Grinding his teeth, Ren glared at Temar, who was staring back at him with a blank, stupid look on his face.

The aching sorrow in his chest turned into a blazing rage, like someone had held it over a flame. He could feel everything inside him boiling. If he didn’t let this anger out, his heart was going to burn to ashes!

“Ren? What did you just say?”

Temar slowly asked again, like he hadn’t understood what Ren had said.

“I asked if I could punch you really fucking hard in the solar plexus.”

Ren beamed as he kindly explained it again. If not for the raw skin around his eyes, his face was so neat and clear you never would have guessed he’d been crying just moments ago.

“My God...”

Shivering, Jepeto took a step away from Ren.

He was a firsthand witness to how mercilessly Ren had pummeled that boy inside the shop! You couldn’t underestimate him just because he was small. Ren’s fists were fast, and if you happened to be standing beside him and got hit, you’d definitely end up with a bloody nose like that boy had.

Ren put into practice the way Luman had kindly taught him to curl his hand into a fist. His fist, packed full of rage, trembled violently.

“...Ren. You’re saying you want to hit your brother.”

Ren didn’t answer. He just looked Temar straight in the eyes.

His eyes were telling him to stop stalling and answer properly, yes or no.

Ren realized it now. There was no point in saying anything to someone as dense as Temar.

No matter how much he told him how much he missed him, or how he felt, Temar was never going to understand.

Wasting time?

If you act like this, I won’t be able to tell you anymore?

You’re not a child, so change?

Listening to words that stabbed into him and hurt him made Ren furious.

Maybe Ren could tell that those weren’t Temar’s true feelings. Ren was a liar too. He understood the heart that lies.

But being told to change because he wasn’t a child anymore, being told that Temar wouldn’t be able to tell him anymore—that made him so angry he could barely stand it!

Since when had Temar ever explained anything and asked permission? He always just took off without warning!

The one who had nurtured Ren’s hatred and sorrow was Temar, leaving without a word.

The reason Ren had no choice but to stay childish was because he had never been given enough time to become an adult! The time he spent alone in that shack was no different from being frozen in place. And he had thought that was the only way Temar would look back at him. Because Temar was the kind of person who couldn’t ignore someone young and weak. He had no choice but to be that way. Of course, Ren didn’t think of himself as mature—but that didn’t mean he was some clueless little kid either.

Temar really didn’t know anything.

If he was just going to get mad at the very end like this, then he should’ve just left from the start! Why pretend to be kind and explain things only to suddenly turn around? If he was going to start persuading him, then he should’ve seen it through to the end!

Ren knew he always threw tantrums and made unreasonable demands, telling Temar not to go. But today, for once, it wasn’t just that he blindly didn’t want him to leave.

Since he hadn’t managed to explain it either, Ren decided not to argue over who was right and who was wrong anymore.

He was just pissed off, so he’d pack all of it into one punch and blast it all away cleanly!

“Answer me already!”

Unable to hold back any longer, Ren shouted.

Even Temar of all people flinched at the booming yell.

How could a body that small produce a voice like that?

Geloman, Charles, even the knights lined up behind them were secretly startled.

Temar’s eyes seemed to ask,

'You’re really planning to hit your brother?'

'Yep! I’m going to punch you so hard in the solar plexus your body folds in half.'

The two brothers read each other’s thoughts through their eyes.

Temar shook his head, trying to clear the tangled mess inside it. Suddenly, his head was pounding. He couldn’t understand this abrupt change in Ren’s expression and attitude. But he thought this was still better than having him screaming and sobbing. Fine. Better this, then. Better to just cleanly take a punch from his little brother. That wasn’t difficult. The only thing he was worried about was whether Ren might hurt his hand with that clenched fist.

Temar dispersed the force running through his body. He paid careful attention so he wouldn’t stop Ren by reflex if his body reacted on its own, then opened his mouth with a serious expression.

The others all looked thrilled, but Ren and Temar alone were completely serious.

“All right. If that’ll make you feel bette—!”

Speaking in a gentle voice, feeling relieved that the words he’d gone too far with could be repaid with a punch...

...Temar froze like stone.

Ren didn’t wait for him to finish.

The moment Temar said “all right,” Ren moved exactly the way Luman had taught him.

Using his supple body, Ren twisted smoothly at the waist as if bending backward, then used that rotation as an axis to drive forward the fist he had carefully curled from the thumb in. Packed with momentum and the weight of his body, his fist sliced through the air like an arrow and slammed straight, precisely, into Temar’s solar plexus.

Fwish—Thud!

At the vicious sound of the air splitting and the heavy impact that followed, the onlookers’ mouths all dropped open.

Had they underestimated him too much just because he was some scrawny boy? Well, how could they not? There was no way an ordinary human could possibly land a real blow on a broad, muscular Hero!

And yet, astonishingly, it seemed that he could. Looking at Temar, who was trembling violently, it looked like it hurt a lot. You could tell just from the stunned look frozen on his face.

'What was that? I swear it looked like there was light coming off his hand!'

Jepeto, frozen in shock, thought for an instant that Ren’s fist had flashed white. Was it just an optical illusion because it had moved so fast? Jepeto blinked. The others seemed not to have gotten a proper look at Ren’s fist because Temar’s large body had blocked it.

It even looked, for a brief second, like smoke was rising from Ren’s fist with a pfft. That must have been how hard and how cleanly it had landed.

“Hoo.”

Ren pulled back the fist he’d buried in Temar’s stomach and let out a long breath, looking deeply satisfied. For a moment, seeing Temar frozen in shock made him a little worried—but he decided to pretend he didn’t notice! It felt unbelievably refreshing, like ten years’ worth of indigestion had suddenly cleared out of him. This was the moment Luman’s teaching truly shone. If he had been here, he probably would’ve leaped to his feet applauding and started teaching Ren all kinds of other things.

“...Ugh.”

Temar covered his mouth with his hand. It looked like he might throw up. Jepeto finally shut his jaw, which had fallen open so far it looked ready to come off, then cautiously shuffled toward Ren.

“O-oh, my God. We need to treat your hand.”

Ren’s fist was bright red with heat. Not only that, it looked like he’d punched a rock—every knuckle was scraped up, and the whole back of his hand was skinned and swollen red.

“It’s fine.”

Ren shook out his hand and grinned brightly, looking refreshed. So what if it throbbed and hurt? His insides felt so clear and cool!

“Whoo—!”

One of the spectators whistled. A few of them even started clapping.

“That was incredible!”

“Whooo!”

“C-captain! Captain, what are you doing clapping too?!”

Geloman was slowly bringing his huge hands together as he nodded. Judging by the quiet gleam in his eyes, he was absolutely thrilled! Charles freaked out and tried to stop him. But with that flush rising in his cheeks, it was obvious he too had been impressed by Ren’s punch.

“That’s quite a fist. Is that because he’s a Hero’s brother?”

“O-or maybe Lord Temar let him do it? I don’t really know, but... a Hero’s body is tough, isn’t it?”

“He may have withdrawn his force, but that still doesn’t mean an ordinary person’s punch should be able to shake him.”

“Wow! Then does that mean he has a Hero’s power too...?”

“If that were the case, the oracle would have pointed him out.”

“Then what is he?”

“He’s definitely no ordinary case.”

He’s got talent. Natural movement that flowed like water, and a precise fist.

Geloman watched Ren with interest. Charles too wore an expression full of curiosity.

Meanwhile, Temar stared at Ren in a daze, as if still in shock. But Ren didn’t spare him another glance.

'That landed perfectly!'

Ren was still marveling at the impact. Luman really was amazing, wasn’t he? From now on, anyone who picked a fight with him was going to get all their teeth knocked out.

Making a terrifying vow to himself, Ren smiled brightly.

“Let’s eat dinner inside.”

With that, he slipped right into the inn. His hair bounced cheerfully as he went.

Jepeto looked back and forth between Ren and Temar, then cautiously edged toward Temar, ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) who still stood there frozen like a statue.

“L-Lord Temar. Are you all right?”

He carefully reached out, meaning to check on him, but Temar stopped him. Cold sweat had formed on his forehead. Whether it was from the argument with Ren or from the punch just now, there was no way to know.

“I’m fine. Please look after Ren.”

“A-are you really all right?”

Temar nodded, then called out to Jepeto belatedly.

“Physician Jepeto.”

“Yes?”

Jepeto, who had turned to follow Ren inside, awkwardly looked back over his shoulder at the call.

“Please take good care of Ren.”

“Of course. Don’t worry.”

Jepeto gave him a dependable smile and went into the inn.

“Temar.”

“...”

“Lord Temar!”

Charles had come trotting after Geloman, but one look from Geloman made him yelp and retreat.

“Your little brother has quite a punch. I’m impressed.”

“Yeah. I didn’t know either.”

Temar muttered bitterly. The sorrow of leaving Ren seemed to have been numbed for the moment by the pain from that little fist. He felt dazed. It was absurd, and somehow funny too. A hollow laugh kept slipping out of him. Even he, a Hero, had flinched from it, and the thought suddenly struck him that maybe he didn’t need to worry so much about Ren’s safety after all. That thought made him strangely happy.

And also...

...it made him feel pathetic.

He should never have said things like wasting time. Wasn’t that cowardly? To share happy moments with him, then try to pull away now and blame his little brother for it.

It was Geloman who cut off Temar’s reflection.

“Oh. There’s something I forgot to mention.”

“Say it.”

“Giselle collapsed.”

“What?”

Temar’s brows drew together sharply.

“What do you mean? Why would Giselle... when?”

“A few days ago.”

“...”

The King’s Fourth Star. Giselle Franche. The only one of the Seven Heroes with a family name.

He was the king’s strategist. Among the Seven Stars, his physical abilities were the weakest, but he held the most important role. Giselle could sense whether the Heroes lived or died, and he had the power to see the near future.

“There was an intruder in the royal castle. He wasn’t seriously hurt, but still.”

No wonder His Majesty is on edge. Geloman added the words calmly as he looked at Temar. Those clear blue eyes held him.

“...I see.”

So the situation is worse than I thought.

Centered around the Kingdom of Setoran, enemy shadows had fallen over both the borders and the royal castle. Some organization larger than expected had taken aim at them.

Was it for the sake of war, or to seize the treasure that had appeared in the oracle...?

There really isn’t any time.

“I’ll grab my things and leave at once. Please... take good care of Ren.”

“Eat dinner first.”

Temar didn’t answer and headed for the inn.

His heart felt heavy. He had a feeling they might be facing another long war again.

Before stepping inside, Temar stood there for a long moment, taking in the sight of Ren sitting off in a corner seat, lips pressed tight in a sulky expression.