I rely on myself

Chapter 43 Expectations and Requests

Lin Yuan accepted Yihui's thanks with peace of mind.

"Okay, as for small talk, we can chat for as long as we want once you get out, so let's just get straight to business."

"Why did it become like this?!"

Lin Yuan's tone became more serious than ever at this moment, which shows how much he values ​​this issue.

On the contrary, Ikki was very confused when he heard this question.

"Why has it turned out like this? Lin Yuan, you should already know, right? I was brought here directly by the Ethics Committee..."

"That's not what I'm talking about!!!"

Before Yihui could finish speaking, Lin Yuan interrupted with an angry roar.

"I'm asking why you've become like this. The Ikki I know wouldn't be depressed by such a farce. He would pick up his sword and fight back even in the face of injustice."

Hearing this, Yihui was speechless, because he understood that what Lin Yun said was the truth, and he was indeed in a very unpresentable state now.

But there was no way. I could no longer move forward as before, because a part of me was missing. That part had been destroyed by the man called 'father'.

Thinking of this, Yihui couldn't help but shed silent tears again.

There was no rebuttal from Ikki from his spiritual outfit. Lin Yuan probably already knew about Ikki's situation, but because of this he was very angry about it. He was angry about the actions of those bastards in the Ethics Committee and the man named "Kurotetsu Yan" behind them.

But the most important thing now is not this, but to wake up Ikki who is stuck in a dead end.

"Ikki, tell me why you swung the sword in the first place!"

Although Ikki heard this, he did not answer because he did not know what to say.

Lin Yuanqu was not discouraged when he did not hear Yihui's answer. He asked seriously again: "Yihui, tell me, why did you swing the sword in the first place!!!"

Hearing this, Ikki couldn't help but recall.

In the ice and snow, Ikki's small figure was moving forward alone. Why? Why did he do such a thing at that time?

Obviously no one demands anything from me, and obviously no one expects anything from me.

But he took action.

The fierce snowstorm was very dangerous even for an adult, let alone Ikki at that time. Soon, Ikki's small figure fell completely on the snow and was unable to move.

It's obviously like this, but why, why does that little figure continue to move forward desperately?

Ikki couldn't help but ask.

At this moment, a tall figure suddenly appeared in front of Yihui. He was a sturdy old man with white hair and a mustache.

This old man was Ikki's grandfather, Kurogatsu Ryoma.

He said this to Ikki, whose face was covered with tears - never forget this unwillingness.

This unwillingness proves that Ikki has not given up on himself.

"Listen, kid. When you grow up, don't be like those guys who only succumb to trivial things like talent and say "staying in one's place" is just a nice-sounding excuse. They give up on making progress just because of this. It's boring. You have to be a tolerant adult and don't take such things seriously. As long as people don't give up, they can do anything. After all, humans don't have wings, but they can run to the moon!"

The old man brushed off the snow on Ikki's head and smiled like a young boy.

"…I was very happy. This was the first time in my life that someone told me not to give up on myself. But as a child, I knew that this was just a simple encouragement and that he could not be responsible for my life."

But Ikki was still very happy at that time. Even if it was just a word of encouragement, it saved him.

Ikki recalled that the reason he swung the sword in the first place was simply because he was unwilling to accept the result.

Thinking of this, Yihui's tears stopped, and he no longer felt so sad.

Lin Yuan's voice came again.

"Ikki, let me ask you a question. When you swung your sword in the past, was there anyone expecting you to do something? Was there anyone asking you to do something?" Ikki said with a wry smile.

"No, everyone in the family treats me as if I don't exist. How could anyone expect or demand anything from me?"

"But you still work hard to wield the sword alone, wanting to become a knight, right?"

Lin Yuan told about Yihui's decision when he was a child.

Ikki closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then replied, "Indeed."

Lin Yuan smiled and continued, "Then let me ask you another question. When you swing your sword now, is anyone expecting you to do something or asking you to do something?"

Ikki heard this question which was very similar to the previous one, but he couldn't answer it immediately.

He asked himself, is there anyone expecting him, is there anyone asking him for something?

The answer soon appeared. The images of Shinguji Kurono, Saikyo Ningyin, Chiyin, Arisuin, Hayashimoto, and Shizuku appeared in Ikki's mind. They all had expectations for Ikki.

Even in the trials, the opponents he had fought against placed their own aspirations as a knight on Ikki.

Finally, a girl as passionate as a flame appeared. That was Stella, the girl that Ikki was infatuated with. It was her appearance that made Ikki feel what love is.

Recall the agreement between the two.

"So let's go forward together. Let's reach the pinnacle of knighthood together."

Thinking back to the girl's smile, Ikki's heart was filled up, even overflowing.

"So what's the answer?" Lin Yuan asked again.

This time Ikki is no longer confused, because he found what he has. It is not what he wishfully thinks, but what he has gained in the process of growing up.

Ikki's eyes brightened more than ever before, and he replied in a firm tone.

"Someone is expecting me, someone is asking for me."

"So you want to back off?"

"of course not."

"Oh, so what are you going to do?"

"I am a knight, so of course I will forge my own path with my own sword."

Hearing this answer, Lin Yuan smiled with relief.

And Ikki also laughed heartily at this time.

After laughing for a while, Lin Yuan looked at the sky and realized that a long time had passed.

"Well, although I didn't see your condition with my own eyes, you should be fine now. It's getting late, so I have to leave."

After hearing this, Ikki understood that Lin Yuan was leaving. He was very sorry that he could not continue talking with his friend, but he was still very happy that Lin Yuan took such a big risk to enlighten him.

"Lin Yuan, I really thank you, really."

Lin Yuan just raised the corners of his mouth slightly.

"We are friends after all. Let's not talk about this anymore. See you at the tryouts."

After saying this, he cancelled the manifestation of his inherent spiritual outfit and left the spot.

After the Sky Thread on Ikki's wrist disappeared, he fell asleep again.

But compared to before, he slept very peacefully this time.

(End of this chapter)