Chapter 53

Chapter 53 (53/324)

53

After moving to the training ground.

"Then, I'll try to activate the Storm Sword using this method."

Leonhardt drew his sword from his waist and began to move, taking the form of the Storm Sword I had described. He thrust at the midsection, then immediately used the momentum to slash the upper part in one go.

He continued to link five sword paths with his footwork.

A thin layer of yellow aura enveloped his sword.

As the sword paths increased, the color of the aura grew deeper.

'Success.'

The result was easy to guess.

If it had failed, the aura would have twisted immediately.

In the end, the demonstration of the first form of the Storm Sword was completed without any issues.

Leonhardt then approached me with a stern expression.

Was there a problem?

"…Young Master."

His voice, tense, began to show emotion in his eyes.

From what I could see, he was clearly very excited.

And it was in a positive direction.

I decided to ask.

With a smile, I said to him,

"How was it? Is it usable?"

"…It's more than just usable. Honestly, it's astonishing. How did you manage to modify the Storm Sword in this way?"

Indeed.

My eyes didn't deceive me.

Still, I needed to confirm the results.

"Compared to the original, how is it?"

"The power is much stronger. And the movements are also much smoother."

"Stability?"

"With a few more adjustments, it could be even better."

"Can you make those adjustments?"

"Yes."

"Is the aura consumption manageable?"

"It's about half as much. However… considering the increased power, it's a level we can handle."

"How much stronger is the power?"

After a moment of thought, the guard knight answered.

"…About twice as strong."

'Twice as strong.'

Unfortunately, it wasn't a dramatic effect like magic.

When the in-game activation method was applied to magic, the power increased by at least seven times.

Instead, it was a structure where the power increased enormously, but it also came with a significant fatigue.

However, sword techniques were different.

From what I could see, it seemed to be enhanced to the level of a mixed activation method for magic.

I had clearly imparted the knowledge, but I didn't know why there was such a difference.

'Well, still.'

Twice.

Even this much would be enough to shock the people within the family.

It wasn't just twice; the power had indeed increased significantly.

If the aura consumption had doubled, it wouldn't have been good, but with just a 50% increase,

"It's definitely usable when you consider the efficiency. Tell this to Ceron too."

"Understood. But… how do you plan to handle this modified sword technique?"

It should be kept hidden for now.

If it spread, Adolph and his men would naturally benefit as well.

"For now, only you and Ceron should know. And use it only when no one is watching. It's a bit awkward to spread it right now."

"Understood. Then, in the future…"

This loyal guard knight seemed to want to spread this Storm Sword technique throughout the viscount's family.

"After some time, I plan to gradually reveal it to the family."

"That's a good idea. If the head of the family sees this sword technique, he will surely pay a great price."

"That's true."

After the conversation ended,

I watched Leonhardt sheath his sword and said,

"Let's go out for a bit."

"Outside the castle?"

"Yeah. I want to buy some flowers."

At this, a question appeared in the guard knight's eyes.

"Why are you suddenly buying flowers?"

"It's almost my mother's memorial day. But I'll be in Helena then."

Aisha.

Her mother, the wild child, whom I had thought of when I obtained a high-level spirit stone from the viscount.

Her memorial day was in a few days.

But I would be in the magic city then, so I planned to visit her grave beforehand.

The guard knight looked at me silently.

"…Have your feelings changed?"

I had a rough idea of what he was asking.

Kail Seltarion.

This guy had never visited her grave even once since Aisha passed away.

From what I could recall, it was probably due to fear.

Even if he was a wild child, he must have known he wasn't a good son.

So he had deliberately avoided it.

But I didn't have that intention.

I didn't have strong feelings for her, but since she had taken care of this guy until the end,

It was only right to visit at least once.

Relationships should be clear.

"I should visit at least once."

After answering Leonhardt, I left the castle.

After buying the flowers,

I took Leonhardt and Ceron, who was following closely behind, and headed to Aisha's grave.

The location wasn't far.

Inside the viscount's inner castle.

There was a grave in a corner.

Looking at the well-maintained and clean grave, I bowed my head.

'May you rest in peace.'

As I was about to turn around after placing the flowers, a voice came from behind.

"…Kail?"

Turning around, I saw a familiar face.

Duke Seltarion.

Kail's real brother, who grew up under the same mother.

Family love, kindness.

The traits attached to him were different, and his favorability was in the negative.

I had a rough idea why.

Aisha.

Duke was a very obedient son to her. Her quick passing due to this wild child made sense.

I could understand his negative favorability.

The brotherly relationship, which was decent in childhood, broke down after Aisha's passing two years ago.

Since then, I had no memory of talking to him.

We lived under the same family, pretending the other didn't exist.

'Still, the favorability is higher than I thought.'

Recalling the last time we parted with curses, I thought his favorability should have been below -70.

But it had been two years, and a lot of time had passed.

Rumors of my change had started to spread, and his mindset might have changed.

Duke also held flowers in his hand.

"It's been a while. Brother."

At this, the guy standing next to me nodded awkwardly.

"…Yeah. You're here… for what…?"

Showing is better than telling. I subtly pointed to the flowers placed at the grave, and his eyes gradually widened.

"…Is what I'm thinking… correct?"

"Probably."

"…Why now?"

"It's a bit embarrassing to say, but have you heard that I've become a person?"

Duke nodded awkwardly.

"…Roughly. I heard you performed quite well when hunting the Twin-Headed Ogre."

"Honestly, I wasn't a good son to Mother, right?"

"…"

"That's why I didn't come before. I was afraid, I guess, because I only disappointed her until the end."

Speaking as the spokesperson for the wild child,

"But now, I'm a bit different. I thought I wouldn't be a disgraceful son now, so I came. Her memorial day is in a few days, and I'll be away then."

"…Is that so."

"Something like that."

Duke didn't say much.

He just passed by me and quietly added a bouquet to the grave.

Soon, an awkward silence filled the air between Duke and me. Duke's expression showed he didn't know what to say.

'Duke.'

A low-level Sword Expert, not particularly talented but a decent talent.

Despite the negative favorability,

There was no need to be hostile.

As a direct descendant of the viscount, he was a useful person.

'There was something I wanted to ask anyway.'

To ease the awkwardness,

The elder should take the lead.

"How's your sword training going?"

"…Fine. Just fine. How about you? I heard you need to be very smart to learn magic."

"It's not that difficult. It seems to suit me well. Honestly, I don't look like a knight, do I?"

"True, you've gained weight, but you don't look like one. You're more of a… frail gentleman type."

A frail gentleman.

Honestly, I don't look frail.

But compared to Duke, who looked like Remton, it didn't seem out of place.

To someone who looked like a bandit, it might seem that way.

"Sure, I'll admit it. Compared to your face, I guess I do."

"…What's wrong with my face?"

"Never mind."

"A man should look like this."

Well, he looks fierce, but not ugly.

It's a valid perspective.

If I were asked to switch faces with him, I'd definitely refuse.

I then looked at Duke.

"By the way, brother. Do you get along with the second brother?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Last time when I reported the ogre incident, you were sitting near the second brother, not the eldest. The factions were already split. I was just curious."

Casually probing, Duke nodded slightly.

"I often interact with him. He always teaches me sword techniques."

I see.

It seems he's slowly being swayed through sword training.

'Come to think of it.'

Duke Seltarion.

I had never seen him after the rebellion. In the game, the rebellion had two major outcomes:

Stopping the rebellion or failing to stop it.

When I didn't intervene, the outcome was completely random.

Abel and Adolph.

They seemed to have similar forces on the surface.

But in reality, Abel was at a significant disadvantage.

'If Adolph's army fully mobilizes, that is.'

But Abel's camp had Viscount Remton.

He was a powerhouse, to say the least. Adolph and his remaining eleven subordinates would need at least five to take him on.

Anyway,

If the rebellion was stopped, the viscount would die, and Abel would take over. If not, the viscount and Abel's forces would split.

Regardless of the choice, I had never seen Duke after that.

He wasn't a crucial character, so I didn't pay much attention.

But now, I had a rough idea why.

'He was probably dealt with before the rebellion.'

If not, he might have survived a few times.

The fact that he died in every rebellion was questionable.

The surviving knights and personnel varied each time after the rebellion.

But never seeing him?

It suggested Adolph had a reason to kill Duke.

That made sense.

'Ah.'

Thinking about it, Duke started to look different.

The early game was when the rebellion began. I had only evaluated Duke as a decent knight.

Just a low-level Sword Expert.

Nothing more, nothing less.

'But this guy.'

Looking at his talents and traits, I wondered if there was something special in that question mark.

Duke was currently mediocre.

If he was always eliminated, there must have been a reason.

The content of that question mark seemed to be a strong candidate.

'If that's the case.'

The reason Adolph was approaching Duke and why he always died would be explained.

If Duke had an extraordinary talent,

And Adolph discovered it first and tried to approach him secretly?

Whether it was due to failed persuasion or fear of him becoming a variable, it was plausible.

Building a relationship and then calling him secretly before the rebellion.

'He could have been eliminated right away.'

If the relationship was good, he wouldn't have suspected being called secretly at night.

This explanation fits perfectly.

It's still just a guess.

'But it's a highly plausible guess.'

To give Adolph a taste of his own medicine, I should send this guy to Abel.

Abel could protect Duke.

I could find out the question mark later.

With a conclusion, it was time to act.

First,

I needed to arrange a meeting between this bandit and Abel.