Even from the top of the lighthouse, I could tell it was settled.
　With his back to the fallen Luino, Iris was pointing her sword at me.
　I could feel that she was victorious and that she would leave the rest to me.
　I responded to her by pulling out the Blue Armor Sword on my hip and pointing the tip of the blade at Iris.
　I'm sure you got it.

...... Oh dear. I'm not sure what to do.

　I'm not sure what to make of it.
　Then he drank his drink again.
　Apparently, he really believed that Rui No would win.
　He quietly put down the gourd.

Luino was definitely in the lead until halfway through. But I guess he was impatient. I don't think we should have tried to end it so soon. What do you think?
"It may have been a quick decision, yes. But if we had fought like that, it would have been Iris who would have won anyway.

　Iris is a girl who can always grow in battle.
　In the current battle, as Riggles said, at first Luino had the upper hand.
　But it was Iris who, within a few blows, caught up to and surpassed Luino's blow.
　And then, for the last time, it was Iris who stood still, both of them having expended all their strength.

It's not going to change the outcome no matter what you and I talk about. You defeated Luino, that's the fact and the truth. She faced what she wanted and she got it.
Something to aim for, hey ....... It's true that the battle between Iris and Luino was Luino's to lose.

I'm sure the battle between Iris and Luino is Luino's to lose.
　...... I think you mean the next battle between me and Riggles.

"Okay. Now it's time for you and I to settle our differences. Honestly, I don't think I'll be able to beat you.

　Riggus said this while stroking the hilt of his sword at his waist.
　I'm sure he's the only one in the Swordsmen who's given up before the fight.

But first, let's hear the truth.
"...... truth?
The ...... story that made you into the Luino you are today.
Oh!　Oh, that story!

　Riggles clasped his hands together as if remembering.
　I needed to hear that story.

I don't really have anything special to say. I don't know where to start. ......
Let's keep it simple. What happened to the rest of Luino's family?

　Luino's grandfather, Souki, is dead, Luino told me. His son, Riggles, is still alive and belongs to an organization called the Swordsmen, and his daughter, Luino, is living a life of shura.
　How could that man's family go down such a path?

Except me. Well, ...... to put it simply, my wife - Luino's mother - is dead. My father, ......, was murdered by one of the people who tried to kill him.
"Your father's ".　Your father's .......

　Souki shared many battlefields with my previous life, Raoul Isaruf.
　In that sense, I'm sure there were times when he held a grudge that threatened my life.
　I've lived a similar life, and I've defeated everyone who stood before me.
　But Souki had chosen a life with his family and had gone into hiding.

The man he was looking for was a knight from a defeated country that his father had helped ...... in the war. Vengeance is an amazing thing. "The man I was looking for was a knight from a defeated country that my father had worked for. And he took my wife's life.

　How he got there, Riggles never says. He doesn't say how he got there, because that would be enough to convey the fact that his wife had died.
　But that's not enough.

"Was your ...... father killed then, too?
No, my father was killed by me.
No, it was me who killed him.

　My eyes widen in surprise.
　It was his son, Riggles, who killed Souki. ...... How can that be?

It's nothing to be surprised about. As you can see, I am not a man of great swordsmanship. At the time, I was probably weaker than most soldiers in the country. But ...... I got stronger in my own way.

　Riggles smiled and continued.

I'm surprised. I was surprised. I was vengeful - I wanted to kill the man who killed my wife. I grabbed my sword and got stronger. Oh, I've never felt that a person can be made strong by something as simple as ...... 'a feeling'. The man who killed my wife, he dared to run away. He probably hoped that my father would have the same desire for revenge and come to fight. But he didn't. On the contrary, he told me to stop taking revenge. Whose fault was it, I thought to myself .......



　He let out a big breath and looked away from Riggles. It was in the direction of Iris and Luino.

That's when it occurred to me. Even I got enough power to slay and kill my grandfather. So what would happen to a little girl?　Apparently, losing my mother wasn't enough for him. ...... So he made me lose my grandfather, too, and faked my death.
You took everything away from my daughter Luino?
No, I didn't. As a father, I gave Luino the absolute power of vengeance. To put it bluntly, the result was a success. In just a few short years, Luino buried the man who killed my wife without a second thought. That was my doing, too. But I knew that Luino could still be strong.
"...... I see. So that's why you created the Swordsmen.

　I thought it was Adil Gratz who created the Swordsmen. I thought that Adil Gratz created the Swordsmen, a group of battle-hungry maniacs who love to fight to the death, but now I understand. The Swordsmen were created by Riggles.

"It was actually you who created them, Adil. I was just encouraging him to do so. He liked fighting more than anything. The same people naturally came together. It's ...... a shame that you and Adil are the only ones who got him.
I'm not sure what to make of this, but I'm sure it's a good idea.
Yes!　Yes, that's right. The opportunity for Luino to become stronger would have to come from ...... me. After all, unlike me, he has talent. I can't let it go to waste. Well, I guess that didn't work out too well. I can't believe I lost to Iris, the Princess of Swords. Oddly enough, it was ironic to lose to a girl named after the Sword Saint that my father used to talk about.
"Why did you let your daughter choose such a path? You could have chosen to live with her.

　You could have chosen to live with her." Souki chose ...... that path, and that's why he didn't choose the path of revenge. He may have planned to settle the matter himself eventually.
　But he was a man who cared about his family.
　That's why he couldn't leave his son to fall into shura.
　At my words, Riggles gives a small sigh.

There is no such path. Becoming stronger than anyone else is the only way for Luino to live a happy life. That's why even the Sword Saint was able to live because he was as strong as anyone else. There's nothing wrong with that. Besides, what's the point of talking about this now?　Do you deny ...... vengeance when you have gained so much power as a child?
I don't deny revenge. I don't deny revenge. It's a way to become stronger.
Right?
Revenge can make you stronger. The Swordsman became strong because he had nothing... that's one fact. But you know, there are girls who can become that strong just by wanting to protect someone ....... In your own words, it's a great feeling.

　Iris Reinfell - the daughter of a great nobleman, once tried to become strong on the path of revenge.
　But she didn't choose that path and made it this far.
　Her existence is proof to me that I can be strong in other ways besides revenge.

...... What's the point of saying that?　You're not asking me to protect Luino right now, are you?
If you choose that path, I promise to support you as a knight.

　I answer clearly. Because that is what I can do for the man who once called me friend.
　After a moment of silence, Riggles begins to speak in a muttered voice.

I've never thought of that.　I hadn't thought of that.
But it won't.
But that's not going to happen. I don't know why you're trying to stick up for us. But like I said in the beginning, ...... I'm a swordsman and you're a knight. It's also an unchangeable fact, and I've already made up my mind.
You know you can't win, but you choose to do so.
That's what swordsmen are for. Besides, ...... Luino is still alive. I'll kill you, I'll kill Iris over there, and ...... I'll pave the way for Luino again. And for that, I will win, even if the fight is unwinnable.

　This is the same idea as Adil, the man who is no longer with us. These are the swordsmen, those who can only choose to fight, even if they know they cannot win.
　Riggles drew his sword and finally entered his battle stance.

"I see. Then we don't need to ask any more questions. Riggles Tomra - no, Riggles Harvey. I've deemed you an enemy to be eliminated. As a knight, I will bury you.



　--It was the only thing I could do for a man who had already gone so far astray.