Chapter 8

### How to Live as the Third Young Master of a Failed Work - Chapter 8 (8/278)

How to Live as the Third Young Master of a Failed Work - Chapter 8

After completing his practice, Ruth tilted his head at my intense gaze.

"What are you looking at so intently?"

Instantly, many thoughts raced through my mind.

Should I tell him the truth, that I can see mana?

Or should I play it cool?

'If I tell him...'

How would Ruth Meyer react?

What would the viscount's reaction be if this fact became known?

The viscount's eldest and second sons are openly vying for the position of heir.

If they found out that I have exceptional mana sensing abilities, what would happen?

Let's see how it goes.

I cleared my throat and spoke casually.

"Ruth."

"Yes, Young Master."

"You said you were an advanced mana user, right?"

"Yes."

"You seem to have remarkable skills for your young age."

Ruth narrowed his eyes.

His expression seemed to ask, "Why the sudden compliment?"

"It's thanks to the excellent environment and the great teacher I had. I owe it to the viscount's family."

"When did you start being able to sense mana?"

"......What do you mean by 'sense'?"

"Like, becoming aware of its existence? Before you started using it seriously."

"I first became aware of mana's existence five years after I started wielding a sword."

"When did you start wielding a sword?"

"I came to the knights' guild with the guildmaster when I was seventeen and started training systematically."

"Is that typical?"

"To be honest, it's a bit embarrassing to say, but the guildmaster said I was a bit faster than most."

"I see."

Ruth, with his outstanding talent, overcame the limitations of his status to become a knight.

Even for someone like him, it took five years.

But what did this body do to see and sense mana right away? Was it just drinking and womanizing?

What is this?

"Why are you asking about that...?"

"Just curious. I was practicing and suddenly wondered."

"......You seem to have changed a lot."

"What do you mean?"

"To be honest, I've hardly ever met you in person. I practically lived in the barracks."

"But now..."

"Meeting you in person, I realize that rumors can't be trusted."

"Ha, really? What kind of rumors were there?"

I smiled wryly, and Ruth, realizing he had spoken out of turn, quickly bowed his head.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by it."

"Of course. The rumors were probably about a good-for-nothing who only knows how to drink and womanize, right?"

"......"

He didn't argue.

That confirmed it.

Cain, the original owner of this body, had never even held a sword.

So, he must have had this insane talent but never noticed it.

"If I may, Ruth."

"Yes, Young Master."

"Imagine someone who has never held a sword suddenly being able to see and sense mana. What do you think?"

"Suddenly, you say?"

Ruth scratched his cheek and thought for a moment before shaking his head.

"In my experience, it's impossible. Even the viscount, a master, took half a year to sense mana after picking up a sword."

Even that monster took half a year.

What is this?

Did I get some kind of protagonist buff?

But for an author who seems to be out to get me to give me such an ability...

Or maybe it was a setting the author had in mind from the beginning.

A plot point they prepared to use later but forgot about. It's not impossible.

'In any case.'

The important thing is that I have incredible potential.

That's what matters.

Whether it will be a curse or a blessing, I don't know yet.

'My head is a mess.'

I took a spoonful of the remaining stew and put it in my mouth.

My body is tired, and my mind is racing, causing a headache.

Let's eat and sleep for now.

* * *

"Young Master, wake up."

What? Is it already my watch?

I feel like I just fell asleep a few hours ago.

"It's a pack of wolves. You need to wake up."

The word "wolves" made my eyes snap open.

I gritted my teeth against the muscle pain and quickly got up.

"Wolves?"

I wasn't unprepared for this.

That's why I brought Ruth, the knight.

With Ruth's skills, monsters or wild animals should be no threat.

But reality is different from imagination.

The thought of sharp-toothed wolves made my body tense.

'I've only ever seen wild boars in my life.'

Turning my head, I saw Leo.

But something was off.

Leo was calmly boiling water by the campfire.

He then rummaged through his bag and took out a tea packet, which made me frown.

"What are you doing, Leo?"

"Yes?"

"What are you doing right now?"

"I was going to boil some tea to warm us up..."

What is with that calm attitude?

"Now? With a pack of wolves coming?"

"Yes?"

As we had this ironic conversation, a dozen pairs of glowing blue eyes appeared around the campfire.

Grrr...

'Crazy.'

A chill ran down my spine.

The pack of wolves, their eyes glowing like they were about to fall out, quickly surrounded the campfire.

I swallowed hard and instinctively touched my waist.

The scabbard greeted me with a cold touch.

If I had to fight these wolves with this sword, could I do it?

Swish!

My worries were unfounded.

A blue aura swirled around Ruth as he drew his sword.

He then let out a short battle cry and kicked off the ground.

'Is he human?'

Ruth leaped at least ten meters in one bound.

Bang!

Landing in the middle of the wolf pack, Ruth immediately swung his sword.

Swish!

The longsword, drawing a clean semicircle, bisected three wolves. Hot blood splattered the night sky.

Krrr!

The wolf pack, having lost three of their members in an instant, growled and surrounded Ruth. One of them, as if following a hunting pattern, lunged at his back.

Ruth smirked, finding it amusing.

Bang!

His swinging fist shattered the skull of the lunging wolf.

Literally, the skull exploded, sending eyes, red blood, and gray brain matter flying.

Bang! Swish!

He kicked the next wolf, breaking its spine, and then cleaved it from head to tail with his sword.

'Is he a knight?'

The duel with Holren was clean.

Actually, there wasn't much to see.

Holren lost his sword in a few exchanges and was thoroughly beaten.

That kind of scene is common in medieval movies and dramas.

But this?

'It's the real deal.'

A battle, not a duel.

A fight to destroy the opponent.

Krrr!

The wolf pack, losing their will to fight, started to scatter in all directions.

But Ruth showed no mercy. He reached into his cloak, pulled out three daggers, and threw one at each of the fleeing wolves, piercing their heads.

One wolf remained.

Without extra daggers, Ruth spat and picked up a rock from the ground.

"Huff!"

Taking a stance similar to a wind-up, Ruth threw the rock.

Whoosh!

The rock, leaving a fierce whistling sound, hit the wolf's head directly.

Bang!

The wolf's headless body rolled on the ground, leaving no trace of its final scream.

'What kind of impact sounds are these...'

Shouldn't it be 'smack!' or 'crack!'?

Why does throwing a rock sound like a shotgun?

"It seems to be over."

Ruth, dusting off his hands, noticed my gaze and tilted his head.

"Young Master?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah."

He's a monster.

In novels, it's just 'clank, clank, clank' and the monster dies.

Of course, it has to be that way.

It's text.

But experiencing it in 4D surround sound now?

"Did it surprise you?"

"Not really."

"Then I'll go collect the daggers for a moment."

Lies. I was surprised.

But I have to maintain my composure.

I waved my hand dismissively and called Leo.

"Leo, a cup of tea."

"Here it is."

As if he knew this would happen, Leo calmly steeped the tea leaves in the heated water.

Taking the cup, I watched Ruth's back and composed myself.

'This is serious.'

Power beyond human limits.

It's possible because of mana.

And that dazzling swordsmanship.

Any fantasy enthusiast's heart would be set ablaze.

'Knight. Knight...'

Knight (Knight).

The epitome of a man's dream.

The flower of the battlefield.

One who draws his sword only for honor and his lord.

Honestly, at this point, I'm tempted.

Becoming a hero whose name is known throughout the fantasy world.

Everyone imagines it at some point.

'But I can't just act on a whim.'

Do I want to become a knight just because it's a dream? No, that's not it.

If I don't get married, I'll have a chance to be the heir.

That means my two brothers will try to get rid of me.

In the long run, power is necessary. I can't always have a bodyguard by my side.

Especially after seeing Ruth's performance, I realized the importance of power even more.

But there's still a problem.

Who will teach me swordsmanship?

At the knights' guild? It's not impossible, but I want to keep this ridiculous ability a secret.

Outstanding abilities often create unwanted enemies.

Just then, a good idea struck me.

"Ruth!"

Ruth, wiping the blood off his daggers, approached.

"Did you call me?"

"You fought incredibly well."

"Thank you, but they were just wolves."

"Just wolves? I can't even beat those just wolves."

"But I'm here, aren't I?"

"You can't be with me 24/7, can you?"

Ruth looked at me as if to say, "What are you getting at?"

"So, what if..."

"Yes?"

"I learn some swordsmanship?"

"Swordsmanship...?"

"Yeah."

"If it's for self-defense, it's a good choice."

"It's not for self-defense."

Ruth's eyes changed.

"You mean..."

"I want to become a knight."

"Excuse me?"

Would you make that face if you bit a bug?

Ruth looked at me as if I was talking nonsense.

"Why do you think it's impossible?"

"It's not that, but..."

"Isn't it something you have to try to know if it's possible or not?"

"You're right, but it's hard to become a master even if you start wielding a sword from a young age..."

I shrugged at his dismissive and discouraging words.

"Then how about a bet? Whether I can become a knight or not. Honestly, you think it's impossible, don't you?"

"How can I make a private bet with you, Young Master?"

"Fine. Let's put a bet on it. Gold coins."

"Excuse me?"

"If I can't become a knight, I'll give you exactly a hundred gold coins. How about it?"

"......"

The weight of a hundred gold coins.

Ruth pursed his lips and remained silent.

"Isn't it a simple bet? Whether I can become a knight or not."

Ruth swallowed hard.

Of course, whether you're a noble or not, if you can get a hundred gold coins just by agreeing, you'd create a conflict where there was none.

Especially for Ruth, a knight with a modest background, it would be a significant temptation.

After a long deliberation, Ruth spoke cautiously.

"Are you serious?"

"Of course. Do you want a written agreement?"

"How can I..."

"Shut up. I'll write it. Leo, bring me a piece of paper."

Leo hesitantly handed me a sheet of paper and a quill.

Taking it, I started writing the content I had just mentioned.

'What kind of handwriting is this? I definitely haven't adapted yet.'

Since being brought to this world, my language and writing have changed to Middleland's.

It felt as if it was my native language.

It was awkward, but I finished signing and handed it to Ruth.

"Sign it, and you keep the agreement. You'd suspect me if I kept it, right?"

"How can I, Young Master..."

"Shut up. Ruth, I bet a hundred gold coins, so you need to put something on the line too."

Realizing this wasn't a simple joke, Ruth nodded seriously.

"Is there something you want from me?"

Why else would I suggest this bet?

"Teach me."

"Excuse me? Teach you what?"

"Obviously, swordsmanship. In exchange, it must be kept strictly secret. Not even my father should know. How about it? It's just a hundred gold coin lesson, right?"

There's no need for my father, the viscount, or the first and second young masters to know that I'm learning swordsmanship.

It's always good to keep some of your true abilities hidden.

Ruth looked conflicted.

It was probably because he had to keep it a secret from his lord.

But his hesitation didn't last long. It wasn't a negative thing, after all.

"I understand. But I need to know what level you're aiming for..."

"Obviously, the abilities a knight should have, right?"

Just wearing full plate mail and carrying a sword doesn't make you a knight.

"Sensing mana."

This time, both Leo and Ruth couldn't hide their shock.

"How long should we set the deadline?"

But I was confident.

The viscount took half a year to sense mana after picking up a sword.

I can see it clearly without doing anything. What's there to worry about?

This is a bet I can't lose.

"Let's set it at half a year, like my father."

Ruth and Leo, unaware of the full context, now looked at me as if I were insane.