The Useless Extra Knows It All....But Does He?

Chapter 471: Chapter 470 - Siblings in Turmoil!

The morning sun had risen completely above the horizon, bathing the vast training grounds of the Drayden estate in warm golden light. The lingering mist had disappeared beneath the growing warmth of the day, leaving behind only the crisp morning air that carried the scent of fresh grass and damp earth. Around the expansive arena, rows of weapon racks stood neatly arranged while several knights who had been training earlier gradually stopped what they were doing, their attention instinctively drawn toward the two young men facing one another at the center of the grounds.

Neither of them spoke.

The gentle breeze swept between them, causing Luca’s dark violet hair and Kyle’s crimson hair to sway softly as both silently observed the other’s stance.

Kyle held his crimson spear diagonally before him, his breathing steady despite the hours of training he had already completed. His muscles remained tense, every instinct sharpened, while mana quietly circulated throughout his body.

Opposite him, Luca stood with his twin sabers lowered casually at his sides.

His posture looked relaxed.

Almost careless.

Yet Kyle knew better.

That seemingly casual stance hid dozens of possibilities.

It was the stance of someone completely confident in adapting to whatever came next.

For several long seconds, the only sound came from the wind.

Then—

Kyle disappeared.

The stone beneath his feet exploded apart as his body shot forward like a crimson bolt, his spear thrusting straight toward Luca’s chest with terrifying speed. The attack was clean, direct, and overwhelmingly powerful, carrying enough force that even the air itself seemed to scream before the spear reached its target.

Luca’s expression remained calm.

His left saber rose effortlessly.

Steel met steel.

A sharp metallic explosion echoed throughout the training grounds as sparks scattered between them.

Kyle didn’t stop.

The instant his thrust was redirected, he rotated the spear around his body and launched another sweeping strike aimed toward Luca’s side. The crimson spear carved through the air like a blazing crescent, forcing Luca to step backward while crossing both sabers together to absorb the tremendous impact.

The collision sent a powerful shockwave rolling across the arena.

Dust rose into the air.

Several spectators instinctively shielded their faces.

Kyle continued advancing relentlessly.

The spear transformed into an endless storm of crimson flashes, each strike flowing seamlessly into the next without leaving even the smallest opening. Every thrust carried incredible precision, while every swing possessed enough destructive force to shatter stone.

Luca retreated several steps, his sabers dancing continuously as he intercepted every attack with movements that appeared almost effortless.

The rhythm of steel echoed throughout the estate.

Clang.

Clang.

Clang.

The rapid succession of collisions became so fast that the individual strikes blurred together.

Kyle grinned.

"I knew you’d block that."

Luca smiled.

"I’d be disappointed if that was all you had."

Kyle’s grin widened further.

"You asked for everything."

"I did."

"Then stop complaining."

"I’m encouraging you."

"You have a strange way of encouraging people."

"I’ve been told."

Kyle suddenly twisted the spear behind his back before driving the butt of the weapon toward Luca’s ribs.

Luca pivoted smoothly.

The attack missed by barely an inch.

Before Kyle could recover, Luca stepped forward instead of backward.

Both sabers flashed simultaneously.

Kyle’s instincts screamed.

His spear rose instinctively, barely managing to intercept the crossing blades before they reached him.

The impact pushed him backward several meters.

His boots carved deep lines across the stone floor.

Luca didn’t pursue immediately.

Instead, he rested one saber lightly upon his shoulder.

"You’ve been putting too much strength into every strike."

Kyle rolled his shoulders.

"I’m trying to break something."

Luca nodded.

"I noticed."

Kyle’s smile gradually disappeared.

"So let me."

The words carried more weight than before.

Luca understood immediately.

This wasn’t about the spar anymore.

Not really.

This was about everything Kyle had been carrying since returning home.

Without another word, Kyle attacked again.

This time there was no restraint.

Mana erupted around the crimson spear like blazing flames.

Every movement became heavier.

More explosive.

The training grounds trembled beneath the sheer force of each impact while violent gusts swept across the arena with every swing.

Luca no longer retreated.

Instead—

He met Kyle head-on.

The twin sabers danced through the crimson storm with remarkable precision, deflecting impossible attacks while occasionally slipping through openings that barely existed.

Steel collided again and again.

Neither yielded.

Neither slowed.

The spectators could no longer follow every movement.

Only flashes remained.

Crimson.

Silver.

Crimson.

Silver.

The battlefield became a blur of clashing weapons and surging mana.

Kyle roared as he drove the spear downward with overwhelming force.

Luca crossed both sabers above his head.

The collision shattered the stone beneath his feet.

Cracks spread across the arena in every direction.

For several moments, neither moved.

They simply pushed against one another.

Strength against technique.

Power against precision.

Kyle’s breathing became heavier.

His expression tightened.

Then suddenly—

His frustration burst free.

"You know what’s the worst part?"

His voice echoed as he forced the spear downward.

"I don’t even want it."

Luca remained silent.

Kyle continued.

"I never wanted to become family head."

Another clash rang out.

"I don’t want the title."

The spear swept sideways violently.

"I don’t want the position."

Luca deflected it.

"I don’t want people comparing me to Aurelia."

Kyle’s voice grew louder.

"I don’t want everyone acting like I’m stealing her dream."

The words echoed throughout the arena.

Another collision.

Another explosion of sparks.

Another exchange.

Kyle’s attacks became increasingly aggressive.

Not reckless.

Simply honest.

Every strike carried emotions that had remained buried for days.

"I’ve told Grandfather countless times."

The spear thrust forward.

"I’ve told the elders."

Another strike.

"I’ve told everyone."

He laughed bitterly.

"But nobody listens."

Luca finally spoke.

"They’re listening."

Kyle’s spear stopped briefly.

Luca looked directly into his eyes.

"They’re just hearing your title."

Not you."

The simple sentence struck harder than any saber could have.

Kyle froze for the briefest instant.

Luca immediately stepped forward.

One saber locked the spear in place.

The second gently rested against Kyle’s shoulder.

Neither weapon moved.

Neither spoke.

Only the morning breeze passed quietly through the silent training grounds.

Luca looked calmly at his friend.

Then smiled faintly.

"Good."

Kyle frowned slightly.

Luca lowered both sabers.

"I think you’ve finally started fighting the right opponent."

The words lingered in the quiet morning air.

And for the first time since returning to the estate—

The frustration that had consumed Kyle no longer felt quite so heavy.

The training grounds gradually fell silent once more.

The echoes of clashing steel faded into the distance while the dust raised by their battle slowly settled back onto the scarred stone beneath their feet. The crisp morning breeze drifted gently across the arena, carrying away the lingering warmth generated by their mana and leaving behind only the peaceful sounds of rustling leaves and distant birdsong.

The spar had ended.

Not with a victor.

Not with a defeated opponent.

But with something far more valuable.

An understanding.

Both young men sat near the edge of the training grounds, their weapons resting against a nearby stone wall while the morning sun continued climbing higher into the clear blue sky.

Their clothes clung lightly to their bodies, dampened by sweat after the intense exchange.

Neither of them seemed eager to move.

For several long moments, neither spoke.

Kyle leaned backward, supporting himself with both hands while staring absentmindedly toward the endless sky above.

His breathing gradually returned to normal.

The tension that had consumed him since returning home had eased considerably after the spar, leaving behind only quiet exhaustion.

Beside him, Luca simply sat comfortably upon the stone platform, one knee raised while his forearms rested casually across it.

He never interrupted the silence.

He understood it.

Sometimes people didn’t need advice immediately.

Sometimes they simply needed someone willing to remain beside them until the words came naturally.

Eventually—

Kyle laughed softly.

The sound carried none of his usual mischief.

It sounded tired.

"...You know."

Luca glanced toward him.

Kyle continued looking at the sky.

"I really didn’t want to fight with her."

His voice remained quiet.

"So then why did you?"

Kyle sighed.

"I honestly don’t know."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Aurelia has always been... Aurelia."

The smile grew warmer.

"When we were little, she was always dragging me into training because she said I was wasting my talent."

He chuckled.

"I hated every single session."

Luca smiled without saying anything.

Kyle continued.

"If someone bullied me..."

His expression softened.

"...she’d somehow find out before I even got home."

"And then?"

"And then those people mysteriously stopped bothering me."

Luca laughed.

"I wonder why."

"I still have absolutely no idea."

Kyle shook his head with amusement.

"When I got into trouble, she covered for me more times than I deserve."

"When I skipped lessons, she somehow finished my assignments."

"When I was sick, she’d pretend she wasn’t worried while checking on me every hour."

His laughter gradually faded.

"The funny thing is..."

Kyle looked toward his hands.

"...she never once asked me to repay any of it."

The silence returned briefly.

Then he smiled bitterly.

"And somehow..."

His shoulders slumped slightly.

"...we still ended up arguing."

Luca quietly listened.

Kyle slowly rubbed the back of his neck.

"I know she didn’t mean what she said."

The confession came without hesitation.

"I’ve known Aurelia my entire life."

His voice carried complete certainty.

"I know exactly what she meant."

"She wasn’t blaming me."

"She was blaming the traditions."

"She was frustrated with the situation."

He sighed again.

"I understand all of that."

The smile disappeared.

"But..."

He paused.

His gaze remained lowered.

"...it still hurt."

The honesty in those words lingered quietly between them.

Kyle wasn’t accusing her.

He wasn’t angry.

He wasn’t seeking sympathy.

He was simply telling the truth.

"It was only one sentence."

He laughed weakly.

"And yet somehow..."

His fingers tightened slightly.

"...it kept replaying in my head."

Luca nodded slowly.

"Words from strangers disappear."

Kyle looked toward him.

"But words from people we love..."

Luca smiled faintly.

"...stay with us."

Kyle closed his eyes briefly.

"Exactly."

Another silence settled between them.

This one lighter than before.

The kind of silence that naturally followed an honest conversation.

Eventually Kyle let out a long breath.

"I don’t want things to stay like this."

His voice had regained some of its usual steadiness.

"I want to talk to her."

His gaze shifted toward the distant mansion.

"I want to tell her I understand."

A small smile appeared on his face.

"And I want to let her explain properly this time instead of pretending I’m offended just to annoy her."

Luca raised an eyebrow.

"So you admit you were doing that."

Kyle coughed awkwardly.

"...Maybe."

"You enjoyed watching her panic."

"...Maybe."

"You deserve another spear through the face."

Kyle laughed.

"I probably do."

The laughter lingered for a few moments before gradually fading.

The atmosphere had become peaceful once again.

Comfortable.

Warm.

Luca quietly watched his friend for a moment.

Then the corners of his lips curved upward into a knowing smile.

He slowly stood.

Kyle looked at him in confusion.

Luca didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, his crimson eyes shifted toward one of the massive oak trees standing just beyond the edge of the training grounds.

The branches swayed gently in the morning breeze.

The leaves rustled softly.

A faint smile remained on Luca’s face.

Then, with perfect calmness, he spoke.

"You heard it..."

His gaze never left the tree.

A playful warmth entered his voice.

"Come out."