Chapter 169 Sadness

Back to the morning.

After receiving a long-lost letter from Kurotetsu's family, Kurotetsu Kazuki returned home with a feeling of apprehension.

Passing through those familiar lands and buildings, Ikki Kurotetsu finally met his father, Yan Kurotetsu once again.

Here, the two chatted a lot.

There is Shizuku's problem, and Ikki's own problem.

"You look fine."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm referring to the selection contest held by Po Jun this year. I heard that your record so far is sixteen wins and zero losses."

"Ah, yes, a total of sixteen consecutive victories."

"Your opponents don't seem to be only weak, it's amazing."

"Huh?"

What did that sentence mean?

Could it be that he is praising himself?

"What should I do, I'm so happy!"

At this moment, Kurotetsu Kakki was finally determined.

I am indeed very happy.

He can still face his father like this.

I can still hear my father's voice like this.

That's right, Kurotetsu Ikki is still in love with Kurotetsu Yan.

After all, Kurotetsu Yan is the only father of Kurotetsu Ikki.

No matter how much children are scolded by their parents and not recognized by their parents, children still cannot hate their parents.

Even if parents hate their children, children can only look up to their parents.

Kurogane Kakki was no exception.

Kazuki Kurogane knew very well that many of the difficulties he had encountered were related to his father.

But even so.

Father came to see me.

Father came to speak to himself.

All of this made Ikki Kurogane very excited.

So, Ikki thought this way.

"If that's the case."

If it is the current self, different from the previous self, maybe this person is willing to identify with himself.

‘If you can’t do anything anyway, then don’t do anything. '

Ten years ago, Hei Tieyan only said this sentence in the end. But will he give himself a different answer now?

Thinking of this, Kurotetsu Kakki took the initiative to say:

"That, that, Dad."

"What's up?"

"Well, I, I am working very hard now. Although the grade is still only F, I have defeated those strong players, and I don't plan to lose in the future."

"I'm no longer the same person I used to be who couldn't do anything. I worked hard to practice hard. I feel that I have become very strong, and I will definitely not be a shame to the Black Iron family. So, so, so—"

The tension made Kurotetsu Kakki's throat tremble, and he took a deep breath gently, like panting.

"If, I can win the Seven Star Sword and Martial Arts Festival, will you agree with me then?"

Ikki tried his best to squeeze out the last drop of courage, and begged his father Kuro Tetsuyan.

As for Kuroite Yan, he silently stared at Kurotsu Ikki.

"I see."

Then he closed his eyes.

"I never understood why you left my side. But, I finally understood just now. Do you think 'it's because you're too weak that you don't get approval'?"

"Um!"

Kurogane Kakki nodded.

Although this was only one of the reasons why he ran away from home, he really thought so himself.

So, if this is the case, he has become stronger. The words of the current self must be——

"Then you are completely mistaken. Of course I agree that you are my son."

"Huh!?"

Kurogane Ikki stared blankly at the spot. He hadn't expected his father to say this at all.

What did father say just now?

Does he identify with himself?

"You, you lied!"

"I didn't lie, otherwise I wouldn't have come to see you specially."

"But, but. Dad didn't do anything for me at all! You never taught me the ability to use a knife, and even children from separated families can receive martial arts instruction, but I have nothing!"

That's right, Kurogane Kakki still remembers all that now. He stayed in that home, almost suffocating in pain.

Kurotetsu Yan isolated Kurotetsu Ikki from all kinds of things, and other people saw Kurotetsu Yan's style, and they also regarded Kurote Ikki as "the object of the head's disgust" and bullied him in every possible way.

This pain, this distress, this loneliness! Heitie's heart clenched as soon as he recalled it.

So Ikki Kurogane had no choice but to ask clearly.

"If you agree with me, why don't you treat me like other children!"

Hei Tieyan showed no expression at all.

"Because it's not necessary, I don't teach. That's all. A person without talent can only learn half-baked skills. It's just a waste of time for both the teaching side and the learning side."

Heitieyan replied with a natural look.

"It's okay if it's just a waste of time. The worst thing is to get the result with half-strength like you are now."

"!?"

"What do you mean?"

Kazuki Kurotsutsu couldn't understand what he heard, and asked in reply.

Heitie Yan closed his eyes slowly, and then spoke the meaning in the words with that deep voice that was as heavy as a lead block:

"The Kurotsu family has a long history. Since the era when magic knights were called 'samurai', the Kurotsu family has been commanding swordsmen in Japan. Our responsibility is to organize all the swordsmen in this country.

But it is very difficult to gather the knights into a group and make them united.

Because each of these knights has power beyond ordinary people.

If everyone holds too much power, it is impossible to treat them like ordinary people.

And to store these people in a box called 'organization', what is most needed is 'class'.

Establishing an open and easy-to-see order of 'classes' assigns appropriate classes to individual powers.

In order to make everyone aware of their due role, the harmony of the organization can be maintained.

Organizations are made up of cogs each of a different size. Each cog has a suitable task and they must act appropriately for the organization to perform its function properly. From the upper level to the lower level, each has its own appropriate responsibilities.

If the lower level despises the superior and thinks that 'they are better than the other party', then the lower level will deviate from their duties, which is absolutely unacceptable. So Ikki, people like you will only poison the organization.

People who are supposed to be "can't do anything" "just made a result" will make the lower levels maintain unrealistic delusions, thinking that they can also do something great.

When this delusion gradually grows in their hearts, their behavior will deviate from the track. And most of their actions will only cause unnecessary consumption for themselves as gears, or for the organization itself.

It is true that the level is not absolute, but in most cases it is indeed quite correct, and the examples that can subvert the level itself are too rare. We must avoid this unnecessary consumption. That's why I say to you, 'You can't do anything anyway, so don't do anything. '"

Hei Tieyan's words were unusually cold.

Hei Tieyan's actions must have some kind of philosophy.

It was the first time that Kurotetsu Ikki had seen it with his own eyes today, and he had a thorough understanding of Kurotetsu Yan.

In order to fulfill the duties passed down from generation to generation of the Kuroitie family.

So he himself becomes a living discipline, imposing unshakable iron upon himself and others.

This is his father, a magical knight known as 'Iron Blood'.

but.

"Wait, wait a minute!"

But it is.

"Then father didn't tell me to do nothing because I would be a disgrace to the family?"

"Of course, the family is not important at all. Kurotsutsu's duty is to protect the country and the peace among the knights. And for this purpose, the person who can do nothing also has his duty! Ikki, since You want me to agree with you, then, you give up the way of chivalry now."

"!?"

"Anyway, you can't do anything, so don't do anything. From before to now, there is only one thing I expect from you."

Hearing these words, Kurotetsu Kazuki was finally sure that his father's words were serious.

But this truth was really hard for Ikki Kurogane to accept.

because--

"What does this person think of me?"

Father really never hated himself.

However, if he was spurned just because his talent couldn't meet his expectations, maybe Kurogane Kakki would feel better.

Because this means that Hei Tieyan more or less keeps expectations of himself.

But the reality is not the case.

Kurotetsu Yan never had any expectations or emotions for Kurotetsu Ikki at all.

"This is really, really embarrassing!"

The problem is not that Hei Tieyan doesn't hate himself.

To him, he was like a stone beside the road.

He was foolish even to maintain emotion, be it good or bad.

For Kurotetsu Yan, Kurotetsu Ikki is such an existence.

After Kurogane Ikki knew and confirmed this fact, a lonely sadness engulfed his whole body in an instant.

This is so sad!