Upon returning to his lodgings, Ruin soon began to be pestered by the Sword Soul.
[You brat! Hurry up and explain. How do you know all of that?]
"Ah, I told you already. My father taught me."
[Fine. Then I'll ask again. Have you completed the Yeonseonggyeol? Or are you already learning the Chilseonggeomhyeong? If so, I'll need to adjust my teachings.]
"Sigh, forget it. You're being such a nuisance. Let's just drop it."
As if refusing to respond to the Sword Soul any further, Ruin shook his head.
The basic swordsmanship system of Linegrim that he currently knew consisted of three stages in total.
'The Basic 7 Forms, Yeonseonggyeol, and Chilseonggeomhyeong.'
Typically, those who mastered up to the Chilseonggeomhyeong were recognized as elite swordsmen of Linegrim.
'Well, I can learn them later if the opportunity arises.'
After all, with
He had no intention of learning them right now.
'First, I need to steadily build my foundation.'
The higher the stage of
And then.
"Seron, huh..."
He recalled the genius boy he had clashed with intensely at the banquet hall.
The guy who had worn a perfectly tailored white uniform, flaunting his noble demeanor without restraint.
At the same time, with an extremely arrogant and self-centered attitude, looking down on others and underestimating Ruin.
"Just like father, like son?"
Thinking of the lowly lord Oswell, Ruin muttered with a smirk.
As someone who retained the memories of No. 1872, he knew better than anyone what kind of person Daemon's second son, Oswell Linegrim, was.
"But for someone like that, he seemed pretty naive?"
Through Ruin's jaded eyes, Seron appeared as if he hadn't yet discovered his true personality or his own nature.
He was merely acting out the role that the enthusiastic responses from those around him, his father's teachings, and the expectations of others demanded.
"Well, he's still young, after all."
[Hm? Young? Who? You...?]
Ruin lightly shook his head, ignoring the Sword Soul's sudden response.
"Still."
Soon, Ruin recalled the moment when he was led out of the banquet hall by Preon's hand.
He had accidentally made eye contact with Seron, who was bowing his head in front of Oswell.
And then.
"...His eyes were fiercely alive."
For a while, Seron had worn a dead-eyed expression, but in the instant their eyes met, he blazed with a hotter flame than ever before.
"Whatever the case, I'll have to give that guy a proper education soon."
Having recently delivered some harsh lessons to Andrei and a few other kids at the Sword Selection Ceremony, Ruin was once again contemplating returning to the path of a true educator.
"We'll probably be seeing each other quite often from now on, anyway."
.
.
.
Some time later, the grand and chaotic banquet came to an end.
Finally, the morning of the day to return to his original hometown dawned.
For Ruin, who possessed the memories of No. 1872, it felt strangely surreal to have stayed so comfortably in [Banapen], the heart of Linegrim, and now leave.
Well, now that everything was over...
"Ah, I just want to get home quickly."
Above all else, having enjoyed the peace and stability of his life as Ruin over the past few years, it was only natural to want to reclaim and yearn for that again.
He even felt a longing for his parents, whose existence he hadn't even remembered in his previous life.
'Ha, I never thought I'd feel this way.'
Having lived like an emotionless puppet as a shadow, drenched in blood all over his body until now, these newfound feelings were inevitably quite novel to him.
'Is this a good thing? Well, at least it's not bad.'
He couldn't say for sure, but he didn't think it was a negative change.
And since his parents would likely be surprised and worried yet delighted to hear his stories, he wanted to hurry back and tell them about what happened here.
Just then.
[Why not just stay here and continue your training? In all the world, there are few places with purer and stronger energy than this. Especially if you've already learned the Chilseonggeomhyeong...]
Ruin's eyes, which had been immersed in a tender sentiment, turned cold at the Sword Soul's muttering from his waist.
'No, that's not necessary.'
It was a lie, actually.
For training
If he could seize the opportunity and sneak into the Sword Vault, he could achieve several times—no, at least ten times—the efficiency.
But.
'I don't particularly want to.'
After all, with the title 'Hunter of the Forest' obtained through
'Maybe I could say I'm going to specialize in hunting... Nah, that probably won't fly.'
Imagining his mother Daisy with flames shooting from both eyes, Ruin wore a bittersweet smile.
Just then.
"Are you all set?"
A familiar face approached him.
It was Preon Jirkajin, the leader of the Snow Rock Squad who had first brought Ruin here and decided to become his guardian.
"Yes, Squad Leader. I'm all done."
"Good, then let's depart."
As Preon mounted his horse.
"Are you leaving now?"
"Joel?"
Preon called out at the sudden appearance of Joel, the personal secretary to the Northern Sword Duke Daemon.
Joel gave Preon a light smile, then turned to look at Ruin behind him.
"The lord has a message for you."
"A message?"
Both Preon and Ruin showed curious expressions at Joel's words.
With a pleased smile at their reactions, Joel continued.
"He says he looks forward to three years from now."
"Ah...!"
Preon nodded as if understanding immediately.
Ruin tilted his head, still not grasping it.
"Well, for a direct descendant, that would be the time."
From Preon's following words, Ruin finally understood what Daemon's message, delivered by Joel, meant.
'Become a swordsman of Linegrim, huh?'
Three years from now, Ruin would be thirteen years old.
At that age, a summons is issued to the descendants of Linegrim.
They enter the training camp run by the main Linegrim family for about two years, striving to qualify as swordsmen.
However, in Ruin's case, his position was a bit ambiguous since his father Kabel had been expelled from the Linegrim family.
If the Northern Sword Duke openly rejected him, no one could object.
Yet, sending his personal secretary like this to declare his intent to admit Ruin into the main family's training camp meant...
'It seems like he's drawing a clear line between my father and me...'
Though he couldn't forgive his father Kabel, it appeared to convey Daemon's intention to consider Ruin's son as part of the Linegrim family.
"Then I'll see you later. I, too, will be awaiting that day."
Having completed his task, Joel bowed politely.
Ruin responded accordingly with proper etiquette.
"See you next time."
"...."
Joel, who had been looking at him with a kind smile, turned his gaze to Preon, nodding lightly as their eyes met.
And then.
"Alright, we're really leaving now. We'll move quickly. Ruin, get in the carriage."
"Yes, understood."
Ruin nodded and boarded the carriage prepared for him.
Before entering, he turned his head to take one last look at the scenery of [Banapen] and Joel seeing him off.
'We'll meet again someday.'
[Tsk, why make such a foolish choice? Hmph!]
Of course, he completely ignored the Sword Soul's grumbling.
"...We're almost there."
Along with Preon's voice, he looked at the scenery outside the carriage.
The familiar grassy fields, mountains, and sky.
They had left the Linegrim family territory and finally arrived at the entrance to the grassy field where his father and mother lived.
Since the carriage couldn't go further from here, Ruin quickly grabbed his luggage and stepped out.
"Heave-ho."
[Hmm. The energy here isn't bad either.]
Ruin let out a chuckle at the Sword Soul's comment, who had been chattering nonstop the whole way.
'Didn't you call me an idiot earlier?'
[I did. And that hasn't changed. For your growth, 'Banapen' is far better than here.'
'Sigh, fine. I get it.'
[Well, since I'm the one teaching you anyway, the location isn't a big issue—it's just a matter of efficiency.]
'I'm sure it is.'
Shaking his head at the Sword Soul's words, Ruin lightly gathered his things and asked Preon.
"I can go alone from here. You don't have to come all the way."
Not wanting to broadcast that he was a direct descendant of Linegrim, Ruin said this while thinking of the village that would appear right after passing through the grassy field.
But Preon firmly shook his head.
"Escorting you to your home is my duty."
"...Yes, well, if you insist."
Including Preon, the leader of the Snow Rock Squad, there were five personnel dispatched in total.
It was a bit excessive just to escort a child with no background.
But Preon was meticulous in his assigned mission.
Having already decided to be Ruin's guardian, he was ensuring no issues arose with his safety or situation.
"Hand over the luggage."
"No, I can carry it..."
"Tsk!"
At Preon's stern, fatherly reaction, Ruin nodded and let out a small sigh that wouldn't be heard.
'No need to go that far.'
[You're getting treated like royalty. The end times are here.]
'Who asked for that? Geez.'
As he bickered with the Sword Soul again, they began entering the grassy field under Preon's strict command.
"Let's move."
Walking a bit along the narrow path inside, familiar sights started coming into view.
A little further, and the village where people lived in clusters would appear, and turning left to go much deeper...
'That's our house.'
Just as a sense of comfort washed over him at the thought of finally being home, a prickling sensation swept the back of his neck.
'What is that?'
A small energy wave coming from the direction of the cabin where his parents should be.
It felt like it was detecting all approaching energies around it. Ruin quickly drew upon the power of
Then.
"...?"
He could sense multiple presences from the house, where only his father and mother's energies should be.
'Six? No, seven.'
One quite powerful energy, five others, and one faint one.
It seemed like a group that had come to his parents with some purpose.
Just then.
"Looks like there are visitors."
Preon's short mutter from beside him as they walked.
He, too, seemed to have sensed some energy wave ahead.
"We don't know what might happen, so stay alert and move with maximum caution."
"Yes!"
At Preon's order, the rest of the group hardened their expressions and replied.
They began moving while raising their guard enough to handle any situation.
Though their pace slowed a bit, the distance was close, so it didn't take long to arrive.
And finally, when they reached the cabin—our home.
"Dad, Mom?!"
In Ruin's eyes, he saw his parents standing with troubled expressions in front of several strangers.
"Ruin!"
"Son!"
Father Kabel and Mother Daisy widened their eyes in great surprise upon seeing Ruin and called out.
The two quickly approached and hugged him tightly.
"Son, did everything go well?"
As if completely disregarding the unfamiliar guests, Father Kabel asked proudly while looking at Ruin.
"Ruuuin, are you hurt anywhere? Are you tired? It must have been hard, right?"
Mother Daisy followed with eyes filled with a mix of worry and pride, asking endlessly.
At their reactions, Ruin unconsciously smiled faintly and nodded.
"I'm not hurt, not tired, and it wasn't hard, Mom."
Answering each question one by one, he then grinned widely and responded to Father Kabel's question as well.
"Everything went well, Dad. And look at this!"
Showing the sword on his back, Father Kabel reached out and roughly ruffled his hair.
"Ooh, yes. Whose son are you? If you went to the Sword Selection Ceremony, of course you'd get one. So, do you like the sword?"
"Uh..."
[What? What's with that reaction? Does that mean you don't like me?!]
Hearing the Sword Soul rampage at those words, Ruin grinned and held out the sword on his back.
"Dad, take a look."
"Alright, sure."
Father Kabel took the Sword Soul right away.
[You brat, what are you suddenly... Urk, how dare you touch me! Gah. Get your filthy hands off!!]
The Sword Soul's dissatisfied tone rang out again, but Ruin paid it no mind.
Soon after.
"...Who do you take after to have such a good eye? Son, you chose well. It's an incredible sword. Even back when I was at the main house, it was rare to see such a renowned blade among renowned blades."
Father Kabel displayed his sharp discernment, showering praise on the Sword Soul.
The Sword Soul, who had been grumbling discontentedly for a while, responded to the father's reaction.
[Stop it already... Hmm, like father, like son—you do have an eye for things. Yes, what sword could be better than me? Heh heh.]
Ruin shook his head once at that, then slightly turned his gaze to look at the unfamiliar guests standing in front of the cabin.
Mostly knights who seemed to follow someone, and one young man who looked much younger compared to them.
'Six? But I definitely sensed seven energies earlier?'
As he inwardly questioned this, at that moment.
Creak.
The closed cabin door opened, and a sly-looking man with purple hair appeared.
"Ooh, my goodness. The timing is impeccable. I just stepped out to the bathroom for a moment, and suddenly there are more people?"
Muttering that, the sly man looked toward Ruin and Daisy and asked.
"Is that your child, Daisy?"
"...Shut up, Pigeon oppa."
Mother Daisy growled firmly in response.
"Pigeon Kaphtalen?"
A very low murmur came from Preon Jirkajin, the leader of the Snow Rock Squad, behind them.
"Ooh, the famous Snow Rock Squad Leader of Linegrim personally escorted our nephew. As family, I express my thanks."
Muttering that to Preon, the man then looked at Ruin, grinned, and waved.
"Hi, nephew. First time meeting? I'm your maternal uncle."
The identities of the unfamiliar visitors were people from Mother Daisy's side, the Kaphtalen family.
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T/N:
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