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Translator: uly
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Declining the Offer
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<―>
Did I just hear that wrong?
No other than Raido—that absolute madman, the strongest and worst of them all, an old guy whose skills were undeniably killer—was asking to take me as his disciple first.
Even Kim Yu-hyun, once called the supreme master, had swallowed his pride and practically begged to learn martial arts from him before barely scraping by as his student!
*Jackpot!*
If he'd carved his name into the martial world with a sword, then here he did it again with sword and martial arts combined, etching another mark in history. That man was Kim Yu-hyun.
Not everything could be credited to Raido, of course.
Yu-hyun had taken Raido's teachings, tweaked them bit by bit, and evolved them further into his own martial arts.
But the foundation? Straight from Raido.
I could become like that Kim Yu-hyun, who smashed celestials with his fists alone!
"Raido-nim, does your offer to take me as a disciple mean you'll teach me magic?"
Of course, I wasn't about to bite the bait without testing the waters.
I needed to probe what Raido wanted, what he was thinking.
But Raido had no intention of playing along. He blinked twice, then let out a sigh.
"Hah! The little brat's already sizing me up.
If you figured out who I am from just that much guesswork and evidence, doesn't that mean you already knew my true identity ages ago?"
"That's..."
"Teaching magic to the heir of the Clauzen family? What's the point?
At best, you'd light a fire with spells and roast some meat at camp. Lucky if that's all.
You think I don't know your family dyes itself warrior through and through, no matter how hard they try to hide it?"
Just as Raido said, the Clauzen margrave house had risen by the sword from the start.
Their prowess earned them the borderlands, elevating them to margrave status with influence rivaling a marquess.
"So... you'll teach me martial arts, is that it?"
"Yeah.
If you don't want it, say so.
I don't drag around anyone who doesn't wanna learn."
"..."
*Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud—*
You say you hate it.
Then why are your legs shaking like that, all excited and fidgety?
"..."
*Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud!*
At this rate, he'd drill through the floor.
If some modern guy were sleeping below, he'd have every right to storm up yelling about noise complaints.
"Um, Raido-nim.
Mind if I ask one thing?"
"What?"
"Why suddenly take me as your disciple?"
"Don't ask.
You'll get hurt."
Sion shut his mouth at that.
For someone like Raido, "hurt" wasn't a warning—it was literal.
One more question, and he'd get smacked.
"Don't ask why.
Just answer.
Yes or no.
Good or bad.
Will do or won't do.
That's all you gotta say, you Clauzen punk."
Punk stung, but it was spot on.
In the novel, Sion Clauzen was a twenty-year-old silver spoon with a gold rim—nothing to show for it.
"My answer is..."
Of course!
He'd say yes, become his disciple, no question!
Raido had zero doubt Sion would jump at it.
Outsiders might never get it, but anyone who knew him even a little would pant like dogs and cling if he offered martial arts lessons.
Raido had never taken a disciple before. Not once.
Officially, no one—not mages, not martial artists—had ever learned from him.
Without Kim Yu-hyun showing up years ago, Raido's arts might've died out.
He was that strong, and that indifferent to pupils.
Yet now, he was offering discipleship to someone he'd never even mentioned.
"No thanks."
"Yeah, yeah.
Alright, then from now on, I'm your mas— what?"
What the fuck?
Did I hear that wrong?
Raido blinked, then in an absurdly short time—blink—he was right in front of Sion.
With his old man's body, he hoisted the spry twenty-year-old up with one hand.
"You little shit, what'd you just say?"
Totally unexpected.
No?
His teachings, no?
Disciple, no?
*Me*, no?
First time hearing it. First time facing it.
Raido forgot for a second that this kid was the son of his close buddy Lichten, glaring like he'd devour him.
"Yeah, you must've misspoke 'cause you're freaked out and scared shitless, right?
The brat's all—"
"I'll say it again, Raido-nim.
I have no interest in becoming your disciple."
A calm voice, utterly devoid of fear.
Raido wondered if he was dreaming, then burst into hearty laughter.
"Ah, fuck.
Am I getting dementia these days?
Did I say something wrong?
Weird. I could've sworn I said it right.
I clearly said I want you as disciple, and you were gonna say yes..."
"No thanks."
Third "no thanks" from Sion's mouth.
Raido stared blankly, sighed, and set him down.
Even after taking Raido's killing intent head-on, Sion just cleared his throat a few times and straightened his rumpled collar.
Watching, Raido slumped into a chair, rubbing his temples.
"...You're fucking insane.
Certifiably nuts."
"I'm perfectly sane."
"Sane guy turns down *my* teachings?"
"Difference in taste."
"No bullshit. Give me a reason.
Why reject a path that turns trash like you into a man—no, something more—in a flash?"
Sharp as hell.
Truth was, Sion desperately wanted those teachings.
Raido's martial arts were top-tier on the continent, maybe even the kingdom.
Hell, even Yu-hyun debated sword or fist.
*But...*
Sion Clauzen's body had a massive flaw.
A critical *defect*.
*Goddamn it!
Of all things, this punk's mana-blind!*
Mana wasn't just mages' privilege for spells.
It was a universal force in everything—Yu-hyun called it internal energy.
Knights sharpened their blades with it; mages amplified spells bigger, stronger.
To grow strong, to improve, you *had* to know how to handle mana.
*If he had even a shred of mana sensitivity, maybe.
But this guy's flat-out incapable!*
Why Sion Clauzen was the "weakest" villain.
Sure, his lazy ass and rotten personality didn't help.
But the killer? Congenital mana insensitivity. Zero.
Even commoners could shine with it—become great mages, bond spirits easier, bloom as knights.
Yet the margrave territory's top heir, the eldest son? Not a speck.
*No wonder he was full of worldly grudges and insane jealousy.*
That fueled his grudge against Yu-hyun, his curses on the guy's circle.
Mana-crippled while nobodies hogged noble attention and royal eyes? Gut-wrenching.
"A reason?"
"Yeah.
You've got less than a rat's dick, and you kick away my offer. Why?"
"..."
Maybe Raido, ex-court mage, knew a fix for mana sensitivity.
Sion considered asking.
"Isn't it obvious?"
But he didn't.
*What's this now?*
When the hell did he slip in? A elderly butler stood behind Sion, the picture of deference.
"Hmph."
Raido spotted him, clicked his tongue, and stood, rolling his shoulders, loosening his arms.
"Yeah, knew you'd shove your smug mug in eventually.
Sebas."
"Watch that mouth.
Or your daughter'll chew you out again.
Raido."
"Don't bring up Lucia."
"Not wanna hear it? Be a proper dad first."
"..."
Hey, excuse me?
What the hell are these old geezers doing?
Sion sandwiched between Raido and Sebastian in a vicious stare-down.
Their razor-sharp auras and glaring eyes made him shrink involuntarily.
*Why the fuck are they scrapping in *my* room!*
Ex-court mage, fists stronger than spells.
Ex-royal secret guard, one of the count's twin blades.
Both growling, air thick with impending bloodbath.
If fists flew, half the castle might crumble. Sion steeled himself to intervene.
Wielding the honor of Sion Clauzen, margrave heir.
"Sebastian?
What are you doing?"
"Young Lord."
"He's my guest.
Whatever the reason, we're talking. Don't butt in."
"...Understood."
Sebastian bowed, stepping back.
Raido crossed his arms, snorted disdainfully, but didn't push further.
*Maybe for the best?*
Original Sion didn't know Sebastian's true face.
Right now, it was awkward treating him normally—till Sebastian revealed himself.
"Raido-nim.
Some explanation's in order."
"Eh?"
"Start with how the margrave's butler Sebastian sneaks into this room, chats like old pals with you, and faces you head-on without flinching."
"Puhahaha!
Yeah, I'll tell ya.
That idiot next to you playing ridiculous butler?
Ex-royal secret guard!
Top swordsman in the kingdom!
And now he's *butlering*!
Ahahaha!
Hilarious, right?"
Hilarious? Bullshit.
I already knew, asshole.
"...Is that true?"
Sion played shocked, face acting on cue.
Raido cracked up like it was the funniest shit.
"Used to scrap with me all day, the annoying fuck.
Now picture him in that creepy getup, fancy beard, groveling 'Young Lord, Young Lord.' Makes my balls crawl off!
Uhahaha!"
"Shut it.
So noisy I wanna rip your mouth."
"You?
Me?
My ass'd skewer your sword first!"
Bros or enemies? Unclear.
But one thing was sure.
*Gotta play peacemaker here.*
Two lunatics already too much.
Good thing Yu-hyun wasn't here—imagining that trio? Brain-melting bliss overload.