Silence did not break.
Marco's body lay crumpled on the soaked training ground, steam rising faintly as the last warmth left his corpse.
No one dared to breathe too loudly. Even the wind seemed afraid to pass through the grounds.
Leo stood motionless, his sword dripping with blood. The devilish smile on his face slowly faded, replaced by an unnervingly calm expression.
Only then did Duke Drake rise from his chair.
He stared at Leo for a long moment—the blood, the sword, the corpse at his feet. His voice finally cut through the silence.
"Why did you kill him?" the Duke asked coldly. "Didn't I tell you this was only a test match? Not a death match?"
Leo lifted his gaze to meet his father's eyes.
"I only said that I am not interested in your seat," Leo replied calmly.
"I belong to this family. If anyone insults me, he insults the Rosard family. And there is only one punishment for that—death."
The captain and the knights stared at Marco's body, then at Leo's face.
They could not accept what they were seeing—a knight like Marco, slain so brutally by the young master they once believed unworthy of his position.
This was the first time they had ever seen Leo wield a sword.
And this was the first time they had seen him be so merciless.
The Duke broke the silence once more. "So… what is your wish?"
"I will tell you in private, Father," Leo answered.
The Duke let out a short laugh and turned to the captain. "Clean up the corpse." With that, he left the training ground.
Moments later, Eiden—the Duke's other son—stepped forward. His expression was no longer mocking, no longer filled with disdain. Instead, there was clear interest in his eyes.
"So you're not a weakling after all," Eiden said with a smile. "I don't have time to talk now. I'm heading to the Cursed Forest to help brother and sister. We'll talk after I return."
With that, Eiden left with his comrades.
Leo turned to David. "Arrange a bath for me."
"Yes, Young Master," David replied, unable to hide his excitement.
Before leaving, Leo spoke loudly enough for all the knights to hear. "I think the dogs finally understand who their owner is and who they should bark at."
Not a single knight spoke. They all realized that the man standing before them was no longer the old young master they once knew.
Leo cast one final glance at them and walked away.
The atmosphere of the training ground was completely different from when he had entered. Those who remained behind had witnessed the birth of a new Leo.
---
In his room, Leo washed the blood from his face and hands. After bathing, he sat down in his chair. Soon, David entered with lunch and placed it on the table.
"Young Master," David said hesitantly, "I've served you for ten years… but this is the first time I've ever seen you wield a sword like that."
"That's how it works, David," Leo replied calmly.
"We never truly know the people we see every day." He paused, then smiled faintly. "For example, you. You've been keeping secrets from me too, haven't you?"
"What secret?" David asked, confused but still smiling.
"You are the leader of the Black Squad—the shadow force of the Rosard family," Leo said.
David's smile vanished instantly. His expression turned calm, cold, and terrifying—much like the Duke's.
"How did you know that, Young Master?" he asked in a low voice.
Leo smiled. "Didn't I just say it? We all have secrets. Mine just happens to be deeper than most."
He waved his hand lightly. "I'll tell you when the time is right. You may go."
David nodded seriously and left the room.
Leo began to eat. The food really is good, he thought. Being a noble had its advantages.
His gaze shifted to the book David had brought. He opened it and began reading as he ate.
Leo turned the page slowly, the faint rustle of paper the only sound in the room.
Atlas of Eternity.
The book described the world ruled by five human kingdoms: Lionhast, Valenoria, Savenrock, Atheena, and Eldoria. Among them, Valenoria was the largest and most powerful kingdom—the land Leo now lived in.
Leo's eyes lingered on the map.
So this is the center of everything.
He continued reading.
Beyond the human lands existed other realms—domains untouched by human rule.
The Demon Realm, where chaos itself was said to breathe.
The Beast Realm, ruled by creatures that recognized only strength. And the Elf Realm, a land saturated with elemental energy, where spirits wandered freely.
And above them all…
Dragons.
Ancient beings described not as rulers, but as the laws of the world themselves.
Leo exhaled softly.
"So this world isn't small at all."
Turning the page, the book shifted its focus from nations to power.
The foundation of all strength was mana.
Every individual had to awaken and master mana. It was the source of physical reinforcement for swordsmen and the foundation for higher forms of power.
Magic, however, was a separate force—reserved for those born with magical affinity.
These two paths could not be mastered together.
The book then described the path of a swordsman:
First, Swordsman.
Second, Expert.
Third, Knight.
Fourth, Sword Master — where sword aura awakens.
Fifth, Sword Saint.
Sixth, Grandmaster.
Seventh, Supreme Master
Above them all stood Transcendent.
In this world, only one man had ever reached the transcendent realm—the first king of Valenoria.
Magicians followed a different hierarchy:
1st Tier – Simple spell casting.
2nd Tier – Basic elemental control.
3rd Tier – Faster casting and spell
combination.
4th Tier – Skilled strategists capable of large-area attacks.
5th Tier – Masters of multiple magic types; aura begins to awaken.
6th Tier – Archmage, instinctive, precise, and deadly magic.
7th Tier – Sage, standing at the peak of mortal magic, capable of rivaling physical power.
8th Tier – Grand Sorcerer, beings who could control nearly all elements and cast countless spells in a single second.
At that moment, the door opened softly.
"Young Master," David said respectfully, "the Duke is calling for you."
Leo closed the book slowly.
"The Transcendent Realm…" he murmured.
Only one man in history had reached it.
Leo's lips curved upward.
"So that's the peak," he said quietly. "Then I'll simply climb higher."
He stood, the chair scraping softly against the floor.
David paused at the door.
For a brief moment, the air around him trembled—so faint it was almost imaginary. …Did the temperature just drop?
Leo's expression returned to calm indifference as he walked past him. "Let's go," Leo said. "I shouldn't keep my father waiting."
As they moved through the corridor, unseen eyes followed his steps.
In the distance, the Cursed Forest whispered. And far beyond human lands, something ancient slowly opened its eyes.