Chapter 2

When Elen led me to the armory, she immediately declared,

"I hate Mother!"

"You shouldn't speak ill of your own mother."

I tried to reason with her, but it didn't seem to resonate with her.

"Lord Rihito, what are you saying? Mother is trying to exile you!"

"Exile sounds harsh. It's just about standing on your own. You have to leave home eventually."

Honestly, I felt mentally relieved to leave home and stand on my own sooner.

"You don't understand. Lord Rihito is the one who will inherit the Esterk family."

"I've never heard that before."

"I've told you many times."

"I've always brushed it off."

"Ugh..."

Elen sighed and approached a particularly impressive sword hanging on the wall of the armory. There were several weapons scattered around, but this sword stood out. Even a layperson could tell it was special, radiating an aura that suggested it held extraordinary power.

This sword was known as the divine sword "Tyrfing," a magical sword passed down from the age of myths. It possessed powers such as "never rusting or chipping," "tearing through stone and iron like cloth," and "never missing its target."

In short, it was an incredibly powerful magical sword, but only those chosen could wield it.

Elen approached the sword, touched the scabbard, and lifted it. Despite her slender build, she handled the sword with great skill, a testament to her training in swordsmanship from a young age. The Esterk family, known for its lineage of mages, also placed great emphasis on swordsmanship, taking pride in producing magical swordsmen.

Elen, holding the divine sword Tyrfing, tried to draw it from the scabbard, but a shock like an electric current ran through her, causing her to drop the sword to the floor.

"Tsk."

I sighed and reached out to pick up the divine sword. My movement stopped, however, when Elen made this suggestion.

"Wait. Before you put it back, try to draw the sword, Lord Rihito."

"I'll pass."

"Why not?"

"I don't want to get shocked."

"But Lord Rihito, you might be able to draw it."

"That's impossible. Only the chosen ones can draw this sword. It requires someone of Esterk blood with extraordinary magical power."

"Lord Rihito should be one of the chosen ones."

"Me? No way."

I let out a dry laugh.

"You know I'm a bastard and a powerless incompetent."

"That's a lie. Lord Rihito used to use magic freely. You made paper cranes fly and healed my injuries."

"Those are just your mistaken memories. You must have been dreaming. I'm a powerless incompetent."

"Lie! It's not a lie!"

"It is. Besides, can you stop this already?"

"Stop what?"

"Everything today. I know you mean well, Elen, but it's honestly a nuisance. Every time Lady Minerva calls me incompetent, it's just empty. I am incompetent. The same goes for the exile. I don't want to stay in this house. This is a blessing in disguise."

"But... if you're exiled, we won't be able to see each other anymore."

"It's not a permanent farewell. Besides, you'll eventually get married. It's just a matter of time."

At the mention of marriage, tears welled up in Elen's eyes, and her face contorted. She seemed on the verge of breaking down, but as the daughter of the prestigious Esterk family, her pride wouldn't allow her to cry in public. She covered her face with her hands and ran out of the armory.

"You're so mean, Lord Rihito..."

Her last words, whispered softly, left a lasting impression.

After watching her go, I picked up the divine sword from the floor.

This sword was imbued with magic that only someone of Esterk blood could touch. The fact that I could touch it was proof of my lineage, but I felt no pride or emotion about it.

I sighed and returned the sword to its original place.

—My movement paused.

While I had no interest in the Esterk bloodline, I was curious about the sword itself.

The scene from when I drew the divine sword as a child flashed back. The beauty of the white blade was indescribable.

It was more beautiful than any gem in this world.

Driven by a momentary impulse, I held the scabbard in my left hand and the hilt in my right, and drew the sword.

It slid out smoothly, without any resistance.

This divine sword could only be drawn by someone with extraordinary magical power. No one in the Esterk bloodline had ever been able to draw it.

Not even my father, who was called the prodigy of the Esterk family, or my two highly regarded brothers could draw it.

I, however, drew it effortlessly.

The white blade of the divine sword reflected my face, which was expressionless and devoid of emotion.

"Well, I guess I don't have much charm. I'll be ostracized by the entire clan."

I muttered this to myself, sheathed the sword, and returned it to its place.

When Rihito returned to his room, the sword began to glow. The divine sword, awakening from centuries of slumber, murmured a prophecy-like statement in its drowsy state.

"The cursed bastard boy, the successor of the divine sword, a hero who wields a thousand holy and magical swords. He will bring harmony to this world—"

The divine sword murmured these words as if in a dream and fell back into slumber.

"Interesting."

"I'm curious about what happens next."

"Please keep updating!"

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