>>5218632>>5218635"Why the shame? No kid your age is picking up a sword and going into combat. Back in my day, I was... hiding under the dining table to get a taste of my father's alcohol... Scratch that, I can't lead by example... Point still stands, being a child soldier is not something to be praised, you should be enjoying life. You'll have a lot more time to spill blood on the battlefield when you're older!"
"But I don't want to wait until I'm older, I want to fight them now. And you don't exactly look like a grandpa, why are you talking like you have a bunch of life experience?"
"Because I kind of do, though I believe I was blessed with a few shortcuts. Truth is, the search for the strongest is not something everyone should go for. You either start training while you're young, or play catch-up for the rest of your life. I've survived encounters with creatures stronger than myself, but every time I do it, well, I feel like I've lost a few years of my senior life, and it won't get any easier unless I grow stronger than I am right now. It's something that passes through my head a lot, along with several other things. The gap never closes, it only widens. Or at least, that's what I've gathered."
"Don't you think I'm a little too young to be working as your counselor? I'm just looking for a big fight, not your deep reasons to live."
"I know, but that's important for you to think about too, even if just for a little bit. It might help you figure out what you're good at. Judging fights is more similar to judging lives than you might think."
"And what did you gain with so much knowledge in your head, big brain?" Isidro rolls his eyes.
"I don't think you should be aiming for Guts' type of strength. If you're fast, short and resourceful, you should work around those advantages over big targets."
"I won't be known as the greatest mercenary to ever live if I can't kill at least 100 men by myself!"
"And how will you get there? What, do you expect Guts to give you any advice?"
"I am not his student, no one can tell me what to do, ya hear? It's why I'm not lending you any of my two ears either!"
Isidro is very unlike Benny, the kid who did not want to fight in the slightest, but felt forced into learning something to protect his family despite being terrible at it. You wonder if those two would learn anything from each other. Maybe some company at similar age range would get the message across.
"Novice or pro, you sure talk a lot of trash for someone who's not watching out for spirits, that one clasping your shoulder will probably haunt you until your hair turns grey." Being a bit more playful, you pull a prank on him as he spins around and flails his torch.
"HUH! WHERE!?" Funnily enough, he's a lot more willing to fight monsters than Farnese. If only he had the ability to back up his words...
