Before coming here, my father had asked me a question. Even though he agreed with my plan, he had many worries.
“How much do you intend to reveal?”
“If I only show our wealth, we will simply become attractive prey.”
The first concern was about the power I would display upon arriving at the Royal Capital.
“Therefore, I must show that we also possess strength.”
“Do you intend to use Aura?”
“Brother should be reaching that level soon as well. Wouldn’t it be fine by then?”
“Haha… The Royal Capital is going to be shaken.”
The second concern was regarding the ripple effect it would cause.
‘House Ofern is not weak.’
However, we were not strong enough to suppress everyone either. It was a place where we had to protect a remote territory and deal with those constantly eyeing the South. The image of House Ofern had always been one of being suppressed by constant checks and balances.
But today…
“You may use every possible means. If you are capable, that is… Hehe.”
“Fine by me.”
It was time for the suppressed House Ofern to suppress everyone else.
Unlike his words, Sir Asard did not hold back.
*Whoosh!*
The sword lunged toward me with incredible speed. It thrust forward in an instant. It was fast enough to pierce a man’s chest in a heartbeat.
*Clang!*
I blocked the sword head-on. In that moment, we both recognized each other’s caliber.
“Mmm…”
Asard swallowed a groan. It was only a single exchange, but a swordsman’s blade carries much within it. Asard had certainly caught a glimpse of that.
‘He’s good.’
‘…Heh.’
I smirked. Our expressions were complete opposites.
“I must take this seriously. I clearly heard you were a mage…”
“It is quite laughable to launch a surprise attack on a mage anyway. But you have a better eye than your situation suggests.”
“I am coming!”
The murmuring of the crowd grew louder.
Ignoring them, we leveled our swords at each other again. It was Asard who took the initiative once more.
*Boom!*
Though he hadn’t coated his blade in Aura yet, his sword was filled with its energy. It sliced through the air. Asard’s sword slashed nine times in an instant.
‘All aimed at the chest.’
*Swish!*
The strikes swept across without a hair’s breadth of error. He must have swung his sword tens of thousands of times to achieve such precision.
However…
*Clang!*
I was just as formidable. I crossed my sword to block him. Simultaneously…
“Ugh…”
I pushed him back with sheer strength.
A body circulating internal energy is no different from a superhuman. Even an ordinary person becomes a ferocious beast if they possess internal energy. This is especially true for those who have learned Mugong.
“Guh!”
It was possible to suppress someone who had trained their whole life with just simple strength.
*Pop!*
Asard was the one who retreated first.
“Huff… Huff…”
The confidence he had initially displayed was long gone. A look of frustration washed over his face. Originally, this was supposed to be a flashy stage for his debut into the Royalist Faction. But in reality…
‘Is your family full of nothing but geniuses?’
“Perhaps? We even have a monster among us.”
This stage was for me, not him.
*Vrooom!*
Having acknowledged me, Asard leveled his sword and drew up his Aura.
“Oh, my…”
“Aura! Someone might actually die at this rate…”
“Shouldn’t we stop them immediately!?”
The buzzing of the spectators grew even louder. Yet, no one actually stepped in to stop it. They simply watched with shining eyes.
‘Like a pack of hyenas.’
No matter how this turned out, it would be great entertainment for them. At best, it would be a pawn for their political games.
Instead of looking at them, I focused on Asard. He seemed to be putting everything into this duel. His Aura was as thick as his determination.
‘I see… not bad.’
It wasn’t perfect. Compared to the Aura—the Sword Grandmaster’s Soulforce—it was infinitely meager. However, he had surpassed the level of an ordinary swordsman. It was enough to be called Sword Qi.
Even in the Murim, those who can handle Sword Qi are not common. Especially those who reach such a level without proper Mugong are even rarer.
“I am in a position where I cannot afford to lose either…”
“Same here.”
An ordinary noble might have backed down here. Raising one’s Aura carried that much weight. However, I gripped my sword tightly once more.
‘Shall I go all out? If my strength is lacking, I simply need to suppress him with technique.’
I composed my mind.
*Vroooom!*
I raised my Aura.
The Aura manifested through the essence of the Great Heavenly Star Sword Art was incomplete, yet it shone more brilliantly than Asard’s. The level of the secret truth contained within was on a different plane.
“Aura!”
“H-How!?”
The noise from the surroundings intensified. I was fifteen years old. Even in this kingdom, finding someone who could manifest Aura at this age was rare. No one expected that I, the youngest of the Ofern family and the one called a source of worry, would be able to manifest Aura.
Only… it was a small fact known only to my brother, who was watching me silently.
“Let’s do this properly.”
I started with footwork.
*Flash!*
And ended with a swing of the sword!
‘Heavenly Star Ten Swords, First Move.’
The sword in my hand began to multiply into dozens.
“Aaargh!”
Asard gripped his sword and tried to attempt his nine slashes again, but my sword was faster.
*Crash!*
The Aura concentrated on the tip of his sword vanished into nothing.
‘Immediately to the next.’
Second Move, Heavenly Ears Infinite Change. The sword began to transform, toying with Asard.
“Kuh… H-How!?”
“…It is a difference in class.”
The sword changed endlessly, drawing an infinite pattern. Asard began to respond, but the limit of his sword movements was quickly revealed. Calculating countless moves and using proper forms—these were the limits of someone who had not yet fully developed.
‘…Fool.’
When he got the chance to duel me, he probably thought it would be a flashy debut.
‘Third Move. Crushing Steel Sword.’
As I saw it, this was more like his retirement ceremony.
*Screeeech!*
The manifested Aura carved through space as it advanced. The Crushing Steel Sword was, as the name implied, a strong sword and a Heavy Sword at the same time.
“Uuuuugh!”
The Crushing Steel Sword grew heavier the more it made contact.
“You won’t win with strength.”
Unless one possessed more than double the strength, they could not endure it.
*Boom!*
Unable to withstand the power, Asard’s knees buckled. Despite only exchanging blows a few times, the difference in their class was laid bare for all to see.
The surroundings fell silent. People were looking at me with various expressions. Clearly, the momentum of this stage had shifted to me.
And that…
‘I will crush them.’
…was the signal that House Ofern, which had been suppressed for so long, was taking flight once again.
***
The flare had been fired.
“You’ve really caused quite a scene. You surprise me every time I see you.”
“I should do at least this much. That way, people will stop looking down on us as if we’re still just some remote backwater.”
The rumors spread in an instant. There was no need to even mobilize the Information Guild.
‘A genius has appeared in House Ofern.’
That one sentence was enough. Various analyses followed.
‘A teenager defeated a mid-level Aura Expert.’
‘He is the youngest. It’s said his older brother is even more outstanding. So, how strong is that brother?’
‘Furthermore, Count Ofern’s strength might be even greater than what is known.’
The rumors grew. While there were some sharp analyses, most were absurd exaggerations. Regardless…
“There are really a lot of them.”
“Yes. It’s almost excessive.”
The rumors were enough to bring back the talented individuals who had briefly dwindled.
‘They’re clever. They figured out there’s treasure here.’
Strength is a measure of power. Since House Ofern revealed its strength, people came looking early—commoners who had the eyes to read the situation.
Among them…
“I see a few interesting people. It would be quite fun to take them with us.”
“Hmm… Even I can see them. It’s almost a shame I can’t see them together.”
I began to sweep up the decent gems.
The Royalist Faction fell into a funeral-like atmosphere. The King, who had ordered the scheme, suddenly went silent again. They had completely lost the duel.
Sir Asard, who had held the reins of the Royalist Faction, went into seclusion after that day’s defeat. For whatever reason, even after recovering, he was not seeking out the Royalist Faction again. Rumor had it that he was lingering around where the youngest of House Ofern stayed.
The hardline policy was a total failure. No, beyond a failure, the losses were immense. Everyone sat with grim expressions. For Marquis Visque, who was leading the meeting, the loss was so painful his insides were churning.
“What do you think should be done?”
“…Is the conciliation policy still valid? Someone like Lady Mercier should be enough.”
“It seems he’s already caught on.”
“He’s still at a young age, yet he knows how to read the trends.”
“That is the problem… Haha…”
His most cherished daughter—even she didn’t work. She was a woman called the flower of the Royal Capital’s social circles, yet there was no reaction at all. Instead, his daughter…
“Father, isn’t he quite a fine man?”
Marquis Visque felt a sense of misery when he saw her eyes sparkling while looking at Rayrn. He had sent her out to use her charms, but she seemed to have been the one charmed instead. It was the first time that daughter had ever looked at someone with such eyes.
“Let us start over from the beginning.”
“How so?”
In the silence, Viscount Etlen stepped forward. Though a Viscount, he was a man who had risen this far through his great resourcefulness.
“We must re-evaluate the total strength of House Ofern first. And we need a plan regarding that.”
“They will only get stronger.”
“I suppose so.”
House Ofern was currently gathering talent. Having boosted their capital through iron and liquor, they had now acquired talent as well. They had tried to stop that one thing, but they had failed completely.
‘Rayrn Ofern…’
The youngest of the Count’s house. A being they hadn’t cared about at all had completely overturned the board. The development they thought they could delay for several more years would now accelerate.
This shouldn’t be happening.
Although it wasn’t known to the outside, the members of the Royal Family were in a critical situation.
“We must acknowledge this properly and move. Furthermore… those people are moving.”
“Already?”
“Yes. They are faster than expected.”
They were moving in earnest for the next succession to the throne. Already, the factions were divided into three. Since it was the Malexia Royal Family, it wouldn’t likely lead to kin-slaying, but…
“There are those who seem to want to use Ofern’s power.”
“Hmm… Reading the trends is good, but… the situation is not favorable.”
The situation was difficult for the Royalist Faction to control.
“I must report this to the King…”
“I will make the preparations. Additionally, our response to House Ofern as well.”
“I’m counting on you.”
Because of Rayrn, the political landscape of the Royal Capital had reached a point where it could be overturned. The Royalist Faction had no choice but to move busily. If Rayrn intervened now, the matters regarding the succession to the throne could become even more complicated.
They had to prepare a countermeasure. Preferably several options.
However, Rayrn never once moved according to their expectations.
“Are you leaving?”
“I have to. Now that I’ve gathered this much talent, it’s only right to go quickly. Things are going to get complicated from here on.”
“Hmm… Thanks to you, I’m going to have quite a headache.”
“Hehe. I’m counting on you, Brother. And Father has given his permission. He said it’s fine for you to reveal your strength as well if possible.”
“…I see.”
Despite having stirred up the atmosphere of the Royal Capital once, Rayrn chose to leave rather than stay.
‘Who would I be staying for? Not for their benefit.’
Rather than rolling around in a mud pit, he chose another path.