I Will Become the Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 56

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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56

 

It suddenly flashed through my mind when and how the character Kaileus first appeared in 【Golden Covenant】.

 

Kail… after receiving harsh education under Selpieus for several years, only returns to Pelrn in the middle of the novel’s storyline. With powerful strength and a ruthless disposition.

 

On brother’s graduation day, when we talked assuming Kail would attend the military academy, I felt a constant sense of unease. Why had I forgotten this until now?

 

I had unconsciously begun to think of the villain from the original work and my friend Kail in reality as separate entities.

 

I had unconsciously come to firmly believe that he would advance to the military academy like my brothers.

 

I felt as if all the blood in my body was turning cold and draining away.

 

It seemed like the Kail I had known and protected all this time would scatter like smoke.

 

“Kail, wait!”

 

I shouted toward Kail as he moved away.

 

He didn’t look back, but slightly slowed his pace.

 

I spurred my horse forward and blocked his path.

 

The two horses that nearly collided stepped back hesitantly and neighed.

 

Kail’s indifferent expression looked quite similar to Selpieus, making my voice tremble.

 

“Why… Why did you make such a decision? Tell me the reason…”

 

I asked even though I knew the answer. I desperately hoped he wouldn’t do this.

 

My pulse throbbed unpleasantly in the silence.

 

Kail’s lips repeatedly came together and parted several times.

 

Then, as if he had made a decision, he looked directly at me with straight eyes.

 

“Rieze. I’m going to become the heir to the Diern Ducal House.”

 

For a moment, I doubted my ears.

 

Because it was the first time I had heard Kail pronounce my name.

 

Those three syllables of my name, called for the first time in three whole years, were so unwelcome.

 

I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them. After steadying my breath, I asked carefully.

 

“…Did His Grace say that? That if you follow him to the north, he’ll make you his heir?”

 

“No. I decided it on my own. Father only said he hasn’t designated an heir yet. He did approve of my following him to the duchy.”

 

“…Aiming for the heir position means you’ll be hostile toward Brother Darius, Kail.”

 

“It’s been that way until now, so what’s new about it.”

 

His cold words scratched at my heart.

 

Darius cherishes you so dearly, yet why are you still, Kail…

 

If only I could sense even a hint of hesitation or wavering from Kail, there would have been room to press further.

 

“…What are you planning to do?”

 

“Well. First, I’ll train to death, and later when the time comes, I plan to ask for a formal heir competition.”

 

Upon hearing ‘heir competition,’ the latter part of the original story unfolded in my mind.

 

The heir competition that Kail had been scheming falls through due to Duke Selpieus’s sudden death and his will.

 

Just before his last breath, Duke Selpieus doesn’t designate an heir, but instead reveals Kail’s birth secret in front of everyone.

 

That he has a different birth mother, and that she was the woman he truly loved.

 

Perhaps he thought he was repenting while seeing his life flash before his eyes, but it was like pushing Kail into hellfire.

 

Setting aside the retainers and knights who heard that will not acknowledging Kail, Kail himself turns dark from the sense of betrayal.

 

The truth that only I knew rose to my throat.

 

Kail, you won’t be rewarded in the end.

 

You really are the illegitimate child of a maid…!

 

I felt that if things continued this way, Kail would turn dark like in the original and follow the same path, and that thought was unbearably frightening.

 

My eyes stung with heat.

 

Instead of shouting the truth that would be useless to tell, I spoke a desperate plea.

 

“Don’t go, Kail…”

 

Seeing the tears flowing down my cheeks, Kail’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

“Don’t go…”

 

He slowly reached out and wiped my cheek.

 

Carefully, as if touching thin glass that would break at the slightest touch.

 

“…Why. Why are you acting like this?”

 

“…”

 

“Your reaction is completely different from when you thought I’d go to the military academy, so I’m confused.”

 

Muttering like that, Kail kept wiping away my tears that kept falling.

 

Unable to find an appropriate answer, I just moved my lips wordlessly.

 

It’s hot. Both the tears and his touch.

 

“We won’t be able to meet every other week, but we should still be able to see each other once or twice a year.”

 

Kail spoke slowly as if coaxing a child.

 

“I’ll definitely return to Pelrn within five years. So… don’t cry.”

 

This was the first time I’d seen Kail use such a gentle and caring tone. And it hurt terribly.

 

Kail once again wiped away the tears flowing down my cheek.

 

With delicate gestures, he arranged my disheveled bangs.

 

“Just be patient and wait a little. I’ll keep getting stronger and more impressive each time I return.”

 

“No! I don’t want that. Don’t go. Please, I’m begging you…”

 

I shook my head vigorously and grabbed his hand tightly with both of mine.

 

Kail, who had been looking down at my arms holding onto him, let out a short laugh before suppressing it.

 

“What, I’m being serious, so why are you laughing!”

 

“…Come down for a moment.”

 

With an expression of suppressing laughter as if something was amusing, Kail dismounted from his saddle.

 

I also came down to the ground following Kail.

 

When I glared at him, Kail let out another quiet laugh.

 

“Do you like me that much? Enough to cry because you’re sad about not being able to see me often?”

 

After saying such nonsense, wasn’t he trying to embrace me?

 

“I’m not doing this because I’m sad about not meeting often!”

 

I pushed against Kail’s shoulder and shouted.

 

“Then?”

 

“You could just keep training while attending the military academy. Why do you insist on going to the duchy!”

 

“…”

 

Kail, who had been staring at me with round eyes, took a step back.

 

Then he calmly added an explanation.

 

“That’s not enough. To surpass Darius, who’s older than me and has already achieved merit, receiving the same level of education as that guy won’t even come close. If I receive direct guidance from Father, I can grow dramatically. I can also build trust with the knights…”

 

“I don’t want that.”

 

“…What exactly don’t you want? Are you worried I’ll have a hard time?”

 

“…”

 

“If that’s it, you don’t need to worry so much. As you said, I’ll definitely rest well one day a week.”

 

“…What if you become as harsh and scary as Duke Selpieus? I don’t want that.”

 

After pondering deeply, I gave the reason closest to the truth.

 

Words that could seem somewhat unfilial.

 

Kail, who had hesitated as if taken aback, awkwardly raised the corners of his mouth and shook his head.

 

“…I won’t.”

 

“How can you guarantee that?”

 

Kail let out a hollow breath.

 

“…I’ll swear not to become a cold-blooded person like our father. Is that enough?”

 

I could feel deep patience in his tone as he spoke each word slowly and deliberately.

 

I shook my head.

 

“No. Still, don’t go.”

 

As I continued to be stubborn, Kail’s eyelids furrowed with puzzlement.

 

I couldn’t say such nonsense as “I’m a possessor and I know the future where you change like that.”

 

I had no idea what other excuse I could possibly make beyond this.

 

From his perspective, this must be completely incomprehensible behavior.

 

A friend clinging to his pant legs when he’s trying to leave to study abroad for his future.

 

Even after he carefully explained his aspirations, I only brought up unreasonable objections to stop him.

 

Kail ran his hands through his hair and let out a long breath before looking at me.

 

“What’s the real reason you’re doing this.”

 

“…I don’t know.”

 

“Tell me.”

 

“…I can’t say.”

 

“I laid everything bare for you.”

 

“Sorry. I can’t explain it right now.”

 

“Then I can’t accept it. It’s my life, my goal!”

 

Kail raised his voice as if frustrated.

 

He was right. Everything he said was right.

 

I could never convince him.

 

Not unless I revealed the truth that Kail would never believe.

 

A bleak wind swept across the meadow.

 

The heated words we’d just exchanged echoed in the air like lingering reverberations.

 

Kail must be feeling just as suffocated and frustrated as I was.

 

I quietly lowered my head and gathered my thoughts.

 

My tears had stopped at some point.

 

Kail turned his back to me. Then he roughly rubbed his face with dry hands.

 

“…Ha. Let’s go for now.”

 

Then he leaped up onto the saddle.

 

I stood still, searching for a way to stop Kail, and finally found one.

 

The only card I had left.

 

“Kail. Our current competition record is 97 to 98.”

 

He whipped around to look down at me, his eyes narrowing.

 

“Let’s settle it today.”

 

“What…”

 

“If I reach 100 wins first… you won’t go to the Diern Domain.”

 

I had started to say he should give up his position as heir, but changed my words since that would be an unreasonable wish that would destroy Kail from his very foundation.

 

But even that seemed absurd to Kail.

 

He opened his mouth wide, then burst into incredulous laughter.

 

“…Are you insane?”

 

“I’m not insane.”

 

“That’s really your wish?”

 

The shadows in Kail’s eyes deepened as he asked back.

 

He seemed to feel contempt for me acting so pathetically for unknown reasons.

 

“Yes.”

 

Even if he hated me for now, the thought that I had to stop Kail was stronger, so I endured his disgust and pushed through with my will.

 

Kail’s voice continued, muttering curses under his breath.

 

Then, as if to see just how far this could go, Kail nodded with blazing eyes.

 

“…Fine. Let’s do it.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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