The complexities of the siblings' relationship had left Lynn thoroughly confounded, and Laut's diary had provided no clues to this matter.

Iverin's sword flashed through the air as she launched another ferocious attack against Lynn. Her muscles were tensed, her eyes focused on her opponent as she swung both hands on her sword with all her might.

Lynn met her attack head on, one hand on the saber handle and the other at the back side, his saber clashing against her sword with a loud ringing sound.

"Clang!"

With a burst of strength, Lynn pushed off with both hands, causing Iverin to lose her balance for a moment. Lynn followed with an overhead downward strike. Iverin, having recovered, held her sword above her head at a diagonal angle, deflecting Lynn's saber to the side. With his sword deflected to the ground, Lynn immediately reacted by bashing his saber at Iverin's side with full strength. The sound of metal striking metal filled the air as their swords clashed once more.

"CLANG!!"

Iverin blocked the attack and, taking advantage of the momentum, distanced herself. Lynn pursued, not giving her time to collect herself. With a step forward, he thrust out, aiming for her abdomen. Iverin saw the attack coming and quickly side-stepped, tilting her body to the side as she swung her sword at Lynn's head. But Lynn was ready for her counterattack, ducking and spinning around as he leg swept Iverin's feet out from under her.

Iverin hit the ground hard, but she was quick to recover. Rolling to the side, she sprang back to her feet and brought her sword up just in time to block Lynn's saber strike. She immediately counter attacked, her sword moving in a blur as she unleashed a flurry of strikes. Iverin fought with all her might, her swings moving in graceful arcs, her sword flashing through the air as she unleashed a barrage of attacks on her opponent. She spun and lunged, her sword slicing through the air at all angles as she sought to find an opening in her opponent's defenses.

Lynn ducked and weaved, his body tilting and leaning as he avoided the young woman's fierce blows. He countered with his own strikes, his sword arm a blur of motion as he deflected and counterattacked.

Clang clang clang!

The cacophony of clashing swords echoed throughout the hushed manor, a disturbance that would normally have drawn the attention of the butlers and servants. Yet, not a soul was to be seen.

This also explained Lynn's reluctance to activate his overload mode or utilize magic.

"Isn't it strange? My dear brother, Father is not present at the manor tonight, and I have led all of the servants away. They will only know that a devil worshipper wanted by the church has invaded the manor..." Iverin seemed possessed as she swung her blade with unyielding ferocity at Lynn's sword, as if seeking to vent the resentment and discontent that had been simmering within her.

An odd look crossed Lynn's face as he realized that the devil worshipper referred to by the young woman was none other than himself...

As the two engaged in combat, the distant sound of a sudden explosion echoed forth, and through the window of the third floor, a faint flicker of fire could be discerned on the western side of the port town.

"How could it be happening so quickly?" Lynn's eyebrow furrowed, it was clearly not yet time for action - could it be that the members of the guild were unable to contain their impatience and had initiated to attack first?

"What are you looking at? My brother!?" Seizing upon Lynn's momentary distraction, Iverin launched a spinning attack, sending his saber hurtling away, impaled upon the crack between the wall. Without delay, the brunette once more swung her sword downwards from above!

"Die!" Iverin whispered to herself, her dark golden eyes fixed upon Lynn with unswerving intent, yet not a single iota of fear could be perceived upon his visage.

Why? Why does he not fear death?

A flickering expression of hesitation and indecision crossed the face of the brunette girl. For all these years, no matter how malevolent her attitude, the man before her would only regard her with a gaze of particularly compassionate pity. But she had never required alms. If she wants something, she will seize it for herself!

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Thoughts flitted through the girl's mind in an instant, while on the other side, Lynn, sensing the threat, had already extended his arm. In this moment, it was as if the first time they fought was being reenacted. But this time, no one spoke out to stay the proceedings, and with a fierce gust of wind, the slender sword blade had already reached the crown of Lynn's head! However, Lynn's movements were even swifter, his right hand extending to grasp the wrist of the hand wielding the sword at an anomalous angle, gaining the upper hand! He spun around and delivered an elbow strike straight to her chest. It infamous mixed martial arts move! spinning back elbow!

Immediately afterward, with a quick and fluid motion, he brought her wrist to his shoulder and then used his body weight and leverage to throw Iverin off balance. It was another infamous karate move, shoulder throw!

"THUD!"

Iverin went down hard, her body crashing to the floor with a thud. A faint sound of her right arm dislocating echoed through the quiet corridor. Outside the window, the bright moonlight and rising flames interwove, forming a demonic tapestry.

How could it be? Iverin struggled to stand up again, a trace of blood slowly seeping from the corner of her mouth, completely ignoring the pain in her shoulder and chest, her gaze towards Lynn filled with an incredulous expression. Even using all her strength, she was easily knocked down to the ground. Iverin found it hard to accept this fact, and with her still intact left hand holding the sword, charged forward again.

"I'm sorry, I don't have much time, Iverin..." Lynn sidestepped Iverin's vertical slash, grabbed hold of her outstretched left hand, and with a punch to her gut, sent the girl crashing to the ground again. Finally, he stole and waved the blade towards the girl's white neck and lunged forward. Iverin's pupils narrowed, and she could only watch as the silver-white blade drew ever closer, her mind going blank.

'Am I going to die?'

The girl slowly closed her eyes. Thinking back on how she had tried her best, only to be forced to gamble everything to curry favor with the son of a noble, she found it particularly ridiculous. Perhaps she would be relieved from suffering once and for all?

thud~

The sound of the sword tip touching the floor rang out in her ears, and Iverin dazedly opened her eyes, seeing that Lynn was coldly looking at her.

"You're not going to kill me?"

Iverin stared at the familiar yet strange brother in front of her, confusion in her voice as she asked.

'I would have killed you if not for my respect of your brother's decision and the help I received from taking advantage of his identity' Lynn mused.

"There's no need to do so. After today, you will never see me again...I think this should be to your liking." Lynn casually explained.

He is not the genuine Laut and is unable to manage such intricate relationships between siblings, but since Laut is willing to put an end to this cycle of cause and effect by committing suicide, Lynn naturally respects it and has no desire to intervene. He also comprehends where Iverin's resentment stems from, and the fact that she cannot evade her predetermined fate of being born to serve as the sacrifice for the Pedroral family's revival.

However, the other party has mistakenly targeted the wrong person of their resentment. It is Baron Pedroral's obstinacy and the foolish feudal system of the Empire of Sika that truly caused the two to suffer.

Since she has judiciously dismissed the housekeeper and servants in the mansion, she will remain here and contemplate the matter. After tonight, everything concerning the Pedroral family will have no further connection to him. Lynn turned to leave, and Iverin's voice called out to him again.

"Why, despite possessing such power, are you unable to pass the knight's assessment, or even win in a sparring match with me..."

"Are you taking pity on me?" Iverine retained the little dignity she had left and asked with gritted teeth.

"You are too narrow-minded, Iverin...." Lynn turned and looked upon the pitiable girl sprawled on the ground, her spirit crushed and broken, and let out a sigh.

"Your talent in swordplay is excellent, yet your vision is confined within this small harbor town, a baronial position that cannot even inherit a domain."

"Beyond the harbor town lies the Nordland region, and beyond Nordland is the Empire of Sika, and beyond the empire is a world that is vast and wide..." Lynn whispered, as if he is talking to himself, and gazing at the world behind the window.

The night sky is ablaze with stars, a canvas of twinkling lights that stretches from horizon to horizon. In the center of this celestial masterpiece hangs the full moon, a glowing orb of silver light that casts a soft, ethereal glow over the land below.

This world is filled with magic and divinity, holding countless secrets that are waiting to be uncovered.

His gaze fixed on the moon as he contemplates the wider world. His thoughts are filled with wonder and possibility, as he imagines all the secrets that must exist beyond the bounds of this small, ordinary town.

As he stood there, lost in thought, he cannot help but feel a sense of longing and desire. He wants to explore the wider world, to uncover its secrets and discover all the mysteries that it holds. He wants to experience all that the universe has to offer,

"Oh well, you probably won't be able to understand it." Lynn didn't wait for Iverine's response, shook his head and dropped Laut's diary in front of her. For the majority of the people in this world, a town, a village, and a family is everything.

"Unable to understand?" Iverin's countenance was complex as she watched Lynn's departing figure and the item left behind until the door was firmly shut. The girl fell silent for a moment, slow turned her head and gazed at the book. As she struggled, the girl finally managed to take a look. The brunette stopped in place and saw that the handwriting on the book was very sloppy, but Iverin immediately identified it as a belonging to her brother, Laut.

["Maybe without me, everything would be better...."]