Days passed, but however hard Rein tried, he could not find him, even with the help of the captain's skill. We could not pick up his trail. To make the search easier, we looked only for information about level two adventurers. Until one moment.
– A new record!
How did he reach level two in just three months?
– Are you serious!? Who is it?! Which familia is he from?
– Ah, that… I don't know!
– How can you not know?
– Just don't. If you're so interested, just go to the guild and find out.
– Ah, fine. Let's go.
– No, go alone; I'm too old for this.
– What! You just want to get drunk, that's all.
– Even if so, what of it… Where are you rushing? We'll find out anyway.
Sitting at the next table, Rein could not believe what he had heard. What had taken him years, had taken someone only a few months. Even his idol, whom he adored, had only managed to reach level two in a year. Quickly jumping up, he headed to the guild to confirm it himself.
«Huh?»
Rein could not believe his eyes, not because the information was confirmed, but because this adventurer looked very much like the one who had attacked them. Grinding his teeth, he held back his hatred with all his might.
«Calm down, calm down, maybe it's just a coincidence.» – he thought, trying to take control of his anger, but, remembering the pain in Albert's eyes, he could not calm down; his anger and hatred only grew.
«I must find him. Look at him, and then I'll know for sure whether it's him or not.» Biting his lower lip, he thought. – «I need to tell the captain.» – For the first time in their search, they had a suspect. He did not hesitate.
After some time, when he had fully calmed down, Rein understood: if it really was that adventurer, then there was something he could not understand.
According to the captain, the man had kept up with him. Then he should be at least level two. But he had been level one. Level one, fighting on equal terms with a peak level two, while seriously wounded.
«How is that possible?» – He remembered sparring with the captain when he was level one. He simply could not do anything, however hard he tried, even when they used no weapons, and he fought dirty. Even so, he could not land a single blow, however hard he tried. For the captain, he was an open book, with which he could do whatever he wanted.
That was when he learned that even within a single level, the difference was colossal, like from earth to sky. Maybe he was using some kind of magic to close such a large gap in strength. But he immediately dismissed these useless thoughts, for if it were true, then this was no longer a person, but a monster.
He did not have to search long for the captain; he was, as always, in his room.
– Captain, captain!
– Huh?
– I think I found that man.
– Kopii?
– Huh?… yes… What?
He could not help but be surprised that the captain already knew everything. Looking at Rein's surprised face, he continued as if nothing had happened.
– When I saw him, I also thought it was him. But I couldn't feel the feelings I felt back then.
– … So it's not him?
– I don't know; you overestimate my skill too much. One can't rely on it completely. Reasonable beings can change too quickly; so naturally, the person who feels hatred for everything today may love everyone tomorrow… Do you understand?
– Well, yes…
Walking to the table and sitting down opposite the captain, not taking his intent gaze off him, he continued:
– If you've already seen his face. Does he look like him?
– …
– If you want my opinion, captain, I think… I think he does look like him; well, he fits better than anyone we've suspected. But I'm not sure; I got out of the fight too quickly. But you fought him from start to finish.
– Ninety percent.
– What!
– Ninety percent sure it's him. – Leaning back in his chair, he said.
– If you, captain, say so, then so it is… What do we do?
– Just find out everything about him… If it turns out it's not him, then no harm done; one less, one more.
Rein waited with anticipation; he would watch his suffering and pain. He would turn his life into pure suffering, imagining the scene of him crawling on his knees and begging to be killed. He smiled predatorily, awaiting it with trepidation.
«You will know the same despair as Albert.»
It took Rein a week to learn almost everything about Kopii: his fighting tactics, his food preferences. Of course, this time spent watching would have a bad effect on his own growth, but he did not regret it one bit. But, of course, he could not watch him twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
And when he went looking for Kopii again, the man seemed to have vanished. He felt that he knew where he was, but however hard he tried, he could not remember. So he spent a whole day searching for him, but it was all useless; however hard he tried, he could not find even a trace of him.
Thus two weeks of searching passed, but all was in vain.
– Maybe he died in the dungeon? What do you think, captain?
– Well, that can't be ruled out either. Or he went back to his village. Anything is possible.
– Ouch, hot?! Why hasn't it cooled down yet? – Taking a sip of hot coffee, hissing in pain, Rein said. – And it's bitter too! Captain, do you seriously like this? – Pushing the coffee away from himself.
– … To each their own… Let's assume he's dead. Of course, it's a shame all our efforts were in vain, but it's fine, maybe it's even for the best. Fate punished him for us.
Rein left the captain's room with rather mixed feelings. On one hand, he was glad that the man was dead, but on the other, he was saddened by the wasted time. Every day, he had thought about how he would torment him, devising the most sophisticated methods of torture. But all that would remain only in dreams.
– Ah, what a pity.
A couple of days later, sitting and drinking mug after mug, Rein saw what he no longer expected to see. A familiar build and black hair.
– Ah, probably just looks like him. Or maybe…
Squinting, he intently studied the stranger's back. Or maybe he was the one who had attacked them. When the stranger turned, their gazes met for a second. Rein's eyes widened in surprise.
– Kopii?
The one they had already considered dead was now heading somewhere. Rein simply froze in confusion, not knowing what to do, but deep in his soul, a feeling of hatred and anticipation flared up.
– You can't run from fate. Ah-ha.
Without even finishing his meal, he rushed after him. What he saw threw him into shock.
«What, the Sword Princess? And why is she here?»
The one he adored with all his heart. Even when he had confessed to her, she had not even looked his way. Now, as if nothing had happened, she was talking with this boy. At this scene, his hatred for him grew to unimaginable proportions.
«Why? How are we different from each other? – His jealousy and hatred for him grew more and more when he noticed the princess's intent gaze on Kopii. Out of irritation, he began biting his nails, an old habit he thought he had gotten rid of.
All her attention was focused on only one person, and it was not him. This drove him to white heat. But even so, he understood that giving in to anger now was not the best idea, and as they got into their stances, he almost fully calmed down.
He eagerly awaited the upcoming battle between them. All his attention was only on the Sword Princess, on her beautiful face, which even the gods envied, on her beautiful hair, and on her stunning figure. She was the embodiment of beauty.
«But why him!» – He cast a glance full of hatred at Kopii, but immediately returned it to the Sword Princess, and all his hatred seemed to evaporate.
He no longer even remembered why he was here; he was completely mesmerized by her.
– They've started… I wonder how long…
But before Rein could finish, he saw the boy's body fall unconscious, not even lasting a second. Well, he had known the outcome of this battle from the start. He even took pleasure in the fact that the boy was put on the ground in less than a second.
He probably thought he could last longer, because he was such a genius, so special, but he was just trash who would always crawl on his knees.
«What, where is she carrying him?» – Rein thought, starting to follow them, but he could not compare with her in speed. Because of this, it did not take him long to completely lose her. Feelings of envy and hatred seized him.
– Why! Why! Why him! – he shouted in anger, no longer able to control himself from this whole situation.