“What is the meaning of this?! This is the territory of the Arcadia Sword Kingdom!”
My mother stepped forward, her voice ringing with authority. In response, a man dismounted his horse and pushed through the circle of surrounding soldiers.
He appeared to be in his thirties. Although he wore full plate armor, the intricate decorations set him apart; I could tell at a glance that he was the leader.
“The Knight Order of the Dragonia Dragon Kingdom on Arcadian soil... there is only one meaning behind that, surely? It has begun again. War.”
The man drew a sword from the emblem on his left hand.
A Crest Sword—which meant he was the bearer of a Knight Emblem.
The moment she saw it, Mom drew her own sword from her emblem and lunged.
But he parried her effortlessly.
I stood there, unable to process what was unfolding. What is happening? What is this?
“Hahaha! I thought you were a spirited one, and I see why! A female knight, were you? But it seems your Master isn’t here. What pathetic, flickering dregs of Sword Aura. Did you retire to play mother?”
“Shut up! Haaaaah!”
Mom slashed at him again.
Again, he stopped her with ease. The men surrounding us smirked, their laughter heavy with mockery.
“You had the right idea. If you had killed me with that first strike, you might have had a chance to survive. Your judgment is sound, and you have courage. You have talent, too. Which makes this a true shame.”
The man kicked my mother’s leg. She lost her balance, and as I stood frozen, unable to move or even breathe—
My mother’s Crest Sword was knocked from her hand, spinning through the air.
And then.
“I have a rule: I always cut down those who point a blade at me. That is my chivalry.”
Slash.
The sword swung down.
Vivid crimson blood sprayed into the air.
My irreplaceable daily life...
The happiness I had finally managed to grasp was being torn apart, crumbling into nothingness. My brain ceased to function; I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing.
My heart rejected it.
I refused to accept this.
This destiny.
“Stop itoooooo!”
I had to deny it. I lunged for the Crest Sword my mother had dropped and swung it at him.
But he caught the blade with ease.
“Hoh... for your age, and despite your agitation, your form is remarkably straight. You’ve been well-trained.”
“Damn you!”
“But listen, boy. A Crest Sword cannot be used by anyone other than its owner. And... I always kill those who point a blade at me.”
“—!?”
With a sound like shattering glass, the light scattered. The Crest Sword I was holding—my mother’s sword—simply vanished.
I was wide open. His sword was already raised.
I can’t... get away...
“Leo!”
My mother threw herself forward, pulling me into an embrace to shield me. The sword bit into her abdomen, and she was instantly covered in blood. As she held me, the warmth of that crimson spray soaked into my own clothes.
Despite the wound, Mom ignored the pain. She gathered me up and started to run.
Her mangled leg, the deep gash, the trail of blood—she ignored it all, forcing her body to move. The only sound in the air was the mocking laughter of the knights.
“Mother!”
“At least Leo... I have to save Leo...! Kyah!?”
She tumbled forward violently. It was inevitable; her leg was in no condition to support her weight.
I looked at her. She was drenched in blood. If I didn’t treat her soon... she wouldn’t make it. If I didn't do something...
She was going to die.
“Leo...”
“Mother!”
“Run... please. You... you can make it. To the... the forest.”
The forest was my playground, my backyard. If I could just reach the treeline, I might be able to lose them.
I looked back. The knights were approaching with agonizing slowness, savoring the hunt.
They were going to kill us.
“N-no! I won’t! What about you, Mother?!”
“...Please, Leo.”
“No!”
“Do as I say!”
My mother, who always wore a gentle smile, screamed at me for the first time in my life. Her eyes were piercing.
I had never seen her so serious. I knew, rationally, that she was right—this was our only option.
My head understood. But...
“I don’t want to!”
My heart refused to listen.
“Please... please, just run.”
I could do nothing but shake my head, gripping her hand with everything I had.
I couldn't leave her.
“Are your farewells finished? Don’t worry. I’ll send you both off together. A child who watches their parent die is a nuisance; they spend their whole lives seeking revenge. It’s better to just prune them now.”
The Knight Commander who had cut my mother down walked toward us.
Mom was covered in wounds, but she forced herself to stand again.
And, once more, she reached for her sword.
“I will protect this child. No matter what.”
“A fine spirit. Then prove it. Will without power is meaningless.”
They clashed again. But the disparity was crushing.
My mother’s emblem was already flickering, losing its light. Without a Master emblem to anchor it, her power was fading. And with her injuries... there was no way. Even at her peak, this man was on another level.
She couldn't win.
She was going to die.
Stop it.
Please, just stop.
The sword was raised high. Mom had fallen, her blade slipping from her fingers.
“Still, for a woman, you were a true knight.”
It was over. She was going to be killed. No. No.
I wouldn't allow it!
“MY NAME IS LEO!”
The scream tore from my throat before I realized it.
I drew the practice sword at my waist—the one my mother had given me—my eyes burning red with bloodshot fury.
“Hmm?”
“L-Leo, no!”
“—By my name and my pride as a knight, I challenge you to a duel!”
I leveled the tip of my blade at him and shouted the formal declaration of single combat.
“N-no! He didn't mean it! Please!” Mom cried out, clutching at the man’s cloak. “It’s just a child’s tantrum! He’s just a boy!”
“...Step aside, woman.”
The man shook her off and approached me. He smirked, peering into my eyes.
“Those words carry weight, boy. They are heavier than life itself. Because you spoke them, I must accept. There is no backing down now.”
“I know that! I said it because I know!”
“Heh. I see you were in the middle of your Star Awakening Ceremony. 'The awakening of a star'... a fitting phrase. You have the resolve of a true knight, at least.”
The man smirked and drew his sword.
The other knights formed a circle around us, cheering and hooting to egg us on.
A duel.
Just as my mother had taught me, this was something sacred to a knight.
Responding to the cheers, the man raised his sword, aligning his point with mine.
“My name is Liberto Feld. Dragonia Dragon Kingdom—One-Star Knight. Commander of the Liberto Knight Order. By my name and my pride as a knight, I accept your challenge. Let us settle this fairly!”
He accepted.
My first real battle... a fight to the death was about to begin.
A struggle for survival.
Don’t be afraid. Don’t shake, legs.
I had trained for this.
I had even beaten my mother.
I can beat this guy, too!
If I killed the Master holding the emblem, the others would be rendered powerless.
If I defeated him...
I could save everyone!
“Haaaaah!”
“Hoh... sharper than before.”
But Liberto deflected every single one of my strikes.
This was the real thing. This was a knight. By mastering the power of the emblem, he had moved beyond the limits of human capability.
I had thought Mom was strong, but this man was in an entirely different league.
Still, I pressed on.
Refusing to yield, I unleashed a flurry of blows at my absolute maximum speed.
But I was small, and my strength was lacking; to him, I was likely moving in slow motion. He swatted my attacks away like flies.
“You have talent. I can even feel a hint of a threat. With polishing, you would be a monster. For your age, you are extraordinary. Which makes this all the more hollow...”
Suddenly, the man lowered his sword.
An opening? Then I won't hesitate!
Clang!
“...What?”
“Without an emblem, you can achieve nothing.”
My sword had slammed into his neck, but it didn't leave a scratch. It felt as though I had struck a solid block of enchanted iron.
“No matter your talent, no matter your training, no matter how strong your will... the power of the emblem is absolute. It is the logic of this world, the power of kings. It is not something you can resist.”
He hadn't even bothered to block. He just took the hit.
And because I had lunged for his neck, I was caught mid-air, momentum spent.
It was over. That split-second of vulnerability was a death sentence against an opponent like him.
“Don’t worry. I’ll send your mother to join you shortly.”
The sword swung.
It was a perfect strike. There was no way to dodge.
I watched the blade come for me.
It was just like that moment with the truck... no matter what I did, I was going to die...
“Leo!”
But the impact never came. The blood that sprayed wasn't mine—it was Mom’s.
She had thrown herself in front of me, shielding me in her arms as the blade tore through her back.
She collapsed with a choked cry of agony.
“MOTHER!”
“Still able to move, were you? Interfering in a duel... Stand up, brat. We’re not finished. Pick up your sword.”
“Mother! Mother! No, please, no!”
She lay there, bleeding out, motionless.
Sobbing, I shook her with both hands, desperate for any sign of life.
I had dropped my sword. I had lost the will to fight.
Even with the enemy standing right over me, I couldn't move.
“A child after all. ...My interest is gone. Someone finish them both. I’ve made it a rule not to cut down those who won't hold a blade.”
Liberto turned his back on us.
My mother’s face was ghostly pale as she cracked her eyes open. With a hand stained in her own blood, she reached up to stroke my cheek.
“I’m sorry... Mom was too weak. You worked so hard, Leo... I’m so sorry I couldn't protect you.”
She pulled me into a weak embrace.
That gentle hug made me realize that this was truly the end.
Mom knew it too. She was trembling, but she held me tight nonetheless.
She wanted to make sure I wasn't afraid.
With the last of her strength, she squeezed me. And then, her voice breaking with regret and sorrow, she whispered:
“I’m sorry... I couldn't love you more.”
I shook my head. That wasn't true.
Through my sobs, I kept shaking my head.
Seeing that, a look of profound sadness crossed her face.
“Mom... only knew the battlefield. I didn't know how to be a family... I was so bad at this. I'm sorry.”
“No... you’re wrong! You loved me! You made me so happy! It’s my fault! It’s because I don’t deserve to be loved!”
The words poured out of me in a desperate torrent.
I couldn't stand the thought of her dying while blaming herself.
She had given me so much love, and yet she was the one apologizing.
I was the one who had kept a wall up.
It was all my fault.
“Because... I... I...!”
It was the secret I had kept locked away, the source of all my guilt.
The thing that had weighed on my heart since the moment I arrived in this world.
I had been too terrified to say it.
Because I—
“I’m... I’m not really your son!”
I was an imposter.
Why am I saying this now? At the very end? I should have just died in silence.
My mind was a chaotic mess; I didn't even know what I was saying.
I was a fake. Even if I had been born from her body, the soul inside wasn't her child's.
I had no right to her love.
When I said it, Mom looked startled. Of course. She’s disappointed. After eight years, to find out her child was a stranger... she must feel so betrayed.
I had been so afraid of this—that our life together would be exposed as a lie, that she would hate me. That was why I could never accept her love head-on.
I expected a curse. I expected her to call me a traitor. But instead—
“I know, Leo. I know you have other memories.”
“...What?”
She smiled at me—the same gentle smile as always—and spoke words I couldn't comprehend.
“How... how did you know?”
“Mom can see through anything when it comes to Leo. Hehe... I always had a feeling. You were just... far too much of a genius, you know?”
“Then why?! Why did you love me anyway?! It’s not right! I’m not your son! I’m a lie!”
“But the time we spent together wasn't a lie. To me, it was real.”
Her smile was warm and steady, the same one that had always anchored me.
“Sleeping together... eating together... our walks... it was all so much fun. I was so happy.”
She squeezed my hand, just like she always did.
“So, thank you for being born. No matter what you think, no matter what memories you have... Leo is my son. And I love you.”
“That’s not right! It’s not! There’s no reason for you to love me! I shouldn't be allowed to be loved! I...!”
“I see... I grew up without parents too, so I think I understand. But listen, Leo.”
She looked into my eyes with a smile as bright as the sun.
She took the hand that no one had reached for on that fateful day in my previous life and gripped it with all her might.
“Love doesn't need a reason.”
“It doesn't... need one?”
“Exactly. So...”
She pulled me close and wrapped her arms around me.
“Leo, I love you so, so much!”
It was a full-power hug, just like the ones she gave me every day.
Every morning when I woke up, every time our eyes met, every night before sleep.
She always hugged me.
She always used the same words, the same beaming smile, conveying her absolute love.
But this time, one thing was different.
I hugged her back with everything I had.
“I... I... Me too!”
Say it... just say it!
The words I had choked back for years.
The words I had felt every single day.
The words I had been too afraid to utter!
Then, it happened.
The strength left her arms, and her hands slid away.
“—!? Mother!”
Her eyes drifted shut, and she slumped to the ground.
I scrambled to her side, checking for a pulse, listening for her heart.
It was there. Weak, but there. She was breathing. She wasn't dead.
She had fainted from the blood loss, but she was fading fast. If I didn't get her help soon, she would be gone.
But she was still alive.
She was still... alive.
“Are you done yet, kid? Well... look. Being separated from a loved one is a common enough story. Don’t take it personally. I don’t enjoy killing women and children either, but this is war.”
With a hollow laugh, a rugged knight stood over me, his Crest Sword resting on his shoulder.
He looked bored, but he raised his blade to finish the job regardless.
“I haven’t... told her yet.”
“Hah? Well, that’s a pity. You can tell her all about it in the next world!”
The sword swung down.
I watched it come, then leaped into the air, spinning my body.
I kicked the flat of the blade, forcing its trajectory wide. It slammed into the dirt, and I landed on it, pinning the steel to the ground with my feet.
“What the—?”
I looked up and spoke with a clarity that surprised even me.
“I said I haven't told her yet!”
The feelings overflowing from my chest—the ones I had kept bottled up for so long—I hadn't conveyed them to the person I loved most.
I finally understood. I could finally look those feelings in the eye.
No matter what anyone said, this wasn't a lie.
I didn't need a reason to love her, and I didn't need a reason to deny it anymore.
What I felt was enough.
So I would say it.
I would say it to her face.
This—this feeling of mine!
“—I love you too!”
The moment I accepted those true feelings and gave them a voice...
It was like oxygen hitting a smoldering fire.
My heart began to throb with a searing, white-hot heat that answered my resolve.
That heat surged through my body, gathering in my left hand.
For the first time since my rebirth, my heart and body were perfectly synchronized.
I could feel my soul reaching into every vessel, every fingertip. My heart hammered against my ribs.
My blood raced, burning hot.
“What are you...? That light...”
Answering the call of my will—
—My left hand erupted in a brilliant golden glow.
I placed my right hand over the back of my glowing left hand.
It was a strange sensation, yet I felt a profound certainty.
If I gripped this hand, surely...
If I swung this sword, surely...
“Why do you have an emblem—!?”
I could cut down even fate itself!
I swung with everything I had. A sword erupted from the emblem, taking the man’s head before he could even register what was happening.
Blood geysered as his body slumped to the earth with a heavy thud.
The other knights spun around.
They hadn't processed it yet. This was my chance. I was surrounded, the odds were impossible, and the situation was desperate.
But I could do this. I would do this.
Run!
“...What just happened? Why is he dead?”
Liberto turned, his face frozen in shock. I didn't stop. I ran.
My target was the single Master emblem held by the Knight Commander, Liberto Feld.
If I took him down, the others would be neutralized.
I felt a sensation I had never known.
In this moment, I felt as though I could do anything.
And why wouldn't I?
I was Nina’s son. And just as she had always told me—I was a genius!
Embrace it. The talent.
Embrace it. The heart and the will.
Embrace everything that matters.
If you have something to protect.
If you have someone to save.
If you have a conviction to uphold.
Grip your sword and strike down the enemy.
Because this...
“How?! How do you have a sword and an emblem?!”
“I have them so I can kill you and protect everything!”
...is a world of swords and emblems.