Part XXVI Aaron Smith

Before Lazuro's arrival, Aaron Smith was the only hope in the northern clan. Although both his parents were ordinary, Aaron was miraculously chosen by the Mythbreakers. Even at the age of ten, Alan Draco, the then-chieftain, invited Aaron on a hunt. From then on, Aaron became very close and obsessed with Alan. So close that Aaron felt like he should be Alan's son, while Tristan, who was not chosen by the Mythbreakers, should be with his parents. Everything went smoothly until Alan disappeared into the underworld. From then on, Aaron truly hated Tristan. Furthermore, the girl he liked, Aicelia, had been paying more attention to Aaron since Alan's disappearance. This caused Aaron to continue treating Tristan harshly.

Lazuro's appearance a few months ago truly set Aaron back. Killing a burning T-rex in one strike, earning the honor of competing with one of Djuana's great generals, and then achieving first place in a hunt made Aaron furious. However, what Aaron could not forgive most was the fact that Tristan obtained the Flamebreaker because of Lazuro. Aaron, who felt he had been chosen, was utterly devastated by this. He should have been the one receiving the honor; he should have been the chosen one. Two days after the hunt, Aaron followed Julian to the cafeteria. There, Trion was waiting with two of his student waiters. On the table were two steaks, wine glasses, and neatly arranged plates, spoons, forks, and knives.

"Sit down, I've ordered steaks for you!" Trion ordered.

"What's the matter with you summoning me here personally? The entire room has been cleared for this meeting?" Julian was curious.

"Since it's not student mealtime, booking this cafeteria is quite easy using my connections. Okay, this time I'll be frank. Don't you ever try to bother a kid named Lazuro again!" Trion leaned forward and placed his hands on the table.

Hearing Trion's statement, everyone was stunned, especially Aaron. Aaron hadn't expected that his chance of bothering Lazuro would disappear now that his master's older brother had decided to stop.

"Are you kidding me? He's the one who dared to attract the attention of Princess Fiore, my fiancée. Are you going to let that loser get away with it?" Trion slammed his fist on the table, making a loud thud.

"I don't want to let him go either. That's why I want to make him my servant. I'm even willing to give him anything, including ruling the village, if I'm appointed as the successor."

“But big brother—”

“Shut up and listen to me! That kid named Lazuro is no ordinary kid. I wish you had been in the dungeon with him that time. Terrible… so terrifying, I wanted him to be my servant.” Trion grinned.

“Terrible, he’s just a low-ranking kid. He even lost to the barbaric Greattower family. What’s so great about him?” Trion said, the veins on his neck showing.

“Yes, Master Trion, he’s just a loser,” Aaron added. “He’s not even from the north. He’s just a kid we found in the underworld. A true loser, not worth taking into account.”

“A true loser, you say. I heard he killed a Burning T-rex with a single blow. Can you do the same, muscle boy?” Trion looked at Aaron with a condescending expression.

“I… he was just lucky that time because the tribal leaders and I gave him a chance. Otherwise, the Burning T-rex would have devoured him,” Aaron said.

“You’re so funny. I saw for myself how powerful he was when he fought Killing Crabtis. That beast is a top-tier beast. Do you doubt my vision, a Vanadis descended from scholars?” Trion swirled his wine glass and took a drink.

“Aaron wouldn’t dare doubt my brother’s vision. But… honestly, I doubt it. He was ranked low during the match. Why did Brother—"

“Enough!” Trion slammed the table. “I suffered a crushing defeat too. What do you think about that?”

“But you were against the princess before. It's natural if you—”

“Julian Vanadis! I say once again, stop bothering him. I was the one who told you to teach Lazuro a lesson in the first place. But enough is enough. I will speak to him myself. As for Fiore, I will not give up. I will propose to her again.” The Vanadis stood up, took a final sip gracefully, and left the room.

Aaron clenched his fists as he watched Trion leave. With Trion’s support, it would be difficult for Aaron to bother Lazuro. Just as Aaron was about to give up, Julian suddenly violently smashed the table, sending glasses and plates crashing.

"Bastards... bastards... bastards... they're really bastards. After I lost to that bastard Tristan and after that bastard Lazuron got everyone's attention, you told me to stop. Don't joke around!" Julian tried to catch his breath.

Aaron grinned; there was still a chance he could destroy Lazuro and Tristan together.

"Don't worry, sir, leave those two losers to me. I'll finish them off," Aaron whispered in Julian's ear.

"I see, good... good," Julian nodded repeatedly. "Then use this artifact. It can enhance your abilities and your iron element." Julian handed Aaron an armband.

"Thank you, my lord. I assure you I won't fail. And if I'm punished..."

"Don't worry, I can guarantee your future. You can live in the northern village after you're released." Julian patted Aaron on the shoulder.

The three of them finally left the room. A bright smile spread across Aaron's lips. He had always harbored a grudge against Lazuro and Tristan, and he could finally vent it without fear of the future that awaited him.

***

A week after the hunt, Lazuro felt a relaxed atmosphere in the classroom. All the discriminatory treatment from others had disappeared after Lazuro defeated Killer Crabtis. The calm atmosphere was broken when Fiore suddenly arrived and approached Lazuro.

"Lazuro, how about we go out at the end of the week?" Fiore asked with a smile.

The atmosphere suddenly became silent. Some children tried to gently touch their ears, making sure they hadn't heard correctly. Others froze like statues. Lazuro, who had been drowsy, finally regained his composure after hearing Fiore's statement.

"W-wait, Fiore, are you—"

"Eh..." everyone in the classroom shouted.

Dozens of murderous eyes and strange whispers filled the classroom. Panicked, Lazuro immediately grabbed Fiore's hand and led her out of the classroom. Lazuro quickened his pace until they reached the stairs. Lazuro gasped and realized he had been holding Fiore's hand. He quickly let go of Fiore's hand when he saw the girl's face turning as red as a tomato.

"I—I'm sorry..." Lazuro bowed.

"I—It's no problem; I wasn't thinking about it." Fiore looked away.

“Are you sure you want to ask me on a… date?” Lazuro asked, stammering.

“D … da … date! No… no… that’s impossible.” Fiore waved both hands while shaking her head.

Lazuro lowered his head in disappointment upon hearing Fiore's words.

"I... I mean, it's just like hanging out with friends. It's not like I don't want to date you... argh... you're making this all weird." Fiore patted Lazuro's arm.

"Sorry, I didn't mean it that way." Lazuro lowered his head.

With unsteady steps, Lazuro returned to class. That day, Lazuro couldn't concentrate at all. There was a hint of hope in Lazuro's heart, even though he was convinced that he and Fiore couldn't be together. His hazy thoughts finally carried over to dinnertime. Lazuro stared at the ceiling of his room, imagining Fiore.

"I have to admit, she's the most beautiful girl I've ever met. Blonde hair with blonde strands in the streaks, smooth porcelain skin, her shy, red face, and the size of her breasts—"

Lazuro slapped himself repeatedly to wake himself up.

"Since I've been here, I haven't done that anymore. Maybe it's because it's so much fun here every day. I used to lock myself in my apartment and do indecent things. It was so stupid. But... what about my friends, my father, and my mother? Do they feel lost? Does Mother feel guilty about me? Why do you always make me hang on a thin thread of hope and despair?" Tears streamed down Lazuro's cheeks.

While Lazuro was deep in thought, someone suddenly knocked on the bedroom door, making Lazuro tiptoe from his bed.

"Lazu... Lazu... can you make me something to eat? I got something from Aunt Ginny, but I don't know how to cook," Tristan said.

Lazuro left the room and followed Tristan down to the first floor. They headed to the dining room near the kitchen. On the table were several ingredients. Lazuro was intrigued by the scaly meat that resembled the texture of fish but was larger.

"Is this fish?" Lazuro asked.

"It comes from a hoardfish, a fish with legs and arms that lives on land," Tristan replied.

"No wonder the meat is so thick. But the texture is similar to salmon. Maybe I can make shabu-shabu."

Lazuro boiled water and added seaweed. After a few minutes, he added mushrooms, vegetables, and spring onions, then made a sauce and sliced ​​the meat thinly. After finishing, Lazuro ate with some of the kids who had come downstairs due to the delicious aroma. While they were enjoying themselves, Aaron suddenly appeared and flipped the table roughly.

"You guys are really noisy; you're disturbing us. Why are these losers gathered here?" Aaron shouted.

"Aaron, what are you doing, you jerk? We're eating, and you're disturbing us. Are you tired of life?" Tristan shouted back.

"Tired of life, what can a bunch of losers like you do?" Aaron asked provocatively.

"What can I do? How about we go outside and take a look?" Tristan stood right in front of Aaron.

"What an interesting 'loser.'" Aaron grinned.