Reincarnated as a failed hero?! Watch me Defy Fate! - Chapter 60

Chapter 60: Between Power and Pride Chapter 60: Between Power and Pride After accepting Julius and Termina’s request, Luna approached me, her expression serious.

She wanted to tell me more about Julius and what kind of person he truly was.

Julius von Starlight-the second son of the prestigious Starlight family.

With his golden hair, piercing blue eyes, and wearing small earrings, he looked every bit like the blond hero straight out of a manga.

His longsword was his weapon of choice, and his strength was undeniable.

It wasn’t surprising that all the students at Braveheart Knight Academy admired him.

On the surface, he seemed perfect, much like his older brother, the family’s current hero.

But Luna’s expression darkened.

She revealed that Julius’s flawless appearance hid a colder, darker side.

“When I was younger,” Luna began, her voice trembling slightly, “I faced Julius in a friendly sparring match-part of a tradition between the Starlight family and my own, the Solarblade family.” She hesitated, her hands tightening into fists.

“He defeated me with ease.

I could tell his swordsmanship was on par with his older brother’s.

But even when I admitted defeat, he didn’t stop.

He kept attacking me, mercilessly.

That’s how I learned what kind of person Julius truly is-cruel and heartless.” Luna explained how Julius harbored deep jealousy toward his older brother, the family hero.

Losing to him in the past had left a burning resentment in Julius’s heart.

“He dreams of becoming the Starlight family’s hero, but he despises being overshadowed by his brother.” I nodded, absorbing Luna’s words.

“Thank you for telling me this,” I said sincerely.

“I’ll be careful.

Don’t worry about me.” Luna seemed a little reassured and even managed a small smile.

Curious, I then asked her about Termina von Stormheim.

“Honestly, I don’t know much about her,” Luna admitted.

“Termina is the third daughter of the Stormheim family.

She has green pony hair, matching green eyes, she has a good athletic build.

Her weapon is bow, which is pretty rare in the Braveheart Kingdom.

That alone makes her stand out.” Luna added that Termina didn’t seem particularly ambitious and preferred to live quietly at the academy.

Her words eased my concerns somewhat.

If I had to fight alongside Termina, perhaps I could trust her-at least a little.

Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that both Julius and Termina wanted to prove themselves-whether to their families or to the academy.

Later, Lyra, Freya, and Marius approached me, their faces filled with concern.

“Naoki, are you really okay with this?” Lyra asked with worry.

“That’s right are u okay?

since you don’t even have your katana anymore after the duel with Arden.” Freya said that with crossing her arms.

I smiled reassuringly.

“Don’t worry, I’ve already figured out a plan.” Turning to Marius, I made a bold request.

“Marius, can I borrow your sword for the match?” Marius blinked in surprise.

“Wait, can you even use a one-handed sword?” “Before I used a katana, this was my original weapon,” I replied with a confident smirk.

Marius’s expression brightened.

“Well, in that case, it’s yours.

Just don’t lose!” With his sword in hand, I felt a familiar sense of determination returning.

I would rely on the Blackmore sword techniques during the match.

It wouldn’t be perfect, but it would be enough.

Seeing this, my friends seemed more at ease.

Later, Amelia pulled me aside.

Her mischievous smile hinted that she had something important to share.

“This match might be the perfect opportunity,” she whispered.

“Remember how someone with demonic Dark Magic was spying on us during the exams?

I’ll be keeping an eye on the arena during the matches.

Maybe we’ll uncover some clues.” I nodded but gave her a stern look.

“Fine, but don’t push yourself too hard.

If anything happens, promise you’ll get to safety.” Her grin widened.

“Aww, are you worried about me?

Don’t be.

Just focus on your own fight!” I could only smile wryly at that, and hope nothing would happen.

…

When class began, Professors Lowen and Aldin officially announced the Friendly Match.

“This event,” Professor Lowen explained, “is designed to assess the strength of each year’s students from both the Solara Magic Academy and Braveheart Knight Academy.” I listened carefully, but my attention wavered when I noticed Instructor Morgan quietly leaving the room.

I wondered why, but before I could dwell on it, the professors revealed the match rosters: — Solara Magic Academy VS Braveheart Knight Academy: First-Year Match: Sol, Lucy, Han VS Milly von Blackmore, Aisha Rosewood, Alex.

Second-Year Match: Weaver, Ether, Mystic VS Darian von Auditore, Fiora von Valtieri, Ema.

Third-Year Match: Arden, Sander, Windy VS Julius von Starlight, Termina von Stormheim, Naoki von Blackmore — The announcement left me stunned.

“Milly and Aisha are competing?” I muttered, unable to hide my worry.

“Are they ready for this?” I decided to check on Milly after class.

What shocked me most, however, was learning that my opponents would be Sander and Windy.

Both were my close friends and allies here.

The thought of fighting them felt…

wrong.

After class, Sander and Windy approached me.

“We don’t want to fight you,” Sander admitted, his tone heavy with regret.

“But this is the academy’s decision, so we’ll do it.” “Give it your all, Naoki,” Windy added with a gentle smile.

I nodded solemnly.

“You too.” Lyra and Freya cheered me on enthusiastically.

They both expressed how much they wanted to fight alongside me in the upcoming match.

But I reminded them of all the times they had already supported me in countless battles.

Praising their strength and resilience made them smile bashfully, a mix of pride and embarrassment in their expressions.

Later, I decided to check on Milly and Aisha.

I found the two walking out of their classroom, chatting animatedly.

“Hey, Milly, Aisha,” I called out, walking up to them.

“You’ve heard, haven’t you?

You’re representing the first-years in tomorrow’s Friendly Match.

Are you two going to be okay?” Milly puffed out her chest confidently, her laughter ringing out.

“I’ve been waiting for this, big bro Naoki!

I’ll show you all the results of my training.

Victory is as good as mine!” Her enthusiasm caught me off guard.

Aisha chimed in, equally energetic.

“That’s right, Naoki-senpai!

Milly and I are unbeatable together.

You’ll see how great our teamwork is!” The two of them were practically glowing with excitement.

Their dynamic made it clear-they really were a perfect pair.

“And by the way, Naoki-senpai,” Aisha continued, her voice suddenly softer, “you’re representing the third-years too, aren’t you?

I just… well… g-good luck, Naoki-senpai!” Her cheeks flushed red, and the tips of her elf ears drooped shyly.

It was incredibly cute.

I smiled and patted their heads gently.

“Thanks, you two.

I’m counting on you as well.

Do your best tomorrow.” Aisha froze, her face turning an even brighter shade of red, while Milly swatted my hand away in annoyance.

“Don’t treat me like a kid!” she huffed, glaring at me.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Ultimately, I had to trust them.

After a quick farewell, the two walked off, leaving me feeling a bit more at ease about their match.

…

As I headed back, I noticed Julius and Termina waiting for me.

Their expressions were calm, but there was an air of intensity about them.

“We need to strategize for tomorrow’s match,” Julius said matter-of-factly.

I nodded and agreed to their proposal.

If nothing else, this would be an opportunity to understand them better.

The three of us made our way to the library and found a quiet corner to discuss our strategy.

Julius wasted no time laying out his plan.

“I’ll handle Sander.

Termina, you’ll take on Windy.

And Naoki, you’ll face Arden.

You’ve already defeated him once, so this formation makes the most sense.” His logic was sound, and I agreed, though I raised a point of caution.

“Arden might come prepared with tricks to counter my previous strategy.

If that happens, we may need to switch opponents.” Julius nodded firmly.

“That’s acceptable.

We’ll adapt as needed.” Termina, as usual, remained quiet, offering only a small nod of agreement.

Curious about their abilities, I asked them to explain their combat styles.

Julius smirked but kept his explanation brief.

“I can’t reveal everything, of course.

But I use [Starlight Swordsmanship] It’s one of the most powerful sword techniques in the Braveheart Kingdom, combining combat aura and light-element magic.” Termina followed, her tone more reserved.

“I use [Stormheim Archery] It focuses on speed, precision, and lightning-element magic.

My specialty is long-range combat, but I’m capable of fighting up close with a dagger if necessary.” Their explanations were concise, but it was enough for me to understand their capabilities.

I hesitated before asking my next question.

“Why are you two so motivated to win this match?” Julius’s demeanor shifted instantly.

His voice grew louder, and his words were laced with disdain.

“What kind of question is that, Naoki?!

Of course, it’s for the pride of the Braveheart Kingdom!

I’ll show those commoners who’s truly stronger.

How dare they think they can stand against us nobles!!!” As the tension in the library lingered, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was off.

Julius’s fervor was palpable, but there was a darkness in his words that unsettled me.

He had always been admired as a hero-in-the-making, but I was beginning to see that the path he walked might not be as noble as everyone believed.

I glanced at Termina, but she said nothing, her eyes hidden behind a veil of calmness.

Was she really on the same side as Julius, or was there something more beneath the surface?

The feeling of unease gnawed at me, but there was no turning back now.

Tomorrow would reveal the truth.

And I had a sinking feeling that the match was only the beginning.