Chapter 308: Another Person Walking the Path of "Growing Stronger"!
"Speaking of which, it's been quite a while now. You still haven't mastered 'that' power?"
Luke glanced at Stella and deliberately showed a hint of surprise.
Sure enough, Stella, who seemed to feel that she was being looked down on, immediately grew anxious and started explaining.
"I-I can't help it!"
"It's completely because 'it' refuses to behave…"
"It feels like it's dissatisfied with the current me or something. No matter what method I use, whenever I try to control that power, it always feels a little unnatural."
"There's no real problem with using it anymore, but controlling it still isn't going smoothly…"
"B-But don't underestimate me! I'll master that power very soon!"
After listening to the girl's automatic explanation after being provoked, Luke more or less understood the problem Stella was currently facing.
In truth, he had encountered a similar issue before. It was back when he completed the secret technique, Star-Cleaving.
Stella was similar to Luke back then. She was missing a certain "piece."
Because she lacked a key element, there was always a slight sense of unease whenever she circulated that power.
No matter what she did, she could not control it freely.
However, compared to Luke's confusion back then, Stella's current problem was much easier to solve.
That was because, almost the moment Stella finished speaking, Luke understood where the issue was.
Having personally seen so-called "dragon species" in the Dungeon world, Luke even understood what this power required better than Stella herself.
Of course, it would be best if Stella realized this kind of thing on her own.
Especially when the root of her problem lay in her heart, it was also a form of training for her mind and spirit.
That being said, Luke was not going to simply stand by and do nothing.
Conveniently, he had just learned about someone very suitable to serve as Stella's breakthrough opponent.
So, following that line of thought, Luke guided the topic a little.
"I just heard from Alice earlier that this year's Seven Star Sword Art Festival won't be simple."
"If you can't master that power as soon as possible, Stella, then forget about me and Ikki. You might not even be able to beat contestants from the other schools."
Stella froze for a moment after hearing Luke's words.
Immediately after, as though she had thought of something, she responded in realization.
"I see. So you noticed that person too, Luke?"
Ikki, who was beside them, was a little lost when he heard this.
Until just now, he had been able to follow their conversation without any problem, so why had they suddenly started speaking in riddles?
If he did not know, then he should ask.
Ikki looked at Luke, then at Stella, and finally asked in confusion,
"Who are you two talking about?"
"We're talking about Kurogane Ouma from Bukyoku Academy."
Luke glanced at Ikki, who had taken the bait, with a half-smile, then spoke the name aloud.
The instant the name Kurogane Ouma appeared, both Luke and Stella clearly saw Ikki's expression freeze.
"So he really is from the Kurogane Family."
Ikki's reaction made Stella immediately confirm her guess.
"I thought so when I saw his surname, but considering your situation at home, I didn't feel comfortable asking you or Shizuku about it."
"…Yes. He's Shizuku's and my older brother by blood. He's one year older than me."
Ikki smiled helplessly and nodded, explaining his relationship with Ouma.
After hearing his words, Stella could not help speaking with some emotion.
"I had absolutely no idea the Kurogane Family had someone like that. Or rather, I had no idea there was an A-rank student knight in this country on the same level as Luke and me."
"An A-rank contestant suddenly appearing before the Seven Star Sword Art Festival selection ended… It'd be impossible not to pay attention, right?"
As she said this, Stella glanced at Luke, as though conveying, "I'm right, aren't I?"
This time, it was Luke's turn to feel awkward.
Because he really had not paid any attention to this matter at all.
If Arisuin had not told him, he probably would not have known there was such a contestant even after the Seven Star Sword Art Festival began.
To be honest, after meeting Edelweiss, Luke had placed all of his attention on that pure-white Valkyrie.
Especially recently, aside from preparing for the second battle between them, Luke rarely paid attention to anything else.
The last time he had entered this kind of state was in the previous world, when he had been exploring the Dungeon and desperately grinding levels.
Once Luke locked onto something that could help him "grow stronger," it became very difficult for him to care about other "unimportant" matters.
Fortunately, Ikki spoke up and rescued Luke from his awkwardness.
"There's a reason you haven't heard of Ouma-nii, Stella."
"Ever since he entered Bukyoku two years ago… no, including middle school, it should already be five full years."
"During that time, he's basically been missing."
"Although he occasionally appears in public, it happens extremely rarely, and he hasn't participated in a single public match in these five years."
"No matter how talented someone is, if there's no news about them for five whole years, the public will naturally lose interest."
"In terms of attention, Shizuku and the Student Council members are probably much more famous than Ouma-nii."
"What's the reason?"
Luke suddenly asked Ikki.
From Ikki's explanation, he had vaguely picked up on Kurogane Ouma's pattern of behavior.
And that pattern had slightly sparked Luke's interest.
Faced with Luke's question, Ikki frowned and thought carefully for a while before speaking with some hesitation.
"To be honest… I don't know the details either."
"Ouma-nii is… how should I put it…"
"He's a very special person."
Ikki was troubled as well.
His understanding of his blood-related older brother, Kurogane Ouma, was extremely limited. He could only analyze him based on the few impressions left in his memory.
"You both know that I was isolated within my family."
"And in a certain sense, Ouma-nii was also isolated from the family."
"But he's completely different from me… In fact, I can't even compare myself to him."
"He's abnormally strict with himself."
"Ouma-nii has no interest in anything besides 'growing stronger.'"
"He has no interest in a younger brother weaker than him, no interest in a younger sister weaker than him, and even less interest in a father weaker than him…"
At this point, Ikki suddenly looked at Luke.
His words paused for a few seconds before he spoke to Luke in a strange tone.
"The feeling Ouma-nii gives me is almost like… 'the meaning of being alive is the same as growing stronger.'"
The instant Ikki said those final words, Stella almost instinctively looked at Luke at the same time.
The same thought rose in both of their minds.
And on Luke's face, as the two of them stared at him, an expression Stella and Ikki had never seen before slowly appeared.
It was a strange smile.
Yet it felt especially dangerous.
…
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