 갑작스러운 – sudden] words, even though she knew it was *murye* [Korean: 무례 – rude].

In fact, the *taiming* [timing] was too *jeolmyeolghan* [Korean: 절묘한 – perfect], and someone suddenly *dagaoon* [Korean: 다가온 – approached] after the person she trusted and relied on the most *naechigo* [Korean: 내치고 – pushed] her and she was *heoujeokdaego* [Korean: 허우적대고 – struggling] in the shock.

“Trisha.

Shall I tell you something *jaemiinneun* [Korean: 재미있는 – interesting]?

Do you know that many people in the world, everyone has a Darkdragon in their hearts at least once?”

“Wh, What are you saying…”

“Because the existence of me is such a *sojunghan* [Korean: 소중한 – precious] existence.

But the world doesn’t know that, and it only *himdeulgeman* [Korean: 힘들게만 – makes it hard] the person called me, so I’m *geoneun choemyeon* [Korean: 거는 최면 – hypnotizing] on myself.

I’m a *daedanhan* [Korean: 대단한 – great] existence, a person who can do anything.

Consciously, and *muuisikjeogeuro* [Korean: 무의식적으로 – unconsciously], everyone thinks and lives like that.”

“…”

“The person who *seonggonghaneun* [Korean: 성공하는 – succeeds] there becomes a real dragon, and the person who *kkeutnae* [Korean: 끝내 – eventually] doesn’t *beoseonaji* [Korean: 벗어나지 – escape] from the *hwansang* [Korean: 환상 – illusion] remains a Darkdragon.”

Sion, who said that, *kikkikgeorimyeo* [Korean: 킥킥거리며 – chuckling] and *garikyeotda* [Korean: 가리켰다 – pointed at] himself.

“I used to be a Darkdragon or something.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah.

A *daedanhan* [Korean: 대단한 – great] guy, a guy who can do anything.

I thought I was different from others.

But thinking alone wasn’t enough.

I had to do something, and I had to *jeungmyeong* [Korean: 증명 – prove].

I can’t remain as just a joke, just a *hwansang* [Korean: 환상 – illusion].

Because the person called me is a really *daedanhan* [Korean: 대단한 – great] existence.”

“…”

“I have to go now.

I’m going, believing that you’ll *jal igyeonaerira* [Korean: 잘 이겨내리라 – overcome it well].”

Sion, who *ireoseon* [Korean: 일어선 – stood up] from his seat, *tansigeul naebaetneunda*, ah, as he was about to *omgilyeo georeumeul* [Korean: 옮기려 걸음을 – move his steps].

And then, *garikimyeo* [Korean: 가리키며 – pointing at] the garden and *ibeul yeoreotda* [Korean: 입을 열었다 – opened his mouth].

“If it’s *himdeulmyeon* [Korean: 힘들면 – difficult] in the future, come here.

Sometimes, if a Darkdragon is *jichyeoseo* [Korean: 지쳐서 – tired] and sitting down, I can *eungwon jeongdo haejugo* [Korean: 응원 정도 해주고 – cheer you up] to cheer you up.”

“…*pit* [sound of disgust].

I don’t need that, *yo* [added for emphasis].”

“It’s okay if you don’t come.”

With those words, Sion *naseotda* [Korean: 나섰다 – left] the garden.

Trisha was *molrae salpigo* [Korean: 몰래 살피고 – secretly watching] Sion’s *dwitmoseup* [Korean: 뒷모습 – back], even though she wasn’t pretending.

He was a man who *barabwa* [Korean: 바라봐 – looked at] the Black Flame Dragon a little more *jinsildoege* [Korean: 진실되게 – sincerely], which everyone thought was her *cheoreomneun* [Korean: 철없는 – immature] joke.

“…”

However, there is one problem.

Rishikida had *jeonbu mokgyeokhaetda* [Korean: 전부 목격했다 – witnessed everything] the scene where Sion and Trisha were *daehwareul nanudeon* [Korean: 대화를 나누던 – having a conversation] in a pretty *joeun bunwigi* [Korean: 좋은 분위기 – good atmosphere].

*Ppadeuk*― [sound of grinding teeth].

The moment the *yeongi* [Korean: 연기 – acting] becomes *jinsim* [Korean: 진심 – genuine].