Chapter 4: Signs of Awakening

Reading Settings

Translated and Edited by: Dirtyhighroller

Zechs-nii-san loses his posture after being hit on the left cheek by me at close distance.

However, even though he tilted his head up, he just stepped back instead of falling over. — It made me painfully aware of the difference in『ability level』 between my brother in front of me and myself.

「…… Hey, who are you messing with, you piece of trash?　It seems …… that you don’t know how much you’re worth!」

Before I could even think about the “rank difference” with the opponent in front of me―――― Zechs-nii-san widened his eyes and revealed his anger towards me and not trying to hide his overflowing murderous intent.

「Both of you, stop it! What are you two brothers doing against each other!?」

「Stay out of this, big sister! ――― Tch, look……Draw out your sword, Lambda-chan. I'll show you what a real 『knight』can do!!」

Zwei nee-san’s words that desperately tried to stop us didn’t bother Zechs-nii-san at all, and with a cluck of his tongue, he urged me to draw my sword.

A duel between swords――――This is a 『Duel』.

「『Dimensional sheath』, magic development — drawing swords!」

From the magic circle that appeared in front of me, Zechs-nii-san summons a sword as if he was pulling it out of its sheath.

A type of dimensional magic that can be mastered by the knight occupational class,             『Dimensional sheath』―――― It is a summoning magic that takes out the weapons stored in the special space for the caster from the magic circle.

Using that magic, Zechs nii-san took out a brand new sword and pointed it to me.

「Come on, I’ll make you the first rust of this newly bought sword… you garbage b*****d! 」

「Zechs, are you going to duel with your brother!? Lambda, don’t take your brother's provocation!」

「—- Sorry, onee-san. He's  mocking me so much ……even if I'm like this, even I can’t stand it ……!」

I didn’t listen to Zwei-nee-san’s advice, and bought Zechs-nii-san’s provocation―――― I put my hand on the sword that was stuck in the side of my hand.

It was that moment――――

『Sword Weapon: Longsword―――― Recognizing. Relinquishment of possession authority by Zechs Ancient――――Recognizing. The skill【Garbage Pickup】effect is activated ―――― Ownership of the abandoned long sword is set to the caster: Lambda = ■■■■■■ ―――― Completed. Optimization of the synchronization rate between found objects and the caster’s synchronization with the skill effect  ―――― completed. Inheriting skill proficiency stored in found objects ー Learning ―――― Completed. Technical Skill 【Swordsmanship: Lv.2】, Unique skill【Debilitating death needle】 mastery ――――Complete』

――――An inorganic female voice echoed inside my head.

And that wasn’t the only change that had happened.

The sword that Zechs-nii-san threw away in my hand ―――― feels like something I’ve loved for years.

「――――eh!?」

「――――What the hell are you doing looking the other way!! 」

I was taken aback by the inorganic female automated voice that echoed in my head and the sudden familiarity of Brother Zechs’ sword in my hand, he raised his sword and tried to slash at me with anger.

「――――Oops!?」

A momentary delay in reaction―――― means instant “death” in battle. Even if my current occupation is 『Garbage Scavenger』, I’ve been training as a knight since I was a child ―――― so I instantly feel the “death” that is approaching me.

「Die, you small fry!」

「――――Ack!」

The deadly blade swung down at my torso —- No, I can’t make it in time. This sword is too heavy ―――― too heavy to pull it out and interrupt Zechs-nii-san's swordsmanship.

With this in mind, I swung my sword as hard as I could without a second thought, convinced that I would not make it in time.

「――――guh!　What the hell!?」

「――――eh!?」

The sword that had been stuck in the ground was swung lightly into my arms as if it were a toy made of resin, and completely blocked Zechs-nii-san’s sword with a heavy metallic sound “Gaki-ing!!!”.

「No way …… you, why are you wielding that sword so lightly……!?　How can you be so …… strong!?」

「――――Wh-what’s going on…!?」

Our eyes widen in surprise at each other, and with a spark from the clash of swords, we fly backwards away from each other.

Zechs-nii-san's face was strained in amazement, and my brain started spinning to the extent that I thought it was the best thing that had ever happened to me.

The sword is unbelievably light ――― many times, dozens of times more than the sword my father gave me in the past. And if Zechs-nii-san’s words were true, then this sword shouldn’t be heavy enough to be handled lightly with one hand.

That thought passed through my mind, and the next moment ―――― I thought back to “that voice” that echoed in my head.

『Sword Weapon: Longsword―――― Recognizing. Relinquishment of possession authority by Zechs Ancient――――Recognizing. The skill【Garbage Pickup】effect is activated ―――― Ownership of the abandoned long sword is set to the caster: Lambda = ■■■■■■ ―――― Completed. Optimization of the synchronization rate between found objects and the caster’s synchronization with the skill effect  ―――― completed. Inheriting skill proficiency stored in found objects ー Learning ―――― Completed. Technical Skill 【Swordsmanship: Lv.2】, Unique skill【Debilitating death needle】 mastery ――――Complete』

As long as the name of my unique skill【Garbage pickup】 is mentioned, there is no doubt that this discomfort is derived from the skill.

　And, if the content of that voice is true ―――― then by『picking up』the sword that Zechs-nii-san threw away as garbage, my compatibility with this sword has been enhanced to the highest state through skill, and I have acquired Brother Zechs’ sword skills and skills that are burned into this sword.

　In other words, this 【Garbage pickup】 skill optimizes the picked up 『garbage』 as my property ―――― and makes it fit me much better than its original performance specifications, and also allows me to acquire all the experience accumulated by the original user.

　If that’s the case, if my prediction is correct — there should still be a chance to win.

「… I’m sorry, Zechs-nii-san, this sword seems to have recognized me as a 『true wielder』」

With a small chance of winning, I return the favor by “provoking” Zechs-nii-san.

　

He’s a small-looking guy who got angry when he got back at least once for his habit of making a mess of people ―――― he’ll definitely take the bait.

「―――― Ha, ku, ku, ku, hahahahaha!! You make me laugh, Lambda-chan! What’s the matter with you, you’re so proud that you made a miracle with the『sword』 I threw away?! ? 」

Zechs-nii-san laughs loudly as if to say 『It doesn’t work at all』to my provocation, but the “anger” glimpsed in every word was the best proof that he was losing his cool due to the ―――― provocation.

「Ah, yes yes… I understand… If that’s the case―――― Next time, I’ll hold my breath!!」

Zechs nii-san swings his sword at me again with his eyes glowing sharply like a snake. With the blow earlier, he must have understood the speed at which I was going to bring down the sword. —- Perhaps he will unleash a slash that matches the speed of the sword.

Then, all I can do is ―――― to swing this sword faster than before.

「Die――――!!」

「――――!!」

And it was the moment when our swords were about to slash together again.

「Skill activation ――――【Battojutsu: Flash】! ! 」

　Something crossed between me and Zechs-nii-san at the speed of light――――In the next moment, both of the swords we were wielding were cut in half from the center of the blade.

「―――― this is my sister's!?」

「Lightning speed Battojutsu ――――【Battojutsu: Flash】… ! 」

We saw Zwei-nee-san beside us, who had already swung her sword and stood still.

She cut off our sword faster than we were about to cut, and at a speed that seemed to be mistaken for a “flash” .

Zwei-Ancient’s unique skill of leaving sound behind and drawing a sword at the same speed as the flash of light ――――【Battojutsu: Flash】.

「That’s enough, both of you. I will not tolerate any more fights!」

Zwei-nee-san, with her sword pointed at us, warns us with a sharp look in her eyes.

「Zechs …… I can’t tolerate this outrage, trying to kill your own brother!　If Ains-nii-san finds out, you will be punished accordingly!」

「――――Tch, I understand.」

Zechs-nee-san reluctantly follows his Zwei nee-san's strong words of condemnation by retracting his sword.

「You too… Lambda. If you make things any bigger, you’ll be made a rebel against the 『Ancient family』. Now be quiet and obey your father’s orders, and leave this mansion…!」

「… Yes, I understand… Zwei nee-san.」

Unlike Zechs-nii-san, Zwei nee-san tells me this as if admonishing me. Indeed, as I looked around calmly, I saw that the maids of the mansion had heard the commotion and were gathering here one after another.

If I stay here any longer, I am sure that Zechs-nii-san will make me an unfaithful rebel. In other words, this was probably Zwei nee-san's last warning for my safety.

Having made that decision, I put down the sword that was cut in half, and opened the gate of the mansion according to my sister’s advice.

「Lambda … I can’t overturn Father’s decision… So… endure it for now.」

Without turning around to Zwei nee-san’s words, I go through the gate and leave the Ancient family's mansion.

My father kicked me out, my mother didn’t protect me, Zechs-nii-san tried to kill me and even Zwei nee-san couldn’t protect me.

After leaving the mansion, I finally started to realize that I was cut off from the “Ancient Family”.

I just couldn’t become a knight. I just became a garbage scavenger. However,『garbage scavenger』skill is an incomprehensible skill.

I’ve been ―――― denied everything I’ve ever wanted for the past 15 years of my life.

The thought of it makes me feel irresistibly frustrated and start running. I want to leave this city as soon as possible, I want to run away to a place that no one knows about me as soon as possible, I want to forget ―――― this 『reality』 as soon as possible.

As the sun sets on the horizon, I feel the sadness and sorrow of my life ―――― I just run through it.

The day ――――  I guess it's the worst day of my life as Lambda-Ancient.

Hey! Dirtyhighroller here but I think Shield is more easier to say. So I am tyring to improve my translations so that you readers can read my works better so in holy week, I’ll be trying to remake Chapter 1-3 Thank you for reading <3. (please dont judge me it’s my first time using wordpress so i don’t know how to use a footer)

ohh and also, I have a ko-fi now! make sure to visit me please.

https://ko-fi.com/shield1769