Chapter 19: Twenty Blades Against One

Did I just get hit just now?

Even in the Baron’s Territory, Dexter—one of the most promising Knights—?

He clutched his cheek.

A throbbing pain radiated from his cheek, swollen to the point it looked like it might burst.

The pain was bad, but the real problem was…

‘I didn’t see it.’

He hadn’t seen the attack at all.

There were rumors that the Knights of the Baron’s Territory had been defeated by him.

It seemed those rumors weren’t just baseless talk.

A voice rang out from the distance.

“Were you looking for your brother?”

Ethan, who had suddenly thrown open the carriage door, lifted something up.

Dexter’s eyes narrowed.

‘No way…’

He saw a limp figure.

It looked oddly familiar.

And then he gasped in shock.

The person dangling from Ethan’s hand was none other than his own brother, Ruine.

“Here, your brother.”

Ethan tossed Ruine aside.

‘This bastard!’

Dexter rushed forward and caught Ruine. His brother’s face, and even his whole body, were so swollen it was hard to recognize him.

He quickly checked his pulse.

Thankfully, his heartbeat was normal.

But then he noticed something else.

‘No mana?’

It was true.

He couldn’t sense even a trace of mana in Ruine’s body.

Dexter’s face twisted as he frantically checked Ruine over.

It wasn’t the absolute worst-case scenario—his mana hole hadn’t disappeared—but the situation was just as serious.

His gaze turned to Ethan.

“What did you do to my little brother?”

“Do I have any reason to tell you?”

Ethan’s relaxed smile made Dexter lose all reason.

His youngest brother, so much like himself, was the one he loved most.

Though Ruine had fallen into drinking and gambling, Dexter still believed he’d come to his senses one day.

He was not someone who should be beaten to a pulp by a lowlife like this.

“I’ll kill you!”

After setting Ruine down, Dexter’s figure vanished.

Dexter drew his sword in a flash. He had reached the rank of 3-star Knight at a young age, and was now close to 4-star.

Even in the Baron’s Territory, there were few Knights who could match him.

That was why he’d threatened the heir without hesitation. If it came to it, he was confident he could break his neck.

Dexter’s form closed in on Ethan in an instant.

If he killed him here and now!

His father would be more likely to cover up the incident than punish him.

Better to solve things this way than bow his head to that bastard.

That’s why there was no hesitation in Dexter’s sword strike.

The sharp blade was aimed straight at Ethan’s neck.

There was no way to dodge at that angle.

‘Got him!’

His eyes filled with excitement.

In just a moment, he’d be able to drive his sword into the bastard’s neck.

But just then—

Ethan smirked.

‘This guy also learned by stealing, just like the others.’

It looked like he’d stolen and learned swordsmanship and the Mana Breathing Technique somehow, but there was not a hint of real skill in his attack.

If you just tilt your neck a little, like now…

“01?”

It was easy enough to dodge the sword’s path.

In a flash, Ethan grabbed the bastard by the collar and moved the essence of fire.

An incredible power surged through his arm. Using that strength, he slammed Dexter down with all his might.

Crash!

Dexter’s face smashed into the hard stone floor. The force was so great that the stone cracked open.

You didn’t have to see it to know what would happen to a person’s face.

All.

Over.

“Urgh!”

Ethan could feel the trembling vibration through the hand gripping the bastard’s collar.

The sword Dexter had been holding had long since flown off somewhere. Ethan stared down at Dexter.

Who would have thought there was a bastard who’d treat the sacrifices of direct descendants like they were nothing but foolishness.

Truly, the world was big, and full of trash.

This guy was one of those pieces of trash. The kind that didn’t even look like he could be recycled.

If someone like this was born as the Baron’s child, then the Baron was quite a character himself.

‘Killing him would be too easy.’

Letting someone like this die comfortably would be too much of a luxury.

‘I’ll keep him by my side for a while.’

I’ll seal his mana hole, cut all the tendons in his limbs, make him crawl like a worm, and help him so that when he sees the faces of the direct descendants, he can only look up at them from the floor.

Only then might he learn the meaning of etiquette, even just a little.

The level of punishment was set.

The bastard seemed to be regaining consciousness, his hands beginning to twitch.

Ethan, watching with an expressionless face, spoke.

“Knights really are a bother. Their lifeforce is annoyingly tenacious.”

Ethan lifted Dexter and smashed his face into the stone floor again.

“Argh!”

Thud!

“How noisy.”

By now, the commotion was starting to spread through the inner castle.

‘Vermin, all of them.’

The ones who’d just stood by and watched when this bastard was mocking him were now swarming in like ants at the first sign of real trouble.

From the Knights to the servants of the Baron’s Territory, as soon as they came out of the inner castle, their eyes widened at the scene before them.

The second son of the family, Dexter.

He was having his face smashed into the stone floor, unable to resist at all.

If only the situation were reversed, maybe they could try to understand it somehow.

“Kyaaa!”

Screams rang out from all directions.

The loudest scream came from a woman.

It was the Baroness.

“My lady!”

“Hurry, get the Baroness inside!”

The attendants tried to lead the Baroness back into the inner castle.

But the Baroness shook them off and pointed at Ethan, shouting.

“What are you all doing! Why aren’t you stopping that madman! Stop him, now!”

At that moment—

Ethan, who had been smashing Dexter down, looked around.

“Is anyone here really going to draw a sword against the name of Ardan?”

“Ardan? No way…”

The people in the inner castle narrowed their eyes.

If someone mentioned the name Ardan and was an unfamiliar young man, only one person came to mind.

The recently awakened heir, Ethan Ardan.

To think that the youth mercilessly smashing Dexter’s face was the very heir himself!

While some Knights hesitated at the Baroness’s urging—

“Young Master! Please stop!”

An old man’s voice rang out.

Baron Helmut.

The old fox had finally appeared.

Ethan turned his head toward the voice.

Nearly twenty Knights stood beside the Baron.

As soon as she saw the Baron, the Baroness rushed over and cried out tearfully.

“My dear! Our son! Our son…!”

“Yes.”

“My lady, please go inside for now. I’ll handle this. Walton!”

“Escort the Baroness inside.”

“Understood. My lady, please come with me.”

“Dexter!”

Even as she was being led into the inner castle, the Baroness’s cries for Dexter echoed loudly. Only after she disappeared did the surroundings quiet down a bit.

The Baron let out a sigh and spoke.

“It’s been a while, Young Master.”

“Good to see you, Baron. Has it been ten years?”

“Please, release the boy.”

“I’m afraid that’s impossible.”

The Baron’s eyes narrowed sharply at those words.

“Why not?”

“Not only did this bastard hurl insults at me—a guest invited by the Baron—but he even attempted murder. He dared to raise a sword against a direct descendant, so his crime can only be repaid with death.”

“That’s the law of the Ducal House, Baron. Surely you haven’t forgotten.”

“I know my son is full of youthful vigor. He probably just let his mouth slip. Wouldn’t it be better for both sides to let this go here?”

“Better for both sides?”

“If the Young Master wishes, our Cargas Baron’s Territory can become your ally.”

Ethan smirked.

“You sure have a way with words, Baron.”

“What do you mean?”

“You sent him to me, knowing he was hot-blooded? That Ruine brat acted the same way… Didn’t you send these two expecting something like this to happen?”

“You misunderstand.”

“Who knows. Anyway, I intend to follow the law. I don’t believe you have the right to stop me, Baron.”

“Our house is part of the Elder Council, you know. Law? In the past, perhaps, but now the judgment of the Elder Council of Cargas is the law itself.”

Such arrogant words.

The Baron added, almost as if making a declaration.

“My son’s punishment will be decided by the Elder Council. Now, let him go.”

“Unbelievable.”

“I can understand being unfamiliar with the changes after ten years of sleep. But remember, Young Master, even the deepest-rooted tree will fall one day. The master of an era always changes.”

“The Ducal House is a fallen tree, is it?”

“I thought you’d know at least that much, Young Master. Still… if you take our hand now, perhaps you could revive your family once again…”

“Since you seem slow to understand, let me make my answer clear.”

Crunch!

Dexter’s face was ground into the stone floor. Helmut’s fist trembled in anger at the sight.

Fifteen years ago.

When all the direct descendants of the Ducal House were alive, the branch families didn’t even dare to think of opposing them.

Back then, the name Ardan rang out not only in the Kingdom of Heidern, but across the entire Western Continent.

Even a single elite Knight from the Ducal House could destroy a family.

If it were back then, they would have prostrated themselves and waited in fear for a merciful judgment.

‘But…’

Now, things were different.

The Ardan Ducal House was now nothing but an empty shell, with only its name and honor remaining.

There was no reason to be afraid anymore.

‘Dexter was right.’

There was no need to bow and scrape. Especially not when his second son’s face was being smashed into the floor.

“Young Master, do you think you’ll be safe if you keep this up? I warn you, you’d better stop. My patience has limits.”

“So the invitation you sent was just a ruse? You’re no different from your sons, Baron.”

“Remember, this is the Cargas Baron’s Territory, Young Master. It seems I need to change my demands. Release my son immediately and apologize for your rudeness.”

“Apologize?”

Ethan smirked.

It was so ridiculous he couldn’t help but laugh.

“Don’t take my warning lightly.”

At those words, the Knights behind the Baron reached for their swords.

Nearly twenty Knights began to exude their fighting spirit.

Seeing the Knights, the Baron felt reassured. There was no way to win Ethan over now.

At times like this, brute force was the answer.

The Baron gave a sinister smile as he looked at Ethan.

“I heard your mana hole was completely destroyed… Maybe we should grind what’s left of it into dust to make you come to your senses?”

Twenty Knights—more than enough to cripple one Young Master.

As long as he wasn’t killed, the situation could be covered up.

“So before it’s too late, kneel and beg for forgiveness.”

“It seems the fate of the Cargas Baron’s Territory has been decided.”

“Fate?”

Ethan drew his greatsword and looked at the Knights lined up behind the Baron.

“The Baron not only dared to threaten a direct descendant of the Ducal House, but even tried to harm me directly. Therefore, you’ll be severely punished for treason.”

Treason.

A charge that could strip a noble of all titles and rights, starting from the feudal family’s privileges.

The Baron snorted at those words.

“Ha! You think you can decide that? You’re just an heir, all talk! I’ve seen enough! Knights, subdue the Young Master at once! If you have to, cut off an arm or a leg! And destroy his mana hole completely!”

“Yes, sir!”

The Knights drew their swords and began to approach Ethan.

Destroy his mana hole, huh.

That would mean the end of him as a Knight. It was enough to make anyone’s mood foul.

The Knights closed in.

‘If it’s twenty Knights…’

If he was going to wipe them out, he’d have to use at least one technique.

A massive amount of mana began to gather atop the greatsword in Ethan’s hand.