Did he truly feel grateful from the bottom of his heart that he took care of Ikki?
For a moment, Eiji was stunned, unable to figure out what this middle-aged man was really thinking.
From how he ordered Akaza to handle Ikki, it was clear that he genuinely disliked his son. If that's the case, then why was he grateful? He had completely ruined his plan and messed things up for him.
Logically, it wouldn't be surprising at all if Kurogane Itsuki now wanted to cause trouble for him, or even take action against him.
Since he couldn't make sense of it, Eiji straightforwardly asked: "Why do you dislike Ikki but still thank me?"
Kurogane Itsuki paused briefly, then shook his head. "That's the second misunderstanding—I do not hate Ikki."
Who could he be fooling? Would someone who dislikes their son allow their subordinates to treat him like that? Later, Eiji had heard from Ikki himself that while detained at the League branch, he was treated worse than a prisoner—no, worse than a normal prisoner, who at least wouldn't be easily tortured or drugged in modern society.
Seeing Eiji's disbelief, Kurogane Itsuki pondered for a moment. "Nangou-san, I don't know what you think of me, but I truly do not despise Ikki. After all, he is my son. It's just that Ikki and I are on completely opposite paths—nothing more."
"Your path?"
"Yes."
Kurogane Itsuki nodded calmly. "I am the branch chief of the League of Mage-Knight Nations. I have a duty to maintain the stability of domestic social order and security. Especially in the world of Blazers, there are many who harbor chaotic ideas."
That made sense. Although the number of ordinary people committing crimes was higher in absolute terms, the probability of crimes committed by Blazers was greater.
After all, the old saying is true—with great power comes the risk of corruption. People with power often go astray.
Moreover, Blazers usually possess strength far beyond ordinary people, and their crimes tend to cause more casualties.
However, Eiji's understanding was clearly different from Kurogane Itsuki's.
"I must maintain order among Blazers. Therefore, exceptions like Ikki are unacceptable."
"Huh?"
Eiji began to lose track.
"The reason why the Blazer world, even extending to society at large, has a clear order is because people understand the difference between strong and weak. Knowing their own weakness, they won't foolishly try to challenge the strong or cling to things they shouldn't have."
Kurogane Itsuki's tone was mechanical, devoid of any emotion. "Take the League for example. They don't consider F-ranked Blazers as true Blazers, but as ordinary people. Those Blazers know their own weakness and don't stubbornly try to enter the world of Blazers, instead willingly becoming ordinary citizens."
"But what if there was an F-ranked Blazer who broke this rule, a weak person who became a powerful Blazer? What would happen?"
Kurogane Itsuki paused, then continued, "That would ignite desires in their hearts that shouldn't exist. They would see that person as a role model and think maybe they could do it too, causing many to imitate them."
That was true.If Ikki became a powerful Blazer, he would inevitably become a role model for countless F-ranked Blazers, attracting their unwillingness to remain ordinary and pushing them to rise up.
"So?"
"That would disrupt the existing Blazer order."
Kurogane Itsuki answered, "When those without strength forcibly seek what they cannot have, the result is only disorder. There is no benefit at all."
Eiji was dumbfounded for a moment. "So your reason for targeting Ikki is because he might become a role model for the F-ranked Blazer?"
"Exactly." Kurogane Itsuki finally nodded. "He himself has no talent. In that case, he should do nothing. That at least counts as contributing to society. Once he achieves something, he will only become the start of chaos."
"If you have no talent, then don't do anything at all."
This was Kurogane Itsuki's expectation for his son, Kurogane Ikki. No—this wasn't an expectation at all.
For Ikki, who pursued the way of the knight, this was the greatest despair imaginable.
"...Have you ever said this to Ikki?"
"Yes, two days before your duel with him."
"I see... Heh, no wonder he said his heart was broken by his own father."
Eiji let out a sarcastic smile.
Indeed, on the day of the tournament's start, Ikki had said exactly that. But later, Stella, Shizuku, and others helped mend his broken heart, becoming a new source of motivation for his efforts.
What Ikki truly thought of his father, Eiji didn't know—Ikki never said. However, Eiji knew how he felt about Kurogane Itsuki.
"Your name really suits you—you're strict with everyone, sparing not even your own son."
Eiji let out a long sigh. "Let me be frank: I physiologically despise you."
His words were blunt and harsh, completely ignoring Kurogane Itsuki's status as the League branch chief, straightforwardly expressing his disgust.
"What do you mean by that?"
Kurogane Itsuki's eyes flickered slightly. Even faced with such direct contempt, he showed no sign of anger.
Eiji began to understand. This man wasn't lacking emotions; rather, he had willingly turned himself into a machine, erasing his own feelings to maintain order.
If it was for the sake of order, he could discard his own flesh and blood—even brand him with disgrace without hesitation.
"Honestly, I hated you from the very beginning, but back then, I simply thought you were an evil man who could oppress his own son."
Eiji recalled the time training at the Forest Plaza, when Nene instantly saw through his anger.
"Now I finally understand the truth, and I hate you even more. I thought you hated your son because of the Kurogane family's honor, which made you persecute him. But I didn't expect that you don't hate your son at all—yet you deliberately chose to persecute him yourself."
That was even more unbearable to Eiji than fighting like enemies from the start. Because they clearly had the potential to coexist peacefully, yet he chose persecution on purpose.
"I don't want to debate your twisted logic. I hate the saying 'the strong remain strong, the weak remain weak.' Your idea of order only disgusts me."
Eiji completely lost interest in continuing the conversation.
"If you called me here only to thank me, then you didn't have to. I don't want your thanks, and you don't have to thank me."
With a cold expression, he stood up and left the meeting room without looking back.
***
Hey readers!
Want to read ahead? 📖 Join my Patreon for early access to 30+ advance chapters! Your support helps me write more and bring the story to you faster.
🔹patreon.com/aarvan🔹