Chapter 76

The Marquess Celterion Family - Chapter 77 (76/324)

77

The Marquess Celterion Family.

For Seron, this place was like heaven.

The illegal arena.

The moment he opened his eyes, it was the world he first encountered. In the dim iron cage, countless low-ranking gladiators were imprisoned. He was one of them.

Why he had opened his eyes there, and why he had no memory of his past, Seron did not know.

He had no time to ponder these questions.

"If you want to live, defeat your opponent. That is the only rule here."

The guards of the arena.

From the moment they said these words, his goal in life shifted from contemplation to survival.

Fighting.

Killing.

Returning to the cold cell to lie down, this cycle continued.

During this time, Seron was able to understand himself to some extent.

For some reason, the moment he held a sword, he became strongly attuned to the weapon. He also noticed that his actions were thoroughly calculated under the instinct of survival.

One month.

Life there was a continuous struggle for survival, regardless of whether his opponent was a monster or a human.

Trembling, he would draw his sword.

He had no choice.

The only thing he could trust was this sword.

The moment he became one with the sword.

Each time his hands were stained with blood, a feeling of ecstasy would rise within him.

It was terrifying.

After each slaughter.

Despite feeling as if he would vomit every time he sheathed his sword, he continued to repeat each day.

He couldn't just sit and die.

Over time, his rank rose.

From the lowest, to low, to middle, and finally to high.

Each time, his body became more comfortable, but freedom was still absent.

The pain remained the same.

When would he escape this hell?

Would tomorrow bring a different life?

That day was no different.

Shabel Tiger.

He drew his sword against the beast and killed it.

In the cold prison.

While sitting on the bed, a person who would change his life came to him.

Kyle Celterion.

"Do you like it here?"

"I'll help you. Of course, in return, you must swear loyalty to me."

He didn't know why Kyle was helping him.

There must have been a reason.

But that wasn't important.

The freedom he had longed for.

His lord had promised it to him.

He kept his promise.

To the swordless gladiator, he taught the family's sword techniques and aura cultivation methods.

It was a great favor.

Even without memories of his past, he knew this much.

Seron looked at the sword hanging at his waist.

'...'

The moment he brought the sword out into the world.

He would become one with it again.

Each time his body was stained with blood, the sword gradually consumed him.

At some point.

His consciousness disappeared, leaving only a puppet swinging the sword.

That's why drawing the sword was always terrifying.

Even now, as he trained in the storm sword technique and learned the cultivation method, it was the same.

However.

The fear was less than before.

Seron.

He had a reason to draw his sword.

'Repaying the favor.'

Kyle Celterion.

He would repay the favor to the extent that Kyle had bestowed upon him.

If necessary, he would even give his life to repay it.

The assassins who recently came.

When they threw daggers at Ersiel.

The moment he judged that he couldn't stop them, he leaped without hesitation.

She was one of the people his lord cherished.

The fear of losing his life.

But it wasn't more terrifying than the meaningless, slow death of his past life.

That's why he could leap.

Seron, lost in thought, bowed his head as Kyle approached.

"Take it."

With those words, he handed something over.

'...a ring?'

Kyle handed him a ring with a light green hue. The ring was adorned with intricate patterns, making it clear that it was not an ordinary item.

"What is this? It doesn't seem like an ordinary ring..."

"It's an artifact. It's called the Tenjin Stone Ring."

"...An artifact?"

"Yeah. It's a good one, so take it quickly. I'll tell you its effects when you wear it."

An artifact.

Even a low-grade artifact typically cost several dozen gold pieces.

Let alone an artifact that Kyle, his lord, described as good.

"...If that's the case, I should..."

Kyle smiled at his words.

"No, it's custom-made for you. So, you must wear it. It's an artifact designed to control your sword."

"...I understand."

It seemed he should take the ring.

The moment he put the ring on his finger.

Thump!

The world became clearer.

'What is this?'

It felt like an awakening.

"How is it? Do you feel different?"

After a moment of surprise, Seron nodded in a daze at Kyle's words.

"...Yes. I feel my concentration is much higher than before."

"It enhances your mental strength. The effect is not just that. How should I put it? It makes your soul more solid. From now on, when you draw your sword, your sense of self won't be easily overwhelmed."

"...Really?"

"Try it."

Nodding, Seron drew his sword.

At that moment.

He instantly realized how extraordinary the ring was.

Unlike the past when he was strongly attuned to the sword, now his sense of self was very clear.

The inexplicable excitement he felt each time he drew his sword was also greatly reduced.

Yet, he felt more composed than ever!

For Seron, it was a first-time experience.

"How is it?"

"...It's amazing. With this, I think I can endure for quite a while even with my sword drawn."

"There are a few more effects. Do you want to infuse the ring with aura?"

"Yes."

The weak aura in his dantian.

As he drew the aura to envelop the ring, the engraved patterns began to emit a yellow light.

Next.

'...'

The aura began to gather much faster.

At a speed incomparable to his usual pace.

"What is this..."

"You haven't gathered much aura, right?"

"...Yes, that's correct."

"With the power of the ring, you can gather purer aura much faster than before. It will help in both training and actual combat."

Kyle.

His lord spoke as if it was nothing.

But Seron knew how extraordinary the effect was.

Natural energy.

To gather this, one typically needed to invest a lot of time or money.

Even with a lot of money, there were limits to the quantity and quality.

But with this ring.

'...'

He could gather purer aura much faster than before. Especially in a situation where his aura was low, it would be a great help.

"...Can I really take it? It's such a precious item..."

"It's meant to be used, so you should take it. There's one more effect. The ring has a special function."

"...Another one?"

"Yeah. The ring is very strong. Even a high-ranking knight probably couldn't break it instantly. You can transfer this strength to a part of your body for about ten seconds once a week."

"Transfer the strength...?"

"Yeah. But the range is limited. And during those ten seconds, the ring's strength becomes very weak. You need to protect the ring during that time to prevent it from being destroyed."

Hearing this, Seron realized how extraordinary the ring was.

It looked very strong.

If he could transfer the ring's strength to his body?

It would be like using his soft flesh as armor.

When an enemy aimed a sword at his neck, he could use the ring's function.

At that moment, the enemy would be off guard, and he could deliver a decisive blow.

'What...'

Why would he, of all people, receive such an amazing artifact?

Seron couldn't contain his curiosity.

"...Young Master. Why are you being so good to me? I haven't been loyal for long, and there's no reason to give me such a precious item. Rather, you should give it to Lord Leonhardt..."

Kyle smiled at his words.

Then.

"Just because. It's an investment for me. And Leonhardt is strong enough without it."

He gave a simple answer.

To hand over such an artifact with such a calm attitude!

If someone unfamiliar saw this, they would think it was just a low-grade artifact. Yet, this was something that couldn't be easily found even in the empire.

"...An investment...?"

"Yeah. By wearing it, I think I can use you better. So, it's not a loss for me."

Kyle then added, looking at Seron.

"So, just take it. Besides, to make you completely my own, I need to show you that I'm willing to give you a lot."

It's easy to say, but hard to do.

Seron knew this very well.

If he had such a precious item.

If he were asked if he could easily give it to a subordinate, he wouldn't be able to nod easily.

Especially to a subordinate he had only known for a short time.

But Kyle was different.

Even though he had only known him for a short time, he showed complete trust.

'...'

Seron quietly looked at the ring.

Kyle.

He had received too much from him.

If he devoted his life, could he repay this favor?

He didn't know.

But one thing was certain.

Perhaps he had.

Met a lord worth giving his life for.

At this moment, Seron made a clear decision.

'If it's such a lord...'

Beyond just repaying the favor, he decided to devote his entire life.

Perhaps because he had drawn his sword?

In a situation where his heart would usually be shaken, it remained calm.

There was no hesitation.

Seron.

He prostrated himself before Kyle.

"...Young Master."

"Hmm?"

"I am just a lowly servant with much to learn."

Kyle chuckled at his words.

"I know."

He was so good that he didn't even mind this.

Such a person, his lord.

"Can I, such a person, devote my life to Young Master?"

"Of course. That's why I gave you the ring."

If it was possible, he could swear his loyalty.

Seron.

Holding his sword, he respectfully extended it to Kyle.

"...Then, I, Seron, want to be Young Master's sword. I will serve you until I become a pile of bones. Please accept my oath, my lord."

At that moment.

Kyle smiled brightly.

"Good. Seron, I accept your oath. From this moment on, you will be a sword that moves for me. You and I, until one of us closes our eyes, for life."

Kyle Celterion.

Having finished speaking, he took the sword Seron offered.

Two months had passed since the word "reformed" was used to describe him. Now, he had a knight who sincerely swore loyalty to him.